Picked Up a Sickly Little Husband - Chapter 5

“Xie Ling, I’m not trying to cheat you. Look at the orientation of this house—it’s so airy! Six hundred wen is a fair price, and I won’t ask for a single coin more.”

Auntie Wang’s voice was loud, ensuring Xie Ling heard her clearly. As she spoke, she propped herself up and sat on a nearby wooden stool. With the late autumn’s endless rain, her old ailment had flared up again, and she couldn’t stop rubbing her left knee to ease the pain.

Xie Ling noticed her movements. Auntie Wang wore a simple linen garment that draped down as she sat, revealing the shape of her knee.

The left knee was visibly more swollen than the right. Combined with the current weather, Xie Ling formed a conclusion. “Auntie Wang, have you been lifting heavy objects lately? And does the pain in your left knee intensify when it’s cold?”

Auntie Wang nodded repeatedly, exclaiming in surprise, “Xie Ling, do you know medicine? I haven’t said a word, yet you already know my symptoms!”

Xie Ling couldn’t tell Auntie Wang that he was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine in his past life. Instead, he used Doctor Li as a cover. “Doctor Li is my master. I’ve learned the basics from him. Auntie Wang, if you don’t mind, I can try to treat you.”

So it was Doctor Li. As the only physician in Xiejia Village, everyone sought his help for every ache and fever. However, Auntie Wang wasn’t very optimistic about Xie Ling’s treatment. Her chronic knee pain had plagued her for years, and even Doctor Li’s efforts had yielded little success. Since Xie Ling was merely Doctor Li’s apprentice, his skills couldn’t possibly surpass his master’s.

Still, Xie Ling was clearly eager to help, and she had nothing else to do. Auntie Wang nodded in agreement. “You can try, then. Thank you.”

Though she held no real hope for a cure, she thought Xie Ling was a good boy for being so helpful. She decided that regardless of the outcome, she would use this as an excuse to reduce his rent by fifty copper coins.

Xie Ling pressed Auntie Wang’s left knee through the fabric. He felt the fluid shifting beneath his fingers, and the skin was noticeably warmer than her right knee. It was a classic case of knee joint effusion. He asked her to wait in the courtyard while he went to see Doctor Li.

Doctor Li emerged from the inner hall and looked surprised to see Xie Ling. “It hasn’t even been seven days. What brings you here?”

Xie Ling explained his purpose. “Master, I’d like to borrow a set of silver needles and some moxa sticks.”

“I have them, but you haven’t learned acupuncture from me yet. I’m not comfortable with that.” Doctor Li stroked his snow-white beard, lost in thought. “How about this? I’ll go with you. Consider it your first lesson.”

Doctor Li took an acupuncture kit from a wooden cabinet and unfurled it. The silver needles of this era were thicker and less refined than modern ones, but Xie Ling was still thrilled to have them.

Since it was the midday break and the clinic was empty, the two of them headed to Auntie Wang’s courtyard.

“Doctor Li, you’re here too?” Auntie Wang hadn’t expected Xie Ling to bring the doctor along. Thinking Doctor Li was there to treat her, she lifted her trouser leg to reveal her swollen, red knee. “Thank you for coming.”

But it was Xie Ling who stepped forward. He lit a moxa stick and held it over the affected area, warming the skin from a distance until it flushed red before moving it away.

Doctor Li took the moxa stick and demonstrated the proper technique. His hand moved up and down rapidly, like a sparrow pecking at seeds. “This is sparrow-pecking moxibustion,” he explained. “It intensifies the heat at the treatment site, which helps clear the meridians and stimulate the body’s vital energy.”

Village doctors like Li often possessed unique techniques that Xie Ling had never encountered before.

Xie Ling watched intently, absorbing every detail. Though he hailed from the modern era thousands of years in the future, he held no arrogance about being a transmigrator. He knew that medical knowledge was endless. Even with a lifetime of study, he could never fully master the vast and complex art of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

After a short session of moxibustion, Auntie Wang’s pain had eased significantly. She started to rise to thank him, but Xie Ling gently pressed her back onto the bench. He unfolded his cloth bag, took out the finest silver needle, and steadily inserted it into the Xiyan acupoint below her knee. Auntie Wang felt a slight ache and swelling at the site, but the pain in her knee truly lessened further.

Xie Ling only removed the needle after twenty minutes. He then advised her, “Auntie, you can sew a knee sleeve from scrap cloth to keep out the wind and cold. If you take good care of it, your old injury won’t flare up as easily.”

After the full treatment, Auntie Wang was surprised to find that the results were far better than ever before. Her knee felt warm, and the swelling and chill were completely gone.

She smiled and took Xie Ling’s hand. “Xie Ling, my knee really doesn’t hurt anymore. Let’s make a deal. I’ll lower your rent to 400 wen. In return, you can treat my knee whenever it acts up. How does that sound?”

Xie Ling had only meant to help her out, but he hadn’t expected Auntie Wang to lower his rent. However, he really needed the money now that he had to support two people. He didn’t refuse her kindness and simply promised to do his best to help her in the future. “Alright, thank you, Auntie.”

After paying a month’s rent, Xie Ling accompanied Doctor Li back to the clinic.

Doctor Li had already noticed that Xie Ling could hear every word clearly, so he assumed the young man’s hearing had been cured. He turned his head and asked in a normal voice, “Xie Ling, who was your teacher?”

He had been watching from the side and saw that Xie Ling’s acupuncture point location was extremely accurate. He had also never heard of combining moxibustion and acupuncture in such a way. There was only one possibility: Xie Ling must have had a teacher before.

