Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 86 Health and Wellness Expert!

A woman carrying a four- or five-year-old child hurriedly squeezed to the front of the table. The child's face was flushed red, and he leaned listlessly against his mother's chest, his lips chapped and dry.

The woman's voice trembled: "Sir, please take a look. I've had a fever for two days, and the herbal medicine hasn't helped..."

Sun Simiao put down the pestle in his hand, reached out and gently stroked the child's forehead. His fingertips were warm, and his movements were so slow that he seemed afraid of disturbing the child.

He then asked the woman to show the child's small hand, with three fingers resting on the delicate wrist, eyes slightly closed, and his gray beard moving gently with his breathing.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and looked at the woman with a gentle smile: "Don't worry, it's just a cold that's trapped inside. It's nothing serious."

As she spoke, she took out a small paper packet from the medicine box, which contained light brown powder: "This is a cold medicine. Take a spoonful, mix it with warm rice water, add a little sugar, and coax the child to drink it."

"After giving the child the medicine, let him sleep, cover him with a thin blanket to make him sweat a little, don't cover him with too many blankets."

"Give him more warm water now that he's awake, and come back to check on him at this time tomorrow."

They gave me some medicine and charged me four coins.

Xiao Ran silently calculated in his mind that selling a peck of millet cost three coins, buying a peck of millet cost five coins, and medical treatment plus medicine would cost four coins, which was really not expensive.

Fair price!
Wang Shen also brought a large group of people with him.

It's mostly parents taking care of children or elderly people.

Wang Shen greeted Xiao Ran with a smile.

This person is meticulous in handling matters, without a doubt, and is a reliable person.

There were quite a few people queuing up to buy medicine and see a doctor.

Sun Simiao was too busy to finish in a short time.

Xiao Ran and the others didn't stay and guard the place. Xiao Ran went to check on the persimmon cakes from other families.

As noon approached, Sun Simiao was still not finished with his work.

People from the three villages arrived one after another.

Sun Simiao was a highly skilled and efficient doctor, but unfortunately, there were too many people who needed his treatment.

The majority were children and the elderly, with a small number of women as well.

Men are practically nonexistent; they are rarely seen.

I suspect many people, like Xiao Ran, believe that serious illnesses are incurable and minor illnesses don't need treatment.

I originally intended to persuade Sun Simiao to take a rest and have some food.

Sun Simiao refused, not wanting the villagers to make a wasted trip.

No further treatment was given because the medications they brought were almost used up.

Sun Simiao told the others that he was staying at Xiao Ran's house and could still go there.

After witnessing it firsthand, Xiao Ran admired Sun Simiao even more.

Saving lives and healing the wounded has truly helped many people.

Although Sun Simiao's fees were not high, the sheer number of people who came to see him was overwhelming.

Sun Simiao's money bag was also filled with a lot of Kaiyuan Tongbao coins.

They packed their things and prepared to go home.

"Grandpa, the old gentleman just arrived. Why don't you and Jinniang come over for dinner tonight?" Xiao Ran invited Zhang Mingde and Zhang Jinhe.

"Alright, alright, then I'll go and have a chat with the gentleman." Zhang Mingde readily agreed.

Zhang Jinhe quickly arranged the chores at home, and then they headed towards Xiao Ran's house.

"You've had a long day, sir. You must be tired!" Zhang Mingde had been keeping him company under the big locust tree the whole time.

"It was my duty, and the old man received his share of the money." Sun Simiao weighed the money bag in his hand; it had been a long time since he had carried so much money.

If he encountered real difficulties, Sun Simiao would even give up money.

"Under the old village chief's rule, the people are honest and hardworking, and each family has surplus wealth, which is truly rare."

"The old man traveled all over the world, visiting more than a hundred villages. In ordinary villages, people would usually pay for medical treatment with millet, wheat, or cloth. Only one or two out of ten people would be able to get medicine by exchanging copper coins."

