The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1088 - 167: Delivering the Medicine Box

Chapter 1088: Chapter 167: Delivering the Medicine Box

But now she no longer feared; ever since her in-laws knew the issue lay with Shi Dalang, her days had become much easier.

The laundry at home wouldn’t pile up waiting for her to wash; knowing she should avoid cold water, her mother-in-law took over doing the laundry.

This time the medicine was for both her and her husband to take. When the medicinal scent wafted through the house, there were no more nagging complaints, and the courtyard was no longer filled with annoying hammering and knocking sounds.

Thus, Liuniang was quite content. Even though she still had no children, she held her head up high instead of always keeping it lowered as before.

This time, when she inquired about Manbao’s condition, she was not as urgent as the first time, merely asking with a touch of curiosity, "Doctor Zhou Junior, can my husband’s illness really be cured?"

Manbao said, "There’s an eighty percent chance."

"Then if he is cured, will I be able to conceive a child?"

Manbao thought seriously for a moment before saying, "Theoretically, yes. But my mother says that children are a gift from heaven. If he gets better and you still can’t conceive, why not pray to Daode Tianzun for blessings?"

"Daode Tianzun?" Liuniang thought for a while before saying, "Doctor Zhou Junior believes in Taishang Laojun, then. I’ll go offer my prayers later."

After finishing the conversation, Manbao gestured for her to leave and called the next patient in.

Her patients were non-stop, and whether it was because her reputation had spread far and wide, other than female patients, she now also had a high number of trauma cases.

These days, Manbao always received patients who required suturing, and her suturing skills had improved by leaps and bounds. Her suturing had always been good, but now it was even better.

Doctor Ding and the others couldn’t hold back from learning from her. Lately, the pharmacy often had pig’s trotters to eat—stewed until tender, and quite delicious, actually.

Patients who came to the pharmacy to see Manbao for treatment were already familiar with her rules, knowing she worked only half a day and would leave in the afternoon.

So those who needed her to see them would either come early or, upon seeing so many people, would leave and try again earlier the next day.

It wasn’t necessarily Manbao who had to see them; if they couldn’t get on her schedule, they would wait for another doctor.

By noon, Manbao went out for a walk, saw that there were no particular patients of interest, and since there were only two patients left in her queue, she decided to see them both. After prescribing their medications, she went to the backyard for lunch.

They had stewed pig’s trotters for lunch again. The cooks at Jishi Hall had even added some medicinal herbs to the trotters.

Manbao picked up two pieces of pig’s trotters, examined them with curiosity, and asked, "Whose suturing practice is this from?"

Shopkeeper Zheng laughed and said, "Doctor Ding. Oh right, this is Shao, a few years older than you. From now on, he’ll be following you as an apprentice."

Manbao turned to look at Shao, noting that he was about the same age as Senior Brother Bai and didn’t resemble an apprentice at all. Curious, she asked, "Which ’Shao’?"

Shao hesitated before saying, "Chinese peony’s ’Shao’."

"Eh, is your surname Bai?"

"...No, my surname is Zheng, Zheng Shao."

It sounded like a girl’s name, but having taken a closer look, she saw he was indeed a boy, and not as good-looking as Young Manager Zheng either.

Manbao nodded and asked, "Have you eaten? We’re going out for a house call soon."

Zheng Shao bowed and responded, "I’ve eaten. Doctor Zhou Junior, please have a meal. I’ll prepare the carriage."

Manbao nodded her head.

Seeing Zheng Shao leave, Shopkeeper Zheng smiled at Manbao, "He’s older and more stable. Since he looks rather ordinary, it’s convenient to take him into the inner residence. In the future, you can let him handle miscellaneous and tiring tasks. Even in the medicine shop, you can have him assist you."

Manbao felt she had heard this kind of talk somewhere before. After thinking for a bit, she asked, "So, does this mean he is becoming my apprentice now?"

Shopkeeper Zheng replied with a jovial smile, "It would be his good fortune if Doctor Zhou Junior is willing to take him as an apprentice."

Manbao then understood, but she felt a bit uneasy inside, "I’ve only been holding consultations for a short while, can I really take on an apprentice already?"

Shopkeeper Zheng smiled, "As physicians, we value experience, but even more so, we value medical skills. Doctor Zhou Junior is now known as a little divine healer, recognized both in the capital and Yizhou. Taking on an apprentice is a minor matter in comparison. If it weren’t for your young age and inconvenient status, you could have been directly recruited into the Imperial Hospital."

Manbao jumped in shock, "Please don’t say that. It scares me."

Shopkeeper Zheng laughed, "Doctor Zhou Junior is just joking again."

She wasn’t joking though, she was genuinely afraid.

After finishing her lunch, Manbao began to gather her things to go out and see patients. Shopkeeper Zheng followed behind her and, upon seeing her organizing the already very old-looking bamboo basket, he lightly coughed, and Ding presented her with a brand-new medicine chest.

Shopkeeper Zheng said to Manbao with a smile, "Doctor Zhou Junior, what do you think of this medicine chest?"

Manbao looked over and nodded, "It’s beautiful."

"It is, isn’t it? This was made for you," Shopkeeper Zheng introduced. "Look, it’s divided into two layers with many compartments. Besides the place for the pulse pillow and the needle pack, it can hold plenty of medicines."

Shopkeeper Zheng explained, "This lower section is for keeping commonly used life-saving medicines. Do you know what medicines you should be carrying?"

Manbao nodded in response, "I do. Doctor Ji taught me. This medicine chest is exactly the same style as his."

Shopkeeper Zheng laughed, "The medicine chests of all good doctors in this world are quite similar. But yours is even better, more convenient, and has larger space."

Manbao reached out and touched the medicine chest, asking with curiosity, "Is it really for me?"

Shopkeeper Zheng nodded, smiling, "Of course. From now on, let Shao carry the medicine chest for you."

"No, I want to carry it myself."

Manbao was also reluctant to part with her own little basket; after all, it had been with her for many years. Although it had been replaced twice, each basket had been specially custom-made for her by Second Brother.

Manbao transferred the contents of her basket into the medicine chest one by one. There was still lots of empty space. Shopkeeper Zheng glanced at it and immediately knew what was missing. He smiled at her, then turned to the counter and filled up the chest with the needed medicines.

While placing the packed medicines into the chest, Shopkeeper Zheng conversed with Manbao, "This medicine is not just for the patient’s life, but also for the doctor’s. Sometimes, just one right herb, used in time, could save a life. Therefore, a doctor’s medicine chest must always be full. Whenever there’s a shortage, it must be replenished and often changed to prevent the medicines from becoming damp."

Doctor Ji had told her all this before, but since she was just new to holding consultations, there weren’t many opportunities for her to make house calls. And as she had always carried the basket, putting all sorts of things inside, she hadn’t paid much attention to this matter.

Manbao looked at the fully stocked medicine chest, placing the book of statutes that she was carrying into the basket as well, then closed the chest. She carried the basket on her back and, holding the medicine chest contentedly, was ready to leave.

Shopkeeper Zheng hurriedly said, "Let Shao help you carry it."

Manbao hugged the medicine chest tightly and shook her head, "No need, I’ll carry it myself."