Chen Fan, concerned for Sister Fang, quickly draped a coat over her and asked immediately.
"Sister Fang, what happened? No matter who bullied you, I'll stand up for you!"
"Little Fan, I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I won't live much longer."
Sister Fang sobbed, leaning into Chen Fan's embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck, and recounted her ordeal.
It turned out that Sister Fang had breast cancer. Although it was still in the early stages, the mere mention of cancer made it difficult to treat.
Sister Fang had visited the county hospital, where the doctor said she needed to go to a major hospital in the city for treatment. Moreover, without two or three hundred thousand yuan, the disease couldn't be cured.
Sister Fang's world collapsed. As a widow, where could she find such money?
When she returned from the county in a daze, she threw herself onto the bed, crying uncontrollably.
Just when Sister Fang was feeling hopeless, Wang Gen from the town clinic somehow got wind of the news. He approached Sister Fang, claiming he had a secret family recipe that could cure her illness.
Desperate for a cure, Sister Fang believed him at the time.
But as Wang Gen treated her, he started behaving inappropriately, touching Sister Fang. Several times, he even tried to take advantage of her.
Like tonight, Wang Gen forcibly broke in, attempting to have his way with Sister Fang.
He even threatened her, saying if she didn't let him, he wouldn't treat her illness.
Sister Fang was terrified. As a single woman with a terminal illness, what could she do?
If Chen Fan hadn't arrived in time, Sister Fang would have been violated by Wang Gen.
So that's how it was.
Chen Fan pondered for a moment, then said to Sister Fang, "Sister Fang, don't worry. I know a bit of medicine. Let me examine you first."
Sister Fang was surprised, "Little Fan, how do you know medicine?"
Chen Fan explained, "I learned from an old man in prison. His medical skills were quite impressive."
Chen Fan didn't elaborate further. He knew how important those two extraordinary books were, so he didn't mention them to Sister Fang.
"I see. Then go ahead and examine me."
At the mention of an examination, Sister Fang's face turned red.
She had been examined at the county hospital, but it was by a female doctor, and there were no taboos between women.
When she returned to Wang Gen for treatment, she didn't let him examine her. She only showed him the examination results.
Wang Gen had prescribed some medicine, saying they should first see its effects.
But after some time, there was no improvement.
Now, with Chen Fan wanting to examine her, Sister Fang's face flushed with embarrassment.
Chen Fan was a man, and that was a woman's private area. How could she let him examine her?
Chen Fan also felt a bit awkward and his face warmed. It was late at night, and they were alone in a room.
Requesting to do an examination was indeed inappropriate.
But doctors treat patients regardless of gender. Besides, Sister Fang's condition was serious and couldn't be delayed.
Chen Fan explained briefly, and Sister Fang lowered her head, her neck turning red with embarrassment.
She knew Chen Fan made sense. Having attended high school, Sister Fang understood the principle that illness knows no gender in medicine.
So she struggled to lift her head, gritted her teeth, and nodded firmly.
"Little Fan, go ahead and examine me!"
Chen Fan's face also turned red, and he nodded with determination, "Alright!"
Then, Chen Fan focused and carefully examined Sister Fang.
Having practiced the Medicine King's Thousand Gold Prescriptions for over a year, Chen Fan's medical skills were already quite advanced.
His examination was swift, and before Sister Fang could recover from her embarrassment, Chen Fan had already reached a conclusion.
Sister Fang indeed had breast cancer, with a lump, but the situation wasn't too severe.
Chen Fan quickly filtered through his mind and found a suitable prescription for Sister Fang.
With the addition of massage therapy, Sister Fang's illness could be cured quickly.
"Little Fan, is it true? Can this illness really be cured?"
Upon hearing that her illness could be treated, Sister Fang's face lit up with joy.
Chen Fan nodded, but there was something he found difficult to say.
Chen Fan hesitated and said, "Sister Fang, you can brew the medicine yourself. However, it also requires massage."
Massage is a profound art in traditional Chinese medicine, emphasizing acupoints, force, and technique, with no room for error.
Through massage, the lump in Sister Fang's affected area could gradually dissipate, speeding up recovery.
Sister Fang immediately understood Chen Fan's implication, and her face turned red again.
She lowered her head, too shy to lift it.
Chen Fan knew she was in a difficult position, so he explained further, "Actually, it's okay not to do the massage, but the treatment duration will double."
"Little Fan, you decide how to treat me. I have no objections."
Despite her immense shyness, Sister Fang was a decisive woman.
She quickly made her choice, asking Chen Fan to treat her.
"Alright then."
Chen Fan nodded and said, "I'll go up the mountain to gather herbs early tomorrow morning, and tomorrow night, I'll start your treatment, Sister Fang!"
...
The next morning, Chen Fan left the house with a bamboo basket, heading straight for Panshi Mountain.
"Son, herbs aren't easy to find. If you really can't find them, just let it go. As for money, I'll think of something," Chen Dongshan had said.
Last night, Chen Fan had told Chen Dongshan about his medical skills and his plan.
Gather herbs, sell them for money.
But Chen Dongshan knew that finding herbs wasn't easy. Ordinary herbs weren't worth much, and aged herbs were generally hard to come by.
"Don't worry, Dad. I know what I'm doing," Chen Fan assured him.
"Alright, just be careful!" Chen Dongshan reminded him, still worried.
"I will."
After taking a few steps, Chen Fan heard Sister Fang calling him from behind.
When he turned around, Sister Fang handed him a cloth bundle.
Inside the bundle were pancakes Sister Fang had made fresh that morning, for Chen Fan to eat when he got hungry.
"Thank you, Sister Fang!" Chen Fan accepted the bundle with a smile.
"Thank me for what? You're my savior, Sister Fang should be the one thanking you!"
Sister Fang smiled at Chen Fan, her eyes inadvertently revealing a trace of tender affection.
In fact, Sister Fang had liked Chen Fan for years. He was handsome and had a good temperament.
But due to propriety, she could only keep her feelings hidden.
"Sister Fang, don't worry. Once I gather the herbs today, I can start your treatment tonight," Chen Fan said with a smile.
"Okay."
The thought of Chen Fan giving her a full massage treatment tonight made Sister Fang's face flush red again.
"Go on, be careful."
After saying that, Sister Fang turned and ran back into the courtyard.
Chen Fan watched as Sister Fang's graceful figure disappeared. She was a pitiful woman with a kind heart. He was determined to cure her illness.
Once on the mountain, Chen Fan first went to his mother's grave to pay his respects. Kneeling before it, he made a silent vow.
"Mother, I will clear my name, bring those who wronged me to justice, and avenge you and our family!"
"I will earn more money so our family can live well again, so Dad and my sister won't suffer because of me!"
After paying his respects, Chen Fan began gathering herbs nearby.
"Gentian, only the rhizome is needed."
"Physalis, only the part below the fruit is useful."
"And Houttuynia, the tender white roots are precious!"
"Those wild vegetables over there are also good..."
On Panshi Mountain, the wild grasses and vegetables were all treasures in Chen Fan's eyes.
The Medicine King's Thousand Gold Prescriptions clearly recorded that these wild grasses and vegetables, in the eyes of ordinary people, all had medicinal properties.
Of course, most doctors wouldn't understand, and extracting the medicinal properties from these wild plants required special techniques.
Chen Fan had fully mastered these extraction techniques.
In less than an hour, Chen Fan's basket was filled with various wild grasses and vegetables.
These were all valuable, and when used in medicine, they could fetch a high price!