Chapter 127

The autumn wind is bleak and bitingly cold.

A gray donkey cart departed from Suining Prefecture and headed northwest along the official road. The donkey cart stopped and stopped, stopping in every county town for a day or two.

A young man wearing a hat got out of the carriage. The young man was wearing a thick cloth. He saw the city gate close at hand and happily got back into the carriage.

The young man shouted: "Master, Qiulin Town has arrived. Are we going to stay in Qiulin Town tonight?"

The person called Master was an old man who looked energetic. He was wearing a loose, large-sleeved shirt and sitting cross-legged. sit.

Hearing the young man's voice, he drank tea and said, "How far is Qiulin Town from Yanting?"

The young man shook his head.

He quickly got out of the carriage and asked the handlebars outside. After getting the answer, he told the old man: "It's fifty miles away. I'm afraid I won't be able to reach Yanting County today."

"There's no rush." ​​The old man said, "We'll be there tonight. We will settle in Qiulin Town and head to Yanting County early tomorrow morning."

After receiving the order, the young man sat next to the old man obediently, poured him tea, and asked with confusion: "Master, why are we so far away? Come to Yanting County? "

They traveled hundreds of miles on this journey, and the weather was bleak and cold. They had already used up all the charcoal fires they had prepared for this trip.

The old man smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you, we're here to see Dr. Xu."

"But..." The young man didn't understand and whispered with some dissatisfaction, "That Dr. Xu is very evil. Master, I I always feel that this person is not as good as he said, but more like a liar."

The old man looked at him: "Oh, then why do you think so?"

The young man straightened his face: "I heard it from someone. "This doctor not only sells pills and wine, but also makes fragrant pills. He sounds like a medicine seller."

Since the tonic method has become more popular, there are more doctors selling tonics than doctors who actually treat diseases.

Some people don’t even understand the science of medicine, so they cheat by holding up signs selling tonics and shouting in the streets, specifically to deceive wealthy people.

"You are right." The old man nodded, then changed the topic and said, "Unfortunately, you are also wrong. If he is really just a medicine seller, but he can spread the news to Suining Mansion, I am afraid this person is not simple. "

As he said that, the old man took out a wooden box from the cabinet next to him, opened the lid, and took out the pills inside.

"This is the Xiaoshi pill concocted by Dr. Xu, please take a look."

The young man was surprised: "Master, why don't I know?"

The old man narrowed his eyes and smiled: "If you know everything, I am not your master."

When the young man heard this, his face turned red with embarrassment, and he quickly said that the master was so powerful. He opened the jute paper and smelled it. He smelled the aroma of medicine. There were five pills as big as tung seeds inside. Each pill was round and smooth with few flaws.

"This pill..." He was stunned. He did it better than the old master.

...

Xu Yi was in the courtyard, playing with the medicinal materials he had taken out from the pharmacy.

He picked out the ones that were of slightly poor quality, as well as those that were moldy and had mealybugs. He kept the ones that were usable, and asked A Xu to crush and throw away the ones that were not.

Seriously moldy and damaged medicinal materials cannot be used. He is afraid that if he throws them out directly, some unscrupulous vendors will pick them up, clean them and sell them to medical clinics again.

"Lang Jun, these Atractylodes macrocephala have gray spots!" On the other side, when A Xu was picking medicinal materials, he found a bag of moldy Atractylodes macrocephala.

Atractylodes is very easy to mold and spoil. Xu Yi knew that this bag of atractylodes could no longer be used.

He dug up this bag of Atractylodes last autumn, and he kept a lot of it at that time. After all, Atractylodes is known as the "Four Gentlemen of Chinese Medicine" and is a Qi-tonifying product with many uses.

He regretfully gave the thing to A Xu and asked him to deal with it.

At the same time, a gray donkey cart arrived outside Yanting County.

After entering the city, the old man asked his apprentice to find out Xu Yi's address.

The young man got out of the car and looked at the people coming and going in the market. He saw a kind-faced woman selling hot soup. Thinking that they were also thirsty on the way, he stepped forward and asked: "Lady, what kind of soup are you selling?" "It's mushroom soup, with mushrooms, big bones and ginger slices in it. A bowl of it will help you get rid of the cold. "

Mrs. Chen greeted someone enthusiastically, "Would you like a bowl of it?"

The young man asked the price, took out the copper coins and handed them to her: "Here, I want two bowls, fill them for me."

