Chapter 114 "Qi Guanyin"
In the past, Shu Jinyue absolutely disagreed with the idea of judging a doctor's medical skills by the cost of medicine, but after several contacts and hearing about it, she felt that it still had certain reference value.
For example, Dr. Qi, a famous Chinese doctor who is well-known throughout the province and even outside Shilan Province, is said to charge only two yuan for registration fee, but the medicine is very expensive. Any prescription costs thirty or forty yuan, which is simply outrageously expensive!
What's even more exaggerated is that his medicine is not in the form of decoction pieces, but in an "unknown" powdered form, so that even if you are a professional you have no idea what ingredients he is prescribing.
For example, what people talked about most was the treatment of skin diseases. A normal prescription would have three or four columns in one row, listing the specific name and dosage of the Chinese medicine, as well as the preparation and decoction methods. It would be in the form of "15 grams of stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, 12 grams of stir-fried white peony root, 10 grams of licorice", and would have to be written in at least forty or fifty words...but his prescription, which was so large, had only six words: "Prescription No. 1 for Skin Disease"!
He even wrote these six words in such a flamboyant style that it made people guess for a long time what the heck it was!
With such a prescription, the patient has to take it out by himself, and cannot get the medicine from other places, because outsiders have no idea what medicines are included in his prescription No. 1 and No. 2. The patient is forced to get the medicine only from the pharmacy designated by him, and the price of a prescription of "mysterious" medicine can even be as high as one month's salary!
Not to mention the infringement of the patient's right to know, when Shu Jinyue heard about it, he felt that it was really easy for Old Chinese Doctor Qi to make money. There were only a few medicines for treating skin diseases anyway, and the prices would not be sky-high. Even if all of them were the best local herbs, and even if the largest dosage was used, the cost would be only a fraction of the drug price.
While she was still feeling guilty about earning a few extra dollars from the Japanese, old Chinese doctor Qi had already gained both fame and fortune and was making a fortune. Don't you think it's infuriating?
So, now that I heard that Li Xuemei actually spent a hundred yuan to buy Chinese medicine that was only enough for one day, even if the hiccups were "cured", Jin Yue suspected that she had been cheated!
Are there any serious doctors who make such huge profits?
Perhaps because she looked a little strange, Li Sufen's son explained, "Dr. Shu, thank you for your last consultation. Although you were quite accurate, my wife is indeed pregnant with twins. But you said that we need to use some kind of daizheshi, which sounds quite troublesome and expensive. We went to see the old Chinese doctor, and she directly grabbed a handful of red soil and asked my wife to drink it with agarwood and water. After just three times, the hiccups stopped. Isn't it amazing?"
Li Sufen finally recognized that the female comrade in front of her was the student she had bullied before. She was even more proud: "See, some people outside say you are a miracle doctor. When I asked you to treat my mother-in-law, you refused. I think you really can't treat it. Are you afraid of being exposed? A real miracle doctor can cure diseases with just a handful of dirt, and he always cures them correctly."
"Mom, don't talk nonsense. This is not just random dirt. This is the sacred dirt passed down from our ancestors. It can ward off filth and cure all diseases. Of course, Dr. Shu, you just need to listen to it. We have no other intentions."
"Yes, yes, that holy soil is amazing. I heard that it was passed down from their ancestors for three generations. It was soil left over from the end of the Qing Dynasty. She cured Xuemei's disease, which many doctors had been unable to cure, in just one day!"
Shu Jinyue: "..."
The corners of her mouth twitched and she could hardly hold back her laughter!
No, the so-called miracle doctor and the magical red soil passed down for three generations are actually the finely ground hematite!
The mother and son of the Li family have no common sense and do not understand chemistry. In fact, hematite is hematite, which is used to make dyes and pigments in the industrial field!
What is the price of hematite outside? Let’s put it this way, one hundred dollars can buy enough food that the entire Li family can’t finish in a lifetime!
For the first time, Shu Jinyue really discovered that this so-called miracle doctor was quite good at deceiving people. She could sell cheap products at high prices. It was a waste for her to be a doctor with such skills. She should go into business. Selling goods would definitely make money!
Although he was laughing, Jin Yue took two steps and suddenly stopped. "The miracle doctor you found gave you red clay mixed with agarwood powder, right?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
Shu Jinyue was too lazy to pay attention to Li Sufen, who was so proud of herself for buying a handful of red clay for 100 yuan. Instead, she looked at her son and asked, "Can you tell me the address of that miracle doctor?"
