Chapter 59: A Good Deed

Whether it was because she was struck by Shao Diandian's words or intimidated by the powerful aura radiating from her, Madam Fu unusually refrained from talking back.

When Shao Diandian handed two white pills and a spoonful of warm water to her lips, she obediently took them.

"That's more like it."

Shao Diandian put down the cup with satisfaction.

Her earlier emotional outburst stemmed not only from frustration at a patient who showed no regard for her own life, but also from thinking of Old Man Shao, who had returned from an escort mission only to be separated by death from Madam Chen, a shadow he had yet to escape from to this day.

And then there was herself—she would never be able to return to the twenty-first century alive.

In that world, she was a dead person.

Shao Diandian was not one to dwell on negative emotions for long, and her ability to regulate her state of mind was exceptionally strong.

She quickly got down to business: "Aren't you going to ask what I just gave you?"

Madam Fu's body was warming up, and her speech had become agile again, though her attitude remained as lukewarm as ever.

Madam Fu said coldly, "What could it be? Do you really think your folksy concoction can cure people?"

She had seen plenty of rural folk remedies in her time, and quite a few had ended up killing people.

Shao Diandian did not argue with her.

Facts spoke louder than words. With high blood pressure, one's body was bound to feel miserable. Once the medicine took effect and she felt comfortable, she would realize just how accurate and miraculous her "folksy concoction" truly was.

Shao Diandian continued, "You've never mentioned your condition to Physician Fu, have you? Did you think the headaches and dizziness were minor issues? That the numbness in your limbs was just from sitting too long? Or were you simply avoiding the doctor out of fear?"

Madam Fu said impatiently, "Why are you talking so much today?"

Shao Diandian replied, "I talk a lot because I care about you."

Madam Fu retorted ungraciously, "Who asked you to care? Is your care worth anything?"

Look at this eccentric temper. Wei Ting, Jing Yi, and her were simply on completely different levels.

While those two had cold personalities, Madam Fu possessed an intensely fiery liver coupled with a fiercely sharp tongue, which explained why all her neighbors were terrified of being scolded by her.

Yet, to say she was a wicked person was something Shao Diandian could not agree with.

This wasn't their first interaction with the Fu family. Initially, she assumed that Physician Fu's medicinal herbs were of top quality and unadulterated purely because of his high medical ethics, but upon closer observation, one would find that Madam Fu was equally honest in her dealings.

Her dried goods were the best in the market, and her weights were always more than generous. Short-changing was out of the question; instead, she usually threw in an extra ounce or two.

Physician Fu saw many patients, yet the silver he earned was scarce, largely because many impoverished commoners could not afford the consultation fees.

And Madam Fu—foul-tempered, harsh-tongued, and notorious for scolding the entire neighborhood—had never once complained about this.

Shao Diandian huffed, "I'm not arguing with you anymore. I'm going to make dinner."

Madam Fu scolded, "You actually want to cook in my house?!"

Shao Diandian akimboed: "I've been busy for so long, cold and hungry. What's wrong with having a meal? If you've got the ability, hit me!"

Madam Fu looked at her splinted leg and grew so furious that even her wrinkles seemed to tremble.

Shao Diandian flashed a triumphant smile, clapped her hands, and said, "Alright, stop getting angry. Lie down and sleep for a bit; it'll help the medicine take effect faster."

The medicine's effect?

Ha!

A little girl who sold braised dishes and pastries actually thought she could casually whip up some rural remedy to cure her years of dizziness?

At best, she believed this girl wasn't intentionally trying to poison her, but as for any actual therapeutic effect? She wouldn't believe it even if it killed her!

--

Shao Diandian went to the kitchen and brewed a pot of seaweed, egg, and non-glutinous rice porridge. Seaweed replenished potassium and acted as a diuretic, aiding in blood pressure reduction, while non-glutinous rice nourished yin, tonified the kidneys, brightened the eyes, and promoted blood circulation, which also helped alleviate Madam Fu's current symptoms.

