Chapter 86: Take Her as My Mentor?

Baor’s complexion had noticeably improved, and the trembling in his hands had settled considerably. “Baor!” Xu Gaoxuan’s wife, Lady Wan, rushed over and gathered the child into her arms.

Slowly, Baor opened his eyes. “Mother… I’m hungry…” Lady Wan burst into tears of joy, answering, “Yes, yes, I’ll go make you something to eat right away!” Xu Gaoxuan, too, was moved to tears. “Miss Lin, Doctor Ge, is Baor… is he really cured?”

“Of course not—it’s not that simple,” Lin Sangqian replied. “I’ve only pulled him back from the brink for now. For him to truly recover, he’ll need medicine. I’ll write you a prescription.”

She turned and found Doctor Ge regarding her with a complicated expression—surprise, confusion, and perhaps even a hint of… admiration? Lin Sangqian felt uneasy under his gaze. “Please don’t look at me like that; it makes me nervous.”

“You really are remarkable, young lady,” Doctor Ge said, eyes shining. “I must admit defeat.” Xu Gaoxuan, too, looked at her with gratitude and respect. In town, Doctor Ge was considered a skilled physician, and even he was impressed by Lin Sangqian. Most importantly, she had truly saved his Baor! If he had known this sooner, he would have sought her help right away.

“Miss Lin!” Xu Gaoxuan dropped to his knees before her. “Thank you… thank you…” Lin Sangqian was startled, almost leaping three feet into the air. “Please, don’t do this! I don’t deserve it—get up, please!” Lin Hongda reacted quickly and helped Xu Gaoxuan to his feet.

“If you really want to thank me, just bring me more crayfish in the future,” Lin Sangqian joked. Xu Gaoxuan, wiping his tears, replied, “Don’t worry—forget crayfish, whatever you want to eat, I’ll find it for you!”

Lin Sangqian smiled, glanced at Baor again, and asked, “Did Baor ever suffer a terrible fright in the past?” Xu Gaoxuan paused, then nodded quickly. “Yes! About three years ago, he was only six at the time. He was playing in the street and was chased by a pack of stray dogs for several blocks. That’s when he got so scared, and not long after, he fell ill.”

“That explains it. After the fright, he remained anxious and fearful for a long time, and his legs became weak—he even fell a few times, didn’t he?” “That’s right!”

“His kidneys were harmed by the fear, then his liver was affected as well, causing a host of symptoms, but the root remains in the kidneys,” Lin Sangqian explained. Doctor Ge nodded. His own diagnosis had been similar, but he couldn’t find a way to treat it. He had pored over countless medical texts, but to no avail.

“I’ll write you a prescription. Fill it and have Baor take the medicine for a month or so, and he should recover.” Xu Gaoxuan hurriedly fetched paper and brush. Lin Sangqian, accustomed to writing her accounts every day, was still not used to the brush and her posture was far from proper, but no one cared about such things at this moment.

When she finished the prescription in her crooked hand, Doctor Ge shyly asked, “May I see it?” “Of course,” said Lin Sangqian, handing it over.

Doctor Ge studied it carefully. There were ingredients like schisandra, chamomile, cloud poria, goji berries, and others. As he read, he nodded, and by the end, he looked enlightened. “So that’s it! How did I never think of this…?”

He was filled with regret, almost to the point of pounding his chest. “All these years of practicing medicine, and if I’d realized this sooner, Baor could have suffered so much less,” he said guiltily.

“Don’t blame yourself, Doctor Ge; you’ve already helped my family so much,” Xu Gaoxuan said. “What matters is that Baor can be saved now.” He turned to Lin Sangqian, showering her with thanks.

“All right, go get the medicine first—there should still be pharmacies open,” Lin Sangqian said. Xu Gaoxuan nodded and hurried out. Lady Wan also thanked Lin Sangqian profusely—she almost knelt down, but Lin Sangqian quickly stopped her.

Baor kept saying he was hungry, so Lady Wan went to the kitchen to cook. Master Ge had not yet left; he apologized to Lin Sangqian, saying, “It was my fault earlier—I underestimated you and nearly delayed Baor’s treatment. Please don’t hold it against me.”

“It’s not your fault. If I were you, I wouldn’t have believed a young girl like me, either,” Lin Sangqian replied with a smile.

“But you’re so young, and your medical skills are already so advanced. Who did you learn from?” Master Ge asked curiously. “I’m sorry, but… I can’t say,” she replied. After all, how could she tell them she was actually a doctor who’d traveled here from the future?

Master Ge was tactful and did not press her further. But then he said something that took Lin Sangqian completely by surprise. “Would you… accept me as your apprentice?”

Lin Sangqian was startled again. “Please, don’t say that!” Master Ge was already of advanced age, and her own body was only that of a ten-year-old child—how could she possibly accept him as an apprentice? Besides, she had only cured one patient; how could he be so certain she was qualified to be his teacher?

“From the way you cured Baor, I can tell you are truly extraordinary—more skilled than most doctors,” Master Ge said. “Every doctor in town has examined Baor, and his parents even took him elsewhere, but no one could cure him. You did.”

“Even so, I can’t accept you as an apprentice,” Lin Sangqian said, embarrassed even if Master Ge was not. Seeing that he was a little disappointed, she added, “How about this: if you ever come across a difficult case, feel free to come and discuss it with me.”

She had been so busy earning a living since arriving in this world that she had almost forgotten she was a doctor. Saving Baor had rekindled that sense of accomplishment within her. Though she wished everyone in this world could live free of illness and disaster, she knew that was impossible. All she could do was try her best, saving one life at a time.

“Agreed!” Master Ge rose and cupped his hands to her. “Then I’ll trouble you in the future, Miss Lin.” Lin Sangqian quickly stood and returned the gesture, imitating his manner.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lin Hongda trying to stifle a laugh, and she shot him a warning look.

A little while later, Xu Gaoxuan returned with the medicine. Lady Wan had also finished cooking. Before he left, Xu Gaoxuan had told her that Lin Sangqian and the others likely had not eaten dinner, so she had prepared extra food.

It was simple fare, but because Baor now had hope of recovery, everyone ate with great happiness. After the meal, Lin Sangqian watched as Lady Wan brewed the medicine for Baor. Not long after he drank it, Baor fell asleep.

As they were about to leave, Lin Sangqian consulted with her father and brother, then quietly pressed five taels of silver into Xu Gaoxuan’s hand.