The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2042 - 2017: Refusal

Liu Sanniang had been with Manbao for a long time and was accustomed to her various questions, but at this moment, she was a bit stunned. Then, after thinking for a while, she said, "Her face is flushed, seemingly extremely angry. It’s actually better for her to curse, as it allows her anger to dissipate rather than remain bottled up."

Otherwise, if too much anger accumulates, one fears the other side of the body might also become paralyzed.

Manbao nodded slightly and began to teach them how to read expressions and the methods for regulating the five vital organs.

Once the patient’s temper had mostly subsided, Manbao then brought Shi Xiu and Liu Sanniang inside, leaving the others outside.

The patient’s family appeared apologetic. Manbao only nodded at them before continuing to diagnose the elderly woman. After testing Shi Xiu and Liu Sanniang, Manbao then settled on the acupuncture technique and sent Shi Xiu out, instructing Liu Sanniang on the procedure personally.

Seeing Liu Sanniang preparing the acupuncture, the elderly woman was somewhat unwilling. "Isn’t Imperial Doctor Zhou going to do it personally?"

Manbao smiled to reassure her, saying, "It’s all the same. I’m right here beside her, so you can rest assured. Her acupuncture will be the same as mine."

"How could it be the same? You are the teacher; she is the student. You’re the Imperial Doctor, and she’s just an assistant doctor."

Manbao said, "I only perform acupuncture myself if it’s a technique she hasn’t done before. The acupuncture set you’re using now is one she’s practiced previously."

The woman said, "But there’s still some difference between a student and a teacher."

Manbao frowned slightly and, after a pause, took the needle from Liu Sanniang’s hand, saying, "Let me try for you."

While performing acupuncture, Manbao explained to Liu Sanniang, and once finished, she wrote a prescription for the family to get the medicine.

The elderly woman noticed that Manbao did not return after going to write the prescription, compelling her to use her right hand to pat the bed and call someone. A maidservant waiting outside immediately came in and bowed, "Madam, what are your orders?"

"Where is Imperial Doctor Zhou?"

"Imperial Doctor Zhou is seeing other patients now." Just as the words were spoken, the woman’s son came in, and while having someone carry her out, he cheerfully said, "Mother, the medicine has been procured. Imperial Doctor Zhou said there’s a possibility of improvement if you take the medicine properly."

"Didn’t you ask Imperial Doctor Zhou to come to our home for acupuncture in the future?"

Her son was taken aback and then said awkwardly, "Mother, she’s an Imperial Doctor and resides in the palace, making it difficult to ask her."

"Well, did you even ask her?" The look on his face showed he hadn’t asked, leaving the woman somewhat angry. "How do you know she isn’t available if you haven’t asked? The woman who came for acupuncture today, didn’t you see her? She already came yesterday, and Imperial Doctor Zhou was willing to perform acupuncture for her again today. Why wouldn’t she be available? Just offer more money."

Her son: ...

He indeed hadn’t invited anyone after his mother became paralyzed. First, he called Doctor Ding from Jishi Hall, knowing Jishi Hall had half an Imperial Doctor at the Imperial Hospital.

One was Imperial Doctor Zheng, Zhou Man also hailed from Jishi Hall, so even if her surname wasn’t Zheng, she was still considered half affiliated with Jishi Hall.

But he tried, and not only Zhou Man, but Imperial Doctor Zheng could not be invited either. Later, he even sent invitations and gifts to Zhou Residence.

However, the gifts were politely returned, and Manbao’s Fifth Brother personally said that Imperial Doctor Zhou was busy and had no time for outside consultations...

Since it was impossible to invite her then, he believed it would be equally difficult now. Before their turn, it wasn’t uncommon for affluent families to request consultations, yet he’d never heard of anyone successfully inviting Imperial Doctor Zhou for an outside consultation. There were just a few cases with relatively unusual conditions where she’d arranged to see them at Jishi Hall.

Suddenly recalling something, his eyes lit up, "Yes, Mother, I could ask again, perhaps Imperial Doctor Zhou would be willing. We could then go to Jishi Hall for consultations."

After stating this, he turned and left to find Zhou Man.

Manbao had started attending to a new patient, instructing Shi Xiu and Liu Sanniang in diagnosis when the elderly woman’s son came over to inquire. Manbao thought for a moment before saying, "Actually, her condition requires a peaceful mind and gradual medication to clear obstructions. Acupuncture is indeed beneficial, but I’m busy, so I may not be able to provide timely acupuncture to her."

Manbao pointed to Liu Sanniang beside her, saying, "You might want to inquire with Assistant Doctor Liu; she might be available." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Liu Sanniang: ...

Being aware that Imperial Doctors are difficult to invite and Manbao only has two days per ten days to leave the palace, the opportunity for an outside consultation might not come to him. Since she declined, he glanced at Liu Sanniang, nodded, and smiled obsequiously.

Liu Sanniang: ...

Just now, his mother was quite disdainful of her presence.

She looked to her mentor, wanting to know if she was sincere or just pretending.

Manbao met her gaze and spoke calmly, "The illness of the elderly lady is not commonly seen. If you have time, why not go and have a look."

Liu Sanniang understood and turned to the man, saying, "I only have two days of free time each ten-day cycle..."

The two had a brief conversation about the timing for home consultations, and the man eagerly went back to inform his mother.

Upon hearing it, the elderly woman was displeased, "Why is it Assistant Doctor Liu being invited? She is merely Imperial Doctor Zhou’s apprentice."

Her son replied, "Though an apprentice, she’s also an assistant doctor. Mother, an assistant doctor at the Imperial Hospital is the next Imperial Doctor."

"But she’s not one now, is she?"

"But we can’t invite Imperial Doctor Zhou."

So the elderly woman said, "Carry me there, I’ll ask her personally."

Her son: ...

Helplessly, he had to call someone to carry the elderly woman out, but Manbao had no time to entertain her. She was about to speak when Manbao smiled, "Madam, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but I am indeed busy, so you will be disappointed."

The elderly woman did not expect her refusal to be so straightforward, and couldn’t help but say, "But you personally attended to that other woman at noon today. I heard she’s coming for several more days."

Manbao smiled and said, "Her condition is more severe, but you saw today—her acupuncture was also done by my apprentice; I was merely watching."

"But the acupuncture technique was devised by Imperial Doctor Zhou."

Manbao simply smiled, lowered her head to compose a prescription, glanced at Liu Sanniang and Shi Xiu, saw they had written their pulse notes, and nodded before saying, "Next patient."

Then she addressed the elderly woman, "Madam’s acupuncture technique was also devised by me."

Though somewhat imperious and unruly, the elderly woman was not foolish. She perceived Manbao’s evasiveness, and knowing further requests would be futile, she resignedly allowed herself to be carried out.

In fact, during these few days, Manbao had encountered quite a few such patients, but her mood was not much affected.

Because the next case always comes timely, and one of the main goals of opening the free clinic is to train students. This time, students reaped significant benefits.

In fact, she also visited Doctor Xiao, observing the special cases they treated and learning quite a bit.

Once the free clinic concluded, Imperial Doctor Liu formally approved Shi Xiu and nine other students, just like Zheng Gu, to join the Imperial Hospital as assistant doctors.

In this way, the number of assistant doctors in the Imperial Hospital increased, where at least three assistant doctors are under the command of one Imperial Doctor.