She was simply too strong. They could find no weakness to attack. A month passed, and Wen Jing’s and Yang Liuqing’s treatments drew to a close. When Jiang Chan announced that both had fully recovered, Yang Liuqing’s mother burst into tears.
How could parents fail to hear about something happening in the dormitory? Especially when Jiang Chan was so capable. As Yang Liuqing visibly improved day by day, her mother paid even closer attention.
In the second week after Jiang Chan first gave Yang Liuqing acupuncture, her family learned about it. Before long, her mother became Jiang Chan’s devoted admirer and asked her to make prepared herbal medicine for her when she had time.
When her daughter had called asking her to have a gynecological examination, she had not thought much of it. But when the results came out, her knees nearly gave way.
She had been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Fortunately, they were mild, though surgery still left her greatly weakened. She took some medicine home from Jiang Chan. After a little over a week, the aching weakness in her limbs gradually began to improve.
She had been so moved that she cried. True experts really could be found among ordinary people. Who would have imagined that a girl of fifteen or sixteen possessed such extraordinary medical skills?
She had taken Yang Liuqing to so many doctors who could do nothing. Yet in only a few weeks, this girl had almost cured her.
When Jiang Chan announced that Yang Liuqing had fully recovered and would no longer suffer those various minor ailments, her mother, Luo Min, clasped Jiang Chan’s hands and thanked her profusely.
“I really can’t thank you enough. What’s your account number? I’ll transfer you some money.”
Jiang Chan readily accepted. She had provided the medicinal ingredients for Wen Jing’s and Yang Liuqing’s treatments herself. She could waive her labor fee, but the cost of the herbs still needed to be paid.
“Liuqing and I were meant to meet. Otherwise, how would we have ended up in the same dorm room? Forget the acupuncture fees. Just reimburse the herbs. They came to about twenty thousand yuan altogether.”
That was already a very fair price. It covered only the medicinal ingredients, without counting the costs of making the medicine or her own services.
Luo Min blinked. “That’s so cheap. Taking Liuqing to see a doctor before cost more than that.”
With a notification chime, fifty thousand yuan arrived on Jiang Chan’s phone. Luo Min smiled. “I’m not overpaying. You share a room with Liuqing, and I’ll still need you to look after her. It’s almost like having a personal doctor, isn’t it? We’re the ones getting a wonderful deal.”
Wen Jing was quick-witted too. “Exactly. Having Xiao Chan beside us makes us feel so safe. If something feels wrong, we can tell you right away. My grandpa’s family doctor charges hundreds of thousands at a minimum. I think you’re far better than those doctors from famous universities.”
Luo Min continued, “I’ll still be asking you to check my health in the future. This price isn’t high at all.”
Jiang Chan was not one to make a fuss. At most, she would keep a closer eye on her three roommates from now on.
It happened to be the monthly break, and Luo Min had driven herself. Hearing that Jiang Chan was returning to the orphanage, she offered to take her. Wen Jing and the others whispered together, then suddenly raised their hands in unison.
They had agreed to volunteer at the orphanage during the monthly break. The break lasted only two days, and Yang Liuqing’s acupuncture had already taken up half of that morning.
Jiang Chan raised a hand. “There’s no need. Before I go back, I have to visit the medicinal-herb market. Old Zheng sent word that my gold needles are ready.”
At the mention of them, her expression softened. In the cultivation world, she had owned a set that suited her perfectly, specially made by Mo Yu. But when she returned, everything had remained in that world.
“Gold needles? The legendary gold needles?” Wen Jing pushed past Yang Liuqing and leaned close. “I want to see them too. I’ve never seen these legendary gold needles.”
Yu Jie and the others nodded. Luo Min was very curious as well. “You don’t mind if I come and have a look, do you, Xiao Chan? I’ve never visited the medicinal-herb market.”
With everyone saying so much, Jiang Chan was not inflexible. The five squeezed into Luo Min’s BMW. The taller Wen Jing naturally claimed the front passenger seat, while the other three girls sat in the back.
Old Zheng happened to be at the pharmacy that day. He was talking to an old man with snowy hair and beard. “I’ve told you before. At your age, you need to stay calm and stop drinking and eating so much rich meat. One day you’ll collapse.”
The red-faced old man opposite him curled his lips and spoke in a booming voice. “What’s the point of living without drink and meat? Once you get old, you can’t do this and you can’t do that. It’s suffocating!”
“Old Zheng, why are you so happy today? Are you waiting for someone?”
Watching him glance repeatedly toward the entrance, the red-faced old man grew curious. This fellow usually maintained such an aloof, sage-like manner that it made his teeth ache. What was different today?
“I recently met a clever little girl. So gifted. Her abilities make even me envious. I don’t know whose family produced such a sharp little thing. The way she writes prescriptions and makes medicinal pills, ah!”
Old Zheng sighed. If Jiang Chan were his disciple, he would wake from his dreams laughing.
“Who could make you praise them so highly? I’ll have to take a proper look.”
The red-faced old man shook his head. Old Zheng’s standards were extraordinarily high. Countless people wanted to follow him and receive his guidance, yet now he had taken an interest in someone else.
And apparently he could not get what he wanted? The red-faced old man pondered this and enjoyed Old Zheng’s predicament.
It was Luo Min’s first visit to the medicinal-herb market. Once inside, she hardly knew where to look. She had never known the city contained such a place. Seeing how familiar Jiang Chan was with it, she said nothing and simply kept looking at the shops on either side.
Suddenly, four or five people entered: four young girls and a white-collar woman in her thirties who seemed to be one girl’s relative. Old Zheng, who had been studying a medical case, immediately beamed at the sight of Jiang Chan.
The red-faced old man grumbled inwardly. That wrinkled old face was smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum. He could hardly bear to look. After muttering to himself, he examined the person Old Zheng was welcoming so warmly.
There was nothing particularly special about her. She was not tall, barely over a meter and a half, with rather dark skin. Her features were attractive, though. She would not be plain once she grew up.
Jiang Chan was very sensitive to other people’s gazes. While talking to Old Zheng, she noticed someone nearby discreetly studying her.
Discover more from Lilly Translations
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.