Chapter 45

Su Fuling handed the prescription to Tang Jing and instructed her, "Just take it according to this. It's best to start today."

"Just this prescription?" Su Jueming carefully looked over the medicines on the prescription, just as curious about why Su Fuling had changed several of the measurements.

Su Fuling said, "This is a prescription I read before, but every patient gets their own prescription, so of course the measurements have to be adjusted. Following this prescription, you should feel some difference within three days." She was being cautious and didn't claim one day even though the prescription was well suited.

But her words still shocked Uncle Tang, who thought Su Jueming's niece was making quite a bold claim. He had previously gone to the big private clinic across the street, where even the doctors who were famous physicians returned from studying abroad wouldn't dare say something like "results in three days." He even thought his daughter would surely get angry—his daughter disliked quack doctors the most—so he helped smooth things over: "Young people just love to joke around, hahaha."

"Dad, Doctor Su isn't joking. When you go back, you have to properly follow Doctor Su's instructions and take the medicine. I'll help you get the herbs. When I'm not home, you have to brew and take the medicine yourself."

Uncle Tang: "...!!!"

Su Fuling smiled. "If Uncle Tang finds it troublesome, our clinic can also brew the medicine for you. It would just mean Uncle Tang has to walk a bit farther."

Uncle Tang looked at his daughter. "You really want me to take this medicine? You weren't like this before..."

"That was the past. I trust Doctor Su's medical skills. Anyway, the medicine you took before was useless, so let's try this one."

Tang Jing said hopefully.

Uncle Tang was stunned for a moment, then finally said helplessly, "Fine, I'll listen to you."

It was still early and the nearby herbal shops hadn't closed yet, so father and daughter hurried off to fill the prescription, planning to drink the first dose that very day, as Su Fuling had arranged.

After the two left, Su Jueming asked, "Ah Ling, are you confident? I'm just afraid Ah Jing will blame you later."

Su Fuling said, "Don't worry, Little Uncle. If I weren't confident, I'd say so honestly. You can't lie about treating illness—whether there's an effect or not, the patient will know."

Su Jueming said, "That's good then. I hope his injury heals soon so he can enjoy his old age in comfort."

Su Jueming went back to his meal. Though the food had gone a bit cold, he didn't mind. "You should go back and eat early too."

Su Fuling didn't leave. Instead, she came over and sat down across from him. "Little Uncle, I want to ask about how to take the medical practitioner's license exam in Hong Kong."

Su Jueming asked, "You want to get a medical license?"

Su Fuling nodded. "Yes, I think having a license would be more secure. Then I could see any patient I want. You know, some of my patients don't want to take Chinese medicine, and I can't prescribe Western drugs. I even have to write prescriptions as 'herbal tea recipes.'" The herb shop owner had taught her that.

"Of course. If you don't have a license and get caught, you'll be fined. But you're a Chinese medicine practitioner, so it's not too bad—Hong Kong doesn't regulate Chinese medicine that strictly right now. And running a small clinic in a place like Yau Ma Tei, even fewer people bother checking. But once the clinic grows bigger, it really will attract trouble."

Su Fuling said, "So I should take the exam."

But Su Jueming waved his hand. "It's not that easy. Back then, my master had connections—he recommended me to a school, paid the fees to enroll me as an affiliate student, and after graduation I took the exam. Now you have to be a university graduate. And my master passed away many years ago; those people don't acknowledge me anymore." Naturally, he was too embarrassed to say that the main reason was he'd done so poorly that even his senior brothers couldn't be bothered with him.

Su Fuling: "..."

Su Jueming advised earnestly, "So, Ah Ling, you should go to university in the future. In a place like Hong Kong, only with a degree can you get ahead."

Su Fuling: "...I'll consider it in the future. For now, I'll earn some money and build up experience first."

"Ah, that's true." Su Jueming felt he still needed to work harder. Before, he'd thought it would be enough for his niece to become a nurse, but now that she had the ability to practice medicine, her talent couldn't be wasted. Becoming a doctor would cost a lot more money.

Su Fuling said, "So should I go get a Chinese medicine certificate first?"

Su Jueming waved his hand. "Forget that. Although Hong Kong has a Chinese medicine association that issues certificates, Hong Kong law still doesn't recognize them. Rather than spending time on that, we'd be better off paying more protection money to the Four Directions Society later—then we won't have to worry about the government sending people to fine you."

