Chapter 302: This Is A Human Life
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Due to her public display of surgical skills, more and more people came to Qiao Mai’s stall for pulse diagnosis.
Some came even if they weren’t sick, creating a bustling scene in broad daylight. Qiao Mai only managed to nibble on a pancake for lunch.
As the free pulse diagnosis gained popularity, Qiao Mai had to make people line up, refusing to diagnose those who cut the queue.
Since everyone consumes various grains, there are bound to be some health issues, large or small.
Qiao Mai treated each person with great seriousness, checking pulses and making corrections, diagnosing each patient twice.
Skeptical individuals were now convinced. Some even returned to queue for a symptoms, and daily habits such as sleep and diet.
Skeptical individuals were now convinced. Some even returned to queue for a second diagnosis after leaving a medical hall.
They realized her diagnoses were more detailed and precise.
In no time, Qiao Mai’s free pulse diagnosis stall became well-known. As evening fell, she sent people away and closed up, disappearing into the night.
Some people who tried to follow her lost track in the alleys.
These followers were associates of medical halls. Qiao Mai had snatched their business, and they were naturally unhappy. They sent people to trail her.
It continued for several days, causing the owners of the medical halls on the streets much distress.
The medical halls wanted to deal with Qiao Mai but felt embarrassed. The self-proclaimed national medical halls couldn’t tolerate a wandering healer on the street.
Especially a free pulse diagnosis healer, making them the laughingstock.
Qiao Mai paid taxes for her stall, and she offered free pulse diagnoses. Who would dare to drive her away?
The people might react negatively, damaging the century-old reputation of those prestigious medical families.
It was a competitive relationship, and no one wanted to act first. They preferred watching each other’s misfortune.
And so, Qiao Mai’s stall became more and more famous.
Despite her rising fame, Qiao Mai’s clients were mostly commoners as the medical halls had their existing clients.
Wealthy individuals avoided her stall, thinking it beneath them. However, with so many commoners, the income quickly added up even at twenty coins per pulse diagnosis.
The amount they would lose in a month would be significant.
If Qiao Mai continued her stall, the medical halls in the area would soon face financial difficulties.
They were overly concerned. Qiao Mai had yet to prescribe any medicine; she was merely practicing.
The medical halls would likely take action soon, but if they dared, she would start prescribing medicine. Not only that, she possessed medicines far superior to theirs, ten times more effective.
Their righteous appearance was just a cover. Running a medical hall was all about making money, and they shouldn’t pretend to be so noble, especially when they were essentially robbing people while claiming to save lives.
Qiao Mai wouldn’t allow it. If she witnessed such behavior, she would take action.
The commoners, witnessing the injured man having his medicine changed several times, were grateful and increasingly impressed by Qiao Mai’s medical skills.
They pleaded with her to prescribe medicine.
Qiao Mai smiled. “It’s not that I don’t want to. If I prescribe medicine and you go to the medical halls, they will refuse to sell you the medicine when they hear I prescribed it.”
“Why not? They still make money by selling medicine.”
“But by providing free pulse diagnoses, I cut off one of their revenue streams.”
“That’s too stingy. They claim to save the world, but it’s just for the sake of money, like common merchants.”
Qiao Mai smiled without commenting. Soon, it was mid -March, and more people arrived in the capital for the imperial examination. The streets became crowded.
While Qiao Mai was diagnosing someone’s pulse, a person collapsed on the street.
Chaos ensued, and the injured person was carried into a medical hall. Qiao Mai glanced but paid no attention.
She continued to focus on diagnosing pulses when someone with an unconscious man on their back approached her stall. The person carrying the man knelt.
“Miracle doctor, please save my young master. The medical hall said they couldn’t help. My young master is dying. You are a divine healer; please save him!”
Qiao Mai looked up and glared at the Mingren Medical Hall. Several physicians were standing there, seemingly waiting for her to fail.
“Put him on the table. Excuse me, everyone. The illness is urgent, and I will save him first.’
“Of course.
Qiao Mai checked the man’s pulse and examined his eyes. His pupils were dilated.
She quickly pinpointed the major acupoints on the man’s body. Although the first possibility was a heart problem, his heart was still beating well. The second possibility was a blocked blood vessel, and the third was a cerebral hemorrhage.
Given his condition, a cerebral hemorrhage seemed most likely.
Addressing the onlookers, Qiao Mai gestured with her hands. “Bear witness, everyone! Even Mingren Medical Hall declared a death sentence for this man. They couldn’t save him, but I will try my best. If he survives, consider it his good fortune. If not, you can’t accuse me of playing with lives.”
“Hurry up. This is a matter of life and death. He looks like a student rushing for the imperial examination.”
Qiao Mai took out pliers, knocked open the man’s teeth, and placed a pill in his mouth. Then, she retrieved a set of hollow bone needles she had recently customized on the platform.
These bone needles were exceptionally sharp and constituted a low-level spiritual tool designed specifically for patients with cerebral hemorrhage and organ fluid accumulation.
She hadn’t expected to encounter one case so soon.
Using her spiritual sense to penetrate the man’s head, Qiao Mai identified the bleeding location and skillfully inserted the needles.
The crowd gasped as she inserted the needles from different directions to facilitate the rapid drainage of blood.
The man’s companion was dumbfounded, torn between intervening and letting it happen, as the man’s life hung in the balance.
Due to the high intracranial pressure from cerebral hemorrhage, no additional measures were necessary; the blood dripped down the needles naturally.
Qiao Mai’s spiritual sense closely monitored the inside of the patient’s head. Once it seemed sufficient, she placed her hand on the man’s forehead.
Using spiritual power, she forced the last trace of stagnant blood out of his head. Then, wrapping the needles in spiritual power, she swiftly pulled them out.
It was a clean and precise procedure, leaving no trace of brain tissue.
She then checked the man’s pulse again. It was steady, and the pupils began to constrict. Everything was moving in a positive direction.
The man’s companion stammered. “Miracle doctor, what illness does my master have?”
“Cerebral hemorrhage.”
“Blood inside his head?” “Yes. Does your master enjoy drinking?”
“How did you know?”
“His liver is in poor condition, and he’s developed alcoholic liver disease.”
“What’s alcoholic liver disease?”
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you. He loves to drink and can’t go for a meal without alcohol. He also enjoys fatty meat. Judging from his blood, it’s thicker than an ordinary person’s.”
“Miracle doctor, you’re truly amazing.”
“Your master also likes staying up late, leading an irregular lifestyle. These factors have contributed to his condition.
“Can he recover?”
“Take it slow. In the future, he should eat light, avoid greasy food, and have three regular meals daily. If he wakes up, he might be paralyzed. But as long as you follow my instructions, with less oil, less salt, and assisting him in physical activities, he might recover within two or three years.”
The man swallowed hard, about to express gratitude, when Qiao Mai interjected.
“Ten silver taels. Please settle the bill.”
“Huh?”
“Is his life not worth ten silver taels?” “But my master hasn’t woken up yet.” “He’s no longer in life-threatening danger. You can carry him to the inn for rest or hire a carriage to take him home. He won’t be able to take the imperial examination this year.”
Seeing his master breathing steadily, the man reluctantly took out ten silver taels and handed them to Qiao Mai. Then, he carried him away.
Once again, the bystanders witnessed a miracle. A person abandoned by even the medical hall was saved by a divine healer. They immediately felt honored to have their pulses checked by Qiao Mai..
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