Song Jinzhao pried open the man's eyelids to check his pupils, then decisively inserted a silver needle into his philtrum acupoint.
The moment the man woke, he felt a sharp pain on his head. He was about to struggle when Song Jinzhao pressed down on his arm.
"Don't move. How does your head feel now? Still dizzy?"
Seeing that the person questioning him was a young woman, the man's mind went blank for a second. He answered in a daze, "A bit dizzy... feels heavy."
Song Jinzhao raised her index finger and held it before his eyes. "Follow this with your gaze. Can you see it clearly?"
The man: "Yes."
Song Jinzhao narrowed her eyes and said to Song Shixue, "Clean the wound for me."
She stood up and walked to the shelf to prepare the tools needed for suturing.
Just as Song Shixue finished applying the anesthetic, a woman carrying a little girl on her back rushed in through the door.
The two of them turned to look. When there were no patients, none came; but as soon as one arrived, two came at once.
"Shixue, go take a look."
Song Shixue capped the medicine bottle, placed it on the tray, stood up, and went to meet the woman.
Song Jinzhao, focusing on the wound, said to the man, "Don't move. This will be over quickly."
Under the stunned and fearful gaze of the burly man who had brought the patient, the needle and thread began to weave back and forth through the man's wound.
The man in the wheelchair was so terrified he didn't dare move a muscle; his entire body went stiff.
The wound was numbed with anesthetic, so the pain wasn't intense, but he could clearly feel the friction of the needle piercing and the thread dragging through his skin.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Song Jinzhao finished suturing the wound. She applied antibacterial ointment and bandaged it with gauze.
"After you return home, don't let the wound get wet. Once the anesthetic wears off, the injured area will hurt."
"From what I can see now, the brain likely wasn't injured. The dizziness is probably due to a concussion. I'll prescribe two doses of medicine for you first. Come back in seven days to have the stitches removed."
"Avoid alcohol, pungent and spicy foods, and foods that cause inflammation. Rest well at home, and absolutely no strenuous exercise or heavy labor."
The burly man and the injured man stared fixedly at Song Jinzhao, who was now sitting on a stool writing out the prescription and instructions. The whole experience felt surreal to them.
Sewing up a wound with a needle... they had never seen a physician treat someone like this before. Yet the wound had indeed stopped bleeding, and it didn't hurt much.
"Doctor, how much in total?"
In his earlier panic, he had forgotten to ask about the fee. With such a novel method, it probably wouldn't be cheap, would it?
"Consultation fee, treatment fee, and medicine cost, one tael of silver in total."
The burly man grimaced in heartache. This was almost as expensive as Huiming Hall, the best medical clinic in Anyang Prefecture.
But the treatment was already done, so he could only bear the pain and take out the silver.
Song Jinzhao asked the two men to sit on the chairs and wait for her for a moment.
She walked into the inner room and knocked on the door. "Shixue, how is it going?"
Inside the room, Song Shixue was using a towel wrapped around ice to cool the little girl under her armpits.
Hearing Song Jinzhao's call, she handed the towel to the woman. "Don't apply it continuously. Apply for a while, pause, then apply again."
The woman nodded.
Song Shixue opened the door to let Song Jinzhao in.
"She's had a fever for three days without seeking treatment. Symptoms include coughing, throat inflammation, severe cold, and a very high forehead temperature. We're currently using towels and ice to bring her temperature down."
Song Jinzhao walked over to examine the little girl, confirming that Song Shixue's diagnosis was correct. "You write the prescription."
Song Shixue nodded and went out.
Song Jinzhao then walked to the medicine cabinet to prepare the medicine for the man with the head injury.
After Song Shixue wrote the prescription, she handed it to Song Jinzhao for review.
After reading it, Song Jinzhao tapped her finger on the paper. "Increase forsythia and burdock fruit by one qian each. After three days of taking this, change the prescription."
Song Shixue thought for a moment and then understood.
She had considered the patient's young age and reduced the dosage accordingly.
But she had overlooked that a chronic condition dragged into an acute one requires swift and decisive action. A stronger formula is needed first to curb the illness, and then it can be switched to a gentler one once the condition stabilizes.
After seeing off the two patients and their families, it wasn't long before two more patients arrived—one with a stomachache and another with a cold.
After diagnosing, treating, and sending them off with their medicine, Song Shixue stood at the clinic entrance, peering left and right. She muttered, "Why are there suddenly so many patients today? Could there be more?"
Since opening, they had only treated that one young lady in the first few days.
Why did several come all of a sudden today? And they didn't turn and leave upon learning the physicians were women.
Song Jinzhao thought of the man with the cracked skull, who had bumped into a stone lion in the city.
Why did it take half an hour for him to get here? With such a long journey, there should have been other clinics nearby.
The commoners who came for treatment in the afternoon gave Song Jinzhao the answer.