Su Fuling: "..." Being a doctor in Hong Kong really wasn't easy.

That evening, Uncle Tang brewed the medicine at home. After drinking it, he didn't feel anything special, but his stomach was warm. Also, it really did taste terrible.

But Uncle Tang was someone who had endured hardship, so bitter medicine was nothing to him. It just made him think of his wife. Back then they were truly too poor—the Western medicine that could treat illness was sold at exorbitant prices they couldn't afford. So for a long stretch, his wife had actually relied on medicine from an old Chinese doctor to keep going. But it did no good; she grew more haggard by the day, and the medicine made her even thinner. So Uncle Tang no longer believed in any of it.

If his precious daughter hadn't told him to take the medicine, he definitely wouldn't have.

Tang Jing asked nervously, "Dad, how do you feel?"

"How could it be that fast? It's not a miracle drug. Don't get your hopes up either. Even that huge clinic couldn't cure my condition—it'd be strange if Ah Ling could. If she can't cure it, don't blame her. The fact that she cares about my condition is already a kind gesture."

Tang Jing said, "I know. I just hope you get better. The... beauty tea she prescribed me before worked really well."

"Beauty tea isn't for treating illness. No wonder you trust Ah Ling so much—so that's why." Uncle Tang smiled somewhat helplessly. "Anyway, let this illness take its course; don't force it. Getting old, having stiff legs—it's all very normal. Don't take it to heart. Work hard, and finding me a good son-in-law is the most important thing."

Tang Jing: "...I'm done talking to you. I'm going to sleep. If you feel unwell, call me."

Uncle Tang said, "Got it."

That night, Uncle Tang tossed and turned in bed, assuming he'd spend another night half-asleep, half-awake like before. But before he knew it, drowsiness came, and he slept the whole night without dreams.

How long had it been since he'd had a proper night's sleep? He was always woken by pain in the middle of the night, and getting out of bed the next morning was difficult. If the pain hadn't been so obvious, his daughter wouldn't have noticed and taken him to get that expensive medicine.

And precisely because of that, the change Uncle Tang now noticed was very clear. The pain from yesterday really seemed to be gone. There was still some soreness, but it was bearable—he could get out of bed. And once up, his legs didn't feel weak.

"..." Uncle Tang touched his leg, hardly daring to believe it. "It can't be that Ah Ming's niece's medicine actually worked..."

Uncle Tang couldn't quite believe it and didn't dare rejoice too early, worried it was only temporary—how embarrassing it would be to celebrate for nothing.

Early the next morning, Su Fuling scanned the whole family. Everyone was healthy, so she set out at ease.

The night before, she had watched the entire herbal compendium video series. There were too many videos, and the merit points she'd just earned were nearly spent. But the results were excellent. Watching videos really did leave a deeper impression than reading books. Some herbs she had only ever read about but never seen were now crystal clear in her mind, and she remembered how to identify them and their medicinal functions. Su Fuling planned to spend today combining pharmacology books with videos, then move on to case-study collections. That way, in the future she'd possess the precise ability to tailor one prescription per patient, without needing the system's assistance to write prescriptions like she had these past two days.

Although she'd discovered a new use for the system, it was only a temporary cheat. To become a true great doctor, she could only rely on her own ability. When the system eventually left, she would have nothing to fear.

Early in the morning, the first to arrive were, naturally, the people coming for checkups. He Li and Ding Lanxiang were renovating their shop nearby, so coming every day was convenient. But even Sun Zhonghao made a special trip over every day.

These few were now familiar faces in the crowd. Their persistent checkup routine inevitably set people muttering again.

After seeing the doctor, some people went across the street for breakfast, still discussing it.

"What exactly is Doctor Su's checkup? Some people who tried it said there was nothing special. So why do those few come every day? Every time I come for a follow-up I see them—not only do they come, they come early."

"Who knows? Maybe they're all putting on a show together."

"No way. That Mr. Sun is a rich man. If he were really acting alongside Doctor Su, would Doctor Su be running a clinic here? And isn't that Liang guy from the Four Directions Society?"

"Next time I'll try it too. It's just twenty Hong Kong dollars, right?"

"Right—that could buy two breakfasts of dim sum..."

