Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Commonly Used Medicinal Herbs

Chapter 375: Commonly Used Medicinal Herbs

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Baili Jinghua waved, saying, “I can handle guns and knives, but you can’t depend on me with needlework and embroidery. I get a headache whenever you mention those things.

“You don’t know this, but my mother wanted me to be a well-bred lady and forced me to learn embroidery, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Now, my head hurts whenever I see or hear about those things.”

Baili Jinghua frowned as if she had a headache.

Su Binglan could not help but laugh when she saw Baili Jinghua like that. She asked, “Don’t you feel busy and tired at the hotpot restaurant?”

Baili Jinghua shook her head. “No, because the restaurant is very famous. Many people from various places know about the restaurant. Some will stop at the dock whenever they transport goods and stay in town for a night just to eat our snacks and delicacies.

“They love eating haggis soup, duck blood vermicelli, barbeque skewers, and hotpot. Those who come to our shop are always enthusiastic, while the older customers sometimes bring their local specialties for us to try.

“These people also buy snacks, roast ducks, preserved eggs, and tofu products before leaving. Those are foods you developed, Binglan. Don’t think the hotpot restaurant is the only busy place around town.

“The customers are polite to us, even the prominent business people. They just want to eat our hotpot.” Baili Jinghua smiled as she continued, “It’s interesting to do things like these. I can greet customers and learn many things about other places.

“Also, I told your brother to learn about my old acquaintance. I know my acquaintance will stay for only one day, so I can continue going to town the day after tomorrow.”

Su Binglan looked at Baili Jinghua’s expression and was relieved. She asked, “Does Baili Xihong’s father know you’re still alive?

Baili Jinghua thought of Baili Xihong’s father, and her expression turned cold. The corners of her mouth curled into a faint, mocking smile as she said, “I don’t know. He thinks we’re dead.”

Su Binglan looked at her friend and did not know how to comfort her. “You guys must’ve experienced some terrible things. Did his father bring his people to town?

Baili Jinghua shook her head. “No, it’s that person’s confidant. His confidant transported goods and stopped at the dock. He’s staying in town for a day.”

Su Binglan held Baili Jinghua’s hand and said, “Don’t think about that anymore. Rest at home tomorrow and keep Xihong company.”

“Yeah, I think so too.” Baili Jinghua seemed to have thought of something and said, “By the way, when I went to the Blue Mountain Academy, I heard from Mr. Kong that you want to open a cafeteria?

“Yes, setting up a cafeteria would be much more convenient for the students to eat. They can eat clean food without spending much money.”

Baili Jinghua played with the rope in her hand and said, “Binglan, your idea is perfect. It can genuinely help a lot of people. Soon, the students will be able to eat good food.

“It’s especially good since Xihong and the others are studying at the academy. Sometimes I’m too busy and can’t deliver food. Most of the time, Luo Jin’an takes the three children out for meals. I don’t even know how to thank you two.”

Su Binglan replied, “We’re just taking care of them. Even if Jin’an didn’t bring them out for a meal, I would have arranged for someone to send them food.

You don’t have to worry about these things.”

“Indeed, Xihong has been eating well. He likes to talk and smile now. He’s much better than before.” Even Baili Jinghua felt she had returned to her original self, let alone her son.

The two arrived at the village while talking. Then Bailing Jinghua brought her son home, while Su Binglan returned home.

Su Binglan still had many things to do. She would give consultations tomorrow and needed to prepare medicinal herbs with Su Wenxiu.

The siblings packed each type of medicinal herb in small bags with the herbs’ names written on them. Afterward, they planned to place the bagged herbs in the place where they treated patients.

Su Wenxiu was highly familiar with packing as he wrapped the herbs swiftly.

“These herbs,” Su Binglan said, “Pack them into small bags according to this ratio. They’re for fever and headaches. Also, wrap those herbs together. Those are for stomach problems. Those over there are for coughs and…”

Su Wenxiu was flabbergasted. He asked, “Little Sister, must I wrap these medicines up? What if no one has a headache or fever tomorrow?”

Su Binglan knew that doctors of this era would first take a patient’s pulse and then prescribe medicine according to each person’s specific condition. They typically did not prepare medicinal herbs in advance.

She explained patiently, “These are common illnesses, especially when the weather is cold. Catching a cold, a fever, and a headache is typical. These are regular medicine. You can prepare them in advance and provide them directly. When I have time, I’ll teach you how to concoct medicinal ingredients.”

Su Wenxiu listened attentively and asked in confusion, “Concoct medicinal ingredients?”

Su Binglan continued to wrap the herbs as she explained, “It’s to make medicinal herbs into pills and put them in small bottles. Then you won’t have to boil the medicine and taste its bitterness. One pill with water is equivalent to drinking a cup of bitter herbs.”

“P-Pills?” Su Wenxiu was amazed. Still, he knew his sister could do the things she said. “Sister, teach me how to make this kind of medicine.”

“Okay, you should study medicine first. You should also look at the medical skills I’ve taught you these past few days.” Su Binglan knew she still had a lot of things to do.

She wanted to open a medical school and a pharmacy for her second brother in the future. Having a pharmacy nearby would make it more convenient for many people.

Then they would not have to line up for consultations. If they had any daily problems, they could go to the pharmacy and talk to the nursing staff, and the staff would give them corresponding medicine based on their symptoms.

Since some villages were more remote, the villagers could not access doctors easily. Moreover, there were too few doctors in this era.

Without a specialized school, many doctors did not teach their medical skills to outsiders and would only pass them on to their descendants or maybe only one apprentice. However, those doctors’ medical skills might not even be good.

Meanwhile, those with excellent medical skills had either gone to the palace to be imperial physicians or lived in seclusion.

If there was a pharmacy, those who only knew pharmacology but did not know how to do full checkups could look after the store. Also, if the villagers had an emergency, they could buy medicine for emergency treatment.

Still, one could not achieve these things overnight. One would have to start a business and make money first. After all, one could only do more things when one had a large amount of money.

Su Binglan busied herself until late in the evening. She told her family about the cafeteria during dinner.

“Father, Mother, I’m considering letting Luo Kang and his family care for the cafeteria at the academy..”