Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 193: Going to Harvest the Rice

"Doctor Li, the rice on Tang Mountain is ripe. The weather’s great today, so I’ll go ahead and harvest it for you."

The call from Wang the Third came just as Li Xu was thinking about it.

"Uncle, sorry to trouble you. I’ll head over today and harvest it with you."

"If you’re busy, you don’t need to come over. It’s not a big patch. I can finish cutting it this morning, thresh the grain this afternoon, and deliver it to you tomorrow."

"I’ll come over and take a look."

Li Xu decided to go anyway.

After all, he hadn’t been there in a long time.

He wanted to check on the condition of the rice paddies as a reference for next year’s planting.

After breakfast, Song Sisi came over.

Today, instead of steamed buns, she’d brought fried dough cakes.

"After you eat, you’re coming with me to Tang Mountain."

"Okay!"

Song Sisi said happily.

She was tired of being cooped up in the clinic and was more than happy to get out.

「Half an hour later.」

Just as the two of them were about to leave, Xia Lei arrived, his face etched with anxiety.

Though it had only been a day, Xia Lei’s entire demeanor had completely changed.

He had heavy, dark circles under his eyes and looked like he’d thinned down considerably.

His face wore an expression of terror and unease.

His voice was also a bit hoarse. "Doctor Li..."

Li Xu beckoned him. "Come in and talk."

Xia Lei entered the consultation room mechanically.

Li Xu poured him a glass of water.

Xia Lei’s hands trembled slightly as he took the cup with both hands.

Behind the steam rising from the hot water, his eyes darted about restlessly, like a frightened animal.

"They let you out," Li Xu said softly. It wasn’t a question.

Xia Lei’s head snapped up.

He hadn’t contacted Li Xu at all since yesterday.

Yet Li Xu knew what had happened to him.

’Could it be...’

Xia Lei asked, "Was it... Was it you who helped?"

Li Xu didn’t answer right away. Instead, he first took Xia Lei’s pulse.

The pulse beneath his fingers was taut and rapid. Stagnant liver qi, deficient gallbladder qi—classic signs of extreme fright.

"First, drink some tea," Li Xu gestured. "Then tell me what happened."

Cupping the teacup in both hands, Xia Lei haltingly recounted yesterday’s ordeal—how he was suddenly detained, spent an agonizing day in custody, and was then abruptly released in the middle of the night.

Li Xu took the agreement and glanced over it. The terms were frighteningly rigorous, blocking nearly every possible legal recourse.

"Doctor Li, what exactly is going on?" Xia Lei asked, his emotions stabilizing a bit after drinking the hot water. "Why so suddenly... and this money..."

Li Xu put down the agreement and sighed heavily. "This whole affair started partly because of me, so of course I couldn’t just ignore it. I asked an influential old gentleman for help. He put pressure on them to release you, but that’s as far as it goes."

"As far as it goes?" Xia Lei was already mentally prepared for this. He nodded. "Yes, I suppose this is as far as it can go..."

’We’re just insignificant people.’

’There are some things we can’t change.’

’The fact that the other party was willing to release me and even offer compensation is already the biggest concession they could make.’

The consultation room fell silent for a moment.

Outside the window, the calls of street vendors and the laughter of children created a clamor of ordinary life, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere inside.

Xia Lei nodded. "I understand... At least my family and I are safe, right?"

"Yes," Li Xu nodded. "They won’t bother you again, and they won’t bother me either."

"And the surveillance..."

"It should all be gone," Li Xu said, refilling his tea. "You can use your phone normally from now on."

Xia Lei wiped his eyes and forced a smile. "Thank you... I mean it, thank you. Without you, I might have died without even knowing why."

Li Xu wrote a prescription to calm the spirit and supplement qi, then had Song Sisi prepare the herbs.

Looking at Xia Lei’s haggard expression, he felt a mix of emotions.

Song Sisi prepared the herbs and handed them to Xia Lei.

Xia Lei paid.

With a word of thanks, he turned and walked out into the sunlight.

Song Sisi now understood what kind of patient he was.

"Sigh. I used to think these were just tabloid stories. I never thought something like this could really happen."

Li Xu didn’t answer, just looked up at the sky.

The weather really was beautiful today.

The sky was a clear, limpid blue, like a flawless piece of glazed glass—vast and pristine.

Especially in late autumn, the sunlight that spilled down wasn’t scorching like in summer, but carried a gentle coolness.

It was enough to lift one’s spirits.

"Let’s go. Time to harvest the rice."

Li Xu motioned for Song Sisi, and they boarded the bus to Tang Mountain.

On the way, his phone rang.

It was Elder Li.

"Doctor Li, that golden toad skin is truly a miracle drug! It’s divine! I slept soundly yesterday, and I don’t feel any pain in my liver at all!"

Elder Li’s voice boomed with energy. "By the way, has that matter with your patient been resolved?"

"It’s resolved. Thank you for your help, Elder Li," Li Xu said gratefully.

"Good to hear. Come by and check up on me when you have time. This old bag of bones is counting on you to keep me tuned up!"

"Of course. Once you’ve finished the golden toad skin, I’ll prescribe you some other detoxifying herbs."

After hanging up, Li Xu closed his eyes to rest.

To the RUMBLING AND CLANKING of the bus, they arrived at Tang Mountain.

Li Xu opened his eyes, emerging from his light doze.

Outside the window, the autumn sun dyed the mountains gold, and the air was filled with the fragrance of dry grass and ripe crops.

"Boss, we’re here."

Song Sisi gently nudged his arm, her eyes shining with excitement.

She had changed into a light blue tracksuit and tied her hair into a casual ponytail, looking much more vibrant than she did at the clinic.

After they got off the bus, Li Xu took a deep breath. The crisp mountain air filled his lungs, instantly easing some of the oppressive feeling he’d had for days.

Tang Mountain wasn’t high, but its terrain was unusual.

"This way," Li Xu said, leading Song Sisi onto a small path between the fields.

Wild chrysanthemums bloomed profusely along both sides of the path, a brilliant stretch of gold.

On a distant slope, various medicinal herbs grew in patches—the Astragalus Root had already gone to seed, and withered dandelions rustled in the wind;

Goji Berry bushes were laden with fruit like little rubies;

and a patch of mint, though past its peak season, still gave off a cool, refreshing scent.

These were all things he and Song Sisi had planted together during the summer.

Now, it was time for the harvest.

Most of them, however, were just ordinary medicinal herbs.

Rounding a small earthen hill, they were met with a dazzling sight—a small, golden rice paddy appeared abruptly in the mountain landscape, a stark contrast to the withered wild grass surrounding it.

The heads of grain hung heavy, gleaming like amber in the sunlight.