Chapter 6: Setting the Leg Bone
The room was tranquil, time slowly passing by. The quieter it became, the more it tensed the nerves.
Luo Shi, while waiting, gradually gripped the bamboo pole in her hand tighter, her heart anxious, yet she dared not show it.
After taking the pulse, Yu Ying withdrew her hand and glanced at Fu Wei's fingernails.
The nails were pale red, with some signs of clubbing. She pressed slightly on his nail before lifting her gaze to Fu Wei.
Fu Wei was indifferent to her actions, not even sparing her a glance.
Yu Ying secretly pursed her lips and averted her gaze.
Fu Wei's pulse was weak and sluggish, indicative of blood and energy deficiency. The pulse was deep and feeble, a clear case of sinking pulse, with faint signs of a floating pulse as well.
Despite the hot weather, his hands were excessively cold.
Considering these minor symptoms, it seemed like Fu Wei was suffering from a condition of deficient cold.
Mild cases of deficient cold can be regulated, but severe cases can damage the spleen and stomach, causing joint and muscle pain. Over time, the whole body can deteriorate, becoming difficult to restore.
It's Fu Wei's own body, and he would naturally sense if something was wrong with it.
Yet, his body has been so neglected, and still, he remains indifferent, obviously not caring for his life.
If he no longer wished to live, why continue to endure?
Although Yu Ying had read about it, she still wasn't quite sure of the underlying reasons.
"How is it going?" Luo Shi asked nervously from beside the door.
Considering Luo Shi's poor health, Yu Ying half-concealed the truth: "Your body is a bit weak, but it will improve with later care."
At the mention of "a bit weak," Fu Wei's eyes darkened imperceptibly.
Luo Shi, embarrassed, asked, "How much silver will it cost?"
Yu Ying knew very well that Luo Shi probably couldn't afford a single coin, so she didn't elaborate, simply stating, "I have my ways."
After speaking, Yu Ying stood up, rolled up her sleeves, and then lifted the thin quilt off Fu Wei's leg.
As soon as it was opened, the smell of the herbs intensified. Yu Ying frowned slightly and asked, "What herbs were used to treat the leg?"
Luo Shi hurriedly replied, "The elders in the village said these herbs are effective for leg injuries."
Most of these herbs are somewhat useful, but since Fu Wei's leg was broken, applying herbs is definitely futile.
Yu Ying didn't ask further. She slowly rolled up Fu Wei's trouser leg and unwrapped the cloth bandage soaked with herbs from his knee.
After removing the cloth bandage with the herbs, she saw the wound clearly—a grotesquely dislocated and twisted knee.
Yu Ying's face involuntarily darkened.
Fu Wei glanced over his leg, his eyes brimming with intense disgust.
Yu Ying paused for a moment and then bent down to carefully examine his legs.
The officer must have aimed directly at the knees when breaking Fu Wei's legs, resulting in the frighteningly dislocated and twisted knees.
Although it looks terrifying, an experienced traditional doctor could still set such a fracture right.
But in this ancient era, skilled doctors usually settled in prosperous areas, making it hard to find a good physician in such poor and backward places.
Even if there were any, they might not be willing to treat Fu Wei.
Who in Yu County doesn't know that the son of the Wuling Prefecture Governor, having been mistakenly taken, suffered for twenty years, and therefore harbors deep resentment towards the Fu family?
Everyone knew, though it was never explicitly stated, that Fu Wei's legs were broken by the men sent by the son of the county governor. In such a situation, who would dare to treat him?
Yu Ying carefully observed Fu Wei's expression, then gently pressed the injured area. Seeing his face turn pale and his brows furrow, she knew he was in severe pain.
Pain is a good sign. No pain would mean no sensation, and at that point, she would be utterly helpless.
After carefully examining the misaligned joints on his leg, Yu Ying withdrew her hand and softly said, "It can be healed."
Hearing this, Fu Wei glanced at her but did nothing more.
