After leaving the clinic, Jiang Yuwei and her group prepared to split up. Wang Ma was going to buy some more food and supplies for the journey, while Ning Zixuan and the others were going to rest at the post station and take a good bath.
Ning Qiu and Jiang Yuwei were responsible for taking care of Ning Daya, while Tie Zhu was in charge of driving the oxcart to find the skilled doctor Zhu to treat Daya's illness.
Soon, the three of them arrived at No. 36 Zhu Lane after asking around. Jiang Yuwei got off the oxcart and saw that the door was locked. She immediately became anxious. She turned her head and saw an old man with white hair holding a roast chicken in one hand and a chicken leg in the other, eating with his mouth full of oil.
He kept muttering to himself:
"This beggar's chicken is getting worse and worse. The chicken meat is so dry and tough that even an old man like me can't chew it. Sigh!"
Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei quickly stepped forward and asked with a smile:
"Old man, do you know where this 'miracle doctor' Zhu has gone?"
The white-haired old man glanced at Jiang Yuwei impatiently and said coldly:
"What do you want with him?"
Jiang Yuwei quickly pointed to Ning Daya lying on the oxcart and explained:
"Here's the thing, my friend was seriously injured, and the doctor at the clinic told us to come and find Master Zhu, saying that only he can heal my friend's injuries."
The white-haired old man glanced indifferently at Ning Daya lying on the oxcart, then looked at Jiang Yuwei, before walking straight to the door of No. 36 Zhu Lane. He put the chicken leg in his mouth, reached into his pocket with his greasy hands to take out the key, and quickly opened the gate.
Seeing this, Jiang Yuwei quickly followed and carefully checked the house number. She realized it was indeed the home of the "Miracle Doctor Zhu," so the white-haired old man in front of her must be the Miracle Doctor Zhu himself.
Jiang Yuwei followed behind the skilled healer Zhu, and was just about to step into the courtyard when Zhu scolded her:
"Stop right there! Who let you in? You're trespassing, do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei quickly withdrew her foot. She remembered what the doctor had said earlier: this was a strange old man, and she must not anger him, lest he refuse to treat Ning Daya's injuries.
Thinking this through, Jiang Yuwei quickly stood outside the courtyard and spoke with an awkward smile:
"Um, you must be the famous Healer Zhu. It must be fate that we found you today. It must be my fate to live. Um, could you let us in to talk?"
Without even glancing at Jiang Yuwei, the skilled healer Zhu sat down on a recliner in the courtyard and said calmly:
"I have a problem: I have to eat a full meal before seeing a doctor. Right now, this beggar's chicken I bought is too awful, I don't want to eat it. If I'm not full, I can't see your friend. You can go back."
Upon hearing this, Tie Zhu immediately became anxious and hurriedly said with reddened eyes:
"Please, please save Daya! Daya is a good girl, she can't just die like this."
Upon hearing this, Master Zhu sneered and said:
"There are so many good people in this world, I can't possibly save them all, can I? Alright, I'm going to take a nap now, you guys go ahead and leave, remember to close the gate behind you."
Upon seeing this, Tie Zhu's face flushed red with anger, and he said:
"What kind of miracle doctor are you? I don't think you can cure it. You're afraid of ruining your reputation as a miracle doctor, so you're turning us away like this. You have no compassion as a doctor at all!"
Seeing that Tie Zhu was agitated, Jiang Yuwei patted his shoulder, signaling him to stop talking. Jiang Yuwei also noticed that the skilled healer Zhu was still lying on the recliner with his eyes closed, ignoring Tie Zhu.
So, on a whim, he set up a fire in front of the Zhu family's gate, had Tie Zhu help him stoke it, and handed Ning Qiu a bowl of water, instructing her:
"Ning Qiu, slowly feed this water to Daya. She can hold on for a little longer."
Then, taking advantage of the two's inattention, they went to the alley at the street corner, picked up a few preserved eggs, and then picked a few chili peppers from the vegetable garden in the space. After that, they ran to the door of Master Zhu's house, put the chili peppers on the fire to roast, and soon the aroma of the roasted chili peppers wafted into Master Zhu's yard.
The skilled healer Zhu, who had been sleeping on the recliner, sniffed the aroma. Jiang Yuwei then took out a small mortar and pestle, mashed the roasted chili peppers, added the preserved eggs and seasonings, and then put the mashed chili peppers and preserved eggs into a bowl. She looked at the skilled healer Zhu in the yard and said with a smile:
"I have just made this bowl of pounded pepper and preserved egg. Would you like to try it?"
Miao Shou Zhu initially didn't want to pay attention to Jiang Yuwei and her group, but unexpectedly, the food in Jiang Yuwei's hands looked incredibly delicious. At this moment, Miao Shou Zhu could only swallow hard and forcefully say, "I don't know how."
"If you insist on giving it to me, then bring it in and let me try it. However, I'll say it again: I'll only treat patients if I'm full. If what you make doesn't taste good, I won't eat it."
Jiang Yuwei smiled and nodded, then carried the bowl to Master Zhu and handed him the pounded pepper and preserved egg dish.
He eagerly took the bowl from Jiang Yuwei's hand, glanced at the dark food in the bowl with disdain. Although it didn't look very appetizing, the peculiar aroma kept wafting into his nose. Even if he was very tolerant, he couldn't resist anymore and immediately picked up his chopsticks and started shoveling food into his mouth.
Soon, a large bowl of pounded chili and preserved egg was gone. Master Zhu patted his bulging belly with satisfaction and exclaimed in surprise:
"I didn't expect you to be such a good cook. Here's what we'll do: I'll agree to heal your friend's wounds, but you have to stay here for three days and cook for me. You have to make me different dishes for each meal before I can let you go!"
Jiang Yuwei only heard that the skilled healer Zhu was willing to treat Ning Daya, and she nodded happily, signaling Tiezhu to carry Ning Daya into the house first.
Seeing that she had agreed, Master Zhu didn't hesitate and immediately got up to open the door and let Tie Zhu in. After Tie Zhu put Ning Daya on the bed, he scratched his head sheepishly and said to Master Zhu:
"You are very magnanimous. I was too anxious just now, which is why I spoke rudely. Please don't hold it against me."
Without even glancing at Tie Zhu, Master Zhu waved his hand and said:
"Get out!"
Jiang Yuwei glanced at Tie Zhu, signaling him to go outside and wait patiently. Now that she had finally persuaded the skilled healer Zhu to treat Ning Daya's injuries, Tie Zhu dared not cause any more trouble and could only nod and leave.
The skilled healer Zhu looked at Jiang Yuwei and said:
"You stay and be my helper."
Jiang Yuwei nodded and stepped forward, waiting for the next instructions from the skilled healer Zhu.
The skilled healer Zhu first took Ning Daya's pulse, then pried open her eyelids to examine her, and checked her tongue coating before saying to Jiang Yuwei:
Do you know about acupoints on the human body?
Jiang Yuwei nodded and said:
"Yes, I know. I've given my husband acupuncture before, so I memorized all the acupuncture point charts."
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