Chapter 7: Things That Surprise Women

Debridement and disinfection

"Who says I do not understand medicine?" Gu Yezhou deliberately maintained a stern expression, "I simply do not wish to show off in front of others"

Ning Sanmei said: "It won't happen. My husband is not a reckless person. Please give it to me, is the money and rice enough?"

Gu Ye Zhou said to Ning San Mei: "Go, bring me paper and pen!"

Ning Sanmei looked up and saw Mo Huaixiang leaning against the railing on the upper floor, peering down at her. She then said, "It's fine, the doctor asked me to find Dr. Gong to get some medicine, as he has prescribed a formula."

Gong Langzhong looked at the rice, his eyes glimmering slightly, and said softly: "That is not what I meant. Well... however, you are right; the gentleman is a scholar, and he knows that prescribing a remedy is no trivial matter. Since he has prescribed it, it indicates that he is confident. Then I can rest assured... Perhaps he does not know where he found a good prescription, but that is not certain... Then I will prepare the medicine for you"

Speaking, Doctor Gong entered his medicine storage room with the house. After a while, he came out, carrying several medicine packets, and handed them to Ning Sanmei: "Here, they are all here. They have all been prepared, and they are ready for use. Remember, when you use the medicine, you must observe carefully. If there is anything unusual, come and call me immediately"

Of course, I used to rarely speak about it, but now that I am ill myself, I must use acupuncture to treat my own illness! Hurry up!

I have an abundance of golden needles, however, administering injections is not to be taken lightly, as improper handling can cause harm to individuals

Mo Huaixiang stamped her foot beside him and said: "Doctor Gong, the gentleman is in great pain, yet you are still thinking about having a meal. Can't you examine him first before eating? I know your family has run out of rice long ago. What you have to eat is only shepherd's purse, and the pot in the kitchen contains nothing but shepherd's purse porridge. It is not some rare delicacy, so what is there to be reluctant about? Let's go, let's go!" Saying this, she reached out and pulled Doctor Gong away.

Gu Ye Zhou Dao: "I will find a way to earn money, there is no need to suffer like this. - You go and cook another bowl of rice porridge, and we will eat it together."

So, does that mean only half of last year's amount? Should the rent you give me be reduced by another half? Is there still a land tax to be paid?

Enough, enough. Wait a moment, I will go get it!" Saying this, Doctor Gong turned and entered the inner room. After a moment, he emerged with a small syringe and handed it to Ning Sanmei: "Take it.

Gong Langzhong took a look at it and shook his head: "I am not familiar with this prescription, but it is no better than mine. I think there is no need to change it; we will use my prescription, and it will definitely work. You can go back and tell the gentleman."

What is the use of golden needles

Then hurry up and cook the porridge, we will eat together! Quickly!

Gong Langzhong let out a bitter smile, shook his head, and followed Ning Sanmei and Mo Huaixiang down the stilted building, returning to Gu Yezhou's home

Acupuncture treats diseases

Ning Sanmei smiled and said, "He may have always been unwilling to show off, which is why others do not know about it."

Hmm! Ning Sanmei nodded with certainty

After finishing his meal, Gu Yezhou felt an increasing pain in his head, coming in waves, and he seemed to be developing a fever. The area around his wound also felt burning hot. He knew this was not a good sign, indicating that the medicine from Doctor Gong was not effective. The wound was likely infected

Gong Langzhong felt dizzy and said: "Using saltwater? Isn't that very painful? What is the purpose of that?"

What? The gentleman can still write prescriptions? Let me take a look!" As she spoke, Mo Huaixiang quickly ran down from the stilted building, took the prescription from Ning Sanmei's hand, glanced at it, and said: "It really is a prescription, how come I didn't know the gentleman could treat illnesses?

This is the prescription, which is for treating my head injury. Just take it to get the medicine

"There is something!" Gu Yezhou exclaimed loudly, "We should eat together, you taking care of me here means it is unreasonable for me to eat rice porridge while you eat rice bran! Either we mix the rice bran with white rice to cook porridge, and we both eat together!"

Does the gentleman practice acupuncture

However... Ning Sanmei boldly said, "You do not understand medicine, can the prescription you wrote be effective?"

Gu Yezhou saw Dr. Gong enter and was not surprised. After inviting him to sit down, he said to Ning Sanmei: "Come help me, take off the bandage, remove the medicine from the wound, rinse the wound with saline, and then apply the medicine again"

Mo Huaixiang, standing nearby, also said: "Indeed, the gentleman is a very cautious person; he would not undertake anything without certainty. Moreover, it concerns his own well-being. Dr. Gong, please prepare the medicine!"

Ning Sanmei let out a deep sigh: "This year's harvest is even worse than last year; I estimate that we might be able to yield one stone per mu, if we're lucky..."

"But your injury..." Ning Sanmei frowned as she looked at him

Hearing Dr. Gong mention that improper acupuncture could lead to danger, Ning Sanmei felt a bit hesitant. Although she had boasted about Gu Yezhou in front of others, the prospect of something going wrong and causing harm was indeed concerning. She had never seen Gu Yezhou perform acupuncture, so naturally, she felt uncertain. After some thought, she said to Dr. Gong, "Uncle, why don't you come with me to take a look? If anything seems amiss, it would be better for you to be there."

I see! Mo Huaixiang immediately believed it, saying, "The gentleman is a capable person; it is not surprising that he knows how to treat illnesses. Come, I will go with you to take a look!"

Ning Sanmei ate very slowly, savoring each bite as if she had not tasted rice in a long time, relishing each grain one by one, until she licked the bottom of the bowl clean like a cat, still feeling unsatisfied as she smacked her lips. Suddenly, she noticed a grain of rice at the corner of her mouth, and with a flick of her tongue, she licked it into her mouth

No need, I enjoy eating cornmeal cakes, it's nothing.

