Chapter 237: Chapter 237: A Curse_1
"Stop looking, or you’ll go blind!"
Luo Qiujue snapped off the TV and yelled at Chen Youqiang, "All you ever do is watch TV, never lift a finger! Go sweep the yard now!"
Chen Youqiang didn’t dare to talk back, and with a pitiful look, he picked up a broom and went to sweep the yard.
This was just the daily routine for mother and son.
Though Chen Youqiang was simple-minded, he was very obedient to his mother and capable of doing simple chores.
Like washing dishes, sweeping floors, cleaning up, feeding chickens, or collecting eggs.
In short, his intelligence remained at the level of a four- or five-year-old.
Even though his body was that of a man in his twenties, he was only capable of doing tasks meant for children.
Luo Qiujue placed her hand on the Eight Immortals Table, and Qin Feng rested his finger on her wrist to take her pulse.
At first, Qin Feng didn’t notice anything too unusual, but after quietly observing for a moment, he was slightly startled.
There was something different about Luo Qiujue’s chronic illness.
Looking at Luo Qiujue, Qin Feng asked seriously, "Elder Luo, have you studied medicine and know some traditional Chinese medicine, and have you treated yourself before?"
His question shocked Luo Qiujue.
Still, her expression didn’t show any change.
Clearly, she was very shrewd and could keep her composure!
"Us mountain folk, ah! When we get a cold or the chills, we can’t bear to go to the hospital and buy medicine, so we pick herbs from the mountain to treat ourselves.
As for other common ailments, I also knew a few folk remedies, and I tried treating myself with those.
But, I don’t know if it was something wrong with those remedies, or I got the wrong herbs from the mountain.
After taking that medicine, not only did my symptoms not get lighter, but they actually got worse."
Qin Feng knew that at least half of what Luo Qiujue was saying was a lie. However, he didn’t call her out on it.
Being able to raise chickens on Qiuniu Mountain without affiliating with the Pei Family and still surviving.
This Luo Qiujue was definitely not an ordinary village woman.
As for her son, Chen Youqiang, the reason for that foolish boy’s simplicity was likely to have a story behind it.
"How about I try giving you a few needles? Do you have Silver Needle here?"
"I don’t have Silver Needle, will embroidery needles do?"
"That will do."
"Good! Please wait a moment!"
Luo Qiujue went to get the embroidery needles.
There was indeed something fishy about this Luo Qiujue.
When taking Luo Qiujue’s pulse just now, Qin Feng saw marks on her arm from needle holes, those were from her treating her own ailment with acupuncture.
Since she could perform acupuncture on herself, Luo Qiujue’s home certainly had Silver Needles!
Her claiming to not have them and asking whether embroidery needles would suffice clearly aimed to conceal the fact that she knew medical techniques!
Because, in truth, embroidery needles could be used as Silver Needles. Although the therapeutic effect might be slightly less, it wouldn’t affect the overall outcome.
Nevertheless, Qin Feng couldn’t be bothered to expose her.
Qin Feng knew that Luo Qiujue was testing him.
Only by showing his true skills and convincing Luo Qiujue, would she reveal more useful information.
Luo Qiujue came out from the inner room, holding a box of embroidery needles.
"Elder Luo, please sit down and roll up your trouser leg. When I was taking your pulse just a moment ago, I found that there was an issue with the joints in your leg."
In winter, they fear the cold, in summer, the heat. They can handle neither dryness nor dampness.
Although Qiuniu Village lies deep within the mountains, its summers are anything but cool. The weather here is not only hot and stuffy but also very humid.
"I noticed that when you were walking just now, your leg seemed to be limping a bit, which must mean it is in constant pain, right?"
No sooner had Qin Feng finished speaking than Luo Qiujue immediately rolled up her pant leg.
True enough, there were many pinprick marks on Luo Qiujue’s leg. Some were new, punctured just two or three days ago. Some were old, from several years back.
The oldest needle marks had already disappeared, invisible to the naked eye.
But Qin Feng had Heaven’s Gaze!
Qin Feng stared intently and discovered that Luo Qiujue’s oldest needle mark was made 22 years ago.
Chen Youqiang looked on, a man just past twenty.
Qin Feng calculated and understood right away.
"Elder Luo, this problem with your leg, it began after your son was born, didn’t it? This pain is known as ’Bitter Mother Leg,’ meaning the mother suffers as the son prospers.
According to folk belief, the only way to completely cure your ’Bitter Mother Leg’ is through one method, that is, for your son to die. Because the ’Bitter Mother Leg’ implies, the better the son’s life is, the more the mother will suffer.
’Bitter Mother Leg’ isn’t an illness, it’s a curse, a curse that pits mother against son.
Actually, you know how to cure your son’s foolishness, but you’re not sure enough. Because, your husband already tried once.
Twenty years ago, your husband died in your stead, right?
He thought that with his death, your son would no longer be a fool. Sadly, the outcome was disappointing.
Because a father can’t replace a mother.
Frankly, there have been several times you wanted to take the gamble, but reason told you, you couldn’t afford to. If the gamble was lost, it would be a total loss.
Your life gone, your son still a fool, how would he spend the rest of his life?"
These words from Qin Feng shocked Luo Qiujue once again.
She looked at Qin Feng with disbelief, as if he was some sort of freak.
Although Qin Feng spoke the truth, Luo Qiujue would never admit it.
She feigned confusion and shook her head, saying, "I don’t understand a word you’re saying. What ’Bitter Mother Leg’? What curse? I’ve never heard of any of it.
As for my husband, indeed, he died twenty years ago. However, he died accidentally falling while picking herbs on the mountain.
Of course, there’s one thing you’re right about. My leg did start causing problems after giving birth to my Chen Youqiang.
But Immortal Zhen said it was because I didn’t take care during my confinement, encountered cold water, caught cold, and that’s why."
"Whatever the reason, your leg is indeed troubled. Let me try acupuncture on a few points to see the effects."
Luo Qiujue was unwilling to admit the truth, and Qin Feng, of course, would not press her.
A woman who had lost her husband and had to raise a foolish son all by herself for decades cannot easily trust anyone.
Qin Feng is a patient man, and he always takes it slow with women.
The first needle, Qin Feng applied on the Diji Acupoint.
Starting with Diji, to regain vitality.
After giving birth to Chen Youqiang, Luo Qiujue’s vitality had transferred to her son. Therefore, she first needed to regain her vitality to heal her leg.
The second needle, Qin Feng targeted the Zusanli acupoint.
Having punctured Zusanli, she could walk three li without her leg hurting.
Given the condition of Luo Qiujue’s leg, having her walk three li without pain after just the first treatment would be considered a Divine Doctor’s work.
Of course, Qin Feng could do even better, but he chose to stop while it was enough.
After all, Luo Qiujue still did not trust him, still said nothing. Naturally, he could not possibly cure her completely at once, leaving no cards up his sleeve!
