Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 53: Entering the Mountain
Wang Qin wasn’t ready to give up.
She came to ask Li Xu about the foxtail grass again.
Li Xu patiently explained, "Aunt Wang, the vision-improving effects of ordinary foxtail grass are indeed limited. However, there might be some special varieties in the mountains that work better. For now, don’t have Zhang He drink it. We can talk again if I come across any of those special types."
He didn’t make any definitive promises.
Today’s intelligence report mentioned a small patch of mutant foxtail grass in the foothills of Niuti Mountain.
It was said to be quite effective.
But it could only relieve eye fatigue.
It was useful for pseudomyopia.
If Zhang He already had true myopia, even the most potent foxtail grass would be useless.
"Aunt Wang, you should take Zhang He to the hospital for a check-up to see if it’s pseudomyopia. If it is, there’s still a chance to fix it."
After seeing Wang Qin off, Li Xu began to seriously consider a trip into the mountains.
He opened the map app on his phone.
He searched for Bailingyu Village.
It was located deep within Niuti Mountain.
There were no direct roads leading to it.
He tapped for directions and selected "bus" as his mode of travel.
The nearest bus stop was still a long way from Bailingyu Village.
Based on the map’s scale, he roughly estimated it was a hike of more than five kilometers.
On top of that, he didn’t know the exact location of the foxtail grass and would have to search for it.
A single day would be tight.
So, he needed to consider the possibility of staying overnight if he couldn’t make it back the same day.
Besides, the mountain paths would be difficult to traverse.
He also needed to prepare some emergency supplies.
In the Eight Hundred Li of Qin Chuan, hikers ran into danger for all sorts of reasons every year.
Although Li Xu wasn’t going on an expedition this time,
he still needed to be fully prepared.
He took out a piece of paper and made a list.
First was climbing gear, like rope, anti-slip shoes, and a waterproof jacket.
Then there were herb-gathering tools: a small medicinal hoe, scissors, and a waterproof bag.
And some survival supplies: compressed biscuits, water purification tablets, and a power bank.
As a doctor, he couldn’t forget medical supplies, of course: a complete first-aid kit, insect repellent...
"Boss, what are you writing?"
Song Sisi, having put away the plastic anatomical model, came back in from the courtyard and stood behind Li Xu, watching. "Are you going on an expedition?"
"No, I’m going to gather herbs."
"Gather herbs?"
"Didn’t doctors in ancient times all go into the mountains to gather herbs? I’m just emulating our ancestors."
"But things are different from ancient times. You can buy a lot of medicinal herbs at the market."
"The quality of store-bought herbs is lower. Only wild herbs gathered from deep in the mountains have the best effects."
"I want to go with you," Song Sisi said with great excitement.
It was obvious she just wanted a trip to the mountains.
Li Xu immediately poured cold water on her enthusiasm. "I’m not going to a tourist spot. I’m going into the wilderness. There’s no infrastructure, just bugs, snakes, rats, and ants everywhere. You could get bitten by a snake just squatting to relieve yourself. Do you still want to go?"
"Uh..."
Song Sisi pictured the scene and shivered. "I think I’ll pass."
Li Xu smiled. "I’ll give you tomorrow off. If I don’t make it back, you can have the day after off too."
"How many days will you be gone?"
"Normally, I should be back the same day, but who can say for sure with these things? I’ll call you then."
"Okay, boss. If you run into any danger, I’ll call for a rescue team for you."
"Could you try wishing me some good luck instead?"
The two chatted for a little while longer.
Li Xu had Song Sisi stay and mind the clinic.
He went out to buy the things on his list.
After a shopping spree that cost him several hundred yuan, he had everything he needed.
Then he packed everything into his backpack.
「The next morning.」
[Today’s Intelligence: Below Mopan Mountain in Jiushui Town, under a 15-meter-tall redwood tree, grows premium-grade Gastrodia. Among them are 7 mature tubers.]
A smile touched Li Xu’s lips after he read it.
The Qin Chuan region serves as a natural barrier dividing the north and south.
