The winter sun filtered through the thin clouds, illuminating the vast white landscape and reflecting a silvery gleam that dazzled the eyes.
Today's weather was starkly different from usual…
Even stranger was how the sunlight fell upon Xi Zhicai’s eyes, nose, and cheeks…
He wore a scholar’s cap, his posture impeccable. His head first touched the ground, then lifted… and he knelt upright, as if bolted into place, enduring the torrent of gazes that shot his way.
In the East Market of Chenliu Commandery, this was already a gathering place for Chenliu’s elite. Many, upon hearing… that someone was kneeling before the Cai mansion, instinctively assumed it was Miss Cai Yan, or perhaps Officer Lu punishing a servant…
But upon hearing that the one kneeling was the Military Advisor and Libationer, Xi Zhicai… the entire Chenliu Commandery exploded!
“It’s the Military Advisor and Libationer…”
“Why is Libationer Xi kneeling here!”
“You don’t know? Over ten days ago, Officer Lu personally taught his disciples methods to cure terminal cold ailments. One disciple used this method to save Libationer Xi… So, Libationer Xi is repaying a debt of gratitude?”
After all, it was the upper echelon. Some had received snippets of information, but even so, they were astonished beyond measure.
Who was Xi Zhicai?
Rumor had it that he was the advisor who could make Duke Cao weep. And he… was kneeling?
Regardless of the reason, the matter was… unfathomably mysterious!
The voices reached Xi Zhicai’s ears, but he remained utterly still… He wanted everyone in Chenliu Commandery to see that it was Lu Yu who had saved his life! A life-saving debt was like a rebirth!
He knelt for the duration of a tea ceremony. Finally, the gatekeeper of the Cai mansion noticed him and hurried to open the door, only to see Xi Zhicai… His jaw nearly dropped, and he was on the verge of wetting himself…
The Military Advisor and Libationer! This was a man favored by Governor Cao!
He tried to persuade Xi Zhicai to rise, but Xi Zhicai paid him no mind… So, let him kneel then?
The gatekeeper hastily went to report inside.
However… Lu Yu was currently very busy. He and Zhuge Jun were tinkering with something in the backyard, having summoned a large group of people. The familiar instructions were given: even Duke Cao himself would not be seen… Dian Wei guarded the gate, and the gatekeeper had no right to enter.
This sent the gatekeeper into a panic, and he had no choice but to invite Miss Cai Yan!
Not long after…
Cai Yan rushed out of the mansion, “Mr. Xi, why are you doing this? To kneel and pay respects like this in front of the Cai mansion… how can my brother Yu and I possibly accept it!”
Seeing Cai Yan, Xi Zhicai finally lifted his head.
“You can accept it, you can accept it. Benefactor and Miss Cai Yan both deserve it…”
With a thud, Xi Zhicai’s head struck the ground again, as if pounding garlic!
Cai Zhaoji trembled all over. She had never witnessed such a scene…
“Quick, quickly help Mr. Xi up…”
… Though Xi Zhicai was delicate, a group of maids still couldn't lift him.
Xi Zhicai’s tone was exceptionally firm, “I have come to kneel for the life-saving grace of my Benefactor. If my Benefactor does not appear, how can I rise!”
Huo…
Cai Zhaoji felt a bit flustered. Today she had encountered a stubborn mule!
“Alas… alas…”
Sighing in resignation, Cai Zhaoji had no choice but to hurry towards the backyard of the mansion.
Brother Yu was busy, saying he wouldn't see anyone… but she, Sister Zhaoji, was an exception.
…
Cai Mansion, backyard.
Logically, this was originally the experimental base for the oil press, but… the situation was special now, with no grain to press for oil. The oil press experimental base had become quite idle for the moment.
However, today, it seemed very busy.
The reason was that Lu Yu had asked “Zhuge Liang” to prepare a large iron pot, and today, he was going to cook something.
Currently…
In the backyard, besides Zhuge Jun and a group of oil press staff, Wei Hong, Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, and Cao Chun were all present… Lu Yu had specifically invited them.
