The Lucky Farmgirl

Director Xiao: "... The toxicity of cowpox is much smaller. Can cows still successfully contract smallpox? When inoculating human pox, we need to specially prepare the pox vaccine."

Manbao said: "Let’s give it a try. After all, we are not lacking in pox vaccine right now, just a few cows. We should try all methods and consider others if they don’t work."

Director Xiao thought for a moment, finding no fault with the words, so he nodded and added another allotment. But after doing so, he hesitated, "It seems we don’t have cows that came from the Western Regions anymore."

Manbao sighed, "Yes, what about those from the grasslands? My family estate has some cows brought from the grasslands."

"Are grassland cows the same as those from the Western Regions?"

"Not exactly the same, but they are closer to us. Maybe they are related?"

Director Xiao: "... All the cows in the world are relatives."

"That’s not necessarily true. For example, I am a human, and you are a human, but who can say we are relatives?"

The logic was impeccable, and for a moment, Director Xiao couldn’t refute, so he hesitated and said, "Buy two."

Manbao then waved his hand grandly, "Alright, let the supervisor contact my Fifth Brother and have him send the cows from the estate."

As for the remaining three cows, Director Xiao intended to use local ones, as surely we can’t always use cows from outside?

Coincidentally, there are also students graduating from the Imperial Hospital this year, and they can be brought in; two types of trials can be conducted together.

They cannot enter the infected zone, but they can do some auxiliary work, making the workload lighter for Zhou Man and Imperial Doctor Lu.

Director Xiao planned in his heart, once again feeling that eliminating those salary parasites was completely justified. The budget was much more flexible, and even maintaining three hundred people cost almost the same.

Feeling pleased, Director Xiao stroked his beard and said to Zhou Man, "Once the cows arrive, you and Imperial Doctor Lu can pick two for trial, one from our local breed and one from the grasslands."

Manbao obliged.

Director Xiao reminded Imperial Doctor Lu again, "For the matter of the twenty people inoculated with the number six and number seven cowpox, keep a close watch and compare how they fare against other cowpox strains."

Imperial Doctor Lu responded with an "alright."

Only then did Doctor Xiao prepare to leave.

Manbao enthusiastically saw him off, bringing up the matter of taking leave in a few days, "It won’t be long, just during lunch and rest time."

Director Xiao glanced at her, "Zhou Doctor, you usually deal with patients, how can you go outside?"

"Before going out, I will wash thoroughly from head to toe and wear clothes I have never worn before."

Seeing her so adamant, Director Xiao was curious, "What, is Deputy Magistrate Bai about to host a feast to grant a title again? Didn’t you say it would wait until after the Ministry of Personnel examination? That’s over a month away."

Manbao whispered, "I am going out to see a patient."

Director Xiao frowned, "At this time, you’re still taking private cases?"

Manbao replied, "If I don’t take it, she’s going to die. Even if an outside doctor can temporarily save her life, her health foundation will be damaged, and she won’t live long years. Moreover, she is the family of someone close, how could I decline?"

Director Xiao didn’t speak further. As imperial physicians, their work is unique, different from other officials. When friends or relatives seek them out, while they can find various reasons to refuse, they can turn to others for help.

But they cannot.

Usually, those who seek their help do so because they are sick, and whether they can be cured, they need definitive answers. Even if they cannot be cured, a way to find someone who can must be sought. If they brush it off like other officials and make excuses to refuse, it would be seen as careless disregard for life by friends and relatives.

It’s not just a mere misunderstanding; it could become enmity, even deadly enmity.

Therefore, those who seek medical help seldom get turned away unless absolutely unavoidable. They will still take a look and earnestly discuss whether it can be cured and how, leaving the belief up to the other party.

Now, certainly the royal estate here cannot have dealings; after all, this is a matter of life. Director Xiao asked her, "Are you sure you can cure it?"

Manbao nodded, "Yes."

Director Xiao also didn’t ask who the person was, nor what illness. He waved his hand, "Alright, but be quick; you only have one hour, no more."

Manbao promptly agreed, happily sending Director Xiao and the others off at the checkpoint before returning.

Director Xiao glanced back at her silhouette, huffed, "Being amiable when needed, discarding like old shoes when not."

Imperial Doctor Zheng was curious, "Who is Zhou Doctor treating?"

Director Xiao cast a glance at Imperial Doctor Liu, "Who knows?"

Imperial Doctor Liu indeed knew, but it wasn’t his granddaughter who told him. The child seldom discussed cases with him, but Zhou Man brought a case file to consult him about a prescription.

This condition also occurred in the palace, and external remedies were not as good as palace ones. Imperial Doctor Liu cautiously found two prescriptions for her upon returning to the Imperial Hospital.

Time was tight for Manbao, so Madam Tang prepared early. As soon as she left the royal estate, she could get on the coach and quickly travel to the Tang Residence.

Manbao even ate her meal on the carriage. Upon arriving at the Tang Residence, everything went smoothly. By the time she got there, Liu Sanniang was already there with a medical kit, having examined earlier. Upon arrival, Liu Sanniang reported, "The master’s medicine is excellent. The bleeding stopped the afternoon of the day before yesterday; yesterday, it was confirmed no further bleeding before informing you."

She added, "But the pulse is still weak, and I dare not greatly nourish her, fearing she can’t handle it."

Manbao nodded, felt Wang Ruile’s pulse, and nodded contentedly, "Showing some effectiveness. Relax, after two more dozen rounds of acupuncture, she will be able to walk. Careful nurturing is necessary afterward."

Following habit, she ushered everyone out, then guided the apprentice on acupuncture. As Assistant Doctor Liu produced the needle bag for the procedure, Manbao curiously pulled out the letter Madam Tang had given her en route from her sleeve. When she opened it, there was a thick stack of paper, not addressed to her but to Wang Ruile.

Manbao raised a brow, glanced at Wang Ruile in bed, then at the silhouettes cast on the screen, thinking that prominent families are indeed circumspect. If it was her family, her brothers would go straight to the door, doing what they will, much like her eldest sister back then...

Resuming her train of thought, Manbao handed the letter to Wang Ruile and told Liu Sanniang, "Start with the back. Today conduct three sets of acupuncture, tomorrow... forget it, continue for three consecutive days then reduce to two sets on the fourth day."

Liu Sanniang pretended not to see her master’s behavior or Wang Ruile’s actions and agreed.

Manbao lied shamelessly, "One of the acupuncture sets is my secret technique. You must apply it diligently, keep it in mind, and must not teach it to outsiders, understood?"

Liu Sanniang glanced at her master, agreed, and understood mentally that later when she performs acupuncture, she can also have attendants withdraw.

Liu Sanniang looked at Wang Ruile, aware that the master indeed dedicates much effort to her. It’s notable that in the Imperial Hospital, the master is known as the "Prolific Master" because irrespective of who asks or what the question, she answers if she can. Any acupuncture technique she knows, as long as it’s at a learnable level, she teaches.

Compared to the numerous Imperial Doctors who conserve familial secrets, this earned her the nickname of "Prolific Master." If today her words are spread, classmates at the Imperial Hospital would surely have thoughts.

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