Its unique geographical location and vast changes in elevation have created a rich plant ecology.
There’s an old saying: "In the Qin Land, no weed is useless; treasures are scattered everywhere."
He hadn’t even set out yet, and the intelligence system had already given him the location of Gastrodia.
Gastrodia is primarily used to treat dizziness, vertigo, and numbness in the limbs. It is also highly effective for infantile convulsions and is considered a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb.
Cultivated Gastrodia can sell for up to 500 yuan per jin.
Wild Gastrodia, due to its rarity, can fetch as much as 800 yuan per jin.
Some premium-grade varieties can even exceed 1,000 yuan.
Li Xu was in a good mood.
On this trip to the Qinling Mountains, not only would he be able to harvest a small patch of mutant foxtail grass, but he could also get his hands on natural, wild, premium-grade Gastrodia.
He ate breakfast at a stall near his door,
shouldered his backpack,
and took a taxi to the bus station.
With the changing times,
the bus station was no longer the bustling hub it once was.
It was quiet and nearly empty.
Li Xu bought a ticket and boarded the bus.
On a coach with over 50 seats, there were fewer than ten passengers.
Li Xu took two seats for himself and closed his eyes to rest.
「Two hours later.」
He got off the long-distance coach
and boarded a rural bus,
heading for Jiushui Town.
...
Guanghe District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Miaoli was in her office, reading a medical book.
Before this,
whenever work wasn’t busy, she would just slack off and watch TV shows.
But Li Xu had motivated her.
She had started to rally in the past few days,
deciding to enrich herself by reading.
"Miaoli, the award came through."
Director Guo, the chief physician, came into the office and handed her a certificate of honor.
"The hospital has commended us, and the District Health Commission also offered praise."
Miaoli took the certificate, glanced at it, and asked, "And?"
Guo Yu knew what she meant and shook his head with a smile. "No material reward."
"Oh."
Miaoli’s face immediately fell.
Guo Yu sighed. "The hospital doesn’t have many patients, and on top of that, the medical insurance fund allocations are delayed. The hospital’s budget is tight, so there’s no money to give us a bonus."
"Alright."
Miaoli couldn’t say she was disappointed.
After all, in handling the tick-borne virus case, they had only fulfilled their due responsibilities.
The main credit belonged to Li Xu.
However, since Li Xu wasn’t an official employee of the District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he didn’t even get a certificate of honor.
"In a bit, go do your rounds in wards 1 through 9,"
Guo Yu instructed.
"No problem."
Miaoli put down her medical book.
She unconsciously picked up her phone and started scrolling through short videos.
She scrolled for half an hour,
then went out to do her rounds.
When she returned, she saw a magazine on her desk that hadn’t been there before.
"Who brought this?"
A nurse peeked in. "Director Guo asked me to bring it."
’Dragon Country Special Issue of Virology?’
Miaoli muttered to herself.
She wasn’t surprised to see the journal ’Dragon Country Virology’.
After the incident with Wang the Third’s tick poisoning,
the City Health Commission had required all hospitals to subscribe to ’Dragon Country Virology’.
Their District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine was naturally no exception.
However, the last issue of ’Dragon Country Virology’ had just been released.
The next one wasn’t due for another two months.
’Why would they put out a special issue now?’
She opened it to take a look.
The special issue contained only one paper.
"A Breakthrough Discovery in the Organ-Protective Effects of Apigenin and Luteolin on Tick-Borne Disease".
In the author list, besides the members of Wang Tao’s team, there was an additional name—Li Xu.
"Huh??"
Miaoli blinked.
’The same name?’
Then, she saw a brief letter of acknowledgment on the title page.
"...special thanks to Doctor Li Xu of Feng City’s Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic. It was his reminder and suggestions that enabled us to make this breakthrough research..."
"Whaaa???"
Miaoli was completely stunned.
’What is going on?’
’How did Li Xu’s name get into the ’Dragon Country Virology’ journal?’
’And alongside Professor Wang Tao?’
’Oh my god!!’
’What did I miss??’
