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墨書 Inktalez
A month passed quickly.
Chen Guiyuan returned to Li Hetang with his elderly mother.
"The pulse is steady and strong," I said, releasing my hold and turning to Chen Guiyuan. "Your mother's vital energy has been well-regulated; her symptoms should have improved significantly, right?"
Chen Guiyuan nodded, a look of joy on his face. "That's right! My mother has felt much better this past month, and her sleep has improved as well. grandpa Li, my friend’s recommendation was spot on; you truly are a master of traditional Chinese medicine, as your reputation suggests!"
The "friend" he mentioned is the sister of my apprentice, Xiao Liu, who also works at the Port City Red Cross Society. I had asked her for a little recommendation, which indeed led to Chen Guiyuan seeking my help.
"Chen Chu looks quite fatigued; have you not been resting well?" I observed closely.
"Yes, I wanted to ask you to take a look at me last time. The recent work pressure has been overwhelming, and I feel particularly tired. Even if I sleep well at night, I still feel exhausted during the day. I don’t know what’s going on."
What’s going on? It’s obvious—he's probably burdened by his conscience.
I gestured for him to place his hand on the pulse pillow and closed my eyes, examining him for half an hour. Then I said, "Your liver and kidney functions are somewhat abnormal. Besides feeling fatigued, you must also be experiencing dry eyes, dry mouth, sore lower back and knees, and difficulty with bowel movements... Am I right? Additionally, do you sweat profusely at night?"
Chen Guiyuan looked at me with admiration. "That’s correct! grandpa Li, you’re incredible; you’ve pinpointed every single issue."
"You have typical Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis and need a series of treatments."
I got up and moved to the treatment bed, signaling for Chen Guiyuan to lie down. "Let me give you a massage first to help clear your meridians."
Chen Guiyuan complied and lay down. I began massaging along his liver and kidney meridian points, starting gently and gradually increasing the pressure.
"This might hurt a bit; bear with it," I cautioned him as I pressed firmly on the Liver Shu Point.
Chen Guiyuan let out a muffled groan, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
Twenty minutes later, the massage concluded. Chen Guiyuan sat up and stretched his limbs. "Wow! I feel much more relaxed now. grandpa Li, your technique is truly exceptional."
I handed him a cup of warm water. "Today’s massage was a bit intense; you might feel some soreness."
Next, I prepared the medicine and herbal tea, handing both to Chen Guiyuan. "This is a week's worth of medicine; it’s already portioned out for you—just simmer it for half an hour. Take it twice daily in the morning and evening. Drink this herbal tea daily; it will help regulate your Qi and blood while improving liver and kidney function. If possible, try to come for a massage every other day for better results."
After seeing Chen Guiyuan and his mother off, my apprentice Xiao Liu casually asked me, "Master, I noticed you added a pinch of powder to Chen Chu's medicine at the end—what was that?"
I gazed out at the overcast sky. "That was Bitter Apricot Kernel; it promotes blood circulation and relieves constipation, but the dosage must be precise."
A few days later, Chen Guiyuan came to Li Hetang for a massage again. He looked much better, saying, " grandpa Li, your medicine and health tea are incredibly effective. I've only been drinking them for a few days, and my sleep and energy have improved significantly. I have a few friends around my age who also have some minor ailments; I wonder if you could help them as well?"
I glanced at him but didn't respond immediately. Chen Guiyuan continued, "These are all old friends of mine, well-connected people. This is a great opportunity to introduce you. One is a professor at Port City Medical University, and another is the deputy minister of the Health Department."
I lowered my head and continued preparing the medicine. "Sure, since they are friends of Chen Chu, it’s no problem."
Chen Guiyuan beamed with delight. "That's wonderful! Oh, by the way, I also have a childhood friend who runs his own business. He heard about your remarkable medical skills and would like to consult you as well."
I nodded and handed him the medicine and tea bags. "No problem; just have him schedule a time with Xiao Liu. This is the medicine for next week; you can take it home today. The dosage remains the same."
It was truly a case of "a pillow arriving just when one feels sleepy." I hadn't expected Chen Guiyuan to bring in more clients like this; it seemed that my subsequent plans could be moved up.
Standing by the window, I watched Chen Guiyuan's retreating figure while fiddling with a photograph in my hand.
In the photo was ten-year-old Ke Ke standing in my pharmacy, her small hands holding a medicine jar as she curiously peered inside. That day, she had insisted on playing her invented game called "Guess the Medicine."
"Grandpa, what is this? It smells so good."
"This is Fu Ling; it's great for regulating the spleen and stomach."
...
Though she has passed away, the memories remain vividly alive.
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