Chapter 45

（Only a few millimeters away from Uncle Cat... There's still one more update...）

Zhang Zhongjing's prescriptions have a characteristic called 'Jing Fang Bu Guo San'—if the symptoms can be accurately identified, the prescribed medicine will take effect within three doses. If it doesn't work, there's only one possibility—incorrect identification of the symptoms. Of course, diagnosing the symptoms is the hardest part, as patients' conditions vary greatly. Only a true master of Jing Fang can accurately determine whether the disease is external or internal, whether it is a deficiency or excess, and which of the six meridians it belongs to, and which type of decoction it is in the *Treatise on Cold Damage*.

Does Chen Ke have that kind of skill? He was anxious all night, and the next day, when he heard that Su Xiaomei had woken up, his heart finally relaxed. Her condition improved day by day, and by the third morning when he went to check her pulse, Su Xiaomei was already able to sit up with a pillow.

"Su Xiaomei, I'm going to check your pulse now," Chen Ke said with a smile as he sat down.

"Thank you, Brother Chen," Su Xiaomei said softly, bowing slightly from the bed. She was wearing a light yellow cross-collar robe, which made her neck look even more slender. Her long hair was simply tied back, with black bangs hanging over her white forehead. Although she was only about ten years old, she was already a budding beauty.

Chen Ke placed his fingers on her cold, slender wrist, concentrated for a moment, and then opened his eyes. "Your pulse is already normal. Just use the *Qingxin Pills* and *Zhuye Decoction* to clear the remaining toxins, and you'll be back to normal."

"Thank you, Nephew!" Lady Cheng said, relieved. "I really don't know how to thank you enough." She had experienced the pain of losing a child and couldn't bear it again.

"It's just a small effort, Auntie, don't be so formal," Chen Ke smiled. "By the way, the reason why your sister was so ill this time is because she has weak qi and blood. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been affected by the *Mahuang Decoction*."

"Weak qi and blood..."

"Simply put, it's malnutrition..." Chen Ke pointed to Su Xiaomei's wrist. "She's too thin. The 'Xizi Pongxin' is actually a sign of illness, which is not good."

"Ah, this child always doesn't like to eat," Lady Cheng said, glancing at Su Xiaomei. "See if you dare to do it again!"

Su Xiaomei blushed and lowered her head, fidgeting with the ends of her hair.

"She's not deliberately not eating; it's because her spleen and stomach are weak, so she naturally has a poor appetite," Chen Ke said, trying to ease the situation. "I'll prescribe a 'Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang' for her. After a course of it, she should improve."

"Thank you so much, Nephew." Lady Cheng nodded happily. "You should thank your Brother Chen."

"Thank you, Brother." Su Xiaomei performed a seated bow, her voice barely audible. "There's one more thing I want to ask, Brother."

"Go ahead and ask." Chen Ke smiled.

"Now my throat is hoarse, and I can't speak loudly. What should I do?" Su Xiaomei said softly.

"This is normal and will get better over time," Chen Ke said. "If you're worried, you can remove the core of a pear, add rock sugar and Sichuan贝母 (Fritillaria), and steam it to eat. After a few, you'll be fine."

"Brother Chen is really amazing." Su Xiaomei's eyes formed a crescent moon as she smiled happily. "I won't worry about getting sick in the future."

"Uh, you should still try to avoid getting sick," Chen Ke said seriously. "Many diseases can't be treated with the current medical conditions, so staying healthy is very important."

"Okay, I'll remember that," Su Xiaomei said, her eyes shining as she looked at him.

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Since Su Xiaomei's illness only required further care, the Chen family was ready to go home. Song Fu and Su Xun, both from Meishan, naturally accompanied the Chen family father and son. Ba Niang also saw them off at the street corner, giving Chen Ke a large bag of gifts and holding his hand affectionately, saying, "Come and visit often, or your sister will be upset."

"..." Chen Ke felt quite depressed. He wasn't much shorter than Er Lang, so why was he still treated like a child?

Er Lang, standing next to him, looked envious, wishing he could switch places with his younger brother.

After saying goodbye to Su Ba Niang, as they approached the dock, the crowd on the street suddenly became agitated. Looking closely, they saw three young men in brocade robes riding fine horses, surrounded by a group of servants, parading through the streets with arrogance.

In this era, seeing people in sedan chairs on the street was not unusual, but seeing people on horseback was rare. Because the Song Dynasty had no place to raise horses and could only trade for them with tea, making horses very expensive. The average import price of a horse was thirty guan, and they were mainly used for military purposes. By the time they reached the civilian market, the price would be even higher. Chen Ke had once inquired and found that for a common person like him, buying a regular military horse would cost about one hundred guan, equivalent to a small car.

If it was a fine horse, the price would be like a sports car.

Moreover, the cost of raising a horse was much higher than that of a car. Horses used for riding needed special care and training, and they had to be fed high-quality feed. Horses were also more delicate and harder to raise than donkeys and oxen, so ordinary families couldn't afford to keep horses, let alone fine horses.

But the three young men in brocade robes were riding three fine horses, which was like driving three sports cars down the street.

However, the streets of Meishan were narrow, and the young men were surrounded by servants. When they went east, others couldn't go west, so people had to move to the side of the road to make way.

