Miao Chu

Chapter 298 Quirks
Song Miao knocked on the door, and after hearing a response from inside, she entered carrying a copper basin, a basket, and other items.

Inside the room, Shen Xingniang was pale-faced and half-sitting on the bed, her hands under her buttocks, with a handkerchief underneath, so she wasn't sitting properly at all.

Even after hearing Dr. Lin's words of comfort, she still looked flustered and nervous, clearly indicating that she had a deep-seated resentment.

The handkerchief was quite large, and the exposed edges were embroidered with exquisite cloud patterns, clearly indicating that it was something Shen Xingniang always carried with her.

Song Miao delivered the items to Doctor Lin.

The bamboo basket contained a pot of tea oil, an empty bowl, an empty spoon, and scissors, among other things.

She pointed to the basket and said, "The bowls, spoons, and scissors in the restaurant are boiled in boiling water every day. See if you can use them."

Doctor Lin looked down and checked it over, then glanced at Song Miao and said with a smile, "Young lady, you are so clever."

She packed her things, squinted at the bed, then looked at the doorway, and asked, "Is there an oil lamp?"

It was afternoon, and the sky was overcast, so the bedroom was normally well-lit.

Song Miao hurriedly gathered two lamps and moved over a folding chair, placing the lamps on the chair.

Doctor Lin tried it, shook his head, scanned the bedroom again, looked around a few places, and finally opened the window. He then asked Song Miao to open the door, went back to the bedside, squinted at the room again, and then said to Song Miao, "I'd like to trouble you with a favor—go outside and keep watch, make sure no one gets close."

He added, "Don't go too far. If I need someone, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you for help."

As she spoke, she patted the bed and said to Shen Xingniang, "Come, child, take off your shoes and lie down."

Shen Xingniang stiffened and said, "I'm not feeling well. If I accidentally get the bed dirty, how will Miss Song sleep well at night?"

He then said, "Why don't we wait..."

She waited for a long time, but nothing came of it.

Song Miao had already told the two that they could use her bed as they pleased. Seeing Shen Xingniang's reaction, she thought for a moment and decided not to rush out. She went to the cabinet next to her and took out a thin winter quilt before going to the bedside.

She said softly, "Madam Shen, just lie down. We finally managed to get Doctor Lin to come and treat you. She hasn't been practicing medicine for many days. She only came because she heard that you had been seeking medical help from many places but had not been able to find a doctor. She is truly kind and compassionate. We should not let her down."

Song Miao didn't praise the doctor's medical skills or try to persuade him, but only mentioned the doctor's kindness, which made Shen Xingniang unable to say a word of refusal.

As for Doctor Lin beside her, she was first praised highly, then gently patted, and all the praise was for her kindness and benevolence. The praise was solemn and roundabout, which made her feel even more proud than if she had been praised directly or harshly for her medical skills. Although she was not a horse, she felt her old buttocks were more comfortable, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

Seeing Shen Xingniang's reaction, Song Miao curled the winter quilt up, took two more steps forward, and said softly, "This wall is very hard. If you want to lie down later, you might as well lean against the quilt to avoid neck and back pain."

As she spoke, she placed the winter quilt on the bed, moved it against the wall, adjusted its position, and then said to Shen Xingniang, "Let's see if it's stable against the wall."

Shen Xingniang couldn't utter a single word of dissent.

She stood up, first placing the handkerchief she had been using as a cushion under her bottom in the middle of the bed, then taking off her outer garment and placing it on the bed as well, before finally taking off her shoes and carefully leaning against the winter quilt.

Song Miao adjusted the position of the winter quilt for a while, then turned to Dr. Lin and asked, "Do you think this is too high? Can I see clearly?"

Dr. Lin had been standing by the side the whole time, first listening to Song Miao persuade and coax him, then watching Song Miao move and shift the winter quilts, and then observing the current actions. He rarely spoke or urged anyone. Now that he was being asked, he nodded and cooperated by saying, "I can see it clearly. It's not high. I can recognize it very clearly."

Upon receiving the reply, Song Miao was about to step aside when she looked down and saw that Shen Xingniang's right hand was still under her buttocks, while her left hand, though exposed, was tightly clenched into a fist.

She had five fingers. Her little finger had long nails, while the other four were all neatly trimmed. However, each nail bed had some bumps and vertical lines, and there were also small white salt-like patches on them.

When you clench your fist with nails like that, the other fingers are fine, but your little finger is so deep that it's dug into your palm, leaving deep bruises.

Song Miao took off her handkerchief and whispered, "Madam Shen."

Shen Xingniang was lost in thought, and for a moment she couldn't react.

Song Miao gently touched her hand with the handkerchief.

Shen Xingniang opened her eyes wide, exclaimed "Ah!" and looked over, then looked at her left hand.

Song Miao said softly, "If you are nervous and scared, my lady, you should hold this handkerchief tightly. Such skillful hands should be protected. Otherwise, how will you hold a needle and sew in the future?"

