Chapter 43

"So low? Add more!"

At a price of a hundred wen, Chen Wuji wasn't very satisfied.

"Monkeys can indeed be used in medicine, and we do occasionally use them, but not frequently," the old man shook his head, "A hundred wen isn't cheap; the only usable part of such a big monkey is just the Monkey Bone."

"If you skin it properly and confirm there's Monkey Fruit inside, I can give you another hundred wen; Monkey Fruit is a bit more expensive."

"What is Monkey Fruit?" Chen Wuji asked.

The name sounded vaguely familiar to him, but modern medicine could never use such tiny parts from a monkey's body, and he couldn't recall where he had seen it.

"The relic of a monkey!" the old man said, flinging his hand.

"I'm telling you in secret; don't let those old bald donkeys of the Buddhist sect find out."

Got it, the monkey's calculus.

"At least it's a hundred wen; I'll deliver the Buddha to the west for you, and I'll do the skinning," Chen Wuji said.

In those impoverished, destitute days, a hundred wen was a hefty sum.

Huo Sanniang didn't take part in the bargaining today; she just watched from the side with a smiling gaze.

At some point, a layer of moist mist subtly gathered at the corner of her eyes.

A dim life finally welcomed a glimmer of light...

Just as they were speaking, someone walked in.

It was a pair of master and servant.

The girl leading the way was radiant and dazzling, wearing an apricot-colored long dress and a veil on her head.

The one behind was slender and thin, with a face still bearing a hint of baby fat.

"Zhang Lao, could you please take a look for me!"

The woman nodded at the old man and sat down on the side.

The old man turned his head; once he saw the newcomer, his already drooping eyelids sagged completely. "I truly can't cure you. Stop coming here. With your family's influence, there's no renowned doctor in the world you can't find. Why do you have to make things difficult for this old man who's about to be buried?"

"I still want to enjoy my old age, but I don't want your father to send me to the East Market Entrance. Please be kind and let me go quickly."

The woman let out a light sigh, "But yesterday I couldn't stop bleeding, it only stopped late in the evening. If this continues, I'm truly afraid I'll die in a few days."

"No, your Qi and blood are abundant, your body has no issues; I can guarantee that you absolutely won't die. However, I can't cure your illness," the old man said, waving his hand.

His words were somewhat contradictory.

Guaranteeing someone won't die yet saying you can't cure them—what kind of guarantee is that?

Chen Wuji examined the veiled girl closely, noting her complexion, features, and the strength of her speech; she didn't seem like a dying person, yet the bleeding persisted, and he couldn't tell where it was coming from.

"Old man, what's her ailment?" Chen Wuji asked softly.

The old man rolled his eyes, "If I wanted to know the ailment, how could I not know how to treat it? It's precisely because I don't know her disease that it's tricky. What? Do you, kid, also know how to treat illnesses?"

"No," Chen Wuji shook his head, "Where is she bleeding?"

"Nosebleed!"

"Oh, I thought... hmm, nothing serious," Chen Wuji forced a dry laugh.

Damn, I was mistaken.

The old man glanced sideways, humming lightly, "If it were bleeding elsewhere, given her daily torrent of blood, she'd have been immobilized long ago... probably just waiting for death."

"But a nosebleed is usually due to wind‑heat in the Lung meridian, stomach heat, upward rebellious liver fire, excessive heart fire, yin deficiency with fire, or spleen failing to hold blood—are you not familiar with these?" Chen Wuji asked.

He asked earnestly, and this little old man clearly seemed capable.

"I don't know?" The old man instantly raised his voice, "How could I not know? You mentioned those things aren't it. You, kid, pretending with an old man—does that amuse you? Knowing these things yet claiming you lack medical skill?"

"I truly don't know; I'm just a hunter!" Chen Wuji shook his head.

He had formally studied Chinese medicine, having apprenticed under three renowned physicians, but so far hadn't treated any patients.

So he really wasn't clear about his own abilities.

Occasionally, when he met someone, a sudden itch made him ask.

Xiao Lao Tou was so angry he almost pinched Chen Wuji with his eyelid, saying sarcastically, "You truly are a good hunter. The things you just mentioned about her aren't true; I've long confirmed that."

"Oh, then it can only be emotional disorder!" Chen Wuji said.

Simply put, depression.

The old man was taken aback, "You're talking nonsense; can emotional disorder cause a nonstop nosebleed? Wait, emotional disorder leads to liver qi stagnation, causing Qi and blood blockage—do you mean that?"

Chen Wuji nodded.

"You, let him take the pulse!" the old man suddenly shouted at the girl.

In fact, the patient at that moment was somewhat suicidal.

Now her mind kept replaying Chen Wuji and Zhang Lao's discussion about where she was bleeding.

These two, they didn't even think about protecting her at all.

Zhang Lao could reluctantly forgive her a bit, but that guy who still looked fairly handsome...

He should be beaten!

"You come, I'll just ask," Chen Wuji shook his head.

Xiao Lao Tou raised his voice and asked, "When you touch the girl's hand, are you worried she'll get pregnant or what?"

"That wouldn't happen; it's just unnecessary. I trust you," Chen Wuji said.

Feeling depression, feeling someone's pulse is pointless; you just ask directly.

Xiao Lao Tou, so angry his eyebrows seemed to dance, said, "As a physician, if you don't take the pulse yourself and let others do it, what kind of physician are you? Do it yourself!"

Chen Wuji shook his head and directly asked the girl, "Are you trapped by love? Is there a man you love but cannot have, or are you compassionate to the world, often saddened by the many sorrows of life?"

The girl's expression was a bit dazed and somewhat panicked, "Is this... considered a disease?"

"Of course."

"I truly liked someone."

"Love that can't be returned, losing appetite for tea and food, unable to sleep at night— that kind?"

The girl felt a bit embarrassed, but after hesitating for a while, she nodded.

"Old man, prescribe the medicine." Chen Wuji understood in his heart, ninety‑nine percent sure.

Xiao Lao Tou was so angry he almost jumped up, "Are you ordering me?"

"No, no, this isn't your old place, is it?" Chen Wuji laughed, "First Prescription: cut a strand of your own hair, burn it to ash, dissolve it in water and take it, three consecutive doses can stop nosebleeds."

Before treating depression, you must first solve the daily nosebleed problem.

Xiao Lao Tou let out a sinister chuckle, "But I must warn you, this girl is the daughter of Inspector Zhang; if you cause her any trouble, your head, arms and legs together wouldn't be enough to be cut off."

Chen Wuji was startled. No wonder he looked like an extraordinary person.

No matter how high an inspector's rank, they are far beyond what these petty officials in Yunan County can compare to.

Even if both are lowly Seventh Rank, they are still a tier above local officials.

"Miss, I didn't say anything just now; you can think I was just talking nonsense, a fool rambling," Chen Wuji immediately changed his tone.

For a lowly commoner, dealing with these officials is a deadly taboo; a slight misstep can leave you dead on the wilderness.