The Lucky Farmgirl

Compared to the patients in the next ward who frequently have high fevers, or those whose pox emergence is slow, the five cows undergoing experiments in the barn are doing much better.

They should be the luckiest batch among the three groups of cows. After receiving the vaccine, they weren’t very uncomfortable and had delicious bean feed to eat. So every day, when Manbao and Imperial Doctor Lu came to see them, they happily wagged their tails, and they behaved well when they occasionally went out for a walk, especially enjoying the fresh grass in the fields.

The grass had only just sprouted, very tender, so tender that Manbao herself felt tempted to eat some as she watched them eat.

It really looked delicious.

They were so happy, which suggested that this time the pox had not been too uncomfortable. Imperial Doctor Lu only detected a slight increase in temperature once, which was just mildly warm, not requiring any medication. They drank more water, went out to eat their favorite grass, and then returned to eat the nutritious bean feed. After two meals, they were back to normal.

Moreover, every cow had relatively few poxes. In the previous two batches, even the cow with the fewest poxes had over a hundred, and it took Manbao a whole morning to handle them all. But this time, she and Imperial Doctor Lu calculated carefully: the cow with the most poxes had sixty-seven, while the others ranged between fifty-three and sixty-five.

This was directly half or even less than the previous batches of cows.

What does this imply?

For the doctors, they gauge the severity of the virus based on the quantity of the poxes and the response during the breakout. Both in terms of number and reaction, these cows experienced the mildest virulence.

Director Xiao and the others came to observe personally, all very excited. After some thought, they said, "Keep a close watch. There’s no need to wait for this batch to fully recover before vaccinating the new patients. Once the cowpox reaches maturity, extract it for vaccination immediately.

The process was quite rapid, and on the fifth day, the last pox fully matured and scabbed over. So Manbao and Imperial Doctor Lu began extracting the poxes anew.

When they occasionally felt nauseated from the process, they would visit the adjoining ward to check on the patients, discharging those who had recovered, setting aside those nearing recovery, and focusing especially on those still feverish with poxes.

This time, Manbao took leave to visit Wang Ruile only after extracting all the cowpox and preparing them. Her condition was stable and steadily improving. After seven days of acupuncture and medication, her complexion looked slightly better.

Manbao was satisfied and told Assistant Doctor Liu, "Starting today, administer acupuncture every other day."

Wang Ruile felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this, as she and Madam Tang had been communicating via Assistant Doctor Liu. With appointments every other day, news would only come every other day too.

Manbao routinely ushered everyone out, instructed Liu Sanniang on the acupuncture techniques, left another prescription, and advised Liu Sanniang, "When you get back, record the pulse cases and prescriptions, study them; if you have questions, write to Fifth Brother and have him bring it in for me."

She said, "Some prescriptions might be hard to grasp at first, but over time with more study, you’ll understand their advantages and disadvantages."

Liu Sanniang nodded earnestly and asked, "Master, when should we invite you next time?"

Manbao thought for a moment and said, "Notify me when her pulse shows signs of dryness. If not, you can continue using this acupuncture method and prescription."

Aunt Ma was eavesdropping from outside, making a mental note to write it down later, but she knew this was not enough information. So when Zhou Man came out, she immediately approached and asked, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, how is my lady?"

"There is slight improvement."

She continued, "If before she was like a dry well with only slightly moist mud and stones at the bottom retaining life, and there were leaks at the bottom, constantly losing vitality, now the bottom leaks are sealed, vitality no longer escapes, and a shallow scoop of water has developed at the well’s bottom."

Aunt Ma was stunned, and even Liu Sanniang was taken aback, asking, "Master, how much water would be considered healthy?"

"Water symbolizes vitality and life, representing future longevity. At her age, naturally, she would need more than half a well of water to be normal. At the very least, it should be deep enough to submerge two adults lying head-to-toe; otherwise, her longevity could be affected. It may appear to be better on the surface, but it’s merely superficial."

Aunt Ma couldn’t help but exclaim, "No wonder Imperial Doctor Zhou is renowned as the little Miracle Doctor of the capital."

Though flattered, Manbao couldn’t help but smile at the compliment, even if it came from an adversary.

Madam Tang remained silent for a while and couldn’t help but ask after escorting Manbao out, "Will her... longevity be affected?"

Manbao replied, "It’s impossible for there to be no effect at all. She’s had too many miscarriages, and the suffering she experienced when young will manifest little by little in her later years."

Seeing Madam Tang’s somber expression, she reassured her, "But don’t worry too much, once she’s out of the woods, with proper care, there might still be a way to make up for it."

Manbao added, "Human longevity is strange; it is influenced by the body, diet, environment, and mood. Who’s to say that a well-cared-for invalid couldn’t outlive someone healthy who indulges excessively and never exercises?"

Madam Tang felt a bit better hearing this.

Manbao was curious, "It’s already past Tomb-Sweeping Day; why haven’t you taken action yet?"

Madam Tang: "...Are you eager for us to take action? Wait, how do you know what we’re planning? Have you been reading my letters?"

Manbao confidently replied, "Just a guess. The more intricate the plan, the more cautious you need to be. If it were just a simple act of causing a scene and backing her up, at that time, when discovered, it would have been best to act. It’s been half a month, and you’re still sneaking messages, which shows how much you’re planning to achieve."

Madam Tang tapped her on the forehead, "You’ve learned nothing good from your Senior Brother Tang, only how to use your brain in these ways."

After tapping her, she continued, "You’re right, our ambitions are indeed vast. We’ve been busy with Tomb-Sweeping Day recently, but now we can proceed. In about a month, there will be results."

Manbao: "Another whole month?"

Madam Tang gave her a sidelong look, "Do you think it’s easy? This involves several lives and many people’s futures, careful planning is necessary."

Actually, it was all under Lord Tang’s advisement, who said, if you’re going to do it, do it beautifully, so that not only can your sister receive justice, but she does not suffer any slander.

She endured the pressure to plan so much for that reason.

Madam Tang couldn’t bear to see Manbao shaking her head and sighing, so she changed the subject, "By the way, today is the Ministry of Rites’ examination, correct?"

Manbao sighed even more deeply and nodded, "Yes, but I can only be out for an hour, and now I have to return to the imperial estate. Tomorrow is another vaccination day, and I really can’t stay out long."

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