However, Luo Shi was deeply shaken. She had resigned herself to her son's condition, concealing her sorrow deep within, daring not to show it.
Now hearing that it could be healed, her eyes gradually reddened, but fearing she had misunderstood, she hastily asked, "Can it really be healed?"
Yu Ying hummed in affirmation: "If the bones are set correctly and given time to rest..." She glanced at the severe dislocation and cautiously chose a conservative estimate: "About two months of rest should be enough to remove the splints, and he might be able to get out of bed for a while, but he shouldn't stand or walk too much. And for a full recovery, he will need an even longer period of rest."
Healing bones and tendons takes a hundred days, but in ancient times, lacking instruments, everything relied on experience and intuition, so the timeline is longer.
Having said this, Yu Ying then left the room.
Inside, Fu Wei looked towards the doorway, his gaze shifting slightly, peering out the window to the courtyard, resting on the silhouette of his wife.
Only when her figure disappeared from view did Fu Wei lower his gaze, his eyes settling on his grotesque and unsightly legs, his disgust not hidden in the slightest.
Can it really be healed...
He feared that even if it healed, it might be broken again.
Disgusted, Fu Wei glanced at his legs and hastily covered them with a quilt.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Remembering the bamboo grove at the foot of the mountain, Yu Ying asked Luo Shi for a hatchet to cut bamboo, as it was needed to stabilize Fu Wei's legs after setting the bones.
However, upon seeing the hatchet Luo Shi brought, Yu Ying fell silent.
The hatchet was so dull and toothed that it would struggle to cut through even wild grass, let alone bamboo.
She resolved to replace these inadequate tools sooner rather than later.
She found a relatively flat stone by the river and, sweating profusely, sharpened the hatchet until it was barely usable.
After confirming with Luo Shi that the bamboo grove at the mountain base was unclaimed, she cut some bamboo poles, slightly thicker than a thumb, and brought them back.
She cut about a dozen bamboo poles, smoothed them on the rough stone, soaked them in the river for a while, and then dried them under the sun.
Once the bamboo poles were ready, she needed ropes to secure them.
Since the Fu family didn't have enough rope, she used cloth strips instead.
After examining the limited clothing of the three generations, which seemed neither sturdy nor plentiful, she eventually tore her own undergarment into strong cloth strips.
With everything prepared, she carried hot water into the room to clean the medicinal stains on Fu Wei's legs.
Luo Shi, concerned, insisted on staying by her side, and Yu Ying did not ask her to leave.
Yu Ying wrung out the cloth and gently began to wipe Fu Wei's legs, lifting the quilt with care.
Fu Wei, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, "Why do you want to heal me?"
Hearing his question, Yu Ying looked up at him and said, "I thought you wouldn't care about this."
Glancing at Luo Shi by the door, she lowered her voice and added, "I thought you didn't want to live anymore and wouldn't mind either."
Fu Wei's eyebrows slightly raised, his expression still listless, as he averted his gaze.
"Let's not talk about it then."
Yu Ying, focusing on his legs, said half-seriously, "I can't leave now, and might have to stay with the Fu family for the rest of my life. As a man and the pillar of the family, you naturally can't stay in bed forever."
Fu Wei glanced at her expression while she spoke, unable to discern truth from pretense, but he didn't believe her words.
Fu Wei might be skeptical, but Luo Shi's expression changed upon hearing this.
She wondered to herself: Could it be that after Yu Ying's fall and brush with death, she had a change of heart and wanted to make a life with the second young master?
Yu Ying didn't have the leisure to guess their thoughts. After cleaning Fu Wei's legs and massaging them to relax the muscles, she contemplated how to set the bones properly.
Suddenly, without warning, she took advantage of his relaxed state, pushed and set the bone with a sudden force. The bone made a "crack" sound, causing Fu Wei to clutch the quilt tightly, his knuckles whitening, his face turning ashen, and a layer of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Yu Ying looked at him and asked, "Can you bear it?"
"Continue," Fu Wei said, his voice strained with endurance.