Although the man was curious about why she was interested, he had nothing to hide. "It's in Beishui Village, Tuanjie Township, north of the city. When you go there, just ask for an old Chinese doctor and they will show you the way. She's very famous. Many people nearby have seen her for treatment. My mother couldn't get an appointment with the old Chinese doctor Qi in the city. I heard from a friend that this doctor in the north of the city is good, so I introduced her there."
Shu Jinyue didn't care how they got there. After getting the address, she started walking home, thinking as she walked - she didn't know if it was a coincidence or some other opportunity, but the medicine used by this swindler doctor to preserve the pregnancy and relieve hiccups happened to be the "stone method to preserve the pregnancy"!
And considering Shu Jinyue's knowledge from reading countless books, this method has only been used by Qi Huanxin, so it can be considered his unique skill.
But his direct descendant son, Dr. Qi, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, doesn't know this unique skill. Instead, this "miracle doctor swindler" who lives in a small mountain village knows it!
Shu Jinyue felt that things were becoming more interesting.
***
Of course, the old men and women in Liuye Hutong didn’t know how interesting she thought it was. They only knew that the current Lao Niu family was very interesting.
After many ups and downs, Niu Dagang finally got married, but his partner was not the girl who wanted Niu Xiaofang to move out.
"It is said that he couldn't beat Niu Xiaofang in a duel, so they broke up. This sister-in-law was introduced by Niu Xiaofang, and she is her colleague."
He emphasized the word "colleague" particularly, and everyone smiled knowingly.
Although they laughed, after all, they were the uncles and aunts who watched her grow up, so it was hard for them to say anything. Only Aunt Li was the most unhappy with the Niu family. She always felt that Aunt Niu wanted to go to the vegetable market to sell things just to challenge her, and she would never show mercy to her enemies.
"Humph, how many of us saw her go out after dark, painting her eyebrows and eyes, not coming back all night, and then returning to Liuye Hutong at around 10 o'clock the next morning, twisting her waist and wearing a skirt. Do you think we are blind? She didn't come home all night and slept under the overpass?"
"Puchi...Aunt Li, please say less and be more kind with your words." Someone advised.
"How can I not do good deeds? She is a young wife who works in a dance hall. She doesn't do good deeds, so why do you ask me to do good deeds? Zhang Guihua, what do you mean? Are you in cahoots with her?"
"..."Well, Aunt Li is a mad dog that you can't afford to mess with.
However, although Aunt Li was crazy, she also expressed everyone's thoughts. There are now five or six dance halls in the city, and the largest one is on Xinqiao Street. At that time, there are vegetarian and meat-serving dance halls. It just so happens that the one where Niu Xiaofang works is a meat-serving one.
It's no wonder that everyone would think that way. Sun Ailan's ex-husband, Director Niu, is firmly in prison and won't be out for at least ten years. But he doesn't want to divorce. Niu Xiaofang has been living under the name of a married woman, but her life is worse than that of a widow. No one would feel comfortable with this.
Not to mention that she has never been a contented person since she was a child. Going to that kind of place can make money quickly and relieve her loneliness and sorrow.
The more Aunt Li thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. In fact, she had secretly reported Niu Xiaofang to the street office twice, reporting her for her improper work style and adultery. But now it was no longer a big deal. Times have changed. She did not succeed in her report and was severely scolded by Li Yulan twice, which made her feel even more uncomfortable.
"Just wait and see, if you keep flirting like this, you'll get yourself into trouble sooner or later!"
Shu Jinyue was almost frightened by this word, and thought that Aunt Li's choice of words was very bold and "unique".
"Let's go quickly. You're still in a daze. I'm starving." Zhao Wanqiu turned around and called Jin Yue, who went into the old house first, washed his hands, went to the kang and drank water in one go.
"Oh, I'm so tired. People outside only see that we run a clinic to make money, but they don't know that this is a dirty and tiring job. Xiaotian, the cashier, said that she hasn't had a rest for a month and wanted to ask me for two days off to take the child back to her grandmother's house, but I can't do anything. Once she leaves, there will be no one to collect money in the clinic, and I can't handle seeing patients alone."
