Ancient medical texts were all written in classical Chinese.
Not only was the writing obscure, but it was also full of specialized terminology.
The average person simply couldn't understand them.
But commentaries were different.
Though also written by people of the past, the language was simpler and more direct.
For example, the *Shui Jingzhu* was actually a commentary on the *Shui Jing*.
The *Shui Jing* was obscure and difficult for many to understand, but the *Shui Jingzhu* was well-written and circulated much more widely.
The *Records of Literature and Art* was a lost work from the Han Dynasty.
Some of its sections dealt with women's ailments.
It was later lost.
The *Commentary on the Art and Literature Record* was its commentary.
It was concise and to the point, and Li Xu was able to understand it.
'Does this kind of massage really work...?'
Li Xu was itching to find out.
He really wanted to try it for himself.
But...
He glanced at Song Sisi, who was staring at her phone out of boredom. His gaze drifted downward... 'Hmm, I didn't expect her to be so well-endowed, even though she looks so slim.'
'If I asked to try it on her, would she get angry?'
The thought had barely formed before Li Xu shook it off.
Song Sisi was a nursing student, sure.
So her perspective on the human body was different from the average person's.
'But if I were to ask, "Could I massage your breasts, purely for medical research?"'
'Song Sisi would definitely report me for harassment.'
...
Song Sisi, who was engrossed in her phone, suddenly felt an odd sensation.
She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
She looked up and saw Li Xu staring intently at her.
Not at her face.
But somewhere below it.
"Doctor Li, is there something on me?"
"Oh! Uh... no, I was just lost in thought."
Li Xu was panicking internally but kept a calm facade. He quickly lowered his head to his book, but the words swam before his eyes, and he couldn't register a single one.
There weren't many patients that afternoon.
Li Xu continued to read the *Commentary on the Art and Literature Record*.
He now understood both the massage technique and the formula for the Cangzi Oil.
The only thing he lacked now was practical experience.
For a practitioner of Chinese medicine, practical experience was paramount.
'What should I do?'
Li Xu thought for a long while before an idea finally came to him.
'Since it's so hard to find a real person to practice on, I'll just practice on a fake one.'
He opened the Taoduoduo app.
He typed in "medical-use prosthetic breasts," and his screen was immediately filled with all sorts of heart-pounding prosthetic breast products.
There were all kinds of stick-on types, as well as various silicone prosthetics...
Li Xu chose one that looked particularly realistic.
In the order notes, he specifically requested: "Please mark 'Gift' on the packaging."
Still feeling uneasy, he contacted customer service.
"Dear customer, rest assured. We take absolute care to protect our clients' privacy. No one will know you bought a prosthetic breast."
"Thank you, but I think you've misunderstood. I'm buying it for medical research, not because I have some kind of weird fetish."
"Of course, dear. I believe you. Our company also has many other realistic organ models. Would you like to buy some more for your research?"
"...No, that's alright. Thank you!"
Li Xu closed the chat window, muttering to himself, "I really am buying it for medical research."
He went back to his book.
The *Commentary on the Art and Literature Record* didn't just contain methods for treating breast pain.
It covered many other gynecological conditions as well.
For example, the very common issue of menstrual cramps.
It proposed numerous treatment methods.
There was acupuncture, medicinal herbs, and even aromatherapy...
Li Xu shook his head.
'Acupuncture is a profound field of study in itself.'
'And I haven't mastered it yet.'
"Ouch..."
Song Sisi, who had been giggling at a video on her phone, suddenly cried out in pain.
She clutched her stomach and rushed out into the courtyard.
About ten minutes later.
She returned, still clutching her stomach.
Her face was ghastly pale.
"What's wrong?"
Li Xu asked with concern.
Song Sisi looked hesitant to speak, but remembering Li Xu was a doctor, she told him the truth. "I got my period. The cramps are a little bad."
"Come sit here."
Li Xu pointed to the stool in front of him.
Song Sisi obediently sat down.
Even without taking her pulse or asking any questions, Li Xu already had a general idea of the situation.
Because as Song Sisi sat down, a distinct, foul odor reached him—the smell of menstrual blood.
Still, Li Xu took her pulse to be sure.
"So, Doctor Li? How is it?"
Song Sisi asked nervously.
While feeling the rhythm of her pulse, Li Xu explained, "In simple terms, dysmenorrhea is caused by pathogenic qi invading the Sanjiao meridian, causing a blockage. There's a saying in Chinese medicine: 'Where there is free flow, there is no pain; where there is pain, there is no free flow.' The two are directly related..."
Song Sisi didn't understand any of that. She only cared about how to treat it.
"I'll prescribe you two doses of herbs. Go home, brew them into a decoction, and drink it. That should provide some relief."
Li Xu only said it would provide relief.
He wasn't confident he could cure it completely.
The reason was simple.
He didn't have much experience treating dysmenorrhea, so he couldn't prescribe a formula perfectly tailored to her specific symptoms. He could only write a prescription for some general-purpose herbs used for menstrual pain.
Furthermore, the herbs for treating menstrual pain in the clinic's cabinet were all very common.
They weren't fake, but their quality was merely average.
Common Chinese medicine formulas for treating dysmenorrhea include Wenjing Sanhan Tang, Danshen Shaoyao Tang, and Chaihu Tongjing Tang.
Li Xu prescribed Wenjing Sanhan Tang.
It's primarily used for dysmenorrhea caused by overexertion or exposure to cold, which leads to qi stagnation, blood stasis, and obstructed menstrual flow.
It's composed of medicinal herbs like Danggui, Zishiying, and Fennel.
"You should head home early today. Remember not to stay up all night on your phone. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water."
Li Xu instructed.
"Thank you, Doctor Li. How much do I owe you?"
"Fifty yuan. You don't have to pay now. I'll just put it on your tab and deduct it from your salary later."
...
「That night.」
Li Xu didn't go to bed right away.
He continued to study the *Commentary on the Art and Literature Record*.
He also wanted to test a theory.
[Time remaining until next intel refresh: 10 minutes]
[Time remaining until next intel release: 5 minutes]
[Time remaining until next intel release: 3 minutes]
...
Just after midnight.
The intel refreshed.
[Today's Intel: At a street stall in Bamboo Pole Lane, there is a God of Wealth wood carving, one to two feet tall. The exterior is elm, but the inside is 800-year-old rosewood. It is extremely valuable.]
"HOLY SHIT!!!"
Li Xu was wide awake.
Rosewood has been highly valued from ancient times to the present day.
Because it grows so slowly and was heavily harvested throughout the past dynasties, China's domestic rosewood resources were already depleted by the Ming and Qing dynasties.
It was practically priceless.
A single string of authentic rosewood beads could sell for over ten thousand yuan, sometimes even hundreds of thousands.
But that was for rosewood that was only a few decades, or at most a century, old.
The truly expensive rosewood was 800 years old.
Because only after 800 years of growth does rosewood truly mature.
But that wasn't even the most important part.
The most important thing was its extremely high medicinal value.
Setting aside its other uses, just in treating dysmenorrhea alone...
Rosewood could tonify qi and benefit the "middle burner," gradually expelling the accumulated cold qi from the body and treating dysmenorrhea at its root.
It was an exceptionally rare medicinal ingredient.
This also confirmed Li Xu's theory.
The daily intel refreshes were related to whatever problem he was currently facing.
For example, he'd encountered Song Sisi's dysmenorrhea yesterday.
And today, it had immediately provided related intel.
'What a thoughtful system.'
Li Xu praised.
'Looks like I have something to do tomorrow.'
'I have to get my hands on that God of Wealth statue.'
...
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