Yu Ying knew setting the bones was extremely painful, especially in a case like his, where the injury was almost a month old and the dislocation was so severe that it was grotesque.
Despite the intense pain, Fu Wei didn't cry out, which Yu Ying found admirable.
After setting the bones, she secured several thick bamboo poles to his legs and tightly fastened them with the torn cloth strips, creating a rudimentary but effective splint.
Just setting one leg left Yu Ying gasping for breath, her clothes soaked with sweat.
She allowed Fu Wei a moment to rest and took a break herself. Once she regained her strength, she proceeded to treat the other leg.
Fu An, peeking through the window, winced in sympathy at the sight of the woman handling his uncle's leg.
He looked at the diligent woman, his face creased with concern.
He had heard her say yesterday that she would not only treat his uncle's leg but also his grandmother's eyes.
If she could really cure his grandmother's eyes, he would endure any scolding or beating from her.
After a long while, Yu Ying finally finished treating both of Fu Wei's legs. She was nearly exhausted, and even Fu Wei leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.
As Yu Ying regained her energy, she covertly observed Fu Wei.
Thin sweat soaked Fu Wei's flimsy clothes, clinging tightly to his body. Despite recent hardships, one could still discern how tall and well-built he used to be, with smooth and distinct muscle lines.
Such a perfect body, it would be a true pity if it were to be disabled.
Yu Ying merely observed with appreciation, harboring no other thoughts.
After a while, she withdrew her gaze and, following professional instinct, instructed, "Without my permission, do not remove these bamboo poles, and avoid getting your legs wet. Additionally, I'll prepare some herbal medicine to regulate your body."
Having said that, her eyes fell on his sweat-drenched clothes. Hesitating briefly, she added, "Change into dry clothes later to prevent catching a cold."
After giving her instructions, Yu Ying picked up the basin of water and left the room.
Luo Shi's excitement gradually subsided. Licking her dry lips, she looked at the blurred figure on the bed and said, "Erlang, focus on healing. Don't worry about anything else."
Fu Wei, recovering from the intense pain, looked at his aging mother, her hair white and face worn, and his brows furrowed.
In their current situation, what good would worrying do?
Luo Shi turned and left the room as well.
After washing her hands, Yu Ying looked at Luo Shi coming out of the house and said, "Now let me check your eyes."
Luo Shi initially wanted to refuse, but Yu Ying's remark, "If you don't let me check, then don't expect me to continue treating the second young master's leg," made her hastily agree.
Yu Ying examined Luo Shi's eyes and carefully inquired about the symptoms, forming a diagnosis in her mind.
Luo Shi's eye condition was treatable, but a thorough and lasting cure would be a long process, with bodily health being the top priority.
Given the limited conditions, Yu Ying could only prepare some heart-clearing and vision-improving herbs to brew into tea, to alleviate the symptoms of blindness for now.
After a busy day, as dusk approached and she was about to rest, a sudden loud clatter from inside the house made Yu Ying quickly get up and lift the straw curtain to check.
She saw Fu An standing dazed beside the fire rack, with a ceramic pot shattered into pieces, its fragments scattered over the fire extinguished by spilled wild vegetable soup.
Luo Shi, hearing the noise, hurried over and anxiously asked, "What happened?!"
Fu An, his eyes reddened, said grievously, "Grandma, the pot just cracked open..."
Hearing this, Luo Shi's face also turned pale.
Things wear out over time, but seeing the expression on the faces of the grandmother and grandson, Yu Ying had an ominous feeling.
— Could this be the only cooking pot in the house...?
While other households might be too poor to have food to cook, this family seemed too poor to even own a pot.
If this really was the only pot they had, it seemed unlikely they would have wild vegetable soup tonight.
Suddenly, Yu Ying remembered the items she had gathered in the mountains earlier that day and turned to look at the red mushrooms on the ground, an idea forming in her mind.
She thought that tonight's dinner might just be sorted out after all.