She pounded her waist and said breathlessly, "Fortunately, Jin Yue invited Master Hu to come. He dispenses medicine quickly and can help me check the prescription. Last time, I was busy and used Pinellia and Aconite together. It was he who checked it out."
The second sentence in the basic Chinese medicine "Eighteen Antidotes" is: Banluo, Beibi and Gongwu.
"Oh, if this kind of low-level mistake were to get out, it would make my peers laugh. Thanks to Hu Rongsheng for his rich experience."
Jin Yue didn't think it was a joke. She comforted him, "Don't be nervous, Mom. It's not impossible to use it. I often use it together."
"You are you. No one would say anything to you even if you used realgar to treat diseases. I can't do that if I make such a low-level mistake. Besides, you know how to match and blend medicines. I don't have your ability."
Zhao Wanqiu sighed. Jin Yue could rest occasionally, but she had to go to the office every day. Not to mention the young and strong Xiao Tian who couldn't stand it, she was the one who couldn't stand it the most. She was in her early sixties now!
Without a day's rest, even machines can't do the job!
Shu Linong was just serving the dishes to the table. Hearing this, he immediately chimed in, "Who said it wasn't true? You have to rest. You have to rest at least one day a week."
But what if Jin Yue also takes a break, and there are only two doctors in the clinic, so wouldn’t that leave them idle? But I haven't heard of any hospital closing for holiday.
"Doctors can rest, but patients won't choose to come when you are not resting. We still need to recruit more people. Jin Yue, didn't you say last year that you would find a few more doctors for the clinic? Why haven't you done anything about it?"
Could Shu Jinyue say that she was too busy to remember?
That's what happens when you're constantly busy, she even forgot to ask her classmates.
"Oh, forget it. Your classmates are now officially working. They are staying in the provincial and municipal hospitals. They will not come to a small clinic like ours."
Jin Yue doesn't like to hear the word "small clinic". She always feels that her business is not just about opening a small clinic to support her family and solve minor ailments of nearby neighbors. She has a lot of capital in her hands and can expand the scale in any way she wants! But what we lack now is not money, but doctors, and good doctors at that!
It would be great if she could invite a few good doctors to see patients, so that she wouldn't have to do everything herself, and she and her mother could take turns to rest for a few days.
In fact, the clinic is currently making money, and the money she earns is enough for her to employ a few more doctors. However, good doctors are hard to come by, and most of them stay in regular large hospitals and will not leave easily.
Shu Jinyue was worried about finding a doctor for several days. He also shamelessly asked his college classmates. Nowadays, some people go into business, while others believe in a stable job with a guaranteed income. Most of them are unwilling to leave the big hospitals.
Jin Yue can only keep this matter in mind for the time being, pay more attention to it, and think about it again after he has finished the important things. The most important thing now is Li Xuemei’s matter.
Jin Yue contacted Li Xuemei herself. She was quite embarrassed: "It's not that I don't trust Dr. Shu, it's my mother-in-law who is quite strong-willed. She insisted on seeing that doctor. I also... you know, my words are useless at home."
Jin Yue had no opinion about her. Her husband was a complete jerk. It was none of her business that Li Sufen was willing to be a sucker and spend a hundred dollars. "It's okay, you can ask anyone to see it. Can I see your recent medical checkup list?"
It was indeed twins, and the hiccups during pregnancy had indeed stopped. Her complexion was also much better, and it was obvious that her illness had been completely cured.
Did I wrongly accuse that "miracle doctor"?
As a result, she had just returned from Li Xuemei's place and had just entered the house when she heard Shu Linong calling her: "Your classmate Xiao Yang called at noon. He is the talkative boy who came to our house before."
"What did he say?"
"I said I found two college buddies for you. They studied acupuncture and massage. We were in the same class. I forgot where they worked. If you're willing, you can meet them and have a chat."
I am so happy today, of course I am willing! She has to recruit soldiers now!
***
Without further ado, the four of them made an appointment to have dinner at the State-Owned Canteen No. 6 the next day.
No, it has been renamed Red Star Hotel now.
Jin Yue is very familiar with this place. When she was dating Xu Duan, 80% of the time they had dinner here. Even the manager knows her.
Just as she arrived at the door of the restaurant, the manager came to greet her with a smile, "Hey, Comrade Shu is here, how are you doing recently?"