Seeing the woman filling the soup, the young man asked casually: "Do you know that there is a doctor Xu in the city? "

Ms. Chen paused while holding the pottery bowl, and looked at the young man in front of her with suspicion. She was about two or three years younger than Xu Yi and was wearing cotton-padded cloth.

"Xiao Langjun, what do you want to see Dr. Xu for?" Madam Chen asked him.

When the young man heard the woman's answer, he knew that this person knew about Dr. Xu, who was rumored to be very evil. His mind was slightly moved, and he planned to find out something from her.

"We are from Suining Mansion and want to meet this Doctor Xu." The young man did not make up lies, but he did not tell them all. He only asked Doctor Xu, but he has real abilities.

Mrs. Chen glanced at the donkey cart behind her from the corner of her eye, and happened to see an old man sitting in it.

She thought to herself that this young man looked kind and had an old husband with him. Could it be that he came to see Xu Yi for medical treatment.

Mrs. Chen smiled and said, "I am familiar with this doctor. Not only is he good at medical skills, he is also a kind man. He only charges a small amount of medical money for treating poor people like us." After Mrs. Chen

said this, she talked about the treatment she had given her before . When Xu Yi saw a doctor, Xu Yi only received a few dozen dollars.

There is also a rouge shop in the city, and the best-selling "Xu's Rouge" is also made by Dr. Xu.

The young man was stunned for a moment after hearing this. Why does Dr. Xu have so many responsibilities? Even the dough can be prepared.

He returned to the carriage in a daze and told his master what he had heard.

The old man had already heard Mrs. Chen's words in the carriage, and now that he heard the apprentice say it again, he still found it very interesting.

He said aloud: "Bai'er, you forgot again. You haven't found out Dr. Xu's address yet."

The young man choked: "..." He indeed forgot.

So, he quickly got out of the carriage and asked Mrs. Chen again where Xu Yi's home was.

Mrs. Chen said: "If you don't mind, young man, just wait for me for a moment. I will collect the stall and take you over."

"This...you don't have to sell soup anymore?" the young man asked a little embarrassedly.

Mrs. Chen said with a smile: "No, the soup has almost been sold out. The remaining can is for Dr. Xu."

She pointed to the mushroom soup in a small clay pot next to it, which she planned to wait for. I'll go to Xu's house.

Not long after, Mrs. Chen put away the stall and got on the other party's donkey cart.

She did not enter the carriage, holding the bamboo basket in front of her and sitting next to the handlebar to guide the way.

They headed east from the West Street Market and soon arrived at East Street Taiping Alley.

Xu's house is located on the fifth house in Taiping Lane. The house has been recently renovated, and the brand-new green tiles on the courtyard wall can be seen from the outside.

"This is Doctor Xu's house?" The young man was surprised.

Doctor Xu... is so rich that he can buy such a big house here.

Mrs. Chen got out of the car first and went up to knock on the door. Fang Liu Niang was the one who opened the door.

"Ms. Chen is here, come in quickly." When Fang Liu Niang saw her, she smiled and wanted to pull her into the house.

Mrs. Chen just stood at the door and said simply: "There is an old man and a young man coming from Suining Mansion. They want to find Brother Yi. Go and report."

"From Suining Mansion?" Fang Liuniang said Surprised, he glanced outside and hurried to the pharmacy to find Xu Yi.

Soon, Fang Liuniang returned and invited them in together.

...

Xu Yi came out of the pharmacy after hearing the news and waited in the main room.

He was busy brewing the last remaining osmanthus wine, with a collar around his neck.

When the old man followed Mrs. Chen in, he was stunned for a moment when he saw him dressed like this, thinking that they had found the wrong person.

But the age is right.

In those rumors, it was said that Dr. Xu had not yet reached the top.

"Ms. Chen, are you done?" Xu Yi greeted Mrs. Chen first and then went to see the old man.

He looks like a healthy little old man in his forties, with a strong body and a little short, less than 1.6 meters tall.

He put away his thoughts, saluted and asked, "May I ask, my father-in-law, why I came here from Suining Mansion?"

The old man did not say why he came, but gave his name first.

His surname is Guo, his given name is Zhongyou, he is a doctor, and he is fifty-two years old.

Xu Yi was slightly surprised.

Dr. Guo is very well maintained. If you don't say that he is fifty-two years old, you wouldn't be able to tell. Compared with farmers working in the fields, they are much younger.

"Are you a doctor?" Mrs. Chen next to her was surprised.

