Li Jiandong turned around and smiled confidently.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine."

"Tell me if you have eaten or come into contact with anything harmful recently?"

Jia Zhang thought about it nervously and said:

"Nothing special. Maybe there's something wrong with the food we've been serving these days?"

Hearing this, Li Jiandong was slightly stunned, and he had already made a conclusion.

"It looks like you've ingested something harmful."

He took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

Jia Zhang's face showed a trace of anxiety, and she said in a crying voice:

"then what do I do?"

“I feel worse and worse.”

Li Jiandong walked to Jia Zhang's side and gently held her cold hand.

"Don't worry, I will help you."

He slowly sat down at the table next to him, picked up a piece of white paper and began to carefully record the symptoms described by Jia Zhang.

"Auntie Jia, you feel nauseous and have diarrhea, right?"

"This means you may have ingested bacteria or other harmful substances from the manure pit."

Li Jiandong's tone remained calm. The residents gathered in a circle, anxiously exchanging views and opinions.

They discussed how to treat Jia Zhang's sudden illness.

Some people suggested seeing a doctor, while others said that this was not necessary, fearing that the rumor that Jia Zhang had retired from the underworld would come true.

"My sister had a similar illness before, and the old lady said it was because she had a stomach upset from what she ate."

A middle-aged woman said worriedly.

"Then what do we do?"

a middle-aged man asked.

"If it happens again, it will be troublesome."

"I heard there's a Mr. Li who's amazing. He's good at Chinese medicine and scientific knowledge. Maybe you can come and see him."

An old man suggested.

Everyone fell silent and noticed Li Jiandong, whom they didn't know before.

Just as everyone was thinking for a long time, Aunt Wang stood up.

“Don’t lose the big picture by playing small.”

Aunt Wang's voice was loud and firm.

"We have a secret recipe at home that can solve this problem."

"What did you say?."

Everyone looked at Aunt Wang in surprise.

Aunt Wang continued confidently.

"My ancestors were all doctors for generations, and the secret recipes passed down from generation to generation can quickly induce vomiting and expel toxins from the body."

Everyone praised in unison, and they really hoped to find a way to solve the problem quickly.

Li Jiandong also raised his head and looked at Aunt Wang.

"Aunt Wang, what is this secret recipe?"

Li Jiandong asked.

Aunt Wang walked up to Li Jiandong with a smile.

"My ancestors left behind a handwritten book called 'Medical Treasure Book', which records many methods of treating common diseases."

"One of the herbal combinations is known to induce vomiting in humans."

Li Jiandong thought for a moment and nodded.

"In that case, let's try the secret recipe you mentioned."

Li Jiandong stood up and attracted everyone's attention.

"I have a preliminary understanding of Aunt Jia's situation, and I have a suggestion."

His voice echoed firmly in the courtyard.

Everyone looked at Li Jiandong expectantly.

Li Jiandong continued.

"Based on the symptoms Aunt Jia described, I think we need special herbs to treat her."

“These herbs may not be easy to find nearby, but I have a way to obtain them.”

"Please let us know and we will do our best to help."

The residents said it almost in unison.

Li Jiandong looked at everyone with a grateful smile.

"Thank you so much for your support."

“My approach is to find the special herbs that wander and grow in the nearby mountains.”

“It only grows at certain altitudes, climates and conditions, and is difficult to find on the market.”

Residents listened to him, hoping to learn more details.

Li Jiandong continued.

"This special herb is called 'Xianhui Grass'."

"It has a powerful therapeutic effect, which is exactly what we need to solve Aunt Jia's disease."
"But it's not easy to find it. We have to go to nearby mountains and find it in certain seasons and weather conditions."

Everyone looked at each other, and Li Jiandong knew that they needed some time to digest this information.

"I know this is a difficult task, but I believe that as long as we work together, we will be able to find the herbs we need."

"Please tell me if anyone nearby knows where this special herb grows or any other relevant information."

The residents began to communicate with each other.

Someone thought for a moment and said.

"I heard from the village chief that there is a group of old hunters nearby who are very familiar with the growth of various plants in the mountains."

"If they are willing to help, maybe we can find out the exact location of the Immortal Wisdom Grass."

"Thank you so much for this information."

Li Jiandong bowed deeply to the resident to express his gratitude.

"We need to contact these old hunters as soon as possible and head to the mountains to look for the Immortal Wisdom Grass as soon as possible."

"Time is of the essence for Aunt Jia."

Everyone expressed their agreement. They felt that Li Jiandong's suggestion was very feasible and could effectively help Aunt Jia.

Li Jiandong glanced at the residents in the courtyard who were discussing solutions and noticed that they were worried about the lack of special medicinal herbs.

