Chapter Eighteen: Allergic Reaction

As expected, repairing the kitchen was not as simple as she had imagined.

In each of the four corners, a solid nan bamboo was deeply embedded.

“This pillar is what makes it sturdy.”

One bamboo was split into four strips, then woven together piece by piece, with an additional nan bamboo placed at intervals.

“Look, even if you shake it, it won’t move.”

After another full day of work, the bamboo walls were erected. The kitchen, once reduced to ashes by fire, was now surrounded by bamboo walls, looking quite proper.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll finish the roof. We still need to cut bamboo for the purlins and lattice, then cover it with thatch. Without going into too much detail, it should keep out the rain for at least three to five years.”

“What is Brother Niu doing?”

Chun An saw Brother Niu chopping the straw into half-inch lengths and mixing it into a slurry.

“Coating the walls. This way, it won't let the wind through in winter and serves as insulation, preventing the bamboo from rotting due to wind and rain.”

Big Niu cupped the mud with both hands and carefully spread it over the bamboo walls, smoothing it out bit by bit. After he finished, a “mud wall” suddenly appeared before their eyes.

“How wonderful.”

Chun Nuan was very grateful—this was truly the work of an experienced man.

“Uncle Niu, how much do we owe you?”

Zhao Minghua paid one tael of silver in advance. The day before, they had bought some auxiliary ingredients for preparing medicinal herbs, spending 160 wen. Money is truly useful but not easy to earn.

“My son and I worked for two full days—that’s four work units. You can pay eighty wen.”

Uncle Niu remembered his son’s advice. They shouldn’t have charged, but Miss Xiao was stubborn; if they didn’t accept payment, she would feel indebted, so they accepted a modest fee.

“All right, thank you, Uncle Niu.”

It was less than she had expected. Spending little to accomplish something great made Chun Nuan very happy.

There was one more person to thank—Old Master Zhang.

“Chun Ning, we have nothing valuable to give Old Master Zhang. Let’s just fry some flower cakes to send over.”

“Agreed.”

Together, they had cut thirty-eight bamboo poles from Old Master Zhang’s property and eight nan bamboos.

If they were to put a price on it, it would be at least fifty wen.

For Old Master Zhang, fifty wen was but a drop in the bucket, yet for the Xiao family at this moment, it was a significant sum.

Chun Ning took Chun Nuan to see Old Master Zhang, hoping to lease an acre of land from the Zhang family.

“Ahem, ahem…”

Old Master Zhang coughed for quite a while, then complained bitterly: “Sorry, my health has been poor lately. Please forgive my rudeness.”

A lean, kindly old man.

Chun Ning presented the fried flower cakes, explaining that they were homemade and a token of goodwill.

“Thank you, they smell delicious.” Old Master Zhang smiled and instructed his attendant Ma: “Remember to put these on the table at noon—I want to eat them.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ma was surprised as he looked over: “Miss Xiao, did you also sell these flower cakes at the dock?”

“Yes, my older sister personally made them.” Chun Ning quickly clarified—they weren’t bought but homemade. The items were inexpensive, but the sentiment was precious.

“Miss Xiao, your culinary skills are excellent.” Ma turned to Old Master Zhang: “Master, you may not know, but lately the Second Young Miss has taken a liking to these flower cakes, and she’s been asking Xiao He to buy them every day.”

“Oh?” Old Master Zhang chuckled. “Xiao Xue is quite the foodie. Send a batch to her, please.”

After speaking, he coughed a few more times, clearly exhausted.

“Old Master Zhang, your health…”

“Ah, old age. No good anymore.” Old Master Zhang laughed self-deprecatingly. “Even when I was young, I wasn’t much good—always short of breath and coughing terribly.”

He coughed and sneezed, tears streaming down his face, clearly embarrassed, and quickly went to a nearby clean room to compose himself.

When he returned, there was no sign of improvement.

“Old Master Zhang, does this season and autumn make you feel worse?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

Could it be that his household staff spread the news?

“Old Master Zhang, have you been taking medicine?”

“Yes, from childhood until now, never stopped. I’ve tried medicines from two pharmacies in town and even visited doctors in the county. The medicine helps a little, but the effect isn’t obvious.”

“Old Master Zhang, does the pollen make you feel worse?”

“Pollen?” He paused. “I haven’t noticed.”

“Old Master Zhang, I noticed you have some flowers in your courtyard. Why not take a walk around and see how you feel?”

Just a few steps into the courtyard, Old Master Zhang began sneezing repeatedly, coughing, tears streaming, and looked quite unwell.

“Old Master Zhang, I have a pill here that might help.” Chun Nuan took a small porcelain bottle from her pouch and gave him a pill.

“Master?” Ma quickly gave a warning look: meals can be careless, words can’t, and medicine is never to be taken lightly!

“Old Master Zhang,” Chun Nuan understood Ma’s concern—he was a loyal servant—“my grandfather once worked at the Imperial Medical Institute. Although fate was unkind and he didn’t pass peacefully, his medical skills are well known. Since I was a child, I’ve been by his side and have some knowledge of pharmacology.”

Not to say she was an expert, just somewhat versed.

“If I’m not mistaken, Old Master Zhang, what you have isn’t ordinary asthma but allergic rhinitis. When exposed to allergens, you experience itchy eyes, tearing, redness, swelling, and burning sensations, as well as throat itching, chest tightness, coughing, and asthma attacks.”

“Miss Xiao, what are these allergens?” Old Master Zhang was shocked. “I have all these symptoms, on and off, and no doctor has been able to cure me. Hearing you say this, I notice I feel worse in spring and autumn.”

“Old Master Zhang is likely allergic to pollen, catkins, dust mites, and animal dander.”

“Cough, cough, cough…” Old Master Zhang coughed again, then suddenly saw the pill in his hand, swallowed it with a tilt of his head.

“Master!” Ma was alarmed—how could he take unknown medicine?

“Water,” Old Master Zhang said, feeling the pill was a bit large and stuck in his throat; he gulped several mouthfuls of water to swallow it.

“Miss Xiao, do you think this illness can be cured?”

“Allow Chun Nuan to take your pulse, Old Master Zhang.”

“Please, Miss.”

Old Master Zhang cooperated fully. His illness had lasted decades, with countless medicines taken, but no doctor had ever explained the cause.

This young lady immediately diagnosed the problem—she was practically a miracle worker.

Perhaps his illness could finally be cured.

Chun Nuan took his pulse on one wrist, then the other.

After he coughed again, she asked him to stick out his tongue for inspection.

“Miss Chun Nuan will also examine Old Master Zhang’s eyes.”

“Please proceed.”

She flipped his eyelids and asked a few routine questions.

“Miss…”

Seeing Chun Nuan deep in thought, Old Master Zhang grew nervous. Could this illness be cured?

“Chun Nuan will prescribe a formula for you, Old Master Zhang. Try one course of medicine first.”

“Thank you, Miss.” Old Master Zhang was moved. “Please don’t hesitate to prescribe several courses—I’m not afraid of bitterness.”

He had the means to buy medicine; he only feared it wouldn’t heal him.

“One course to test the waters. If it suits you, two more courses can be prescribed.”

“However, to truly cure your illness, some other issues must be addressed.”

“What issues?”

The prospect of a cure was something he had never dreamed of. Was he not excited?

No matter what issues they were, he was confident he could handle them.