65: Chapter 65 Improved Medicinal Cuisine

The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the Donghai Prefecture pier was already filled with noisy sounds.

Old Third Zhao let out a long yawn, rubbed his aching shoulders, and crawled out from the cabin of his own fishing boat.

The sea breeze blowing on his face carried a salty bitterness, and he muttered: "Sigh, I've been casting nets for three days straight, my arms are really about to break..."

He stretched his muscles, skillfully gathered the fishing nets, and counted this morning's catch.

A few silver-scaled fish, a few sea crabs; the harvest was mediocre.

The boat drifted slowly with the current to the shore. Old Third Zhao tied the mooring rope to a wooden stake, carried the small half-bucket of fish, and prepared to go sell it at the morning market.

Just as he stepped off the gangplank, his gaze inadvertently swept across the other side of the pier.

A medium-sized passenger ship that had arrived from the direction of Bibo Island was docked there, offloading passengers.

Suddenly, Old Third Zhao's eyes widened.

In the crowd, a figure wearing a cyan cloth shirt and carrying a half-old medicine chest was slowly walking down the gangplank.

The person had a tall, straight posture and a steady gait. Although covered in the dust of travel, it could not hide his elegant and composed demeanor.

It was none other than Jiang Hanzhou!

"Phy... Physician Jiang?!" Old Third Zhao could hardly believe his eyes. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, and after confirming he hadn't seen wrong, a smile of surprise instantly bloomed on his face. "Physician Jiang is back! He's back!"

He didn't care about selling his fish anymore; he grabbed the small bucket and ran towards his home, muttering as he ran:

"I must hurry and tell Old Li. His old cold legs have been acting up again recently, and he's been worrying about not finding a good doctor... And Aunt Wang's little grandson, he's been coughing for half a month..."

The figure soon disappeared around the corner of the street, but Old Third Zhao felt at ease.

Physician Jiang of Jishi Hall was back, and the old patients on this street finally had hope again.

Jiang Hanzhou carried his medicine chest, walked through the familiar streets and alleys, and headed in the direction of Jishi Hall.

Having been away from home for over two months, Donghai Prefecture seemed not to have changed much.

He turned into the alley where the medical clinic was located, but his footsteps paused slightly.

At the entrance of Jishi Hall, there was actually a queue.

About seven or eight people, old and young, some holding their waists, some clutching their chests, others holding crying children.

They waited quietly, occasionally glancing at the tightly closed clinic doors, their eyes filled with expectation and anxiety.

Jiang Hanzhou smiled dumbly.

The notice he posted when he left clearly stated, "Away for a few days, return date uncertain," yet these people seemed certain he would return today, waiting here early.

"Excuse me, please make way." He spoke gently, passed through the crowd, and arrived at the clinic entrance.

The people in line were stunned at first, then someone recognized him.

"Physician Jiang! It's Physician Jiang who's back!"

"Doctor Jiang, you're finally back! My father's coughing sickness..."

"Physician Jiang, my child has had a fever for two days..."

The crowd immediately became agitated, and voices clamored from all sides.

Jiang Hanzhou raised his hand and pressed it down in the air, making a "quiet" gesture. His voice was not loud but clear:

"Everyone, please calm down. Since you are here for treatment, please wait in order. The clinic has just opened, allow me to clean up first."

He took the key from his pocket, opened the lock, and pushed open the long-closed door.

The familiar scent of medicine rushed to meet him. Although no one had been there for some time, the furnishings inside were still tidy.

He placed the medicine chest beside the consultation table, first opened the windows for ventilation, and then took a rag to wipe the tables and chairs.

The people queuing outside did not rush him, just waited quietly, occasionally talking in low voices.

"Physician Jiang seems... to have a better complexion after this trip?"

"Yes, he's full of energy."

"It's not that the doctors at Renhe Hall aren't good, it's just that they're expensive... Physician Jiang's place is more honest."

About a quarter of an hour later, the interior of the medical clinic was refreshed. Jiang Hanzhou washed his hands, sat down behind the consultation table, and said to those outside: "First patient, please come in."

That day, Jishi Hall was busy from dawn until dusk.

Most of those who came were old patients, either with recurring old illnesses or new minor ailments.

Jiang Hanzhou diagnosed their pulses and prescribed medicine one by one, inquiring patiently with skilled techniques and precise prescriptions.

Occasionally, for more complex illnesses, he would apply acupuncture, supplemented by massage, and the effects were immediate.

The consultation fees remained low, ranging from a few copper coins to several dozen.

