Chapter 178 - 178 The Wine Pot Has a Mechanism
178 The Wine Pot Has a Mechanism
Su Binglan knew her third uncle and his wife were good people. Still, they were sensible yet stubborn. She said smilingly, “Of course. When you recover, you can make me a mutton dish as a consultation fee.”
Su Fengzhi could tell that his niece was comforting him, so he smiled. “I will make you whatever you want to eat if I can recover.”
If Su Binglan managed to cure his throat and nose, it would be like his life had begun anew.
“It’s settled, then.” Su Binglan nodded smilingly.
Then she proceeded to check her third uncle’s pulse. Indeed, the check-up was only a minor issue.
“How is it looking?” Su Fengmao asked anxiously. He was even more nervous than the others.
Meanwhile, Madam Liu and her husband held their breaths. Everyone was nervous as their hearts were palpitating. Su Fengzhi would always feel this way whenever he went to a doctor, especially now.
After what seemed like forever, Su Binglan said smilingly, “It’s just a minor sickness, so I can easily cure you.”
She resembled a judge at that moment, instantly deciding on whether or not her third uncle would live.
Su Fengzhi became misty-eyed as he said in a trembling voice, “Binglan, I didn’t hear wrongly, right? Y-You said you can cure me?”
His wife was beside him, crying.
Su Binglan said thoughtfully, “You will make a speedy recovery. I’ll perform some acupuncture and give you some medicine. You will recover in just a few days.”
Her words were straightforward, so everyone suspected they had misheard her. Still, Su Fengzhi did not doubt his niece’s medical skills. He only felt a little puzzled. “So, why did the doctors who checked on me last time say medicine would not work and that I’m stuck with these conditions?”
Su Binglan said, “That’s because those doctors are frauds.”
Su Fengzhi and his wife thought there was nothing wrong with their niece’s words. Su Fengzhi felt like he had just been reborn when he heard he would finally recover.
He simply believed his niece and did not ask how Su Binglan had acquired her medical skills. Nonetheless, he and his wife knew their niece was unique.
Soon after, Su Binglan performed acupuncture on her third uncle and told her father to go home and bring over some medicinal herbs to Su Fengzhi’s house.
Previously, Su Binglan had gone to buy more medicinal herbs, even though there were still some at home. She could now soak one of the herbs in the spiritual spring water for Su Fengzhi so he would recover quicker.
“Okay, I’ll go home and get some herbs,” Su Fengmao said, nodding as he limped away in a hurry.
Su Fengzhi watched his second brother limping away just to get him the medicine, and his heart ached. Su Fengzhi knew he had to pull himself together to improve his family’s living conditions so Su Fengmao would not worry about him.
Su Fengmao returned soon after. Su Fengzhi looked at his second brother’s appearance and said sobbingly, “Fengmao, thank you for all you’re doing for me.”
“We’re brothers, so you don’t need to thank me. You’ve helped my family and me when we needed it most, so I’m only repaying your kindness,” Su Fengmao said smilingly. His words touched Madam Liu’s heart.
In the past, Madam Liu had heard from others that the Su family members were remarkably united and were good people. Only then did her parents feel at ease when she married into the Su family.
After many years, she could feel what it was like to be a part of a united family. She felt a warmth at the bottom of her heart.
Su Binglan used the spiritual spring water to boil the herbs for her third uncle so he could drink it. “Uncle Fengzhi, this medicine is incomplete, but it’s helpful. You will feel better after drinking it.”
The medicine was more effective since she had performed acupuncture beforehand.
Su Fengzhi drank the medicine without questioning it. Soon after, he could smell the wild vegetables on the dining table.
“I-I can smell something!” He was so excited that he resembled a child during the Chinese New Year. Su Fengzhi took the bread from the table and smelled it. “I can smell again!”
Su Fengmao said happily, “That’s great! You’ll finally get better!”
Madam Liu looked at Su Binglan and said, “Thank you so much, Binglan!”
“You’re welcome, Aunt Liu. Just tell Uncle Fengzhi to cook for me,” Su Binglan said, winking.
“O-Of course! You can come here for a meal anytime!” Madam Liu was not good with niceties but was sincere to her niece, and Su Binglan could feel it.
Su Binglan said, “Uncle Fengzhi, you must follow this prescription and get this medicine. Your throat will heal faster after you drink three doses. As for your nose, it will be fully functioning by tomorrow.”
Now, Su Fengzhi believed Su Binglan’s words even more. He did not know what to say to thank his niece.
Su Fengmao said happily, “The previous doctors couldn’t see through your condition, Fengzhi?”
Su Binglan said, “Uncle Fengzhi’s condition is minor, but there’s chronic poisoning. The poison is mild and very hard to notice, but it affects one’s nose and throat. Uncle Fengzhi must’ve previously ingested something, which attacked his throat and sense of smell.”
Su Fengmao thought of what had happened in the past and said in a deep voice, “Binglan is right. I drank wine, and it tasted off. Then I developed these conditions. I’m typically cautious and will watch the person pour me my wine. He even drank some too.”
Su Binglan said, “I believe there’s a mechanism inside the wine pot. A different wine would pour out if the person tilted the pot slightly.”
It was a simple trick, but Su Fengzhi fell for it.
Suddenly, Su Fengzhi realized something and said, “I see. I was puzzled before, but I understand what happened now.”
Su Binglan asked, “Uncle Fengzhi, can you tell me what happened?”
Su Fengzhi responded, “The person’s name is Zhu Liang. He and I cooked at the Fragrance Restaurant in the capital. He’s also from Su Teng Town. I lowered my guard since we were from the same town. He called me ‘Big Brother’ and even asked me for cooking advice, so I taught him everything I knew.
“Later on, I served a distinguished guest, and they thought my cooking was delicious, so they invited me to work at the Imperial Kitchen. Zhu Liang was happy for me then and invited me for a drink to celebrate.
“However, I never expected to develop my conditions after that. Soon, I heard Zhu Liang started working in the Imperial Kitchen instead and that the person he got close to was the crown prince.
“Since the situation was too great for me to bear, I dared not tell my family too much.” Su Fengzhi was afraid of getting his family involved in his matters.
Su Binglan narrowed her eyes. “So, it was someone from the Zhu family?”
She knew what happened to the Zhu family in town and that the officials had arrested many of them for committing crimes.
Su Fengzhi nodded. “Yes, but Zhu Liang is skillful and has plenty of connections in the capital. I hope you both can let what I said go. We’ll be fine if we don’t go to the capital. It’s all the same if we can continue living good lives here.”
Su Binglan was a very protective person by nature. She had planned to go to the capital to look for her second brother anyway, so she also decided to take revenge for her third uncle. She wanted to give Zhu Liang a taste of his own medicine.
She wanted to tell Su Fengzhi about making kebabs when Su Wenchi returned.
“Father, Mother, I’ll continue working on the sheep pen now.” Su Wenchi was a handsome and capable young man. His skin was dark, but he was full of vitality.