Chapter 42

(Recommended: Geng Xin's "Song Shi Xing," but I guess everyone already knows about it, right? If not, go check it out...)

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"Su Zhe..." Upon hearing this name, Chen Ke walked calmly to the stern of the boat and suddenly grabbed the second brother's arm, saying, "Did you hear what he just called me?"

"Third Brother." Chen Chen looked puzzled.

"He called me 'Brother,' the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties actually called me 'Brother'..." Chen Ke mumbled happily, gripping the second brother's shoulder and shaking it hard, "This must be written in the family genealogy!"

"Third Brother, what's wrong with you?" Chen Chen asked, confused, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"I'm fine, better than ever." Chen Ke reined in his smile, patted Chen Chen's shoulder, and said, "Life is really beautiful."

"Right, it is indeed beautiful..." Thinking of the upcoming meeting, his heart raced. It had been three years; he wondered if she was still as beautiful, perhaps even more so.

"..." Seeing the two brothers acting so strangely, Su Zhe was taken aback.

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Although he kept telling himself to stay calm and not to embarrass the time travelers, the closer he got to Meishan, the more excited Chen Ke became. Su Zhe was one thing; although he was famous, Chen Ke didn't really know what he had written or done. But his brother, not only was he the most famous person for a thousand years, but he was also universally adored by men and women, young and old, and everyone loved him.

'Even as a wanderer, he astonishes the common eye, the elegant culture and charm belong to Su Xian'!

Now he was about to visit the home of this great immortal and see the real Su Dongpo, and he was alive!

When they landed, he was so excited that his hands were tightly clenched and his eyes sparkled. He glanced at his second brother and saw that Chen Chen's hands were also tightly clenched and his eyes sparkled. Chen Ke was puzzled: 'What are you so excited about?'

Chen Er was also puzzled, "What are you so excited about, kid?"

On the other side, Su Zhe was equally puzzled: 'What are these two so excited about?'

As they walked through Meishan County, many people greeted Su Zhe warmly, and he responded politely, explaining to Chen Ke and Chen Chen that these were all his second brother's friends, and he was just benefiting from their association.

It seemed that the popularity of the Su brothers in Meishan was no less than that of the Chen brothers in Qingshen.

They soon arrived at the Shagou Lane in the southwest corner of the county. The door was opened by a young woman in her early twenties, wearing a yellow dress and a jade hairpin, with skin as white as snow, a gentle demeanor, and a scholarly air. However, her brows were furrowed with deep worry, which made her look very pitiful.

Chen Er was almost in tears, but it was Third Brother who nudged him, preventing him from being too impolite.

"This is my sister, Ba Niang," Su Zhe introduced, "Second Brother of the Chen family should recognize her, and this is Third Brother of the Chen family." In this era, "niang" means a young girl, so Ba Niang is the eighth girl in the family.

"Ba Niang, I hope you are well, this, this young man pays his respects." Chen Chen bowed deeply, making Chen Chen, who only clasped his hands, seem very impolite.

However, Su Ba Niang only curtsied to him and then focused all her attention on Third Brother. Her eyes filled with tears as she said, "Chen family brother, you must save my sister..." Then she pulled Chen Ke's sleeve and led him inside.

In the Song Dynasty, the relationship between men and women was not as free and open as in the Tang Dynasty, but it was more natural and harmonious, without so much emphasis on "men and women should not touch." Besides, in Ba Niang's eyes, Chen Ke was still a child.

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Entering the main house, Chen Ke saw Chen Xiliang, Su Xun, and Song Fu sitting there, but he didn't see the Su Xian he was eagerly anticipating. Well, life and death were at stake, and Su Xian wasn't going anywhere, so he should focus on treating the patient.

Chen Ke respectfully greeted the three elders.

Su Xun, looking haggard, said apologetically, "Nephew, I'm really sorry to have called you here so suddenly, but it's for my daughter, sigh..."

"Uncle Su's matters, I will do my best."

"Good, good." Su Xun nodded heavily and turned to Song Fu, "Churen, you tell the nephew."

Song Fu shook his head, "Let's see the patient first."

Although he was impressed by Chen Ke's "Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang" prescription, he had to be cautious with life and death, so he needed to confirm Chen Ke's medical skills first.

So Su Xun and Song Fu led Chen Ke to the back of the house. Chen Xiliang didn't need to go, but he pulled Chen Ke aside and whispered, "Don't show off, if you can't treat it, say so. Don't harm anyone's life." In Qingshen County, almost no one knew that Chen Ke knew medicine, because treating patients was not like giving advice; it could lead to death, and if he got into legal trouble, his life would be ruined. So Chen Xiliang repeatedly warned his sons to keep it a secret.

The only two outsiders who knew Chen Ke knew medicine were Su Xun and Song Fu. So when Song Fu suggested that Chen Ke see the patient, Xiao Liang couldn't say "no."

"I know what to do." Chen Ke nodded, agreeing with his father's advice, because he had no confidence... even a great doctor wouldn't claim to cure all diseases, let alone him, a half-baked doctor. He could handle common illnesses, but if he encountered a serious condition, it was better to give up and avoid legal trouble.

Su Ba Niang, worried about her sister, excused herself to prepare rooms for the two brothers and went to the back of the house.

