Chapter 175: Herbal Medicine
In the afternoon, Deng Shirong cooked three large pots of rare porridge.
The basins were larger than washbasins, and these three large pots of porridge were enough to feed more than twenty people.
The method of making this porridge was relatively simple. First, the clams were cleaned and boiled in water. Then, the meat, about the size of peanuts, was removed. The meat was stir-fried with oil, ginger, and wine to remove any fishy smell and enhance the flavor. Water was added, and once it boiled, washed rice was added.
For thick porridge, the ratio of water to rice had to be just right, and the mixture needed to be stirred occasionally during cooking.
For thin porridge, more water and less rice were used. The rice was cooked until tender, then removed from the heat, and chopped green onions were sprinkled on top.
Deng Shirong cooked thin porridge, as most people in Double Prosperity preferred it over thick porridge.
Earlier, more than a dozen village friends had helped gather the clams. Now, they were all invited by Deng Yunhua and his brothers to enjoy the delicious porridge. Each of them ate heartily, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
When there was something delicious, Zhang Xiuping naturally didn't forget to call her younger sister, Ou Guohua, to join them.
"This porridge is fresh and sweet. It's the most delicious porridge I've ever tasted. Compared to Uncle Jiu's cooking skills, the porridge we made before was a waste of ingredients," Ou Guohua sighed as she ate.
Hearing this, Zhang Xiuping couldn't help but recall the times she and her three sisters had gone to the river to gather clams when they were younger. Their cooking skills had been mediocre, and they hadn't dared to use lard freely at home, so the porridge they made had never been particularly tasty.
"The taste is indeed incomparable, but even if it wasn't delicious back then, we never wasted any of it. We ate it all."
"Yes, we ate it all. We didn't dare to waste anything back then. I remember my sister ate the most."
"Right, I remember she ate three big bowls."
As they ate the porridge, the two reminisced about their childhood at their mother's house.
Zhang Xiuping said, "Counting the days, your sister will be getting married soon."
Ou Guohua nodded and smiled, "I've been keeping track. There's less than a month left. By then, the three of us can get together every day again!"
Zhang Xiuping smiled, remembering what her father-in-law had told her at noon. She decided to share the news with her sister in advance. "Your A Yuan has already learned how to make large vats. My father-in-law said that once Brother Tai finishes this batch of kiln products, he'll step back from the vat factory and let A Yuan officially take over as the master of large vats. Good days are coming for you!"
Ou Guohua was overjoyed but still asked with concern, "Ah Ping, why is Brother Tai quitting the tile factory? Is he no longer making large vats?"
Zhang Xiuping smiled and said, "He's not making large vats anymore. My father-in-law has other plans for him, but those are for next year. He asked Brother Tai to step back early to make room for A Yuan and also to come home and spend time with me."
Ou Guohua felt relieved and joked, "It seems my hard days are really over!"
Zhang Xiuping rolled her eyes. "Just say this to me. Don't spread it around."
Ou Guohua smiled. "I know. I still have some sense of propriety."
The two chatted as they ate, and soon their bowls of porridge were empty.
Zhang Xiuping said, "I'm full. If you can eat more, go ahead."
Ou Guohua nodded. "This porridge is so delicious. I'll have another bowl."
…
"A-Choo!"
In the evening, after the family had finished bathing and were sitting under the longan tree chatting, Deng Yunheng suddenly sneezed.
The first sneeze didn't catch Deng Shirong's attention. After all, sneezing occasionally is normal.
But not long after, Deng Yunheng sneezed again. Deng Shirong reached out and touched his forehead. "Xiaoheng, did you catch a cold while swimming in the river today? Do you feel unwell?"
Deng Yunheng said, "I just have a slight headache."
Deng Shirong said, "You must have caught a cold. I'll make some brown sugar ginger water for you. Xiaosong and Xiaohua, you'll each drink a big bowl too."
"Dad, I'll wash the ginger."
Deng Yunzhen then turned and ordered, "Azhu, go light the fire."
