Chapter 31 A Chance Encounter She was probably even jealous of "Shadow"...
Xie Jingzhi changed her clothes and put on a light brown linen Tang suit. Although she was over eighty years old, her back was not hunched.
He strode steadily across the threshold toward the consultation room, his ruddy face bearing a warm smile.
Seeing this, Zhu Liu was surprised to find that Dr. Xie was in much better spirits than her mother. She didn't think he was a frail and elderly person at all.
"Thank you, Dr. Xie." The mother and daughter quickly stood up and said in unison.
Xie Jingzhi walked around to the rattan chair opposite the mahogany square table and sat down.
"Don't be shy, sit down." He spoke slowly and deliberately. "First, put your left hand over."
Gu Chunling immediately did as instructed, placing her left hand flat on the pulse pillow.
While taking Gu Chunling's pulse, Xie Jingzhi also observed her complexion, speaking gently: "Your pulse is weak and thready, indicating liver and kidney deficiency! Stick out your tongue so I can see."
Zhu Liushuang stood to one side, quietly watching Gu Chunling open her mouth and stick out her tongue.
Xie Jingzhi frowned almost imperceptibly, then shook her head: "The tongue is dull, with ecchymosis and teeth marks. The tongue coating is thin and white, indicating a deficiency of vital energy and phlegm and blood stasis..."
Zhu Liushuang had always taken her mother to see Western doctors, and this was her first time experiencing traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and pulse taking; she was completely confused. Embarrassed, she interrupted, "Dr. Xie, what caused my mother's illness?"
Xie Jingzhi withdrew his hand, picked up his pen to write a prescription, and explained gently: "Western medicine classifies rheumatoid arthritis as an immune system disease. The human immune system is very complex. Some of it is determined by genetics, and some is caused by external factors."
"In traditional Chinese medicine, your mother's illness is due to liver and kidney deficiency, with phlegm and blood stasis. Therefore, to alleviate the symptoms, it is necessary to prescribe some formulas to nourish the liver and kidneys, remove blood stasis and phlegm, and promote blood circulation and unblock the meridians."
“Codonopsis pilosula, Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, Polygonatum sibiricum... these herbs can improve your mother’s condition.”
While they were talking, Xie Jingzhi had already written out the prescription. He picked it up and handed it to Zhu Liushuang: "You can get the medicine at Rende Pharmacy, it's at the fork in the road 300 meters north of the Municipal People's Hospital."
Zhu Liushuang respectfully accepted the prescription with both hands, saying "thank you" several times.
“Your mother’s health has been weak for a long time. Let her take this for half a month first, and then we’ll adjust the prescription.” Xie Jingzhi then turned to Gu Chunling. “Summer is the season when Yang energy is abundant, making it a good time to do Du Meridian moxibustion. Du Meridian moxibustion can stimulate the Yang energy and meridians in the body, regulate Qi and blood, and strengthen the body. I’ll prescribe one course of treatment for you first and see if it works.”
Gu Chunling was a surprisingly obedient patient this time, nodding in agreement to everything Xie Jingzhi said. Finally, she glanced at Zhu Liushuang's expression out of the corner of her eye.
"How much does it cost?" Unlike hospitals, private consultations don't allow for payment at self-service machines. Zhu Liushuang had already prepared herself for a hefty consultation fee before coming.
The result was unexpected.
"The consultation fee is 100, and the moxibustion on the Du meridian is 150 per session." Upon hearing Xie Jingzhi say this, Zhu Liushuang's eyes widened in surprise. She thought she had misheard. The consultation fee charged by such a famous traditional Chinese medicine doctor was even lower than that of Director Liu's expert appointment.
She had also searched online for appointments with some well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctors, but it was impossible to get one without paying at least a thousand or eight hundred yuan. If she bought one from a scalper, the price would double.
Not only was Zhu Liushuang surprised, but Gu Chunling was also somewhat astonished. She remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was calculating the money.
Xie Jingzhi probably noticed the confusion of Zhu Liushuang and her daughter, and said with a smile, "I'm getting old and can't see many patients, so I don't make money. I just can't stay idle... I think I can treat as many patients as I can."
"Sir, you are truly righteous." Zhu Liushuang looked up, her respect evident in her words. When she looked again at the inscription "A Doctor's Benevolent Heart" hanging on the wall, her eyes welled up with tears.