Since he is a doctor, why did he come to Xu Yi? Could it be that he was looking for trouble.

She instantly regretted bringing people to Xu Yi.

Xu Yi was very pleased to hear that he was a doctor from Suining Prefecture. He had been here for so long, and except for Dr. Chen and Wu Guanshan who had better medical skills, the other doctors were all average.

He smiled and invited Dr. Guo to take a seat, and called A Xu to bring him some good tea.

Xu Yi asked: "Suining Prefecture is prosperous, how could Doctor Guo think of coming to Yanting County to find me?"

"Doctor Xu may not know that even in Suining Prefecture, I have heard of your reputation." Doctor Guo did not beat around the bush. said.

Six months ago, Jishitang was selling a pill called "Shen's Xiaoshi Pills", which it said could cure many gastrointestinal discomforts, food accumulation and other illnesses. Guo Zhongyou was very curious about this, so he bought it. The pill was really good, and it would take effect after taking two pills.

However, the prices sold by Jishitang are not cheap. A pack of Shen's Xiaoshi Pills costs thirty cents.

However, it does not need to be boiled and is effective quickly. Many wealthy households in the city keep it as a regular pill at home.

But just over a month ago, a new Xiaoshi Pill appeared in Suining Prefecture, called "Chen's Xiaoshi Pill".

It was a vendor named Yu Qiulin who was peddling and selling, and he even claimed that Shen's Xiaoshi Pills were fake and had stolen the prescription of Chen's Xiaoshi Pills.

Later, many rumors gradually emerged...

Xu Yi didn't know anything about it. It wasn't until he heard about Yu Qiulin that he remembered it in a daze.

Two months ago, Yu Qiulin told him that he was going to other cities to sell Xiaoshi pills. Xu Yi was naturally supportive and asked him to go out with thousands of pills. Unexpectedly, Yu Qiulin went to Suining Mansion and had a dispute with Shen's Jishitang.

But after such a long time, Yu Qiulin didn't send any of this news. He must have thought it could be done and didn't want to trouble him.

Guo Zhongyou said: "I have something unclear. Since this pill was made by you, why did you choose Chen's?"

Xu Yi said: "Although I concocted it, the person who developed this Xiaoshi Pill is not me, I am just me. It's a borrowing, I don't dare to replace it rashly."

Guo Zhongyou cleared up his doubts and was very satisfied with Xu Yi's answer.

He came from thousands of miles away not only to clear up doubts, but also to discuss medical skills with Xu Yi.

Xu Yi also became interested when he learned about Doctor Guo's intention. Now the only one who can talk freely about medicine with him is Wu Guanshan.

It's just that Wu Guanshan has to be in charge of the Miaoshou Pavilion, so the two of them don't have much time to sit down and chat.

Xu Yi would occasionally go to Pang Boyi. Pang Boyi had a lot of books at home and was willing to show them to Xu Yi. Xu Yi also found two other medical books at Pang Boyi's place, so he copied them by hand and customized them into volumes with cotton thread.

In the thousands of years of inheritance of traditional Chinese medicine, many medical works have been lost and the originals cannot be found. If Dr. Guo is a capable doctor, he can get inspiration from others.

The two of them talked freely, and they were so absorbed in the conversation that even the people next to them couldn't answer.

Guo Zhongyou brought out a young man named Bai'er, whose real name was Yun Bai, and he was a close disciple of Dr. Guo. Seeing that his master had no time to pay attention to him, he looked around at the Xu family's main room.

The main hall of the Xu family is divided into two parts. One part is used to receive guests, and the other part is used as a clinic. It looks quite interesting.

Seeing that he was bored, Mrs. Chen started chatting with him.

I learned that Guo Zhongyou was a well-known folk doctor in Suining Prefecture. Although he was a civilian doctor, his ancestors had been imperial doctors. His great-grandfather had been an imperial doctor in the palace for more than ten years. In the turmoil, great-grandfather Guo came out of the palace and took his family to Shu for refuge.

Later, Doctor Guo learned from his great-grandfather and became a doctor.

Yun Bai is twelve years old this year. He was accepted as an apprentice by Guo Zhongyou when he was ten years old. He has been studying medicine for two years and now knows a lot about pharmacology and medicine, but Guo Zhongyou still doesn't let him treat people.

After Mrs. Chen heard what he said, she asked, "Do you know how long Dr. Xu has been studying medicine?"

