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Chapter 11: Medicinal Herbs and Acupuncture
Chapter 11: Medicinal Herbs and Acupuncture
"So, little Yan can tell that Grandpa Chen is practicing his boxing?" The elderly doctor, Chen, asked with a smile.
"No, I can't." Yan shook her head. "It was my brother who said that Grandpa Chen was practicing, and he asked me not to disturb you."
"My apologies, Grandpa Chen. We didn't know you were practicing," Lu Qing said apologetically.
"It's fine. I'm just doing some simple exercises to loosen my joints. It's not really a martial art," the old doctor waved his hand dismissively.
"But I think Grandpa Chen, you're doing it very gracefully!" Yan said sincerely.
"Hahaha! You calling this old man graceful is enough to make my day! I've practiced this set of moves my entire life," the old doctor laughed heartily.
Hearing the child's innocent words, the elderly Doctor Chen burst into laughter.
Seeing the old doctor so cheerful, Lu Qing's heart relaxed.
He had been genuinely worried that the old doctor might have some taboo about being watched while practicing, and if that were the case, then he and his sister would have unknowingly offended him.
"Come, let's go inside. I'll start by giving you an acupuncture treatment."
Doctor Chen picked up Yan and motioned for Lu Qing to follow him into the courtyard.
As Lu Qing respectfully followed the old doctor, his attention was immediately drawn to the myriad of medicinal herbs hanging to dry in the courtyard.
With a few quick glances, he spotted one that he recognized—the Bone-Strengthening Grass that also grew in their own yard.
Unfortunately, he didn't have enough time to scrutinize each herb and uncover their properties.
"Grandpa Chen, are these all medicinal herbs hanging in the courtyard?" Lu Qing asked.
"Indeed. How about it, lad? You know how to identify medicinal herbs?" Doctor Chen asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Not really," Lu Qing replied. "I just noticed that one of the herbs here also grows near our home."
"Oh? Which one?"
"The one in that winnowing basket over there," Lu Qing pointed in the direction.
Yan immediately recognized the herb by the small blue flowers and nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! There are lots of those outside our house, and Niu Niu likes to eat them too."
The old doctor glanced at the herb and nodded. "That's right. It's called Bone-Strengthening Grass, a very common medicinal herb."
"Bone-Strengthening Grass," Lu Qing repeated the name, then asked, "Grandpa Chen, what is this herb usually used for?"
"It's mainly used to treat injuries and bruises," the old doctor answered casually, giving Lu Qing a curious look. "Why? Are you interested in medicine?"
"Yes, I am," Lu Qing admitted. "Yan told me that it was you who cured her brother's illness with just one prescription. It made me realize how amazing medicinal herbs are. They're just flowers and grasses, yet they can relieve pain and save lives."
"Learning medicine is no easy task, my boy. It requires not only courage and a keen eye but also a clear mind and the ability to read and understand medical books," the old doctor said, not ridiculing Lu Qing's interest but patiently explaining the realities.
"I do know how to read a little," Lu Qing quickly added.
He wasn't lying.
In his memory, the original owner of this body did know how to read, and to his surprise, the characters resembled those from his previous life, though they were more complex and intricate.
"You know how to read too?" Doctor Chen was astonished once again.
In these rural lands, finding someone literate was no easy feat.
For Lu Qing, an orphan, to be literate was quite unexpected.
"My grandfather taught me some characters before he passed away. I was slow to learn, and after he was gone, I forgot some of them. I can recognize the characters but can't write them," Lu Qing explained.
Only then did Doctor Chen recall the rumors about Lu Qing's grandfather, who was said to have been a fallen scholar.
Chapter 11: Medicinal Herbs and Acupuncture
"Your grandfather Chen is quite skilled at boxing, isn't he, little Yan?" The elderly doctor, Chen, asked with a smile.
Yan shook her head. "No, I can't tell. My brother said that Grandpa Chen was practicing, and he asked me not to disturb you."
"My apologies, Grandpa Chen. We didn't realize you were practicing," Lu Qing said apologetically.
"It's no trouble at all. I'm just doing some simple exercises to keep my joints supple. It's not a martial art," the old doctor waved dismissively.
"But I think you're doing it very gracefully, Grandpa Chen!" Yan said sincerely.
"Hahaha! Your compliment is enough to make my day! I've practiced these moves my entire life," the old doctor laughed heartily.
Hearing the child's innocent words, Doctor Chen burst into cheerful laughter.
Seeing the old doctor so jolly, Lu Qing's worries melted away. He had been concerned that they might have unknowingly offended the old doctor by watching him practice, but it seemed his concerns were unfounded.
"Come, let's go inside. I'll start by giving you an acupuncture treatment," Doctor Chen said as he picked up Yan and motioned for Lu Qing to follow him into the courtyard.
As Lu Qing respectfully trailed behind the old doctor, his attention was immediately drawn to the myriad of medicinal herbs hanging to dry in the courtyard. With a quick glance, he spotted one that he recognized—the Bone-Strengthening Grass, which also grew in their yard.
