Chapter 11: Medicinal Herbs, Acupuncture

"How about that, Xiao Yan, can you tell that Grandpa Chen was practicing martial arts?" Old Doctor Chen said with a smile.

"I can't tell." Xiao Yan shook her head. "It was my brother who said Grandpa Chen was practicing, and told me not to speak and disturb you."

"I'm sorry, Grandpa Chen, we didn't know you were practicing," Lu Qing said apologetically.

"It's no matter. What I practice is just some farm-style movements to loosen up the joints; it doesn't count as any real martial art," the old doctor waved his hand, dismissing it.

"But I think Grandpa Chen looks very graceful when you do it!" Xiao Yan said earnestly.

"Hahaha, I've practiced this set of movements my whole life. To get a compliment from a little one like you, it’s all been worth it!"

Hearing the little one's innocent words, Old Doctor Chen burst into hearty laughter.

Seeing the old doctor in such high spirits, Lu Qing felt his own heart relax.

He had been genuinely worried that the old doctor might have a rule against people watching him practice, in which case he and his sister would have committed a taboo.

"Come, let's go inside. I'll start your acupuncture."

Old Doctor Chen picked up Xiao Yan and said to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing respectfully followed the old doctor toward the courtyard.

As soon as he entered the yard, he was captivated by the medicinal herbs drying everywhere.

He scanned them for a few moments and found that he recognized one of them—it was the same "ox-bone grass" that grew in his own yard.

Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time for him to examine the information on each of these herbs.

"Grandpa Chen, is everything drying in this yard medicinal herbs?" Lu Qing asked.

"That's right. What, do you know how to identify herbs?"

Old Doctor Chen looked a bit surprised.

"Not exactly," Lu Qing said. "I just noticed that there is a type of herb here that seems to grow near our house as well."

"Which one?"

"The one drying in that winnowing basket." Lu Qing pointed in a direction.

When Xiao Yan saw the small blue flowers on the herb, she nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! There's a lot of it growing outside our yard, and Niu Niu likes to eat it too."

The old doctor took a look. "Indeed, that is called ox-bone grass. It is a very common medicinal herb."

"Ox-bone grass." Lu Qing repeated the name and asked, "Grandpa Chen, what is this ox-bone grass usually used for?"

"It is mainly used to treat bruises and injuries," the old doctor replied casually. He looked at Lu Qing. "Why, are you interested in medicine?"

"Yes," Lu Qing said honestly. "I heard from Xiao Yan that my illness was cured by a prescription from you, Grandpa Chen. It makes me feel that these herbs are truly magical—they are just flowers and grasses, yet they can relieve pain and save lives."

"Wanting to study medicine is not easy. To study medicine, one must not only be bold and meticulous with a clear mind, but also be literate and able to understand medical texts."

The old doctor did not mock Lu Qing's idea; instead, he explained it to him patiently.

"I do know some characters," Lu Qing said quickly.

He wasn't lying.

In his memories, the original owner did indeed know some characters, and he had verified that they were quite similar to the Chinese characters from his past life, just with more complex strokes.

"You know how to read?" Old Doctor Chen was surprised again.

In this rural area, it wasn't easy to find someone who could read.

Lu Qing was just an orphan; how could he know how to read?

"When my grandfather was alive, he taught me some characters. But I am dull-witted; after he passed away, I forgot some of them, and I can only recognize them—I cannot write them well."

Old Doctor Chen finally understood the situation of Lu Qing's family.

It was rumored that Lu Qing's grandfather had been a scholar who had fallen on hard times.

He had come here to escape the famine along with the other villagers.

However, he had passed away before he could settle down here, so the doctor had never had the chance to meet him.

He had also heard from the villagers that Lu Qing's father had a restless nature and wasn't cut out for studying; he had often angered Lu Qing's grandfather to the point of illness when he was young, and in the end, he never finished his studies.

He hadn't expected that it would be the young Lu Qing who actually knew some characters.

It was a pity that Lu Qing's grandfather had died so early; otherwise, perhaps the Lu family might have produced another scholar.

Old Doctor Chen sighed inwardly again, his gaze toward Lu Qing becoming even gentler.

No wonder he felt that Lu Qing's way of speaking was different from the average rural youth; it must have been the influence of his grandfather and father.

"Since you are interested in medicinal herbs, from now on, every time you come for acupuncture, I will allow you to spend half an hour helping me dry the herbs. As for how much you can remember, that will depend on your own aptitude."

"And you," Old Doctor Chen patted Xiao Yan's hair, "you come along with your brother too. Grandpa Chen will cook you some medicinal meals. You're so frail, how can that be?"

Lu Qing was overjoyed and quickly bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Grandpa Chen! Xiao Yan, hurry and thank Grandpa Chen!"

"Thank you, Grandpa Chen~"

Although the little one didn't know what a medicinal meal was, since her brother said so, she thanked him obediently.

"What are you thanking me for? Looking at your little frame, Grandpa Chen feels sorry for you," the old doctor said with pity.

Once inside the room, the old doctor set Xiao Yan down and took out a needle pouch.

He said to Lu Qing, "Go to the bed and take off your shirt."

Lu Qing followed his instructions, took off his shirt, and lay down on the wooden bed to the side.

Looking at his skeletal chest, Old Doctor Chen was silent for a moment before drawing a silver needle from the pouch.

Seeing such a long silver needle, Xiao Yan's face showed a hint of fear.

However, she knew Grandpa Chen was treating her brother, so although she was scared, she stayed quiet and didn't make a fuss.

"Don't be afraid, and don't move. I'm going to perform the acupuncture now," the old doctor said to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing nodded.

He wasn't afraid.

Back on Blue Star in his past life, he had experienced traditional Chinese acupuncture, so he was quite familiar with it.

The old doctor twisted the silver needle and gently inserted it into one of Lu Qing's acupoints. Lu Qing didn't feel any pain at all, and he saw the needle sink a third of the way into his flesh.

After the first needle was in, the old doctor didn't hesitate; he immediately took another from the pouch and inserted it into a different acupoint.

Before long, eighteen silver needles were inserted into various acupoints on Lu Qing's upper body.

As for Xiao Yan, she had long since covered her eyes, not daring to look at her brother, who was now stuck with needles like a hedgehog.

After the eighteenth needle was inserted, the old doctor didn't let go immediately.

Instead, he pinched the end of the needle and twisted it gently.

Suddenly, a magical thing happened: Lu Qing felt a warm current surging beneath the needles.

It felt tingly and numb, making him feel extremely comfortable.

At the same time, a wave of drowsiness washed over him. His eyelids grew heavy, and he soon fell asleep.

"Grandpa Chen, is my brother asleep?"

Xiao Yan covered her face, peeking through her fingers.

"Yes, your brother's body is too weak. My 'Root-Strengthening and Essence-Consolidating' acupuncture will allow him to have a good sleep."

"Oh." Xiao Yan responded.

Grandpa Chen was saying things she didn't understand again.

"Let's go. Let your brother sleep here for a while, and we'll go outside." The old doctor stood up.

"Where are we going?"

"Grandpa Chen is going to make you something delicious..."

(End of chapter)