Yun Bai shook his head: "I don't know." In fact, he didn't want to follow him, but the senior brothers above him were all going. After traveling, he was the only one beside the master.

Mrs. Chen smiled and said, "It's also two years."

Yun Bai was shocked.

How is this possible? !

He listened to Xu Yi talking to his master. He was not timid, but calm, and he didn't look like a beginner.

At this time, Guo Zhongyou mentioned the accumulation of the five internal organs and explained why.

Xu Yi thought for a moment and then slowly said: "Accumulation, accumulation and grain qi are diseases of the internal organs of the human body. Accumulation cannot be moved and is difficult to cure throughout life; accumulation is unstable and can occur at any time and can be cured. It can be diagnosed from the pulse condition. It's accumulation. If it can be cured, there are many methods. The difficulty is whether it can be cured completely without recurrence."

Guo Zhongyou nodded and asked: "If the pulse at this inch of mouth is heavy and horizontal, where is the disease? "

This is not difficult for Xu Yi. He quickly replied: "It's possible either under the ribs or in the abdomen."

Guo Zhongyou stroked his beard and thought about a patient he had treated before. , that is, there is accumulation in the stomach, unable to eat, and nausea after eating.

He prescribed Qianhu Tang at that time. This Qianhu decoction can cure distended abdomen, inability to eat, vomiting, etc.

The patient showed significant improvement after taking the decoction and recovered after two doses.

He asked Xu Yi what decoction he would prescribe if he were to prescribe medicine.

Xu Yi frowned and asked Guo Zhongyou about the patient's general symptoms, and then said thoughtfully: "Take the Xiaoshi Pill first. If the patient only improves but does not recover after taking the Xiaoshi Pill, you can take another dose of Xiao Fuling Decoction."

"Why?" Guo Zhongyou didn't expect him to answer like this.

Xu Yi said: "Xiaoshi Pills can cure the accumulation of food in the stomach. Xiaoshi Pills can cure it. If it is only relieved but not cured, nine out of ten cases will be accompanied by Qi reversal."

Guo Zhongyou's eyes showed appreciation. Yes, that The patient indeed had signs of Qi going up in reverse, but he didn't say it explicitly, just to test Xu Yi.

"You are such a young person." He said with a smile.

It's rare for such a young doctor to be able to answer questions fluently under his attack, and to be so understanding.

Xu Yi said: "I'm not talented, I just have a good memory."

Guo Zhongyou waved his hand: "That's just because you have a way to work around it."

The two started chatting, but when they stopped, they realized that the sky outside was already dark.

A Xu came over with a candle to light the lamp at the right time, and said to Xu Yi: "Mr. Lang, dinner is ready."

Seeing that Xu Yi and the old doctor were chatting like this, they sent them to Xu Yi without any instructions. The meals were prepared together.

After dinner, both Guo Zhongyou and Xu Yi were still full of ideas.

Guo Zhongyou pinched his beard and asked with a smile on his face: "I have no acquaintances in Yanting. I wonder if Dr. Xu would be willing to take him in?"

Xu Yi's eyes lit up: "I'll call A Xu to clean up the room."

... ...

In the guest room, Yun Bai was sorting out the boxes and cages brought down from the carriage.

A Xu prepared quilts for them, but Yun Bai refused. They brought their own, so they wouldn't bother using Xu Yi's.

He spread the quilt, turned to look at Guo Zhongyou who was writing something energetically on the desk, and asked doubtfully: "Master, how long will we stay here?"

"How many days." Guo Zhongyou did not raise his head and continued to write with his pen. .

Yun Bai came to his side and saw that he was writing about what he saw and heard today, and felt nervous for no reason.

Could it be that Master stayed because he liked Dr. Xu?

"Master."

Guo Zhongyou's thoughts were interrupted and he had to stop writing and look at him: "Why do you always look like this after eating? Is there something wrong?"

Yun Bai scratched his head and scratched his head: "Master wants to recruit Dr. Xu As a disciple?"

Guo Zhongyou laughed loudly when he heard this, stroking his beard and shaking his head: "I can't teach you, I can't teach you."

"Why can't you teach me?" Yun Bai was a little unhappy, "Master is so powerful. What's wrong with teaching Dr. Xu? Besides, Mrs. Chen said, Dr. Xu actually only studied medicine for two years. Is he really that good?"

Guo Zhongyou sighed, two years...

if he really only studied medicine. After two years, I am afraid that few people will be qualified to teach him.

