Xu Damao Seeks Medical Treatment, Yan Bugui Collects Wages

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

After work, Xu Damao found Lin Zhen again and brought him two bottles of wine.

Since Lou Xiao'e had taken the children out, Xu Damao didn't hold back and got straight to the point:

"Master Lin, I'm really at my wit's end. Ever since that bastard Silly Zhu scared me, I haven't been able to perform. Plus, I get stomachaches every morning and can't tolerate any cold. Do you have any other methods?"

Lin Zhen suppressed a smile and said, "If you really can't manage, why not rest for a few days? What's the rush?"

Xu Damao's face was full of worry. "I'm not just worried about whether Jingru will have twins anymore; I'm more worried about that."

Lin Zhen nodded, feigning sudden understanding. "Oh~ So that's what's not working for you!"

"Yes, that's why I rushed to ask you!"

"Asking me won't help. You need to go to a big hospital."

"No, no, it's too embarrassing to get checked for that at a big hospital. Don't you know medicine? Take a look for me."

"Well, my skills are unofficial and amateur. You should go to a pharmacy instead?"

"Don't say that. Feel my pulse first. The old saying goes, 'folk remedies cure difficult and complicated diseases.'"

Lin Zhen shook his head and smiled helplessly, thinking that in a few decades, he'd probably be looking for ads from old Chinese medicine doctors on utility poles.

Fine, checking your pulse is okay.

Lin Zhen placed three fingers on Xu Damao's pulse.

He found Xu Damao's pulse to be thin and superficial, rapid and chaotic, indicating a deficiency of both yin and yang, and a scattered spirit.

The cause was congenital deficiency compounded by overexertion, with a significant component of being severely frightened.

As for completely curing him, it would be as easy as flipping a hand for Lin Zhen with his max-level medical skills.

But he didn't feel like being merciful right now. After all, part of the reason this guy might not have descendants was his own depravity.

Just because he wasn't disrespectful to him now didn't mean he wouldn't be in the future.

Especially when the weather changed, he might even report his wife, Lou Xiao'e, behind her back.

Xu Damao was a true villain, and he had to be guarded against.

Everything would have to wait until that period arrived. After observing Xu Damao's true behavior, he would then consider whether to lend a hand.

Lin Zhen asked thoughtfully, "Damao, have you been feeling flustered lately, breaking out in cold sweats easily, and waking up startled in the middle of the night?"

Xu Damao nodded repeatedly.

Lin Zhen asked again, "Can't you tolerate anything cold, even when eating or drinking?"

"That's incredible! It's exactly like that!"

"And do you feel heavy in your head and light in your feet, walk unsteadily, and get dizzy with spots in front of your eyes after squatting for a while?"

"You're a miracle doctor, Master Lin! You absolutely must write me a prescription today!" Xu Damao's eyes lit up as if he had grasped a lifeline.

Lin Zhen said calmly, "Your heart palpitations and cold sweats, waking up startled at night – that's a deficiency of heart yang and leakage of gallbladder qi, caused by being scared by Silly Zhu."

"That damn bastard Silly Zhu, I'm not done with him!"

"Not only that, but you also have a deficiency of both kidney yin and yang, and your kidney water is depleted, preventing entry into the 'Hua Chi' (Fertile Pond), which is why you can plow the field but no seedlings grow."

"Ouch, those are all medical terms, I don't understand them. Just tell me how to treat it?"

Lin Zhen sighed. "There's no cure. Tell Qin Jingru to prepare for your funeral!"

"Ah?!!!"

Thump!

Xu Damao was so scared that he collapsed onto the ground, trembling all over.

"No! I'm only in my twenties! I still have parents in the countryside! I haven't had children yet! I... I..."

Xu Damao's face turned pale, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Alright, stop crying, I was just kidding!"

"Ah?! This... Master Lin, you gave me a fright! You scared me to death!"

"I wanted to scare you again. Otherwise, you'd just keep wilting away."

Xu Damao asked in surprise, "Scaring people is also a form of treatment?"