“Looking at your village today, regardless of whether they are women, children or the elderly, those who deliver medicine and pay all carry copper coins, which shows that the granaries are full and the people have a comfortable livelihood. If it weren’t for the village head’s effective teaching, it would be impossible to achieve this.”

Zhang Mingde waved his hand and said modestly with a smile, "Sir, you flatter me. This is not my doing."

Zhang Mingde turned to the side and pointed to Xiao Ran beside him, his voice clear and bright: "It's all because of Young Master Xiao's arrival. When he built his house, he recruited able-bodied men from the village to help. The daily wage was far higher than that in the market. The entire village's strength was put to work, and every family received enough money to prepare several months' worth of food."

"This is all thanks to the young master's good fortune, and has nothing to do with the old man."

“Old village chief, you are mistaken.” Sun Simiao paused, looked at the rows of houses along the edge of the field, and continued, “Only when the water rises can the boat rise. If the village chief is not virtuous and the people are not united, even if a talented person comes here, it will be difficult to exert his power.”

“The young man’s construction of the house and his generous salary are indeed a boon to the villagers, but if the old village head cannot gather the people’s strength and reassure their hearts, how can the people feel at ease to be employed? And how can they have extra money to buy medicine?”

"The old man has seen too many villages inhabited by displaced people. It's not that no wise and capable people have visited, but the people's hearts are scattered, and even if there is some benefit, it is difficult to benefit everyone."

"The reason your village is so prosperous is because the village head has been good at educating and guiding people, which paved the way for the young man's good deeds. In turn, the young man warmed people's hearts with his achievements. The two have complemented each other, which is why every family is prosperous today."

Zhang Mingde was truly pleased with the conversation.

"I dare not accept such praise. If we were to pinpoint the root cause, it would truly be due to His Majesty's wisdom and the court's effective governance!" Zhang Mingde said with a smile.

"Since the Zhenguan era, Your Majesty has reduced taxes and levies, allowing the people to rest and recuperate, which has led to this peaceful and prosperous world and the gradually filling granaries."

Zhang Mingde had lived through the chaos of the late Sui Dynasty, so he naturally understood how precious the current peace and stability were.

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao stopped in his tracks, his tone filled with the earnestness born of his worldly experience: "Old village chief's words have hit the nail on the head."

"I've lived to this age and personally experienced the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty—back then, the fields were barren, people were displaced for thousands of miles, and there were too many tragic scenes of people exchanging children to eat. What 'surplus' did the common people have? It was a blessing to be able to save their lives."

Sun Simiao raised his hand to smooth his clothes, his voice filled with respect, "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, not only have you reduced taxes and levies, but more importantly, you have shown 'respect for the people as if they were your own wounds'."

"Last year, when the old man was practicing medicine in Guanzhong, he saw that the government had temporarily suspended the conscription of corvée labor in order to allow the people to focus on spring plowing. They even sent officials to the fields to teach people how to grow grain. This compassion was not just lip service; it was truly put into practice."

"Throughout history, it has been rare for emperors to be able to 'not disturb the people.' Emperor Wen of Han abolished corporal punishment and reduced taxes, and was known as a benevolent ruler."

"Now Your Majesty not only allows the people to rest and recuperate, but also observes their hardships and understands their joys and sorrows. Even this old man, a wandering doctor, can feel the gradual revival of the world."

"Such magnanimity and actions are rare in a century and comparable to those of the Han Dynasty. It is no exaggeration to say that they are truly exceptional."

People from other eras may not have this feeling.

However, those who lived through the end of the Sui Dynasty and know what the era of Emperor Yang of Sui was like understand how wonderful things are now.

Compared to the Sui Dynasty's Yangdi era, which was known for its extravagant construction projects that burdened the people and wasted resources, the Zhenguan era was a golden age.

The contrast with Emperor Yang of Sui makes Li Shimin's wisdom and benevolence all the more apparent.

