CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: THE RIGHT MEDICINE

Perhaps Lin Wanwan’s journey through time had already altered history. This time, her treatment was a lucky guess; Xiao Chong indeed had the influenza, and the medicine she gave him worked wonders.

Moreover, Xiao Chong had practiced martial arts and had a foundation of inner strength, which gave him strong immunity. The medicine from a thousand years into the future had a significant effect on him; in less than an hour, his fever subsided, and he regained consciousness.

Upon learning from Shuqi that his illness had been treated by Lin Wanwan, he was quite surprised.

In truth, moments before, he had vaguely seen a woman’s silhouette, but he thought it was his dying imagination reuniting him with his deceased mother!

"I didn’t expect she would have medical skills," Xiao Chong said lightly.

After witnessing the yield of the rice field that day, he had investigated Lin Wanwan and had some questions about her identity.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t trace where she and her so-called master had lived in seclusion; she seemed like a person who had appeared out of thin air in Wanghai Town.

Her wealth and everything about her were all too mysterious, including her current medical skills.

However, still in his weakness, Xiao Chong didn’t dwell on it much. Having just been to the brink of death, he only wanted to enjoy life; some things are better left in ambiguity, not delved into too deeply. "I’m hungry; have someone cook a bowl of vegetable porridge," he said.

"As you wish!" Shuqi, seeing that his lord had the energy to eat, grinned happily and gave a clumsy bow before exiting.

When Chen Liang and the others learned that Xiao Chong’s fever had subsided and the female doctor’s medicine was effective, they were astonished, eagerly coming by for a pulse check to believe it.

They wanted to inquire about how Lin Wanwan used the medicine, but in the end, did not go.

In ancient times, any technology came with a threshold. If you weren’t a true apprentice, it wasn’t appropriate to inquire about others’ prescriptions. Unless Lin Wanwan entered the Imperial Medical Bureau to teach the physicians herself, they couldn’t justifiably ask.

Two hours later, Lin Wanwan arrived on time. Xiao Chong’s study was lit with several palace lamps, and he was leisurely reading under the light.

When he heard Lin Wanwan’s voice outside the door, Xiao Chong was rather surprised, considering that men and women should avoid private meeting, and it was already evening...

But the next moment, Xiao Chong chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Oh, Xiao Chong, despite reading numerous books, you’re not as open-minded as a single woman."

Lin Wanwan waited outside and heard a magnetic male voice ring out, "Is it Teacher Lin? Shuqi, bring the guest in."

"As you wish!"

The bedroom door was pushed open, and in a moment, Lin Wanwan came through the screen to face Xiao Chong, kneeling properly and pretending to check his pulse.

Late at night, Lin Wanwan still wore a veil, and inside she had changed into a new white medical mask.

With the veil, others couldn’t clearly see what covered her mouth.

Lin Wanwan observed the picturesque man under the lamp, his languid and comfortable demeanor, realizing the medicine worked, she sighed in relief, saying, "Xiao... Ming Mansion, you look much better. Do you still have a fever?"

Xiao Chong put down his book and replied, "No fever, had a bowl of porridge for supper, and feel quite energetic, many thanks to Teacher Lin."

Lin Wanwan nodded, took out a small porcelain cup from her medicine box, and said, "You don’t need the antipyretic anymore, just take this medicine. By the way, do you have any headaches?"

Xiao Chong replied, "Body aches all over, but the head is fine."

Lin Wanwan picked up the thermos she carried and brewed the medicine for Xiao Chong, handing it over, "Please drink this medicine, Xiao Mingfu. Take it twice a day, for five days should do."

Shuqi stepped forward to take the small porcelain cup and handed it to Xiao Chong, who drank it in one go and casually asked, "What’s the name of this medicine? I’ve never seen anything like it before."

Lin Wanwan casually replied, "Think of it as an elixir; it’s more or less the same, all pre-concocted. Oh, and this bottle is for treating coughs, three times a day, half a small cup each time."

Shuqi stepped forward to take the small porcelain bottle containing the cough syrup, along with a matching small porcelain cup.

Xiao Chong nodded, then cast his gaze at the thermos beside Lin Wanwan, curiously asked, "And what is this for hot water? It seems there’s glass inside?"

Lin Wanwan smiled and replied, "This is a product from the Western Regions, it keeps water warm, much more efficient than a hot water bottle. This one, I’ll give it to Xiao Mingfu; it’s convenient for taking medicine."

Xiao Chong smiled faintly and, unfazed, thanked her and accepted it.

Just as Lin Wanwan was about to take her leave, Xiao Chong brought up another topic, "Teacher Lin, I heard that your maternal family is from the Imperial Uncle’s House, the Xiao clan of Southern Lanling? Your mother is the daughter of Uncle Xiao Yan?"

Lin Wanwan pondered for a moment before replying, "I heard from the clan leader uncle, but I don’t remember clearly myself."

Xiao Chong laughed, "That should be correct. It seems, we’re actually cousins. How about we address each other as cousins from now on, what do you think?"

Lin Wanwan’s eyelashes fluttered; she saved the County Magistrate’s life and gained a cousin status! That seemed nice, so she immediately smiled and said, "Sure, what a coincidence! But I wonder how old Xiao Mingfu is? I’m twenty-two this year, a widow, with a young daughter named Qingyu."

Xiao Chong replied, "I’m the same age as you, born in March, the eldest in the family. Being of a carefree nature, disliking constraints, I remain unmarried."

Lin Wanwan chuckled to herself, here was an ancient bachelor. Among Great Tang’s famous figures she knew, both Du Fu and Bai Juyi married after thirty, late marriages weren’t unheard of.

She laughed and said, "I was born in September, then please take care of me in the future, cousin. The night is late, I won’t disturb you any longer, please rest early to avoid a relapse."

"Alright, thank you, cousin. Shuqi, see the guest out."

"As you wish!"

Xiao Chong’s illness improved day by day. Although the high fever occasionally relapsed, it could be subdued with antipyretics, which made Lin Wanwan quite confident.

Her biggest fear was that the antipyretics wouldn’t work, as severe influenza can be fatal even in modern times, and fever reducers often fail.

Xiao Chong had been so ill initially, that he recovered so quickly after medication could only mean his immune system was strong. With medicine from a millennium later aiding his white blood cells, he overcame the influenza virus—this was quite fortunate.

Thus, Lin Wanwan stayed at the County Government with Hua Nong because Hua Nong had never received an influenza vaccine and she feared for her being infected, so she never let Hua Nong get close to Xiao Chong.

As for Lin Wanwan herself, she was relatively bolder, being equipped with a veil, a mask, and vaccinated against influenza, she interacted with Xiao Chong without any psychological burden.

She even suggested to Shuqi and the other servants attending to Xiao Chong, that they cover their faces with a cloth when they see him.

Tang Dynasty people had some understanding of infectious diseases, naturally accepting Lin Wanwan’s suggestion.