Song Hao said, "Could it be that this Qiu family are descendants of the Medicine King Sect?"
Tang Yu shook his head and said, "The former leader of the Medicine King Sect was originally surnamed Lian, not Qiu, so he should not be a descendant of the Medicine King Sect. The Medicine King Sect has been extinct for more than a hundred years, and the secret method of cultivating Chinese medicinal herbs has probably been lost."
"What a pity! If a descendant of the Medicine King Sect were to manage the Chinese herbal medicine base in Wansongling, Tianyitang would have reached an even higher level!" Song Hao said regretfully.
Tang Yu laughed and said, "How can all the benefits in the world belong to your family! Now, with the help of Luo Feiying from the Demon Needle Sect and the people from the Golden Needle Sect, as well as Ye Chengshun from the Bone Setting Sect, and several experts such as Wu Qiguang and Lin Fengyi, Tianyi Hall can be called the number one in the world."
Song Hao laughed and said, "And there's also the eldest daughter of the Tang family of the medical sect. I should feel satisfied. In fact, the more good things like this, the better! Tianyi Hall is open to all kinds of people, and in the future, there will be many talented and extraordinary people coming to join us."
Tang Yu smiled and said, "A physician who travels the world should naturally be able to accommodate physicians from all over the world!"
The next morning, Song Hao and Tang Yu drove towards Xiajiang Village. After traveling for some time, they suddenly smelled a strange, refreshing fragrance wafting through the open car window. Tang Yu slowed down, and she and Song Hao looked out the window. In the distance, in a field, flowers bloomed in profusion, clusters of them, each with its own unique branches and leaves—not the usual crops.
"This is it!" Song Hao said.
After Tang Yu stopped the car, the two walked along the roadside path toward the field.
As I approached, I saw a acre of peonies in full bloom, next to which was a patch of codonopsis, as well as yam, fritillaria, rehmannia, gentian, and other plants, all with thick branches and leaves, growing vigorously. This large herb garden, no less than ten acres in size, was filled with a medley of fragrances that wafted in the wind, creating a unique and enchanting atmosphere.
"This must be the Qiu family's Hundred Herbs Garden! They've planted so many medicinal herbs and managed them so well! It's truly remarkable!" Tang Yu exclaimed.
Along the way, I saw honeysuckle, peony, scrophularia and other plants, as if I had entered a garden.
"It would be wonderful if Wansongling could remain like this in the future!" Song Hao couldn't help but say enviously.
Tang Yu said, "The plants grown here are mostly those commonly used by doctors, and the scale is relatively small. If a hundred acres of land could be cultivated in Wansongling, it would be a completely different scene."
"Excellent, excellent!" Song Hao said with delight, "The future Wansong Ridge will be the true Hundred Herbs Garden! But it would be best if an expert could manage it."
Tang Yu smiled and said, "I understand what you mean. Let's go then. Let's go to the Qiu family and see if we can find an expert in planting Chinese medicinal herbs."
Song Hao laughed and said, "If that's the case, then this trip has been worthwhile! Even if we don't get the copy of 'Miraculous Prescriptions' that Master asked for, it will still be worthwhile."
Tang Yu laughed and said, "That sounds nice, but how could you be truly willing to accept it!"
The two returned to the highway and continued driving. Before long, a small village with blue-tiled roofs and white walls, nestled among poplars and willows, came into view.
At a food shop at the entrance of the village, Song Hao inquired about the location of the Qiu family. Someone pointed in the direction, assuming that he was there to buy herbs from the Hundred Herbs Garden.
They arrived at a courtyard. Song Hao stepped forward and knocked on the door.
As soon as the door opened, a fair-skinned young man came out to greet them. Upon seeing Song Hao and Tang Yu, he exclaimed with delight, "You've come!"
Song Hao was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Did you know we were coming?"
"Here we are!" the boy said with a smile.
"I saw you in town yesterday. You're from the Qiu family!" Tang Yu exclaimed in realization.
"Big brother and sister, my name is Qiu Wei. I went to town to deliver medicine yesterday and witnessed your superb medical skills. I happened to hear that you were coming here today, so my sister and I waited at home. Please come in," the young man named Qiu Wei said warmly.
"I knew it, I think I've seen you before," Song Hao said with a smile.
"Sister, the guests have arrived!" Qiu Wei called out as he turned around.
This is a charming farmhouse courtyard with three tiled houses in the front, side rooms on both sides, and a tall jujube tree growing against the wall. Everything looks simple and natural.
