My Home's Ancient Well Connects to the Martial Arts World

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Where to Buy Water-Boiled Fish

At Kangming Hospital in Luoxian County, Huaxia Country.

Mr. Zhou arrived at deluxe ward 601 of Kangming Hospital. He saw a frail little boy lying on the hospital bed, hooked up to an IV drip. A beautiful, yet slightly haggard, woman sat beside him.

”Cheeng Hui, where did you just go?” the beautiful woman asked.

”I bought some Water-Boiled Fish. I think Nien’er will like it. It’s incredibly fragrant. Here, smell it!” Zhou Chenghui came forward with the food container. He opened the lid, and the tempting aroma of fish instantly wafted out.

”Wow, it really is fragrant!” The beautiful woman swallowed, then frowned. ”It’s just, the doctor said it’s best for Nien’er to eat fibrous fruits. I don’t know if he can eat this Water-Boiled Fish!”

”Well— why don’t I ask the doctor later?” Zhou Chenghui said, hesitating slightly.

”The doctor just stepped out for something. It might be a while before he’s back.”

As the husband and wife were talking, the little boy, who had been in a half-asleep state, suddenly twitched his nose. He woke from his drowsiness as if he had smelled something fragrant and began sniffing with all his might.

”Dad, what’s that in your hand? I want to eat it!” The little boy’s eyes were fixed on the container of Water-Boiled Fish in Zhou Chenghui’s hands. The dish’s aroma filled the entire room with its tempting scent.

”Uh, it’s Water-Boiled Fish!” Zhou Chenghui couldn’t help but look toward his wife.

The beautiful woman also had a conflicted expression. She said uncertainly, ”Nien’er hasn’t eaten anything in so long. It’s rare for him to ask for something himself. Maybe... maybe just one small bite would be okay?”

”Yeah, fish is easy to digest. Let’s give him a small bite then.” Zhou Chenghui nodded, picked up a small piece of fish, and brought it to the little boy’s mouth. ”Nien’er, try a small bite first!”

”Mhm, mhm!” The little boy nodded eagerly, took a bite, and swallowed it down in a flash. It wasn’t that he wanted to eat quickly, but the fish was so delicious he couldn’t help himself.

”That was so good! Dad, I want more!” the little boy said, impatiently reaching out to grab the food container.

”Just one small piece, okay?” Zhou Chenghui quickly pulled the container back and asked with concern, ”Nien’er, do you feel sick at all after eating the fish?” Previously, the little boy would vomit nonstop whenever he ate anything. Zhou Chenghui was naturally very nervous, which was why he had only dared to feed him a tiny bite to see what would happen.

”I don’t feel sick at all! The fish is so fragrant, I’ve never eaten anything so delicious before. I want more!” the little boy pleaded pitifully, staring at the food container in Zhou Chenghui’s hands with an expression of intense craving.

”No adverse symptoms after eating the fish... that’s wonderful,” Zhou Chenghui said, a hint of joy on his face.

”Maybe this Water-Boiled Fish really does have a therapeutic effect! Cheeng Hui, let me feed Nien’er!” The beautiful woman took the container from Zhou Chenghui and began feeding the boy one small bite at a time, observing him closely as she did. The boy ate all the fish in the container without any issues. In fact, his spirits seemed to have lifted considerably.

”That was delicious! Mom, give me the container. I want to drink the soup, too!” the little boy said, licking his lips.

Seeing their son’s appetite return in full force, looking like a little glutton, Zhou Chenghui and his wife were overjoyed.

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.

”Wait, what are you feeding him?” a voice suddenly called out as a middle-aged doctor strode into the room.

”Ah, Dr. Liu,” Zhou Chenghui, who was in high spirits, said with a smile. ”I’m giving my son some food therapy.”

”Food therapy?” The middle-aged doctor’s brow furrowed slightly.

Zhou Chenghui immediately explained the situation to Dr. Liu. After all, Dr. Liu was the attending physician; he needed to be informed.

”This is utter nonsense!” Dr. Liu said, his tone tinged with anger after hearing the story. ”To diagnose and prescribe ’food therapy’ without even seeing the patient, without checking his pulse, listening to his heart, or observing his complexion—it’s just reckless. And the person who made this is a chef, not a doctor. It’s not that I look down on chefs, but every profession has its own expertise. Since he isn’t a doctor, what right does he have to practice food therapy? Strictly speaking, food therapy is a branch of medicine, not culinary arts. He should have at least consulted me first about what the patient can and cannot eat. Otherwise, no matter how brilliant the cooking, eating the wrong thing is useless at best and could even make his condition worse!”

So-called food therapy is a method of using food to influence various bodily functions in order to achieve health or cure disease.

However, it is not as simple as just consuming nutritious foods. To be considered food therapy, supplements must be prescribed based on the body’s specific needs. Otherwise, supplementing in the wrong way can be more harmful than helpful. For example, some people who feel they have a ”deficiency” might use tonics like ginseng wine, astragalus and yam soup, or ginseng-astragalus extract. But for someone with a ”Yin deficiency”—characterized by a pale complexion, heart palpitations, low-grade fever, night sweats, thirst, a red tongue with little coating, and insomnia—these items are counter-indicated. Using them would further deplete their ”Yin fluids” and worsen their symptoms.

In other words, the most important part of food therapy is eating the right thing, not just eating something that tastes good.

Pediatric anorexia is a medical condition involving a digestive disorder. A patient cannot eat things indiscriminately, or it could easily lead to vomiting or diarrhea.

Hearing Dr. Liu’s explanation, the beautiful woman became flustered. ”But Nien’er didn’t show any adverse symptoms like vomiting.”

”Hmm?” A flicker of doubt crossed Dr. Liu’s eyes. He looked at the little boy and quickly asked, ”Little guy, does your stomach feel upset? Do you feel unwell at all?”

Zhou Chenghui and his wife also turned to look at their son, their expressions tense.

”Not at all! After eating the fish, my tummy feels all warm and comfortable,” the little boy said with a grin. His gaze shifted to a plate of fruit on the table. ”Mom, I’m still a little hungry. Can I have an apple?”

”Huh?” Dr. Liu, Zhou Chenghui, and the beautiful woman were all stunned speechless.

”Dr. Liu, what do you think?” Zhou Chenghui asked, looking at the doctor. ”Can he eat the apple?”

”He... he can. It’s just—” Dr. Liu froze for a moment, then quickly walked to the bedside to take the boy’s pulse.

As his fingers rested on the boy’s wrist, Dr. Liu’s eyes went wide. His face filled with astonishment, and he stammered, ”This... this is incredible! You... where did you buy this Water-Boiled Fish?”