"Most of the physicians in the city have been invited to the Meng and Liao residences for consultations. Only a few apprentices are left minding the clinics. Even Huiming Hall only has Physician Zhao left to see patients, and he's too busy—you have to wait forever."
Song Jinzhao asked to confirm, "Auntie, by Meng and Liao residences, do you mean the residences of the Prefect and the Vice Prefect?"
The ailing woman nodded, a hint of envy in her eyes. "Yes. Besides officials, who else could be so extravagant as to invite so many physicians at once? Just the consultation fees are more than we common folk can afford."
She continued, shaking her head with a sigh, "Who knows what illness it is. It's been several hours already, and none of those physicians have returned."
Before closing for the day, Song Shixue organized the patient records. Her tone was somewhat dejected as she spoke.
"Elder Sister, why do you think they didn't invite you for a house call?"
All those physicians in Anyang Prefecture were invited, yet their Song Family Clinic was overlooked. Did they look down on their medical skills?
Song Jinzhao immediately understood Song Shixue's thoughts. "We're new here and have no reputation. It's normal they didn't invite us."
"Think of it this way: it's a good thing they didn't invite us. Otherwise, what would we have done with all the patients today?"
Song Shixue blinked, thinking her elder sister had a point.
The food shop next door had already closed early to go prepare dinner.
As soon as Song Jinzhao and Song Shixue returned home, Song Anhao immediately rushed over, hugged their legs, and began swaying from side to side, cooing.
"Eldest Sister, Second Sister, why did you come back so late? I missed you so much."
The clinic had been too busy today, so Song Jinzhao had asked Chun Xing to bring the child home earlier. They had even returned for lunch, so it had only been a little over two hours since they'd seen him.
With this level of clinginess, one would think she and Shixue hadn't been home for days and nights.
She bent down to pick up Song Anhao, letting him sit on her arm. "What did you do at home this afternoon? Did you take a nap?"
Song Anhao wrapped his arms around Song Jinzhao's neck, pressing his chubby cheek against hers.
"I played clapping games with Lan Xi, and I slept for a long time~"
Song Jinzhao raised an eyebrow and looked at Song Shixue. "His hand is better?"
Song Shixue put down her things. "I'll go check." Playing clapping games with his arm in a sling... hopefully the bone hasn't shifted.
When she saw Lan Xi, Song Shixue noticed a fresh scratch on his face. "What happened to your face?"
Lan Xi lowered his head. "I accidentally bumped into the firewood. Got scratched a little."
Song Shixue looked at the temporary wooden bed set up in the firewood shed. The space was indeed a bit cramped.
But since he wasn't supposed to get out of bed, how did he bump into the firewood?
Thinking he must have been restless, Song Shixue checked his arm while admonishing him, "You still can't move around recklessly. Stay put and rest properly to recover from your injury."
"Once you're healed, you can wander around as much as you like. There's no need to rush it now."
In the dead of night, while everyone was deep in sleep, the courtyard gate suddenly began to rattle under frantic pounding, the doorframe shaking as if it might shatter inward and crash to the ground the next second.
Fushun opened his eyes and sat up in bed. "Who's knocking at this hour?"
The knocking continued. Fushun threw off the thin quilt, opened the door, and walked out.
Lanxi twisted her waist to crawl to the window and peer outside.
"Who is it?"
"I am a servant from the Meng residence, here to request Physician Song to come to the manor for a consultation."
Upon hearing this, Fushun drew back the door bolt and opened the gate. "A house call at this hour? Our eldest young lady is already asleep. Which Meng family?"
The servant holding a lantern replied, "The Meng family of the Anyang Prefect. Our elderly mistress is critically ill. We urgently request Physician Song to come with me immediately."
Hearing it was the Prefect of Anyang's family, Fushun quickly nodded in agreement. "Wait a moment, I'll go call our eldest young lady right away."
Song Jinzhao opened her bedroom door with a furrowed brow. "Bring the horse out." She had woken at the first sound of knocking.
The storeroom door opened, and Chunxing and Qingshuang walked out.
Song Jinzhao instructed the two, "Keep an eye on the young master. The second young lady and I are going out."
Fushun had already led the horse to the entrance. She wrapped an arm around Song Shixue's waist and flew onto the horse's back in one fluid motion.
The lantern-carrying servant boy wanted to run after them.
Song Jinzhao said, "No need to follow. I must go to the clinic first to fetch my medicine chest. I will arrive shortly."
The sound of hooves was exceptionally clear in the silent night, clip-clopping, creating a sense of urgent tension.
When they arrived at the Meng manor, they realized the servant who came for the doctor had understated the situation.
It turned out the Meng and Liao families had summoned over half of Anyang's physicians, and now it seemed nearly every physician in the entire prefecture was gathered at the Meng residence.
At a glance, the courtyard was filled with bearded physicians well past fifty.
Standing in the yard, each speaking their piece, the chatter was more clamorous than a chicken coop.
As the two sisters entered, many gazes fell upon them.