Lu Qing wished he had more time to scrutinize each herb and uncover their properties.
"Grandpa Chen, are these all medicinal herbs hanging in the courtyard?" Lu Qing asked curiously.
"Indeed they are. And you, young man, seem to know your way around medicinal herbs," Doctor Chen asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Not really," Lu Qing replied modestly. "I just noticed that one of the herbs here also grows near our home."
"Oh? Which one?"
"The one in that winnowing basket over there," Lu Qing pointed out.
Yan immediately recognized the herb by its small blue flowers and nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! There are lots of those outside our house, and Niu Niu likes to eat them too."
The old doctor glanced at the herb and nodded. "You're right. It's called Bone-Strengthening Grass, a very common medicinal herb."
"Bone-Strengthening Grass," Lu Qing repeated, intrigued. "Grandpa Chen, what is this herb usually used for?"
"It's mainly used to treat injuries and bruises," the old doctor answered casually, giving Lu Qing a curious look. "Why? Are you interested in medicine?"
"Yes, I am," Lu Qing admitted. "Yan told me that you cured her brother's illness with just one prescription. It made me realize the power of medicinal herbs. They're just flowers and grasses, yet they can relieve pain and save lives."
"Learning medicine is no easy task, my boy," the old doctor said, not ridiculing Lu Qing's interest but patiently explaining the realities. "It requires not only courage and a keen eye but also a clear mind and the ability to read and understand medical books."
"I do know how to read a little," Lu Qing quickly added.
He wasn't lying. In his memory, the original owner of this body could read, and to his surprise, the characters resembled those from his previous life, although they were more complex and intricate.
"You know how to read too?" Doctor Chen was astonished once again. In these rural lands, literacy was a rare skill, and for Lu Qing, an orphan, to be literate was quite unexpected.
"My grandfather taught me some characters before he passed away," Lu Qing explained. "I was a slow learner, and after he was gone, I forgot some of them. I can recognize the characters but can't write them."
Only then did Doctor Chen recall the rumors about Lu Qing's grandfather, who was said to have been a scholar in his youth.
"Since you're interested in medicinal herbs, from now on, every time you come for acupuncture treatment, I'll allow you to help me sort and identify them for half a shichen (a unit of time). How much you learn will depend on your own understanding," the old doctor offered generously.
"And you, little one," he said, turning to Yan and gently ruffling her hair. "From now on, you'll come with your brother, and I'll cook some herbal tonics for you to strengthen your body. You're too frail."
Lu Qing was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Grandpa Chen! Yan, thank Grandpa Chen!"
"Thank you, Grandpa Chen~" Yan chimed in, not really understanding what herbal tonics were but grateful nonetheless.
"There's no need to thank me," the old doctor said with a gentle smile. "Seeing your frail body makes my heart ache."
Once they were inside, the old doctor put Yan down and took out a needle case. He instructed Lu Qing to lie down on the bed and remove his upper garment.
Lu Qing did as he was told, lying down on the wooden bed and baring his upper body. The old doctor's eyes flickered with concern at the sight of Lu Qing's thin frame. After a moment, he took out a silver needle and began the acupuncture treatment.
Little Yan watched with wide eyes as the long silver needle was expertly inserted into her brother's skin. She felt a bit scared but remained quiet, knowing that Grandpa Chen was helping her brother.
"Don't be afraid, and try not to move," the old doctor said gently to Lu Qing as he began the procedure.
Lu Qing nodded calmly. He wasn't afraid at all. In his previous life on Planet Blue, he had experienced traditional acupuncture and was quite familiar with the process.
The old doctor deftly inserted the first needle into one of Lu Qing's acupuncture points. Lu Qing didn't feel any pain, and before he knew it, the needle was already embedded a third of the way into his skin.
Without hesitation, the old doctor quickly moved on to the next point, inserting another needle. Before long, eighteen silver needles had been skillfully inserted into various acupuncture points on Lu Qing's upper body.
Little Yan, unable to bear the sight of her brother looking like a porcupine, had covered her eyes with her hands.
After inserting the eighteenth needle, the old doctor didn't release it right away. Instead, he gently twisted the needle, creating a slight stimulation.
Suddenly, something magical happened. Lu Qing felt a warm current flowing from the needle, a tingling sensation that made him feel incredibly comfortable. Along with it came a wave of drowsiness, and his eyelids began to feel heavy. Soon, he fell into a deep sleep.
"Grandpa Chen, is my brother asleep?" Yan asked, peeking through her fingers.
"Yes, he is. Your brother's body is very weak, so I used the 'Consolidating the Foundation and Nurturing the Origin' acupuncture technique, which will allow him to have a good rest," the old doctor explained.
"Oh," Yan replied, not fully understanding the complicated technique name.
"Let's leave your brother here to rest, and we'll go outside," the old doctor suggested as he got up.
"Where are we going, Grandpa Chen?" Yan asked curiously.
"I'll make something delicious for you..." the old doctor said with a warm smile.
(End of Chapter)
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