Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Becoming Famous
271 Gaining Little Fame
Zhao Zhitong diagnosed the patient while saying, "The pulse is weak and floating, the stomach is rock-hard, and the abdomen is swollen like a drum. This is not good!"
She turned to Niu Baishun. "Boss Niu, this is really going to kill someone!"
At these words, a trace of panic appeared on Niu Baishun’s face.
The surrounding crowd started to discuss anxiously.
"My God, someone is really going to die."
"Can they be saved?"
"With the young physician from De Ren Tang, it should be possible."
"A young lady? I think we should call Doctor Sun from De Ren Tang as soon as possible. After all, this is a matter of life and death. Don’t waste a life."
"You’re right. I can run fast; I’ll go get Doctor Sun."
At this time, some enthusiastic people had already run to De Ren Tang to call Sun Kang.
Others tried to dissuade Zhao Zhitong, "Young physician, if you can’t do it, don’t force yourself. Someone has already gone to call your master."
Sun Daqing did not like seeing his cousin being doubted, so he said, "My cousin’s medical skills are very high! And my grandfather isn’t in the clinic right now; he went out to make a house call. He’s not in the clinic."
The people exclaimed, "Ah, where did Doctor Sun go to make a house call? Hurry, hurry, someone call Doctor Sun back!"
"There’s no time," Zhao Zhitong said with a serious face. "Any later, and this person might not make it."
After saying that, she turned to Sun Daqing. "Second Cousin, you need to go back and get our family’s secret Life-Preserving Pill and my silver needles. Quick!"
"Alright!"
Sun Daqing responded and quickly ran towards the clinic.
"Oh no, it seems like that person isn’t going to make it; his eyes are rolling back!"
"Little physician, you’d better think of a solution quickly!"
At this time, Niu Baishun saw that the little beggar was indeed dying and became afraid and guilty.
Taking advantage of the crowd’s concern for the little beggar, he muttered, "I’ve never seen anyone die from eating a bun." Then he slipped away with Zhao Liuniang and a few of his servants.
Zhao Zhitong was also very anxious. She stood up, looked around, and shouted, "Whose house has swill? The smellier the better!"
"Ah, mine! My house does!" The owner of a nearby small restaurant shouted loudly.
Zhao Zhitong called out, "Quick! Bring it out, and get me a spoon too!"
The restaurant owner quickly went back home and soon ran over with a bucket of swill.
Zhao Zhitong hurriedly opened the swill bucket, and a sour, putrid odor immediately assailed their nostrils.
The surrounding people instinctively covered their noses.
"What is the little physician trying to do?"
"I don’t know; it doesn’t look like she’s treating the patient."
Zhao Zhitong didn’t have time to explain. She just picked up the spoon, scooped up a spoonful of the stinking swill, and poured it into the little beggar’s mouth.
Although the little beggar was lying on the ground, clutching his stomach and appearing unconscious, he was still somewhat aware. He knew swill was being poured on his face and could smell the foul odor.
The unbearable stench made him shake his head to avoid it, but he couldn’t move his body.
Finally, he couldn’t bear it any longer, and his stomach began to heave.
Seeing that he had a reaction, Zhao Zhitong quickly told the people around, "Quick, turn him over and prop up his stomach with a stool!"
The townspeople hurriedly came forward to help, turning the little beggar over.
As soon as the child was turned over and placed on the stool, he began vomiting.
Without her silver needles, Zhao Zhitong could only press on the acupoints on the child’s body with her hands to stimulate him to vomit.
At first, he vomited out nothing but steamed buns—nothing unusual, as he had just stuffed himself with them.
However, when all the steamed buns were vomited out, Zhao Zhitong still didn’t stop. She took a handkerchief, wrapped it around her hand, reached directly into the child’s mouth, poked his throat, and made him continue to vomit.
Zhao Zhitong said to the child, "Hurry up and vomit it all out, or your life will be in danger!"
The surrounding townspeople began to grow curious.
At this moment, Sun Daqing returned with the requested items. "Cousin," he announced, "I’ve brought you everything!"
As he said this, he skillfully opened the cloth containing the silver needles and handed it to Zhao Zhitong.
Zhao Zhitong nodded, picked up a silver needle, and pricked the child several times with it.
The child suddenly started vomiting again.
What he vomited out next astounded the townspeople.
"Heavens, what is he vomiting? Tree bark, grass roots... what’s that black stuff?"
"Guan Yin Soil," Zhao Zhitong casually explained, continuing to induce vomiting. Only when he could vomit no more did she stop. Standing up, she sighed in relief. "Alright, his life is saved. Second Cousin, give him a Life-Preserving Pill."
After vomiting and taking the medicine, the child lost consciousness.
The townspeople were worried that he might die again, so after discussing the matter, several strong men carried the child into De Ren Tang.
Seeing several strong men carrying a stinking beggar into the clinic, Sun Youwei and Sun Daji were both taken aback.
When Sun Daqing had returned earlier with the medicine and silver needles, he had briefly mentioned the situation to them.
Thus, they quickly realized that this must be the little beggar Zhao Zhitong had saved.
"Ah, your young physician is really amazing, truly impressive."
After praising Zhao Zhitong for her efforts several times, the strong men and other townspeople left the medical clinic one after another.
Today, Zhao Zhitong’s display of skill left a deep impression on the people.
As they returned to their homes, they began spreading the story in their neighborhoods. Gradually, Zhao Zhitong’s title of "Divine Doctor" spread throughout North Street.
At that moment, Sun Youwei told the others to carry the stinking beggar to the backyard first, as they still needed to run their business in the front hall.
In the end, with the combined efforts of Sun Youwei, Sun Daji, and Sun Daqing, the child was brought to the backyard to lie down.
Sun Xiaoyu and Sun Xiaoxue didn’t know what had happened and were surprised to see a little beggar.
After settling the child in the backyard, Sun Xiaoyu and Sun Xiaoxue began to brew medicine for him.
Finally, Sun Daqing voiced his confusion, "Cousin, what is Guan Yin Soil? Why would this child eat Guan Yin Soil?"
"Guan Yin Soil?"
Before Zhao Zhitong could speak, her Eldest Uncle, Sun Youwei, exclaimed in surprise.
Sun Daqing nodded. "Yes, that black stuff the child vomited later—my cousin said it was Guan Yin Soil. Uncle, do you know what Guan Yin Soil is? Have you eaten it before?"
Sun Youwei said, "I haven’t eaten it, but I’ve heard my elders talk about it."
"They said that during a famine, when there was no food to eat, the heavens would send down a kind of white soil that looked like flour. It could be eaten to stave off hunger and save one’s life, so people called it Guan Yin Soil."
"Oh? Isn’t that a good thing?" Sun Daqing and the others thought so after hearing this.
Sun Daqing then asked again, "Cousin, how did you know about Guan Yin Soil? Have you seen it before?"
Zhao Zhitong tapped Sun Daqing’s head. "I read about it in a book, of course, you dummy."
"Besides, Guan Yin Soil isn’t a good thing. Don’t eat it indiscriminately. The book says it’s not some miraculous soil. It’s just ordinary sticky clay that looks like white flour, but it’s actually just dirt."