A Good Country Wife
Chapter 583 - 577_1

Chapter 583: Chapter 577_1

Lin Yue remained neutral towards Madam Zhou’s behavior, simply waiting for Doctor Zheng’s arrival. Though Doctor Zheng was skilled in medicine, he didn’t have the most effective method for Lin Qing’s cough. He suggested Lin Qing continue with the previous prescription, saying, "My medical skills are limited. If the Family Head were here, perhaps he would have a better solution."

Doctor Zheng’s remarks showed that he truly had done his best. However, Lin Qing’s cough was so severe that if it continued and led to pneumonia, it would be troublesome, as the ancient medical conditions were not favorable. In those days, contracting pneumonia was much more serious and difficult to treat than suffering from a common cold.

After some thought, Lin Yue wrote down two prescriptions on a piece of paper. One was an old prescription her family had used before, and the other was for a cough syrup made from Fritillaria and loquat. The ingredients in both prescriptions were mostly the same, and Lin Yue had used these two with good effect when suffering from a severe cough. Having used them several times, she had memorized the recipes and wrote them down now for Doctor Zheng to review to see if they could help.

"Doctor Zheng, these are two prescriptions I happened to come across. Both are for treating coughs. I wonder if they could be helpful for my brother’s condition. Could I trouble you, Doctor Zheng, to take a look?" Lin Yue said as she handed the paper with the prescriptions to Doctor Zheng.

Doctor Zheng took the prescriptions and examined them thoroughly, his face unable to hide his astonishment and delight as he read, "Each of these prescriptions has its own genius. They are absolutely feasible for treating your brother’s condition. How did it not occur to me to consider these methods? Miss Lin, where did you obtain these prescriptions?"

Doctor Zheng didn’t intend to pry, but out of sheer joy, he asked without much thought. Since Lin Yue had brought it up, she naturally had an origin in mind, "They are from a book that Zhao Erhu brought back from the West. At the time, I thought they might be useful, so I noted them down. I didn’t know if they would work, but now they seem to be quite useful. Since you think these prescriptions can be used, I’ll have someone get the herbs so that my brother can take them. But, Doctor Zheng, which of the two do you think is better to use?"

"Both prescriptions have their advantages and shortcomings. I’ll take the best of both and revise them into a new prescription." Doctor Zheng already had an idea in his mind and promptly wrote down the modified prescription.

Lin Yue had complete trust in Doctor Zheng’s medical expertise. Once Doctor Zheng had finished revising the prescriptions, she immediately had someone fetch the herbs to prepare the medicine for Lin Qing to drink. This time, Doctor Zheng absolutely refused to accept a consultation fee.

"Doctor Zheng, while we are on good terms, the consultation fee must still be paid. Besides, you’ve traveled a long way to Shanglin Village, and your time has been taken up treating my elder sister’s illness over the past few days. I’m very grateful for that, and it’s unthinkable for me to take advantage of you concerning the fee. I simply couldn’t feel at ease otherwise."

"Miss Lin need not worry. Truth be told, ever since getting to know you, I have learned much from you, in both life and medicine. If it weren’t for you, the Family Head wouldn’t have instructed me in medical skills. For me, that is the most crucial thing. Furthermore, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it that you require, Doctor Zheng? Please feel free to tell me."

"It’s about these prescriptions. They are truly remarkable, but since they came from you, I would like to have the audacity to ask for them from you. Would that be possible?" In the past, Doctor Zheng might have considered purchasing them with silver, but knowing Lin Yue’s status now, he was aware that she wouldn’t care about such a small amount of silver, hence his request.

Lin Yue naturally had no reason to refuse, especially since she had already told Doctor Zheng the prescription, and she supposed Doctor Zheng must have committed it to memory. Even if he used it later without her knowing, and even if she did find out, she couldn’t really do anything about it. The fact that Doctor Zheng could speak so openly about it was a true testament to his character and open-mindedness.

"I came across this prescription by chance, and since it’s useful, Doctor Zheng, please feel free to take it and benefit even more people with it."

"In that case, I must thank Mistress Lin. Your kindheartedness and compassion are truly incomparable. You will surely receive great fortune for this." Doctor Zheng saw Lin Yue’s quick agreement as expected, and considering he was getting the better end of the deal, he took another porcelain bottle from his medicine box.

"This is Immunity-boosting Pills that our Jimin Hall has developed. It has the effect of warming and supplementing qi and blood. You may have your brother take one pill daily, and it will be very beneficial for his health."

Lin Yue took the porcelain bottle, a thought stirring in her heart. The name Immunity-boosting Pills sounded very familiar to her; she remembered it being mentioned in ’The Dream of the Red Chamber’, with effects somewhat similar to what Doctor Zheng described. She didn’t expect that Jimin Hall would have such pills available.

"Doctor Zheng, are these pills made by your pharmacy and then sold at the counter? Do you have other finished medicinal pills as well?" As Lin Yue spoke, she also poured out the pills to look at them. The pills were brownish-black, ten in total, each about the size of a thumb. They didn’t look very appealing, and they gave off a strong medicinal scent. Of course, it didn’t matter how the pills looked, as long as they were effective and produced the desired therapeutic effect.

Doctor Zheng didn’t try to guess what Lin Yue intended by asking, and he answered without any concealment. Given the relationship between Mistress Lin and the Family Head, if she wanted to know something, the Family Head probably wouldn’t keep even more confidential matters from her, let alone such matters which could be easily discovered by simply inquiring at the pharmacy. There was no need to hide anything.

"Correct, they are produced by the pharmacy and then sold over the counter. The Jiang Family is a medicine aristocratic family, and naturally, our Jimin Hall has more than just this one kind of medicinal pill. We have several different types, all with varying effects. The Immunity-boosting Pills are one of the best-selling varieties in the pharmacy, priced at two taels of silver per bottle."

When Lin Yue heard Doctor Zheng mention the price, she was somewhat taken aback. Indeed, whether in the past or present, the medicine industry has always been one of the most profitable and exploitative, charging such a price for just a tiny bottle with merely ten pills—when actually, the cost of the medicinal materials used didn’t even amount to one-tenth of this price. The high cost must be due to the prescription.

Lin Yue understood it clearly; the logic of doing business is actually the same everywhere. Different pharmacies produce pills with varying effects, and that’s why Jimin Hall can sell them at such a price. If another pharmacy were to sell them, the price might be lower, but the effects wouldn’t be as good.

Indeed, as Lin Yue considered this, Doctor Zheng saw her surprise at the price and smiled as he explained, echoing the thoughts in Lin Yue’s mind, "Perhaps Mistress Lin finds the price of the Immunity-boosting Pills a bit steep. In fact, if it were any other pharmacy, a bottle of these pills would only cost one tael of silver, which is half our price. However, those who know their goods prefer to buy from our Jimin Hall, well aware that our pills are more effective. Those who are willing to spend the silver for these pills care most about their efficacy and do not skimp on the expense."

"You are right, Doctor Zheng. If the efficacy is not good, then the silver is indeed wasted. If it were me, I too would be willing to pay double the price for Jimin Hall’s product. Not to mention anything else, just having the reputation of Big Brother Jiang being the number one Divine Doctor in Dazhou makes it all the more extraordinary."

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