Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1503: Chapter 1604 As Long as It’s Useful_1

”Although this formula is cheaper, its efficacy is not as good as the other one. You must take it for seven days each month, then again for seven days the second month, and you need to continue this for three months,” Bai Ruozhu explained patiently to the woman.

For irregular menstruation, it is not something that can be cured immediately with medication; rather, it’s best to gradually adjust over time. For poor families, a cheaper medication is more suitable. However, Bai Ruozhu, considering the face of the doctor who had prescribed the original formula, emphasized that the original formula was more effective.

The woman was smart and, hearing that it would take longer to take, anxiously asked, ”Then how much cheaper is this compared to the original one?”

”Probably about twenty percent of the previous cost,” Bai Ruozhu said with a smile.

The woman’s face lit up with joy, ”That’s great. If it was too expensive all at once, I really couldn’t afford the treatment. Thank you, Doctor,” she said.

Tian Fang, who was following Bai Ruozhu, cleverly reminded her, ”This is Doctor Bai from the Female Physicians Institution of the Palace. Her medical skills are extremely superb; you’re lucky today, auntie.”

”Ah, so it’s a high-ranking official from the Palace. I am indeed fortunate, thank you, Doctor Bai.” The woman said as she was about to bow, but Bai Ruozhu steadied her and said, ”Please, auntie, no need for such formalities, go and get your medicine. Take good care of yourself when you get back.”

”Alright, alright, I got it.” The woman said happily and was about to leave when a female doctor blocked her way.

Hao Baishuang had already finished her shift, but as she was not convinced by Bai Ruozhu, she specifically came back to see how Bai Ruozhu diagnosed others. To her surprise, she found Bai Ruozhu had changed the prescription for her patient. Wasn’t this a slap in her face? The woman had gynecological issues; that’s why she had come to her in the first place. But unexpectedly, the woman went to Bai Ruozhu instead.

Hao Baishuang glared at Bai Ruozhu through the woman, saying loudly, ”What do you mean by this, Bai Ruozhu? She’s my patient; I’ve already prescribed a formula. Why do you insist on getting one over on me? If you’re doing public welfare, then why harbor such competitive and scheming thoughts? Aren’t you too insidious?”

Before Bai Ruozhu could speak, the woman interjected, ”Doctor, please don’t misunderstand. It’s truly because my family has no silver that I sought Doctor Bai’s help for a cheaper formula, there’s no other reason.” She said this facing Hao Baishuang’s glare, appearing very uneasy.

Hao Baishuang snatched the formula out of her hand to look at it, while Bai Ruozhu just glanced at her and said, ”Treating patients is all about serving them. Considering their perspective is also necessary. I don’t have time to waste arguing with you. If you’re unsatisfied, go and complain to the Grand Princess.”

Many from Mao Xingcai’s group had not left; they probably knew what was happening and started whispering among themselves. Some said Bai Ruozhu broke the rules by redoing a prescription for someone else’s patient, making it difficult for others. Others said Bai Ruozhu’s prescription was ingenious, using inexpensive medicinal materials with good efficacy, definitely suitable for the common people.

”Alright, another patient has come seeking help; there’s no reason not to see them. Hao Doctor, you shouldn’t be too concerned about this matter, go and rest,” Mao Xingcai coughed to intervene, but from how he addressed Hao Baishuang, it was clear he did not truly consider her his disciple.

”Master, her formula is nowhere near as effective as mine; it’s nothing but a sham to deceive people,” Hao Baishuang said angrily, shaking the formula she had snatched from the woman.

Bai Ruozhu was already consulting the next patient, looked up and said, ”The efficacy of the formula I prescribed is slightly less than yours, but only by about thirty percent, while the cost is only twenty percent of yours. A person skilled in arithmetic would know which is better. Doctor Hao is probably used to treating rich ladies, prescribing only the finest medicinal materials, which is not wrong in itself. However, we are currently conducting public service. Many patients are ordinary commoners, or poorer individuals who, after seeking free medical advice, cannot afford the medicines. Doesn’t this make the medical service futile?”