Chen Chen also wanted to go, but Chen Xiliang stopped him, "Why are you going?"

"I, I..." He wanted to say, "I'll help prepare the rooms," but he was too embarrassed and changed his words to, "I need to use the restroom."

"The restroom is in the front yard, why are you going to the back of the house?" Chen Xiliang glared at him, "I haven't asked you yet, why aren't you in school?"

"I, uh..." Chen Chen, who had never lied before, blushed and stammered, "Third Brother hasn't been out of the house, I was afraid he would be scared, so I came with him..."

"Oh..." Chen Xiliang looked at Chen Chen suspiciously, knowing his son well. Third Brother had never left Qingshen County, but it wasn't clear who would take care of whom when they went out together. But this was someone else's house, so he couldn't press the issue. He sighed, "Go to the restroom..."

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This was Chen Ke's first time entering a young woman's room. Although he tried not to look around, he still noticed the large bookshelf filled with books, and the neatly arranged books on the desk. If it weren't for the pink silk curtains, he would have thought it was the study of the Su brothers.

"Is this the Chen family nephew?" A woman with a ponytail, wearing a blue jacket, and a demeanor similar to Ba Niang, spoke gently, "I am your Su family aunt." She was Su Xun's wife, Cheng Shi. Although she felt it was inappropriate to have a teenager treat her daughter, her poise and grace were impeccable.

"Nephew greets Aunt." Chen Ke steadied himself and bowed.

"No need for formalities, please examine my daughter." Cheng Shi stepped aside, and Chen Ke saw a frail and pitiful girl lying on the embroidered bed. Her black bangs were stuck to her white forehead with sweat, her long braids fell over her shoulders, and her body, hidden under a thin silk quilt, looked even more delicate and weak.

Her very pale skin made her black hair and eyelashes stand out even more. Despite the pain, her brows were slightly furrowed, but she still looked very elegant and serene.

'Su Xiaomei, alive...' Chen Ke calmed himself, putting aside his fantasies since entering Meishan, and carefully observed her. The patient was unconscious, sweating profusely, and even shivering. His heart sank, 'How could she be so sick!' He asked Cheng Shi, "What are the symptoms of your daughter?"

"High fever, headache, irritability, and thirst." Cheng Shi said worriedly, "Now she is sweating and shivering."

"Um..." Chen Ke nodded and said to Cheng Shi, "I need to take her pulse."

Cheng Shi placed a cloth pillow by the bed, then gently took her daughter's hand from under the quilt and placed it on the pillow.

After she was done, Chen Ke, who had washed his hands, returned and sat on a round stool, placing his fingers on Su Xiaomei's slender and pale wrist.

No matter whether they believed him or not, the room was silent. After a moment, Chen Ke stood up and said softly, "Let's talk outside."

In the outer room, Song Fu asked about the pulse diagnosis, and Chen Ke stared at him strangely, "The pulse is floating and rapid, weak, and the pulse in the cun part is very weak..."

"Right..." Song Fu nodded, feeling a bit relieved.

Cheng Shi asked, "What is the cun part?"

"Medicine divides the pulse into three parts: cun, guan, and chi, with the chi part corresponding to kidney qi." Song Fu explained.

"Then what is wrong with my daughter?" This was the most important question for the parents.

"Severe cold." Chen Ke said confidently.

"If it's a cold, why is she sweating so much?" This reassured Su Xun and his wife, as Song Fu had said the same thing, indicating that at least the boy could diagnose correctly.

"This is what I want to know," Chen Ke emphasized, "Why is she so sick? It shouldn't be this bad."

"At first, it wasn't this bad, just a bit of wind sensitivity and slight sweating. Your aunt invited a doctor who prescribed a Ma Huang Tang, and it turned out like this." Su Xun's tone was heavy, seemingly blaming his wife for inviting a quack. Cheng Shi's eyes reddened, and she quickly turned her head to wipe her tears with a handkerchief.

"We called you back as soon as possible," Song Fu quickly mediated, "I saw that the medicine seemed to be wrong, making the condition more complicated. To be cautious, I called you for a consultation."

"Since she took the doctor's medicine," Cheng Shi quickly adjusted and added, "my daughter started to sweat continuously, her body felt hot, she couldn't get up, and sometimes she would babble and shiver... Nephew, why is this happening?"

"This is due to the misuse of Ma Huang Tang to induce sweating." Chen Ke explained slowly.

"Isn't Ma Huang Tang specifically for treating colds?" Song Fu was puzzled, "I have prescribed this before, but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't."

"Uncle Song," Chen Ke thought for a moment and finally spoke honestly, "The 'Treatise on Cold Damage' divides diseases into six stages, and Ma Huang Tang is only for the Taiyang stage. How can it be used universally?"

"The 'Treatise on Cold Damage'..." Song Fu looked confused, "What medical book is this? I've only heard of 'Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases,' not 'Treatise on Cold Damage.'"

"The 'Treatise on Cold Damage' is part of 'Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases,'" Chen Ke realized he had wronged Song Fu, "I haven't seen it in Qingshen County, so I thought it might be available in the capital."

"What?" Song Fu, shocked, grabbed his shoulders, "You have read the lost masterpiece of the medical sage?!"

"Uh, lost?"

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