The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1089 - 168: Making a House Call

Chapter 1089: Chapter 168: Making a House Call

Shopkeeper Zheng: ...

This is for you to take, he can’t possibly be competing with her for it, can he?

Following behind her as she walked out, Shao stretched her hand but failed to snatch the backpack and medicine box from her grasp, left with no choice but to let her go.

Manbao placed the items on the horse carriage, and negotiated with Shao, "Take me straight home later."

Shao agreed.

When they arrived at State Duke Su’s residence, Shao insisted that Manbao must not carry the medicine box by herself, saying, "Young Doctor Zhou, if you do this, the head shopkeeper will punish me."

Manbao then let him carry the medicine box.

Shao took the visiting card and knocked on the door; after the doorman took the card, he led their carriage inside, and servants guided them to the inner courtyard.

This time, they were summoned by Second Madam Cheng, but she wasn’t bedridden; when Manbao and her company arrived, she was still dealing with household affairs.

Upon hearing that the doctor had come, she had someone invite Manbao to her courtyard, while Shao was stopped outside the door, left to wait in the courtyard.

Shao glanced at Manbao, who, after thinking for a moment, took the medicine box and said with a smile, "Wait here for a bit."

Shao complied.

A maid invited Manbao inside, served tea and snacks, and Manbao, looking around curiously, asked, "Where is the patient?"

The maid there awkwardly smiled and responded, "Young Doctor Zhou, please wait a little longer, our Second Madam will be here shortly."

Manbao then asked, "What’s ailing the Second Madam?"

"...Uhm..." The two second-class maids exchanged glances, then whispered, "Young Doctor Zhou, our Second Madam gave birth to the Second Miss just over three months ago and has been feeling quite unwell since."

Hearing their vague explanation, Manbao simply nodded and sat at the table to wait.

Second Madam Cheng didn’t make her wait long, she returned shortly after Manbao had taken a seat. Manbao didn’t see Shao waiting under the eaves, but Shao looked up at her, worry faintly visible in her eyes, uncertain if Young Doctor Zhou could handle it.

Manbao felt that her visit was just for a consultation, which wasn’t much different from seeing patients at Jishi Hall, except that she was the one who made the house visit.

Upon seeing Second Madam Cheng, Manbao signaled for her to sit down, "Let me take your pulse first."

Having said that, she took out the pulse pillow and placed it on the table.

Second Madam Cheng was surprised by her straightforwardness, devoid of any small talk.

However, it indeed reduced much awkwardness. Second Madam Cheng looked back at her trusted maid Daya, who then led the servants out one by one.

Only Daya was left in the room.

The room quieted down considerably; it must be said that Manbao felt much more comfortable.

She reached out to feel Second Madam Cheng’s pulse and asked, "Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

Second Madam Cheng touched her waist and said, "My back aches, and..."

Her face blushing, Second Madam Cheng spoke softly, "This childbirth wasn’t quite like the last one; the child was rather large, and ever since I gave birth, my buttocks have swollen significantly. The midwife said it was due to my pelvis dropping. Whenever I tighten my waist, I feel sore and swollen all over..."

And there were many other ailments, practically innumerable. These kinds of issues are usually only discussed with her own wet nurse, who would then inquire with a midwife, but the midwife didn’t have very good solutions either.

Many matters were private, and she felt uneasy consulting doctors about them, so she could only fumble for solutions on her own or bear with it. But now in the capital, a young miraculously skilled doctor had emerged, and what’s more, this prodigy was a woman.

Second Madam Cheng had previously met Manbao at the Su Family, confirming that her medical skills were sound. She had endured several days, waiting not to attract too much attention before having someone invite Manbao over.

Manbao glanced into the inner chamber and said, "Let me examine you."

Second Madam Cheng blushed and nodded.

Manbao washed her hands before examining, then she simply massaged Second Madam Cheng’s pelvic bone and said, "When I come back, I’ll find a prescription for you and teach you how to adjust it properly."

She added, "You can’t rely solely on corsets to lose weight. I’ll teach you how to do it properly when I come back."

Second Madam Cheng asked, "Why do you have to come back to teach me?"

Manbao explained, "I need to go back and create a recovery plan that suits you. Medication alone is not enough. You have too many health issues that can’t all be fixed in one day, so a plan is necessary."

Second Madam Cheng was half-understanding, half-confused.

Nevertheless, Manbao prescribed two formulas for her, handing one over and saying, "This is for drinking, twice a day, one dose lasting two days."

She gave the other one, saying, "This is for soaking. Boil it in a pot of water for fifteen minutes, then pour out the liquid to mix with warm water and soak in the bath for about fifteen minutes each night."

Second Madam Cheng accepted them, hesitant, she asked, "When will the next...?"

"Tomorrow afternoon, I will come over."

Second Madam Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile, "Good, tomorrow I’ll have someone wait outside for Young Doctor Zhou."

Manbao agreed.

She was about to leave with her belongings.

Seeing this, Second Madam Cheng hastily invited her, "Young Doctor Zhou, please stay for some tea and snacks before you go."

"No need," Manbao said with a smile, "I need to go back and study. That will be all for today."

Second Madam Cheng then looked towards Daya at her side, who immediately smiled and led Manbao out, whispering on the way, "Young Doctor Zhou, our Second Madam’s illness must not be spoken of to outsiders, so..."

"Don’t worry, we will protect the patient’s privacy and won’t disclose it." Besides, Second Madam Cheng’s illness wasn’t something rare or unique, so there was no need to consult with Doctor Ding and the others.

She planned to make a treatment plan and then discuss it with Teacher Mo, which should suffice.

Daya breathed a sigh of relief and then slipped a purse into Manbao’s hand, smiling, "Here is a little token of our appreciation, please accept it, Young Doctor Zhou."

Manbao clutched the heavy purse in her hands, momentarily stunned, and blinked with confusion, "This much?"

Daya laughed, "It’s not much, not much at all. Young Doctor Zhou is like a divine healer now."

Manbao felt conflicted. Really, Second Madam Cheng’s illness wasn’t severe—it was just a bit trivial. To completely cure her would probably take quite some time.

Would Second Madam Cheng go bankrupt if Manbao accepted such a large payment at the first consultation when there would be many visits to follow?

Before Manbao had time to think it through, Shao had cautiously come over to take her medicine chest.

Back to her senses, Manbao nodded to Daya and headed outside the courtyard.

Daya escorted them all the way out and watched their carriage drive away before returning.

Manbao sat in the carriage, opened the purse, and poured out two plump ingots of silver.

Holding the silver, she thought her father would be thrilled to learn she could earn so much money now, so happy he’d do a somersault in bed.

Though a somersault was impossible, it was entirely feasible for him to grin from ear to ear. Old Zhou’s household received the second letter from the capital, along with Manbao’s gifts sent with the Mid-Autumn Festival presents prepared by Bai Dalang for his family.

The letter said they had spent money on buying a two-story tavern, which was converted into a restaurant. Manbao also bought Old Zhou a set of winter clothes.