After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 24 Asking for help
The father and daughter set off before dawn, wrapped in thick coats.

The coats of poor families were stuffed with animal fur and some dried plant fibers, a hodgepodge that made them very heavy to wear, but fortunately, they were quite effective at keeping warm.

The roads were difficult to travel due to the snow, and it was already dawn when the two arrived in town. After much difficulty, they found a clinic, only to see from afar that the clinic's doors were tightly closed, and there were many people frozen to death outside.

This scene completely shocked Su Tai. She was stunned and grabbed Su Chunlin in fear, "Dad, what are they doing?"

Su Chunlin, his face pale, tried to appear strong and composed. "Don't be afraid, little girl. Wait here for me. I'll go take a look."

"Stop looking, let's go!" a voice came from behind them.

The father and daughter turned around and found that the person who came was Su Changfu, and there were some people carrying a stretcher with Su Changfu.

As if grasping at a lifeline, Su Chunlin rushed over with snot and tears streaming down his face, "Brother Changfu, my son A-Ming is sick with a fever. We need to find a doctor, but why is the clinic closed?"

Su Changfu looked at Su Chunlin with sorrow and pity, sighing repeatedly, "Recently, there has been an outbreak of typhoid fever in Moshi Town. Eight or nine out of ten people who contracted it did not survive. The medicine in the clinic has long been bought up. The doctors are like a skilled cook without rice to cook! Without medicine, we cannot open. This is the only clinic in our town. Even the town magistrate does not know what to do."

Su Chunlin looked utterly desperate, while Su Tai's expression changed as she pressed, "Uncle, do you know where the doctor lives?"

“I do know that, but even if you find a doctor, it won’t help without medicine!” Su Changfu said, looking puzzled.

Su Tai insisted, "Please tell me!"

Su Changfu was busy, so he could only tell her the doctor's address.

Su Tai pulled the dejected Su Chunlin to the place.

Dr. Li was a kind old man with a full head of white hair. As soon as he opened the door, he said, "I also want to treat the sick and save lives, but I really have no way!"

Even knowing this, Su Tai still didn't want to give up. "Doctor, we won't force you. I just want to ask what medicine can save people and where to find it?"

Doctor Li was somewhat surprised, then frowned and scolded, "Nonsense! You don't understand pharmacology, can you even distinguish between medicinal herbs and poisonous plants? What if you pick the wrong one?"

Su Tai knelt down before Doctor Li with a thud, pleading, "Please teach me, or help me, I beg you!"

Su Chunlin also knelt down.

Doctor Li sighed again, perhaps struggling with his decision. After a while, he finally made up his mind, "Alright, this old man will go out with you. But with such a long drought, it's hard to find even wild grass in the mountains, let alone medicinal herbs. If we really can't find any, don't blame me."

"No, no! Thank you, Doctor Li!" Su Tai was overjoyed and quickly got up from the ground, pulling Su Chunlin up with her.

The father and daughter rented an oxcart in town and set off with Dr. Li, who had difficulty walking, towards the Canglan River.

Dr. Li glanced at the direction the oxcart was heading and asked about Su Chunlin's address. He said in surprise, "This isn't the way to Dongmen Village."

Su Tai explained, "There's nothing in the mountains of Dongmen Village, but there should be some in the mountains near Shenjiazhuang. If all else fails, we can go to the Canglan River. There's always something in the mountains along the Canglan River. Dr. Li has difficulty walking, so you don't need to go through all that trouble. We can handle it."

Su Chunlin quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, I'll carry you on my back if you really have to climb up."

Seeing the sincerity of the father and daughter, Doctor Li couldn't help but feel moved.

The oxcart passed through Shenjiazhuang.

Su Tai thought for a moment and said to Su Chunlin, "Dad, you and Doctor Li wait on the oxcart. I'll go into the village to find Brother Shen. He knows this place well and we can avoid some detours."

Su Chunlin nodded repeatedly. After Su Tai left, Doctor Li said to Su Chunlin with envy, "You've given birth to an exceptionally good daughter!"

Su Chunlin gave a slight smile, "My girl is indeed capable."

He was at a loss from the very beginning. If Su Tai hadn't insisted on coming up with a solution, he might have already gone home crying.

In the dead of winter, almost no one goes out.

The entire Shen family village was quiet. Su Tai found a blind spot near Shen Yi's house, slipped into the time-space transfer station, took out twenty catties of grain, and then knocked on Shen Yi's door.

Hearing the noise, Shen Yi quickly opened the door and came out. He looked at Su Tai in surprise, and seeing that no one was around, he became even more worried. "Why did you come here by yourself?"

Su Tai handed him the grain and said anxiously, "Brother Shen, my brother has caught typhoid fever. My father and Doctor Li are waiting outside the village. We need to go into the mountains to dig for medicinal herbs. Do you know which mountain has medicinal herbs? Or where the nearby villagers gather herbs?"

Shen Yi paused, then locked the grain inside the house without saying a word. He picked up his wicker basket, sickle, shovel, and other tools and went out with Su Tai. "I'll take you there."

The commotion alerted the second aunt's family next door.

Upon learning of the situation, Xu immediately instructed Shen Ping to take a shovel and a wicker basket and go out to help.

With two more capable helpers, even Doctor Li breathed a sigh of relief.

Led by Shen Yi, the group arrived at the mountain where they had previously dug for wild vegetables.

Dr. Li pondered for a moment and said, "We need to find ephedra, atractylodes macrocephala, astragalus membranaceus, coptis chinensis, and white peony root. Ephedra promotes sweating and dispels cold, clears the lungs and relieves asthma, promotes urination and reduces swelling, dispels carbuncles, and resolves masses. It is cold- and heat-resistant and commonly found on hillsides, dry wastelands, and riverbeds, and is suitable for sandy soil."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Shen Ping excitedly run down a slope, pointing to a dried-up stream not far away and saying, "Dr. Li, is there ephedra here that you mentioned?"

The group rushed over, and Dr. Li saw the green plants from afar and was extremely excited. "Yes, yes, yes! I didn't expect so many to grow here! Those patients are saved! Quick! Pick them all!"

"Alright!" Shen Ping swung his sickle and got to work, saying as he worked, "Dr. Li, leave the ephedra to me, you guys go find the others first."

"Good, good, good!" Doctor Li was overjoyed and led the others elsewhere. "Next, let's see if we can find Astragalus membranaceus. Generally, astragalus membranaceus can also be found near places where ephedra is found, as their living environments are similar."

Dr. Li is very confident about this.

Sure enough, he soon discovered astragalus, and quite a lot of it.

This time, Su Chunlin volunteered to stay and pick the fruit.

Shen Yi carried Doctor Li on his back and led Su Tai to continue searching for other medicinal herbs.

The group worked hard and finally returned home with a full load before dark.

There were still a few medicinal herbs that couldn't be found, which Dr. Li found very regrettable.

Shen Yi thought for a moment and said, "Doctor Li, how about my second uncle and I take you into the mountains tomorrow? Uncle Chunlin and Sister Xiaotai can take the oxcart back first. There are still a lot of ephedra and astragalus in the mountains, so we can bring more people over to help."

After thinking for a long time, Doctor Li finally nodded and said to Su Chunlin, "I will divide these medicines into doses for your child. You take them back and send the rest to the town magistrate, Lord Liu. I will write down the usage instructions, and Lord Liu will know how to arrange them."

(End of this chapter)