“Young Master Lu, with this large iron pot and asking me to help you find a sheep, what exactly is this plan?” Wei Hong tapped his forehead…
He was a little confused. Lu Yu’s current actions were quite puzzling…
Not only him, but Xun Yu, Xiahou Dun, Cao Chun… and even Zhuge Jun, along with the oil press staff, were somewhat bewildered.
At this moment… they had no idea what Lu Yu intended to do!
The situation before them was that Lu Yu was having someone boil water in the large iron pot while instructing the oil press staff to mince the lamb and bone it.
In addition, he had procured a considerable amount of medicinal herbs, including Ephedra, Cassia Twig, Notopterygium, Fresh Ginger, Angelica Dahurica, and so on… in large quantities!
Of course…
Because Lu Yu was in charge of the medical department, this quantity of medicinal herbs was insignificant in his eyes, just a drizzle.
“Old Man Wei, General Xiahou, Chancellor Xun, General Cao… just you watch… this business will not only make money but also yield boundless merit!”
Lu Yu’s lips curved, and he smiled faintly at them… a smile full of confidence.
Upon mentioning making money, Wei Hong, Xiahou Dun, Cao Chun, and Xun Yu became enthusiastic.
The last time they worked on the oil press, it made them incredibly rich. From the very first day of pressing oil until the last, the market was in constant short supply.
Even… many other commanderies and prefectures were willing to exchange grain for it…
Among them, Wei Hong profited the most.
Of course, while Wei Hong earned, he was already Chenliu’s richest man, so he merely became Yan Province’s richest man, not a significant difference.
Here, the biggest difference was for Xun Yu, Xiahou Dun, and Cao Chun…
As Lu Yu’s partners, they felt their investment and returns were disproportionate… it was as if they planted a seed, and in the blink of an eye, Lu Yu returned it to them as a giant ancient tree!
During those few months when the oil press business was booming, they finally understood what it meant to earn money while lying down.
Even Xiahou Dun, who seemed to have a grudge against money and would generously reward his soldiers with all his earnings, managed to have some left over, even managing to repair his dilapidated residence properly…
In short, everyone was happily making money, with smiles on their faces.
With such success preceding them, how could they, the four of them, not be eager when Lu Yu proposed making money again!
“Second Brother? Don’t just tease us, tell us how we’ll make money! This time… do you need Big Brother to send people to post notices for you everywhere?”
Xiahou Dun was very proactive…
Uh…
Lu Yu paused.
Then he smiled faintly. Since he was teasing them, it was only natural to tease them until the very last moment. After all, a sense of ritual and mystery was still necessary.
Lu Yu turned and asked the oil press staff.
“Are they all ready?”
“Ready!”
“Into the pot!” With an order…
Those Ephedra, Cassia Twig, Notopterygium, Fresh Ginger, Angelica Dahurica, and so on were all put into the pot. In addition, there were lamb bones, so many lamb bones…
Poor 180-day-old lambs, I apologize. Not only is your meat delicious, but your whole body is a treasure.
Thinking of this, Lu Yu suddenly craved lamb kidneys, the ones that were so greasy they dripped.
As the soup simmered over a high fire, soon… the entire backyard was filled with the fresh, rich aroma of lamb broth, immediately whetting the appetites of everyone in the courtyards.
Especially Dian Wei, who was originally guarding the courtyard gate. Smelling the aroma, he couldn’t help but approach.
At this moment, the large pot was lustrous, milky white. The rich broth made from lamb bones and various medicinal herbs was enough to make one’s mouth water just by looking at it.
Hiss…
Xun Yu raised his eyebrows. He wondered if the business Lu Yu mentioned was lamb soup?
It seemed… that as early as in the “Records of the Warring States,” there was a record of lamb soup. It was said that the King of Zhongshan, during a distribution of lamb soup to his ministers…
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Sima Ziqi was omitted…
Because of this, he was offended.
In his rage, this fellow went to the more powerful state of Chu and managed to persuade Chu to send troops to destroy the state of Zhongshan. This is what is known as – the tragic case of a nation’s demise triggered by a bowl of lamb soup.