”If they have no silver, I can just give it to them. Didn’t you make quite a bit from your business? Why not generously support these poor people?” Hao Baishuang said with a hint of sarcasm, and the common people in line looked towards Bai Ruozhu, many with a hopeful expression in their eyes.

Bai Ruozhu laughed, her laughter was completely open-hearted.

”Many things can’t be solved just by using silver; silver isn’t omnipotent. You, Doctor Hao, have generously supported this auntie today, but what will she do after she finishes this batch of medicine? If she stops taking these expensive medicines, won’t her illness be only half cured? And wouldn’t changing the formulas only make things worse? Even if I, Bai Ruozhu, were to pretend to be wealthy and give medicine to everyone today, what about the future?”

As Bai Ruozhu spoke, she stood up and looked towards the other doctors, saying aloud, ”Therefore, we doctors must also be fully aware of the patient’s situation when treating them. If it’s not working, ask more questions; if the patient is of limited means, try to prescribe more affordable formulas to make it easier for them to purchase and take the medicine. If the patient’s condition allows and they want quicker results, prescribing more expensive medicinal materials is also fine.”

The crowd nodded in agreement; this was sound reasoning. Even if Bai Ruozhu were to give away medicine for three days, traditional Chinese medicine is known for its gradual progress; what were these people going to do afterward? Expecting Bai Ruozhu to keep supplying medicine for free was clearly impractical.

”In the end, you’re just stingy,” muttered Hao Baishuang.

Bai Ruozhu sneered, ”Doctor Hao isn’t stingy, then why not give away all your wealth and see how many people you can help. One must never pretend to be kind or bite off more than they can chew.”

The other doctors secretly nodded and remembered Bai Ruozhu’s words. They were now treating not the nobles from the Palace but the common people. Many who could endure the sun and queue for such a long time to see a doctor likely came from households facing difficulties; prescribing expensive formulas would be impractical for them.

The charity clinic continued, but many doctors from Mao Xingcai’s group didn’t rush to leave; they gathered around Bai Ruozhu to observe how she diagnosed and prescribed formulas to the patients. Upon observation, they realized that Bai Ruozhu’s methodology embodied the true essence of inspection, listening, and questioning, and moreover, she treated patients with warmth and courtesy, prescribed extremely simple formulas that upon closer reflection revealed significant ingenuity, and her measurements were very precise.

After a while, two young servants came out carrying Green Bean Soup, saying with a smile, ”The weather is hot and dry; our young mistress has ordered us to distribute Green Bean Soup to everyone, to prevent catching the heat.”

The two servants were busy handing out Green Bean Soup to everyone, and many people followed them to ask questions; that’s when they found out that the Green Bean Soup was ordered by Bai Ruozhu.

Hao Baishuang made disparaging comments on the side, saying that Green Bean Soup wasn’t worth much, but by then, no one looked at her kindly anymore.

”It’s not about the cost of things; what works, works. Moreover, when someone has this kind of intention, do you have it?” Mao Xingcai said coldly.

Hao Baishuang, receiving no benefits and unable to talk back to Mao Xingcai, could only leave in indignation.

Subsequently, the charity clinics for the next three days went very smoothly, and the common folk of Capital City praised the Medical Alliance to no end, and the Medical Alliance finally achieved their goal of widespread fame.

Soon, Bai Ruozhu had notices posted, one saying that the Medical Alliance would conduct free clinics on the first day of every month. Another announced that a Medical Competition would be held in three days, open to all doctors from Danliang Country to register. The top ten would receive silver prizes, with the first place awarded a generous sum of five hundred li of silver.

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sorry, today was the ’Dragon Raises Head’ festival [February 2nd], I went out to get a haircut and also took a medicinal bath before coming home, my neck and shoulders have been terribly sore lately, hope it gets a bit better~