Gao Yuan prepared a second prescription.

He used Danggui Buxue Tang with a heavy dose of raw Astragalus, combined with Shenfu Longmu Jiuni Tang, and added Live Magnetic Stone to draw from above and below. He also incorporated Zhang Xichun’s Lai Fu Tang and finally added a large dose of Shen Siwei to tonify kidney energy.

“Prepare the medicine,” Gao Yuan instructed, handing the prescription to Zhao Huanzhang.

Zhao Huanzhang glanced at the prescription. By now, he was used to Gao Yuan’s bold methods and, without saying a word, went to fetch the herbs.

Gao Yuan exhaled with relief and turned to look at Li Runyu.

Seeing Gao Yuan’s gaze, Li Runyu quickly averted his head and left with a stony expression.

Gao Yuan shook his head slightly, having anticipated this reaction. He had experienced this attitude from Li Runyu in his past life. Although Li Runyu was skilled, he lacked tolerance. After Gao Yuan's medical skills matured, Li Runyu viewed him as his fiercest rival, sparring with him for years. In the county, they were known as arch-enemies, and Gao Yuan harboured resentment. But in this lifetime, he found it hard to hold onto those feelings.

Years later, when turmoil engulfed them both and Li Runyu faced imminent danger, he risked his life to deliver his cherished notes from Peng Ziyi’s lectures to Gao Yuan, entrusting his most valued possession to his greatest adversary.

Later, Gao Yuan himself faced similar hardship.

Watching Li Runyu storm out, Gao Yuan felt a complex mix of memories and emotions.

Once the medicine was prepared, Gao Yuan followed his usual method—administering high doses in divided intervals.

After taking the medicine, the child experienced no more convulsions, his sweating ceased, his breathing steadied, and the danger passed. By evening, the child began to eat. Gao Yuan adjusted the prescription, reducing the dosage and advising continued use.

Just as he and Zhao Huanzhang were about to leave, Dr. Miao Ran hurried over.

“Is there something else?” Gao Yuan asked.

Miao Ran seemed tense. “I wanted to ask—how did you manage to treat the child?”

Gao Yuan countered, “Didn’t you watch the entire process?”

“But I don’t understand the principles,” Miao Ran admitted.

Nodding, Gao Yuan explained, “The root of the child’s illness was congenital deficiency, worsened by poor nourishment, leading to weakened spleen and kidney. The kidneys govern bones, which are connected to the marrow, with the brain as the sea of marrow. You once asked, ‘If consciousness originates in the brain, why do we say the heart governs the spirit?’”

“All of Traditional Chinese Medicine's theories come from practical healing experience. The brain is regulated by the kidneys. For children with delayed brain development, we use the kidney-tonifying Liuwei Dihuang Tang. If the brain alone governed consciousness, we wouldn’t treat this condition by tonifying the kidneys—it simply wouldn’t work.”

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Miao Ran appeared momentarily stunned.

Gao Yuan continued, “As long as you don’t impose unrelated theories, our logic remains coherent. This child, for instance, suffered from kidney deficiency and an inability to nourish the muscles, which made his limbs weak and unable to support his weight.”

At this point, Miao Ran dared not question the connection between the spleen and limbs any further.

Gao Yuan proceeded, “The child’s illness manifested at midnight, with weakened defences and an acute cold attack, causing the frequent convulsions. That’s the underlying cause.”

Miao Ran, mouth agape, admitted, “I didn’t understand a word.”

Gao Yuan told her, “Don’t ask me for a scientific breakdown. All I know is Traditional Chinese Medicine. But if you’re interested, you’re welcome to study it further.”

Miao Ran straightened up and sincerely said, “Thank you, Instructor Gao.”

Zhao Huanzhang looked at Miao Ran in surprise. It was the first time he’d ever heard anything pleasant come from her mouth.

…

As the two made their way back towards Zhang Village, Zhao Huanzhang pulled out a couple of cigarettes, sniffing them as he asked, “Dr. Gao, who do you think that family was? They were so refined and even had Zhonghua cigarettes. You’re really not going to take one?”

Gao Yuan shook his head, “No, keep it for yourself.”

“Thanks, then!” Zhao Huanzhang laughed. “Tomorrow is Grain Rain Festival. Why don’t you come over to my place for some fragrant Chinese toon and egg noodles, and we can share a couple of drinks?”

Gao Yuan smiled, “Time does fly. It’s already raining rain...” But then his smile faded, and he asked, “Tomorrow’s really Grain Rain?”

“Yes,” Zhao Huanzhang replied.

“You’re certain? Isn’t it supposed to be in a few days?”

Zhao Huanzhang, puzzled by Gao Yuan’s serious tone, thought it over and shook his head, “Nope. This is tomorrow. What calendar are you looking at?”

Gao Yuan glanced around and said urgently, “Dr. Zhao, something just came up. I need to take care of it. How about you head back on your own?”

Zhao Huanzhang could sense Gao Yuan’s urgency: “I’d better go with you, just in case.”

“Alright.” Gao Yuan nodded and quickened his pace.

As they hurried along, Zhao Huanzhang asked, “What happened that’s so urgent?”

Gao Yuan, barely hiding his anxiety, replied, “My father’s been craving sorghum wine from Zi Village. With the festival tomorrow, I figured I’d fetch him some.”

“You’re going all the way to Zi Village for that? It’s getting dark,” Zhao Huanzhang said, clearly puzzled.

“He’s had it rough,” Gao Yuan replied, quickening his pace even more.

Moved by Gao Yuan’s filial devotion, Zhao Huanzhang exclaimed, “You’re a good son!”

The two rushed on, and as night fell, they were still on the road to Zi Village. Just as they crossed a low hill, they suddenly heard a woman’s cry for help.

“Help! Is anyone there? Help!”

The eerie sound in the dark made Zhao Huanzhang shiver. “What’s going on? Who’s calling at this hour? Could it be a ghost? Dr. Gao… Dr. Gao?”

But Gao Yuan was already running towards the source of the cries.

Stunned, Zhao Huanzhang shrank back slightly, but quickly mustered his courage and hurried after Gao Yuan.

They followed the sound, and as they got closer, Gao Yuan shouted back reassuringly, “Don’t be afraid! We’re here!”

Impressed by Gao Yuan’s quick response, Zhao Huanzhang thought, Dr. Gao’s compassion truly knows no bounds.

“Over here, I’m here!” a girl’s urgent voice called.

When they finally arrived, they found a mother and daughter. The mother was pale, sweating profusely, and breathing heavily, on the verge of fainting.

“Please, my mom... she’s been bleeding so much,” the girl cried.

Zhao Huanzhang looked down to see that the mother’s trousers were soaked in blood, which was still flowing. “Has she had a sudden haemorrhage?" he asked.

The girl nodded desperately, and Zhao Huanzhang’s heart fell. “Oh no, we didn’t bring any medicine or even the acupuncture kit, and we’re in the middle of nowhere. The closest clinic is nearly twenty miles away.”

At his words, the girl’s face paled even more, and she pleaded, “Please, you have to save my mom. Please!”

Zhao Huanzhang looked to Gao Yuan, who had been gazing at the girl thoughtfully.

With a steady tone, Gao Yuan said to the girl, “Don’t cry. I won’t let anything happen to your mom.”

The girl, teary-eyed, looked up at Gao Yuan, recognising the voice that had responded to her earlier.

Meeting her eyes, Gao Yuan reassured her firmly, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

The girl nodded with all her might.

Gao Yuan extended his hand towards Zhao Huanzhang, “Give me the cigarettes.”

Startled, Zhao Huanzhang replied, “But you don’t smoke.”

“Quickly!”