Chapter 28: I Can Cure You

Song Xuejun reacted like a startled cat. 

“Why are you asking?

You should have known before the blind date.

Why ask now? And you’re married!  It’s inappropriate to ask a stranger such a question.”

Yang Siji frowned at Tang Xiaorou, annoyed. Her son was already insecure and sensitive; this would embarrass him further.

Tang Xiaorou explained. “I’m asking as a doctor. If you don’t want to answer, it’s fine.” She saw Song Xuejun’s kind nature; he was the only one who helped her mother and children yesterday. But she wouldn’t force him.

Song Xuejun was skeptical.

“You’re a doctor?”

“Yes.”

Song Xuejun didn’t believe her. “I heard you only finished middle school. Where did you learn medicine?”

Yang Siji also disapproved. “Don’t joke about this. If you treat someone improperly, it’ll cause trouble for you.”

Tang Xiaorou shrugged, ready to stop.

A door opened; Song Fangde returned. “Siji, Xuejun didn’t go to work? I heard his voice.”  He saw Tang Xiaorou and stopped, asking, “We have a guest.”

Yang Siji said, “This is Tang Xiaorou, Qin Zhe’s niece.”

Song Fangde was surprised.

“You’re Qin Zhe’s niece? Hello.” He smiled warmly. “I saw you at your full-moon celebration. You’re married now.” He regretted his son’s failed blind date.

Tang Xiaorou was surprised; her mother hadn’t mentioned this.  She saw Song Fangde’s kindness and smiled. “Hello, Uncle Song. I came to thank Song Xuejun.” She recounted yesterday’s events.

Song Fangde praised his son. “Well done. You should help those who need it.”

He noticed the tense atmosphere. “What were you talking about?  Xuejun and his mother seemed upset. Xiaorou, did they make things difficult for you?”

Yang Siji glared at her husband. “We didn’t make things difficult for Xiao Tang. It’s just that she…” She stopped, fearing it would upset her son.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Song Fangde asked.

Song Xuejun explained. “She said she could treat my illness, but she hasn’t studied medicine. That’s why we were upset.”

Unexpectedly, Song Fangde looked at his son. “Since Xiao Tang said that, answer her questions.”

Song Xuejun and Yang Siji looked at Song Fangde incredulously.

Tang Xiaorou was also surprised. She hadn’t expected this.

“Dad, are you serious?”

Song Fangde nodded. “Of course, I’m serious.”

Song Xuejun couldn’t believe his ears.  Yang Siji looked at her husband. “But Xiao Tang hasn’t studied medicine. Can she treat Xuejun?”

“Since Xiao Tang said so, she must know what she’s doing. Xuejun, come here.”

Seeing his son unmoved, Song Fangde’s face darkened.  He said again, “Xuejun, come here.”

Yang Siji, seeing her husband’s seriousness, pulled Song Xuejun to sit opposite Tang Xiaorou. “Xiao Tang, please examine Xuejun. Ask whatever you need.”

“Okay.”

Tang Xiaorou hadn’t expected Song Fangde to agree, but since he trusted her, she would examine him. “Extend your hand. I’ll take your pulse.”

“Take my pulse?”

Song Xuejun was even more skeptical. Western medicine was most effective; traditional Chinese medicine couldn’t cure his illness. But his father was watching, so he extended his hand.

Yang Siji didn’t believe Tang Xiaorou could treat him, but she let her examine her son to avoid upsetting her husband.

Only Song Fangde believed Tang Xiaorou. After she withdrew her hand, he asked, “Xiao Tang, can Xuejun’s illness be cured?”

“Ha! Dad, we’ve been to so many hospitals. They all said it can’t be cured. Why do you still have hope? You shouldn’t…”

Song Xuejun was interrupted by Tang Xiaorou.

“It can be cured!”

“Dad, I told you she couldn’t… Wh… what?”

Song Xuejun thought he misheard. Yang Siji asked, “Xiao Tang, what did you say?”

“I said it can be cured.”

Song Fangde was overjoyed. “Really? That’s wonderful!”

Song Xuejun felt like he was being tricked. All the doctors said he couldn’t be cured, but Tang Xiaorou said it could, and his father believed her.

Tang Xiaorou hadn’t expected Song Fangde to believe her so easily. Since he did, she wrote a prescription. “Boil three bowls of water down to one. Take it morning and night.”

“Okay, I’ll make sure Xuejun takes the medicine.”

Song Fangde kept the prescription. “Anything else we should pay attention to?”

“Nothing else. I’ll come tomorrow for acupuncture.” She needed to get acupuncture needles.

“What… acupuncture?”

Tang Xiaorou nodded. “Acupuncture will speed up the recovery.”

Song Fangde patted his son. “Xiao Tang said acupuncture will speed up recovery. What are you hesitating about?”

Song Xuejun gave up. “Okay, I understand.”

“Okay, get the medicine. He can take it today. I’ll come tomorrow.”

After Tang Xiaorou left, Yang Siji frowned at her husband. “Fangde, why did you believe Xiao Tang? What if she makes Xuejun worse?”

“I don’t believe her; I believe Qin Zhe. Since she’s his niece, she should be similar.”