He added, "We make a living with our skills, and our hands are the most important thing. Once they're healed, you won't believe how much you'll miss them!"

As she spoke, she slowly pried open Shen Xingniang's two ring and little fingers, slipped the handkerchief inside, and said no more. She smiled somewhat embarrassedly at Doctor Lin and said, "I'm sorry to have taken up your time. I'll go outside and keep watch."

Neither of the two people in the room spoke; instead, they both turned to watch Song Miao walk out the door.

When she could no longer see anyone, Shen Xingniang was lost in thought. Doctor Lin said, "So many people care about you, not only for your own sake but also for the good intentions of others. You should take your illness seriously."

The two people inside were treating patients. Song Miao went out and found a spot not too far from the window to stand, making sure to move aside so as not to block the light.

She stood there, first reviewing her recent accounts, then thinking about how she had been looking at houses for the past few days without finding anything suitable. She also thought about how those creditors, who had always been easy to talk to, had suddenly disappeared without a trace, and wondered what was going on. She also wondered how to finalize the menu at the restaurant, and if "Song Ji Jian" sold out today, she needed to start making the new steamed buns quickly and teach everyone how to make them, otherwise she was afraid they wouldn't make it in time.

In the end, they started calculating when the new tables and chairs for the restaurant and the stove rack in the backyard would arrive, and whether it would delay the opening.

Thinking about opening the business, she inevitably had to choose an auspicious date. She couldn't help but think of the three dates Han Li had chosen in the letter he sent her—he said they were not easy to pick, each with its own advantages.

It's definitely not easy to choose!

But the middle day seemed a bit better—it was a day off.

If this day is chosen, many officials and officials will not be delayed. As long as they invite people, they can invite a lot of people to come and make it lively. For businesses, especially on the opening day, the more lively the better.

Moreover, if it were a day off, Young Master Han should be able to find the time more easily.

He said he would help look at the rules and rituals.

This person never makes empty promises. Since they offered to help well in advance, they must have already made all the necessary preparations.

Opening a business is actually incredibly troublesome; the people in charge of the rules and regulations are extremely busy. Entrusting everything to an outsider seems inappropriate, but…

Song Miao's mind was in turmoil. She turned her head and saw a broken jar at the base of the wall, covered with moss and many lotus flowers. She looked around and saw that there was no one in the courtyard. Most likely, the people in the front hall were still measuring and re-measuring.

She turned her head and looked around. There were only soft murmurs inside the house, and it didn't seem like they wanted to call her. Taking advantage of the fact that it was only a few steps away from the wall, she simply walked over. The lotus flowers no longer drooped their heads and finally stood up, but not a single one had opened.

Yesterday, Xu's nephew from the Xu family martial arts school said that he had asked the flower seller and was persuaded to buy flower buds. He was told that if he bought flowers that had already bloomed, they would soon wither, but if he bought flower buds, he could enjoy them for a longer time when they bloomed, which was a great deal.

Unfortunately, this deal doesn't include lotus flowers.

Lotus flowers are difficult to cultivate after being separated from their roots. There are many steps involved in just getting them to bloom. If you want them to bloom naturally, it is best to help by gently breaking open each petal.

But she was busy at the moment and couldn't help, so she gently moved the lotus flower aside and stood in front of the broken jar watching the fish swimming inside for a while.

The fish inside may be doing as they please, or they may be enjoying themselves. Outsiders, separated by the tank, cannot guess what the fish are thinking. Just watching them makes them feel very relaxed and their mood becomes much calmer.

She looked at the fish; there were so many of them, and they all looked somewhat alike, making it hard to tell them apart. She couldn't help but think of the painting by Young Master Han, in which the fish were named after each other.

Just as she was hesitating whether to go back to her room to get the fish to identify them, she heard a louder commotion in the room. She quickly put down the fish tank, turned around, and waited patiently.

Sure enough, he was called in shortly afterward.

Dr. Lin was washing his hands when she saw her enter. While wiping his hands, he pointed to Shen Xingniang, who was lying on the bed and asleep, made a shushing gesture, and then gestured towards the window.

Song Miao immediately closed the window, and seeing that she had finished using the water, she tidied up the copper basin and all the other things.

The two walked out the door together.

Dr. Lin asked, "Does she have any family members with her right now?"

Song Miao mentioned Granny Shen.

Dr. Lin then said, "If it's convenient, why don't you call her over? I have a few words to tell her."

While the measuring was still being done in the front hall, Granny Shen heard that something was going on in the back. She was annoyed and put down her work for the time being. She asked everyone to wait a moment and hurried over with Song Miao.

Just as they passed the second gate, Granny Shen said, "It's really embarrassing to say this—madam, could you do me a favor and come along to hear what Doctor Lin has to say?"

Song Miao was somewhat surprised.

Granny Shen's voice was a little hoarse as she said, "I'm getting old, and I'm afraid I won't remember some things in such detail. If I do something wrong and it delays Xingniang's treatment... could you please help me remember them, madam?"

