The others, busy with their tasks, heard Ji Wenliang’s shouts but couldn’t make out the exact words—only catching fragments like "clear-headed" and "not burning." They rushed over, shouting, "What’s going on? Did their fevers break?!"
"Yes!"
Ji Wenliang happily confirmed.
Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu hurried to Tian Fu’s tent to check. It was noon, and the sun was out, the weather was pleasant.
Wang Yong, Tian Fu, and the third man had already emerged from the tent. Now, they sat on a log in front of it, their heads bowed low. Grown men as they were, they kept wiping their eyes with their sleeves.
Overcome with emotion, they even began sobbing.
"What’s wrong?"
Ji Taoyu was startled. "Are there complications? Or—?"
"N-no, everything’s fine! The fever’s gone, our bodies aren’t burning up anymore, that unbearable itch is gone too."
Tian Fu wiped his eyes. After nearly two days of relentless fever, their minds had been foggy, their bodies weak and unbearably itchy—it was a torment worse than death.
Last night, they had already braced for the worst, thinking death might be preferable to this suffering. When they took the medicine this morning, none had held much hope. Yet, upon waking, the fever had broken, their muddled minds had cleared, and the fire raging in their bodies had finally burned out.
Having narrowly escaped death, they didn’t know how else to express their relief. One of them wiped his eyes, and soon, all three could no longer hold back their tears.
Tian Fu looked at Ji Taoyu’s bloodshot eyes, his heart filled with remorse and gratitude.
Unable to suppress his pride and initially unable to speak, he finally managed to say: "Ji fulang, I must apologize for my earlier offense. I was truly in the wrong."
"My narrow-mindedness led me to judge others hastily. It was I who burdened our team. Had it not been for you joining us and painstakingly preparing medicine and treating us, we might not have made it back alive."
As he spoke, Tian Fu wept even more bitterly.
The group had hurried back and, upon hearing Tian Fu's words, no one uttered a word.
Ji Taoyu let out a heavy sigh and said, "The world outside is chaotic, and traveling long distances with goods is no easy task. It’s true that my health is frail, and it’s only natural for the caravan to have such concerns when considering the bigger picture. How can this be entirely your fault? Even neighbors in the same village have their disagreements, how much more so for a group traveling together? There’s no need for such deep self-blame."
"If we can all be a little more patient and understanding with each other from now on, we’ll make it through this journey smoothly."
"Yes, yes..."
Everyone nodded sincerely in agreement.
Ji Taoyu gathered protective supplies and examined the three patients once more. Seeing that they had indeed improved, he felt somewhat reassured.
The group, seeing that the illness was truly under control, finally felt the heavy weight in their hearts lift.
However, the three patients had been feverish for so long that their bodies were weakened, and they were still in a state of exhaustion. There was no way they could rush to set off now.
No matter what, they needed at least a night’s rest to recover and ensure the fever didn’t return before continuing the journey.
Ji Taoyu prepared another round of medicine for them. No matter how effective a remedy was, one dose alone wouldn’t be enough, they needed at least two days of treatment.
"Fortunately, before leaving, I picked up plenty of medicine from Grandfather’s medical hall. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to prepare this prescription. Two of the ingredients aren’t ones I usually use, they were added by Grandfather. These two herbs are actually the key to treating this epidemic. After all, he’s traveled far and wide, so his experience is much richer."
As he sorted the medicine, Ji Taoyu couldn’t help but sigh with admiration.
Over the years, though he may have seemed lazy, he had actually put considerable effort into studying medicine.
At his grandfather’s medical hall, he had encountered many difficult cases, and he would always review and analyze the diagnoses repeatedly. He had learned quite a bit.
However, Tongzhou was generally peaceful and prosperous, so epidemics rarely reached the city.
With many renowned physicians in the city and the government highly vigilant against such dreaded diseases, even ordinary physicians seldom encountered epidemics. They only heard about outbreaks in other regions during disasters.
His grandfather, in his youth, had practiced medicine to save lives and had encountered plagues. Back then, he and a few other physicians had worked together to formulate a cure, which was how he gained this experience to pass down.
"Physician Huang’s medical skills are renowned far and wide. Ji fulang, having inherited his knowledge, kept a low profile in the village, but now, away from home, his true abilities shine. When we return, he could even open his own medical hall !"
The men said with a laugh.
Ji Taoyu rubbed his hands together. "I’m hardly that capable. As my father says, I’m too lazy and indulgent to run a medical hall. This trip is just to temper my character."
"Ji fulang, you’re being too modest. If you can even cure an epidemic, how can you say you lack skill? If someone with your abilities refuses to practice medicine, wouldn’t that be a waste of talent?"
As they praised Ji Taoyu’s medical skills, they couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
"Brother Huo is truly blessed. A ger as beautiful as Ji fulang, unmatched in ten villages, and with such medical skills—yet he still managed to win him over."
"If I can save a little money on this trip, I’ll ask my mother to find a matchmaker to arrange a marriage for me too."
"A toad hoping to eat swan meat."
[癞蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉 (lài há ma xiǎng chī tiān é ròu): lit. a toad hoping to eat swan meat; fig. an unrealistic ambition]
When Huo Shu returned from feeding the livestock, he saw the group gathered around Ji Taoyu, chatting and laughing merrily.
He stood to the side with his arms crossed, a faint smile in his eyes.
Thank you for the update!!!
ReplyDelete