Chapter 60: Quirky Methods of Treatment

Jiang Nian really didn’t know whether to praise him as a saint.

But then she thought, he was the commune director, so it was his duty to do his job.

Ye Zhiqiu brought a cup of tea and carefully placed it in front of Jiang Nian. “Master, don’t be angry.”

Although she hadn’t heard the conversation between Yan Jin and Jiang Nian, her face was clearly not good.

And she didn’t know if this Director Yan was incompatible with her Master, but except for the day she saved him, her Master was unhappy every time they met.

Jiang Nian shook her head and instructed, “I’m fine. Put your work on hold for the next few days. Keep an eye on Zhang Er. Let me know if there are any problems, especially the symptoms after taking the medicine.”

“I know. Don’t worry, Master. I think he’s fine. He was a little uncomfortable when he first woke up, but he just helped carry water and cut medicine.”

Jiang Nian softly hummed in agreement. Taking advantage of this time, she told Ye Zhiqiu about the pulse conditions and diagnosis of the two patients just now, and asked her to practice taking pulses whenever she had time. She didn’t have to find sick people, healthy people would do. The main thing was to learn how to distinguish them.

Ye Zhiqiu was indeed a keen learner. As for taking pulses, there was a ready-made test subject right in front of her.

Zhang Er’s situation was special. His condition was different before and after each acupuncture session and before and after taking medicine. He was a good subject for her to practice on.

It was late at night again, and Zhou Shugen’s illness flared up again.

When he was carried to Jiang Nian, she could tell at a glance that he had taken painkillers before coming. It was just that the painkillers from the town couldn’t stop the pain in his body.

Jiang Nian was indeed very skilled. She could be said to have cured the illness with a single dose of medicine. Within minutes of drinking the medicine she had brewed, he felt much better.

But the cost was also high.

Fifteen yuan a time. This was a long-term illness for him. With his family’s situation, even if they didn’t eat or drink, they wouldn’t be able to afford long-term pain relief.

But when Zhou Shugen’s illness flared up, no one could imagine how much pain he was in. At that moment, he just wanted to stop the pain, and he didn’t care about money.

Yan Jin’s ability to get things done was unquestionable. After all, the whole commune was involved in the preparation. Even if everyone only contributed a dime, with over 2,000 people in Yanjiazhuang Commune, they could easily raise over two hundred yuan.

He contributed one hundred yuan himself and also applied for medical subsidies from the town. He truly lived up to the saying, “When one person is in trouble, everyone helps.”

The day Zhou Shugen came to see a doctor, Yan Jin and the village chief were also there, along with many people who wanted to watch the show.

After all, everyone had contributed money, and this matter had caused quite a stir.

Just looking at these people, she was already impatient.

“The patient comes in, everyone else goes out.”

With a single sentence from Jiang Nian, the village chief quickly apologized with a smile. “Jiang Nian, everyone came here today because they heard about your amazing medical skills. They want to see how you cure Zhou Shugen’s illness, which even the big hospitals couldn’t cure. Just let everyone have a look, okay?”

Ye Zhiqiu was behind Jiang Nian. She hadn’t learned to hide her displeasure yet. She said with obvious disgust, “Grandpa Village Chief, this is about treating a patient, not watching a show. If you’re all here staring, how can Teacher focus on treating him?”

“What are you saying? It’s just about giving him some medicine to drink, or maybe that thing, acupuncture, right? Doctor Jiang is so skilled, it’s impossible that she can’t prescribe medicine or give acupuncture just because there are more people, right?”

Yan Jin was about to disperse the crowd, but a woman who loved to watch the show interrupted him.

Jiang Nian patted Ye Zhiqiu’s arm, signaling her to calm down.

Then she said, “This sister is right. Since everyone wants to see, then let’s see.”

The ground had dried out. Jiang Nian asked Ye Zhiqiu to bring out the mat from the house and spread it on the ground. She had Zhou Shugen lie down on it.

Although Ye Zhiqiu was very puzzled and didn’t know what Jiang Nian was going to do, she still obeyed and carried the wooden bucket from the corner of the yard.

Jiang Nian looked at Yan Jin. “Director Yan, I’ll need you to find a few people to strip him naked. Then I’ll tell you what to do.”

“Strip him?” He thought he had misheard.

Jiang Nian explained, “His whole body is covered in boils. We have to drain the pus and blood first, otherwise, even if he takes the medicine, it won’t be cured.”

The woman who had loved to watch the show earlier couldn’t bear to watch this. A naked man covered in boils was a sight she didn’t want to see.

Half of the crowd dispersed immediately, leaving only the village’s men.

Zhang Er, although not fully recovered, looked much clearer than before.

He was used to helping Ye Zhiqiu, and he wanted to step forward and help, but Jiang Nian stopped him. “You and Zhiqiu go to the kitchen and boil the medicine.”

Ye Zhiqiu pulled his arm and left. Zhang Er didn’t understand. She had said that she could boil the medicine alone.

Yan Jin and two other men helped Zhou Shugen drain the pus and blood.

It wasn’t very cold for a sunny day, but it still had the chill of winter.

Zhou Shugen shivered with cold, and the pain of squeezing out the pus made him almost collapse.

“By the way, the bucket contains leeches. After squeezing out the pus and blood, put the leeches on the boils to absorb the poison. Then use the medicine internally and externally. This is the only way to completely remove the poison.”

Her words made everyone shudder.

This method of treatment was unheard of.

“But what if the leeches burrow into his body?” Someone asked, their scalp tingling.

Jiang Nian seemed very calm. “That’s why you need to watch carefully. Don’t let the leeches burrow into his nose, mouth, or ears. Otherwise, I can’t do anything about it.”

She went to the kitchen leisurely. The kitchen was filled with the smell of medicine, bitter enough to make your heart tremble.

But she, who had grown up surrounded by medicine, was clearly used to it. She just frowned slightly and then relaxed.

Ye Zhiqiu quietly glanced outside and came to Jiang Nian, unable to hide her excitement. “Master, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Tormenting Zhou Shugen like this was worse than death for him.

Jiang Nian smiled and said, “Leeches can indeed absorb poison.” But his illness could be cured with a single detoxification pill and two days of medicine.

Who told those people to watch the show, especially when she was in a bad mood?

And besides, how could she make Zhou Shugen’s illness seem difficult to treat without a little torment?

After all, she had taken their money and their medicine. She had to make them feel like their money was worth it.

Zhou Shugen’s body was covered in boils, making it difficult to squeeze out the pus. It took more than two hours to finally finish.

Jiang Nian had Zhang Er take the leeches that had absorbed the poison outside to dig a hole and bury them. She also had Yan Jin apply medicine to Zhou Shugen’s entire body before giving him the medicine that Ye Zhiqiu had just brewed.

After that, they carried Zhou Shugen home. He just had to apply and drink the medicine on time.

Yan Jin looked at Zhang Er’s obedient appearance and asked thoughtfully, “Doctor Jiang, is Zhang Er… cured?”

He had noticed Zhang Er the last time he came. Although he had an adult’s body, his demeanor and actions were like a child’s, even more childish.

But this time, he no longer had that silly, foolish expression. Although his eyes still had a naive innocence, they seemed very clear, like the eyes of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy, but with a touch of calmness.

“Not yet.” Jiang Nian clearly didn’t want to talk about it too much.

Yan Jin was also confused. He didn’t even know what else he had done to offend Jiang Nian besides his mother’s actions. Why was she so cold to him?