Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Treating the Illness
278 Treatment
Then he asked, "Young girl, how did you discern that my spleen and stomach were unwell, and that I had a slight cold?"
Zhao Zhitong replied honestly, "Teacher, I’ve learned medicine from my grandfather since I was a child. Just now, I deduced your condition from your complexion and the white, slippery coating on your tongue. However, to determine the specific ailment, I’ll need to take your pulse myself."
"Oh, is that so?" Yuan Wenkang was somewhat surprised and then said, "Why don’t you examine me then?"
Zhao Zhitong immediately nodded. She handed the vegetable basket to Qiao Muchen and respectfully approached. "Teacher, please give me your right hand."
The left pulse reflects the condition of the heart, liver, and kidneys, while the right pulse reflects that of the lungs, spleen, and the life gate.
Yuan Wenkang chuckled with interest, then lifted his right hand and placed his wrist on the desk.
Zhao Zhitong walked over and half-knelt, placing her small hand on Yuan Wenkang’s wrist. Her fingers moved lightly as she began to take his pulse.
Lord Zhang watched the young girl take the pulse. Her serious expression intrigued him, and out of curiosity, he leaned in for a closer look.
After taking his pulse, Zhao Zhitong nodded with understanding. "Your pulse is wiry or slow," she said.
She then asked, "Teacher, do you often experience a cold pain in your stomach? Is it a persistent ache in mild cases, or a severe, cramping pain in serious ones? Does it worsen with cold and ease with warmth? Do you also experience a bland taste in your mouth without thirst, sometimes spitting up clear fluid, and often feel nauseous or vomit?"
Yuan Wenkang nodded repeatedly. Looking at Lord Zhang in surprise, he said, "Remarkable! This young girl isn’t just putting on an act; she’s described it perfectly."
Zhao Zhitong smiled and spoke again, explaining the cause of the illness. "Teacher, your condition is due to cold evil invading your stomach, trapping the stomach yang. This causes the cold pain. Exposure to cold aggravates the condition because the pathogenic factor strengthens, while warmth disperses the cold qi, thus alleviating the pain."
"Teacher, let me write you a prescription for a warming tonic. With gradual conditioning, it can dispel this aversion to cold."
Saying this, she looked at Yuan Wenkang and asked, "Teacher, may I borrow your paper and pen?"
Yuan Wenkang nodded. "Of course. Bamboo, fetch the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone."
Soon, the young servant named Bamboo brought the requested items.
Having received permission, Zhao Zhitong picked up the pen and, leaning over the desk, wrote out a prescription.
"Teacher, if you follow this prescription, it should dispel the cold in your stomach."
Yuan Wenkang happily accepted the prescription, laughing. "I never expected to meet a few children today and receive a prescription for this chronic ailment of mine."
Lord Zhang also laughed. He took a sip of tea, then suddenly exclaimed, covering his face with his left hand and shaking his head, "Ah, I finally understand the saying, ’A toothache isn’t a disease, but the pain can be unbearable!’"
He sighed. "Since this toothache started, I finally understand Old Man Gu. It’s laughable! Back then, I’d say he’d faced countless blades and never uttered a peep of pain. Now, a mere toothache has bested me."
Zhao Zhitong looked at Lord Zhang and, out of habit, asked, "Elder Zhang, may I examine you?"
Lord Zhang, still covering his face, looked at Zhao Zhitong and laughed. "Haha, young girl, did you come here today specifically to treat us two old men?"
Zhao Zhitong smiled somewhat shyly. "Hehe, it’s an occupational hazard. Whenever I see someone with a minor ailment, I can’t help but want to offer a diagnosis and treatment."
Lord Zhang couldn’t help but smile. "Alright then, you can take a look at me too."
Zhao Zhitong nodded and walked over. She first asked Lord Zhang to open his mouth. Then, picking up a candle, she took a closer look and said knowingly, "Lord Zhang, you have a cavity."
Lord Zhang was puzzled. "A cavity? What’s that?"
Zhao Zhitong didn’t explain what a cavity was, but instead asked, "Elder Zhang, does your tooth hurt when exposed to cold or heat? Do your gums often become red and swollen? And is the toothache frequently unbearable?"
Lord Zhang nodded. "That’s right, that’s right. Just now, a sip of cold tea brought on a sharp pain. Before I came here, the toothache was unbearable. It only stopped after I took the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. Now it feels like it’s starting up again."
Zhao Zhitong nodded, considering treatment methods.
She had read extensively from the books in Grandpa Bai’s space, including many on modern Western medicine, most of which she had nearly finished. That’s why her grandfather often said he sometimes consulted his young apprentice—her medical thinking incorporated modern Western concepts.
For instance, with this cavity, if the proper instruments were available, the tooth could simply be extracted. But with the primitive conditions here, a removed tooth couldn’t be replaced, which might loosen the adjacent teeth. Besides, people of this era believe their bodies, hair, and skin are gifts from their parents; Elder Zhang would likely be reluctant to have a tooth pulled.
So, Zhao Zhitong thought for a moment and then said, "Elder Zhang, let me apply a few acupuncture needles first to temporarily relieve the pain."
Then she added, "However, for a permanent solution, the nerve of the tooth needs to be severed."
Lord Zhang asked, "The tooth nerve?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "A needle would be inserted deep into the problematic tooth to sever the nerve. Then, the cavity would be filled. This would prevent the unbearable pain from returning."
Hearing Zhao Zhitong’s explanation, Lord Zhang felt his tooth throb even more. "In that case," he said, "just apply a few needles for now. Please make the pain stop."
Zhao Zhitong nodded, took out the silver needles she carried, disinfected them, and then applied them to certain acupoints on Lord Zhang’s hand.
As Zhao Zhitong administered the needles, Lord Zhang’s expression gradually relaxed. A moment later, he rubbed his cheek and exclaimed in astonishment, "Incredible! It really doesn’t hurt anymore!"
When he said this, his eyes were filled with surprise and delight.
Previously, when his toothache flared up, it would linger for some time, making him irritable. But this time, after just a few needles from this young girl, the pain vanished. He was genuinely surprised and delighted.
Zhao Zhitong collected her silver needles, smiled, and stood aside.
Yuan Wenkang glanced at the prescription in his hand and decided to give it a try.
After they both praised Zhao Zhitong, the two men inquired about the reason for the three youngsters’ visit.
Qiao Muchen stepped forward with the vegetables and bowed. "Teacher," he said, "Tongtong is our classmate. She has long heard of the esteemed Taiyi Academy and your venerable reputation, and has always wished to pay her respects. So, when we enrolled, we came together, hoping to visit you."
"Classmate?" Yuan Wenkang caught onto a word. Stroking his beard, he asked, "Are all three of you disciples of Meng Xiu?"
Qiao Muchen and the other two looked at Yuan Wenkang in surprise. "Teacher, do you know our own Teacher?" they asked.
Yuan Wenkang smiled and nodded. "Yes, I was his instructor when he studied at Taiyi Academy."
He then looked at Zhao Zhitong. "I had also heard he took on a female student. Looking at her now, she is indeed a fine one."
After praising Zhao Zhitong, he looked at Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue, advising, "You two, although you’ve passed all three stages of the Elementary Scholar examination, thus becoming the youngest Elementary Scholars in the Great Zhou Dynasty to date, you must not become complacent or slacken your efforts in the future."
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue responded in unison, "Yes, Teacher. We will remember your teachings."
At this moment, Qiao Muchen presented the vegetables. "Teacher, this is a gift Tongtong brought for you."