They walked very slowly, mainly because Zhang Mingde couldn't walk fast.

As they chatted, they arrived at Xiao Ran's house.

Zhang Jinhe didn't stand on ceremony and helped pour water and such.

The most noteworthy thing about Kaolao Village is naturally the curved plow, and the three-year tax reduction.

It's inappropriate for Xiao Ran to say something like this; it's not good to praise oneself.

Zhang Mingde and Sun Simiao chatted casually and said it was just right.

"When the old man traveled to Guanzhong, he heard in the countryside about a new type of plow called the curved-shaft plow. It was said that it was lighter and less labor-intensive than the old plow, and that one man and one ox could plow it. It was several times more efficient than the ordinary plowshare."

"At the time, I thought it was just a local rumor and didn't know its origin. It came from your village!"

Zhang Mingde smiled and nodded, "Our village has benefited greatly from the young master's efforts; the imperial court has even exempted us from taxes for three years!"

Sun Simiao's gaze shifted, now filled with admiration as he looked at Xiao Ran. "Benefiting the country and its people, bestowing blessings upon all living beings—nothing surpasses this. Young sir, your ingenious idea benefits farmers everywhere. This merit far surpasses the old man's act of curing a hundred or so patients—truly admirable." "Old sir, you flatter me. I was merely lucky, very lucky," Xiao Ran said, a little embarrassed.

This wasn't something I invented myself; I simply copied it, essentially standing on the shoulders of giants!
“Young master’s accent is different from others, and his clothes are different too,” Sun Simiao couldn’t help but ask.

Xiao Ran's attire was truly unconventional.

"I wandered around the Western Regions a few years ago and haven't been back long. I don't even have a registered residence yet; I'm still registered under my second aunt's name!"

"I see!"

Zhang Jinhe helped with cooking and learned a little from Zhang Erya, but not much.

Now, Xiao Ran's family cooks in iron woks, which use plenty of oil and salt, making the food taste much better.

By evening, Zhang Dalang had finally returned with the curved plow.

I didn't come back for lunch; I took some pastries and flatbreads with me instead, because I felt it would take too long to come back for lunch.

Zhang Dalang was stunned when he saw the little donkey in the cowshed.

Zhang Erya heard the commotion and went out to see what was going on. "Brother!"

"Second Madam, did the young master buy it?"

"No, it's from Mr. Sun Simiao. He's an itinerant doctor and he's staying for a few days," Zhang Erya explained.

"I see!" Zhang Dalang nodded.

Xiao Ran suggested that farming could be done by finding someone, but Zhang Dalang couldn't stay idle.

Right now, I'm thinking about doing as much as I can for my family.

In this era, high-ranking officials and nobles often practiced separate dining, but Xiao Ran never did.

Li Lizhi and her group came, and they ate together.

Serving meals separately feels impersonal and creates distance.

Xiao Ran didn't like it.

"Second Aunt's cooking is really good." After tasting a bit, Sun Simiao nodded approvingly.

I've never eaten anything like this anywhere else.

Sun Simiao also discovered that the food was much better than he had imagined.

It wasn't millet porridge; the millet was steamed, and there were also flatbreads.

"This was taught by the young master, but it's far inferior to what the young master taught me!" Zhang Erya smiled.

Zhang Mingde put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and smiled with a hint of pride. His tone was earnest and sincere:
"This is no exaggeration. Young master's cooking skills truly deserve the title of 'unparalleled.' Even the noblemen from Chang'an were amazed when they saw it, saying that they might not be able to taste such flavors even in the capital."

"Even ordinary millet rice, when cooked by him and paired with some green vegetables and tofu, tastes better than other people's fine rice dishes."

"Everyone in the village who has tasted it talks about it—saying that they must have been eating the same food all along for nothing. This isn't just the old man bragging; everyone knows it in their hearts."

She felt a little embarrassed talking to Xiao Ran.

"Auntie is joking, it's not that exaggerated."

