A Huan's Secret

Su Fuling was satisfied after reading it. Her knowledge of Chinese herbs came partly from childhood learning, but the most crucial part came from recent reading.

After all, she hadn't encountered many herbs as a child—resources were limited back in her hometown. However, the System's pharmacology books included methods for processing and identifying Chinese herbs.

These days, Su Fuling had been deeply fascinated by this subject. Today, it finally came in handy. Su Fuling asked, 'Is there a discount for long-term cooperation?' She hoped to have a pharmacy she could work with regularly, ensuring the quality of medicines her patients bought remained under her control, which would also give her more confidence in their treatment.

Upon hearing this, the pharmacy owner immediately said, 'From what you're saying, the quantity isn't large, so no discount—we need to make money too.' Su Jueming whispered, 'A Ling, that's how they are here. If the quantity of medicine isn't big, they don't make much profit.

Only if you have the same volume as the shop opposite my place can you get a discount.' Su Fuling thought about her current business... 'Then I'll have my patients come here to get their medicine with my signed prescription, and you must give them this quality of medicine.' The pharmacy owner inwardly cursed his bad luck.

This business wasn't even worth doing. But since he'd been caught, he worried that if he didn't agree, this person might ruin his reputation in the industry.

'Fine, for Boss Su's sake, I'll give a little concession.' Su Fuling found these businessmen quite cunning. What should be a matter of course was twisted into a favor.

Back in her hometown, she would have directly exposed such behavior. But here in Harbor City, she really couldn't interfere, so she could only manage her own affairs.

After finalizing the cooperation, Su Fuling bought some more herbs herself. Leaving the pharmacy, Su Jueming said, 'A Ling, did your grandfather teach you how to identify herbs too?' Su Fuling replied, 'Yes, and I also learned some from books.

Little Uncle, you should read more too.' 'Cough, I do read,' Su Jueming coughed awkwardly, because lately he'd been reading more Western medicine books. Western medicine was easier to make money with.

When people had headaches or fevers, he could prescribe medicine or give an injection and earn money. The prices were transparent too.

But when he made medicinal wine and Medicinal Plaster for people, they would suspect he was overcharging. Su Jueming suddenly felt that compared to his niece, he, as an uncle, seemed a bit irresponsible.

A Ling was better at identifying herbs than he was. 'A Ling, I'll study medicine properly. The Su family legacy can't rely on you alone.' Su Fuling smiled, 'Little Uncle, let's work hard together.' She pondered whether she could write down some of the content from the books she read.

Keeping it all in the System for herself alone was a waste. But she couldn't copy everything—only the important parts. She could claim she'd read them before, so she wouldn't have to reveal which medical text they came from.

By the time she returned to the shop, it was afternoon. Su Fuling saw a familiar face at the door—Chen Shasha, whom she'd met yesterday.

She hadn't come alone; she'd brought two young girls. But right now, she was glaring at Zhao Facai, saying something. Zhao Facai didn't dare speak.

His eyes darted around, looking for a chance to escape. When he saw Su Fuling, he looked relieved. 'Master is back.' Su Fuling: '...' She still wasn't used to that title.

Chen Shasha turned and saw Su Fuling, her mood improving. She hurried over. 'Doctor Su, we meet again. I brought you customers, just like I promised yesterday.

See, I keep my word.' Su Fuling had almost forgotten about that. Now, looking at the two young girls beside Chen Shasha, she smiled.

'You're very efficient.' 'Of course, we're loyal.' But the girls beside her looked troubled. They both thought the small shop looked very unprofessional.

Su Fuling set the herbs aside. Zhao Facai eagerly helped tidy up. 'Master, you bought so many herbs! Let me help you organize them.' Su Fuling said, 'No need, you're not familiar with them—don't damage them.

I'll do it myself later.' 'Alright, then I'll go find some jars and bottles to store the herbs.' Chen Shasha was surprised. 'Doctor Su, did you really take this swindler as your apprentice?' Su Fuling said, 'He's just saying that.

He said he wants to learn medicine from me and stop fortune-telling.' 'That's more like it. At least he's honest now.' Chen Shasha still found Zhao Facai annoying.

She even felt displeased with the row of fortune-tellers outside. But she couldn't do anything about it—Shan Ge said they still needed to collect protection fees from this street, and driving these people away would affect their income.

Forget it, she decided not to worry about it. Then she pulled her friends to sit down. 'I told them Doctor Su is good and skilled, so I brought them to see you.' Su Fuling smiled.

'What seems to be the problem, you two?' 'It's not that coincidental—we just came for a checkup,' Chen Shasha said. She wanted to find patients, but the people around her were all lively and healthy.

She had so much energy herself that her friends were the same. Su Fuling was a bit disappointed, thinking she could earn Merit Points.

But since customers had come, she couldn't turn them away. She activated the target scanning function. Then she discovered that both of them were targets.

No way—was something going to happen again? Su Fuling took a deep breath and felt their pulses. When she detected that one had a cold constitution, she half-relaxed.

