Chapter 45: A Hero Worth the Risk

Lu Jiaojiao had no idea that Elder Gu trusted her purely on intuition.

After giving her word, she immediately began to examine Gu Fengrui. Ever since arriving in Beijing and deciding to pursue a path in cosmetology and traditional Chinese medicine, she had taken up self-study with fierce dedication.

Acupuncture charts, anatomical guides, comprehensive encyclopedias of Chinese herbal medicine—she had not only purchased them all, but committed every single word to memory.

Especially after she found herself flush with cash, she bought two sets of silver needles, several human body diagrams, and even commissioned a custom wooden dummy specifically to practice her acupuncture techniques so she would be fully prepared for future treatments.

Most importantly, she had recently ingested another Spirit-Clearing Pill, which made her mind even sharper and her hands significantly more nimble and precise.

Following a thorough examination, Lu Jiaojiao discovered that Gu Fengrui’s physical condition was surprisingly decent. It was evident that he had been receiving regular check-ups and treatments, and that he had never truly given up on himself.

Elder Gu and little Dongdong, one old and one young, watched her anxiously from the side, not daring to utter a single sound for fear of interrupting her work.

Little Dongdong, in particular, rolled his bright, expressive eyes round and round. He instinctively pressed his tiny hand over his little mouth, displaying a degree of obedience and maturity far beyond his years—a child who had grown up much too soon.

"Little Lu, how is it?! Is there any hope?!"

Elder Gu finally seized the opportunity the moment she finished, eagerly pressing her with urgent questions.

"The damage is severe, so we must take it step by step. As long as we keep treating it consistently, his condition will not deteriorate. If fortune favors us, there is still a chance. Grandfather, things like this can never be predicted with absolute certainty, but as long as we take action, there is at least a glimmer of survival, isn't there?!"

Doing something was always better than doing nothing; taking action left room for hope, while inaction extinguished it entirely.

Lu Jiaojiao hoped they would choose not to give up. They lacked neither financial means nor resources, and they had people to assist them, meaning the process would hardly be grueling. Why, then, should they halt his treatment?

"What Little Lu says is right; we must not give up. Little Lu, go ahead and treat him with a bold hand, we trust you."

"Daddy, we must get well. Don't be afraid, Dongdong will stay with Daddy."

The old man and the little boy crowded close to Gu Fengrui and Lu Jiaojiao together. The elder heartily agreed and affirmed her words, while the little one offered sweet, milky words of encouragement to Gu Fengrui. It was a routine the young child had evidently performed many times before.

Naturally, Lu Jiaojiao intended to give the treatment her absolute all. After all, the man before her was not only her nominal husband's older brother, but also a true national hero.

Heroes deserved respect, protection, and her willingness to take this risk.

"Shall I apply some acupuncture for you today then?! Followed by moxibustion?!"

Since she was already here, she might as well begin the treatment right away. Treating him sooner was better than dragging it out, she suggested.

Elder Gu, of course, had no objections whatsoever. Gu Fengrui’s opinion was irrelevant; his opinion didn't matter at the moment anyway, since no one was going to listen to him.

As for little Dongdong, he was just a toddler who understood nothing, so there was no need to ask him.

The silver needles had all been thoroughly sterilized. With the help of the security guard and a neighbor, Gu Fengrui was transferred onto a newly moved single bed in the living room, and Lu Jiaojiao immediately commenced the acupuncture.

This was the first time in two lifetimes that Lu Jiaojiao had ever wielded acupuncture needles. Fortunately, her hands were steady and her nerves completely unshaken. With a series of swift, practiced motions, she inserted over a dozen needles into Gu Fengrui's body.

Once the needles were in place, Lu Jiaojiao went to ignite her herbal furnace, tossing in dried mugwort leaves. By the time Gu Fengrui’s needles were ready to be removed, the mugwort inside the furnace had melted into a rich paste.

Elder Gu, the security guard, and little Dongdong stared unblinkingly at the furnace, which was about the size of an incense burner in a temple. They would never have guessed that Lu Jiaojiao would use such an object to prepare medicine; it was utterly unexpected.

The crucial part was that the furnace hadn't reduced the herbs to ash, and the air was filled with a rich, fragrant medicinal aroma.

The most remarkable thing was that because the mugwort inside the furnace remained at a high temperature and could not be removed immediately, Lu Jiaojiao took advantage of the interval to cook a meal.

First, she chopped up the pork ribs she had bought that morning, blanched them in boiling water, and tossed them into a clay pot with a selection of medicinal herbs. Placing the pot over the stove and stoking the firewood, she soon had a nourishing, stomach-tonifying medicinal soup simmering away.

Next, she washed some napa cabbage and cut it into pieces, shredded potatoes, and sliced pork belly. A dish of stir-fried pork with cabbage, a plate of tangy shredded potatoes, alongside the meat, vegetable, and soup paired with white rice—it was the absolute definition of a mouth-watering, perfectly matched meal.

Lu Jiaojiao worked with immense speed. Just as she finished cooking, the temperature of the furnace had dropped to the precise point where she could extract the medicinal paste.

The herbal ointment, enhanced by the wondrous properties of the cultivation-world furnace, was applied directly to the injured areas of Gu Fengrui's body, leaving it ready to be absorbed.

During the brief waiting period, she had managed to cook the rice and time her stir-frying of the pork with cabbage and the tangy shredded potatoes to perfection.

Thus, by the time the dishes were served on the table, Gu Fengrui was still wearing his medicinal compress, but there was no need to wait; Lu Jiaojiao handed a clean piece of white cloth to the security guard to securely wrap the treated area around his waist, and he was able to get up and join them for the meal.

Neither the old man nor Gu Fengrui had expected that Lu Jiaojiao would also cook a meal for them. She truly was a kind-hearted and benevolent young woman, and their favorability toward her skyrocketed instantly.