Volume One, Chapter 14: Tuberculosis Can Surprisingly Heal on Its Own

After seeing Shen Yubai consecutively take out four glass cups and then surprisingly produce a glass teapot, his mind went blank.

“A complete set of glass tea ware?”

The shopkeeper lost his composure.

Shen Yubai cupped his hands to the shopkeeper: “Please take a careful look.”

The shopkeeper’s beard trembled, and his palms were drenched in sweat.

He discreetly wiped his back and gently touched the teapot.

The texture was warm and smooth, without a single flaw.

But upon closer inspection, the shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly. “What a pity. Such excellent material, but the shape is rather clumsy. Otherwise, it could fetch a high price.”

The shopkeeper had always prided himself as a refined gentleman and naturally had some knowledge of tea ware.

At a glance, this set was indeed impressive.

A complete glass tea set was something rarely seen.

But the maker lacked the technical skill and experience; if a master had crafted it, the price would have been exorbitant.

Of course, if that were the case, it wouldn’t be the shopkeeper’s place to appraise it.

Usually, many scholars and gentlemen frequented his bookstore to gather leisurely; presenting such a tea set then would surely bring great prestige.

The shopkeeper was keen to keep it and set a high price: “I won’t beat around the bush. The material of this tea set is superb, but its shape is awkward and somewhat inferior. If you truly want to sell, I can offer 50 taels of silver.”

The price exceeded Shen Yubai’s expectations; recognizing the shopkeeper’s sincerity, he no longer bargained.

Shen Yubai purchased some historical books about the Great Yue from the bookstore and also bought a set of scholar’s stationery.

All told, he spent 23 taels.

With 27 taels left, Shen Yubai specifically asked to exchange two strings of coins, leaving 25 taels in silver pieces.

After stuffing the money into a cloth bag, he could only add some brush, ink, and inkstone; the paper and books he carried in his arms.

Once he stepped outside, Luo Erjiu and Mrs. Luo hurried over to load everything onto a handcart.

“Sold it?”

Mrs. Luo asked with delight.

Shen Yubai replied, “The shopkeeper said my handwriting is good, so he gave me some work and paid a deposit.”

The money earned from selling the glass tea set needed a plausible explanation; copying books was a perfect excuse.

Others would only assume the historical texts were for transcription, and even if none were found at home later, they would guess they were returned to the bookstore.

There was no need to elaborate on how happy Mrs. Luo and Luo Erjiu were.

The three then went to the largest clinic in the county, Tongjitang.

After waiting in line for half an hour, they finally saw an elderly doctor on duty.

Upon learning that Shen Yubai suffered from tuberculosis and was coughing blood, the doctor immediately took them to a private room.

The room was thick with the scent of mugwort.

“How long has it been?”

“More than three years. He’s been bedridden for three years, but recently, he’s been much better,” Mrs. Luo hurriedly responded.

The doctor furrowed his brows tightly.

Coughing blood had been severe, and bedridden for three years meant a certain death sentence.

Yet the patient looked quite spirited—could it be a temporary reprieve?

“Put your left hand out.”

Following orders, Shen Yubai placed his hand on a cloth pillow. The doctor felt his pulse for a while, frowning even more deeply. His eyelids drooped.

Mrs. Luo’s face turned pale with fear as the doctor asked Shen Yubai to change hands for another pulse reading.

“This isn’t right!”

The doctor looked utterly confused.

Mrs. Luo trembled like a leaf. “How is my child?”

The doctor examined Shen Yubai’s tongue and throat.

“Amazing, your tuberculosis has greatly improved.”

Though Shen Yubai had expected this, hearing it still filled him with joy.

Mrs. Luo’s heart finally relaxed, and she collapsed to the ground, overwhelmed by emotion, bursting into tears.

“Your child is much better, so why are you crying?”

Luo Erjiu, not skilled at comforting, said awkwardly.

Mrs. Luo nodded but choked on her sobs: “My son is much better. My son is alive!”

“Mother, the doctor said ‘much better,’ not fully cured,” Shen Yubai reminded gently.

Mrs. Luo shuddered and hurriedly asked the doctor, “Not fully cured? Will it worsen again? How should I care for him?”

The doctor stroked his beard, now smiling: “As long as he continues the medication and is served good meals, there won’t be any major problems.”

Relieved by the clear answer, Mrs. Luo wept with joy and expressed heartfelt thanks to the doctor.

The doctor waved his hand: “I haven’t done much. You should thank the physician who treated him. It’s unheard of for bedridden tuberculosis with hemoptysis to be cured—who is the miracle doctor?”

Mrs. Luo wiped her tears: “We didn’t hire a doctor. He healed on his own.”

The doctor was astonished: “A miracle, truly a miracle!”

Tuberculosis healing itself?

Mrs. Luo could no longer form complete sentences, so Luo Erjiu asked the doctor to prescribe some tonic medicine.

Shen Yubai did not refuse.

With medicine as cover, it was easier to explain his recovery.

“This illness requires good medication. One prescription costs 120 large coins. Can you afford it?”

Luo Erjiu’s face turned pale; unconsciously, he clutched his pocket.

The elder had given him 100 large coins in total; after spending nine entering the city, he only had 91 left—not enough for a single prescription.

Most village families’ medicine cost only a few large coins per dose—why was this so expensive?

Shen Yubai noticed Luo Erjiu’s embarrassment and said to the doctor, “There’s no need for such expensive medicine. Please prescribe something cheaper.”

The doctor glanced at their clothing and sighed silently, removing the costly drugs and replacing them with cheaper alternatives, lowering the price to 13 large coins per dose.

Still more expensive than what others took.

“Tuberculosis is not like other illnesses; it must be carefully treated. This medicine is already less effective than the previous. No further changes can be made,” the doctor said reluctantly.

Shen Yubai politely asked, “Could you prescribe several doses at once? We live in the countryside, and it’s not easy to come here.”

The doctor wrote out ten prescriptions, one per day, to be finished before returning for a follow-up.

Luo Erjiu breathed a big sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the money would suffice.

When they went to pay, Shen Yubai stopped Luo Erjiu and slipped a small silver coin into his hand.

Luo Erjiu wanted to refuse, but seeing Shen Yubai’s insistence, he accepted it.

After getting the medicine and leaving, Luo Erjiu returned the change to Shen Yubai.

“You earned this money with difficulty. Keep it safe; the medicine expenses will be high.”

Shen Yubai took the money and asked Mrs. Luo, “Mother, how much have you borrowed from your family?”

“Counting everything, nearly five strings of coins,” she said, ashamed.

All these years, they had relied on her family’s support.

Five strings equal five taels of silver.

Shen Yubai took out one tael and handed it to Luo Erjiu: “Repay one tael for now. I’ll pay back the rest gradually.”

Luo Erjiu refused at first but accepted after Shen Yubai’s persuasion, promising that if Shen Yubai needed money again, he could borrow from home.

Shen Yubai agreed to everything.

Though he had money, he didn’t want to flaunt it.

Now that he had the excuse of copying books, he could repay bit by bit over time until fully paid.

This delay meant it was already past noon when they left the city.

At Shen Yubai’s insistence, the three ate noodles before returning home.

They arrived in the late afternoon. Luo Erjiu hurried home, while Mrs. Luo carried the medicine to the kitchen to prepare it.

Shen Yubai sent a letter to Su Jin, informing her of his return.

But this time, no reply came.

He guessed that after telling her last night about his trip to the county, she must have gone to attend her own affairs.

Shen Yubai continued to copy books.

Only about an hour’s work remained.

Contrary to Shen Yubai’s assumption, Su Jin was not busy with her own matters but had encountered trouble.