When Yang Zijie saw Zhang Zhihe, he was filled with sympathy. He shook his head gently, and his sigh was particularly clear in the evening breeze.
"Zhihe, I've looked at it again... Sigh, prepare for the worst. Your wife... she's running out of energy, it'll be in the next few days. Her condition deteriorated too quickly, this time... it's really too late."
Yang Zijie patted him on the shoulder with great sympathy: "Remember to get the medicine I prescribed on time; it will at least allow her to pass away peacefully." After saying that, the old Chinese medicine doctor gave Zhang Zhihe another deep look, shook his head, and left with a heavy gait, carrying his medicine box.
Zhang Zhihe stood there, as if his soul had been ripped out. His body swayed suddenly, and he stared blankly at the old Chinese medicine doctor's departing figure, feeling as if his whole being had been emptied out in an instant.
The faint hope that Xu Kuo had just ignited was completely extinguished by Yang Zijie's cold water, leaving only icy despair.
"Brother Zhang!" Xu Kuo reacted quickly, catching the swaying Zhang Zhihe and comforting him in a deep voice, "Don't lose heart! Doctor Yang's words may not necessarily be the final result!"
Zhang Zhihe was brought back to his senses by Xu Kuo's voice. He turned his head blankly and looked at Xu Kuo, his lips trembling, but he couldn't say a word.
In the end, he numbly pushed open the door and staggered inside.
Xu Kuo followed closely behind, and a heavy, mixed smell of herbs and the unique odor of patients wafted towards him.
The room was dimly lit, with only a dilapidated wooden bed on which lay a woman with a sallow complexion, so thin that she was nothing but skin and bones.
Her breathing was weak, as if it might stop at any moment.
"My lord...you're back..." The woman on the bed opened her eyes with difficulty, her voice barely audible.
"Waaah..." Seeing his wife like this and hearing her weak voice, Zhang Zhihe could no longer hold back. He rushed to the bedside, grasped his wife's withered hand, and tears rolled down his face like broken beads. He choked back sobs and wept uncontrollably.
"Don't...don't cry...I'm fine..." The woman struggled to raise her other hand, wanting to wipe away her husband's tears, but she couldn't even muster that much strength. She could only look at him with loving eyes filled with her dim and lifeless gaze.
This scene brought a pang of sadness to Xu Kuo's heart.
This couple endured unimaginable suffering in those impoverished times.
He took a deep breath, walked to the bedside, carefully observed Zhang Zhihe's wife's complexion and breathing, and gently took her pulse.
The medical knowledge bestowed upon him by the system raced through his mind, and after a moment, Xu Kuo's eyes narrowed.
Although very ill, there is still hope!
He let go of her hand and looked at Zhang Zhihe, who was still weeping: "Brother Zhang, I might really be able to cure your wife's illness. Let me try!"
Zhang Zhihe suddenly raised his head, looking at Xu Kuo with teary eyes, his face filled with disbelief.
He was about to shake his head as usual.
"If even Yang Zijie can't cure it, who else can?"
"Who is Yang Zijie?" Xu Kuo suddenly asked.
Zhang Zhihe was taken aback, and subconsciously replied, "Old Chinese Medicine Doctor Yang! He's the most famous traditional Chinese medicine doctor in our Hongqi Town. He can cure many difficult and complicated diseases. If it weren't for Old Chinese Medicine Doctor Yang keeping my wife on medication for the past few years, she probably would have..."
He couldn't continue, his voice choked up again.
The implication is clear: even Dr. Yang said there's no hope, so what chance do you, a young man...?
Xu Kuo smiled, a confident smile on his face: "Brother Zhang, I know you don't believe me. But Doctor Yang's expertise might lie in herbal remedies. As for me, I have my own methods. Since things have come to this, why not take a gamble?"
Zhang Zhihe hesitated, his mind in turmoil.
Reason told him it was impossible, but Xu Kuo's resolute gaze made it impossible for him to completely refuse.
Just then, the weak woman on the bed spoke, her voice soft yet exceptionally clear: "Master... let... let this comrade try... it's just... death after all... what if..."
Yes, what if?
These three words broke down the last line of defense in Zhang Zhihe's heart.
He suddenly looked at Xu Kuo, his eyes filled with determination and a final hope: "Comrade Xu Kuo! Then... I'm entrusting this to you! No matter the outcome, I... will be grateful for your kindness!"
"Don't worry, Brother Zhang." Xu Kuo nodded and said no more.
He carefully took out something wrapped in cloth from his bag and unfolded it. It was a row of silver needles of different lengths, gleaming with a cold light.
Under Zhang Zhihe's astonished and uncertain gaze, Xu Kuo held his breath, picked up a silver needle, found the acupoint, and steadily inserted it.
His movements were fluid and without the slightest hesitation.
One needle, two needles, three needles... Soon, more than a dozen silver needles were inserted into the woman's key acupoints.
Zhang Zhihe was so nervous that he forgot to breathe, staring intently at his wife's face.
A miracle could happen in the next moment!
His originally sallow complexion began to blush faintly at a speed visible to the naked eye!
Although it was still pale, that vibrant red gave Zhang Zhihe hope.
He widened his eyes and covered his mouth, afraid of making a sound that might disturb Xu Kuo.
Half an hour later, when Xu Kuo put away the last silver needle, the woman on the bed let out a long, soothing breath.
Her breathing became steady and strong, and although her face was still pale, it was much rosier than before, and her eyes were much clearer.
Although still weak, the deathly aura of impending death had completely vanished!
"This...this..." Zhang Zhihe looked at his wife, who was completely different from before, and trembled with excitement, unable to speak coherently.
The woman on the bed also felt the changes in her body; a long-lost warm current surged within her. She looked at Xu Kuo, her heart filled with shock and gratitude.
Xu Kuo wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead and instructed Zhang Zhihe, "Sister-in-law has just recovered from a serious illness and her vital energy has been greatly depleted. She still needs careful recuperation. I will prescribe a medicine for you later to strengthen your body and replenish your vital energy. Remember, during this period, you should eat a light diet, keep warm, and avoid overexertion."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud "thump" was heard!
Zhang Zhihe's knees buckled, and he knelt upright before Xu Kuo, kowtowing repeatedly with a thud, his voice trembling with sobs and overflowing with boundless gratitude.
"Comrade Xu Kuo! No! My benefactor! You are the savior of my Zhang Zhihe family! I, Zhang Zhihe, would never be able to repay your kindness, even if I were to serve you like a cow or a horse!"
This unexpected gift startled Xu Kuo.
He rushed forward and helped Zhang Zhihe up with both hands: "Brother Zhang! What are you doing! Get up! You can't do this, you can't do this!"
"Yes, yes, absolutely!" Zhang Zhihe was helped up, but still excitedly grabbed Xu Kuo's arm. "You saved my wife's life, which is to say, you saved my life! This kindness, I..."
Xu Kuo patted the back of his hand, interrupting him with a gentle smile.
“Brother Zhang, it was nothing, no need for that. We became friends through a misunderstanding, and we should help each other out from now on. Besides, I might need your help sometime in the future.”
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