Chapter 12: Practicing Medicine
Since she gave up her nightlife, Gu Jiao had been waking up earlier than a rooster every day.
Before dawn, she would carry a water bucket and head to the ancient well at the village entrance to fetch water.
The villagers also rose early, and by now several aunties and young girls were already at the well fetching water. They looked at her in surprise as they knew about the incident with Gu Dashun on the ox cart, where she had pulled him down. After all, she was considered a fool who even put her own cousin in danger when she had a fit.
But why was she coming to fetch water so early? The foolish girl never did any work and would sleep until late morning.
Ignoring the curious gazes of others, Gu Jiao calmly went to the well, fetched water, and carried it home using a shoulder pole.
It was only after she had gone far away that everyone regained their senses.
Were their eyes playing tricks on them? Just a moment ago, the foolish girl did not look foolish at all, and the way she fetched water and walked was even elegant.
After fetching water, Gu Jiao steamed a basket of large meat buns. Yesterday, she had bought a piece of preserved meat and soaked it in water before sleeping. The excess salt was drawn out, but the flavor of the preserved meat remained intact.
The aroma of the meat buns wafted through the air, making even the neighbor's dog drool.
Gu Jiao took two meat buns and went up the mountain. She had already picked plenty of wild mushrooms, and there were still many wild fungi left.
In fact, the villagers who went up the mountain to collect firewood could also find these ingredients, but most of them didn't dare to pick them. Firstly, they couldn't distinguish poisonous mushrooms, and secondly, they didn't know how to remove the toxins from fresh mushrooms.
After picking the mushrooms, Gu Jiao went straight to the marketplace.
The eastern part of the town was more prosperous and had the best medical clinics, restaurants, government offices, and schools. In comparison, the western part of the town was more complex with a mixture of markets, workshops, gambling houses, and kilns.
Gu Jiao found a vacant spot and set up her stall in the marketplace.
Auntie next to her remembered her and smiled at her, "Oh, you're here. Do you still have the mushrooms you picked last time? My grandson likes them. Can you exchange some for me?"
The auntie was selling sweet potatoes, and the price of sweet potatoes was incomparable to the mushrooms on the mountain, but Gu Jiao didn't mind and handed her the basket to let her take what she wanted.
The auntie grabbed two and put two big and red sweet potatoes into her basket.
Soon, another lady came over and said with a smile: "Can I trade some radishes with you? I also want to stew some for my family."
"Sure." Gu Jiao nodded casually and gestured with her eyes for the lady to do it herself.
The lady used her two big radishes to exchange for Gu Jiao's two handfuls of mushrooms.
After that, several vendors came one after another and exchanged Gu Jiao's mushrooms for their own small vegetables.
This scene was observed by two men in a tea shed diagonally across.
"Shopkeeper Wang, is she the one you mentioned?" asked the man in his thirties, who had a firm face and was tall.
The middle-aged man beside him said, "If we're talking about Second Master, then it's her."
Second Master frowned at Gu Jiao and said, "She's trading such expensive mountain goods for such cheap vegetables. Is she stupid? And some people put rotten vegetables in her basket, and she doesn't say anything. Is she really that dumb?"
"This..." Shopkeeper Wang had nothing to say.
He always felt that Gu Jiao was not stupid, she just didn't care.
"Are you sure it's not a mistake?" Second Master asked.
"I was next to her when she saved the patient. I saw her sew up such a deep and long wound with my own eyes. I won't be mistaken," Wang explained with gestures.
What Wang didn't say was that he had seen her twice, the first time was at this market, so he knew she would come here to do business.
"How old is she?" Second Master frowned, unable to believe that she was the doctor who could revive the dead.
She was too young and too poor, with a birthmark on her face.
But shopkeeper Wang wouldn't lie to him.
The medical dispute incident had a great impact, not only offending Doctor Zhang, but also making the headquarters of the capital's medical association very unhappy. Second Master's position was precarious, and he urgently needed a competent doctor to support the situation.
