Chapter Fifty-Two: The Renowned Lady Physician

Mother Zhou He and Zhou Zhi both wore expressions of astonishment. At that moment, Old Wang and the middle-aged woman had entered the courtyard.

Old Wang, ever the mischievous elder, chuckled and said, "Zhou Zhi, your official horse has diarrhea, hasn't it? Didn’t you say you had a secret remedy you wouldn't share? Well, now someone’s come specifically to ask for it. Let’s see what you plan to do!"

He turned to the middle-aged woman and said, "Doctor Tan, this lad here is Zhou Zhi, a truly capable fellow in White Mountain Village!"

Hearing that the young man before her was Zhou Zhi, the middle-aged woman was visibly startled, her brows knitting for a moment before she composed herself. She bowed gently to Zhou Zhi and spoke softly, "I offer my respects."

Her words were accompanied by a glimpse of white teeth and a gentle tone, showing Zhou Zhi the utmost respect.

Zhou Zhi hurriedly returned the gesture, saying, "You are far too courteous, sister. I do not deserve such honor. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Before the middle-aged woman could reply, Old Wang interjected eagerly, "Zhou Zhi, didn’t I just tell you? She’s come for your secret horse remedy. Ha! Looks like you’re in for a good thing! She wants to buy your recipe with silver!"

"This..." Zhou Zhi frowned slightly in thought.

After all, it was only a matter of feeding cooked sorghum flour to the horse—hardly a secret remedy. Seeing the middle-aged woman carrying a medicine box and wearing a sincere expression, Zhou Zhi quickly asked, "May I know what purpose you need this recipe for, sister?"

The woman replied, "I wish to learn more about medical arts, to collect and record folk remedies, so that I may write and pass them on."

A female physician was rare enough, and now this one intended to write a medical book for posterity. Zhou Zhi’s curiosity was piqued; he asked seriously, "May I inquire, sister, where are you from, and what is your esteemed name?"

The middle-aged woman hesitated briefly, but seeing Zhou Zhi’s respectful manner and cultured speech, she answered after a pause, "My ancestral home is Wuxi in Jiangsu. My surname is Tan, and my humble name is Yunxian."

"You are Tan Yunxian?" Zhou Zhi cried out, his mouth agape in disbelief.

"What’s this? You know me?" Tan Yunxian asked in surprise.

Not only Tan Yunxian, but Old Wang and Zhou He at the door all stared at Zhou Zhi in amazement. Little Zhi truly was a mystery—when did he become acquainted with such a renowned female physician? He was becoming harder and harder to understand. Ever since he fainted in the fields, how much has he changed?

Zhou Zhi realized his lapse and quickly waved his hand, "I do not know you, sister, but the surname Tan is uncommon, so I was curious."

His explanation was reasonable. Zhou Zhi was just a poor village boy, and the furthest he had ever been was the distant Gaocang Town, more than ten miles away, years ago. Otherwise, he’d always stayed in White Mountain Village, where no one bore the surname Tan. It was natural he didn’t know it existed.

But truthfully, even Zhou Zhi, no matter how ignorant of history, had heard of the famous Ming dynasty female physician Tan Yunxian.

In ancient times, there were four renowned female doctors: Bao Gu of the Jin dynasty, Yi Shuo of the Western Han, Lady Zhang of the Song dynasty, and Tan Yunxian of the Ming.

Tan Yunxian’s inclusion proved her exceptional medical skill.

Never had Zhou Zhi expected that, having traveled to Ming, he would meet this famous female physician. He instantly felt great reverence and bowed deeply, saying, "So you are Doctor Tan. Forgive my disrespect!"

"I only wish to obtain the recipe for treating a horse’s diarrhea. How much silver would you require, brother?" Tan Yunxian’s voice was still gentle, but Zhou Zhi sensed her lack of confidence.

No wonder. Tan Yunxian was a traveling physician, wandering from place to place to heal others, charging only modest fees for medicine, never seeking great profit. She truly had little silver to spare, and feared Zhou Zhi would ask for an exorbitant price, making the remedy unattainable.

As a physician from a family of medical tradition and a lifelong devotee to medicine, it pained her not to acquire such a recipe.

Moreover, when seeking folk remedies across the land, she had rarely spent much silver. People often saw her plain dress and dignified manners, and some simply gifted her their recipes, since these were common remedies, not ancestral secrets. Whenever she visited a village, Tan Yunxian would treat difficult cases, earning the villagers’ trust and affection.

Zhou Zhi smiled, "I have no secret recipe, sister. If you find it useful, I will gladly tell you without asking for silver."

Tan Yunxian was taken aback; she had not expected Zhou Zhi to be so generous and refuse any payment.

Old Wang was even more surprised, his face stern as he said, "Boy, do you have so much silver to spare? How can you refuse money that comes to your door? Hmph! All my effort was wasted!"

He wasn’t wrong. That day, with nothing to do, Old Wang had been strolling outside the village and happened to meet Tan Yunxian, who was entering with her medicine box.

Tan Yunxian had heard there was someone in White Mountain Village who could cure horses’ diarrhea and had come to seek the remedy. Usually, she never paid much for folk remedies, but Old Wang told her that Zhou Zhi’s secret recipe required a good sum.

In truth, Old Wang had intended this for Zhou Zhi’s benefit. Though he lived as poorly as the Zhou family, Old Wang had noticed their constant troubles and came up with this way for Zhou Zhi to earn some money.

"This… Is it really appropriate?" Tan Yunxian glanced at Old Wang, then finally fixed her clear gaze on Zhou Zhi.

"Why would it not be? Please, Doctor Tan, come inside and take a seat." Zhou Zhi gestured invitingly, and Tan Yunxian, unable to refuse, followed him inside.

Although Old Wang no longer kept official horses at home, he had long been curious about how Zhou Zhi cured their diarrhea, so he followed them in as well.

Mother Zhou He, seeing Zhou Zhi treat Tan Yunxian with such respect, instructed Zhou Lüyun to boil some water.

Once inside and seated, Zhou Zhi, full of admiration, explained the remedy for horses’ diarrhea to Tan Yunxian.

Old Wang, hearing how simple the method was, couldn’t help but sigh, looking at Zhou Zhi with a strange expression. He thought to himself, how could such a simple solution have eluded everyone else, and yet end up in Zhou Zhi’s hands?

Tan Yunxian, however, remained composed. Many folk remedies were indeed simple. She took out paper and pen from her medicine box and carefully recorded the method.

When she finished, Zhou Zhi bowed again and said, "Doctor Tan, I do have a request. My younger brother has been suffering from fever, stomach pain, and vomiting these past few days. I must trouble you to treat him."

Tan Yunxian nodded gently, "I had already noticed the child’s complexion in the courtyard—he is indeed ill and needs prompt care."

What is a true physician? To diagnose illness at a glance—such is the mark of a master. Zhou Zhi thought to himself.