As Doctor Xu departed, the crowd turned to congratulate Nianyang and curiously inquired about her name and whereabouts, hoping to seek her advice on difficult medical issues in the future.
Nianyang, unwilling to divulge her personal information, replied vaguely, "Your praises are too kind. My surname is Gu, and I have no fixed residence, merely a wandering physician. If fate permits, we shall meet again in the world."
The assembled physicians, all astute individuals, understood that the Divine Doctor did not wish to associate with them, nodded wisely, and turned to leave Baishan Hall.
Madam Ruan, recovered from the shock of her husband's survival, held Nianyang's hand with tears of joy, "Miss Gu, I thought my husband was doomed, yet how fortunate we are that you came to heal him. We are truly grateful for saving him; you are the great benefactor of our Ruan Family!"
Nianyang smiled gently, "Madam, you are too courteous. I am a Chinese physician, and saving lives is my duty. Besides, I am not treating patients for free; you will compensate me, won't you? There is no talk of being a benefactor."
Madam Ruan felt immensely comforted by Nianyang's words. Had it been any other doctor, they might have become arrogant, but Nianyang remained humble and polite, without flaunting her reputation as a Divine Doctor.
This is truly what a Saint Doctor should be, a standard Doctor Xu cannot compare to.
"Madam, although your husband is no longer in mortal danger, there are residual toxins in his body. I will prescribe a remedy for you; follow the dosage instructions, and he should recover in about half a month." Nianyang said, then quickly borrowed paper and a pen at the counter to write an herbal prescription, requesting Wang Ping, the owner, to dispense the medicine.
"Astragalus 15 grams, Codonopsis 10 grams, Dragon Bone 6 grams, Atractylodes 8 grams, Raw Licorice 8 grams..."
Wang Ping took the prescription, admiring the girl's elegant and powerful handwriting, which reflected the demeanor of a master. As someone experienced with herbs and prescriptions, Wang Ping immediately recognized the precision in the prescribed quantities, flawless without a trace of deficiency.
[Remarkable indeed, in this neglected, impoverished town, a skilled little Divine Doctor is hidden here] Wang Ping marveled to himself.
★
Madam Ruan received the pharmaceuticals and prescription from Wang Ping, and expressed her gratitude solemnly to Nianyang, offering a prepared sum of five thousand dollars, wrapped neatly in bundles within a bag to give to Nianyang, "Miss Gu, here is your remuneration; please check if everything is in order."
In this era, owning a thousand dollars marked one as a wealthy individual, let alone five thousand, an amount sure to make anyone envious, a temptation few could resist.
Yet Nianyang remained calm, saying, "Madam, as I mentioned earlier, practicing medicine and treating patients is my duty as a doctor. Although I came upon hearing the bounty notice, my goal was not to earn the bounty fee. Hence, you only need to pay my consultation fee of five hundred dollars."
Nianyang is far from a Saint Mother; rather, she is strategic. Her aim in treating the Ruan family's patriarch was not the five thousand dollars, but the network of connections with the Ruan family.
No matter the era, connections are invaluable, something money cannot buy!
Nianyang looked to the future, knowing that while she might refuse this significant sum now, the benefits she would reap in the future far exceeded five thousand!
Moreover, what's five thousand dollars? She could easily earn it later!
Madam Ruan insisted, "No, no, how can just five hundred dollars be acceptable? Miss Gu, you make me feel uneasy. You saved my husband; even giving you my life wouldn't suffice. Besides, the bounty specified five thousand, so it must be five thousand!"
Nianyang replied, "Madam, as a physician, my greatest wish is to heal the patients entrusted to me; all else is secondary. Furthermore, my ancestors instructed that one should not charge exorbitant fees for treatment, lest it go against one's conscience. Truly, five thousand is unnecessary. Your gratitude towards me is reward enough."
Madam Ruan gazed at Nianyang in wonder. Though the girl was simply dressed and slightly thin, her eyes shone brightly, akin to the world's most brilliant ray of sunshine, able to dispel all darkness.
Admiration filled Madam Ruan's eyes as Nianyang's words completely won her over, "Miss Gu, you are truly of high character; I admire you greatly. Since you refuse my reward, let us be friends. I bear the surname Ruan; in the future, should you need anything, do not hesitate to inform us, and we will undoubtedly do our utmost to assist you!"
Nianyang smiled.
Her objective was achieved.