It seemed… from that point on, subsequent dynasties avoided drinking lamb soup, considering the soup inauspicious!
But Lu Yu’s…
Xun Yu pondered, could it be that he was doing the opposite? With his usual style, it was indeed possible!
In fact, Xun Yu was half right; he guessed the second layer, but after that second layer, there were still three more!
“Jiao’er? Is it ready?”
“It’s all ready,” Zhuge Jun replied…
“Into the pot!” Another order was given.
Hundreds of “Jiao’er” were simultaneously dropped into this medicated lamb broth!
Hearing this, Xiahou Dun scratched his head. “What are Jiao’er?”
Don’t say… his question made everyone curious.
Yes? Jiao’er, literally translated, means tender ears…
It couldn’t be that they were putting ears into the pot to boil, that would be a bit too gruesome!
“Don’t worry…” As if sensing the worry on everyone’s faces, Lu Yu waved his hand. “Jiao’er is actually when the dough is wrapped to resemble ears, hence the name Jiao’er. Its essence is dough!”
“Of course, it also has another name – Jiaozi!”
Jiaozi…
Xiahou Dun nodded. This name was good, it sounded just right!
Of course…
Lu Yu’s so-called third layer was to boil these Jiaozi with Chinese medicine and lamb broth together…
This is what’s known as one plus one plus one equals more than three!
By doing so… it was no longer just Jiaozi, ordinary food, but had become a form of medicinal cuisine…
It had a very pretentious name – Febrile-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup!
The reason for doing this was all because of Zhang Zhongjing…
Even though he was in Changsha Commandery, Lu Yu was thinking of him and was counting on him to oversee the Yan Province Medical Department!
But, while thinking of him…
Suddenly Lu Yu remembered another matter, one related to his Zhang Zhongjing!
That’s right, it was this Febrile-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup. In Zhang Zhongjing’s fiftieth year, which was five years from now… to ward off the cold, he devised a dietary therapy to resist the cold, which was this Febrile-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup!
The method for making Febrile-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup was simple… boil lamb bones and some cold-dispelling herbs in a pot, then when cooked, take them out and chop them finely, wrap them in dough to resemble ears, and then boil them again in the original broth after the wrapped dough was filled.
After the dough was wrapped, it resembled ears. And because its effect was to prevent ears from freezing, Zhang Zhongjing named it “Jiao’er,” which is what is known as Jiaozi in later generations.
As they say, nothing is tastier than Jiaozi, and nothing is more fun than… cough cough… let’s not get sidetracked.
From Zhang Zhongjing’s Febrile-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup, Lu Yu realized that for terminal cold ailments… merely treating them was not enough; one had to find a way to prevent them at the source!
Thus… this Febrile-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup and Jiaozi should be born.
Febrile-Dispelling Jiao’er Soup and Jiaozi… can warm the body, boost vital yang, supplement essence and blood, and treat lung deficiency. They are considered good dietary therapy methods to combat cold ailments!
In addition, it was necessary to popularize a concept among the people of Yan Province –
– Eating Jiaozi during the winter solstice will prevent one’s ears from freezing. As long as the ears are warm, the body’s problems will not be significant, and there will be no fear of cold invasion!
…
As the Jiaozi were about to be served.
Cai Zhaoji burst in… before she could even speak, she was first enveloped by this rich and fragrant aroma…
So… so fragrant?
Even the usually reserved Cai Zhaoji, at this moment, felt her appetite whetted and wanted to taste the food in Lu Yu’s pot.
But… this thought only lasted for a moment…
Cai Zhaoji shook her head…
“Brother Yu… you need to go and see the mansion gate,” she said loudly. “Libationer Xi is kneeling outside our mansion gate. He said… unless you go, he will… he will continue to kneel indefinitely.”
What?
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu was first stunned.
Immediately after… Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, Cao Chun, and Wei Hong were all stunned. What was going on? Why was Xi Zhicai kneeling at the Cai mansion gate?
Could it be that he was here to specifically express his gratitude because Lu Yu had cured his cold ailment?
If that were the case… then… that’s really not necessary?
