Courtyard House: Rebirth of a Shopkeeper in 1937

The bedroom was dimly lit, the window paper half-closed, casting heavy shadows and creating an extremely oppressive atmosphere. Old Wang lay quietly on the bed, his eyes closed and his breath weak, his face pale and haggard, his brows furrowed with the weariness and frustration of days past. The physician sat upright on the edge of the bed, his posture dignified and focused, his fingertips lightly resting on Old Wang's wrist, intently taking his pulse and carefully observing its rise and fall. Grandma Wang sat hunched over at one side of the bed, her fingertips constantly wiping away the tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with helplessness and anxiety as she stared intently at the person on the bed. Uncle Renze and Uncle Renyou stood solemnly beside the bed, holding their breath and not daring to utter a sound, anxiously awaiting the diagnosis.

After a brief moment of quiet consultation, the doctor slowly raised his hand and gently placed Old Wang's right hand back under the covers. He carefully tucked the blanket around him, then breathed a slight sigh of relief. Turning to the anxious roommates, he said in a low voice, "Old Wang is fine. It's just that he's old, and the recent worries and anxieties have exhausted him, causing a temporary blockage in his Qi, which led to his sudden fainting. I'll prescribe a calming and regulating formula; after a few days of decoction and rest, he should gradually recover. He's been sleepless and restless for many nights; this fainting spell is a release after his physical and mental exhaustion. Let him get a good night's sleep and rest properly. We'll discuss the rest outside; please don't make a fuss here and disturb the patient's rest."

After speaking, he turned to Xingbao and Guixiang, who were standing respectfully to his side, and gently instructed them with a calm tone and a hint of earnest instruction: "You two come forward and take turns taking Old Master Wang's pulse. Carefully feel the pulse to verify the diagnostic skills you have learned, and find out the deficiency and excess of the disease. After you are done, come to me to get the prescription and prepare the medicine."

"Yes, Master," the siblings replied in unison. After their master led Renze and Renyou out of the bedroom to the outer room to discuss matters with the neighbors, ensuring the patient was not disturbed, the room returned to complete silence. The two siblings stepped forward and took turns sitting on the edge of the bed, concentrating intently to take Old Wang's pulse. They carefully examined his weak constitution, stagnant energy, and exhausted spirit, putting their learned diagnostic methods into practice without the slightest oversight. Once they confirmed that the pulse matched their master's judgment perfectly and understood the nature of the ailment, they calmed themselves and quietly left the dimly lit bedroom, moving into the solemn and quiet main room.

Inside the main room, everyone sat quietly, waiting in hushed tones. The atmosphere was solemn and respectful. The master had already picked up his brush and written a neat and comprehensive prescription for calming the mind and regulating qi, which lay steadily on the table. Seeing the siblings emerge from their bedroom, the master pointed to the prescription. The two immediately stepped forward, respectfully took the paper, and carefully studied and checked each ingredient, its combination, and dosage to confirm that everything was correct.

The master's gaze was steady, and his tone was calm and meticulous as he carefully instructed the two: "We have brought all the necessary medicinal materials for this emergency medical call, so there is no need to prepare anything else. You should accurately weigh and properly combine the herbs according to the prescription, and then go to the kitchen to simmer them over a low flame. Once the decoction is ready and has cooled to a suitable temperature, carefully take it to the bedroom and slowly feed it to Old Master Wang."

"Disciples will remember Master's instructions." The brother and sister responded in unison, respectfully nodding to accept the order. They then picked up their medicine boxes, turned around, and hurried to the Wang family's kitchen, where they methodically began preparing the medicine.

The Wang family's kitchen was quiet and serene. Years of smoke had stained the earthen walls dark and warm, but the stove was cleaned daily and kept spotless. A few traces of warmth remained inside the stove. Aunt Zhen had already prepared clean water and washed the thick-bottomed earthenware pot, quietly waiting for the two to come and fetch the medicine to brew.

Gui Xiang held the prescription in her hand, her fingertips meticulously checking each ingredient. After verifying its accuracy, she took out a small, exquisite copper scale and, using the soft sunlight filtering through the stove, weighed each herb precisely. Her movements—grabbing, sorting, and arranging the herbs—were gentle, orderly, and methodical, adhering strictly to medical ethics. Every prescription was meticulously followed, adhering to the doctor's orders. Xing Bao, meanwhile, squatted down to tend the fire, gathering small pieces of dry firewood to ignite it slowly. Once the flame was stable, he gently pressed down the thin pieces of firewood, creating a long, gentle simmer. Calming and regulating herbs should never be boiled over a high flame; only by simmering slowly over a low flame, gradually extracting their deeper medicinal properties and harmonizing their qi, can the best effects of calming the mind, strengthening the body, and regulating liver qi be achieved.

All the medicinal herbs were placed in the pot, along with an appropriate amount of spring water. Xingbao folded the paper used to wrap the herbs in half to cover the mouth of the earthenware pot, then placed a clean porcelain bowl on top to lock in the medicinal aroma and prevent the herbs from escaping. He then placed the pot steadily over the stove fire. The dim firelight flickered gently, its warm glow illuminating the calm and resolute expressions of the siblings. The soft crackling of the firewood was the only sound in the kitchen, slightly easing the gloom and anxiety that had accumulated in the courtyard for days. Guixiang stood by the stove, occasionally brushing away the dust from the pot, adjusting the fire as needed, patiently waiting for the aroma of the herbs to develop and for the medicinal properties to be fully extracted. Xingbao, while tending the fire, listened intently to the hushed discussions of the people in the main room.

While the siblings were examining him in the bedroom, their master had already publicly instructed everyone: Old Master Wang is frail and his fainting spells are due to days of worry and exhaustion. He must not be subjected to any further stimulation, nor should he be burdened with mental strain or heavy responsibilities. The village elders and young men were quietly discussing whether to let Old Master Wang resign as head of the village committee once he regained consciousness, and then elect a young, steady, reliable, and responsible successor. However, everyone looked at each other, and no one volunteered. All the respected young men in the village who could command respect were present, yet none were willing to take on this daunting task. In these chaotic times, the head of the village committee was no longer the respectable, secluded position of mediating neighborhood disputes; there was no extra income, only a heavy burden and a difficult situation. During wartime, the government orders were strict, and the garrison commanders were responsible for everything from conscription and grain requisition to dispatching official duties. They had to strictly abide by the orders of the government and the military above them, and comfort their neighbors and relatives who were separated from their families. If they were not careful, they would offend both sides and make enemies on all sides. It was an extremely stressful and demanding job that tested their character.

Half an hour passed slowly, and the lingering, bitter aroma of the medicine wafted from the cracks in the pot, gradually filling the entire kitchen. The medicinal properties had been thoroughly extracted, and Xingbao gently removed the open flame from the stove, letting it simmer for a few more moments in the residual heat to lock in the pot's potency. Once the broth had become rich and mellow, he took a clean white porcelain bowl, steadily lifted the earthenware pot, and carefully poured out a bowl of dark brown medicinal liquid. The liquid was clear and transparent, without a trace of impurities or foam.

The freshly brewed medicine was scalding hot, making it impossible to feed the child directly. Xingbao patiently stirred the medicine in the bowl with a porcelain spoon to dissipate the heat and cool it down faster; Guixiang, on the other hand, would occasionally touch the side of the bowl to carefully test the temperature. Once the medicine had cooled to a comfortable temperature, no longer burning their lips and tongues, the two carefully placed the bowls of medicine, tiptoed, and quietly returned to the bedroom.