Additionally, she pan-fried a few preserved vegetable pancakes for herself and Shao Erdan.

A man is made of iron and grain is the steel; she wasn't going to stand on ceremony with Madam Fu.

When she finished cleaning the pot and returned it to the next-door neighbor, she brought along a basket of dried goods.

"These are a token of Madam Fu's appreciation. Please accept them," Shao Diandian said with a smile.

The woman looked at the basket brimming with large, beautiful dried mushrooms, thinking of the pot of chicken stewed with mushrooms she could make for her husband and son that evening, and ultimately couldn't bring herself to refuse.

"If anything comes up, just give a shout. Physician Fu often goes out on house calls and won't return for three to five days at a time. Those remote villages have no money to be made and the roads are treacherous; nobody else is willing to go. Only Physician Fu doesn't mind the distant mountains and remote paths, happily playing the fool!"

Shao Diandian sighed, "Ah, isn't it because Madam Fu allows it? Madam Fu says that rather than suffering a bit herself, she cannot bear to let poor commoners go without medical treatment."

The woman recalled that the sharp-tongued old crone indeed had never made things difficult for poor patients. Even though people on the entire street had been scolded by her, she had neither refused a consultation nor chased away patients who couldn't afford the medicine.

Thinking of this, the woman fell silent.

Shao Diandian smiled, "Anyway, let me thank you on behalf of Madam Fu first."

After that, Shao Diandian returned to the Fu residence, packed another basket of dried goods, and delivered it to another household in the neighborhood.

"Madam Fu says they've been dried long enough, and with such humid weather, they'll spoil if not eaten. If you don't mind, you can take them to make soup; they're very nourishing."

...

As evening approached, Shao Diandian shouldered a sack of peanuts and walked off with heavy steps.

Madam Fu sat on her bed, glaring furiously and shouting, "Stinking girl! What did you take this time!"

Shao Diandian replied righteously, "Medicine and consultation fees!"

Madam Fu: "...!!"

She had been conned! A rural folk remedy had cost her a huge sack of peanuts—what a colossal, miserable loss!

That night, two incredible things happened in the Fu household.

First, Madam Fu's symptoms had lessened—her palpitations and shortness of breath were gone, her headache had vanished, her dizziness was vastly alleviated, and the numbness in her limbs was no longer present.

Second, the neighbors who usually never interacted with her suddenly came knocking!

One brought her a bowl of piping hot chicken stewed with mushrooms and helped her to the latrine.

Another helped stoke her brazier and left behind a stew pot of white fungus soup and several preserved vegetable buns.

Both of them even said they would come see her again tomorrow morning!

Madam Fu felt as though she had seen a ghost!

--

Shao Erdan was simple-minded; he merely assumed his sister had given Madam Fu a couple of acupressure strikes. Since she had some martial arts training, it wasn't strange.

As for feeding her medicine and such, he hadn't witnessed it.

By the time the two siblings returned to the village, it was pitch dark.

Old Man Shao was somewhat anxious. Although Zhang Dao had left town and no one else could pose a threat to the siblings, his heart remained unsettled as long as the children hadn't returned.

When he went to the village entrance for the seventeenth time to look out, he finally caught sight of his eldest daughter's silhouette.

"Big girl!"

He let out a long sigh of relief, his mood clearing up instantly. "Why did you come back so late?"

Shao Erdan recounted what had happened at Madam Fu's house: "... Sis extorted a whole sack of peanuts from her!"

Shao Kang gave his eldest daughter a thumbs-up: "As expected of my daughter!"

Shao Diandian: "..."

...

The three little ones hadn't seen their mother all day and were all wilted like frosted eggplants.

When they finally waited for Shao Diandian's return, the three of them didn't immediately rush over; instead, they scurried into Shao Erdan's room.

Facing the wall, the three of them presented Shao Diandian with three aggrieved little backs.