Chapter 1016: This Young Lady
Seeing Bai Ping sob quietly, Lin Tian was at a loss for a moment and quickly gave Miaoqiu a meaningful glance.
Miaoqiu understood and stepped forward, whispering something in Bai Ping’s ear, finally stopping her tears.
Mei Ruyan stood at the back, watching Bai Ping’s every move but remaining silent.
She had a poor impression of the entire Xu Family, especially this woman. Had it not been for her, her own mother wouldn’t have ended up like that.
But as she grew up, she realized how much this woman and Xu Miaoxiu had helped her. Without them, she might have starved on the streets long ago.
So, Mei Ruyan’s feelings toward this mother and daughter were always conflicted.
Originally, she didn’t want Lin Tian to come to the Xu Family, a place full of disputes. Although she spent little time there, she understood these people too well. If the illness were cured, there wouldn’t be a problem, but if something happened, Lin Tian would surely be implicated.
But he was her father, no matter how much she hated him, he was still her father.
Worst-case scenario, she’d take Lin Tian and run.
"Mr. Lin, please."
Bai Ping gestured politely to Lin Tian, her gracious and elegant demeanor reflecting the good education she had received since childhood.
"Sure." Lin Tian quickly agreed, considering he’d slept with her precious daughter, he couldn’t put on airs.
As Lin Tian walked to the bedside, Mei Ruyan followed involuntarily; she wanted to see how the man was now.
The elder and Nanqiu remained in place, unable to help with medical skills; approaching now would only annoy people.
Living at the Xu Family a few days ago, Lin Tian saw the family disciples. Their Charm Technique was undoubtedly different from the common folk.
The difference lay in their temperament, naturally possessing a face that delighted others. Being cultivators, their bodies weren’t fat or thin, perfectly proportioned and very lean.
But Xu Shaohui right now was hardly recognizable as a person.
Bai Ping was already thin, but Xu Shaohui was even thinner, as if only skin and bones were left.
Lin Tian first checked the complexion, neither white nor red, the entire face yellowed, with wrinkles on the corners and forehead making him look nothing like a man in his early fifties. He seemed seventy, and a starving seventy at that.
Lin Tian gently lifted Xu Shaohui’s eyelids, finding eyes devoid of spirit, muddied.
He checked the tongue, but as soon as the jaw was pried open, a pungent medicinal smell assailed him, the tongue coated thick and yellow.
A yellow coating indicates heat, cloying coating means dampness, phlegm, and indigestion.
This means a yellow tongue indicates heat, phlegm, and there’s accumulated undigested food in the abdomen.
Lin Tian lifted the clothing to find the chest bones clearly visible, no flesh remaining, just a layer of skin. As for the belly, it was somewhat distended.
Seeing all this, Lin Tian’s brows furrowed thrice without realizing it; this condition was far worse than he imagined. How much vital blood had he donated?
Mei Ruyan’s heart also raced as she deeply inhaled, feeling like she might suffocate.
The last time she’d seen Xu Shaohui, though he was forty, he was still the handsome uncle capable of captivating countless young women, his peach blossom eyes and enviable physique attracting many glances.
But who would have thought, today he’d no longer resemble a person.
Back when Xu Miaoxiu asked her to come to the Xu Family Stream, she was afraid she’d argue with him until he passed away.
But seeing his current state, did he still need her to aggravate him?
"Mr. Lin, how is my husband?" Bai Ping asked nervously, with fear.
Actually, she knew her husband’s condition best. Ancient martial families were versed in medicine, and with chronic illness comes medical knowledge, Bai Ping’s skills weren’t low.
In the last five years, her husband had to drink different medicines regularly. Because his body kept developing new problems, medicine was necessary.
Even so, she couldn’t help but ask worriedly.
"I’ll check the pulse again," Lin Tian responded.
"Alright." Bai Ping nodded, looking calm but actually sweating nervously.
Lin Tian placed his hand on Xu Shaohui’s arm, first feeling a temperature below usual. Then, when feeling the pulse, he couldn’t detect it for some time.
"Use less force in your fingers, my father’s pulse is very weak," Miaoqiu advised.
It was the first time Lin Tian heard such advice.
Pulse is hidden beneath the skin, the strength needed to sense it shouldn’t suppress it, showing how weak Xu Shaohui was.
"Alright."
Lin Tian agreed, using gentler finger pressure. He found Xu Shaohui’s pulse could be described as ’thin as a thread of silk.’
After checking the pulse, before anyone asked, he spoke proactively: "This physique is far worse than I thought. The properties of Phoenix Feather and Dragon Scale Powder, his body simply can’t withstand them."
"Then, what should we do?" Bai Ping held her daughter’s hand tightly. She had hoped for those two medicines, but now they couldn’t be used.
Bai Ping was already weak; hearing this news, she almost fainted.
"Auntie, don’t worry. Weak bodies can be nurtured. I’ll stay here for the next few days. Within about a week, I can help Uncle recuperate, but some medicines will require your involvement," Lin Tian said.
"No problem, no problem, whatever medicines you need, Mr. Lin, I’ll prepare them now," Bai Ping said.
"There’s no rush, Uncle’s condition is truly complex. Treatment is a process; I need some time to think," Lin Tian paused, then continued, "Are there medical records? I’d like to see them."
"They’re on the table."
Lin Tian nodded, "I need to review them thoroughly. But there are some rare medicines I can start preparing now."
Speaking, Lin Tian walked to the table, took paper and pen, and wrote eight names of medicines, then handed them to Xu Miaoxiu, "I noted the medicines and quantities inside, if you can buy more, that’d be best."
Xu Miaoxiu glanced, nodded in agreement, indicating no problem.
Bai Ping said, "Let me do it, after all these years I’ve been handling the medicines."
Xu Miaoxiu patted her mother’s cold hand, saying, "Mom, don’t you trust me? You should rest a bit more."
"I really can’t sit idle, I’ll go with you."
Xu Miaoxiu couldn’t refuse, and could only smile wryly and nod.
At this time, Mei Ruyan, who had been silent on the side, suddenly spoke, "Is there anything I can help with?"
Lin Tian glanced at her; Mei Ruyan, though trying her best to hide it, couldn’t conceal from Lin Tian the worry she felt.
Bai Ping heard and turned to look at her. Seeing that frosty face, she trembled slightly, and asked in a trembling voice, "Who is this young lady?"