At this moment, a young woman emerged from the house, immediately catching the eye of Song Hao and Tang Yu. The woman appeared to be around twenty years old, with willow-leaf eyebrows and phoenix eyes, naturally beautiful, especially her fair and delicate skin, which was as smooth and lustrous as mutton-fat jade, seemingly fragile enough to break at a touch. Despite her seemingly gentle and frail appearance, a certain heroic spirit subtly shone through her brows.
"This is my older sister, Qiu Ru," Qiu Wei introduced.
"My name is Song Hao, and this is my friend Tang Yu. I came to visit you because I've heard of the Hundred Herbs Garden," Song Hao said.
"My brother mentioned yesterday that you two treat patients in town and possess miraculous healing skills. It is truly an honor for my brother and me to have you grace our humble abode with your presence today! Please come inside and let's talk." Qiu Ru spoke softly and slowly, like the gentle murmur of a swallow or a nightingale, each word spoken so eloquently that it made one's limbs weak with fear.
"What a pitiful woman! Even I would be moved!" Tang Yu thought to herself in surprise. She then glanced at Song Hao. But Song Hao smiled and walked inside first.
After we sat down in the room, Qiu Wei brought out tea. A few petals, one red and one yellow, floated on the surface of the cup, seemingly sinking but not quite in the tea, which was quite beautiful.
"This is a flower tea that my sister specially brewed to welcome our two guests. Please, Brother Song and Sister Tang, enjoy it," Qiu Wei said.
"Thank you!" Song Hao picked up the tea and took a sip. He felt a refreshing fragrance fill his stomach and his stomach felt refreshed. He exclaimed, "Good tea!"
Qiu Ru chuckled upon hearing this.
"I just passed by the Hundred Herbs Garden and went in for a look. It's truly amazing that they can cultivate herbs to such an extent, and the medicinal properties are even better than ordinary herbs!" Song Hao said.
"I am ashamed! Although it has the name of a Hundred Herbs Garden, due to limited space, we only grow a dozen or so commonly used herbs to supply a few pharmacies, just enough to make a living for my brother. Brother Song's praise makes me feel extremely embarrassed!" Qiu Ru said with a slight smile.
"Is it only Miss Qiu and your younger brother at home?" Song Hao asked in surprise.
"My parents died early, and now I live with my younger brother. Since our ancestors were herb farmers, they passed down some methods of planting Chinese medicinal herbs. We try to get some herbs to make a living," Qiu Ru replied softly.
"Oh! That's really not easy! Since you've been working in the field of medicine for so long, you should know something about the properties of herbs." Song Hao sighed and asked, also wanting to test Qiu Ru's knowledge of herbs.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Ru smiled slightly and said, "All things can be used as medicine, and each has its own properties to treat its corresponding diseases. If a person who grows medicinal herbs does not know their properties, what difference is there between him and someone who grows wild grass? For example, white peony is bitter, sour, and slightly cold. It enters the liver and spleen blood system and is a meridian medicine for the Lung and Spleen meridians of the Hand Taiyin and Foot Taiyin. It nourishes the blood, astringes the Yin, and softens the liver, treating all blood diseases. Its properties vary in strength depending on whether it is used raw, stir-fried, or processed with wine."
Upon hearing this, Song Hao was shocked and exchanged astonished glances with Tang Yu. They had never expected Qiu Ru to know so much about medicine. It was one thing to know a little about its properties, but she also knew its nature, flavor, and meridians. Even modern doctors could not know all of this.
"Then, what about aconite?" Song Hao continued to ask.
Qiu Ru said, "Although we have never planted aconite in the Hundred Herbs Garden, our ancestors taught us that we should know all the medicines in the world. This medicine is pungent, sweet and poisonous, extremely hot and pure yang. It is floating and does not sink, it moves and does not stay, it can reach all twelve meridians. It warms the interior and dispels cold, tonifies yang and assists fire, and is an essential medicine for restoring yang and rescuing from collapse. It grows attached to aconite, and the long and thin ones are called Tianxiong. They are from the same source but have different names."
"Impressive!" Song Hao thought to himself with admiration. "You might know some of these commonly used medicines, but even a pharmacist might not know about those with obscure or rare flavors." He then added, "Miss Qiu is indeed very knowledgeable and extraordinary. I have another question. There is a substance called 'Yellow Pine Joint,' what is it?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Yu secretly shook her head and said, "I know very little about such cold medicine. You're making things difficult for them!"
Na Qiuru slowly replied, "It is simply the heartwood of Poria cocos, that is, the pine root in the middle of its sclerotium. It tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It has the effect of calming the liver and soothing the mind, treating palpitations and forgetfulness, and is also effective in treating stroke with loss of vision and speech, as well as muscle spasms and pain. However, most people do not know how to use it, and it is not found in famous ancient prescriptions. It is only occasionally mentioned in medical books."