Chapter 48: False Fire Rising
“Helmsman, why don’t we just leave?” Bai Langzai also advised.
The girl couldn’t sit still at this point. It was rare to have three patients come; how could she let them go easily without collecting more consultation fees? Where would the summer taxes come from?
So she stood up, walked over, first performed a curtsy, and then said: “Three scholars, I also have some medical skill. Why don’t I take a look at you three first, and wait for the doctor to come out before treating you.”
“You, a little girl, what do you know about medical skill? Better not. We just heard screams from the backyard; your family doctor’s medical skill must be mediocre. We’d better go elsewhere.”
Zheng Zhilong was only a few years older than the girl, yet he spoke in a very mature manner.
The girl got anxious upon hearing this: “If I can’t diagnose it well, no consultation fee!”
Zheng Zhilong, hearing there was a freebie, looked toward Lin Qian.
Lin Qian was a bit embarrassed. A few days ago, he had fallen from the mast, and his waist had been chafed by a rope.
It had hurt at the time, but after so long, it had completely healed.
If it were a male doctor, a look would be fine, but in feudal society, letting a woman bound by etiquette examine it was absolutely not acceptable.
So Lin Qian cupped his hands and refused.
The girl thought Lin Qian didn’t trust her medical skill and tried every way to prove herself, not letting the three leave.
Lin Qian had no choice but to tell the truth: “To be honest, I twisted my waist a bit. It’s inconvenient for a young lady to examine, and besides, it’s almost completely better now, so no need to trouble you.”
The girl blushed upon hearing this but thought for a moment and resolutely said: “A doctor makes no distinction of gender. Scholar, just rest easy and let me examine. Please lift your clothes.”
Zheng Zhilong laughed upon hearing this: “Elder Brother Lin, this little girl is stubborn. Just let her take a look; anyway, you won’t lose out…”
This remark was too frivolous; Lin Qian glanced at him.
Zheng Zhilong immediately backpedaled at top speed: “…But after all, men and women are different. Elder Brother Lin is a gentleman; how could he do such a thing? Little girl, better not pester.”
Just at this moment, a stern voice came from the backyard: “Mei’er, don’t make trouble!”
Then the backyard door curtain was lifted, and a pale-faced man came out from it. He walked unsteadily, clearly the one who had screamed miserably earlier.
Then a middle-aged man in a green robe came out; he should be the doctor.
“Dad!” The girl called out and ran to the doctor’s side.
The doctor said sternly with a straight face: “With your medical skill, you dare treat patients?”
The girl lowered her head and said softly: “I saw the three scholars had ruddy complexions and steady breaths; they should have no major issues, so that’s why…”
“Still talking back!” The doctor’s tone was sharp as he raised his palm, making as if to strike.
The girl shrank her neck.
But the slap ultimately didn’t land.
The doctor lowered his hand, glared at the girl, and then instructed the earlier patient on precautions.
The patient hastily cupped his hands in thanks, paid the consultation fee, and left as if fleeing.
The doctor continued to the girl: “How many times has your father told you: men and women are different. Even if you master it, you can only treat women. You must always remember the world is harsh, people’s hearts malicious; rashly treating men will inevitably bring trouble!”
Lin Qian smiled bitterly to himself. This doctor was beating around the bush—wasn’t he calling the three of them troublemakers?
It must have been Zheng Zhilong’s frivolous remark earlier that the doctor had overheard.
Lin Qian didn’t want trouble and had meant to take his leave, but seeing specks of blood on the doctor piqued his interest.
Combining it with the pig-slaughter-like screams from the backyard patient earlier, he seemed to treat external injuries—exactly what’s needed on sea voyages.
Thus Lin Qian decided to observe quietly and first meet this doctor.
Seeing Lin Qian and the other two sitting still, the doctor walked over, cupped his hands, and said: “Whose waist is twisted? Please follow me to the backyard for treatment.”
His tone was exceptionally cold.
Lin Qian stood up. Bai Langzai and Zheng Zhilong also wanted to follow, but the doctor said: “Please wait here, you two.”
Lin Qian signaled it was fine and had them sit to wait, then followed the doctor to the backyard.
The place was simply furnished: bluestone floor, a long bench in the yard, specks of blood around, and large water stains—clearly just rinsed.
Beside the long bench was a small table with a roll of hemp cloth spread out and various utensils inserted in it, gleaming silver in the sunlight.
Lin Qian had thought they were silver needles and such, but up close, they turned out to be knives of various kinds, plus awls, axes, hammers, and other utensils.
No wonder the earlier man had screamed himself hoarse; anyone seeing these torture-like utensils would shudder.
But Lin Qian, well-traveled, recognized them as surgical instruments.
Evidently, this doctor specialized in external injuries and surgery—a rarity among doctors of this era.
Exactly the talent scarce on the ship!
Lin Qian felt secret joy at finding a treasure.
The doctor had Lin Qian lie on the long bench, lift his clothes, and press around his waist with his hands.
In moments, he had Lin Qian stand, checked his complexion, took his pulse, and examined his tongue coating.
Then the doctor said: “Nothing wrong with the waist. But scholar, your tongue tip is red, eyes bloodshot, pulse thin and rapid—all signs of yin blood depletion and deficient fire rising. How many hours do you sleep each day, scholar?”
Lin Qian: “Up to three hours at most, one or two at least.”
The doctor said sternly: “You sleep too little! You’re young now and fine, but when older, it’ll catch up. Go on; your condition needs no medicine—just more sleep and it’ll resolve naturally.”
Lin Qian stood, thought a moment, and asked: “A friend of mine cut his hand with a sickle while farming and stopped the bleeding with plant ash. Is that serious?”
This was Lin Qian testing the doctor’s skill.
Sure enough, after grumpily criticizing, the doctor explained the proper treatment.
His principles of cleaning the wound, disinfecting, and bandaging aligned closely with later medical practice.
Lin Qian asked about several common shipboard ailments, and the doctor answered each one.
This impressed Lin Qian even more that he was talented, so he cupped his hands: “Haven’t asked Mister’s name yet.”
The doctor, plainly impatient: “Su Kang.” Then he gestured please.
Lin Qian was keen to recruit this doctor, but now wasn’t the time. As he walked out, he pondered how to do him a favor.
Just then, a gong sounded outside, followed by voices in the hall: “Little girl, call out your family doctor—time to pay taxes.”
Doctor Su Kang heard and hurried to the hall, forgetting Lin Qian.
Lin Qian soon lifted the curtain and went out.
Three bailiffs stood in the hall: the leader held documents, one of the others carried a gong, and the last a sack.
As soon as Lin Qian emerged, Zheng Zhilong pulled him aside and whispered: “Elder Brother Lin, these are government tax collectors. We should stay out of the way and not provoke them—they’ll leave once they collect the silver.”
