My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 157 Applying Medicine in Pingding Village

“It just so happens that the Sixth Prince is in Fuchun right now, we can try asking him,” Lin Ziping said.

Hu Rongrong looked at Lin Ziping hopefully and asked, "Do you have any ideas?"

Lin Ziping shook his head: "I don't know where he is either, but you can try your luck at Fuchunlou."

Hu Rongrong knelt down with a thud.

Lin Ziping was shocked and quickly stepped forward to help her up: "Miss Hu, what are you doing?"

"Officer Lin has saved me from danger many times. I was ignorant before and framed you. Officer Lin, you saved me again without holding a grudge. From now on, my life belongs to you." Hu Rongrong pushed Lin Ziping away, touched her forehead to the ground, and kowtowed deeply.

"What are you doing? Get up!" Lin Ziping squatted down and pulled Hu Rongrong away. "What would I do with your life?"

"I will never forget your life-saving grace," Hu Rongrong said.

Lin Ziping used all his strength to pull her up: "Didn't I say you were the one who saved you?"

Hu Rongrong pursed her lips: "Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

Lin Ziping chuckled and reached out to pat her head.

Hu Rongrong turned her head away and glared at Lin Ziping unhappily: "You can't just touch a woman's head like that."

Lin Ziping awkwardly withdrew his hand, forgetting that he was now a man, and changed the subject, saying, "I haven't decided what I want yet, just consider it as you owing me, and I'll ask you for it when I want something later."

"Is it a deal?"

"A word is settled!"

The two even gave each other a high five as a formality to witness the occasion.

"Alright, I have to get back to work," Lin Ziping said. "Are you going back to the carriage, or do you want to wander around for a while?"

Hu Rongrong seemed to have broken free of some shackles, and suddenly became vibrant and alive.

"I'm in an unfamiliar place, I'd better go back to the carriage by myself." She rolled her eyes at Lin Ziping after saying that, "You'll be out there alone less from now on."

Lin Ziping was taken aback, then burst into laughter, drew the knife from his waist and brandished it, "Look, this is my weapon."

“I know you’re powerful, but there are people even more powerful than you. That cave… Anyway, just listen to me. I still owe you a promise, so don’t die,” Hu Rongrong said.

"Understood." Lin Ziping put the knife back in its sheath. Although he didn't know why she had suddenly changed her mind, it didn't conflict with accepting her kindness.

When the two arrived at the village entrance, Zhang Dashun had already arranged for someone to set up a table, and two large pots were bubbling away.

Lin Ziping put on his mask and said to Zhang Dashun, "Everyone who's been called should cover their mouths and noses. If anyone has any wine at home, bring it and let's pour it over them."

“Lord Lin, you must be joking. These days, people can’t even get enough to eat. Who has wine? And even if they did, they wouldn’t waste it like this,” said a young man next to Zhang Dashun.

"Oh, right!" Lin Ziping slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing his mistake and blaming himself for not thinking about it for a moment.

"Then cover your mouth and nose, and keep your distance," Lin Ziping said loudly.

"Ding—" came the sound of a bell from behind.

Lin Ziping turned around, and a mule cart slowly approached, stopping in front of him shortly afterward.

The people in the car lifted the curtain and got out.

It was a middle-aged man wearing a red rupan (a type of traditional Chinese jacket) with orchid patterns embroidered on the sleeves. Behind him was a man wearing a short brown robe carrying a medicine box. Both of them were covering their mouths and noses.

The middle-aged man approached Lin Ziping, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Sir, my surname is Qian, and I am a doctor at the pharmacy. This is Zhu Zi. I have been ordered by the county magistrate to come to Pingding Village to administer medicine."

Lin Ziping clasped his hands in a fist salute to the middle-aged man and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Qian."

Then he nodded and greeted Zhu Zi: "Zhu Zi, you're here too."

Doctor Qian asked in surprise, "Does the constable know Zhu Zi?"

Lin Ziping nodded: "We are from the same hometown, and we came to Fuchun together."

Doctor Qian looked at the pillar, and seeing him nod, he smiled and said, "Then we're all acquaintances."

"Dr. Qian, I've already arranged for someone to boil the water. Let's get started without delay," Lin Ziping said.

Doctor Qian nodded: "There are still medicinal herbs in the cart. I'd appreciate it if you could arrange for someone to unload them."

Without Lin Ziping giving any instructions, Zhang Dashun led his men to the mule cart and began unloading the goods.

The application of medicine proceeded in an orderly manner. Zhu Zi was responsible for putting the medicinal herbs in a pot to boil, several young men from Pingding Village were responsible for scooping them out, and several women were responsible for distributing them.

Doctor Qian watched as Zhu Zi put the medicinal herbs into the water, and then sat down to the side.

I heard he was a doctor at the pharmacy, so after drinking the medicine, I lined up to see Doctor Qian.

Dr. Qian examines patients, and Zhu writes prescriptions; the two have a clear division of labor and work together seamlessly.

The patient, holding the prescription, placed ten copper coins in a cloth bag on the table.

The process was so smooth that Lin Ziping was dumbfounded.

Seemingly noticing Lin Ziping's confusion, Zhang Dashun said to him, "The village is remote, and it's not easy to see a doctor. Doctor Qian can't come for nothing; everyone does it this way."

Lin Ziping realized that Zhang Dashun was explaining the villagers' money.

Seeing how familiar everyone is with the process, it must be more than the first time. With limited personal abilities, what can Lin Ziping change? Just pretend I didn't see it.

In the end, there were more people queuing up for medical treatment than for taking medicine.

People used to say that it was difficult to see a doctor, but now Lin Ziping has a direct experience of the level of medical care in this era.

The village had so few doctors that it didn't even have a clinic.

This widespread illness is also related to this; many people couldn't get medical treatment, and as time went on, their whole families ended up bedridden.

Sigh, these days, it's not easy to even survive.

At some point, Hu Rongrong also appeared next to Lin Ziping, watching the people seeking medical treatment.

As the sun began to set, the administration of medicine and the consultation came to an end. Dr. Qian stood up to stretch his stiff shoulders, and Zhu Zi brought him a bowl of water.

Dr. Qian picked up the water, removed his face towel, and drank it all in one gulp.

Lin Ziping said, "Dr. Qian, you've really worked hard today."

Doctor Qian waved his hand and said, "Thank you for your trouble, officer."

"Shall we go back now and come back tomorrow?" Lin Ziping asked.

"We've almost finished with Pingding Village. Let's go check out Maomao Village tomorrow," said Dr. Qian.

Lin Ziping was somewhat surprised. What kind of miraculous medicine could cure him just by eating a bowl of it?

I thought this in my heart and asked it aloud.

Doctor Qian looked at Lin Ziping and laughed, "Officer, you must be joking. How can you keep applying medicine forever? Where will the medicine come from in the long run? Where will the money to buy the medicine come from?"

Lin Ziping was dumbfounded. Could it really be calculated like this?

In my own time, during the pandemic, I never saw anyone go and leave immediately after just one visit. Wouldn't that just be a show?

Judging from how Dr. Qian seemed to take it all in stride, this was definitely not an isolated case.

Lin Ziping looked behind him and saw Zhang Dashun arranging for people to scoop up the dregs of the medicine and collect the water used to wash the dishes. The villagers were quick and efficient, as if it wasn't the first time they had done this.

On the way back, Dr. Qian and Zhuzi got into the same mule cart they had come in, while Lin Ziping carried Hu Rongrong.

Thinking about today's events, Lin Ziping was somewhat absent-minded. Was the application of medicine in Pingding Village really over for today?