The Black Sails of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 48 False Fire Rising
"Captain, why don't we leave?" Bai Langzai advised.

The girl couldn't sit still any longer. She had finally managed to get three patients, so how could she let them go so easily? If she didn't collect more consultation fees, where would the tax money come from this summer?

So she got up, walked over, first gave a curtsy, and then said, "Gentlemen, I also have some medical knowledge. Why don't I take a look at you first, and then the doctor will come out to treat you?"

"What medical skills would a young girl like you know? You'd better not bother. I just heard screams in the backyard, so your doctor's skills are probably mediocre. Let's go somewhere else."

Although Zheng Zhilong was only a few years older than the girl, he spoke in a very old-fashioned manner.

The girl immediately became anxious upon hearing this: "No consultation fee if I can't cure you!"

Upon hearing that there was a chance to make a profit, Zheng Zhilong looked at Lin Qian.

Lin Qian was slightly embarrassed. He had fallen from the mast a few days ago and his waist had been tightened by the rope.

Although I felt pain at the time, it has completely healed after so much time has passed.

If it were a male doctor, it would be fine for him to look at it, but in feudal society, it was absolutely unacceptable for a woman bound by traditional etiquette to look at it.

Therefore, Lin Qian refused with her hands clasped.

The girl thought Lin Qian didn't trust her medical skills and tried every means to prove it, but she wouldn't let the three of them leave.

Lin Qian had no choice but to tell the truth: "To be honest, I twisted my waist, and it's not convenient for you to see it, young lady. Besides, it's almost healed now, so I won't bother you any longer."

The girl blushed upon hearing this, but after thinking for a moment, she made up her mind and said, "Doctors are not divided by gender. Sir, please focus on treating the patient. Please lift up your clothes."

Zheng Zhilong chuckled upon hearing this: "Brother Lin, this young lady is a bit stubborn. Why don't you let her take a look? You won't lose anything..."

These words sounded too frivolous, and Lin Qian glanced at him.

Zheng Zhilong immediately changed his tune: "...But after all, men and women are different. Brother Lin is a gentleman, how could he do such a thing? Young lady, you should not pester him."

Just then, a dignified voice came from the backyard: "Mei'er, stop fooling around!"

Then, the curtain to the backyard was lifted, and a pale-faced person walked out. This person was unsteady on his feet and was clearly the one who had just screamed.

Then a middle-aged man in a blue robe came out; he must have been the doctor.

"Father!" the girl called out and ran to the doctor's side.

The doctor, with a stern face, reprimanded, "With your medical skills, you dare to treat people?"

The girl lowered her head and whispered, "I saw that the three gentlemen had rosy complexions and were breathing steadily, so they should be alright, that's why..."

"How dare you talk back!" The doctor's tone was sharp as he raised his hand, as if to strike.

The girl shrank her neck.

But the slap never actually landed.

The doctor lowered his hand, glared at the girl, and then explained the precautions to the patients who had come out earlier.

The patient hastily bowed his thanks, paid the consultation fee, and fled as if he were running away.

The doctor then said to the girl, "I have told you countless times that men and women are different. Even if you master your skills, you can only practice medicine for women. Always remember the hardships of the world and the wickedness of people's hearts. Rashly treating men will inevitably bring trouble upon yourself!"

Lin Qian smiled bitterly to herself. This doctor was making veiled accusations, wasn't he implying that the three of them were a menace?

It seems the doctor overheard Zheng Zhilong's flippant remark.

Lin Qian didn't want to cause any trouble and was about to take her leave, but when she saw some bloodstains on the doctor's body, she became interested.

Judging from the pig-like screams of the patients in the backyard earlier, they must have been receiving treatment for external injuries, which is exactly what is needed for sea voyages.

Therefore, Lin Qian decided to wait and see and meet this doctor first. Seeing that Lin Qian and the other two were sitting still, the doctor walked towards them, cupped his hands and said, "Who has twisted their back? Please come with me to the backyard for treatment."

His tone was extremely cold.

Lin Qian stood up, and Bai Langzai and Zheng Zhilong also wanted to follow, but the doctor said, "Please wait here for a moment."

Lin Qian indicated that everything was alright and asked the two to sit down and wait. Then she followed the doctor to the backyard.

The furnishings here were simple: the ground was paved with bluestone, a long bench was placed in the courtyard, and there were bloodstains and large water stains all around, indicating that it had just been washed with water.

Beside the long bench, there was a small table with a roll of linen spread out on it. Some utensils were inserted into the linen, gleaming silver in the sunlight.

Lin Qian initially thought they were silver needles, but upon closer inspection, they turned out to be various knives, as well as awls, axes, hammers, and other tools.

No wonder that person screamed so desperately; anyone who saw this instrument, which resembled a torture device, would tremble with fear.

However, Lin Qian was knowledgeable and recognized that those were surgical instruments.

Judging from this, this person must have been a doctor skilled in treating external injuries and performing surgeries, making him an anomaly among traditional Chinese medicine practitioners of that era.

They are exactly the kind of people that are in short supply on board!

Lin Qian felt a secret joy, as if she had found a treasure.

The doctor had Lin Qian lie face down on the bench, lifted her clothes, and pressed her waist with his hand.

In a short while, he helped Lin Qian get up, examined her complexion, took her pulse, and looked at her tongue.

The doctor then said, "Your lower back is fine. However, your tongue is red, your eyes are bloodshot, and your pulse is weak and rapid. These are all signs of depletion of yin and blood, and upward flaring of deficiency fire. How much sleep do you get each day, sir?"

Lin Qian: "It will take anywhere from three hours to one or two hours."

The doctor said sternly, "You haven't been sleeping enough! You're young now, so you'll be fine, but as you get older, the consequences will come on. Come on, you don't need any medicine. Just get some more sleep and you'll be fine."

Lin Qian stood up, thought for a moment, and asked, "I have a friend who cut himself with a sickle while doing farm work. He used wood ash to stop the bleeding. Is that serious?"

This is Lin Qian's skill in testing the doctor.

As expected, the doctor gave him a rude rebuke and then explained how to treat the condition.

Its concepts of cleaning, disinfecting, and bandaging wounds are basically consistent with those of later medical practices.

Lin Qian asked about several common ailments on the ship, and the doctor answered them one by one.

This made Lin Qian even more convinced that this person was a talented individual, so she cupped her hands and said, "May I ask your name, sir?"

The doctor looked impatient: "Su Kang." Then he gestured for him to enter.

Lin Qian wanted to recruit this doctor, but now was definitely not a good time. As she walked out, she thought about how to do him a favor.

Just then, the sound of a gong came from outside, followed by voices from inside the hall: "Young lady, call your family to come out and pay the taxes."

Upon hearing the sound, Physician Su Kang disregarded Lin Qian and hurriedly rushed to the main hall.

Lin Qian then lifted the curtain and went out.

Three yamen runners were standing in the main hall. The leader was holding a document, while the other two carried a gong and a sack, respectively.

As soon as Lin Qianfang went out, Zheng Zhilong pulled him aside and whispered, "Brother Lin, this is the government collecting taxes. Let's be careful and not get involved. They'll leave once they've collected the money."

(End of this chapter)