"Whose children are these, with such a grand display!" Chen Xiliang, standing by the roadside, said with a frown. "At such a young age, they already have fine clothes and horses, and a retinue. They'll be spoiled for sure."

"This, ah..." Su Xun said awkwardly. "These are my brother-in-law's children."

"From the Cheng family, no wonder..." Chen Xiliang didn't say anything more but shook his head, showing his disapproval.

Seeing his father's attitude, Chen Ke thought, "Well, my plan to buy a horse will have to be postponed indefinitely."

At the dock, the ship hadn't finished loading, so they had to wait for a while. Su Xun pulled Chen Xiliang to walk by the river, while Song Fu stayed behind, looking pitifully at Chen Ke.

"Uncle Song, don't make it hard for me," Chen Ke said with a bitter smile. "The *Treatise on Cold Damage* has ten volumes, twenty-two chapters, and three hundred and ninety-eight methods. It's impossible for me to recite it all. I've already recalled as much as I can, and I really haven't held back."

"I know," Song Fu sighed. "I was just too greedy, always wanting to see the whole picture."

"I understand your feelings," Chen Ke nodded.

"Thank you, Third Brother." Song Fu finally let go of his obsession and bowed solemnly. "I owe you a great favor! I will definitely repay it in the future."

"It doesn't have to be in the future; now is fine," Chen Ke said bluntly.

"Uh, how can I repay you?" Song Fu was puzzled.

"Have you heard that you're a martial arts expert?" Chen Ke asked quietly.

"Not really, otherwise I wouldn't have given up martial arts for literature," Song Fu said modestly.

"So, martial arts really exist?" Chen Ke asked, wide-eyed.

"Of course," Song Fu said proudly. "Our Shu region is a place where martial arts are prevalent, and my master's school, Mount Qingcheng, is a center of martial arts."

"Can you break stones and split rocks?" Chen Ke asked. "Can you walk on walls and fly over eaves?"

"Human flesh and blood, how can you break stones and split rocks? But breaking a brick is no problem," Song Fu said honestly. "As for walking on walls and flying over eaves, it depends on the height. No one can climb a wall over ten feet high."

"So, it's just about being stronger and lighter?" Chen Ke said, disappointed. He had hoped to learn some martial arts from Song Fu.

"Never underestimate martial artists," Song Fu said sternly. "Martial arts are techniques for killing, targeting vital points. Those who are hit will either die or be seriously injured. There are also insidious techniques where a single touch can leave you bedridden after a few days."

"Can you teach me how to strike vital points?" Chen Ke asked, suddenly interested.

"I can, but my master's rule is that before the age of forty, one only practices finger strength and recognizes vital points, not striking them. Can you handle that?" Song Fu shook his head.

"Uh..." Chen Ke's enthusiasm waned.

"I'll teach you a breathing technique later," Song Fu said apologetically. "It won't make you a martial arts expert, but if you practice diligently, it can extend your life and prevent diseases."

"Okay, fine," Chen Ke said, feeling a bit down. He almost made Song Fu's nose bleed with frustration. He was grateful for Chen Ke's help with the *Treatise on Cold Damage* and was ready to repay him with the Qingcheng School's secret breathing technique, but this kid didn't even seem excited.

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On the way back on the boat, Chen Xiliang said to his two sons, "Next month, the Zhongyan Academy will open a new class."

"Yes," Er Lang nodded. "I've already informed the teacher that Third Brother and Fifth Brother can join."

"Good, your Uncle Su's two boys will also be there," Chen Xiliang nodded. "Your Uncle Su has rented a courtyard, and they will temporarily move to our county to make it easier to take care of them."

"Really?" Er Lang was pleasantly surprised. During his three days at the Su family, he had only managed to say a few words to his crush: "Sister, it's been a while." "Thank you, Sister." "You're welcome, Sister." "See you later, Sister." "Sister, I..."

He didn't think it was because he was incompetent but because they were too unfamiliar. Hearing that the Su family would move to Qingshen, he blurted out, "We have so many empty rooms at home, they can just move in..."

"I had the same idea," Chen Xiliang said. "But I'm worried that your Uncle Su won't accept it; he's very proud. And I'm also worried about..."

"Worried about what?"

"Worried about your feelings..." Chen Xiliang looked at Chen Cheng. "Er Lang, I know you have feelings for Su Ba Niang."

"I don't..." Chen Cheng's face turned red.

"Don't deny it, it's written all over your face," Chen Xiliang sighed. "But before I got on the boat, I already asked... Ba Niang is already engaged."

It was like a bolt of lightning on a clear day, striking Er Lang's forehead. He was stunned. "Who, who?"

"It's the Cheng family you saw today, the eldest of the three young men, Cheng Zhicai," Chen Xiliang said. "He is Lady Cheng's nephew and Su Ba Niang's cousin. They were engaged ten years ago and will get married next year when your Uncle Cheng returns."

"Father, don't say anymore..." Tears welled up in Er Lang's eyes, and he looked like a wilted eggplant. The first love of a young man, was it to bloom and wither so soon?

The Cheng family... are they very powerful?" Chen Ke suddenly asked.

"The first family in Meizhou," Chen Xiliang sighed. "We can't match them."

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