"Xiao Bao, ti to take your dicine."
Wang Zhibao’s mother carried over a bowl of herbal dicine, a Sour Jujube Seeds Soup, and placed it in front of him.
"BLECH~"
The bitter sll of the traditional dicine assaulted his nose.
Wang Zhibao nearly threw up.
He could imagine how awful it tasted without even taking a sip.
Wang Zhibao recoiled. "I don’t want to drink it."
"Good boy, this dicine will make you strong. I’ll get you so candy. Just drink it all in one go, and you can have the candy right after."
His mother coaxed him in a warm, gentle voice.
Wang Zhibao’s face twitched, his expression full of resistance.
Wang Jun, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV, also caught the bitter scent. He frowned and said, "I don’t think I could drink that either. Son, if you really don’t want it, then don’t. I don’t think that doctor is very reliable."
Wang Zhibao thought of Li Xu’s "threat."
If he didn’t show any improvent after a week...
He would tell his parents about his habit.
If his parents found out what he did every night...
A cold shiver ran down Wang Zhibao’s spine.
He gritted his teeth, picked up the bowl with both hands, brought it to his lips, and closed his eyes. GULP, GULP. He downed it all in one go.
His mother returned just in ti with a piece of candy.
"That’s my boy! Quick, eat the candy."
Wang Zhibao quickly popped the candy into his mouth, finally stopping the bitter taste that filled it.
"Son, let get you so honey water to wash it down."
His mother mixed a cup of warm honey water for him.
Wang Zhibao drank it and went back to his studies.
At nine o’clock at night, he finished all his howork.
"Mom, I’m done with my howork. I’m going to play so gas."
"Rember, only for half an hour."
"No problem."
Wang Zhibao "battled" alongside his teammates in the ga.
That’s right, before the match was even over, his teammates were calling him a noob.
He gave up on playing and started a fla war with his teammates on the spot.
「Half an hour later.」
He washed up and went to bed.
But as he lay in bed, his mind, as usual, started to wander.
His hand reached for the phone on his bedside table several tis.
But he forced himself to pull it back.
He knew from extensive experience that once he unlocked his phone and went to those unsavory websites, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
He would definitely have to finish today.
So, the best solution was not to look at all.
This part was the most grueling.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to quit before.
But he’d never lasted more than three days.
He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
He could usually hold out for the first half hour, but when sleep just wouldn’t co, he could no longer resist the urge.
Wang Zhibao thought tonight would be the sa as always.
He was even getting ready to give in.
But then, he felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him.
His restless mood gradually cald.
And before he knew it, he was asleep.
The screen of the phone beside his pillow dimd.
The ti showed 10:00 PM sharp.
...
「The next morning.」
Li Xu got out of bed.
He checked his daily intelligence.
[Today’s Intelligence: The Clearing Qi and Stabilizing Blood Formula, developed by Professor Wang Tao’s team at the Jinn University School of Life Sciences, contains the key ingredient Luteolin, which effectively combats the tick-borne virus. However, its effect on organ damage to the liver caused by the infection is average. Apigenin can be used in conjunction with Luteolin to repair the damaged organs. Consuming raw celery is most effective.]
"Huh?"
Li Xu blinked.
He stared at the intelligence displayed on the system panel, stunned.
’There’s a follow-up?’
’An optimized version of the Clearing Qi and Stabilizing Blood Formula!!!’
Not only could it combat the tick-borne virus, but it could also repair the resulting organ damage to the liver.
To be precise, it stopped the virus from causing further damage to the liver and other internal organs.
And the thod was incredibly simple.
Just eat celery normally while taking the Clearing Qi and Stabilizing Blood Formula.
Without even stopping to wash up, Li Xu ran to the study in his clinic.
He found the relevant books.
Apigenin, a dicinal component found in celery.
It could clear heat, detoxify, and had antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Generally speaking, the effects of Apigenin and Luteolin were redundant.
Luteolin was more potent in that regard.
Professor Wang Tao’s team at the Jinn University School of Life Sciences had probably considered celery when screening for drugs.
For so reason, they hadn’t included it in the formula.
’Perhaps it’s because it has to be eaten raw, and they didn’t consider that,’ Li Xu thought to himself.
When celery is decocted, the Apigenin within reacts with the components of other herbs, destroying its effectiveness.
Eating it raw and separately would effectively avoid this problem.
He continued flipping through the book.
Research showed that celery was rich in Vitamin C, carotene, and more.
The carotene content in celery leaves was 28 tis higher than in the stalks.
It was also rich in calcium, potassium, and iron, and its antioxidant components had a positive effect on the body’s immune system.
"I get it now."
Li Xu nodded.
It wasn’t just the effect of the Apigenin.
It also boosted the body’s immunity, which in turn prevented the virus from eroding the liver and other organs.
Li Xu put down the book and quickly considered his next move.
Wang the Third’s liver and other organs were under attack.
If it wasn’t stopped in ti, the process wouldn’t end until the tick-borne virus was completely eliminated from his body.
This would take about three days.
By then, Wang the Third’s internal organs would be damaged, and he would no longer be able to do manual labor.
He had already saved Wang the Third’s life.
If he asked Wang the Third to help manage the dicinal fields on Tang Mountain, the man would surely do his utmost.
’If you’re going to save soone, you should see it through to the end...’
Li Xu decided to save Wang the Third’s organs, allowing him to continue doing physical work in the future.
But how should he do it?
Should he go directly to the Guanghe District Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine and tell Guo Yu and Miaoli that eating celery could help treat the tick poisoning?
Li Xu shook his head.
He had no theoretical basis, no authoritative papers to back him up.
The two of them would never believe him.
Besides, even if it did work, he would have no way to explain how he knew.
Li Xu thought for a mont and decided to act discreetly.
He washed up and changed his clothes.
He went to the wet market and bought a fresh bunch of celery.
Then he returned to the clinic.
After washing it, he plucked off the leaves, chopped the stalks, and blanched them in boiling water.
Then he mixed the leaves and stalks together.
He added so salt, light soy sauce, vinegar, and other seasonings, making a simple cold dish.
He then packed it into a food container.
He hurried to the Guanghe District Hospital of Traditional Chinese dicine.
...
"Draw the patient’s blood, check his liver and kidney functions, and then get him a B-scan..."
Guo Yu was leading Miaoli on rounds to check on the patients.
"Doctor, when can my dad eat?"
Wang the Third’s son asked.
"He can eat after the blood draw. Half an hour after he eats, go to the pharmacy to pick up his decocted dicine," attending physician Guo Yu instructed.
"Okay, Doctor."
The son made a note of it.
"Let’s go to the other wards."
Guo Yu led Miaoli to continue their rounds.
"Dad, what do you feel like eating? I’ll go downstairs and buy you sothing."
"I’m not hungry. I don’t want to eat anything."
"That won’t do. You have to eat sothing. How about I get you a stead bun?"
Just as the father and son were discussing what to eat,
Li Xu walked into the hospital room carrying the food container.
"The patient’s fever just broke, so he shouldn’t eat too much. I specially prepared so cold-tossed celery. Have him eat this; it’s good for him."
Li Xu placed the container on the cabinet beside the hospital bed.
"Oh, Doctor Li, how can we accept this?"
Wang the Third, his wife, and his son were overwheld by the gesture, not knowing what to say.
Li Xu smiled and had Wang the Third lie back down. "It’s just so celery, nothing major. Go on and eat it now."
"Alright."
Wang the Third didn’t overthink it.
He opened the container and started to eat.
Although the taste was just so-so, it was a kind gesture, so he ate every last bite.
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