Nearby, Wang Sihua, who had been observing Su Fuling's clinic, absentmindedly finished his last siu mai. He hesitated, but ultimately decided to go look for clues on his own again.

Yesterday he had followed everyone in reviewing recently reopened cold cases, but found no leads at all. Although a suspect had been identified, no matter how Wang Sihua dug, he couldn't find a single useful clue.

Judging by everyone's attitude, the case would only remain open for a while—if there were no results, it would be sealed again. Police resources were limited; the case would only be picked up when there were no major new cases, and if a new major case occurred, the investigation would stop. And Yau Ma Tei never lacked new cases. The people here were a complex mix, and cases, overt and hidden, emerged one after another.

Wang Sihua hadn't slept all night, and when he got up in the morning, he somehow ended up here.

Perhaps it was because he remembered the astonishment this young doctor across the street had once caused him.

It was the shock of an unknown ability. Could a person really see through the future? Then could she see the past? See the murderer?

Su Fuling was busy until noon, but the harvest was plentiful. Ever since developing the system's new function, she felt her progress was truly rapid. She increasingly appreciated how useful the system was as a tool, and once again understood that predecessor's greed. She was a bit greedy too—but there was no way she could refuse to save people. Sigh...

"Master, have some tea." Zhao Facai attentively poured tea for Su Fuling.

Su Fuling thanked him. "You really don't have to be so polite."

Zhao Facai said, "Master, you heal the wounded and save the dying, your medical ethics are noble—I truly admire you. I can't save people, but doing things for Master makes me happy too."

Chen Shasha, who was doing accounts nearby, shuddered. How could a person be so shameless?

She also stood up. "Master, time to eat! I'll serve your rice. I brought something delicious today."

Zhao Facai hurried to tidy up the dining table nearby.

Su Fuling really was hungry and was about to get up to eat when someone walked in the door. One look—it was an acquaintance. And one who gave Su Fuling a bit of a headache.

After meeting him at the hospital yesterday, she had hoped not to see him again. Yet here he was at her door. Was he here to investigate the supernatural again?

"Doctor Su."

"Officer Wang, why are you here again? You're not here to deliberately test my master again, are you?" Zhao Facai said.

"No, I want to ask Doctor Su for help."

"My master is about to eat. You certainly picked a moment," Zhao Facai said.

Only then did Wang Sihua notice they were about to start their meal. "Sorry, I'll come back later."

Seeing his dejected look and poor complexion, Su Fuling asked, "Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Let me take a look at you first." She wasn't used to making a patient wait with their ailments for the doctor. She wouldn't enjoy her meal that way either.

Wang Sihua shook his head and looked at Su Fuling. "Doctor Su, do you really not have any special ability? Can your ability see the past?"

Su Fuling: "..."

She pointed across the street. "There's a teahouse over there with decent food. Go eat more."

Hearing this, Wang Sihua gave a bitter smile. "Sorry, I've been up all night and I'm muddled. I've been investigating a case recently and got a bit anxious. I should have more patience in following the clues. Sorry."

With that, he left. He really had been muddled—seeing the hopeful eyes of the victim's family, then learning there were temporarily no leads and watching that hope turn to disappointment, he felt awful and truly had turned to any doctor in desperation.

"Wait," Su Fuling said. "Is it convenient to tell me what case it is?"

Wang Sihua turned back, not wanting to say much, and said simply, "An old case, recently reopened. After investigating all these years, there's only a suspect—no murderer can be found. If nothing turns up, it may be sealed again. It's the first case I've been involved in, so I've been a bit overeager... Sorry to disturb you, Doctor Su."

After speaking, he nodded, turned, and left—actually heading across the street to eat. From that back view, he truly looked forlorn. Su Fuling didn't concern herself with his mood—who didn't face pressure in their work? Her own pressure was great; she couldn't even pass the hurdle of getting certified. But cases where the murderer couldn't be found really frustrated her.

Still, she was powerless. If it were something that could be solved by treating illness, she would have a way...

"Master, let's eat," Zhao Facai urged. "Solving cases is the police's job. Master, don't worry about it."

Su Fuling said, "I'm not worried. But thinking of a murderer walking free is genuinely hard to swallow. Forget it, let's eat."

Su Fuling knew her own limits; she wouldn't force herself to do what she couldn't. After all, she could only see patients, not murderers... wait...

Actually... that might not be impossible...