Because… in the past ten-plus days, Lu Yu’s disciples had saved well over a thousand patients with cold ailments. If each and every one of them came to kneel and express their gratitude… then… wouldn’t the threshold of the Cai mansion be worn down by their heads?
Zhi Cai, oh Zhi Cai… when did he become so stubborn?
The few of them exchanged glances…
Just then, Lu Yu was already walking towards the gate. They quickly followed. Come to think of it, what did Xi Zhicai look like kneeling?
…
…
Changsha Commandery, Governor’s Mansion!
One hour…
Two hours…
Zhang Zhongjing continued to gaze at Huang Xu. Every movement, on his body, on his forehead, even his expressions, Zhang Zhongjing was meticulously observing…
According to the methods in the bamboo slips, Zhang Zhongjing prescribed the medicine accordingly. Now, it was time to see the results.
Huang Xu had no idea what was happening…
His uncle Zhongjing’s medicinal soup, if he told him to drink it, he would drink it… without any hesitation.
Of course, in his opinion, how could he fail to live up to his uncle Zhongjing’s painstaking efforts? It was considered a last desperate struggle.
“Uncle Zhongjing, actually… you don’t need to worry about me anymore.”
Huang Xu said… “How difficult cold ailments are to cure, I have been by your side in Changsha Commandery for these two years… how could I not know? It’s better… to give up!”
Shaking his head helplessly, Huang Xu seemed to have accepted the arrangement of fate.
“Actually, I…” Huang Xu thought of something else. “Actually, what I worry about most is my father. Although I’ve made him know the news of my terminal illness later, he will… he will know sooner or later. At that time… I will die, and it will be over, but my father… I suppose, I suppose he will collapse!”
No one knew better than Huang Xu how much Huang Zhong cared about his son.
Externally, Huang Zhong was a mighty general, but at home, he was always a kind father who indulged his son’s every whim.
Hoo…
With a long exhale, Huang Xu shook his head again. “Alas, I heard that after contracting a cold ailment, one would be unable to speak after half a day, and unable to get out of bed after two days. My body is even weaker, I fear the time I can speak is already… already…”
As he spoke, Huang Xu suddenly froze.
Something is wrong!
It seemed that something was wrong!
He… he came to his Uncle Zhongjing’s place. Including the time spent waiting in line, it had been five or six hours… It was almost dusk. According to logic, his… his cold ailment should have flared up? He should be in excruciating pain, unable to speak.
And these… were the inherent symptoms of cold ailments, but it seemed… he could still speak, and he didn't feel any discomfort.
At some point, the feeling of the cold attacking his body suddenly disappeared as if it had vanished.
No, something was wrong!
“Gulp” – Huang Xu swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Then, he suddenly stood up. He walked around the entire hall of the yamen.
It seemed that something was wrong…
He ran around again. He still felt that something was wrong…
On his third lap, he ran and jumped, a big jump… yes, a big jump! He jumped from one side of the desk to the other.
He… he felt… his body was extremely strange!
Clearly… after contracting the cold ailment, his body could be described as “worse with every passing moment” in terms of every breath.
The energy within his body was as if it were being continuously frozen, becoming weaker, diminishing…
Logically, he… he should have been bedridden long ago!
How come… how come it’s already dusk, and he still doesn’t feel sick at all, but rather walks with the agility of a flying horse!
Thinking of this, Huang Xu instinctively reached out to touch his forehead…
It wasn’t hot anymore. It really wasn’t hot anymore!
He had been in such a pessimistic mood that he hadn’t noticed the high fever on his forehead receding?
Then… the question arises, from… from what point did the fever subside?
Huang Xu was stunned. He began to recall meticulously, from the moment he entered the yamen, every moment.
Every hour, even every breath, what was he doing? Huang Xu tried his best to think…
But… no matter what, he couldn’t recall when the high fever on his forehead subsided?
How did it subside?
Seeing his appearance…
Zhang Zhongjing finally spoke. “Touch your palm, doesn’t it feel much warmer!”