Chapter 6: Setting the Leg Bone
The room was tranquil, time slowly passing by. The quieter it became, the more it tensed the nerves.
Luo Shi, while waiting, gradually gripped the bamboo pole in her hand tighter, her heart anxious, yet she dared not show it.
After taking the pulse, Yu Ying withdrew her hand and glanced at Fu Wei's fingernails.
The nails were pale red, with some signs of clubbing. She pressed slightly on his nail before lifting her gaze to Fu Wei.
Fu Wei was indifferent to her actions, not even sparing her a glance.
Yu Ying secretly pursed her lips and averted her gaze.
Fu Wei's pulse was weak and sluggish, indicative of blood and energy deficiency. The pulse was deep and feeble, a clear case of sinking pulse, with faint signs of a floating pulse as well.
Despite the hot weather, his hands were excessively cold.
Considering these minor symptoms, it seemed like Fu Wei was suffering from a condition of deficient cold.
Mild cases of deficient cold can be regulated, but severe cases can damage the spleen and stomach, causing joint and muscle pain. Over time, the whole body can deteriorate, becoming difficult to restore.
It's Fu Wei's own body, and he would naturally sense if something was wrong with it.
Yet, his body has been so neglected, and still, he remains indifferent, obviously not caring for his life.
If he no longer wished to live, why continue to endure?
Although Yu Ying had read about it, she still wasn't quite sure of the underlying reasons.
"How is it going?" Luo Shi asked nervously from beside the door.
Considering Luo Shi's poor health, Yu Ying half-concealed the truth: "Your body is a bit weak, but it will improve with later care."
At the mention of "a bit weak," Fu Wei's eyes darkened imperceptibly.
Luo Shi, embarrassed, asked, "How much silver will it cost?"
Yu Ying knew very well that Luo Shi probably couldn't afford a single coin, so she didn't elaborate, simply stating, "I have my ways."
After speaking, Yu Ying stood up, rolled up her sleeves, and then lifted the thin quilt off Fu Wei's leg.
As soon as it was opened, the smell of the herbs intensified. Yu Ying frowned slightly and asked, "What herbs were used to treat the leg?"
Luo Shi hurriedly replied, "The elders in the village said these herbs are effective for leg injuries."
Most of these herbs are somewhat useful, but since Fu Wei's leg was broken, applying herbs is definitely futile.
Yu Ying didn't ask further. She slowly rolled up Fu Wei's trouser leg and unwrapped the cloth bandage soaked with herbs from his knee.
After removing the cloth bandage with the herbs, she saw the wound clearly—a grotesquely dislocated and twisted knee.
Yu Ying's face involuntarily darkened.
Fu Wei glanced over his leg, his eyes brimming with intense disgust.
Yu Ying paused for a moment and then bent down to carefully examine his legs.
The officer must have aimed directly at the knees when breaking Fu Wei's legs, resulting in the frighteningly dislocated and twisted knees.
Although it looks terrifying, an experienced traditional doctor could still set such a fracture right.
But in this ancient era, skilled doctors usually settled in prosperous areas, making it hard to find a good physician in such poor and backward places.
Even if there were any, they might not be willing to treat Fu Wei.
Who in Yu County doesn't know that the son of the Wuling Prefecture Governor, having been mistakenly taken, suffered for twenty years, and therefore harbors deep resentment towards the Fu family?
Everyone knew, though it was never explicitly stated, that Fu Wei's legs were broken by the men sent by the son of the county governor. In such a situation, who would dare to treat him?
Yu Ying carefully observed Fu Wei's expression, then gently pressed the injured area. Seeing his face turn pale and his brows furrow, she knew he was in severe pain.
Pain is a good sign. No pain would mean no sensation, and at that point, she would be utterly helpless.
After carefully examining the misaligned joints on his leg, Yu Ying withdrew her hand and softly said, "It can be healed."
Hearing this, Fu Wei glanced at her but did nothing more.
