Jia Yao nodded calmly and replied, "Yes! I've studied Traditional Chinese Medicine with my master for over ten years, and then I learned Western medicine from Master Zhong, a doctor who was assigned to our valley. She taught us how to give injections and care for patients, but I haven't had the chance to learn surgery yet."
Director Huang nodded and asked nothing further. After a moment's thought, he said, "Don't worry too much. Based on what you've told me, the patient's condition doesn't seem too severe. I'll go to the hospital with you now to check. I need to first confirm if his wound has become infected. If your nephew's wound hasn't gotten infected, another two days of anti-inflammatory injections should be enough to schedule him for surgery."
As soon as he finished speaking, Director Huang stood up and said, "Let's go! We'll head to the hospital now."
Chen Lan had never expected Director Huang to be so agreeable. He hadn't asked for any conditions at all, so she was momentarily stunned.
However, Chen Lan quickly composed herself. Since Director Huang wasn't bringing up any conditions, she couldn't pretend to be oblivious. She couldn't go back on her word, especially since she had agreed to Sister Tian's terms when she helped make this connection.
Chen Lan mused that perhaps Sister Tian, seeing that Director Huang's mother was chronically ill, felt sympathetic to the Huang family's difficulties. Her intention was likely to help them, which was why she had said those words to Chen Lan.
With this thought, Chen Lan mentally retrieved a twenty-year-old Zhuan Tai Shen (turn-around ginseng) from her system's warehouse. This old ginseng was likely over a hundred years old.
As Chen Lan took it out of the cloth bag, she said, "Director Huang, I heard from Sister Tian that your elderly mother is ill. I came in a hurry today and didn't bring any gifts to visit her. Please accept this old ginseng as a small token of my appreciation."
Director Huang and his wife Yingzi's eyes widened in astonishment at Chen Lan's generous gift. Even the usually calm and collected Director Huang was flustered, stammering, "This, this is too valuable. We can't possibly accept it."
Chen Lan immediately interrupted him, "Director Huang, whether something is valuable or not depends on whether it's useful. To be honest, I found this old ginseng on the mountain by chance, and I've had it for over twenty years. Since I've never met anyone who truly needed it, it hasn't been of much use to me. I worried about it being eaten by insects every year, which was quite troublesome. Yet, discarding it felt too wasteful! Now that I've found someone who can use it, Director Huang, please do me a favor and take it."
The couple, who had been politely refusing, were now taken aback by Chen Lan's words. How could giving such a valuable gift turn into a request for them to accept it?
After a long moment, Director Huang let out a chuckle and said softly, "Sister, I understand your intention. Then, I respectfully accept your offer! I'm not very eloquent and don't know how to say polite things, so I can only say thank you. I also thank you on behalf of my mother for your kindness!"
Chen Lan quickly waved her hand, "No, no, as long as it's useful for the elderly lady. Oh! Right, Director Huang, if you don't mind, would you let my son feel her pulse? To be frank, my own mother and mother-in-law's health have been managed by the children in our family who study medicine. Their master is almost eighty-five years old this year and is still very robust. He has a lot of research into these age-related illnesses."
Upon hearing Chen Lan's words, Director Huang was overjoyed and immediately asked excitedly, "Is that true? Then I'll have to trouble your son! Let's go and see her now!"
With that, he turned and led Jia Yao to the adjoining room. His wife, Yingzi, smiled apologetically and said, "Sister, I'm sorry! Please don't mind him. He's just that kind of person. He's very direct in everything he does and doesn't pay much attention to manners, so he can easily offend people."
Chen Lan smiled and replied, "That's good! People like that are genuine, sincere, and easy to get along with." Su Dan Novel Network
The room was too small, so Chen Lan didn't follow them. Sister Yingzi stayed in the room with Chen Lan, chatting while they waited for the pulse-taking results.
After a while, Jia Yao returned with Director Huang. Sister Yingzi anxiously asked, "Old Huang, how is she?"
Director Huang replied with a poker face, "Let's go! We'll talk as we walk."
Chen Lan then bid farewell to Sister Yingzi. The three of them pushed their bicycles out of Director Huang's yard. As Chen Lan walked, she looked around and, seeing no one, asked, "Jia Yao, how was the pulse diagnosis?"
Jia Yao glanced at Director Huang, and seeing him nod, he began to explain, "When the elderly lady was young, she didn't take good care of herself during childbirth. Coupled with years of hard work, her organs are like machine parts that have worn down quite severely. She also has chronic gastritis, which causes her poor appetite, and rheumatism. Currently, her body is still quite weak and needs nutritional support and gradual conditioning. She cannot take the old ginseng for tonic purposes right now, as her body wouldn't be able to handle the richness, and it would be too much for her."
Chen Lan was shocked and asked, "So serious? Jia Yao, do you have any good solutions?"
Jia Yao nodded and replied, "There are solutions, but the elderly lady needs to cooperate."
Chen Lan and Director Huang, hearing that there were solutions, both asked simultaneously, "What are the solutions? How does she need to cooperate?"
Jia Yao explained, "Naturally, it involves regulating the body with herbal decoctions and taking some Renshen Jianpi Wan (Ginseng Spleen-Tonifying Pills) that Grandma and Grandpa used. She should also eat easily digestible, nourishing soups and broths."
Chen Lan impatiently interjected, "That's it? You rascal, get to the point."
Jia Yao continued, "Mom, don't worry. What I mentioned earlier was about regulating her physical health. Now I'll talk about regulating her mind. First and foremost, the elderly lady needs to be open-minded. As the saying goes, excessive anger damages the body. She needs to get angry less often and be content with her situation. She should let things take their natural course. This kind of mindset is beneficial to her health."
Chen Lan mused, "That's right! People often say that life is full of dissatisfactions, and there's no hurdle in life that cannot be overcome. There's no need to dwell on unhappy things. One needs to be open-minded and let go. That is the great wisdom of life."