Chapter 86: Chapter 51: Qin Feng’s Departure

Qin Feng smiled. “This is some medicine I’ve prescribed for you. I noticed you’re quite weak, so I wrote up a prescription. You don’t have to brew it into a decoction. Just stew these herbs with pig stomach and trotters—aren’t those two of your favorites? Then you can just eat it as you normally would. Think of it as a form of food therapy!”

While treating Juhua’s face, he had learned there were many things she couldn’t eat. Her favorite dishes were stewed pig stomach and trotters, which were also cheap enough for her to afford.

Juhua listened and said gratefully, “You’ve gone to so much trouble, Doctor Qin. Should I stew this packet in several batches, or all at once?”

Qin Feng took the packet of medicine, opened it, and told her, “Just use a dozen or so slices each time—no more. Stew it once every five days until it’s all gone.”

Juhua’s eyes widened as she stared at the herbs in his hand. The strong aroma was clearly that of ginseng. The ginseng had been cut into thin slices, and the large packet contained a good few taels. Judging by the diameter of the slices, such a thick root had to be quite old. Although she couldn’t judge its exact age, she was certain it was high-quality ginseng; she highly doubted there was any artificially cultivated ginseng to be found here.

Seeing her strange expression, Qin Feng couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Afraid it’ll be bitter? This one isn’t. It’s not like those other medicines that are unbearably bitter.”

Juhua didn’t dare say she recognized the ginseng, so she could only ask, “Doctor Qin, is this medicine expensive? You didn’t charge for treating my father, and you’re not charging to treat me. I feel bad using your medicine.”

Qin Feng smiled. “It’s not expensive! Don’t overthink it. I just saw that you were weak and happened to have this on hand, so I’m giving it to you. It would be best if you could stew it with a few chickens; the effect would likely be even better than with pig stomach. Besides, your mother has earned some money selling offal, so there’s no need to be so frugal—your health is what’s most important.”

Juhua was very hesitant. ’How can I refuse his gift? What reason could I give? I definitely can’t admit I recognize the ginseng. I don’t know if Doctor Qin is giving me something so valuable out of pity or for some other reason. If he treats all his patients this way, wouldn’t he go broke?’

Just as Juhua was lost in thought, Qin Feng spoke again. “Juhua, I’m leaving Qingnan Village today.”

Juhua let out a soft “Ah?” and looked up at him. Seeing him gazing at her intently, she blinked a couple of times and asked, “Are you going to practice medicine somewhere else? That’s right, you’re a traveling doctor, so of course you move around. Oh, no! If you leave, it’ll be so much trouble for our village to see a doctor. I hear the doctor in Xiatang Market is completely unscrupulous, and his skills are nowhere near as good as yours!”

Only then did she realize what a loss it would be for Qingnan Village if Qin Feng left. ’Seeing a doctor will become a hassle again. Never mind anything else, just look at Zheng Changhe’s injury this time. If we’d gone to Xiatang Market for treatment, who knows what kind of ordeal he would have been put through. The cost would have been a secondary concern.’

Seeing her reluctance to let him go, Qin Feng’s mood brightened, and he smiled. “My medical skills aren’t yet refined. I want to travel around and gain more experience. I’ll be back in a few years.”

Juhua’s eyes lit up. “You’re really coming back?” ’People eat all sorts of grains; how could they not get sick? Having a doctor like him living in the village was a true blessing for Qingnan Village.’

Qin Feng chuckled. “Yes! I’ll be back.” He paused for a moment, then added softly, “I have to come back to treat the scar on your face, after all!”

Juhua was stunned for a moment. Then, her nose tingled, and tears began to fall.

’No matter how reserved she was, his words moved her. Not every doctor possessed such a strong sense of medical ethics. He was willing to go to such lengths for a plain village girl he barely knew, not out of some fascination with a difficult case, but out of genuine concern for his patient.’

’In this strange time and place, who besides her own family would care about the sorrows of a plain girl? It was a mark of good character just not to stare at her with strange looks; who would actually bother to care whether she lived or died!’

’The failure of the last treatment must have filled him with guilt. Especially with the skin on her face peeling back like that. Though she couldn’t see it herself, she could imagine how horrifying it must have looked. The blow to someone as dedicated and serious as him must have been immense.’

’Other doctors had miraculous healing hands, but his treatment had only made things worse. Even back then, she had sensed his deep frustration and heavy heart. The Zheng Family didn’t blame him at all, but he remained despondent.’

Through her tears, she said softly, “Thank you, Doctor Qin!”

Seeing her cry, Qin Feng fell silent. He watched the crystalline teardrops clinging to her long lashes, like morning dew on a flower petal, and his heart clenched. After a long moment, he finally said, “I might be back before you know it. Make plenty of rice crusts and keep them ready, because I’ll be coming back for them.”

Juhua quickly put down the shoe sole she was working on and stood up. “Let me pack some for you, then. You can have them as a snack on the road.”

Qin Feng grinned. “That would be wonderful. I was too embarrassed to ask just now!”

His words made Juhua laugh through her tears. She went to the kitchen, found a cloth bag, and emptied the entire jar of rice crusts into it before bringing it out to him.

Zheng Changhe, having just finished feeding the pigs, came over and was talking with Qin Feng.

Every day, he would spend ages studying his pigs—watching them eat and play, and cleaning up their manure. Seeing the pigs grow as if they were being inflated with air—or so it seemed to him—filled his heart with indescribable joy.

“You’re leaving? Oh, no! What will we do? If you’re gone, everyone in Qingnan Village will miss you!”

Zheng Changhe was aghast when he heard Qin Feng was leaving. The villagers had grown used to having Qin Feng around. For any minor ailment, they could just ask him and get some medicine. It was incredibly convenient. Now that he was leaving, that convenience would disappear.

Qin Feng had no choice but to repeat what he had said earlier, vowing that he would return in the future. Then, carrying the rice crusts Juhua had packed for him, he strode away under Zheng Changhe’s reluctant gaze.

After walking a good distance, he turned back. His gaze fell upon the splash of silver-red standing by the fence, a strange light flickering in his eyes.

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