However, Luo Shi was deeply shaken. She had resigned herself to her son's condition, concealing her sorrow deep within, daring not to show it.
Now hearing that it could be healed, her eyes gradually reddened, but fearing she had misunderstood, she hastily asked, "Can it really be healed?"
Yu Ying hummed in affirmation: "If the bones are set correctly and given time to rest..." She glanced at the severe dislocation and cautiously chose a conservative estimate: "About two months of rest should be enough to remove the splints, and he might be able to get out of bed for a while, but he shouldn't stand or walk too much. And for a full recovery, he will need an even longer period of rest."
Healing bones and tendons takes a hundred days, but in ancient times, lacking instruments, everything relied on experience and intuition, so the timeline is longer.
Having said this, Yu Ying then left the room.
Inside, Fu Wei looked towards the doorway, his gaze shifting slightly, peering out the window to the courtyard, resting on the silhouette of his wife.
Only when her figure disappeared from view did Fu Wei lower his gaze, his eyes settling on his grotesque and unsightly legs, his disgust not hidden in the slightest.
Can it really be healed...
He feared that even if it healed, it might be broken again.
Disgusted, Fu Wei glanced at his legs and hastily covered them with a quilt.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Remembering the bamboo grove at the foot of the mountain, Yu Ying asked Luo Shi for a hatchet to cut bamboo, as it was needed to stabilize Fu Wei's legs after setting the bones.
However, upon seeing the hatchet Luo Shi brought, Yu Ying fell silent.
The hatchet was so dull and toothed that it would struggle to cut through even wild grass, let alone bamboo.
She resolved to replace these inadequate tools sooner rather than later.
She found a relatively flat stone by the river and, sweating profusely, sharpened the hatchet until it was barely usable.
After confirming with Luo Shi that the bamboo grove at the mountain base was unclaimed, she cut some bamboo poles, slightly thicker than a thumb, and brought them back.
She cut about a dozen bamboo poles, smoothed them on the rough stone, soaked them in the river for a while, and then dried them under the sun.
Once the bamboo poles were ready, she needed ropes to secure them.
Since the Fu family didn't have enough rope, she used cloth strips instead.
After examining the limited clothing of the three generations, which seemed neither sturdy nor plentiful, she eventually tore her own undergarment into strong cloth strips.
With everything prepared, she carried hot water into the room to clean the medicinal stains on Fu Wei's legs.
Luo Shi, concerned, insisted on staying by her side, and Yu Ying did not ask her to leave.
Yu Ying wrung out the cloth and gently began to wipe Fu Wei's legs, lifting the quilt with care.
Fu Wei, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, "Why do you want to heal me?"
Hearing his question, Yu Ying looked up at him and said, "I thought you wouldn't care about this."
Glancing at Luo Shi by the door, she lowered her voice and added, "I thought you didn't want to live anymore and wouldn't mind either."
Fu Wei's eyebrows slightly raised, his expression still listless, as he averted his gaze.
"Let's not talk about it then."
Yu Ying, focusing on his legs, said half-seriously, "I can't leave now, and might have to stay with the Fu family for the rest of my life. As a man and the pillar of the family, you naturally can't stay in bed forever."
Fu Wei glanced at her expression while she spoke, unable to discern truth from pretense, but he didn't believe her words.
Fu Wei might be skeptical, but Luo Shi's expression changed upon hearing this.
She wondered to herself: Could it be that after Yu Ying's fall and brush with death, she had a change of heart and wanted to make a life with the second young master?
Yu Ying didn't have the leisure to guess their thoughts. After cleaning Fu Wei's legs and massaging them to relax the muscles, she contemplated how to set the bones properly.
Suddenly, without warning, she took advantage of his relaxed state, pushed and set the bone with a sudden force. The bone made a "crack" sound, causing Fu Wei to clutch the quilt tightly, his knuckles whitening, his face turning ashen, and a layer of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Yu Ying looked at him and asked, "Can you bear it?"
"Continue," Fu Wei said, his voice strained with endurance.