"Your comrade Xu is really amazing. I heard that he has opened a large factory in the development zone. It is very large and profitable. A capable person is a capable person. He will shine and achieve great things wherever he goes!"
Shu Jinyue was amused by him. Not long after she sat down in the box, three classmates came. One of the two acupuncturists was named Xiao Cao and the other was named Xiao Wang. Like Xiao Yang, they were from Northeast China.
People from the Northeast are honest and warm-hearted. The most important thing is that both of them are strong guys with a height of over 180 cm and broad shoulders!
It's good for a strong guy to do massage. Massage is a physical job, and those who are too thin may not be able to handle it. Jin Yue herself tried it. She was so tired that she was gasping for breath after massaging two people, but Xiao Yang was still calm without blushing. This is simply a natural gap in physical strength.
She was even more surprised after the conversation. Xiao Cao and Xiao Wang both had boyfriends in Shilan Province and did not plan to go back. One of them worked in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of the Municipal Hospital and the other worked in a district hospital. Although the hospitals were at different levels, they received the same treatment and were both treated as idlers. Other Western medicine departments even thought they were freeloaders and urged the hospital leaders to give them tasks every month.
If the outpatient volume requirements are not met and the amount of medical treatment does not reach that line, their wages will be deducted!
"Come here, the salary and benefits are definitely not less than what you get in a public hospital. I don't even have a KPI here, the more you work, the more you get."
“What is KPI?”
Xiao Yang interrupted, "It's about the workload, but let me be frank. Although we won't give you any workload, you still have to be more conscious and not do things that are paid for nothing."
"Of course, don't worry."
"Of course. We've been on the sidelines for the past two years. Our partners are urging us to get married. As long as we can make money, we'll do anything."
Xiao Yang quickly glared: "Then you can't do anything that doesn't comply with the regulations, you can't charge random fees, you can't over-treat, understand?"
The two men hurriedly promised that in order to prove their "worth", they immediately tied Xiao Yang to a bench as a "patient". They massaged Xiao Yang one by one and made him comfortable.
It can be seen that they all have very outgoing and cheerful personalities, which complements the calm and introverted pharmacist Hu Rongsheng. The clinic also needs vitality, and massage work generally does not require as much seriousness as other positions.
The three guys from Northeast China were chatting non-stop, and Jin Yue was listening nearby, finding it a bit funny.
While enjoying the delicious meal in the Sixth Canteen, Jin Yue discussed with them the salary and work matters. He immediately asked them to resign and take their information and files to the clinic first. He would then ask his second brother to help take them to the Personnel Bureau and the Labor Bureau to handle the formalities.
So, after the two of them joined the job, Jin Yue found that the atmosphere in the clinic had become much more lively when he went to work. These two were talkative, and sometimes they talked so much that many elderly people liked to seek treatment from them specifically. Every time they came, they didn't need to say Xiao Cao or Xiao Wang, but just say "the two strong guys from Northeast China who talk the most", and Xiao Tian who was registering would know who to find.
With their participation, the number of patients receiving physical therapy has visibly increased. Jin Yue asked Xu Duan to find a construction team to renovate the unused rooms into two treatment rooms. It was planned to separate men and women during physical therapy for greater convenience.
For this purpose, Jin Yue also recruited a young girl named Xiao Fang to help them take care of the female patients.
At this point, the staff of Jinyue Clinic has reached 7 people! The scale is really getting bigger and bigger!
***
One month later.
"What? You're going to the northern suburbs tomorrow?"
After sorting out the issues concerning needle-pushing science, Shu Jinyue quickly made a decision.
Zhao Wanqiu disagreed, "The northern suburbs are too far away, and I've never even heard of the Tuanjie Township you mentioned."
"Your purpose is to find the 'miracle doctor' who cured Li Xuemei, right?" Shu Wenming looked at her and thought for a moment. "You can go if you want. I'll go with you."
Jin Yue shook his head, "Just do your thing, and let Xu Duan go with me."
"But he hasn't come back yet."
"I'll tell him later that he has to accompany me into the mountains tomorrow no matter how big the matter is."
Well, that's true. No matter how big the business is, it can't be bigger than the wife. This is the tradition of the Shu family.
Shu Wenming returned to the room somewhat unhappy and lay on the kang in a depressed mood.