Lin Zhen smiled slightly. "At certain times, it is. Since you brought two bottles of wine, I'll give you another prescription to regulate the deficiency of heart yang and leakage of gallbladder qi."

"And the kidney water and 'Hua Chi' you mentioned, I'll treat those together too."

"Your body can't tolerate tonics. Do you want to go play chess with your brother-in-law, Jia Dongxu?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, no, you're the boss. What medicine should I get?"

"Go buy a large rooster and stew it. Eat it all. Stop plowing the field recently and get some rest."

"Can it really be cured?"

"Yes, the rooster welcomes the first ray of yang energy each day, dispelling evil and calming fright. It's the most effective."

Xu Damao left, completely convinced.

He'd actually been overexerting himself these past few days. A bit of good food and some rest would sort him out.

Lin Zhen's words were like a calming pill, a form of psychological suggestion.

After being scared and then comforted, Xu Damao's spirit, which had been scattered by Silly Zhu, slowly returned.

After all, Xu Damao had proactively brought two bottles of wine, and his attitude had been very respectful.

Lin Zhen had given him some pointers, but as for having children, it wasn't the right time yet.

Xu Damao headed straight for the market after leaving, buying a large rooster to bring back.

Yu Li was washing clothes in the front yard. Seeing Xu Damao carrying a large rooster, she asked with a smile, "Oh, Xu Damao, who are you getting this chicken for to recuperate?"

"Both Jingru and I are recuperating. We're planning to have a child, so we can't skimp on nutrition. Lin Zhen suggested it, and his reasoning makes sense."

After Xu Damao finished speaking, he returned to the backyard. The speaker meant nothing, but the listener took it to heart.

Yu Li had also noticed that she hadn't gotten pregnant these past few days.

Although she and Yan Jiecheng weren't as boisterous as Xu Damao, shouting about wanting to follow Lin Zhen's example and have twin sons, they were also very keen on having a child.

Not getting pregnant this month had made Yu Li a bit unhappy.

She understood more than Qin Jingru, knowing that pregnancy was a joint effort between both partners and that mood and diet played a significant role.

However, ever since she married into the Yan family, they had been living frugly.

When it came to meals, let alone comparing to Lin Zhen's family, they were only slightly better off than Qin Huairu's family.

Her father-in-law would spend every evening clacking away on his abacus, meticulously recording every penny spent.

It was enough to make anyone angry; how could she be in the mood to try for a baby?

Yu Li thought about it and decided that life couldn't go on like this.

She went into the house and said to Yan Jiecheng, "Yan Jiecheng, I need to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

"Let's figure this out: is it more cost-effective to eat with your parents, or to split off and live on our own."

Yan Jiecheng looked surprised. "Why are you suddenly thinking like this? Of course, it's more cost-effective to eat with our parents! We're not splitting the kitchenware. Dad's salary is higher than both of ours. Don't think about anything else, just go eat when it's time."

"Look at how much Xu Damao spent to have a child. He just bought a big rooster. You tell me, how can we compare? We two eat coarse grains with your parents every day and are still not full. What if Qin Jingru gets pregnant and I don't? Your parents will blame me!"

Yan Jiecheng chuckled. "Don't worry, you're overthinking it. Come on, let's go eat now."

Third Mistress's meal wasn't ready yet, and Third Master Yan Bugui was in the room calculating accounts.

Seeing his eldest son and daughter-in-law approach, he gestured to the stools by the table.

"Sit down first."

As soon as the two were seated, Yan Bugui began to tally the accounts.

"Jiecheng, you've received your salary for this month, haven't you? Do I still need to remind you?"

Yan Jiecheng gave an awkward smile. "I was just about to bring it to you. But is my small amount of money really worth you using your ledger and abacus? It's not even enough to cover the cost of paper and ink!"

Yan Bugui said coldly, "It's indeed not enough. Your and Yu Li's salaries must both be handed over. Otherwise, my monthly salary won't be enough to support seven people."