“Good child, follow Yuan to register and pay.” Xie Jingzhi pointed to Yuan Xiaoqin waiting by the door and said, “The Du Meridian moxibustion will take about two hours. You can wander around the garden, but it’s a bit hot outside, so be careful not to get heatstroke.”
"Okay... thank you, Dr. Xie." After thanking her, Zhu Liushuang followed Yuan Xiaoqin out of the consultation room.
————
In the Xie family's garden, there was a trumpet vine with a thick and strong main trunk, whose outstretched branches climbed up the white wall.
Under the blazing sun, the lush leaves, layer upon layer, showed no signs of wilting. Orange-red trumpet vine flowers emerged from among the leaves, one after another. From afar, it resembled a tree ablaze with red clouds.
Zhu Liushuang stopped by the low wall, tilting her head back to search for the sky through the gaps in the flowers.
In her memory, she had also seen a tree of trumpet creeper in full bloom.
That was on the cover of an episode of the "Human World" radio program.
However, although both are planted next to white walls and black tiles, the one in the photo is much smaller than the one in front of us.
Zhu Liushuang gave a self-deprecating bitter smile: "I'm starting to think of people again when I see things."
The garden was quiet. On the eastern side, many green plants were planted on the muddy ground, all of which she had never seen before. Considering Xie Jingzhi's background as a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, she guessed that they were probably some commonly used herbs.
The aroma of food wafted through the air occasionally. Zhu Liushuang glanced back towards the kitchen, where Aunt Yuan was already cooking.
Although Chenguan Village is a new rural renovation area where every family has built a villa, it still retains the traditional wood-fired stove. Smoke rises from the long chimneys, swirling upwards and disappearing into the air.
Zhu Liushuang rubbed her sore eyes, suddenly feeling an overwhelming longing for her deceased grandparents.
Her maternal grandparents' village is right next to Chenguan Village, so she found the way easily without needing navigation when she arrived today.
Two adjacent villages are separated by a shallow lake that stretches as far as the eye can see. On one side of the lake, villas abound, and tourists flock to experience agritourism. On the other side, the environment is isolated, old houses are dilapidated, and young people have all gone to the city to work, leaving only elderly people living alone to guard their homes.
She walked past the low wall in a daze, then slowly strolled to the east side of the garden, found a shady spot, and squatted down to rest.
The vegetation in the mud was lush and green, with various shapes and forms. She was so engrossed in looking at it that she didn't even notice someone coming in from outside.
"Interested in these?" A slightly hoarse male voice hovered overhead.
Zhu Liushuang looked up at the sound, and a tall shadow enveloped her.
Looking up at him, she could see his thick eyelashes. Long but not curled, like butterfly wings, brushing against her trembling heart.
Why did He Ming come here?
Zhu Liushuang was both surprised and delighted.
She didn't know how long he had been standing behind her; all she knew was that the moment she met his gaze, she even forgot how to breathe.
Before Zhu Liushuang could answer, He Ming pointed to the vegetation on the ground and said, "The one on your left is Hedyotis diffusa, which can reduce inflammation, detoxify, and kill bacteria. The one withered in front is Prunella vulgaris, which has the effects of clearing the liver and improving eyesight, and dissipating nodules..."
Although he did not inherit his maternal grandfather's mantle, he was forced to read some herbal medicine books when he was young, and he was also good at tending to flowers and plants.
Zhu Liushuang opened her mouth, her throat dry: "Senior... what are you doing here?" She remained squatting, but her legs were already sore and numb.
"I forgot to tell you last time... Xie Jingzhi is my maternal grandfather." He Ming's tone was as calm as ever, showing no surprise at her arrival. "Did you bring your mother to see a doctor?"
"Um, Dr. Xie... and my mother are in the examination room," Zhu Liushuang stammered, quickly standing up from the ground.
Whether it was the heat outside or the prolonged squatting, she suddenly felt a darkness before her eyes, and the next second the world spun around her. She staggered a couple of steps and almost fell. Fortunately, He Ming reached out in time and grabbed her hem, pulling her halfway back from mid-air.
At the same time, her cheek brushed against the bare skin of He Ming's arm.
Her face flushed bright red instantly.
She didn't even have time to feel the temperature of his skin.
"Thump thump thump—" My heart is beating joyfully and enthusiastically.
