Mu Shaoling invited her in, and only after their conversation did he learn that the old lady had lost one son to the illness yesterday, and the other was also stricken.
Whatās more, Mu Shaoling had discovered new information, that these people, in the end, seemed to lose all sensation of pain and hunger. They wouldnāt just be unable to eat; they didnāt even realize they needed to. If no one fed them, they would die sooner. In any case, once afflicted with the illness, they would either starve because no one fed them or be unable to eat and starve to death regardless.
The most noticeable trait of the sick was their visible emaciation.
From the onset of the illness to death, it could be as quick as two months or as slow as four to five monthsādeath was certain.
"Doctor, is my son beyond saving?" The old lady sobbed. She had been widowed her whole life, working hard to raise her two sons. Because they were poor, her elder son didnāt marry until he was thirty, and just as his wife became pregnant, he died. Her younger son wasnāt even married when he caught this disease.
"Old lady, Iāll try mixing some medicine for him first. I wonāt lie to you; there is no cure for this disease yet. Weāre blindly trying on a dying horse, hoping that after taking the medicine, it can at least delay the inevitable by a few days."
As a doctor, and a divine healer, Mu Shaoling was reluctant to admit such helplessness, but he could only do so much in the face of this baffling illness.
After Auntie Hongās death, he had been diligently researching in Quanya, but without any patients to test his medicines, he didnāt know if his research bore any fruit.
"Medicine?" The old lady cried miserably. "Iāve sold everything I could in my home. I spent it all on treating my elder sonās illness. The illness didnāt improve, and the moneyās gone. I canāt afford medicine, doctor. Is it expensive?"
Ye Ziāan found her words heart-wrenching and said, "Old lady, rest assured. For all those in Shandong suffering from this disease, the prefecture will cover the cost of medicines and consultations. The common people wonāt have to bear it."
"Really?" The old ladyās crying abruptly stopped. "If thatās true, that would be wonderful, just wonderful."
"Of course itās true!" Ye Ziāanās voice rose again, "Liāan County Magistrate, Lord Tong, isnāt that right?"
It turned out that upon receiving the news, the County Magistrate of Liāan had already arrived by fast horse.
"This subordinate pays respects to Lord Ye!"
"Rise." Ye Ziāan had a rather deep impression of County Magistrate Tong because among all the counties in Shandong, Liāan County was last in tax revenue. "I said that the government will bear the costs of consultations and medicines for all those who are ill; you donāt have any problems with that, do you?"
"Lord, this..." Of course, there was a problem. The county office was so poor; where would the money come from? Besides, these people were all doomed; spending money on their treatment seemed wasteful. Nonetheless, he bravely said, "Lord Ye, our county office has no money."
"I know you donāt have money!" Ye Ziāan looked at him coldly, "The money will come from the prefecture. I just want to tell you not to even think of embezzling a penny of it, or Iāll take your life!"
"Yes, yes, yes, this subordinate on behalf of the people of Liāan, thanks Lord Ye, thanks Lord Ye." County Magistrate Tong was kneeling and kowtowing, his behavior so servile that Ye Ziāan couldnāt help but look down on him.
Then, with a wave of his hand, Ye Ziāan said, "Alright, you may leave now. Ye Yi, tell him what I instructed you."
"Yes, Young Master!"
County Magistrate Tong had originally wanted to cozy up to Ye Ziāan and flatter him a bit, but seeing Ye Yi standing in front of him, glaring, he had no choice but to leave with disappointment written all over his face.