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In front of the grand, red-lacquered gates of the Tang Residence, Wei Lan raised a hand to shield her eyes from the blinding sunlight. The stone lions at the entrance stood solemn and majestic, while the bronze door rings gleamed under the light.
Liu Mingyi had been invited to treat the second young lady of the Tang family, but Wei Lan, accompanying him, was stopped at the door.
“Doctor Liu, my lady only invited you inside,” said Cui Liu, the second young lady’s personal maid, blocking the threshold. She was dressed in exquisite silk and had a golden hairpin in her hair, forming a stark contrast to Wei Lan’s coarse fabric clothing.
Liu Mingyi frowned slightly. “Cui Liu, this is my younger sister.”
Before he could say more, Wei Lan softly said, “It’s fine, I’ll wait for you outside.”
“I’ll be quick,” Liu Mingyi reassured her, handing his medical box to the doorkeeper before stepping through the gates, his green robe disappearing behind them.
As Wei Lan turned around, the aroma of roasted chicken caught her attention. Under the eaves of Lao Tang Restaurant, eight golden, glistening roasted chickens were hanging. The moment an attendant lifted the lid off the roasting oven, sizzling oil dripped onto the charcoal, releasing fragrant white smoke.
Lao Tang Restaurant was the most luxurious and well-known eatery in the area, boasting a wide storefront, upturned eaves, and two large red lanterns swaying in the breeze. Its signature dish, Lao Tang Roast Chicken, was famous far and wide.
Wei Lan touched her stomach—her breakfast porridge had long since been digested.
“Young lady, care for a Lao Tang Roast Chicken? One bite and you’ll want more!” the restaurant attendant eagerly called out.
Unfortunately, Wei Lan had not a single coin to her name. A trace of sorrow welled up in her heart. “No, thank you,” she said, swallowing back her saliva.
She silently swore to herself: One day, I will earn enough money so I can eat meat whenever I want!
A short while later, Liu Mingyi emerged from the Tang Residence’s side gate, clutching three silver coins—the payment for treating the second young lady.
“Shall we head to the next patient?” Wei Lan asked, taking back the medical box.
Liu Mingyi nodded but began walking in the opposite direction.
Puzzled, Wei Lan called after him, “Brother Mingyi?”
Liu Mingyi simply smiled and remained silent. The two wove through the bustling streets until they stopped in front of a shoe shop.
The shopkeeper, Master Li, immediately recognized Liu Mingyi and greeted him warmly. “Doctor Liu, here to pick out a new pair of shoes for yourself?”
Liu Mingyi shook his head and pointed at Wei Lan. “Today, I’m buying shoes for my sister.”
Wei Lan instinctively curled her right foot back. She was wearing old cloth shoes that had once belonged to Liu Yao, and while they barely held together for the journey, their poor fit had left blisters on her toes. Walking had become increasingly painful. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment—she hadn’t expected Liu Mingyi to notice such a small detail.
“Try these on.”
A female attendant brought over a pair of soft leather boots, crouched down, and helped Wei Lan put them on. The new shoes wrapped snugly around her feet, warm and comfortable. Standing up, she took a few steps—the difference was astonishing.
Just as Liu Mingyi was paying, a barefooted man suddenly burst into the shop, shouting frantically.
“Doctor Liu! Please, save my son!”
Liu Mingyi’s brows furrowed, his voice calm as ever. “What happened?”
“My boy is choking! He’s about to die!” The man’s voice was choked with panic.
Liu Mingyi and Wei Lan exchanged a glance before rushing out without hesitation.
They ran through several narrow alleyways and arrived at a small courtyard. This was a weaving workshop—two old looms stood inside the house, surrounded by neatly piled silk and cotton threads.
In the courtyard, a five-year-old boy lay on the ground, his face turning blue, his tiny body twitching.
“My son! My little Si!”
A woman, likely the boy’s mother, was about to pour vinegar down his throat, but Liu Mingyi quickly stopped her.
He picked the child up, turned him upside down, and patted his back, trying to dislodge the obstruction.
This is a classic case of airway obstruction!
Wei Lan had witnessed such emergencies countless times in modern hospitals.
“Let me try!” she said, taking the child from Liu Mingyi.
She wrapped her arms around the boy’s abdomen and performed quick, forceful thrusts. Once, twice, three times…
The boy’s face grew paler, and sweat beaded on Wei Lan’s forehead.
Then—“Cough!”
A piece of chicken bone shot out of the boy’s mouth.
He gasped desperately for air, his complexion gradually returning to normal.
His parents wept with joy, clutching him tightly.
Wei Lan exhaled deeply, nearly collapsing in exhaustion, but her heart swelled with relief.
She had saved a life. That was her duty as a doctor—no matter the era.
Their actions had drawn a crowd, and whispers of admiration rippled through the onlookers.
“That girl has miraculous hands! She saved the child in an instant!”
“She and Doctor Liu must be highly skilled physicians!”
“Truly, this child was blessed to meet them!”
At that moment, a luxurious palanquin stood parked in the shade of a nearby dyeing vat. From within, the second young lady of the Tang family peered out. She had been observing for some time.
As Wei Lan checked the boy’s throat for any residual swelling, she gave instructions: “Feed him only soft foods for three days. If you notice any blood in his saliva, take him to a doctor immediately.”
The young lady gracefully stepped forward, her snow-white skin radiant under the sunlight. “Miss Wei, I must apologize for my maid’s earlier rudeness. I failed to manage her properly.”
Beside her, Cui Liu looked nervous, clearly having been reprimanded.
Wei Lan was taken aback. She hadn’t expected such an apology. Hastily, she waved her hands. “It’s really no problem at all.”
The second young lady’s gaze was curious. “What kind of medical technique did you just use?”
Wei Lan hesitated, then said, “It’s called the Air Pressure Displacement Method. By applying pressure to the abdomen, we force air out of the lungs to push the obstruction free.”
She mentally apologized to Dr. Heimlich—I have to borrow your invention for now.
An older man in the crowd muttered, “Is this some sort of mystical Qi technique?” The bystanders chuckled, lightening the mood.
The boy’s grateful parents pressed silk fabric into Liu Mingyi’s hands. “Please, take this. We must repay you somehow.”
Liu Mingyi gently pushed the gift back. “Healing is our duty. We cannot accept.”
Wei Lan smiled, clasping the woman’s hands. “If you remember this technique and use it to save others, that will be the best repayment.”
As they left, Liu Mingyi looked at Wei Lan, his eyes thoughtful. “You possess medical knowledge I’ve never seen before. Tell me, was your medical book… written by foreigners?”
Wei Lan’s heart pounded. He’s sharp.
Taking a deep breath, she carefully replied, “Brother Mingyi, it’s a long story. But yes, this knowledge comes from overseas. Perhaps, one day, I will tell you everything.”
Including the truth—that she was from the future.