"Okay, are you still unhappy because Xu Duan let Tian Meizhi come to work in the factory?" After Xu Wenli took Xiao Ping'an to wash and change into sleeping clothes, she let him sleep on the small bed in the room, while the two adults slept on the kang.
"You've been going to the Xinghua Auto Parts Factory whenever you have time in the past few months, and you've bribed two spies inside. Have you discovered anything after observing for so long?"
Shu Wenming was a little disappointed. He really didn't find anything. He didn't know how to describe his mood. Was he hoping to find something, or not? Anyway, Tian Meizhi seemed like a different person after entering the factory. She no longer wore her flashy clothes, and she never met Xu Duan alone in a place where no one was around. The two of them even rarely spoke to each other.
"I've also heard that Tian Meizhi is quite talented in sales and negotiation. She has been able to help many difficult clients. I think Jin Yue is right. Sometimes appearance can be an advantage, but it depends on the type of person it appears on."
Shu Wenming snorted. What does this little idiot Shu Jinyue know? She doesn’t even understand it herself, and yet she comes to give his wife chicken soup.
"Isn't Niu Xiaofang from our No. 3 Courtyard pretty? She was the most beautiful girl in class back then. How is she doing now?"
It is difficult to evaluate Niu Xiaofang now. Ever since she gave birth to a frail and sickly son, it is not known whether she was forced by Aunt Niu and Niu Dagang or she just wanted to make quick money, but she went to work in a dance hall. What Aunt Zhao and Zhao Wanqiu had kept secret before in order to protect her reputation, is now known to everyone. The whole Liuye Hutong is filled with all kinds of rumors.
Tian Meizhi, who is equally beautiful, used to be the one living in rumors. All her romantic stories were spread everywhere. But now she has been transferred to another job, and now she is working in an auto parts factory based on her ability. It is said that she gets commissions for successful orders, and her salary and bonus are not low. You can see it from the way her son and father dress more and more lavishly.
"So, Comrade Shu Wenming, you have to change your prejudice of judging people by their appearance."
Shu Wenming still said stubbornly, "It's too early to say who is a good guy and who is a bad guy. Let's wait and see."
Early the next morning, Jin Yue and Xu Duan got up, washed up and prepared to set off.
"I've prepared breakfast. Why don't you eat first?" Teacher Shu, wearing an apron, shouted as she chased after him.
Jin Yue quickly shook his head, "Let's go eat Yang's fried dough sticks."
Yang's Youtiao now has a branch on East Street and West Street, and business is booming. They were considered early and there were already more than ten people waiting in front of them, and soon a long queue formed behind them.
Each person gets two freshly fried large dough sticks, served with warm soy milk and a spoonful of white sugar. If the dough sticks are cut shorter and soaked in soy milk, they will be soft, oily, fragrant, and have a natural aroma of beans. Shu Jinyue feels that she can eat a whole bowl of them!
After finishing the meal, she also bought a few tea eggs from their shop and put them in the car. If she felt hungry later, she could eat them with warm water.
Tuanjie Township is located at the northernmost end of Shucheng City. Although it is named as Shucheng District, it is actually closer to the neighboring city. It takes almost two hours to drive from the urban area, mainly because the mountain road is relatively rugged, with cliffs and high mountains. No matter how good Xu Duan's driving skills are, he dare not drive fast. He can only drive as safely as possible.
Jin Yue looked out of the car window and could not see the road. He could only see the cliff and the dark green cold water at the bottom of the cliff. "The place where you rolled down in Shijiagou that year was even steeper than this."
Xu Duan said nothing and concentrated on driving.
"How can you be so bold as to go into a place like that alone?"
"I was lucky. I was rescued by Wang Laowu."
In this life, I am considered to have done Wang Laowu a favor because I saved Wang Xiaohong, but what about my previous life? How did he escape? Even though he was already a wealthy and mysterious tycoon at that time, a place like Shijiagou was simply a lawless place, and even Sun Wukong would have to peel off a layer of skin before entering.
"Susu, let me give you a suggestion."
As soon as he called "Su Su", Jin Yue felt his cheeks getting hot.
"Let's just let it go, okay?"
So, every time he looked at her missing left little toe, he was always calm and he never asked a question, but she knew he always cared because he always bought her the most suitable shoes and always gave her the warmest bed.
He never seemed to be bothered by her painful past, but he always protected and cherished the suffering Su Jinyue.