Those who came for treatment were all grateful. Some insisted on paying more, only to be politely declined by him; others would say, "I'll bring some seafood next time," and he would just smile.

Near evening, after sending off the last woman who left with a sleeping child and profuse thanks, Jiang Hanzhou finally let out a soft breath and stretched his back, which had grown stiff from sitting for so long.

On the consultation table, besides scattered copper coins for fees, there was also a pile of things.

Two silver-scaled fish tied with straw rope, a bag of dried kelp, a few sea duck eggs, and even a small jar of homemade rice wine.

These were all "tokens of appreciation" that the patients had insisted on giving.

Jiang Hanzhou shook his head and smiled, putting these things away one by one.

He picked up the two smoked fish that were still slightly twitching their tails, locked the clinic door, and walked towards his own small courtyard.

The twilight deepened, and street lamps lit up one after another.

Walking on the way home, Jiang Hanzhou sorted, categorized, and pieced together the fragmented information he had heard from various patients today.

"The three northern prefectures are suffering from a great drought; it is said that there was no harvest at all, and disaster victims are all flooding to the south... A few days ago, a few ships arrived at the pier, the people on board were sallow and thin, saying they were refugees fleeing from the north..."

"There's a Essence Spirit in the nearby sea! I heard from Old Second Wang who returned from the sea that near the 'Ghost Reef' thirty miles away, he saw a black-backed monster fish bigger than a boat that overturned several fishing vessels! The Naval Yamen has even posted a bounty, and many Jianghu factions are teaming up to hunt it..."

"The Young Master of the Liu family in the east of the city, heh, got his leg broken while competing with someone for a woman, and now he's lying at home groaning..."

"The daughter of Butcher Zhang has caught a strange illness, covered in red rashes, and the itching is unbearable. They've invited several doctors and none can cure it..."

These pieces of information, like scattered pearls, connected together in Jiang Hanzhou's mind.

The northern drought meant that refugees would migrate south, the population of Donghai Prefecture might surge, and both grain prices and public security would be affected.

And the appearance of a Essence Spirit in the nearby sea was both a crisis and a potential opportunity.

The "Heavenly Dipper Treasure Refining Art" required rare treasures, which often came from these heaven-and-earth anomalies.

As for those noble family grudges and strange market illnesses, they seemed insignificant, yet they might touch the nerves of certain factions or hide unknown secrets.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of his small courtyard.

Jiang Hanzhou pushed the door open and entered, latching it behind him.

Everything in the courtyard was as it had been, the ground was clean, and there was fresh water in the bucket by the well.

He hung the smoked fish under the eaves of the kitchen, sorted the other local specialties, and then walked into the bedroom.

He closed the door, his mind stirred, and the sumeru pouch at his waist warmed slightly.

The next moment, several items appeared out of thin air on the bed.

The dark golden tiger soul saber, with blood patterns faintly flowing on its blade, still emitted a subtle aura of ferocity despite being wrapped in oilcloth.

A thick stack of silver banknotes, roughly estimated to exceed 150,000 taels.

A few gems with pure color and containing Spiritual Qi.

Two sheepskin scrolls made with a special tanning method, which recorded insights into a certain Bloodline secret technique of the Silver Wing Family.

A delicately bound copy of "General Western Language," which he had purchased at a bookstore in case of need.

Several medical texts, including the supplementary volume of "Donghai Herb Identification" and "Record of Strange Illnesses and Miscellaneous Diseases," were collected during this trip.

Finally, there was a large package carefully wrapped in thick oil paper and tightly bound with hemp rope.

Jiang Hanzhou untied the hemp rope and unfolded the oil paper.

A rich smell of blood and a faint pressure immediately permeated the air.

Inside the package was a large piece of beast meat with a dark red color, distinct texture, and knotted muscles.

The meat was firm, the fat layer was like amber, and a faint golden luster of bone marrow could be seen on the cross-section of the bone.

Vicious Beast-level tiger meat.

This was purchased at a great cost after he left the fast ship of Solon; he did not return directly to Donghai Prefecture, but instead detoured to another island famous for hunting called "Beast King Island."

The Vicious Beast tiger was said to have been captured from a deserted island in the deep sea, with strength equivalent to the Late Stage of the Viscera Burning Realm. The Qi and blood essence contained in its flesh and blood far exceeded that of ordinary beasts, and was even a cut above the Purple-Eyed Fierce Beast he had used before.

It cost him a full 20,000 taels.

"With this, the recipe for the 【dragon tiger bone tempering soup】 might be improved further."

A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Jiang Hanzhou's eyes.

He was going to start the second improvement of the 【dragon tiger bone tempering soup】 today.