Song Miao said, "Of course I can, but we'll have to see what Madam Shen thinks. What if she doesn't want outsiders to hear about it..."

Granny Shen said, "Everyone else can be an outsider, but the lady is the only exception. If she weren't the lady, I wouldn't know what she's like now. She knows what's going on and told me about it a long time ago, so don't worry!"

When the two arrived in front of Doctor Lin, he didn't waste any words. Upon seeing them, he said, "I just spoke to her a few words, and now I'll talk to the family again—this child's illness isn't a big deal, it's just that she's very afraid and always gets stuck on things. The most important thing in treating illness is that the patient trusts the doctor and knows how to follow instructions. Otherwise, if she does less or not at all what I tell her, she will naturally recover more slowly, or she might not recover at all. Since you are family, you should try to persuade her properly."

He added, “Tell the child not to cover herself up in clothes and pants all the time. In this hot weather, even if she is fine, she will get heat rash and unexplained swellings if she is wrapped up all day long. This is especially true since she is already weak.”

He then inquired about Shen Xingniang's diet and daily routine.

As they were talking, they heard footsteps coming from Song Miao's room. A moment later, Shen Xingniang came out in a hurry, slipping on her cloth shoes.

Seeing the three of them standing to the side, none of them leaving, she breathed a sigh of relief, blushed, and stepped forward, saying, "It's so embarrassing! I was only halfway through the doctor's explanation when I suddenly felt so sleepy that I fell asleep!"

Dr. Lin chuckled, “I’ve applied some moxibustion to a few acupoints to calm your mind and promote rest. If you’re not sleepy, then my medical skills are lacking!”

After she finished speaking, she said in a serious tone, "I just asked my family, and they said that you only eat a little bit of food and don't drink any water. If this continues, you'll become as thin as a bamboo pole. Many medicines are already harmful, and taking them for a long time will strain your spleen, stomach, liver, and kidneys. If you don't take good care of your health, even if I cure you, you'll collapse—wouldn't that ruin my reputation?"

Shen Xingniang looked embarrassed and said, "With this problem, I have to run to the outhouse as soon as I eat or drink anything. If I'm not careful, and I don't control myself... my clothes will get wet and filthy... I..."

“You have taken the medicine, taken the fumigation bath five times a day, and followed the acupuncture schedule. If it is the right treatment, you should see results in three to five days at most. The reason you can’t control it now is because of kidney deficiency and yin deficiency. Your body is sick. Since you are a patient, don’t be too hard on yourself. You have to eat and drink. You can eat as much as you can.”

"Because you are too weak, I dare not prescribe many medicines. Nowadays, even the most potent prescriptions only have a fraction of their effect. Eat and drink more! Wash yourself if you get dirty, what's there to be afraid of! Everyone gets dirty before!"

She gave a few more instructions before turning to Song Miao and saying, "I have urgent business to attend to. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

Song Miao then said, "I have prepared soup and some snacks. You must be tired today. Please sit for a while and catch your breath before you go."

When asked to serve soup as a farewell gift, Dr. Lin naturally accepted.

She said, “I’ve been working in the clinic for a long time and I have developed a strange habit: I really dislike drinking medicinal soups. I can’t stand anything with a medicinal taste, like licorice or cardamom. If you have any tea, boiled water, or plain water, just give me a cup to quench my thirst and suit the occasion. Don’t bother me.”

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the front hall.

Song Miao said, “It’s not a medicinal soup, it’s a meat soup. Xiao Lian always says ‘Master said’ when she comes back every day. I know you don’t like bland food, you love meat, and you like all kinds of flavors, including sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and salty. You also know a lot about food. I happen to have some ingredients on hand, so I specially made this soup and thought I would ask you to help me taste it.”

Dr. Lin laughed heartily and said, "What makes me a connoisseur of food!"

He added, "This little girl has exposed all my secrets—but I do appreciate the five flavors, and since there's meat soup, I won't bother with those polite formalities!"

She took a seat.

The soup was served quickly.

Everyone else drank plum juice, but Dr. Lin was served a white porcelain soup bowl with a lid first.

As soon as she sat down, her apprentices started talking over each other and pushing things in front of her.

"Master, please try this! This mung bean cake is so fragrant, so smooth, and so delicious!"

"Master, this fried dough twist is especially fragrant and crispy, would you like to try some?"

"These broad beans are so crunchy! Master, have some!"

"Master must be tired. Try this pickled cucumber. It's sweet and sour, cool and refreshing, crisp yet not hard. It's so delicious!"

Acupuncture is actually very tiring. After working for half a day, Dr. Lin was really thirsty. He mumbled to his apprentice, opened the lid at random, and glanced at it—it was just clear broth with only a few fine, comb-like ingredients half-soaked in it. He didn't know what they were.

Without thinking much, she blew on it and put a spoonful into her mouth.

Ok?
Ok? ? ?
(End of this chapter)