"I'm sorry... senior." Zhu Liushuang quickly explained, regaining her composure, "I might have been squatting for too long... postural hypotension." She was trembling with fear, afraid that He Ming would think she was "throwing herself into his arms."
"Can you stand up?" He Ming's expression didn't change much as he looked down at her flushed face and asked.
"Yes...yes, it's okay." His tongue was practically tied in knots.
Zhu Liushuang was annoyed, wondering why every time she met He Ming, something would go wrong.
However, the current situation is not suitable for her to conduct self-analysis and deep reflection. What she should consider is how to continue the conversation with He Ming in a comfortable manner.
Have you had lunch yet? What brings you here...?
Zhu Liushuang was defeated by her own momentary mental lapse, and after stammering for a long time, she couldn't utter a single meaningful word.
"It's so hot outside, why don't you go back to the consultation room and rest for a bit?" He Ming asked, breaking the awkward silence by speaking first, seeing her serious expression.
"Oh, okay!" Zhu Liushuang uttered two words, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and took a step with her leaden legs.
The two walked forward, half a body's width apart, with He Ming in front and her behind.
The scorching midday sun of summer beat down on people, causing a faint stinging sensation on their skin. Zhu Liushuang covered her arms with her hands, and as she looked down at the ground, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of two shadows almost overlapping.
The sun was directly overhead, casting distorted shadows that appeared short and stout. The two shadows, one tall and one short, nestled together, walking hand in hand, looking quite intimate.
Feeling dejected, Zhu Liushuang pouted and waved her fist at her own shadow.
She'd probably be jealous of even "Shadow"!
He Ming stopped at the door of the consultation room. He turned around and said, "I have something to do. Please make yourself at home. The temperature difference between inside and outside is large. If you feel cold, I can borrow a light jacket from Aunt Yuan for you."
His first sentence was completely devoid of warmth, but then he added the second half, which pulled her heart back from the depths of despair.
Zhu Liushuang felt a mix of emotions. She scratched her nose and said, "It's okay, I'm not cold. Thank you for your concern, senior. You can go back to your work..."
“Okay. There’s a study next to the examination room. You can go there to pass the time if you’re bored.” After saying that, He Ming strode quickly toward the living room on the first floor.
Does he treat others the same way?
Zhu Liushuang fell into deep thought as she watched He Ming's retreating figure.
Perhaps he had already included her in his "friends" list, which is why she received some preferential treatment. For example, he would help her solve difficult problems and inquire about her health...
After all, if it were just an ordinary patient's family member, he wouldn't need to stop and give them special attention, would he?
This was quite different from what she had expected.
I thought that going from "friends lying dormant in my WeChat list" to "friends who are more than just nodding acquaintances in real life" would be a long and arduous journey.
Unexpectedly, it went smoothly.
Of course, Zhu Liushuang was not satisfied with this. Like a greedy "hunter," she began to crave more after tasting the sweetness of success.
At that moment, she desperately wished that she was more than just his "friend".
————
The central air conditioning in the consultation room was working hard, keeping the room temperature at 27 degrees Celsius. Compared to the scorching heat outside, it was like two different worlds.
As soon as Zhu Liushuang stepped inside, the hairs on her arms stood on end.
"Achoo—" Immediately afterwards, my nose stung, and I sneezed twice more.
"Little Zhu, be careful not to catch a cold from the constant changes in temperature..."
She couldn't see what was happening on the other side of the curtain, but the two people in the therapy room could hear everything that was going on outside.
Zhu Liushuang found a quiet corner where she wouldn't catch a cold and sat down quietly: "Dr. Xie, I rarely catch colds, it's nothing, it's nothing."
She stared intently at the words "A Doctor's Benevolence" on the wall of the consultation room: No wonder she felt a strange sense of familiarity upon first seeing it.
These four characters were likely written by He Ming. Upon closer inspection, the brushstrokes and style are remarkably similar to the characters he casually scribbled on the draft paper that day.
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The author notes: "The tongue is dull, with ecchymosis and teeth marks. The tongue coating is thin and white, indicating a deficiency of vital energy and stagnation of phlegm and blood stasis." —Reference: Internet
"Moxibustion on the Du meridian can stimulate the body's Yang energy and meridians, regulate Qi and blood, and enhance physical fitness." — From the internet
Waaaaah, Dr. Xie is such a wonderful doctor!
We've met again! Tell me, Senior He, did you deliberately come here to bump into Shuangshuang...?
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