"It's not that I can't get over it, I just think about it sometimes."
"Yeah." Xu Duan drove seriously and would occasionally glance at her when the road conditions were good.
Jin Yueting didn't like this silent atmosphere, so she asked for something to talk about: "How is Tian Meizhi doing in your factory?"
"not bad."
Jin Yue raised his eyebrows. Xu Duan spoke very objectively and conservatively. When he said "not bad", it was equivalent to "very good", which was rare.
"From the boss's perspective, compared to the benefits she can bring me now, I don't really care about her previous reputation as long as it doesn't affect my business."
This explains why he hired her and gave her such an important task as negotiating with clients.
Jin Yue nodded, "Boss Xu is right."
Xu Duan smiled helplessly. If he wasn't driving, he would probably rub her head or pinch her hand.
The two chatted as they drove, and when they arrived at Beishui Village, it was exactly twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and it was hot and hungry. However, Jin Yue couldn't care less. She found that in an open space at the entrance of Beishui Village, which she temporarily called the "parking lot", there were actually five cars parked. Including their jeep, there were a total of six cars.
Looking around, the entire Beishui Village, and even Tuanjie Township are true portrayals of "poor and remote areas". The roads are yellow dirt roads, the walls are yellow dirt walls, on which are painted old slogans "Militia is the basis of victory" with white lime. The handwriting is already mottled, and some houses even have several tiles fallen off... The key point is that every household in the village has a house like this. One-third of the households in Lijia Village have built brick houses and small Western-style buildings, but there is not a single household here.
It is really unbelievable that there are six cars in such a remote area.
Xu Duan also noticed this strangeness. He stopped Jin Yue who wanted to go directly to the village and said, "Let's take some fresh air outside. I called Jiang Weijun and asked him to bring someone to find us if we can't get back to the bookstore before 5 pm."
Jin Yue laughed, "Do you think we are in a bandit den?"
I don’t know why, although the village looks a bit strange, Jin Yue is not afraid. He even feels a little friendly. Maybe it’s the scent of herbs floating in the air.
"Young man, you are also bringing your wife to see a doctor, right? Do you want to take some of our local specialties home? These are very fresh longevity roots, which my old man just dug up from the mountain this morning." An old lady in her sixties walked towards the young couple carrying a basket and enthusiastically tried to sell them her things.
"The mother of Gou Sheng in our village said that the longevity root is a good thing. Chew two pieces when you feel dry mouth and thirst, chew two pieces when you have a cold, fever, backache, or diarrhea and eye pain, and the symptoms will be cured immediately. I heard that eating this regularly can help you live longer!"
Shu Jinyue almost laughed out loud. What is this? A magic medicine? It can cure anything by just chewing two tablets. There is also something called "Gousheng's Mother". The name is quite unique.
"Don't disbelieve me, Gousheng's mother is amazing. She's a famous doctor in our area. She has cured many people's strange diseases nearby. You must be here to see her, right?"
Jin Yue was stunned. It turned out that he met someone who knew the inside story!
So, she pretended to be curious, pointed at the brown-yellow thing in the bamboo basket, and asked, "Auntie, what is this? Why haven't I seen it before?"
"Longevity root, I don't know what it's called, but it's a Chinese medicine anyway."
Needless to say, after listening to the aunt's local version of the "function introduction", she already knew that this thing was none other than Pueraria root, without even looking at what it looked like. It seems that this "Gousheng's mother" actually understands Chinese medicine and is not the swindler doctor as he initially thought.
"Is it really as magical as the lady said? I want all of them, no matter how much they are on sale. I'll take them all home and let my parents have a taste too!"
"Okay!" The old lady didn't even bother to introduce herself. She quickly took out a small portable scale and skillfully rolled the weight on it, saying, "This one is three catties, one ounce and five cents. I'll give you three catties, which is sixty cents. How about that?"
Fresh Pueraria root costs only 20 cents per pound, which is not expensive.
Jin Yue tasted a piece of it. It was a little sweet and a little spicy. My mouth was watering after chewing it. It was indeed the best fresh Pueraria root. I can give it to my family as a snack when I go back. Especially Teacher Shu has been suffering from sore throat recently, and two blisters have grown on the tip of his tongue.
The old lady used some straws to skillfully tie the kudzu root in, so that it would not fall off when she carried it while walking. "Is this your first time here?"
