CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: TOOK ON A DISCIPLE

When Chun Nuan went to the village again, Chun Ning and others had already planted the autumn sweet potatoes.

"Did you really dig all these up?"

The few children were not even as tall as the hoe handle, and seeing them doing such a lot of work made Chun Nuan feel sorry for them.

"Sister, Uncle Luo and Luo Xiaogang helped us, so we planted quickly. Otherwise, it would have taken us at least ten days or half a month with just a few of us."

"Uncle Luo’s leg hurts, yet he still came to help us."

"Uncle Luo said that after using the medicinal wine you gave him for a few days, he was all better. If you hadn’t told him to rest for half a month, he would have gone to the dock to pull ropes long ago. Luckily, he listened to you and didn’t go, saving his life. Now Uncle Luo doesn’t plan to pull ropes anymore. He said he wants to find some other kind of work."

Chun Nuan remembered that Uncle Luo mentioned he brought the medicinal wine to the rope pullers, and after it worked, he received money. Why not give him a chance to earn some money?

"Chun Nuan, is what you said true?" Aunt Luo was very surprised after hearing Chun Nuan’s words: "Can he really earn money this way?"

"Yes, Uncle Luo mentioned it, right? Many of the rope pullers have this problem, and they can feel the effects of the medicinal wine." Chun Nuan said: "I’ll teach Uncle Luo some massage techniques. Massage can regulate body functions, promote circulation of blood and energy, relieve muscles and joints, and alleviate or improve illnesses."

"But will he be able to learn it?"

"With practice, he will. He can give you more massages to get familiar with the techniques before setting up a stall."

Aunt Luo immediately instructed Sanya to quickly call the man back from cutting bamboo in the bamboo forest to weave bamboo baskets.

Uncle Luo’s eyes lit up after listening to Chun Nuan.

"I have to admit, that’s a good idea." Uncle Luo said, "I really enjoy helping others apply the medicinal wine. When I use the method you taught me, they look so grateful after using it a few times. It makes me feel happy."

"What kind of hobbies do you have?" Aunt Luo asked with a laugh.

"Relieving others’ pain is also a good deed." Uncle Luo said, "Many of the brothers jokingly call me Doctor Luo."

"Not everyone can be a doctor. Being a doctor requires real skills. You barely know anything, and you’re not even half-trained. Don’t end up in a legal case."

"Uncle Luo, Aunt Luo, massage therapy is quite simple, and proficiency comes with practice." Chun Nuan said, "Here’s the plan: I’ll teach you first, and then you can massage Aunt Luo. With practice, you’ll get it."

How to teach?

By practicing on Aunt Luo, naturally.

"Aunt Luo, didn’t you say your back hurts?"

"Yes, it’s because I didn’t recover well after childbirth, so my back often hurts."

"Alright, let me give you a massage."

Let Aunt Luo lie on the bed, and had Uncle Luo bring over some vegetable oil.

"This oil is mainly for lubrication to prevent skin damage."

"My skin is already tougher than your hands, don’t hurt yourself instead." Aunt Luo said, "Why not let Old Luo massage me while you guide him."

"That works too. Massage therapy requires some strength, which I’m somewhat lacking."

"Alright, I’ll do it. Chun Nuan, tell me how to massage?"

"Massage techniques include finger pressure, palm pressure, and rubbing methods." Chun Nuan demonstrated to Uncle Luo: "Pushing, grasping, lifting, pinching, kneading—these are common methods..."

"For the head, limbs, chest, and abdominal areas, use linear pushing techniques..."

"Chun Nuan, wait a moment, let me go through it with you to see if I’ve remembered correctly."

There was no denying it, Uncle Luo was a good student, neatly organizing the key points Chun Nuan mentioned.

"Very good, Uncle Luo, you’ve got it all correct."

"I didn’t expect that someone who is usually so carefree would remember what Chun Nuan said." Aunt Luo praised him, "Looks like you really can learn this."

"That’s right; you remember what you like, and don’t care to remember what you don’t." Uncle Luo said, "I find this interesting."

Chun Nuan then explained to him the precautions for massage therapy.

"Pay attention to keeping warm, staying hydrated, resting, and avoid bathing immediately, exposure to cold environments, or vigorous exercise..."

"Massage also requires discerning deficiencies, knowing if it’s yin deficiency or yang deficiency, qi deficiency or blood deficiency, and identifying which organ is affected..."

This was a bit profound.

Fortunately, Uncle Luo was eager to learn. He asked whenever he didn’t understand, and the teaching was earnest while the learning was diligent. Aunt Luo, the practice dummy, was at their disposal for repeated massaging and kneading.

Initially, it felt a bit painful, but then it became comfortable.

"I feel much more relaxed." Aunt Luo found being used as a practice dummy quite enjoyable.

"Tomorrow, the places massaged might feel sore. This is normal." Chun Nuan reminded her.

"I’m not afraid of the pain, as long as my back isn’t hurting, I can tolerate it." Aunt Luo said, "Honestly, this back of mine, after bending, I can’t straighten up at all. Getting older makes it worse."

Chun Nuan held back the words she was about to say.

The fact was, the prescription was given to her.

"Oh, that’s right, I remembered." Aunt Luo brought up the matter herself: "The prescription you gave me for my woman’s problems, I should find it and buy some medicine."

"Yes, you can do that."

"The main reason is in the past I had no money, and I thought it wasn’t a big deal, so I didn’t bother..."

Aunt Luo’s explanation carried a hint of embarrassment.

In truth, she had been skeptical of Chun Nuan’s medical skills, thinking what if it didn’t work and money was wasted?

So she hadn’t paid much attention to it.

Now seeing that the medicinal wine truly worked on Old Luo and the other rope pullers’ legs, it proved Chun Nuan had real skills.

Especially today, her explanations while teaching Old Luo massage were so thorough that it was apparent she was an expert.

Aunt Luo no longer doubted Chun Nuan’s abilities.

"It’s getting late." Chun Nuan said, "I’ll head back to town now. Uncle Luo, give Aunt Luo more massages. Eventually, you can go to the dock to help those people and earn some Silver Coins to supplement household expenses."

"Thank you so much, Chun Nuan, truly, we don’t even know how to properly thank you."

"No need, helping each other out as neighbors is just natural." Chun Nuan said, "After all, you helped us plant the autumn sweet potatoes. Without your help, Chun Ning and the others would have taken much longer."

"Oh, we don’t have any other skills, just some brute strength. Such a small patch, we dug it up in no time, so it wasn’t a problem."

Aunt Luo said, "Chun Nuan, if there’s any heavy or tiring work at home in the future, just have Chun Ning look for Uncle Luo. He’s your apprentice, after all, helping the master is expected."

Chun Nuan... when did I take an apprentice?

"Teaching him survival skills makes him your apprentice."

Aunt Luo insisted on giving her an official title.

"No, no, please, don’t say I taught it. Just say an old hunter from the mountains taught it to him."