He knew they were hungry for his guidance and advice, so sensing the anxiety that lingered in the air, he decided to help solve the problem.

"Aunt Jia's condition does require special medicinal herbs to treat, but if we can't find the Xianhui grass for the time being, we can still try other methods."

Li Jiandong said decisively.

This aroused the curiosity and interest of the residents.

Li Jiandong smiled slightly, showing confidence.

"I remembered a medicine that although it doesn't have the miraculous effect of Xianhuicao, it is also useful for Jia Zhang's symptoms."

"If we can get these plants and use them correctly, maybe it can be a temporary treatment."

A glimmer of hope appeared on everyone's face, and they began to feel excited and curious about the method proposed by Li Jiandong.

Li Jiandong continued to explain.

"I'll give you some advice."

"There are many common plants around here, such as Sophora flavescens, Glauber's salt, etc."

"Although they don't have the same miraculous curative effect as Xianhui Grass, we can use their properties to make a simple emetic."

The residents listened to his words attentively, hoping to learn more details. Li Jiandong led several enthusiastic residents to the courtyard near the vegetable garden.

There are green trees here, and the sunlight shines through the gaps between the branches, giving people a fresh and pleasant feeling.

"People, be aware that the plants we're looking for usually grow in these corners."

Li Jiandong pointed to the dense bushes around him and explained.

He had a focused expression and his eyes scanned the surroundings.

The residents followed Li Jiandong's instructions and began to search carefully.

They bent down and searched carefully.

“This should be Sophora flavescens.”

Li Jiandong nodded encouragingly.

"Yes, it is Sophora flavescens."

"This plant can be used to detoxify and remove moisture from the body."

He observed the joy on the faces of the residents as they discovered and collected plants, and felt gratified.
He understood the efforts these residents had made to ensure Aunt Jia's speedy recovery.

In the sunshine, Li Jiandong and other residents carefully searched for plants near the vegetable garden.

They gently touched each leaf with their fingers and identified each scent with their sense of smell. In an instant, they seemed to become professional botanists, practicing their keen sense of touch for various characteristics.
"This Glauber's Salt should be enough."

A middle-aged woman waved the Glauber's salt in her hand and spoke to Li Jiandong excitedly.

Li Jiandong walked over and checked.

"it is good."

"This is enough for us to make emetic."

The residents shared the plants they found with each other and handed them over to Li Jiandong.

In the pharmacy, Li Jiandong and other residents placed the collected plants on the table.

Their eyes were fixed on the pile of shredded leaves and grass on the table, anticipating the moment when they could turn them into an alternative potion.

Li Jiandong first picked up the Sophora flavescens, carefully cut them into small pieces and put them into the grinder.

He started the machine and carefully ground each Sophora flavescens leaf.

The room was filled with the hum of machinery, a sound that made everyone feel as if they were carrying out a solemn and grand task.

After the Sophora flavescens was crushed into fine particles, Li Jiandong then took out the Glauber's salt and gently crushed it in an iron basin.

This is an indispensable step. Only at the right temperature can the Glauber's salt be pressed into the smallest particles.

Although the process is a bit complicated, time flies quickly.

The residents watched the process intently.

They were filled with awe, as if they had witnessed the ever-changing and hard-earned achievements over the long years.

Li Jiandong put the powder into a large bowl and then began to add other plant materials.

He explained the effects of each plant one by one and told the residents how to process and mix them correctly.

He continued to operate.

The residents sat quietly around, listening attentively to his instructions.

Time seemed to become cruel and long for them and for Aunt Jia.

Finally, after all the plant materials were processed, Li Jiandong put them into the medicine furnace and lit the fire.

A wisp of hot and warm aroma suddenly rose in the big kitchen, strong and fresh.

"In half an hour, the potion will be successfully made."

Li Jiandong took a deep breath and said to the residents.

He scanned everyone's face and could see anticipation and determination flashing across theirs.

Everyone nodded and waited attentively again.

They knew that this period of time was critical, and they hoped that the alternative medicine would be safer and more effective than the one that Jia Zhang needed.

.

The hour hand, minute hand and second hand moved slowly, as if urging them.

Li Jiandong stared at the furnace quietly, concerned about the progress of medicine making.

Finally, half an hour passed.

Li Jiandong carefully removed the container containing the alternative medicine and poured some of it into a small bottle.

The residents nervously leaned in to observe the steam rising from the container mixed with a pleasant smell.

"Success."

Li Jiandong handed the newly prepared medicine to a resident.

"Go and take it to Aunt Jia."

He said gently but firmly.