"How did you know that, Auntie?"
"Hey, you two look unfamiliar to me. Anyone who has come to see Gousheng's mother looks familiar to me. What's wrong with you two?"
Jin Yue made up a random story, and of course the focus couldn't stay on her, "Is this old lady you're talking about the doctor we're looking for?"
"Of course she is. She is the only one in Beishui Village who can treat illnesses. She can't be wrong."
"Maybe there's a barefoot doctor?"
The old lady laughed, "The barefoot doctor is not as good as her. Her medical skills are inherited from her ancestors. It is said that they were passed down from her great-grandfather's grandfather. What was his name? During the reign of Emperor Chongzhen, her ancestor was the emperor's imperial physician. It was the emperor who took the pills that brought disaster to their family, so they fled to our Shilan."
"With such excellent medical skills and a family background in medicine, how could she be in Beishui Village? Is she lying?" Jin Yue looked unconvinced.
It makes sense. No matter his family background or personal medical skills, he doesn’t seem like an “expert” who would live in a small mountain village.
The old lady was planning to go home to cook, but she didn't leave immediately after hearing this. "Don't disbelieve me, Gousheng's mother is really a doctor, otherwise why do so many people come to see her for treatment? There are five or six people like you who come here in cars every Sunday. You don't know, but I heard that she used to be a rich lady, but then she had a falling out with her family for some reason, so she was sent to live with their distant relatives. Her family didn't care about her anymore, so she had to stay here forever, and later she married Gousheng's father."
"And what happened next?"
"Later, Gousheng's father got a serious illness, it seemed to be leukemia. She went back to her parents' home to borrow money, but was scolded by her brother and sister-in-law. She was so depressed that she tried to commit suicide. When she woke up again, she had nothing to do with that place, but Gousheng's father was gone too." Speaking of this, the old lady felt a little sad. "They were both honest people. They were forced into a dead end, so..."
Xu Duan took two cans of oranges from the car. The old lady felt embarrassed and said, "Hey, no, you used your money to buy my longevity roots, I can't take your things anymore." He didn't even bargain at 2 cents per pound. He was a very honest young man.
"Just take it. To be honest, we also have an illness that we cannot tell others about. We have seen many doctors and have been deceived. The illness was not cured, but our bodies were damaged. So we are afraid. We came to your village after a friend introduced us, but we are still nervous. If you can tell us about this doctor, we will be grateful to you."
Shu Jinyue was born with a face that says "I'm naive and gullible". If he puts a little more effort and adds some emotion, people will feel that he is very sincere and real!
So, the old lady took her hand and said sympathetically, "My girl, you are really, really... If only one knows when he has a stomachache, you are such a respectable young person, and you have a job in the city, but who would have thought that you would have such a disease... Well, whatever you want to know, I will tell you. In our Beishui Village, when I came here as a daughter-in-law, Gousheng's mother was driven from the city to the countryside by her brother. I saw it with my own eyes."
She described the scene very clearly. "I remember her brother said he would not recognize her anymore and told her not to tell anyone her last name was Qi. He also said she should not even think about her father's things, and so on..."
She paused, "She said that she had brought shame to the Qi family, making them lose face in public, and that it was difficult for a younger sister to get married. Oh, I can't learn to talk like a cultured person anyway, so she just said that she was a disgrace to the family."
Shu Jin was more and more curious about what this bitch had done to make her brother scold her like that.
"It was only after we got to know each other that we realized that Gou Sheng Niang was actually a pitiful person. If anyone should blame someone, they should blame the bandits. There's no point in blaming her. She just saved a big sister's life on the way to burn incense with others, but ended up getting separated from her maid and being kidnapped by bandits. That's why... Alas, which girl likes to be harmed by others?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she realized that she had said something wrong, and quickly covered her mouth, "Girl, don't tell anyone, I'm such a jerk with my mouth!"
She slapped herself twice, for real, because she really hated herself for speaking too quickly. After that, she looked at Jin Yue cautiously, "I beg you, girl, don't tell anyone."
It can be seen that she was really upset, not like Aunt Li who pretended to "let the cat out of the bag" but actually ruined her reputation. Shu Jinyue quickly agreed: "Don't worry, once it enters my ears, it will not come out of my mouth."
"That's good, that's good. Goushengniang is actually very kind to our fellow villagers. She just has a hard life."
