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Chapter 12: Yam Cake, Silken Threads
Chapter 12: Yam Cake, Silken Threads
When Lu Qing awoke from his slumber, the first thing he heard was Xiao Yan's cheerful laughter.
He looked at himself; the silver needles were gone from his body, and he was covered with a thin blanket.
He didn't know how long he had slept.
Lu Qing thought to himself as he threw off the covers, put on his shirt, and walked outside.
In the courtyard, he saw Old Doctor Chen and Xiao Yan sitting together at a stone table, deep in conversation and laughing heartily.
Especially Xiao Yan, who was holding a piece of white cake and laughing with delight.
"Brother, you're awake!"
Xiao Yan was giggling as she saw Lu Qing emerge from the house, her eyes lighting up with surprise.
She jumped down from her stone stool and held out the cake in her hand to Lu Qing.
"Brother, look, this is Grandpa Chen's yam cake. It's delicious. Do you want a piece too?"
Lu Qing didn't take the cake but instead turned to Old Doctor Chen, "Grandpa Chen, Xiao Yan hasn't caused you any trouble, has she?"
Old Doctor Chen waved his hand dismissively, "Not at all. Xiao Yan is so cheerful and innocent. It's been a pleasure having her here to chat with. How are you feeling now that you're awake?"
"I feel great," Lu Qing stretched his body, "and I seem to have a lot more energy now. Grandpa Chen, am I fully recovered now?"
"It's not that simple," the old doctor chuckled. "Your body was severely depleted, and your foundation was weak. It will take gradual nourishment to fully recover. My needle technique merely stimulated your vital energy, giving you the illusion of a sudden boost in strength."
"From now on, you'll need to take medicinal meals to make up for the deficiencies in your body and get well soon."
"Here, try some of this yam cake. I made it not just for Xiao Yan but for you as well."
"Yam has spleen-tonifying, lung-nourishing, kidney-strengthening, and essence-boosting properties, which are just what you need."
The old doctor pushed the dish of snowy white yam cake towards Lu Qing, motioning for him to help himself.
Lu Qing looked at the yam cake with hesitation in his eyes. "Grandpa Chen, this yam cake must be very precious, right?"
"Not really," the old doctor said. "It's rare outside, but there's plenty of it in the mountains. It's not difficult to find. I have some more stored away, so feel free to eat as much as you like."
Old Doctor Chen had noticed Lu Qing's hesitation and spoke gently to reassure him.
Although the old doctor made it sound casual, Lu Qing knew better than to take his words at face value.
The dangers of the mountain forest were well-known, and it was a testament to the old doctor's skill that he could gather such ingredients.
To consider this yam cake as something trivial would be naive.
However, Lu Qing also understood that it would be overly sentimental to refuse the offer any further, given the old doctor's insistence.
So he bowed deeply to Old Doctor Chen in gratitude, "Thank you, Grandpa Chen. I truly appreciate your kindness."
After saying this, he sat down at the stone table and began to eat a piece of the yam cake.
The cake was soft, fragrant, and sticky, tasting delightful.
Even Lu Qing, who had tasted various modern cakes in his previous life, found it exceptionally delicious.
He focused his gaze on the cake in the dish, and soon, a white light appeared, and a line of text floated into view.
【Yam Cake: A cake made with yam as the main ingredient.】
【It is said to tonify the spleen and lungs, strengthen the kidneys, and boost the essence, making it an excellent tonic for the body.】
The ability's evaluation matched perfectly with Old Doctor Chen's description of its effects.
"Brother, isn't it delicious?" Xiao Yan asked proudly.
"Yes, it's very tasty," Lu Qing nodded sincerely.
Old Doctor Chen had been observing Lu Qing, and he nodded in satisfaction when he saw that Lu Qing stopped after eating just a few pieces.
Even in the face of delicious food, Lu Qing maintained his manners and did not overeat.
The old doctor was quite pleased with Lu Qing's behavior.
Chapter 12: Yam Cake, Silken Threads
Lu Qing had never paid much attention to the fact that there was a rather unique young man living in the village. However, it was still too early to jump to conclusions; he would need to observe him a bit longer.
Old Doctor Chen fell into deep thought, recalling the thoughts that had occurred to him while Lu Qing had been asleep. "Lu Qing, you mentioned that you're interested in medicinal herbs. Are you thinking of becoming a physician?"
"I wouldn't dare presume to become a physician," Lu Qing quickly replied. "I'm merely fascinated by the wonders of medicinal herbs."
"I understand, Lu Qing. You've experienced tragedy with the loss of your parents, and your family is now destitute. It must be challenging to make ends meet with just the two acres of thin soil you have left."
"That's why I thought that if I could learn a little about identifying and gathering medicinal herbs, perhaps I could support Xiao Yan and myself."
"Gathering medicinal herbs is indeed one path you can take," Old Doctor Chen nodded. "However, it's not an easy one. There are many dangers in the mountains, and becoming a skilled herb gatherer is no simple task."
"I won't know until I try," Lu Qing said determinedly. "Besides, is there any easy work in this world?"
"Indeed, there is no easy work in this world," Old Doctor Chen approved. "It's commendable that you recognize this at such a young age."
"Since you feel this way, then starting from the next time you come for your acupuncture treatment, you can stay and help me dry the herbs afterward. How much you learn will depend on your own comprehension."
"Thank you, Grandpa Chen," Lu Qing said gratefully.
Despite having heard the offer before, he still felt delighted to hear it again from the old doctor.
"Grandpa Chen, why can't you teach my brother today?" Xiao Yan asked.
The little girl had been listening intently and seemed to have grasped a little of what was going on.
"Not today," Old Doctor Chen smiled. "I have to make a trip into town today, so I won't have the time."
Town?
Lu Qing's interest was piqued, but he restrained himself. He had already asked quite a few questions today, and it wouldn't do to be too inquisitive.
Besides, even if he knew what the town was like, it wouldn't be of much use to him at the moment.
Xiao Yan, on the other hand, had no such reservations. Upon hearing that the old doctor was going to town, her eyes lit up with curiosity. "Grandpa Chen, what's the town like?"
"Oh, it's hard to explain in a few words," the old doctor said. "When you grow up and visit the town yourself, you'll see. It's far better than life out here."
Xiao Yan's face lit up with anticipation.
Even Lu Qing was surprised by the old doctor's description of the town. It seemed like there was something special about it.
The three of them chatted a while longer before the old doctor stood up. "Well, you two should head back now. I also need to prepare for my trip into town. Lu Qing, remember to come back in three days for your next acupuncture treatment."
As the old doctor prepared to leave, Lu Qing hesitated before asking, "Grandpa Chen, I have one more question for you."
"What is it?"
"I want to ask if there are any particularly strong and durable types of thread."
"Thread? Why do you ask?"
Lu Qing considered his words carefully before replying, "Well, yesterday, when I went fishing by the river, I discovered that I might have a bit of a talent for it. However, the fishing rod made from hemp thread that we have at home isn't very sturdy. If I pull too hard, the line breaks, and I can't catch any big fish."
"So, I wanted to ask if there is a stronger type of thread that would be more suitable for making a better fishing rod."
"A stronger type of thread..." Old Doctor Chen fell into thought upon hearing Lu Qing's question. Suddenly, he turned and walked back into the house. "Wait here for a moment."
(End of Chapter)
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