Chapter 48: Blazing Deficiency Fire

"Helmsman, maybe we should just leave," Bailangzai also urged.

The girl could no longer sit still — three patients had finally come; how could she let them go so easily? If she didn't collect more consultation fees, where would this summer's tax money come from?

So she rose, walked over, first performed a wanfu bow, then said: "Three sirs, I too have some knowledge of medicine. Why don't I take a look at you first, and once the physician comes out, he can treat you properly."

"A little girl like you — what do you know of medicine? Better spare us. From those screams we just heard from the back courtyard, your physician's skill seems rather ordinary as well. We'll go elsewhere."

Though Zheng Zhilong was only a few years older than the girl, he spoke with an air of seasoned worldliness.

The girl grew anxious at once: "If I can't cure you, I won't charge a single coin!"

Hearing there was a bargain to be had, Zheng Zhilong looked at Lin Qian.

Lin Qian felt somewhat embarrassed — the other day he had fallen from the mast, and his waist had been strained by a rope.

It had hurt at the time, but so much time had passed since that it had fully healed.

If it were a male physician, letting him take a look would be one thing, but in feudal society, letting a woman bound by propriety examine him was absolutely out of the question.

So Lin Qian cupped his hands and declined.

The girl thought Lin Qian simply didn't trust her medical skill, and tried every way to prove herself, refusing to let the three of them leave.

Lin Qian had no choice but to tell the truth: "To be honest, I strained my waist, and it wouldn't be proper for you to examine me. Besides, it's mostly healed by now, so I won't trouble you."

The girl's face flushed red at his words, but after a moment's thought she steeled herself and said: "A physician knows no male or female. Sir, just rest easy and let me treat you — please lift your clothes."

Zheng Zhilong laughed at this: "Brother Lin, this little girl is rather stubborn. Just let her take a look — it's not like you're losing anything..."

The remark was far too flippant; Lin Qian shot him a look.

Zheng Zhilong changed his tune at lightning speed: "... Though after all, men and women differ. Brother Lin is a gentleman of honor — how could he do such a thing? Little miss, you'd best not press the matter."

Just then, a stern voice came from the back courtyard: "Mei'er, no more of this nonsense!"

Following that, the curtain to the back courtyard was pushed aside, and a man with an ashen face walked out. His steps were unsteady — clearly he was the one who had been screaming moments before.

Then a middle-aged man in a blue robe walked out — presumably the physician.

"Father!" the girl called out, running to the physician's side.

The physician scolded with a stern face: "With your level of skill, you dare treat patients?"

The girl lowered her head and murmured: "I saw that those three sirs had ruddy complexions and long, even breaths — they seemed to have nothing serious, so I..."

"Still talking back!" The physician's tone was sharp as he raised his palm, making as if to strike.

The girl shrank her neck.

But the slap never landed.

The physician lowered his hand, glared at the girl, then turned to the patient who had come out earlier and gave him instructions.

The patient made a hasty cupped-fist salute of thanks, paid the consultation fee, and fled as if escaping.

The physician then said to the girl: "How many times has your father told you — men and women differ. Even once you've mastered your studies, you may only practice on women. You must always remember that the world is hard and people's hearts are treacherous — treating men rashly will only invite disaster!"

Lin Qian smiled bitterly inwardly — wasn't this physician's scolding-by-way-of-the-girl aimed at calling the three of them a disaster?

No doubt Zheng Zhilong's flippant remark from earlier had been overheard by the physician.

Lin Qian didn't want any trouble and was about to take his leave, but when he noticed the spots of bloodstains on the physician's robe, his interest was piqued instead.

Combined with the pig-slaughter screams of the patient in the back courtyard earlier, it seemed the man treated external wounds — exactly what was needed for voyaging at sea.

So Lin Qian decided to bide his time and sound out this physician first.

Seeing that Lin Qian and his companions remained seated, the physician walked over, cupped his hands, and said: "Which of you strained his waist? Please follow me to the back courtyard for treatment."

His tone was distinctly cold.

Lin Qian rose; Bailangzai and Zheng Zhilong wanted to follow as well, but the physician said: "If the two of you would kindly wait here."

Lin Qian signaled that all was well, had the two sit down and wait, then followed the physician to the back courtyard.

The furnishings there were simple enough — bluestone paving the ground, a long bench set in the middle of the yard, surrounded by spots of bloodstain and large patches of water marks, clearly just washed down with water.

Beside the long bench stood a small table, on which lay an unrolled sheet of hemp cloth with various instruments tucked into it, glinting silver in the sunlight.

Lin Qian had assumed they were silver needles of some sort, but when he drew closer, he saw they were all manner of knives, along with awls, axes, hammers, and other tools.

No wonder the man before had screamed at the top of his lungs — anyone who saw instruments like these, resembling implements of torture, would have their liver quiver.

But Lin Qian was widely traveled and recognized them all as surgical instruments.

Seen this way, this man should be the kind of physician versed in external wounds and skilled at surgery — quite an anomaly among the physicians of this era.

Exactly the kind of talent scarce on a ship!

Lin Qian felt a secret thrill of having found a treasure.

The physician had Lin Qian lie face-down on the long bench, lifted his clothes, and pressed his hands over Lin Qian's waist.

After a moment, he had Lin Qian sit up, then examined his complexion, took his pulse, and looked at his tongue coating.

Then the physician said: "Nothing wrong with the waist. But your tongue tip is red, your eyes have bloodshot streaks, and your pulse is thin and rapid — all signs of depleted yin-blood and blazing deficiency fire. How many hours do you sleep each day?"

Lin Qian: "At most six hours, at least two to four."

The physician said with a stern face: "Far too little! You're young now, so nothing will happen, but once you're older, your body will exact its due. Go on — you need no medicine. Sleep more and it will naturally mend."

Lin Qian rose, thought for a moment, and asked: "I have a friend who was cut by a sickle while doing farm work. He smeared plant ash over it himself to stop the bleeding. Is that serious?"

This was Lin Qian testing the physician's skill.

Sure enough, the physician first rebutted him with an exasperated lecture, then explained how it should be treated.

His ideas of cleaning the wound, disinfecting, and bandaging were basically in line with modern medicine.

Lin Qian then asked about several common ailments at sea, and the physician answered each one.

This made Lin Qian all the more certain the man was a talent, so he cupped his hands and said: "May I ask your name, sir?"

The physician looked thoroughly impatient: "Su Kang." Then he made a gesture for Lin Qian to leave.

Lin Qian had a mind to recruit this physician, but now was certainly not the right moment. As he walked out, he mulled over how to do the man a favor.

Just then, the clang of a bronze gong came from outside, followed by voices in the main hall: "Little girl, call your resident physician out — time to pay your taxes."

Physician Su Kang heard the sound and, no longer sparing Lin Qian a thought, hurried off to the main hall.

Lin Qian then lifted the curtain and stepped out as well.

In the main hall stood three yamen runners—the one at the lead held an official document, while the other two carried a bronze gong and a sack respectively.

No sooner had Lin Qian stepped out than Zheng Zhilong pulled him aside and whispered, "Brother Lin, these are government tax collectors. Let's keep our distance and be careful not to provoke them. Once they've collected the silver, they'll be on their way."

Yahei

Fenyuan

Pen