Chapter 71 - Boneless Ginseng (1/2)

Chapter 71: Boneless Ginseng

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Xin’er? Xin’er?” Li Tai had no family aside from his one daughter. He protected her as if she was his lifeblood. He embraced her now, and the seven-foot-tall man shed endless tears.

“I’m sorry!” Su Jiu looked at Li Xin, who was still unconscious, and frowned.

Li Tai wiped his tears with his sleeve and shook his head, saying, “It is not your fault, Young Master. It was not intentional.”

“What is going on here?”

Li Tai, overcome for a moment, sighed. “Even before she was born, Xin’er has had a cold sickness. Her body has always been frail, and she is constantly ill. She cannot be exposed to anything intense or exciting. The physician said that, even if we took the utmost care, Xin’er would not live past eighteen years!” As he spoke, Li Tai gradually broke down into wordless tears.

Life and death were familiar concepts to Su Jiu. Her heart had hardened into iron long ago. But now, seeing Li Xin’s face full of weakness, it turned out that her heart could still feel distressed.

“Is there no medicine that can cure her?” Su Jiu asked.

Li Tai sadly shook his head no. Soon, the carriage came to a stop in from of the physician’s place. Su Jiu carried Li Xin out of the carriage and quickly ran inside.

“Doctor, please save my daughter!” Li Tai entered and immediately fell to his knees.

The old physician rushed to help up Li Tai. Seeing the girl in Su Jiu’s arms, he said quickly, “Hurry, put her on the bed!”

Su Jiu nodded and walked into the room. The doctor took her pulse then took out a single pill from a black porcelain bottle. He placed the pill under her tongue then used silver needles to reach the acupuncture points called Bai Hui, Feng Tian, Tian Zhu, and others. The flush on Li Xin’s face gradually faded, and she returned to her normal pale tone. Slowly, she woke up.

“Father!”

Li Tai went to her immediately. He took her hand. “Xin’er, I’m right here!”

The physician grabbed a pen and began to write a prescription, explaining softly, “Her body is too weak right now. I’m prescribing medicine that will warm and strengthen her. From now on, don’t let her get too hot or too cold, and do not let her get overly excited or agitated. This way, she could live…”

The old physician could not continue. He simply kept his head down and kept writing.

“Yes, yes!” Li Tai kept replying. He could not keep his voice from cracking.

Li Xin turned her hand over to take his. Her lips smoothed into a smile. “Father, don’t cry. I’m okay! When I grow up, I will be so good to you!”

“What a good girl!” Li Tai held Li Xin’s hand. He turned his head as the tears fell, drop by drop.

Qiao An and the others were teary-eyed as well. They turned and left the room. The physician finished writing the prescription and went out to have it filled. Su Jiu followed him, asking, “Is the young lady’s illness truly incurable?”

The old physician’s beard was grizzled, and his face was kind. He furrowed his brow and slowly shook his head. Su Jiu’s heart sank.

“Actually,” the doctor wondered aloud, “it’s not necessarily completely incurable.”

“If it is curable, it doesn’t matter how much it costs!” Su Jiu said immediately, a dash of hope springing forth in her clear eyes.

Li Tai had already worked at the tavern for over a month. He was attentive, earnest, honest, and dutiful. He was truly running the tavern as if it were his own business. On top of that, every single account was crystal clear without the smallest error. Also, this past month, Su Jiu had come over often and gotten to know Li Xin. She liked this responsible, precocious young lady. She wouldn’t be able to bear it if she died like this!

“The coldness is rooted deep into her bones and is truly difficult to treat. But once, I did study an old book that seemed to present a treatment method. The only problem is that the method involves an exceedingly rare ingredient. I have practiced medicine for nearly fifty years, and I’ve never come across it!”

“What medicine is it?” Su Jiu asked urgently.

“Boneless ginseng!” the physician said quietly.

“Boneless ginseng?” Off to the side, Qiao An heard them, and could not help but interrupt with surprise.

“Have you seen it, sir?” the physician asked in amazement.

Qiao An shook his head. “I have only also read about it in books. It’s said that boneless ginseng grows on the southern side of Moling Mountain. It grows on the body of something called the ‘mantle’ and feeds on its blood. Only one wisp grows every one hundred years. When nine wisps have grown, the herb falls from the mantle’s body. That is true boneless ginseng. For these nine hundred years, the mantle must stay alive for the boneless ginseng to grow. If the mantle dies after eight hundred years, then the boneless ginseng immediately wilts. It is incredibly difficult to find. Legend has it that boneless ginseng can grow muscle and produce blood. It can even bring back the dead!”

The physician smoothed his beard and nodded. “That’s right. Many people have heard about boneless ginseng, but not a single soul has ever seen it!”

In other words, this was not something money could buy.

“Thank you, doctor!” Su Jiu nodded dejectedly.

Once Li Xin felt a little better, everyone hurried back in the carriage. Li Tai sent Li Xin upstairs to rest. Su Jiu, Qiao An, and the others went to Yong’an Street to see the newly renovated restaurants. Seeing Su Jiu’s despondency, Qiao An pondered for a moment. He knew it was not for him to say, but he couldn’t help it.