Then she thought, if her grandfather knew about this attitude, he would scold her. 'There are some issues, but they can be treated.' She said to the short-haired girl with the cold constitution, 'You probably often eat cold and raw foods, don't rest well, and have cold invading your body.

Is your monthly period very painful?' The short-haired girl was surprised. 'How did you know?' Su Fuling said, 'Your pulse told me.' She had encountered this symptom before.

Chen Shasha said, 'A Huan, you have this problem? Then why do you still go out with us during your period?' The short-haired girl named A Huan said, 'I didn't want you guys to think I'm weak.' 'You're so silly.' Chen Shasha was angry, then looked at Su Fuling.

'Doctor Su, can this be treated?' Su Fuling said, 'It requires long-term regulation. But if you want quick results, it's easy too.

Come to me before your next period, and I'll give you Acupuncture to relieve the pain.' Chen Shasha was delighted. 'Doctor Su really knows how to handle things.' A Huan said, 'Regulation?

Is it troublesome?' Su Fuling smiled. 'It's only troublesome for a while, but afterward you won't suffer anymore—doesn't that save a lot of trouble?

I'll write you a prescription. Take it consistently for a month.' She prescribed a mild regulating formula. She had learned this formula when her grandfather took her to visit an old Chinese medicine doctor in the city.

Back then, some women in their hometown had conditions they didn't want to discuss, so her grandfather had her study many gynecological topics. Chen Shasha took the prescription.

'I'll make sure she takes the medicine. Where should we get it?' Su Fuling said, 'Go to Li's Pharmacy, at the end of the street.' 'Oh, I know that place.' Chen Shasha was familiar with it.

She then urged the other girl to see Su Fuling. Su Fuling didn't receive any Merit Points, so she guessed that the girl named A Huan probably wouldn't take the medicine.

She smiled and shook her head, then attended to the other girl. This girl seemed quiet, just chewing gum. When it was her turn, she said, 'I have no discomfort during my period.' She was just doing Chen Shasha a favor by coming, planning to go through the motions.

She didn't intend to take any medicine—especially Chinese medicine, which must be bitter. Su Fuling quietly felt her pulse.

She found that this girl's illness was hard to pinpoint. She detected something like oral ulcers, but it wasn't that simple.

Since Chen Shasha had brought her, Su Fuling didn't want to waste the trip. Remembering she still had one detection slot left, which would expire if unused, she decided to use it. [Patient Name: Xu Ting; Patient Gender: Female; Patient Symptoms: Recurrent oral ulceration, syndrome of Yin deficiency; Predicted Disease Progression: ... beyond current detection time.]

Seeing the last line, Su Fuling had expected it but still wanted to curse the System—a miser, giving such limited functionality. However, seeing the symptoms, she finally determined the treatment plan.

So it was this condition. No wonder it felt familiar but uncertain—it was only recorded in her grandfather's notebook. She hadn't treated it herself yet.

'You're about to have an oral ulcer, aren't you?' The girl's eyes widened. 'A Ting, you have this problem too?' Chen Shasha hadn't expected that both her friends had minor issues.

Su Fuling said, 'Do you usually like spicy and heavy-flavored food? And are you prone to pent-up emotions?' Chen Shasha exclaimed, 'That's accurate!

A Ting loves heavy flavors.' She took after her grandmother, who was originally from the Mainland and liked spicy food. A Ting was raised by her grandmother, so she also loved spicy food—couldn't live without it.

But as for A Ting being unhappy... it wasn't obvious. Su Fuling said, 'After treatment, you won't need to chew gum anymore.

Chewing too much is bad for your facial muscles.' A Ting stopped moving her mouth. This doctor, who was about her age, even knew she had bad breath...

She was stunned by Su Fuling. So much so that when Su Fuling prescribed medicine, she couldn't argue. She only weakly reminded, 'The doctor already prescribed me medicine; it gets better after a few days.' Su Fuling said, 'That only treats the symptoms, not the root.

Take my prescription, and it won't recur. But you still need to improve your mood. Physical illness often stems from emotions.' Chen Shasha said, 'A Ting, if something's bothering you, tell me.

Why keep it inside?' A Ting said, 'Oh, you wouldn't understand.' Her words admitted that Su Fuling was right. Beside her, A Huan was also amazed by Su Fuling's skill.

She could tell so much just from feeling the pulse? That was incredible. Was Chinese medicine really this amazing? Then maybe the prescription she got was worth taking?

As soon as this thought crossed her mind, Su Fuling received a System notification: 'Merit Points +6'. Su Fuling smiled at A Huan, who guiltily looked away.

Soon, after A Ting's prescription was written, her Merit Points also came in: 'Merit Points +6'. Looking at the newly earned Merit Points, Su Fuling felt the detection function was worth it.

Zhao Facai quietly observed from the side, watching Su Fuling's serious demeanor. He felt that when his master wasn't fortune-telling, she really looked like a doctor. ...

Back home, Chen Shasha called for her brother to get a checkup. 'Brother, Doctor Su is amazing—she can see illnesses in the body at a glance,' she exaggerated.