Hmm…
Huang Xu followed Uncle Zhongjing’s instructions and touched his palm. Indeed… it was much warmer, and… it wasn’t just warm, his palm was even sweating.
Could it be… a bold idea appeared in his mind.
At this time, Zhang Zhongjing’s words came out again.
However, before speaking, his eyes deeply gazed at the bamboo slips on the desk in front of him.
“Is your back sweating? Do you feel a warm current constantly moving from your chest towards your spleen and stomach!”
These were all reactions of recovering from a cold ailment, as described in those magical bamboo slips…
Based on Zhang Zhongjing’s observation, Huang Xu’s current state perfectly matched these reactions. Although it was unbelievable, though incredible, it almost indicated that this incurable cold ailment… was no longer bothering Huang Xu!
He… he had overcome the illness!
Similarly, Zhang Zhongjing’s close friend… Huang Hansheng, his son, who was destined to die, had been pulled back from the brink of death!
And all of this… all of it… was the credit of these incredibly mysterious bamboo slips.
“Uncle, I… I feel that warm current constantly moving within me, I… I don’t feel cold at all, I… I even feel full of strength!”
Huang Xu said excitedly. At this moment, he was dancing with joy.
At this moment… he leaped three feet high!
Hoo…
Zhang Zhongjing had not yet emerged from his shock. It was divine, truly divine… He had only glanced at a scroll of bamboo slips, and he… had instantly solved this universally recognized incurable disease!
Then… then…
He subconsciously cupped the four scrolls of bamboo slips in his hands…
In fact, during his leisure time earlier…
He… he had already skimmed through them. At that time, his mind was preoccupied with Huang Xu’s condition, and he hadn’t felt much, just some specific symptoms of cold ailments and their corresponding solutions!
But now…
Facts were before his eyes. These four scrolls of bamboo slips were not that simple. It could be said… the cold ailment that had plagued the Han dynasty for decades… its nemesis lay within the few characters of these bamboo slips!
Hoo…
Hoo…
With heavy breaths, Zhang Zhongjing could no longer spare time to answer Huang Xu’s questions.
Or rather, was it still necessary to answer?
You can already jump around. What’s the situation… you probably have a good idea, right?
So now, he could no longer resist… reading these bamboo slips carefully, word by word, sentence by sentence…
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the entire yamen hall became much quieter. Zhang Zhongjing was reading, and Huang Xu was watching him read.
Time seemed to have stopped!
From Uncle Zhongjing’s eyes, Huang Xu could discern something.
He realized that it was precisely… precisely these four scrolls of bamboo slips sent by Secretary Wang that had saved his life, Huang Xu!
And it was from the terminal cold ailment… this incurable disease, that he was pulled back from the gates of hell.
Huang Xu remembered… these… these four scrolls of bamboo slips seemed to be sent by Yan Province Governor Cao Cao. And… Cao Cao also sent a messenger, proposing to meet Uncle Zhongjing…
Then… this request to meet, it… it was filled with deep meaning!
“Uncle Zhongjing…” Huang Xu spoke…
But as he uttered the first four characters, Zhang Zhongjing directly raised his hand to interrupt him.
He was at a crucial point and did not want his thoughts interrupted.
Now… facts speak louder than words. Re-examining these bamboo slips, Zhang Zhongjing felt that every word, every paragraph, every prescription was exquisite and unparalleled!
Even every sentence seemed to be written for him… and more like a perfect summary and compilation of his years of refinement and experimentation…
It was as if the gods in heaven took pity on the world and taught him how to save lives and rescue the common people!
The first scroll, Pulse Diagnosis Method;
The second scroll, Pulse Evaluation Method;
The third scroll, Cold Ailment Cases;
The fourth scroll…
Zhang Zhongjing was almost immersed in it… he couldn’t help but keep reading… keep meditating.
But as the scrolls diminished, and the subsequent recorded text became less and less, he became anxious and apprehensive. He… he even worried that it would break off at some point!
But… finally, he saw the end…
And this was by no means the conclusion.
Because, before Zhang Zhongjing’s eyes, a line of large characters appeared –
– To know what happens next, please listen to the next installment!
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