CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: THE FIRST PATIENT

EDITOR: INSCHAIN

Mrs. Chen said to Gu Yunjiao, "This is Guihua’s daughter from the west end of the village. Guihua’s husband passed away last year, and the two of them rely on each other to survive."

With Mrs. Chen’s words, Gu Yunjiao recalled that she had seen this young girl and her mother before. Guihua was a frail woman who always greeted everyone with a pleasing smile.

Seeing the girl’s big eyes looking at her with something to say but unable to, Gu Yunjiao wiped her hands and walked over, "Are you here to see me about something, Yingzi?"

Yingzi nodded, speaking softly, "My mother is sick. She’s been vomiting and having diarrhea, several times this afternoon, and now she’s unable to get out of bed."

"Earlier, Grandma Qin told me you know how to treat illnesses and asked me to find you."

Mrs. Chen further explained from the side, "Guihua is Aunt Qin’s cousin’s daughter. Sometimes she goes over to check on this mother and daughter."

She paused, "If you can treat her, please do. They’re a lonely widow and daughter, quite pitiful."

Gu Yunjiao nodded, holding Yingzi’s hand, "Alright, let’s go to your house and take a look."

Mrs. Chen also quickly dried her hands and removed her apron, "I’ll go with you."

Gu Yunjiao went back to her room to get the Golden Needle, and the three of them set off towards the west end of the village, soon arriving at Yingzi’s house.

Yingzi’s house consisted of three thatched rooms, with the one on the west side looking as if it might collapse soon.

The three of them walked to the room on the east side, where they could already smell an odor from inside before even entering.

Mrs. Qin came out from inside, fanning her nose, "Wait a moment before going in. I just helped her empty the chamber pot, and now she needs it again."

They waited at the door for quite a while, as the sound of vomiting came from inside again.

Mrs. Qin quickly went in, helping Guihua catch her breath and lying her back down on the bed.

Then she covered the chamber pot and dragged it behind the bed.

She opened the window to disperse the smell before calling in Gu Yunjiao and Mrs. Chen.

Gu Yunjiao went in and sat by the bed. The room’s light was dim, so she couldn’t see Guihua’s complexion clearly.

She turned her head, "Yingzi, light the lamp."

Yingzi quickly lit the oil lamp and brought it over. Gu Yunjiao barely managed to get a look at Guihua’s face before Guihua shook her head and said to Gu Yunjiao, "I just told Aunt that there’s no need to call a doctor."

"I don’t have any silver for a consultation fee, nor for medicine. It’s just diarrhea, and it’ll get better after a couple of days."

Mrs. Qin stood silently by the side.

When Guihua’s husband died, he had borrowed two taels of silver from her, which hadn’t been repaid. Though she hadn’t pressured Guihua to return the silver, she wasn’t inclined to lend her more money.

She had Yingzi call Gu Yunjiao because she didn’t want to spend any silver. Yet, she was worried that Guihua’s condition might worsen.

Gu Yunjiao smiled at Guihua, "Don’t worry, I won’t charge you for the consultation."

She added, "You don’t have to be afraid. There are ways to treat with money, and there are ways to treat without money."

Mrs. Qin chastised Guihua from the side, "The doctor has already come. You should at least let them check. We’re all neighbors; no one’s going to pressure you for silver if you don’t have it now. You can pay later."

Guihua, feeling embarrassed, said, "Then, I’ll trouble you, please."

Gu Yunjiao first asked, "What did you eat?"

Guihua whispered, "I didn’t eat much, just some leftover food from yesterday, which had gone a bit bad. I thought it was a waste to throw it away, so I ate it myself. Luckily, I didn’t give it to Yingzi."

Gu Yunjiao nodded, then reached out to take her pulse.

After taking her pulse, she withdrew her hand, "It’s not just that you ate something bad; you’ve also caught a cold."

Guihua nodded on the pillow, "Doctor Gu, you’re amazing. When I was eating at noon, I felt hot, so I ate at the spot where the wind was blowing and drank a big ladle of cold water afterwards."