Chapter 38: Hope

While removing the bandages, the experienced physician, Doctor Luo, curiously inquired why Cao Xiangnan had used wooden boards and bandages to immobilize his leg. Cao Xiangnan explained his reasoning to Doctor Luo, taking the opportunity to share some basic concepts of modern medical hygiene—fundamental ideas lacking in this era.

Doctor Luo listened with clicking sounds of amazement. Noticing that Cao Xiangnan didn’t seem like a doctor, he asked, “Where did you learn these methods?”

“I stumbled upon them in a miscellaneous book,” Cao Xiangnan replied, improvising an excuse. However, he was aware of the significant differences between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Simple first-aid techniques like these were introduced to China later with the advent of Western medicine, and thus did not exist in this era.

Even the standards of medical hygiene were developed in later generations. Nowadays, a small bacterium could be fatal, but people of this era were ignorant of such things.

“Is the book still around?” It seemed Doctor Luo wanted to find the book.

Cao Xiangnan shook his head, offering another excuse to brush it off. But what he said made sense, and Doctor Luo found it even easier to talk to him. During the conversation, Doctor Luo examined the injury on his leg, his expression serious.

Standing nearby, Qi Wanfeng felt a little nervous. After lunch, the child had become too sleepy to keep his eyes open and had fallen asleep. He had laid him down on the small couch nearby, where he was now sleeping soundly. He stayed by his husband’s side.

“Don’t be nervous,” Doctor Luo said with a smile, noticing the two anxious faces as he looked up.

Cao Xiangnan saw the half-finger-length needle Doctor Luo was holding after finishing the examination, and he really couldn’t bring himself to smile. Only when Doctor Luo had removed all the needles did he breathe a sigh of relief. The visual impact of watching the needles pierce his skin was too great.

But afterwards, he noticed that being poked like this made him feel a little more relaxed than before.

“Alright,” Doctor Luo said, smiling again as he saw the relieved expression on Cao Xiangnan’s face. He carefully reiterated what Cao Xiangnan needed to pay attention to, and told the pharmacy assistant to take the prescription to prepare the medicine. “When you get home, mash the herbs and apply them to the wound every day. Come back to see me again in seven days.”

“You, sit down too. No need to stand. Let me take a look at your hand,” Doctor Luo said to the ge’er [A male who can bear children] standing anxiously by his husband’s side.

Only then did Qi Wanfeng sit down next to his husband and extend his hand.

“The fetus is not very stable. You need to be careful during the first three months and avoid strenuous activities. I’ll prescribe some medicine to help stabilize the pregnancy. Come back to see me with your husband in seven days,” Doctor Luo said, having a good idea of the situation after taking his pulse.

“Thank you, Doctor Luo. Is there anything else Wanfeng needs to be aware of regarding his health?” Cao Xiangnan asked, quite pleased to hear the news. Qi Wanfeng’s health was more important than anything.

However, Cao Xiangnan’s happiness didn’t necessarily translate to Qi Wanfeng. The family was currently spending more than they were earning, and the money was borrowed. While Qi Wanfeng was willing to spend on his husband, he wasn’t as willing to spend on himself. He wanted to save every penny possible.

Qi Wanfeng hastily said, “Husband, there’s nothing wrong with my health. There’s no need for medicine.”

“Nonsense! You don’t even care about your own health,” Doctor Luo said, his expression changing. Looking at the family’s clothes, he knew they were a poor family. He waved his hand and said, “If you’re really struggling, consider this medicine on credit. Pay me back when you have the money. If you can’t, then forget about it.”

He had benefited greatly today, learning a lot. He should have been paying them, but he thought they wouldn’t accept the money. Doctor Luo still wrote the prescription for the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine and had the pharmacy assistant prepare it. He added a few precious herbs to the ge’er’s medicine, but charged them at the normal rate, considering it compensation for today.