"Go and ask her where she learned her medical skills. I am willing to pay a high price to invite her master to come and give a consultation," Second Master said.
This girl's medical skills couldn't have been self-taught. Inviting her master would definitely be more reliable than just inviting her.
Wang thought this was feasible, and turned around to ask her, but as soon as he took a step, he saw a young man fall down. He happened to fall in front of a chicken vendor's stall, scaring all the chickens away.
"Oh no! My chickens! My chickens!" The chicken vendor rushed to catch the chickens.
The scene was chaotic.
Wang the shopkeeper and Er Dongjia's eyes fell on the young man, and they were stunned at the same time.
The young man had symptoms of chest tightness, cyanosis, and shortness of breathing. It was almost identical to the symptoms of the patient who died at their medical clinic, except it was more urgent and intense. The patient at least made it home, but this young man was about to suffocate.
This was an incurable disease, even if the doctor from their medical clinic came, they could not cure him!
At a critical moment, a slender figure rushed over from the crowd and squatted down in front of the young man. With a swift motion, she tore open his clothes and stabbed something into his chest!
Everyone gasped in shock!
Was she trying to kill him?
The next moment, Gu Jiao removed the needle from the piercing device, and a small stream of air flowed out.
Everyone saw the young man, who was about to suffocate, sink into his chest and then instantly recover normal breathing.
Wang the shopkeeper was dumbfounded: "Do we still need to ask her master?"
"What's the point of asking?" If their medical clinic had such a doctor, they would not have killed people that day.
Second Master decisively pushed shopkeeper Wang aside, stood up, and walked towards Gu Jiao
.........
"You mean you want me to be the doctor at your medical clinic?" Gu Jiao looked at the young man after hearing Second Master Hu's words.
The young man had a fractured rib that caused a lung laceration and eventually led to pneumothorax. Although the gas in the chest had been drained, he still needed further treatment. Unfortunately, he left alone after he recovered his breathing.
Gu Jiao withdrew her gaze and asked Second Master Hu: "Which medical clinic do you belong to?"
Second Master Hu smiled and said: "In Qingquan Town, the only medical clinic worthy of the name is our Huichuntang!"
"Um," she rubbed her chin. thought that the other party wouldn't easily agree. He was prepared for Gu Jiao to bargain, but unexpectedly, Gu Jiao just said, 'It's just in time. I was just about to look for you. I can collaborate with Huichuntang, but I have to make it clear that I will only see patients once a month.'
'Once... only once a month?' Second Master Hu was stunned. Wasn't she going to haggle or raise the price? Wait, only once a month, she's only seeing patients once a month!
'I'm very busy,' Gu Jiao said seriously.
Busy... selling vegetables?
Second Master Hu looked at her basket, and his mouth twitched slightly.
Honestly, he was not satisfied with just one visit, but in business, it's all about gradual progress. He'll start by getting her to enter Huichuntang's doors, then slowly negotiate with her in the future. said, 'Okay... just once!'
Gu Jiao looked at him firmly, as if what she was about to say next was the main point. 'In addition, I have another condition.'
After class, Feng Lin hurried to the clinic.
Since the medical incident, business at the clinic had declined. The staff in the lobby were listlessly sorting through the herbs.
'Excuse me, is Dr. Zhang here?' Feng Lin asked one of the staff members.
'Sir, Dr. Zhang has returned to the capital,' the staff member replied.
'When will he be back?' Feng Lin asked politely.
'I don't know,' the staff member replied.
'Could you please ask for me? My friend has had a leg injury for six months, and only Dr. Zhang can cure him,' Feng Lin persisted.
The staff member gave him a slightly impatient look. 'To be honest, if you really want to find him for treatment, you can go to Huichuntang in the capital. But his consultation fee is very expensive.'
'How much?' Feng Lin asked.
'Ten taels,' the staff member replied.
'What? Ten taels?'