They had been dismissive of the news that a new clinic in Anyang had a female physician in charge, and one only in her teens.
They hadn't expected the Meng family to summon her in the middle of the night. It seemed they were desperate, willing to try anyone.
Meng Hechuan looked at the five newly summoned physicians, his gaze resting on Song Jinzhao and Song Shixue among them, and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Song Jinzhao responded with a light dip of her chin.
"My mother began suffering from severe abdominal pain this morning and it has not ceased. I ask all physicians present to prescribe a treatment. If you can cure my mother, my Meng family will surely offer generous thanks."
The five newcomers were arranged to enter Elderly Madam Meng's room for examination one by one.
Song Jinzhao was the last to enter. Elderly Madam Meng lay curled up on the bed, her face pale, her hair streaked with white soaked through with sweat.
After taking the pulse, Song Jinzhao had the elderly madam lie flat and began checking the painful area with her hands.
"Does it hurt here?"
The elderly madam weakly shook her head.
"What about here?"
The elderly madam bit her lip and nodded.
"The pain has been constant since this morning. Was there any moment when it suddenly lessened, only for the pain to intensify again?"
The patient closed her eyes, then opened them, looking at Song Jinzhao with a feeble gaze as she shook her head. "No, it never let up."
Song Jinzhao reached out to touch her forehead.
There was a low fever, likely not exceeding 38 degrees Celsius.
Pain in the lower right abdomen, with a fixed tender point. Pressure intensified the pain.
Song Jinzhao looked up and asked the maid, "Since the abdominal pain began, has the elderly madam experienced any nausea or vomiting?"
The maid nodded. "She has vomited twice since this morning, bringing up all her breakfast. She hasn't touched lunch or dinner since."
Song Jinzhao: "Has this happened before?"
The maid blinked, thinking. "There was an episode over a year ago, but Physician Liu from Huiming Hall cured it. This time, the same medicine was prescribed, but it had no effect."
Song Jinzhao stood up and stepped away from the bedside. "Bring me the prescription to see."
It was likely a recurrence of appendicitis, not yet perforated.
Low fever, no abdominal distension, onset only this morning, no sign of abscess formation.
Someone immediately went out and brought back the prescription, along with the dregs of the decoction that had been half-consumed.
After reading the prescription, Song Jinzhao stood still, her gaze fixed on Elderly Madam Meng's pained expression on the bed.
Seeing her remain silent, the woman standing beside Meng Hechuan couldn't help but ask, "Physician Song, do you have a treatment?"
Song Jinzhao looked up. This person was likely the wife of Prefect Meng.
"It's a recurrence of appendicitis. Judging by the current symptoms, it appears to be acute."
Seeing the blank looks on the faces of those present, Song Jinzhao pointed to the right abdomen. "It's an inflammation caused by a blockage or infection in a small organ attached to the end of the intestine."
Meng Hechuan frowned, pressing urgently, "How is it treated? Please, Miss Song, prescribe a remedy immediately to save my mother's life."
Song Jinzhao's gaze swept over the Meng family. "The patient already suffered from appendicitis over a year ago. This is a recurrence. Ordinary decoctions may not be very effective. The best course is to completely eradicate the affected area."
Madam Meng, noticing her hesitant expression, immediately added, "As long as Physician Song can cure my mother-in-law's illness, the cost is no object."
Meng Xiaozhe, standing to the side, nodded in agreement.
The three of them stared intently at Song Jinzhao, as if she were their last lifeline.
Song Jinzhao gave a slight shake of her head. "It's not a matter of silver. To completely cure this illness, the best method is to surgically remove the appendix. Please consider it."
The room fell silent instantly, leaving only the faint moans of the delirious Elderly Madam Meng on the bed.
Meng Xiaozhe, standing by his father, was slightly stunned and asked hesitantly, "When Physician Song says 'remove the appendix,' do you mean cutting open my grandmother's abdomen and cutting out the diseased part?"
No one in the room initially believed that was what Song Jinzhao meant, but upon reflection, it seemed she did.
Song Jinzhao nodded with a serious expression, using her fingers to indicate a length of about ten centimeters. Her words were clear and firm.
"Not 'cutting open the abdomen.' It's only making an incision about this long on the right side of the abdomen, removing the appendix, and then suturing the wound with catgut."
Madam Meng was the first to cry out, "That's impossible! How could anyone survive having their belly cut open? I've never heard of such a treatment. The person would likely die the moment the knife goes in!"
Meng Xiaozhe stared at Song Jinzhao in disbelief. "Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents; we dare not injure them in the slightest. Otherwise, how could one have a whole corpse after a hundred years? Can't it be treated without cutting out the appendix?"
Song Jinzhao pressed her lips together. She had known they would think this way.
The patients she had sutured before were all poor, and since there were already existing wounds and no organs needed removal, neither the patients nor their families had objected.
But the Meng family had power and influence, coupled with old-fashioned beliefs, so naturally they wouldn't easily consent to her performing surgery.