Zhang Dalang was a man of few words. After greeting someone, he would rarely speak and would eat in silence.

Now that our family is well-off, we can eat as much as we want without worrying about running out of food.

It's rare to meet someone my age with whom I can have a good chat.

Sun Simiao and Zhang Mingde talked until very late, and Zhang Mingde did not go home.

Having gotten to know each other better over this period, I no longer treat Xiao Ran like an outsider.

There are plenty of rooms in the house, so we can accommodate more guests.

Xiao Ran tidied up his room himself; there was a door leading to the warehouse at the back.

There are two warehouses. One is usually used to store farm tools such as curved plows, while the other, which is closer to the cave, is where Xiao Ran said he would store some things.

Zhang Dalang and Zhang Erya understood what it meant.

Xiao Ran's fishing gear needs to be stored in a separate place.

Back inside the cave, we did the same thing as before, unloading our things from the RV.

Xiao Ran was still used to sleeping in the RV, but this time, lying in the new room with Xiao Hei, he needed to get used to it.

The next day, just as dawn broke, they all got up.

Zhang Mingde couldn't get up.

The chickens, ducks, and geese have also been moved over, but Third Sister still needs to feed them herself.

Zhang Dalang had to look after the cattle and add fodder.

Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya prepared breakfast and tidied up the house.

Sun Simiao strolled to the edge of the pool and stood there, gazing intently at the gradually brightening eastern horizon.

He slowly raised his hands, palms facing each other, about an inch from his chest, his fingertips moving lightly with his breath—this was a Taoist guiding exercise, the movements as smooth as flowing clouds, his shoulders, neck, waist, and knees slowly stretching, every inch of his muscles and bones seemed to be moistened by morning dew, supple yet powerful.

His eyes were closed, his breath was long and even, his lower abdomen bulged slightly when he inhaled, and his breath was as light as a wisp of silk when he exhaled. The morning light fell on his white hair and beard, which gave him a serene and otherworldly air.

He practiced for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before stopping. His forehead was slightly sweaty, but his complexion was rosy and his eyes were even clearer.

Only then did he turn around and examine the surrounding plants and trees, his gaze sweeping over the mugwort by the yard, the dandelions in the corner of the wall, and even a few inconspicuous plantains on the ridge of the field, nodding slightly at each one.

Morning exercise and herbal medicine identification have long been integrated into daily life—movement nourishes the body's energy, while stillness helps identify herbs, which not only aligns with the principles of health preservation but also fulfills the duties of a physician.

Xiao Ran was also used to waking up early, so he didn't disturb Sun Simiao and curiously looked around from a distance.

This is very useful; you must learn it.

After Sun Simiao finished speaking, Xiao Ran took San Niang and Xiao Hei over.

"Good morning, sir!" Xiao Ran changed his form of address to be more intimate.

"Hehe, young master, good morning, Third Sister!" Sun Simiao said with a kind smile.

"Grandpa, I'd like to learn about health preservation from you."

Sun Simiao was quite surprised; this was the first time he had ever encountered someone of Xiao Ran's age with such thoughts!

"It's rare for a young man to think like this at his age. This is not something that can be achieved overnight; it requires long-term perseverance."

"No problem, I can manage!"

“Alright, young master, be early tomorrow!” Sun Simiao was very happy to teach.

After finishing my morning exercise, I naturally had to check on the medicinal herbs.

I sold a lot of medicine yesterday, so I need to make some more today.

Seeing Sun Simiao drying medicinal herbs, Xiao Ran and San Niang also came to help.

Third Sister is a well-behaved type, not a mischievous child.

Suddenly remembering there was a Tai Chi book in the car, Xiao Ran wanted to show it to Sun Simiao and find out his opinion.

She turned and ran into the bedroom, then ran out with the book.

"Grandpa, what do you think of this book?" Xiao Ran handed the book to Sun Simiao.

(End of this chapter)