So, the father and his two daughters got busy. In less than half an hour, they had boiled several bowls of brown sugar ginger water.
After the three boys drank their bowls, Deng Shirong told his third son, "Xiaosong, go to Ajingda (the village's doctor) and buy a thermometer and some antipyretic medicine."
Deng Yunsong nodded, took the money from his father, and headed to the brigade with a flashlight.
Seeing this, Deng Yunheng asked worriedly, "Dad, if I have a cold, I won't need a shot, right?"
Hearing his brother mention this, Deng Yunhua couldn't help but shudder.
It was strange. Among his brothers, he was the most mischievous and often got punished by their father as a child. But he wasn't afraid of their father's punishments. The only thing he feared was getting sick and having to get a shot in the buttocks.
In fact, it wasn't just the two of them. Everyone present had experienced the "pain" of a shot in the buttocks and dreaded it.
In later generations, if medicine didn't work, people usually got an IV drip. Except for those with high fevers, few received injections in the buttocks. Naturally, they couldn't understand the feeling, as an IV drip and a shot in the buttocks were entirely different experiences.
Deng Shirong knew his children were afraid of injections, so he said, "No need for shots. Just drink more water now, and you might be fine by tomorrow. If you really have a cold, I'll go to Double Prosperity's herbal medicine store and get you some Chinese medicine. You'll be fine after drinking it a few times."
Deng Yunheng couldn't help but feel a headache at the mention of Chinese medicine. It was so bitter it made his scalp tingle. He couldn't help but say, "Dad, can we not drink Chinese medicine? If I have a cold, just ask the doctor for some pills!"
Deng Shirong smiled. "Don't worry, this isn't the bitter Chinese medicine you've had before. It's a good recipe for treating colds that I got from someone else. It's not very bitter, more like drinking herbal tea."
Deng Yunheng felt relieved. They often drank herbal tea. If the Chinese medicine for treating colds tasted like that, it would be bearable.
Soon, Deng Yunsong returned with the thermometer and antipyretic medicine.
Deng Shirong took the items and said, "Xiaoheng, sleep with me tonight. If you get a fever in the middle of the night, I'll know."
Deng Yunheng nodded. To recover quickly, he picked up the remaining bowl of brown sugar ginger water and drank it in one go.
He had drunk two large bowls of brown sugar ginger water in a short time, leaving his stomach full.
…
The next day.
After breakfast, Deng Shirong rode his bicycle to Double Prosperity's herbal medicine store to buy medicine.
Although his youngest son had drunk two large bowls of brown sugar ginger water the night before, it might have helped if he'd drunk it earlier. By the time cold symptoms appeared, it was too late. So, in the middle of the night, Deng Yunheng had inevitably developed a fever.
Arriving at the herbal medicine store in Double Prosperity, Deng Shirong bought 30 sets of Chinese medicine. His system had ample storage space, and he planned to use this cold remedy frequently in the future, so it made sense to stock up.
After returning home, Deng Shirong took out a small clay pot, soaked one of the medicine sets for a few minutes, then lit a fire and boiled it.
Once the medicine boiled, he let it simmer for over ten minutes before it was ready.
This cold remedy was a recipe Deng Shirong had obtained from a good friend in later generations. It contained only three simple ingredients: silkworm feces, bamboo shavings, and tangerine peel, each in a 30-gram dose. Even in later generations, such a prescription cost only a few yuan, making it extremely affordable.
After the medicine was cooked and a bowl was poured out to cool, Deng Shirong called, "Xiaoheng, come here and drink this medicine!"
Deng Yunheng came over, picked up the bowl, and smelled it. Finding no unpleasant odor, he took a small sip. It was just as his father had said—the taste was almost like unsweetened herbal tea. Relieved, he drank the medicine in one go.
After finishing, Deng Shirong reminded him, "Remember to drink more water."
Deng Yunheng nodded. "I understand, Dad!"
(End of this chapter)
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