Chapter Fifty-Four: A Heart of Iron and Stone

“What did you just say, Xiaozhi? Physician Tan wants to operate on Xiaocheng—does she intend to kill my child on purpose? I think this lady physician doesn’t know how to treat illness at all; she just wants to use Xiaocheng as practice!” Mother Zhou He’s face was cold as she spoke.

Just moments before, Tan Yunxian had explained to Zhou Zhi the method for treating Zhou Shaocheng’s severe twisted intestinal illness, which required surgery. Zhou Zhi, upon hearing this, remained calm; after all, in later times, he had already heard of the renowned lady physician Tan Yunxian. Besides, appendicitis surgery was indeed the safest and most reliable treatment.

Since Tan Yunxian could propose such a method, it showed she was highly confident. Zhou Zhi trusted her completely. However, such a major matter as operating on his younger brother could not be hidden from their mother; he had to persuade her thoroughly before proceeding.

Now, the family was privately discussing Zhou Shaocheng’s treatment, away from his ears. Elder sister Zhou Lüyun had already sent him out of the room.

Zhou Zhi paused for a moment, then spoke softly. “Mother, you know how serious Xiaocheng’s illness is. If we do not treat him promptly, I fear his life is truly at risk.

You may not trust Physician Tan, but did you see how calm and orderly she was? Her diagnosis was meticulous and her words gracious. In my view, a lady physician of such bearing must possess great skill.

Xiaocheng is your son, but he is also my brother. I understand the danger of such an operation, but if we do not treat him quickly, it isn’t about caring for him—it would actually be harming him.”

As he said this, Zhou Zhi’s voice choked with emotion.

There was no other way—convincing his mother required both reason and sentiment. As a peasant woman of feudal Ming, her knowledge was limited, but her heart was soft.

Elder sister Zhou Lüyun listened quietly, her delicate brows furrowing as her mind churned with worry.

She had always said that whatever Zhou Zhi decided to do, she would support him, believing he would not steer them wrong.

But today’s situation made it difficult for her to so easily take Zhou Zhi’s side again.

Old man Wang, known as the “Riddle Boy,” was actually quite kind-hearted. Upon hearing of Zhou Shaocheng’s grave illness, he stayed on rather than leave. Yet, when he heard Zhou Zhi mention that Physician Tan wanted to perform surgery, he grew uneasy.

Still, among the farmers of Baiyue Village, Old Wang was unusually worldly. After a moment of serious contemplation, he said, “About this operation—I have heard of physicians treating illness this way. But, alas! Xiaocheng is still a child. How could he endure such pain?”

Since he was the one who brought Tan Yunxian to them, and after brief contact, he felt she was different from other wandering physicians who roamed villages with trickery. So Old Wang continued, “Zhou family, if you ask me, I believe Physician Tan may indeed be able to cure Xiaocheng. At this point, aside from letting her treat him, there’s really no other option.”

Old Wang was, after all, an outsider. For him to say so much was already quite admirable, his sincerity shining through.

Zhou Lüyun’s gaze lingered on Zhou Zhi, finally settling on his face. “Xiaozhi, do you truly believe Physician Tan can cure Xiaocheng?”

Zhou Zhi’s expression was resolute as he nodded firmly.

As someone who had traversed time, his golden finger certainly had its uses. Tan Yunxian was one of the four great female physicians of antiquity, especially skilled in gynecology and pediatrics—this was beyond doubt. Combining his knowledge from later eras, Zhou Zhi judged that Xiaocheng’s illness was surely appendicitis. Tan Yunxian’s treatment was perfectly suited.

Tan Yunxian’s sudden arrival was a stroke of luck for the Zhou family, especially for his younger brother—a rare chance. If they missed it, Xiaocheng might truly...

After careful consideration, Zhou Lüyun finally sided with Zhou Zhi. With the siblings’ earnest persuasion, Zhou He at last sighed deeply, “Ah! Perhaps this is my Xiaocheng’s fate.”

It was already late; operating under lamplight was impossible, so Tan Yunxian scheduled the surgery for early the next morning. She sincerely requested to personally watch over Xiaocheng that night.

Moved by Tan Yunxian’s sincerity, Zhou Zhi thanked her profusely.

Tan Yunxian, smiling for the first time, said, “Brother Zhou, truthfully, I should thank you. Healing the sick is a physician’s duty, but if you hadn’t trusted me so much, I could not perform this surgery tomorrow.

I have traveled through many places, and so many people do not believe in me. Sometimes, I am truly helpless, watching patients I could have cured slowly die, and it pains me deeply.”

Tan Yunxian was a physician of great compassion, treating patients as her own kin. This touched Zhou Zhi’s heart all the more. Perhaps her sincerity moved Zhou He as well, for at dinner she had Zhou Lüyun specially fry some eggs to honor Tan Yunxian.

That night, Zhou He, Tan Yunxian, Zhou Lüyun, and Zhou Shaocheng settled to rest in the inner room. It was a large heated bed, spacious enough for the four of them.

As Tan Yunxian expected, in the middle of the night Xiaocheng was tormented by unbearable abdominal pain. If not for Tan Yunxian’s timely acupuncture, no one knew how he would have survived the night.

At last, dawn broke. After a simple breakfast, Tan Yunxian began preparing for the surgery. She had Zhou Lüyun boil a pot of scalding water and immersed all her surgical instruments from her medicine chest for half an hour before removing them. She then had Zhou Zhi fetch some wine, which she also heated and set aside for use.

Old Wang, quick-tongued as ever, had already spread word throughout the village the night before about the operation. The villagers, ever drawn to spectacle, had plenty to gossip about regarding the Zhou family’s recent events. Now, with a surgery imminent, even more were drawn in.

By early morning, the little courtyard of the Zhou family was crowded with onlookers. Many craned their necks to peer inside, whispering ceaselessly.

“That Zhou boy is ruthless, letting an unknown itinerant physician operate on Xiaocheng. I can’t imagine what’s going through his head—cutting open a belly! Will the boy survive?”

“Hmph! If Zhou Zhi is so hard-hearted toward his own brother, he’ll be even worse to outsiders. Best to keep clear of him in the future. He looks honest on the outside, but his heart is black.”