But Hua Zhi didn't get a good night's sleep.
Because of the unexpected events of the day, she was awakened from her sleep. When she heard someone talking outside, she woke up in a daze. After a while, she heard the door open and Nian Qiu's voice rang in her ears, "Miss, the old lady is not feeling well..."
Hua Zhi woke up instantly, sat up abruptly, threw off the quilt and asked, "Who is the one who came to report the news? Call him in quickly."
While Nianqiu was dressing her, Yingchun brought in Nanny Chen, who was by the old lady's side. When she saw her, she was like seeing her backbone. She said anxiously, "Miss, please go and see the old lady. She has been talking nonsense and her whole body is burning..."
"What time is it?"
"It's the ugly hour."
When it was time to get ugly, Hua Zhi walked out with a frown on her face, "Is Liu Xiang here?"
Liu Xiang answered from outside the door, "Miss, the maid is here."
"Go wait at the second gate. At daybreak, have the second gate unlocked and have your father go get Doctor Chu."
"yes."
Liu Xiang is a family-born child. Her parents are in the outer courtyard and she has an eight-year-old brother who is Hua Bolin's servant. She herself is a second-class maid in the eldest girl's room. She usually works under Baochun, so it is most appropriate to use her at this time.
Lights were on everywhere in the old lady's courtyard, and maids and old women were coming and going, all with anxious looks on their faces.
Hua Zhi quickly sat down on the edge of the bed and reached out to feel the carotid artery on the side of her grandmother's neck. The temperature under her hand was frighteningly hot, and she estimated that it was probably around 40 degrees. This was not good. If the old woman had a fever like this all night, she might develop a serious illness.
Hua Zhi lifted the two quilts that were pressing on the old man and made way for him. "Take the quilts away and bring a thinner blanket."
"Big girl..."
"Do as I say." He couldn't even sweat like this, and the situation would only get worse if he continued like this.
Nanny Su gritted her teeth and really took away the quilt. Nanny Chen quickly took the blanket she usually used to cover the old lady.
"Go find some liquor. If there's none in the backyard, go find some outside."
"But young lady, at this hour..."
"Life is more important." Seeing that everyone else was disapproving, Hua Zhi didn't force it. In this era where reputation is more important than life, even if her grandmother was awake, she would not allow her to do this. "Go to the Fourth Madam's courtyard. Fourth Uncle has lived here before."
"Yes, yes, yes, the Fourth Master used to like this yellow soup, so there must be some." Nanny Chen slapped her thigh and left in a hurry.
"Get some basins of warm water, some soft towels, and take off all of grandma's clothes."
Hua Zhi's calmness influenced everyone. Now that there was something to do, everyone stopped beating around in circles and started working quickly.
When everything was ready, Hua Zhi pulled the blanket up and down to cover the key parts, rolled up her sleeves and said, "Watch my movements."
Neck, chest, armpits, arms, palms, soles of feet, Hua Zhi took a soft cloth and gently massaged each part, "Do you remember it?"
The maids watching nodded, and Madam Su said, "The movements are not difficult, but how should I use the strength?"
"Rub it gently, and stop when the fever subsides."
"I understand." Without saying a word, Nanny Su ordered a few maids to take over the work from the eldest girl. Their movements were much more delicate than Hua Zhi's.
"We found the yellow soup." Nanny Chen came in quickly with a jar of wine in her arms. "How do we use it?"
This was a jar of unopened wine. Hua Zhi tapped the lid, and the rich aroma of wine wafted into her nose. She dipped her finger in it and put it in her mouth. She estimated that it was about 40 degrees, which was considered a very high alcohol content in that era. Although it did not meet the requirements, she could just pour more.
She poured some into each basin, and soon the whole room was filled with the aroma of wine.
"How is mother?" Wu was helped in by a maid. She had not fallen asleep to begin with. When Nanny Chen asked the maid for wine, she knew something was wrong. Who among all the women in this house could use wine
When she found out that the old lady was sick, she couldn't sleep anymore and hurriedly put on her clothes and came over.
"Aunt Si, please go back and rest. Don't get sick."
Seeing that the room was not chaotic despite being crowded, Mrs. Wu breathed a sigh of relief, holding her pounding chest. Nothing must happen to the Hua family again.
She didn't make trouble and went outside to wait. Fearing that there was not enough wine, she asked the maid to go back and fetch another jar. She went to bed alone even though she knew her mother-in-law was sick. This was not how the Wu family taught their daughters.
The water was changed in basins one after another, and after half a night of hard work, the temperature finally dropped. Not long after daybreak, Doctor Chu was invited into the mansion, and was accompanied by the housekeeper and several housekeepers into the old lady's yard.
The old lady had already put on her clothes and lowered the curtains. Doctor Chu sniffed and found that the smell of alcohol was a bit strong.
Hua Zhi bowed and said, "Doctor Chu, thank you for your help."
"Big girl, be polite."
Chu Shitang is the owner of the Chu family pharmacy. The Chu family has been practicing medicine for generations, and the Hua family has been receiving medical treatment since his father's generation. As soon as he heard that the old lady was ill, he rushed over in a hurry, fearing that something might happen to the old lady again and that would add insult to injury to the Hua family.
After taking the pulse for a while, Chu Shitang asked about the old lady's condition.
Nanny Su answered one by one. When she heard Chu Shitang asking them what they had done, she saw Hua Zhi nod before she explained in detail what they had done in the past half night.
Chu Shitang looked at the little-known daughter of the Hua family and asked, "Excuse me, Miss, what is the reason for wiping those places with wine?"
Hua Zhi naturally wouldn't say that the evaporation of alcohol can take away the heat, but just said: "I have always loved reading idle books. I vaguely remember that it was recorded in a book that my grandmother had a fever and was unconscious and there was no way to see a doctor. I plucked up the courage to take the risk and used it. I didn't expect it to really work."
Chu Shitang did not ask any more questions. He just wrote them down and planned to study them later when he returned.
"Doctor Chu, how is my grandmother's condition?"
"The old lady was so anxious that she became very ill. Fortunately, you used this method. Otherwise, it is hard to say whether she could survive until I came. The most dangerous time has passed. I think she has stabilized for the time being. You should take good care of her from now on."
"Yes, thank you for coming so early in the morning."
“As you shall.”
Chu Shitang wrote a prescription and handed it to the housekeeper. After packing up the medicine box, he hesitated and said, "If I teach this method to others, I wonder if it will work. Many people cannot afford to hire a doctor. This method is cheap and may save a life."
"This method is not something I came up with. There is no reason why I can use it but others cannot. Doctor Chu, feel free to use it."
"A good heart, young lady, will surely be rewarded."
"Thank you for your good words."
Seeing the eldest daughter of the Hua family acting in a graceful and elegant manner, Chu Shitang was happy for the Hua family. He let Butler Xu take over the medicine box and carry it on his back. He bowed slowly and walked out.
Hua Zhi looked back and followed him out.