C29 Unorthodox Doctor

Two burly men stood nearby, looking helpless. Xuanniang observed closely; their clothes were stained and their faces and hands were covered with scratches. The skin of all three adults was deeply tanned, clearly from long hours under the sun. What could be done? Another poor family.

Xuanniang had already spent quite a bit of her own money to offer free medical services, and she didn't have much left. Besides, if she gave away a significant sum right in front of them, there would be a first case, then a second. You can help in emergencies, but you can't solve poverty this way.

In this situation, Xuanniang could only think of an old method. "Ma'am, please don't cry. I have an idea, but it's an ancient remedy that no one has tried before. It might save your child's life, but it might not. The choice is yours. I'm just a doctor, not a miracle worker. I can't guarantee that every life will survive in my hands.

If you truly have no money, you might as well try the method I have. Just know that I can't promise anything. Ma'am, what do you think...?"

The woman immediately expressed her gratitude, kneeling before Xuanniang and swearing, "I understand, I understand. I'm just a simple farmer's wife, but I'm not unreasonable. Fellow villagers, you can all be witnesses! If my child dies under this doctor's care, I will not blame anyone."

"This is my choice. As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I have to try. Please, doctor, save my child. No matter the outcome, I'm willing to accept it!"

The people gathered around whispered among themselves, some with expressions that seemed to enjoy the spectacle. Xuanniang, however, didn't say anything more. She immediately instructed two strong men to hold the child down. Taking out a thin scalpel she carried with her, she made a swift cut on the child's thumbs, and dark blood oozed out instantly.

After a moment, she removed the boy's socks and made a cut on each of his middle toes. The boy's feet were already swollen, and as soon as Xuanniang made the incision, dark blood spurted out.

After a long while, the boy gradually stopped moving. His face remained a bluish-purple, and his body lay there motionless.

The mother sat nearby, too afraid to touch the boy, while the two strong men stood by, frowning. The crowd erupted in murmurs, each person gossiping.

"Is this murder? The boy's not moving. This quack has made a mess of things!"

"It looks like he's dead..."

"This lady doctor doesn't know what she's doing!"

"Let's go, there's nothing more to see here. She's just a fraud..."

Hurtful words flew around like arrows, but Xuanniang remained calm. She knew she had to wait about half an hour. The boy was in a state of suspended animation, not truly dead.

Xuanniang had deliberately expressed uncertainty earlier, just as a precaution. In her heart, she was at least 80% confident she could save the boy. As a doctor, there's a general rule: if you're not sure, you don't proceed.

This wasn't modern times, where you sign surgery consent forms. Back then, relying solely on traditional medicine, Xuanniang wouldn't have acted without a certain level of skill.

So, she paid no mind to the gossip around her, instead focusing calmly on examining the boy.

The lady and two strong men didn't understand, and the mother, seeing her son motionless, broke down in tears, forgetting the promises she had just made.

"My child, my poor child. How could you leave me like this? It's all my fault. Doctor, didn't you say you could save him? How could you... my child is gone, and he was so young. How could you!"

Xuanniang wasn't bothered by the mother's accusations. She carefully examined the boy's body. The swelling had completely subsided, his blood was circulating slowly, and the bluish tint on his face was visibly fading.

The two strong men remained silent, remembering the words the boy's mother had just spoken. Xuanniang gently reassured the woman, "Ma'am, don't worry. Your child is still alive. You can give him a gentle massage, like rubbing his shoulders and legs. The bruising on his face will fade soon. Your child is alive. I'll prepare some herbal remedies to help with his recovery."

The woman immediately stopped crying, her face lighting up with hope. "Really, doctor?"

"Of course, it's true. Just give it a little time, maybe half an hour. Be patient, and you'll see his face already looks better than before." With that, Xuanniang went to prepare the herbs.

For relieving pain and treating discomfort, nothing beats Solomon's seal. I thought the wild ginger I gathered was useless, but it turns out to be just what we need.

Hearing this, everyone was curious and gathered around to feel the boy's body. Some with keen senses exclaimed in surprise.

"He really is alive! You can feel his pulse, though it's faint, but he's definitely alive. This lady doctor is truly skilled."

"Really? Let me check. It seems so; there's a pulse. His complexion is slowly improving."

Xuanniang just smiled slightly at everyone's chatter. She wasn't surprised by their fickleness; people often don't want to spend money on treatment but are afraid of death.

Unfortunately, just as one wave settled, another arose.

As the crowd's praises continued, Xuanniang was busy writing a prescription when her sister-in-law, Fangfang, suddenly appeared at her stand. Along with her came an elderly woman, sighing and groaning.

Xuanniang paused her writing and carefully examined the elderly woman. She recognized her—wasn't this her very first patient? Xuanniang remembered advising her to avoid spicy food and to return for a follow-up in a week. But the woman hadn't come back since that initial visit. Why was she now here, looking so distressed?

Before Xuanniang could ask, Fangfang began speaking earnestly beside her. "Xuanniang, if you don't know medicine, you shouldn't treat people recklessly. Look at this elderly woman; I met her on the road and found out she was your patient. She looks like she's got an upset stomach, and she's been following your prescription. You need to be careful. It's one thing to experiment with herbs at home, but you can't use unverified remedies on others. You can't let money drive you to such extremes!"

Xuanniang ignored Fangfang and continued examining the elderly woman. She asked her carefully, "Ma'am, have you really been following my advice? Avoiding spicy foods and drinking dandelion soup twice a day? How did your stomach pain persist? When did it start?"