Chapter 260: Chapter 260: The Pharmacy is Open
260 The Apothecary Opens
The next day, when the door was opened, the outside was already a blanket of white. Snow had fallen throughout the night and still showed no signs of stopping, continuing to flutter down.
Zhao Dong, already wearing a straw raincoat, was clearing the accumulated snow in the yard.
Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yu left the house at the same time. They both exhaled clouds of frosty breath and rubbed their hands together before picking up their bamboo hats and straw raincoats, intending to join Zhao Dong in clearing the snow.
Zhao Zhitong had woken as soon as the rhythmic swishing of snow-sweeping sounded in the courtyard.
At this time, the kang bed was still wonderfully warm. The doors and windows were shut tight, keeping the room cozy and snug.
She didn’t feel the chill. She wriggled out from under the covers, propped her upper body against the window, and shouted towards the yard outside.
CREAK.
The door was pushed open from the outside, and a gust of cold wind rushed in through the opening. Sun Mei immediately followed, closing the door behind her and blocking the eager chill from entering the room.
Seeing Zhao Zhitong perched by the window, Sun Mei stepped forward and gently pulled her back, chiding, "You’re a big girl now, so why are you still as mischievous as when you were little? Do you want to get up?"
Zhao Zhitong shrank back into the quilt, only her small head visible, and giggled. "Mom, I’m eight years old!" She then stuck a small arm out from the covers, holding up eight fingers, before quickly exclaiming, "No, no, I’m nine years old now!"
Sun Mei sighed helplessly. "Do you want to get up? Shall I help you get dressed?"
Zhao Zhitong declared, "I want to get up! I want to build a snowman!"
Although Zhao Zhitong could dress herself, Sun Mei had made special winter clothing for warmth. Using cotton from a quilt in her space, she had sewn padded trousers with shoulder straps for all four children. The straps had to be pulled over the shoulders from the back and fastened at the chest, a task Zhao Zhitong couldn’t manage on her own.
With Sun Mei’s help, Zhao Zhitong was quickly dressed. Sun Mei then folded the quilt and placed it on the cabinet by the bed.
Zhao Zhitong had already slid off the bed. The moment her feet touched the ground, she eagerly dashed outside.
Winter was very cold, but Zhao Zhitong loved winter. She loved the snow. The white, glistening snowflakes seemed like tiny sprites descending upon the mortal realm, blanketing the world in a hush of silence.
In the courtyard, Zhao Dong, along with Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yu, had already cleared several paths. A main path led from the central hall to the main gate, and smaller paths branched off from it to each room.
After breakfast, the snow still hadn’t stopped, so the children began making a snowman in the courtyard.
Inside the central hall, a stove crackled merrily, its blazing fire making the room toasty warm. A kettle of water was heating on top.
Sun Mei had a bamboo basket on her lap, filled with needles, thread, and scraps of fabric. She was holding a half-sewn shoe sole, while Zhao Dong sat beside her, warming himself by the fire and chatting.
Seeing that the children had been playing in the courtyard for quite some time, Sun Mei called out, "You lot, stop playing now! Come back inside and warm yourselves by the fire."
The children responded with a cheerful shout and playfully trooped back into the room. Sun Mei stood up, grabbed a dry towel, and brushed the snow off them. The little ones then gathered around the stove to warm themselves.
After a while, the water boiled. Sun Mei stood up, prepared a hot water bottle, handed it to Zhao Dong, and asked, "Is your leg hurting today?"
Zhao Dong shook his head. "It’s much better, not too painful."
Zhao Dong’s leg no longer pained him as much, and he didn’t limp anymore. This was thanks to Zhao Zhitong, who had obtained some bone-setting medicine from the space.
Although the old bone injury had healed, it still ached when the weather turned cold or damp.
Therefore, Zhao Zhitong began studying massage techniques from Grandpa Bai’s medical books, combining them with acupuncture to alleviate Zhao Dong’s bone pain.
She had only recently learned these skills. She had massaged Zhao Dong twice and performed acupuncture once, but because her own strength was still lacking, the effects weren’t very pronounced.