Xie Ling lied and pulled out the excuse he had prepared long ago. “I once saved a barefoot doctor who had fallen into a hunter’s trap. To thank me, he gave me a medical book. Life in the mountains was dull, so I studied the book every day and learned a few basic skills.”

“However, I truly admire your medical skills, Master, and I am willing to become your student.”

Xie Ling’s eyes were sincere when he said this, and he wasn’t lying. Whether it was for his medical skills or his willingness to try new therapies, Xie Ling genuinely respected Doctor Li and was more than happy to acknowledge him as his master.

Xie Ling’s family was the only one in the deep mountains. If he had truly obtained a medical book, it would be just as he said: he would have had nothing to do but study it. Doctor Li believed Xie Ling’s words and didn’t press further. “So, are you moving into the village in two days? How is the patient you were treating earlier?”

At the mention of Shen Ziqiu, Xie Ling’s gaze softened. “He’s much better now. I’ll bring him to the village with me in a couple of days.”

“Bring him to the village?” Doctor Li asked, puzzled. “If he’s feeling better, he should go home. Why is he still with you?”

“He’s a distant cousin of mine,” Xie Ling explained. “He has no parents and came to Xiejia Village to seek my help. On his way here, a landslide occurred, and he was seriously injured by falling rocks. That’s why I came to ask you for medicine a few days ago.”

Xie Ling deliberately omitted Shen Ziqiu’s true background and his amnesia. He didn’t want too many people to know. His intuition told him that Shen Ziqiu wasn’t as fragile as he appeared, and that his lost memories might even pose a threat to his safety. So, Xie Ling had fabricated a plausible new identity for him.

“No parents, and seriously injured,” Doctor Li murmured. “How pitiful. If you ever need my help again, just come find me.”

“I have one more thing to ask you, Master.”

Seeing Xie Ling’s serious expression, Doctor Li assumed he was about to ask about his cousin’s condition and paid close attention. “Go ahead.”

But Xie Ling was still preoccupied with another matter. “Where can I buy osmanthus candy? My cousin likes it.”

He couldn’t break his promise again, or Shen Ziqiu would call him a liar in his head.

Xie Ling’s lips curved into an unconscious smile. Doctor Li, having lived for many years, saw right through Xie Ling’s feelings for this “cousin” and pointed him in the right direction.

As he watched Xie Ling leave, Doctor Li stroked his snow-white beard and sighed, “Ah, young love…”

When Xie Ling returned home, he hadn’t even entered the courtyard before Shen Ziqiu heard him and rushed out to meet him. “Doctor Xie, did everything go smoothly? You’ve been walking for so long, does your ankle hurt again?”

As he spoke, Shen Ziqiu helped Xie Ling take off the back basket. For once, Xie Ling didn’t stop him from taking it. Instead, he gave him a task: “I bought some sesame cakes in town, A’qiu. Go to the kitchen and heat them up for me.”

Shen Ziqiu agreed and took the basket to the kitchen. He unpacked the items one by one until he reached the bottom and saw the osmanthus candy. To attract more customers, the candy vendor had cleverly tied a dried osmanthus branch to the package with hemp rope.

Shen Ziqiu untied the rope and opened the oiled paper, revealing several pieces of osmanthus candy inside.

“Do you like it?”

Shen Ziqiu turned around at the sound of the voice. Xie Ling was leaning against the wooden kitchen door, asking as if it were a casual question. But his gaze was burning, as if demanding a specific answer from Shen Ziqiu.

Shen Ziqiu’s heart pounded faster and faster. He gripped the piece of osmanthus candy so tightly that he forgot to eat it. The heat from his hand melted the candy until the sticky, fragrant osmanthus petals dripped onto his skin. Only then did he snap back to his senses. He hastily stuffed the candy into his mouth, but his eyes remained fixed on Xie Ling.

“I like it.”

I like Doctor Xie.

To cover his fluster, he picked up another piece of candy and offered it to Xie Ling. “Doctor Xie, you should try it too. It’s very sweet.”

Xie Ling declined. Osmanthus candy was expensive, and he had only bought five pieces. He didn’t want to take away Shen Ziqiu’s favorite treat. “I don’t like sweets. You eat it. Go wash your hands, and I’ll warm up the flatbread for our meal.”

Shen Ziqiu carefully wrapped the remaining four pieces of candy back into their original packaging and placed them in the wooden cabinet.

He went to the courtyard and scooped a ladle of clear water from the vat, intending to wash the sugar from his palm. But a pang of regret struck him. He glanced around, then raised his hand.

Xie Ling had just finished heating the flatbread and was coming out of the kitchen to call Shen Ziqiu for the meal. He froze at the sight of Shen Ziqiu’s tongue flicking out to lightly lick his palm, the tip curling slightly.

“Doctor… Doctor Xie, my hands aren’t dirty,” Shen Ziqiu stammered, caught red-handed.

Seeing Xie Ling’s gaze darken, he quickly poured the water over his hand to wash away the last of the sugar. He hid his hand behind his back and mumbled, “I was wrong, Doctor Xie. It won’t happen again.”

“Mhm. Come and eat the flatbread.”

Xie Ling let him off easily and turned back into the bedroom, trying his best to erase the image of Shen Ziqiu licking his palm from his mind.

This man… how does he manage to tempt me at every single moment?

****

Note:

Wen was the basic unit of currency in ancient China, equivalent to one square-holed copper coin.

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