Jiang Chan spent a while longer at the pharmacy. Besides the herbs for Wen Jing and Yang Liuqing, she bought many others, some intended for face and hand creams.
Years of working had left this body with chilblains and cracks on its hands and feet, and chapped skin on its face. She looked nothing like a girl in the bloom of youth. Now that she had the means, Jiang Chan wanted to take proper care of herself too.
She left the pharmacy laden with purchases. She had even managed to coax two kinds of rare medicinal ingredients from Old Zheng, ginseng and lingzhi, as well as a set of silver needles.
As for the other herbs, there were bags upon bags. In the car, Wen Jing finally burst out, shaking Jiang Chan’s shoulders in excitement. “Xiao Chan, you’re incredible! You even know Old Zheng! Do you know how famous he is?”
Yang Liuqing turned around from the front passenger seat. “Is he that famous? You know who he is?”
“Of course. He’s a renowned national master. All sorts of influential people ask him to treat them. He’s very hard to get an appointment with, and you have to book in advance. He’s in huge demand.”
“When my mum wanted my leg treated, she tried to take me to him. But he was so busy that even after two months, it still wasn’t my turn. We gave up in the end. I never imagined I’d get to see him thanks to Xiao Chan.”
The more Wen Jing spoke, the more excited she became. Her mother would be thrilled when she heard.
“I didn’t know him before either. I only met him when I came to buy herbs a couple of days ago. He’s very particular. He insisted I explain exactly how I intended to use them, or he wouldn’t sell them to me.”
Remembering the serious old man, Jiang Chan’s eyes warmed with amusement. He truly had a physician’s compassionate heart. “I brought you here both to buy herbs and because I could tell his medical skills were good. I wanted him to examine you too, to put your minds at ease.”
Wen Jing patted her shoulder. “We trust you. Why do you think so much at your age? A girl should smile more.”
Yu Jie nodded too. “Exactly, Xiao Chan. You’re the youngest of us, but you always seem so mature. You think of everything. That must be exhausting!”
Jiang Chan thought, this body really is young, only fifteen, but add together all my lifetimes and I’m older than your ancestors. Acting like a young girl who never thought things through was simply beyond her.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. Xiao Chan makes people feel safe. She’s very dependable.” Yang Liuqing, who had been chatting with the driver now and then, turned around to add her opinion. In truth, having a friend who matured early was a fortunate thing.
Talking and laughing, they returned to school. There was no evening self-study on the night of the Placement Test, so Jiang Chan had time to work with the herbs, with her roommates helping.
“Oh, Liuqing, Xiao Chan told you to ask your mum to have a gynecological examination. Did you call her?”
Yu Jie, helping Jiang Chan grind herbs, suddenly remembered. Yang Liuqing widened her eyes. “It concerns my mum. Of course I called! The results should be out tomorrow.”
If she did not care about her own mother, whom would she care about? That very evening after Jiang Chan’s warning, Yang Liuqing had called and coaxed and pestered her mother into having a checkup.
Her mother had finally given in and gone yesterday. She would probably receive the report tomorrow.
“That’s good. Gynecological examinations really are important. Many problems aren’t detected at first and later develop into serious illnesses. Early detection means early treatment.”
Jiang Chan’s hands never stopped moving. She was brewing medicine for Wen Jing in her little clay pot. The herbs for the foot soak were already in the bucket. Once hot water was added, it would soon be ready.
The medicine brewing now was for applying to Wen Jing’s right leg. Combining a foot soak with a poultice would work faster. Jiang Chan had chosen a deep bucket, almost like a water pail. With Wen Jing sitting on the bed, the water nearly reached her knees.
Looking at the pale-yellow medicinal liquid, Wen Jing had barely soaked her legs for five minutes before sweat began breaking out all over her body. Jiang Chan remained expressionless. “You have to soak for twenty minutes before taking them out.”
Leaving Wen Jing to it, she continued stirring the medicinal paste in the pot. Only when it thickened did she transfer it to a glass bowl. There was enough for two days. Afterward, she could simply make more as needed.
Yu Jie had practically become Jiang Chan’s assistant. Once the ointment was ready, she took it over, applied it to Wen Jing’s right calf, and wrapped it securely in cling film.
Wen Jing turned over. “Xiao Chan, with this ointment on, my right leg feels warm from the inside out. It’s so lovely and warm!”
Jiang Chan did not turn around. “That warmth is normal. Remove it after half an hour, and I’ll take your pulse again. You’re young, so it’s easy to treat now. If you were older, it could develop into rheumatic arthritis. Then even a highly skilled doctor would struggle to cure it.”
Wen Jing’s treatment was straightforward and took Jiang Chan only an hour altogether. Yang Liuqing’s condition was more troublesome. Originally, she had intended to use medicine alone. Now that she had silver needles, she planned to adjust the treatment slightly.
“I’ll make your pills first. Before you go to sleep, I’ll give you acupuncture.” Jiang Chan took out the cloth bundle she had coaxed from Old Zheng, feeling rather eager.
Yang Liuqing now trusted her completely. With shining eyes, she followed Jiang Chan’s every movement.
Two hours later, it was already nine in the evening when the pills for Yang Liuqing were finally ready. Seeing that each was the size of a longan, she was startled.
“Xiao Chan, aren’t these far too big? Aren’t you afraid I’ll choke?”
Just look at the ones Jiang Chan had made for herself. Those were only the size of the pad of her little finger. Why had hers suddenly grown so much larger?
“If I made them that size, you’d have to take four at a time. I don’t have the energy to make so many, so I made yours bigger. Can’t you just cut them up before taking them?”
Jiang Chan was quite unapologetic. She was already short of time. If they were larger, so be it.
“Of course, you can also dissolve them in water,” she suggested. Yang Liuqing picked one up and sniffed. There was hardly any herbal smell. Clearly, its medicinal properties were sealed inside.
She asked tentatively, “Is it bitter?”
Jiang Chan smiled. “Why not try it and see?”
“Then I’d better just swallow it. With that smile on your face, it’s definitely bitter!”
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