"Listen to me! This home is mine, and I have the right to make decisions, don't I?" Gu Yezhou asserted with an air of authority

Well, he seems to be in a lot of pain, so he wrote a prescription for me to get the medicine. " After saying this, he handed over the prescription.

"What is this?" Ning Sanmei, who could not read, asked in confusion as she gazed at the prescription.

The two of them arrived at Doctor Gong's home while he was preparing dinner. Upon seeing them enter, he squinted and asked Ning Sanmei, "What happened? Has the gentleman's injury relapsed again?"

Ning Sanmei forced a smile and said, "You have seven dou of rice by yourself, while our entire family’s harvest is less than one shi. With five people in the family, that’s less than two dou per person. I really don’t know how we’re going to get through this..." She noticed Gu Yezhou’s worried expression and quickly smiled again, reassuring him, "Don’t worry, there are kudzu roots and ferns on the mountain, and if we mix them with rice bran and shepherd's purse, we should be able to last until next year’s autumn harvest. Hopefully, next year will be a good year. Then we won’t have to be afraid. So there’s no need to worry."

Ning Sanmei, half in doubt, agreed, closed the door, took the rice bag, and hurried downstairs towards Doctor Gong's house

Gong Langzhong, feeling helpless, turned back and shouted into the kitchen: "Children's mother, you all eat by yourselves, I am going to see the doctor, do not wait for me"

Gu Yezhou continued to maintain a stern expression and said: "Hurry up and get the medicine! No need for nonsense! Since I am the head of this household, I can make the decisions! Moreover, this is my body, and I know it best! Go quickly!"

Gu Ye Zhou Dao: "I cannot recall, but I said I would definitely take responsibility. If the drought has reduced the harvest, then the rent must certainly be reduced. What about this year"

Gong Langzhong was even more at a loss, but as a scholar, he naturally possessed a wealth of knowledge, and he felt it inappropriate to ask too many questions, as it might make him appear incompetent

This general practitioner is indeed too versatile, even being able to treat animals. However, it is understandable, as the village needs such a multi-talented doctor. Nevertheless, his choice of medication for treating injuries is clearly unprofessional and not very effective for his own wounds, necessitating a change in treatment.

Indeed... ? Ning Sanmei was somewhat surprised, "But this is the prescription written by Doctor Gong, his medical skills are quite remarkable. When villagers fall ill, they all seek his treatment. By the way, he can also treat cattle, sheep, and pigs!"

Mr. Jin Zhen, are you skilled in acupuncture

Gu Yezhou could not help but chuckle, causing Ning Sanmei's face to turn as red as a ripe peach

Under the persistent urging of Gu Ye Zhou, Ning San Mei had no choice but to cook another bowl of thin porridge, which the two of them shared.

Ning Sanmei nodded with some trepidation: "Of course, sir, it is up to you."

Ning Sanmei nodded solemnly, was about to leave, but then stopped, turned around and said to Doctor Gong: "By the way, the gentleman also asked me to buy a pair of gold needles for him. I wonder if you have any extra?"

The stilt house of the Mori family is right next to their own stilt house. As I passed by the Mori family's house, I heard the voice of Mo Huaixiang coming from upstairs: "Third sister, how is the master's injury?"

Even if I do not pay, I only have 7 dou of rice (90 jin) left, which is enough for me to eat for at most three to four months

Of course, it must be paid, but it is a tenth, which is not too burdensome. Moreover, with this year's poor harvest, the court should reduce the land tax.

Ning Sanmei did not know what Gu Yezhou was about to do, so she quickly brought over paper and pen. She helped him sit up and placed a low stool in front of him to serve as a desk. Gu Yezhou took the pen and wrote a prescription for preventing infection, the Qing Re Jie Du "Five Flavor Disinfectant Drink," a remedy for preventing tetanus, the "Yuzhen Powder," and an external medicine for treating skull fractures, the "Xiao Yu Zhi Tong Ointment." He also wrote a prescription for internal medicine, the "Nerve Concussion Powder," along with the preparation methods, and handed it to Ning Sanmei, saying: "Take this and find Doctor Gong to get the medicine!" Gu Yezhou took the pen and wrote a prescription for preventing infection, the Qing Re Jie Du "Five Flavor Disinfectant Drink," a remedy for preventing tetanus, the "Yuzhen Powder," and an external medicine for treating skull fractures, the "Xiao Yu Zhi Tong Ointment." He also wrote a prescription for internal medicine, the "Nerve Concussion Powder," along with the preparation methods, and handed it to Ning Sanmei, saying: "Take this and find Doctor Gong to get the medicine!"

Gu Yezhou called out to her again: "Buy a pair of gold needles from Doctor Gong."

Gong Langzhong still had a troubled expression on his face

Ning Sanmei shook her head: "This is the medicine prescribed by the gentleman; he is a scholar, and he would not prescribe recklessly without confidence. Just prepare the medicine for me."

Ning Sanmei placed a bowl of rice and a few coins from her arms in front of Gong Langzhong

Oh! Ning Sanmei nodded with a hint of grievance, got off the fire bed, instinctively touched the few coins she had in her pocket, gritted her teeth, and scooped a bowl of rice from the rice bag. She wrapped it in a piece of slightly faded blue cloth and took it with her as she was about to go out

Gong Langzhong turned back to look at the kitchen and said, "I, I haven't eaten yet, no, let him wait for a moment, I will come after I have eaten."

The kitchen echoed with the aged response of Gong Lang's wife: "Alright! You can rest assured to treat the gentleman, we will save some food for you."