Based on her words, Jin Yue pieced together a rough story: Gousheng's mother was born into a wealthy family and was considered a rich lady in the old society. When she was young, she was killed by bandits on her way to burn incense because she saved someone. She was indeed a poor person, but her family did not sympathize with her or take care of her. They also thought that she had ruined the family's reputation. As a result, her younger sisters could not find a good family, so they sent her directly to the most remote village in Shucheng City and left her to fend for herself. Later, she married a young man from the countryside. A few years later, her husband was diagnosed with leukemia. When she went back to her parents' home to borrow money, not only did she fail to get any, she was ridiculed and driven away. Later, her husband died of the illness.
"What a pity! Her son Gousheng also inherited his father's disease. How can a person be so unlucky? Her husband died of the disease, and her son also... Alas!"
Xu Duan was listening quietly at the side, and suddenly interrupted: "Blood cancer is leukemia. Isn't it said that this doctor is very skilled? Can't she cure this disease?"
"Well, how can it be cured? That's leukemia. Gousheng's father died two months after he was diagnosed. Gousheng has only been diagnosed for half a month now, and his mother is keeping him alive with good medicine. Otherwise, it would be hard to say."
Xu Duan glanced at Shu Jinyue. She knew what he meant and nodded. "Auntie, we have come all the way here, we are hot and hungry. Can we have a meal at your house? We will give you two yuan for food. How about that?"
"No, no, you don't have to pay. Let's go home and I'll make you some sauerkraut noodles."
The people in this village are very simple and honest. Although they are poor, they are very warm-hearted and have no ulterior motives. They will answer whatever you ask, and will say whatever they can and cannot say. This makes it particularly easy to find out about Goushengniang's affairs.
Aunt Zhang’s house is the first one at the entrance of the village. No wonder she came up to sell Pueraria root as soon as Jin Yue and his friends arrived.
There were three yellow mud houses with strings of golden corn and red peppers hanging on the walls. The yard was very clean, and there was some kudzu roots still covered with fresh soil in a basket in the corner.
"These are what my old man dug up in the mountains this morning. I'll sell you some fresh ones. The rest will be dried and Gousheng Niang will buy them. The price is fair. She will buy any medicinal herbs dug by anyone in our village."
"She is a good person. She never charges us for her medical treatment. At most, she gives us an egg or a few corn cobs. Even if people from the city come to her for treatment, she doesn't have the heart to charge them because they are from poor families. Sometimes she even gives them medicine for free. Do you know what our villagers call her?"
"Qi Guanyin."
To be called like this by the common people is a great compliment! Even since Shu Jinyue started practicing medicine, no one has ever called her by a similar name.
Through these three words, Shu Jinyue had already outlined the image of a kind-looking, gentle and elegant old lady in his mind before he even met her.
While Aunt Zhang was talking, she was kneading the dough and frying the sauce diligently.
Xu Duan turned on the kettle and poured a cup of warm water for Jin Yue, "Moisten your throat, you've been talking so much."
Jin Yue glared at him. Hey, you think she talks too much, right? Why do you hold a grudge like this?
Aunt Zhang saw the couple's quarrel and smiled knowingly. The more she liked them, the more she felt sorry for them being troubled by those unspeakable diseases. She comforted them, "Don't worry, Gou Sheng Niang will definitely cure your illness."
"She was very skilled in medicine. When she was young, she could treat people. She could cure any cold, flu, or diarrhea. But the strange thing was that she didn't know much about medicinal herbs at that time. She could call out the names, but she couldn't find the right medicine. She just wrote a prescription and asked everyone to take it to the commune hospital. Later, her husband fell ill and couldn't afford medicine, so she went to the mountains to collect herbs according to the book. As she collected, she learned them. Over the years, her medical skills have gradually improved."
The villagers found it strange, but Shu Jinyue felt that the identity of this Goushengniang should be true and she was indeed the daughter of a wealthy family. Because the daughter of a wealthy family may come from a medical family, she is well acquainted with Chinese medicine theories and prescriptions, but she knows nothing about medicinal materials.
Because the "medicines" she saw when she was a child were processed, impurities removed, leaving only the medicinal parts, cut, and put into the medicine cabinet, rather than whole plants growing alive in the soil.
Xu Duan asked Jin Yue quietly: "Have you guessed who this person is?"
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