freenovelworld Chapter 518: Saving the City's Surname
Chapter 518: Saving the City's Surname
With Fang Xiaoxiao's encouragement and meticulous care, the woman finally survived the most difficult time.
More than a month later, the sores on the woman's face had mostly disappeared, leaving only some faint marks, like the shallow imprints left by time.
"Miss Fang, your kindness is beyond repayment."
The woman returned to Lingxi Pavilion, her face beaming with joy and gratitude. Her smile was as radiant and captivating as a flower blooming in spring.
Looking at the woman who had recovered completely, Fang Xiaoxiao was filled with relief: "Miss, you must be more careful in the future and never trust others again or get involved with these harmful things."
The woman nodded solemnly: "Having gone through this ordeal, I have learned a great lesson and will cherish this hard-won health."
During the treatment of the mysterious woman, Fang Xiaoxiao gradually discovered a shocking and terrifying phenomenon.
During this period, many diners who came to the restaurant to eat medicinal cuisine also inadvertently developed large and small sores on their faces and hands. The symptoms were exactly the same as those of the mysterious woman, all red, swollen and ulcerated, which was shocking to see.
After a series of meticulous inquiries and a thorough investigation, Fang Xiaoxiao's intelligent eyes revealed a determined light. She concluded that all of this was caused by the evil Five-Stone Powder.
Seeing so many patients suffering in agony, Fang Xiaoxiao's kind heart felt like it was being scorched by a raging fire, and anxiety and worry shrouded her heart like a dark cloud.
Knowing that time was of the essence and there was no room for hesitation or delay, she resolutely decided to save lives first, no matter the cost.
Night fell as dark as ink, quietly enveloping the bustling city of Kyoto.
Inside the kitchen of Lingxi Pavilion, however, the lights were on, making it look like a dazzling pearl in the darkness.
Fang Xiaoxiao was dressed in a simple plain dress, with the sleeves rolled up high, revealing her fair and slender arms.
She was completely absorbed in making the medicinal cuisine, her focused expression suggesting that the whole world had shrunk to just the stove and herbs in front of her.
First, the first major challenge facing Fang Xiaoxiao was the scarcity of medicinal herbs.
The store's inventory of some key medicinal herbs, such as honeysuckle for clearing heat and detoxifying, and red peony for cooling blood and reducing swelling, is already running low.
Fang Xiaoxiao frowned as she anxiously searched through the warehouse.
Her eyes were urgent, and beads of sweat slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the old wooden floor.
The warehouse was filled with the rich aroma of herbs, but she had no mind to appreciate it at the moment; she had only one thought in her mind: she had to find enough medicinal herbs.
Just when she was filled with sorrow and almost fell into despair, her husband Pei Yan appeared firmly beside her like a ray of dawn.
Pei Yan looked at his wife's tired and anxious face and felt a pang of pain in his heart.
Knowing his wife's determination and sense of responsibility, he didn't hesitate at all. He quickly put on a slightly worn coat and rushed into the deep night without looking back.
The streets outside were deserted, and the cold moonlight shone like water on the stone pavement, reflecting Pei Yan's lonely and hurried figure.
His footsteps echoed through the quiet streets as he searched for the pharmacies that were still open.
Many pharmacy owners were awakened from their sleep by his urgent knocking, their faces filled with impatience and anger.
Some even shouted at him through the door, refusing to let him in.
But Pei Yan's steps never faltered for a moment; his heart burned like a blazing flame, fiery and resolute.
Sweat soaked through his clothes, and his hair clung to his forehead, but his eyes remained full of hope.
Finally, in a corner of the city, in a small pharmacy that was about to close, Pei Yan, with his persistence and sincerity, found some of the urgently needed medicinal herbs.
However, there are still a few precious and rare medicinal herbs that have not been found.
Pei Yan took a deep breath, dragged his heavy legs, and continued his search through the deserted streets.
As dawn approached and the warm orange light bathed his exhausted body, Pei Yan finally returned to Lingxi Pavilion with all the medicinal herbs, his steps faltering.
When Fang Xiaoxiao saw Pei Yan return, a hint of relief finally flashed in her worried eyes. But new challenges came one after another like surging waves.
The control of heat and time required for preparing medicinal cuisine is extremely precise and crucial; even a slight deviation will greatly reduce the efficacy of the carefully prepared medicine.
Fang Xiaoxiao found it difficult to manage multiple stoves on her own, and just when she was at her wits' end, Zhou Wenjian stepped forward.
Zhou Wenjian was originally an ordinary waiter in Lingxi Pavilion, but he had a unique love and talent for cooking.
At that moment, he stepped forward, his resolute gaze seeming to tell Fang Xiaoxiao, "Don't worry, I'm here." He walked into the steaming kitchen, stood in front of the stove, and, following Fang Xiaoxiao's instructions, focused intently on controlling the heat.
The flames in the stove leaped and danced, illuminating Zhou Wenjian's focused and serious face.
His eyes were fixed on the changes in the fire, and his hands skillfully adjusted the ventilation openings of the stove, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent or careless.
Just as the medicinal cuisine was about to be completed, Fang Xiaoxiao's keen eyes noticed a slight deviation in the seasoning ratio.
If adjustments are not made in time, the entire batch of medicinal cuisine, which has been painstakingly prepared, will be wasted.
In that instant, the air seemed to freeze, and a tense atmosphere permeated every corner of the kitchen.
At this critical moment, Ouyang Tuoba stepped forward. He was known for his mastery of arithmetic and proportions, and at this moment he displayed his extraordinary talent.
Ouyang Tuoba quickly picked up the paper and pen beside him, his brows furrowed, his eyes focused and sharp.
His mind raced, and his pen flew across the paper, writing complex formulas and data with lightning speed.
Fang Xiaoxiao paced anxiously to the side, her hands clasped tightly together, her eyes fixed on the pen in Ouyang Tuoba's hand, as if time had stopped flowing at that moment.
Finally, after some intense calculations, Ouyang Tuoba arrived at the accurate result.
He called out the numbers loudly and clearly, his voice standing out loudly in the tense kitchen.
Fang Xiaoxiao quickly followed his instructions and made adjustments decisively and precisely.
With everyone working together and holding their breath, the medicinal cuisine was finally completed successfully amidst numerous dangers.
Fang Xiaoxiao leaned against the wall, exhausted, panting heavily as if she had just gone through a fierce battle.
Pei Yan tenderly handed her a cup of steaming water, the vapor blurring his concerned gaze: "Xiao Xiao, take a rest for a while, don't overwork yourself."
Fang Xiaoxiao shook her head slightly, her gaze firm and determined: "No, time is of the essence, we have to get it to the patient as soon as possible."
The first batch of medicinal meals was quickly distributed, carrying everyone's high expectations and hopes. However, as time passed, the effects were not as significant as anticipated.