The Sweetest Medicine

Grandpa Jian made a decision and said, “OK, go ahead and check my pulse then. If you convince me, I will give you your favorite ‘Spring, Grass, Lake and Birds’ painting.

Elder Jiang liked to collect books and paintings, and he had long coveted Grandpa Jian’s painting.

As soon as he heard what Grandpa Jian said, his eyes lit up like a starving wolf that had found food, “Are you willing to part with it?”

Grandpa Jian expressed generously, “There’s no reason to miss it, it’s just a painting. But, of course, if you can’t convince me, then you will have to give me your copy of ‘Wang Yizhi’.”

With a change of tone, Grandpa Jian revealed his true motive.

Elder Jiang’s expression sank, “You’re a wicked old man. It turns out, you have your eyes on my copy of Wang Yizhi.”

“Are you afraid?” Grandpa Jian provoked.

“Who’s afraid? I will never lose to you.” As Elder Jiang spoke, he looked at Yu Gangan and said threateningly, “If you can’t protect my book, then I will get my grandson to torture you.”

Jiang Qi smirked and whispered into Yu Gangan’s ear, “My grandfather and Grandpa Jian like to muck around like this. I’m used to it.”

Yu Gangan was bewildered, unable to laugh nor cry.

These two old men were more than a hundred years old combined, yet they were making bets like children.

Why were they receiving rewards when she was the one doing the work?

Who should she let win?

“Yu Gangan thought about it and smiled slightly, “I don’t need to check Grandpa Jian’s pulse, he looks good. He should be healthy.”

Grandpa Jian broke into laughter and said to Elder Jiang, “Haha, she doesn’t know a thing. It seems like your book will be mine.”

Elder Jiang began to lecture Yu Gangan fiercely, “You didn’t even check his pulse. Are you making me lose on purpose? You little traitor.”

Yu Gangan replied with a smile, “I don’t need to take his pulse because I can tell with one glance that Grandpa Jian has been suffering from a toothache lately.”

Grandpa Jian’s proud smile suddenly froze, stiff like stone, and completely disappeared from his face.

He stared at Elder Jiang and said, “You told her.”

“I didn’t know that you still have a toothache,” Elder Jiang protested innocently.

He looked at Yu Gangan and said, “Hurry and explain how you know.”

“Chinese medicine uses the methods of look, listen, question, and feeling the patient’s pulse to completely determine a person’s energy and essence. Although I haven’t checked your pulse, I can tell from your face that your internal heat is strong because your eyes are red and swollen, the corner of your mouth is cracking and crusting, and I also noticed that you were unwilling to drink tea. Of course, the most important telltale sign was your habit of supporting your right face with your hand. People with toothache generally have this subconscious habit. Your gums are painfully swollen because of the excessive heat in your body. I suggest you drink more water and eat plainly flavored food over the next two days; avoid fishy and spicy food.”

Elder Jiang laughed out loud.

He looked at Grandpa Jian in an extremely proud manner and said, “Thank you for your ‘Spring, Grass, Lake and Birds’ painting, old friend.”

Grandpa Jian puffed up his beard and opened his eyes wide, “I’m not convinced. Toothache isn’t an illness.”

Seeing the joy on Elder Jiang’s face, he looked like he liked this young woman. He even said she was his future granddaughter-in-law. Perhaps, he should get his grandson to steal her from him and make her the granddaughter-in-law of the Jian Family instead.

[Let’s see how proud Old Man Jiang would be then.]

Grandpa Jian put up with the discomfort in his heart and asked Yu Gangan with a smile, “Young woman, do you have a boyfriend? My grandson is not bad. He is a soldier. I think he is a good match for you. A soldier and a doctor are a match made in heaven.”