At the same time, Xu Yi wrote a letter to Suining Mansion in his study.

The letter was addressed to Yu Qiulin.

Yu Qiulin has been away from home for nearly two months, and no new news has come through.

It was rare for Xu Yi to find out his whereabouts from other people today, so he wanted to ask him about Guo Zhongyou.

He didn't take it lightly just because the other party was a medical doctor.

If this letter is rushed, it will be delivered to Yu Qiulin in a few days if nothing unexpected happens.

Xu Yi came out of the study and handed the envelope to A Xu, asking him to deliver the letter to Di's store tomorrow morning.

"Lang Jun, can Dr. Guo be trusted?" A Xu asked him.

Xu Yi said: "I don't know."

From his conversation and behavior, it can be seen that Guo Zhongyou is a very knowledgeable person. From him, he seems to have seen an elder from before.

That elder was like Guo Zhongyou. He would travel across several provinces to find people to discuss knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine just because he heard there was a powerful Chinese medicine doctor somewhere.

Just like this, Xu Yi chose to stay with the other party.

A Xu pondered for a while and asked, "Lang Jun, do you need me to guard the pharmacy?"

Xu Yi chuckled and said, "No."

A Xu said, "There are many secrets in the pharmacy. What if the other party sneaks in in the middle of the night? "

Xu Yi said: "Okay, but you don't have to guard the pharmacy. You can move the things in the pharmacy that may be leaked to the study."

A Xu was stunned.

That's a lot of stuff.

In A Xu's eyes, whether it is Xiaoshi pills, facial fat, medicinal wine or osmanthus wine, the recipes cannot be shared with others.

If we really want to move, these will have to be moved to the study room, and then the study room will be another pharmacy.

Xu Yi: "..."

He held his forehead and laughed: "What should I say to you? Why don't you just put away the relevant prescriptions and account books."

A Xu kept nodding after hearing Xu Yi's words.

Lang Jun is still smart!

A Xu has grown up a bit, and now his height has reached Xu Yi's chest. Xu Yi still treated him as a child. Seeing his silly look, he couldn't help but raise his hand and rub his head.

After rubbing A Xu's hair into a chicken coop shape, he returned to the room with satisfaction.

The next morning, Xu Yi did not practice boxing in the courtyard.

The two children are also very clever. They came out after practicing boxing in the house.

They went to the kitchen in an orderly manner and helped Fang Liu Niang. One of them kneaded the dough and the other watched the fire.

Fang Liu Niang was chopping meat, looking at them, and asked in a low voice: "Is Lang Jun awake?"

"Lang Jun woke up a long time ago, but he just didn't come out." A Jin said.

Fang Liu Niang said: "Then I should prepare the face wash."

"Mother Fang, let me go." A Jin clapped her hands and stood up from the stool. She rolled up her sleeves and asked, "Where is the hot water? I brought water to Mr. Lang and also to the guests over there.

"Sister, I'm going today." A Xu frowned, not wanting his sister to go.

Among the people who came yesterday, the boy looked to be about the same age as him, only two years older than Ah Jin.

Ah Jin had some boxing skills and was not afraid at all. She rejected her brother's kindness and steadily carried the hot water to Xu Yi's room.

Breakfast is steamed buns and soy milk.

The steamed buns were filled with meat and cabbage fillings. Guo Zhongyou and Yun Bai ate them very happily and repeatedly expressed that the steamed buns were really delicious.

Yun Bai swallowed the buns in his mouth, took a sip of soy milk, and said with satisfaction: "We all buy food in the market, and the buns outside are not as delicious as those made by Fang's mother."

Fang's mother was delighted: "As much as they are delicious. Eat some, there's still more in the pot. "

She made a lot today and couldn't finish it.

Guo Zhongyou smiled and said, "I'm not full, so I'll eat two buns."

After he finished speaking, Yun Bai also put down the chopsticks in his hand.

A Xu and A Jin were almost finished eating. They put down their bowls and chopsticks and went to work in the pharmacy.

The doors and windows of the pharmacy were closed, and nothing could be seen inside, but not long after, the strong aroma of alcohol could be smelled.

They are brewing the osmanthus wine that was not finished yesterday.

Guo Zhongyou glanced at the pharmacy and then looked away.

After a while, there was a knock on the door. It was Mrs. He.

Madam He is here to give me new clothes.

Xu Yi felt that Mrs. He was bored at home alone during this period, so he gave her the task of making new winter clothes this year.