"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
A loud crowing sound came from next door.
Su Ci was rudely awakened. Annoyed, she pulled the quilt over her head, turned over, and tried to go back to sleep.
After a little while, she yanked the quilt off and sat up in bed, her eyes heavy with sleep.
She stared blankly for a moment, let out a massive yawn, stretched lazily, and only then began to slowly get dressed.
She couldn't help it; she had been far too excited last night, tossing and turning until the middle of the night, and now she was desperately exhausted.
After a quick and casual pass through her hair, Su Ci hurried out to the courtyard, filled a basin with clear water, and prepared to wash up.
The early summer morning still carried a hint of chill, and the moment her hand touched the ice-cold well water, it made her shiver all over.
Splash water on her face, and Su Ci finally woke up properly, feeling much more alert.
She went back inside, warmed up the steamed buns she had bought yesterday, and ate them with the pickled vegetables given to her by the aunt next door. That constituted breakfast.
Su Ci had already made up her mind: if she was going to blend into this world, she couldn't keep relying on Inanition Pills; she had to learn how to cook.
From now on, the Inanition Pills would be kept as an emergency supply and wouldn't be eaten unless it was absolutely necessary.
After breakfast, Su Ci picked up her medical books, slung her small medicine chest over her shoulder, and strode toward the clinic.
Arriving at the clinic, she set her things down on the table and got straight to work.
First, she wiped down the medicine cabinet, arranged the tables, chairs, and stools properly, and then hung a banner that read "Free Consultations" by the doorway.
Before long, the neighborhood residents gathered around, discussing it all at once in animated voices.
"Is Su Ci that girl really planning to reopen the clinic?"
"I saw her hang up the sign for free medical consultations yesterday. Auntie Sun from the west street even went in to see her, though I wonder if she actually managed to diagnose anything."
"Can Su Ci pull this off? She's so young, can she really cure illnesses? Let's hope she doesn't end up killing anyone."
"Might as well give it a try, it's free anyway."
"Why don't you go try? If she cures you, I'll go to Su girl for my medical needs from now on too."
"Count me out, I'm fit and well, why would I need to see a doctor?"
Hearing the chatter, Su Ci stepped out openly and said with confidence, "Hello, uncles, aunts, grandpas, and grandmas! Everyone, please quiet down and listen to me."
Seeing the crowd quieten down, Su Ci continued, "Uncles, aunts, grandpas, and grandmas, thank you all for taking care of me during this time."
"So as not to waste the true skills my father taught me, I have decided to reopen the clinic. Everyone knows what kind of medical skills my father had. Back when he was still around, I used to help him out by preparing the medicines — did I ever make any mistakes?"
"Doctor Su's medical skills were truly exceptional. When our Gouwa fell ill last time, it was Doctor Su who cured him."
"Su girl is remarkably accurate at dispensing medicine. I heard she's even better than some apprentices in the big medical shops."
"That's right, that's right. When Doctor Su was still with us, he always praised this girl for being smart, saying she would carry on his legacy."
Su Ci said, "I've been learning medicine from my father since I was a child. I wouldn't dare claim I've mastered all of it, but I can handle ordinary headaches and fevers."
"If any of you are feeling unwell anywhere, you can let me take a look first. It doesn't cost anything, and you've got nothing to lose. If any of you feel uneasy, you can always go to other clinics and have another doctor take a look."
Seeing Su Ci's full confidence, the crowd didn't say anything more. Skeptical yet watchful, they gradually dispersed.
Seeing this, Su Ci didn't press the matter further. She returned to her seat, brewed a pot of herbal health tea, and read her medical books while sipping her tea.
Two days passed in a row without a single person coming to the clinic for a consultation, let alone any patients.
Just as she was considering whether she should think of some way to attract people to come see a doctor, a turning point finally arrived.
On the fourth day, the moment Su Ci opened the clinic doors, an elderly woman came limping toward her.
Su Ci found her looking familiar, hurried forward, and upon closer inspection, saw that it was none other than Auntie Li from next door.
She supported Auntie Li and asked, "Auntie Li, what happened to you?"
Auntie Li sighed. "Oh! When people get old, they just become useless! This morning when I went out, I didn't see the path clearly, took a tumble, and twisted my ankle. Can you take a look at it for me?"
Su Ci quickly nodded. "I can, I can. You come inside and sit down with me first, and I'll examine it for you right away."
She helped Auntie Li into the clinic and had her sit down comfortably in a chair.
Su Ci squatted down, gently pressing against the ankle while asking Auntie Li about her sensations, carefully inspecting the extent of the sprain.
After a moment, Su Ci stood up and wiped her hands. "Auntie, you've twisted your foot quite badly, but fortunately, the bones aren't injured."
"I'll prescribe you some medicinal liquor and plasters to take home and apply properly, and you'll be fine after a while. They say it takes a hundred days to recover from a bone or tendon injury, so you must take good care of yourself during this period. You mustn't take this foot lightly."
With that, Su Ci turned around and took a bottle of medicinal liquor and several packets of plasters from the medicine cabinet.
"This medicinal liquor was made back when my father was still here, and the plasters are also blended according to the formula he left behind. They promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, reduce swelling, and alleviate pain, and they work wonders for bruises and sprains."
"Auntie Li, I need to massage the bruised blood out for you so that it will take effect. It's going to hurt a little in a moment, so please bear with it."
As she spoke, Su Ci began to massage the injured area, pressed down on several acupuncture points such as Sanyinjiao and Zusanli for a while, and finally applied the plaster directly onto the injury.
At first, Auntie Li found the pain almost unbearable, but as Su Ci's massage continued, the expression on Auntie Li's face gradually relaxed.
Following Su Ci's treatment, Auntie Li's pain was greatly alleviated, though the swelling wouldn't vanish immediately.
Auntie Li stood up and tested a few steps; although there was still some discomfort, she was already able to walk slowly.
"Su girl, you're truly amazing. My foot feels so much better. You are truly Doctor Su's daughter — your skills are just as good as your father's." Auntie Li broke into a smile.
Immediately afterward, Auntie Li seemed to remember something and cast a somewhat sheepish glance at Su Ci.
Su Ci knew that Auntie Li had remembered Father Su's recent passing, and bringing him up now was undoubtedly like rubbing salt into the young girl's wounds.
However, although Su Ci possessed the original owner's memories, she wasn't the original owner after all, so she didn't mind at all.
Su Ci smiled and replied, "Auntie, you flatter me. Remember to rest more when you get home and try to walk around as little as possible. As long as you apply the medicine on time, I guarantee you'll be healed in a few days. If you have any trouble, feel free to send Xiaohu to find me anytime."
Auntie Li quickly agreed, "Oh, yes! Good, good, good, Auntie will listen to you and make sure to apply the medicine on time. I'll be heading off then."
Su Ci said, "Alright, take your time, Auntie, watch your step!"
Perhaps encouraged by Auntie Li's success story, after she left, several more people came by for consultations one after another.
After sending off the last patient, Su Ci glanced at the sky. Seeing that it was getting late, she began tidying up the clinic to prepare for closing.
Just before the sun set, Su Ci arrived back home.
Counting the patients who came for consultations today, there were actually five.
Added to the patient from the first day, she had treated six patients in four days. The system task was not only completed ahead of schedule, but actually exceeded, and her heart blossomed with joy.
Steaming a bowl of rice and stir-frying two of her favorite dishes, Su Ci decided to treat herself well.
After filling her stomach, she began reviewing the events of the day.
First, she checked the medical records she had logged today to make sure there were no issues, and then Su Ci impatiently opened the system interface to take a look.