Chapter 519 - 521: If You Want to Look Good, Don’t Be Afraid of Pain
Truth be told, Bai Ruozhu’s smile wasn’t all that horrifying—quite brilliant and friendly, in fact. But Du Fuling was genuinely afraid at the moment, making it seem as if Bai Ruozhu was about to devour her whole.
"You, you better not do anything rash!" Du Fuling’s lips were trembling.
"You sit down and relax. We haven’t even started yet, and you’re already this scared? How am I supposed to help you?" Bai Ruozhu gestured to the nearby chair, suggesting Du Fuling sit to avoid tumbling to the ground in pain.
Bai Ruozhu chuckled mischievously in her heart. Du Fuling was afraid, huh? Well, she would make her even more terrified!
She held Du Fuling’s chin, asking her to open her mouth, and began cleaning her broken tooth with a soaked cloth. While those around couldn’t tell, she gently tapped a few points on Du Fuling’s chin, making it seem like she’d done nothing at all.
She knew a set of acupuncture techniques to help alleviate pain, so naturally, she also knew which points could amplify it. Of course, she wasn’t planning to pain Du Fuling to death, so a few presses with her fingertips would suffice.
Next, she took strong liquor and began cleaning Du Fuling’s tooth again. Du Fuling, mouth wide open, slurred, "What are you giving me alcohol for? It smells horrible!"
Bai Ruozhu frowned, "Do you want your tooth fixed or not? The strong liquor has disinfectant properties, stop complaining if you don’t understand. If you keep talking and moving around, what happens if the tooth alignment goes wrong? Or what if you injure yourself with the tools? Do you expect me to be responsible?"
Even Madam Meng couldn’t bear to look anymore, remarking displeasedly, "Wanting to look good yet afraid of pain, you might as well not fix the tooth then. I’ve never seen such a dainty patient before."
Du Zhongshu sternly said, "Fuling, stop talking and listen to Doctor Bai’s instructions."
Bai Ruozhu glanced at Du Zhongshu. "Doctor Bai", huh? So they weren’t even friends anymore? She sneered internally. From the moment Du Zhongshu and Du patriarch conspired against her, she no longer considered Du Zhongshu a friend.
Du Fuling dared not to talk any more. She opened her mouth wide as per Bai Ruozhu’s instructions, but couldn’t close her eyes for fear of Bai Ruozhu’s next move. Thus she stared, eyes brimming with tears and filled with terror.
"Open your mouth as wide as possible, it’s your front tooth, and raise your head high, it makes it easier for me," Bai Ruozhu grinned and muttered, "If you want to look pretty, don’t be afraid of pain. This is nothing; I’ve heard of people who want double eyelids or sharper chins going through surgeries, now that’s real pain."
Du Fuling wanted to ask if that was really true. But she couldn’t speak because Bai Ruozhu had already inserted a pointed clamp into her mouth.
"Ah..." Du Fuling screamed, a continuous stream of screams followed, with her mouth open she yells, "Ah... It’s killing me..."
At such sudden and distressful screams, everyone in the room was terrified. Lady Meng sighed, annoyed, why had she allowed this dental procedure to take place in her room? She had wanted entertainment, but now it was more like watching a slaughter.
"Is it really that painful? There’s no bleeding, and the tooth root is still there. It’s not like we’re extracting a tooth." Lady Meng grumbled, her dislike for Du Fuling growing even more.
While Bai Ruozhu carried on with the procedure, she was secretly laughing inside. It wasn’t really painful, she’d simply amplified Du Fuling’s pain sensation.
Regardless of Du Fuling’s screams, Bai Ruozhu took the well-preserved broken tooth, cleaned it, and aligned it to Fuling’s tooth root. Because the clip would touch the nearby gums, Du Fuling screamed again.
This time she moved, causing the broken tooth that Bai Ruozhu was holding to drop and roll away.
Scurrying after the tooth, Bai Ruozhu picked it back up with tweezers and glared at Du Fuling, "Are you even capable of getting your tooth fixed? If you’d swallowed this tooth when you moved just now, you’d be lucky if it didn’t choke you. Where are you going to find a suitable tooth so quickly? Do you fancy a dog tooth replacement?"
Du Fuling sobbed uncontrollably, "You must be doing this on purpose. Isn’t there acupuncture to relieve pain? Why didn’t you relieve my pain? You just want me to suffer, right?"
Bai Ruozhu rolled her eyes at her and said righteously: "Look, sister, we are fixing a tooth here. Acupuncture to relieve pain would temporarily numb the nearby nerves. If we numb the area around your tooth, it won’t fix properly and will fall out within a few days. Then what?"
"Who wants to go through this trouble again? The broken tooth has to be drilled and can’t be repeatedly replaced, it must be done right the first time," Bai Ruozhu sternly added.
Hearing this, Du Fuling held back her sobs and dared not say more. If the tooth wasn’t fixed properly, all her suffering would be for naught. Worse yet, would she be stuck with a missing tooth, or even a dog tooth replacement? She would be disgusted!
Bai Ruozhu continued the procedure when she saw Du Fuling had calmed down. Since she had to drill holes in the tooth and tooth root for fixing, and she didn’t have a dentist’s drill, she was somewhat troubled.
Just as Du Fuling was avoiding her due to discomfort, she took the opportunity to say, "This won’t work. She keeps moving, and it can easily go wrong. Lady Meng, could you ask a guard named Sui Xing to help?"
Lady Meng, disgustedly looking at Du Fuling, immediately sent someone to call Sui Xing. Bai Ruozhu used the opportunity to wash her hands, sat aside to rest and have some tea, and even pretended to rub her waist tiredly.
"Fixing a tooth isn’t easy, especially with an uncooperative patient." Lady Meng grumbled.
Bai Ruozhu leisurely sipped her tea, while Du Fuling sat to the side covering her mouth sobbing, occasionally shooting resentful glances at Bai Ruozhu. Madam Meng took offense to this behavior. Originally, she’d wanted to improve the relationship between Bai Ruozhu and the lady doctor and give the Du family some face. But instead, this medical treatment had created an enemy. Du family’s daughter was simply too unreasonable.
From this moment on, Madam Meng disliked the Du family, which affected many later events. If only the Du patriarch had anticipated this outcome, he truly would have slapped himself.
Soon, Sui Xing arrived. Bai Ruozhu asked him to wash his hands, and then explained the procedure to him.
"You have inner strength. Later, when I ask you to hammer the nail in with the tool, use your inner strength. Be quick and precise," Bai Ruozhu handed the clamps over to him.
She held the broken tooth and the cut at the tooth root aligned with the tweezers, signaling Sui Xing to prepare.
Sui Xing looked nervous and clueless. "Doctor Bai, I have never treated teeth before. I’m not sure about the force, what if I shatter her tooth?"
Hearing this, Du Fuling was scared into sobbing again.
Bai Ruozhu ignored Du Fuling and gave Sui Xing an encouraging look. "It’s alright. You can start with less force, even if you slowly hammer it in. But your other hand has to hold her head firmly. She can’t be allowed to move."