"Diet therapy?" Fang Tianze, however, gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "I’d like to eat too, but... my appetite has been getting worse lately, and it even hurts to take medicine... Don’t laugh at me, it’s been a long time since I’ve had roast chicken or meat..."
Yang Ruxin looked down at the roast chicken she had brought to honor Uncle Wang and couldn’t help but smile, "Then you should get better soon, and I’ll treat you to it when the time comes." After saying this, she suddenly frowned, as she pondered to herself: What am I offering for? After all, there won’t be any interaction between us in the future, it’s just that...
"That’s a promise," Fang Tianze said, his smile brightening as he quickly picked up on her words, "When I’m better, sister will treat me to roast chicken."
Yang Ruxin sighed, "We’ll see." Frustration gnawed at her. Why did she speak so hastily?
Fang Tianze, perceiving the perfunctory tone and response from Yang Ruxin, felt a slight hint of disappointment, but did not show it, "By the way, my name is Fang Tianze, I live in the county town... I have no brothers or sisters... What’s sister’s name?"
"I..." Yang Ruxin glanced at Yuan Mengzhu, then smiled slightly, "I’m just a village girl, not worth mentioning. Also, you’re weak right now, you should go lie down and rest..."
"Yes, yes." Yuan Mengzhu nodded eagerly, "Zeze, lie down for a bit first."
A touch of disappointment flashed across Fang Tianze’s eyes, but he obediently nodded and then went back inside to lie down.
Yuan Mengzhu carefully drew the room’s curtain down, completely blocking the view between the inside and the outside.
Yang Ruxin looked down and sneered coldly to herself. The airs of this affluent household were truly nauseating — as if she were about to prey on their son. She shook her head inwardly. If she wished to curry favor with the powerful, Qi Yong would be of higher status, wouldn’t he? Never mind. Best not to quarrel with these ancient folks.
Wang Zhenggang soon returned from the back yard, holding a small porcelain vial, "I’ve made a total of twenty pills. Give the young master one now, and another in two hours. The rest are to be taken one every three days, or every five days if the episodes are less frequent or milder..."
Not even using a servant’s help, Yuan Mengzhu hurriedly took the vial and personally handed it to her son, then poured him some warm water herself.
Fang Tianze quickly swallowed a pill and was told to continue lying down and rest. Fearing a relapse, Yuan Mengzhu planned to stay with him for two hours, to ensure her son consumed the next pill before leaving.
"Madam, although we’ve made the Musk Ginseng Pills today, there are only twenty Medicine Pills. At most, they’ll only last two months. It’s uncertain whether we’ll encounter fresh Wild Musk again, so, madam, you still need to make a decision soon..."
"Doctor Wang, what other options do I have?" Yuan Mengzhu sighed. She was the Madam and had given birth to a son as soon as she married in, which was supposed to be something to be proud of. But a few years ago, her son was diagnosed with this painful illness and was not expected to live past fifteen. If her son were to die, she couldn’t live on either.
"I suspect the young master has something growing inside his stomach, blocking the circulation of blood. As the saying goes, ’If it flows, there is no pain; if there’s pain, it does not flow.’" Wang Zhenggang stroked his goatee, "Sadly, I don’t have the means to remove that thing. So, madam, you’ll need to seek someone more skilled..."
"Doctor Wang, where can I find someone more skilled?" Yuan Mengzhu sighed, "I’ve already looked everywhere for doctors..."