Yu Ying knew setting the bones was extremely painful, especially in a case like his, where the injury was almost a month old and the dislocation was so severe that it was grotesque.
Despite the intense pain, Fu Wei didn't cry out, which Yu Ying found admirable.
After setting the bones, she secured several thick bamboo poles to his legs and tightly fastened them with the torn cloth strips, creating a rudimentary but effective splint.
Just setting one leg left Yu Ying gasping for breath, her clothes soaked with sweat.
She allowed Fu Wei a moment to rest and took a break herself. Once she regained her strength, she proceeded to treat the other leg.
Fu An, peeking through the window, winced in sympathy at the sight of the woman handling his uncle's leg.
He looked at the diligent woman, his face creased with concern.
He had heard her say yesterday that she would not only treat his uncle's leg but also his grandmother's eyes.
If she could really cure his grandmother's eyes, he would endure any scolding or beating from her.
After a long while, Yu Ying finally finished treating both of Fu Wei's legs. She was nearly exhausted, and even Fu Wei leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.
As Yu Ying regained her energy, she covertly observed Fu Wei.
Thin sweat soaked Fu Wei's flimsy clothes, clinging tightly to his body. Despite recent hardships, one could still discern how tall and well-built he used to be, with smooth and distinct muscle lines.
Such a perfect body, it would be a true pity if it were to be disabled.
Yu Ying merely observed with appreciation, harboring no other thoughts.
After a while, she withdrew her gaze and, following professional instinct, instructed, "Without my permission, do not remove these bamboo poles, and avoid getting your legs wet. Additionally, I'll prepare some herbal medicine to regulate your body."
Having said that, her eyes fell on his sweat-drenched clothes. Hesitating briefly, she added, "Change into dry clothes later to prevent catching a cold."
After giving her instructions, Yu Ying picked up the basin of water and left the room.
Luo Shi's excitement gradually subsided. Licking her dry lips, she looked at the blurred figure on the bed and said, "Erlang, focus on healing. Don't worry about anything else."
Fu Wei, recovering from the intense pain, looked at his aging mother, her hair white and face worn, and his brows furrowed.
In their current situation, what good would worrying do?
Luo Shi turned and left the room as well.
After washing her hands, Yu Ying looked at Luo Shi coming out of the house and said, "Now let me check your eyes."
Luo Shi initially wanted to refuse, but Yu Ying's remark, "If you don't let me check, then don't expect me to continue treating the second young master's leg," made her hastily agree.
Yu Ying examined Luo Shi's eyes and carefully inquired about the symptoms, forming a diagnosis in her mind.
Luo Shi's eye condition was treatable, but a thorough and lasting cure would be a long process, with bodily health being the top priority.
Given the limited conditions, Yu Ying could only prepare some heart-clearing and vision-improving herbs to brew into tea, to alleviate the symptoms of blindness for now.
After a busy day, as dusk approached and she was about to rest, a sudden loud clatter from inside the house made Yu Ying quickly get up and lift the straw curtain to check.
She saw Fu An standing dazed beside the fire rack, with a ceramic pot shattered into pieces, its fragments scattered over the fire extinguished by spilled wild vegetable soup.
Luo Shi, hearing the noise, hurried over and anxiously asked, "What happened?!"
Fu An, his eyes reddened, said grievously, "Grandma, the pot just cracked open..."
Hearing this, Luo Shi's face also turned pale.
Things wear out over time, but seeing the expression on the faces of the grandmother and grandson, Yu Ying had an ominous feeling.
— Could this be the only cooking pot in the house...?
While other households might be too poor to have food to cook, this family seemed too poor to even own a pot.
If this really was the only pot they had, it seemed unlikely they would have wild vegetable soup tonight.
Suddenly, Yu Ying remembered the items she had gathered in the mountains earlier that day and turned to look at the red mushrooms on the ground, an idea forming in her mind.
She thought that tonight's dinner might just be sorted out after all.