The resident took the bottle of medicine eagerly. The residents gathered at the well next to the central square of the courtyard, waiting expectantly for the effect of the alternative medicine.

They looked at the medicine in Li Jiandong's hand with hope, quietly waiting for Jia Zhang's reaction after taking it.

Li Jiandong handed a bottle of substitute medicine to Jia Zhang and said gently.

"Please try to be patient for a few days and wait for this medicine to take effect."

"I'm sure it will help you."

Jia Zhang took the bottle, her old hands trembling slightly as she carefully poured the medicine into her mouth.
After a moment, she suppressed her bitterness and looked at Li Jiandong and other residents expectantly.

Time moves as slowly as a lazy snail, and every second feels extremely long to the residents.

They prayed silently that the alternative medicine would work and bring health and hope to the suffering old man.

Finally, after a long wait, Jia Zhang began to feel unwell.

Her face turned pale and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

But what was different from before was that she no longer hummed Buddhist scriptures but accepted this trial silently.

Jia Zhang clearly felt that the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea had eased, and her body gradually calmed down.

She touched her stomach with a shaking hand and murmured softly.

"This is... the potion is really working."

Other residents also noticed the changes and shared their joy with each other.

"Look."

"Aunt Jia seems to be much better."

"Li Jiandong is really amazing."

Li Jiandong looked outside the conference room and could see people hurrying around in the hospital through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He was not surprised at all. Although he had no idea that he had been promoted to deputy director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he suddenly understood after hearing the explanation given by senior nurse Zhao Yali.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, feeling confused and uncomfortable, but also a little honored.

Sitting at one end of the long table in the conference room, Li Jiandong did not interact much.

The other hospital staff gathered together and talked slowly, somewhat excitedly.

"Deputy Director Li is incredible. He started as the owner of a small herbal medicine store and became the deputy director today."

"I remember seeing him give a patient some soup and then he just walked away with the patient's heavy bag."

“I almost fainted at that time.”

"Yes. I heard that Baekje Hospital has expanded and brought in many top experts, but Deputy Director Li can compete with them with his traditional Chinese medicine skills and that strange system."

The staff cafeteria became a hot spot for employees from other departments to discuss Li Jiandong's promotion.

Everyone was amazed and curious about his medical skills. It was hard for them to imagine that Li Jiandong could reach the position of deputy director of the hospital through his hard work and superb medical skills.

However, at this moment, Lian Qiao hurried into the meeting room and pushed open the door.

"Master. Master."

Lian Qiao looked a little excited.

"I heard that the hospital promoted you to deputy director."

"It's amazing that you can do this."

The atmosphere in the staff cafeteria outside the meeting room was lively, and everyone was excitedly talking about Li Jiandong's promotion.

However, among this jubilant crowd, there were some who expressed doubts about his promotion.

"Do you think Li Jiandong really has this ability?"

"He is just a traditional Chinese medicine master. How can he be promoted to deputy director?"

A jealous doctor grumbled.

She was unhappy that her younger and more talented colleagues were given so much attention in the hospital.

Another doctor sneered.

"Let alone being a deputy director, I don't believe he could be a department director."

"That Li Jiandong is just a pretentious Chinese medicine master. How can he be compared with us specialists?"

Others nodded in agreement, expressing their doubts about Li Jiandong's promotion.

Because Li Jiandong only ran a small herbal medicine store in the past, some people believed that he was not qualified enough to take on such an important position as deputy director.

The employees who were skeptical about Li Jiandong's promotion argued endlessly in the staff cafeteria. Li Jiandong walked into the TCM office, where the faint aroma of herbs filled the air.

When several other Chinese medicine practitioners saw him come in, they stood up and gave him respectful looks and smiles.

"Congratulations to Deputy Director Li on his promotion."
Li Jiandong responded with a smile.

"Thank you, everyone. This promotion is a huge responsibility and honor for me."

“I hope to serve patients better in my new position.”

Sitting at the table was a young Chinese medicine practitioner, Zhang Yun, who did not join the voices in the staff cafeteria that questioned Li Jiandong's promotion.

He has always admired Li Jiandong and is very grateful for Li Jiandong's guidance and training.

Zhang Yun smiled and nodded to Li Jiandong.

"Congratulations, Deputy Director Li. You deserve it."

"I still remember when we first became your disciples, you said you wanted to make more contributions to the cause of traditional Chinese medicine."

"um, yes."

Li Jiandong nodded in agreement.

"My promotion means more responsibilities and pressure. I will work hard to improve my medical skills and hope to learn and improve together with everyone."

Several other Chinese medicine practitioners expressed their agreement and congratulated Li Jiandong. (End of this chapter)