Sun Mei sat down, picked up the shoe sole, and continued her sewing. Looking at Zhao Zhitong, she said casually, "Tongtong, when will you teach me your massage techniques? I can give your father massages more often when I have free time."
Zhao Zhitong thought it was an excellent idea and nodded. "Sure, sure, Mom! I’ll teach you tonight."
Zhao Cheng immediately piped up, "I want to learn too! Tongtong, didn’t you say that strength is very important for this? If I learn, I can help Aunt Mei share the load."
Instantly, Zhao Yu and Zhao Ya also clamored to learn so they could massage Zhao Dong.
So, Zhao Zhitong didn’t wait until evening. She immediately brought over a small stool, had Zhao Dong rest his leg on it, and began to explain the techniques to everyone.
She explained earnestly, and the others listened intently.
And so, the family gathered around the stove, their attention keenly focused on Zhao Dong’s leg as Zhao Zhitong demonstrated. If an outsider happened to visit the Zhao Family at that moment and witness this scene, they might well wonder if there was something peculiar about them.
* * *
Zhao Yu returned home, and the whole family had a grand reunion for the New Year. They set off firecrackers, made dumplings, and were overjoyed.
Four years had passed since Zhao Dong and Sun Mei, along with Zhao Zhitong, had arrived in this world. The family of three had long since adapted to a life devoid of advanced technology and its myriad entertainments. Instead, they had embraced a simpler, more fundamental way of living, a return to the essence of life itself.
Being young, Zhao Zhitong didn’t feel the contrast as deeply. Zhao Dong and Sun Mei had created an environment where she could grow up carefree. All she needed was to be happy and be herself.
On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the festive New Year atmosphere had completely dissipated. Accompanied by the sound of firecrackers from every household, the new working year began!
In their region, it was customary for families with businesses to set off a string of firecrackers on the seventeenth day of the first lunar month. This was to usher in a prosperous new year, hoping their business would flourish and grow rapidly.
Most families in Zhao Village, following Zhao Dong’s example, were now raising pigs, which was considered a business venture. To ensure a good omen for the year ahead, setting off firecrackers was indispensable.
「Anyang County.」
Amidst the celebratory crackle of firecrackers, the red silk cloth draped over the entrance of a new shop was pulled away. It revealed a plaque inscribed with three large characters: ’De Ren Tang’.
A crowd of onlookers had gathered, their feelings about this newly opened apothecary a mixture of hope and apprehension.
They were pleased that Xiangfu Medicine Hall would no longer be the only apothecary in town. However, they also worried that this new establishment wouldn’t last long before being driven out of business by its powerful competitor.
It was no wonder they felt this way. Over the past few years, others had attempted to open apothecaries in the county town, but none had survived a full year, inevitably closing down for one reason or another.
Sun Kang stood beneath the plaque, beaming and clasping his hands in a traditional greeting. "Thank you all for coming! Our De Ren Tang officially opens today. In keeping with the principles of ’Virtue’ and ’Benevolence’ that our name represents, we will be offering free medical consultations for everyone on this inaugural day!"
The news spread quickly through the streets, and soon, a long queue formed in front of De Ren Tang.
With Zhao Zhitong’s assistance, Sun Kang settled into the physician’s chair. Zhao Zhitong stood beside him, ready to observe and learn.
When the first patient came in, Zhao Zhitong led him to sit opposite Sun Kang.
As soon as the patient sat down, he anxiously asked, "Doctor, my stomach often hurts. Could you please check if I have some serious illness?"
As the man spoke, Sun Kang’s nostrils twitched slightly. He then said, "There’s an unusual odor to your breath. Come, extend your tongue so I may examine it."
...
Sun Kang diagnosed with great concentration, while Zhao Zhitong observed attentively by his side, eager to learn.
Once the diagnosis was complete, Sun Kang wrote out a prescription and handed it to the patient, instructing him to have it filled at the counter.
The first patient had barely risen when the second one took his place.