Chapter 21: Treatment

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The few of them placed the old lady on a straw mat in the backyard.

Fortunately, the backyard of their house was big enough. Otherwise, they might not be able to fit a leper and still maintain their distance.

“What should we do now?” Gu Xiaoshun looked at the old lady on the ground and asked.

“Go wash your hands first,” Gu Jiao said.

The three of them washed their hands with clean water and acacia.

Then, Xiao Liulang entered his room and wrote a prescription.

Gu Jiao stood behind him and asked softly, “What’s this?”

Although Gu Jiao had inherited the Host’s memories, the Host could not read, so she did not recognize the words from this dynasty.

“A prescription.” Xiao Liulang said.

“What is this word?” Gu Jiao pointed at the first word on the prescription.

“This?” Xiao Liulang read it out, “Wolfberry root-bark.”

“And this?” Gu Jiao continued pointing.

“Sophora root, catnip, wild ginger…” Xiao Liulang recited the prescription according to where Gu Jiao was pointing.

Gu Jiao’s expression was very serious, as if she was really trying to read. Although it was a little inappropriate, Xiao Liulang did not think too much about it.

“Why do you have a prescription for leprosy?” Gu Jiao asked in confusion.

Xiao Liulang paused and said, “Back then, my brother was also infected with leprosy. A barefoot doctor gave him an ancestral prescription, and I saw with my own eyes that my brother’s condition improved after drinking it.”

The Host had accidentally heard him mention that his brother had leprosy. The Host was stupid and did not understand what leprosy was, so she did not take it to heart nor mention it to anyone.

Feng Lin knew about this; it was because Xiao Liulang’s brother had leprosy that he was despised by the villagers. That was why he left his hometown and came to Clearspring Town to study.

On the way, the two of them bumped into each other by chance. After asking his identity, Feng Lin realized that he was his childhood neighbor—however, Feng Lin’s family had moved away back then. After not seeing each other for many years, both of them had changed a lot; if he had not matched his name to his household register, Feng Lin would not be able to recognize him at all.

“Since he’d gotten better, why did he pass away?” Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Liulang lowered his eyes and said, “The news of him contracting leprosy leaked out, and he was taken to Leper Mountain by the soldiers. Not long after, he died of his illness on the mountain.”

So that’s how it was.

Gu Jiao nodded and said, “Is this the prescription for your brother’s treatment back then?”

Xiao Liulang nodded. “Her symptoms are very light now, similar to my brother’s back then. If she’s treated properly she might be cured.”

Gu Jiao had already understood the prescription. It was certainly indeed the right prescription, but it was slow to take effect and could only delay the development of leprosy. It would be a little difficult to cure it entirely.

However, Gu Jiao did not say anything.

Feng Lin took the prescription. “I’ll go get the medicine!”

Xiao Liulang reminded him, “Remember to go to a different medicine hall.”

Feng Lin paused for a moment and suddenly understood. “Got it!”

They could not let anyone see that this was a prescription for leprosy. Otherwise, they would be exposed.

“I’ll go too!” Gu Xiaoshun said.

“What are you going for?” Feng Lin did not want to go with him.

Gu Xiaoshun raised an eyebrow. “I’m keeping an eye on you so you don’t report it to the authorities!”

Don’t think I hadn’t heard you! This fellow was just urging Brother-in-law to send Sister to Leper Mountain as well!

Feng Lin rolled his eyes.

If Xiao Liulang had not touched the old lady, he would have reported it to the officials. However, Xiao Liulang had already touched her—if he reported it to the officials, Xiao Liulang would be arrested along with the others as well.

Regardless, Gu Xiaoshun stood firm, so Feng Lin had no choice but to bring him along.

They could not take the ox cart; it would be dangerous if word got out. The two of them went to several major medical halls in town on foot. About two hours later, they had brought all the herbs and even a medicinal jar.

Gu Jiao took the herbs to the kitchen to simmer.

While waiting for the medicine, Gu Jiao asked Xiao Liulang, “Why are you back? I heard that Gu Dashun has moved to the dormitories.”

Xiao Liulang told Gu Jiao about the collapse of their dorm.

As expected, Gu Jiao thought to herself, but she looked a little surprised. “Fortunately, you’re fine.”

Xiao Liulang gazed at her deeply.

The backyard was too cold. Gu Jiao tidied up the grain hut, moved a bamboo bed in, and spread some cotton on it. It could barely pass for a bed.

“You guys go out. I’ll feed her,” Gu Jiao said to them.

“Sister, be careful,” Gu Xiaoshun said worriedly.

“Don’t worry, I know my limits.” Gu Jiao sent them out and discreetly took out the small medicine box hidden in the basket.

Xiao Liulang’s judgment was right, this patient was indeed in the early stages of leprosy. Moreover, hers was a bacterial type—there was little skin damage, and it was less contagious. As long as she was treated for her illness, she could recover completely without any complications.

Her fainting was not caused by leprosy, but by fatigue. Her clothes were ripped, and her shoes were worn…

Gu Jiao could not help but think about the soldiers she met in town. Could it be… she’s the patient who escaped from Leper Mountain?

After the old lady regained consciousness, Gu Jiao gave her chlorobenzene sulfoxide and rifampin from the medicine box. In addition, she added a special medicine from the research institute.

As for the bowl of herbal medicine, she also tried feeding the old lady some, but she seemed to especially dislike bitter medicine and spat it all out with a look of disdain.

“Old lady, where are you from?” Gu Jiao inquired about her background so that she could send her back safely.

In the end, the old lady looked at Gu Jiao calmly, snorted, and fell asleep.

Gu Jiao:”…”

Gu Jiao packed her things and came out. She went to the backyard to wash her hands first.

“Sister!” Gu Xiaoshun, who had been waiting in the backyard, went over to her. “What took you so long?”

“The old lady drank the medicine slowly, so I had to feed her for longer,” Gu Jiao said casually.

“Um.” Gu Xiaoshun looked around and asked softly, “Sister, can she really be cured? I heard that leprosy can’t be cured.”

Gu Jiao smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, it can be cured.”

Gu Xiaoshun had never heard that leprosy could be cured, but for some reason, he believed his sister when she said this.

If Sister says it can be cured, it will definitely be cured!

It was getting late, so it was time for Gu Xiaoshun and Feng Lin to go back.

Before leaving, Feng Lin secretly said to Xiao Liulang, “Brother Xiao, I know you’re a righteous person and can’t bear to leave her in the lurch, but I still have to remind you that leprosy can’t be cured. Take advantage of the fact that no one in the village has noticed and send her away when she wakes up.”

He could not hold it against Xiao Liulang, because it was precisely this spirit of his that led to Xiao Liulang saving him from the great fire at the courier station without even knowing who he was.

Brother Xiao is simply a chivalrous person at heart.

“Also, pay attention to that evil woman. She interacted more with the patient. In case…”

“She has a name,” Xiao Liulang interrupted Feng Lin.

Feng Lin was stunned and looked at Xiao Liulang in confusion.

To be honest, Xiao Liulang was not a person who would warm up after interacting with someone for a long time. From beginning to end, he emanated an aura that kept strangers away. If not for the fact that he had saved his life back then, Feng Lin would probably think that he was an extremely cold person.

However, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Xiao Liulang had treated that evil woman differently recently.

Brother Xiao… you’ve changed!!!