The room spun violently as Zhang Wei stumbled, his vision blurring into a kaleidoscope of light and shadows. He clutched the mysterious jade amulet he had purchased from an eccentric street vendor just moments ago.
The next thing he knew, the world around him changed. Gone were the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets of the modern world. Instead, he found himself in a bed made of hay, with the busy sounds of a marketplace filling the air inside the wooden hut. The sun began to shine on his face, causing him to squint slightly due to its brightness.
Zhang Wei glanced at his clothes, now replaced by a simple robe made of coarse fabric, instead of the white robe he usually wore when he was at work. At his side was a table with a small wooden chest filled with various herbs, vials, and a mortar and pestle. He looked around cautiously, struggling to get up.
"Is this a dream?" Zhang Wei silently muttered, suddenly clutching his head in pain."Arghhh, why is my head so painful? Even my body feels like I've been beaten day and night," Zhang Wei said as he slowly tried to stand up.
"I don't think I'm dreaming, considering the pain I'm experiencing. But how can I explain this phenomenon? The last thing I remember is buying a jade from that weird old man, who told me to keep it close," Zhang Wei tried to recall everything that happened before he was transported and woke up in the body of someone else.
Suddenly, Zhang Wei felt a wave of pain in his brain as an influx of information flooded his mind, filling his brain with knowledge. "I see, so this body is also called Zhang Wei, and people call him 'Herbalist Zhang,'" he pondered for a minute as he slowly digested all the information he had received.
"So this place is called Qinghe Town. No wonder it feels so different from where I was born," he said.
Zhang Wei, the local herbalist of the small town, didn't usually travel to the city because entering the city required a fee, which cost Zhang Wei a fortune. As a result, he rarely left Qinghe Town and never had the chance to see what other cities were like.
A knock was heard outside, followed by a man calling out, "Brother Zhang, are you awake?"
Zhang Wei responded. Thanks to the memories he had, he already knew who was calling him: it was the person who proclaimed himself his apprentice. After that, Zhang Wei got ready as his apprentice informed him that a customer from a neighboring town had come seeking treatment. The herbalists and doctors from Dongguan Town couldn't find a cure for the old man.
The apprentice said the man was willing to pay a tael of gold to anyone who could cure him, which excited Zhang Wei, as the payment could make him survive in this foreign world with ease.
He and the apprentice, Pan Qiang, though his name meant "strong," Pan Qiang was often bullied by others because of his thin stature, as he didn't have enough food to eat made their way to the marketplace. Pan Qiang always ran to Zhang Wei for treatment when he got injured, ranting about how, once he became strong, he would never let anyone bully him or Zhang Wei again. Zhang Wei would simply laugh it off while treating him.
They arrived at the marketplace, where Zhang Wei had set up shop. Already, a large crowd had gathered around his usual spot. A carriage, ornate but showing signs of wear, was parked nearby. A dozen guards with spears surrounded a sickly old man, his once strong posture now hunched with age. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, each one telling the story of a long life full of hardships. His skin had a pale, almost ashen hue, and his frail frame was hidden by a grand robe he wore. Despite his weak appearance, there was a sharpness in his eyes, a glimmer of intellect and power that hadn't yet faded with age. One can tell that the old man had been strong when on his prime.
Beside him stood a young woman with smooth, pale skin and long black hair. She wore an elegant robe with pink floral patterns. Her green eyes, full of concern and strength, stayed focused on the old man, watching over him with quiet care.
"You there," an old man's voice called, breaking Zhang Wei's trance. He looked up to see the old man together with dozen of guards and the maiden walking toward his small makeshift stall. "They're calling you a healer. Is that true?"
Zhang Wei hesitated, then nodded. "I know a thing or two about medicine."
The old man raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Hmph. They all say that. Can you really help, or are you just here to swindle the desperate?" The old man had been swindled by many fake healers, which had led to his current attitude.
Zhang Wei smiled faintly, motioning to a stool beside his stall. "Tell me what troubles you, and I'll show you."
The old man, supported by the maiden sat down with a grunt. "My knees. They've ached for years. Some days I can barely walk. I've tried every remedy, even those expensive tonics the traveling merchants sell. Nothing works."
Zhang Wei nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like inflammation and wear. A common issue, but treatable." He crouched by the chest, pulling out several dried herbs and small vials. "Let me prepare something for you. You can judge its effectiveness for yourself."
The old man and the maiden watched skeptically as Zhang Wei worked. A small crowd began to gather, drawn by curiosity.
"This is Silk herb stalk," Zhang Wei began, holding up a bundle of dried leaves. "It's good for reducing inflammation, but on its own, the effects are weak. That's why we'll combine it with bark from the Lunar Palm Tree . Together, they create a potent remedy."
He crushed the herbs in his mortar, his movements precise and practiced. The crowd murmured, some recognizing the names, others entirely unfamiliar.
"That's just common knowledge," someone in the crowd muttered. "How's he different from any other herbalist?"
Zhang Wei glanced up with a small smile. "Patience. The difference lies in how you prepare it." But I'm not a herbalist, I'm an apothecary ,one of the best from the 20th century, he thought.
He poured water into a small clay pot and added the crushed herbs, then reached for a pinch of yellow powder from a vial. "This is Silverleaf. Most people use Fiery Pepperroot when making this concoction, but I prefer Silverleaf because it's much more common, and the effect is enhanced. Fiery Pepperroot has a pungent scent and doesn't mix easily with other herbs, while Silverleaf is much milder and draws out the active properties of the herbs when boiled, enhancing their effectiveness. Most traditional recipes stop here, but I've made a few improvements
The old man squinted. "Improvements?"
Zhang Wei nodded. "The original recipe calls for honey as a binding agent, but honey can trap impurities, reducing the remedy's potency over time. I use lotus root syrup instead. It's purer, lasts longer, and doesn't disrupt the balance of the medicine."
The crowd grew quieter, intrigued. Zhang Wei stirred the mixture, the liquid turning a rich golden color. Finally, he added a small pinch of finely ground honeysuckle flowers.
"And this? This is my own addition. Powder from dried honeysuckle flowers helps the body absorb the medicine more efficiently. It's not part of the traditional formula, but it makes a world of difference."
He poured the finished elixir into a small porcelain cup and handed it to the old man. "Drink this tonight before bed. Rest your knees, and avoid strenuous activity. If it doesn't work, come back tomorrow, and I'll refund you tenfold," Zhang Wei said, silently praying that his concoction would work, as he didn't have a single silver or gold coin to pay the old man tenfold if his medicine didn't work.
The old man stared at the cup, then took a sip. The bitterness made him grimace, but he swallowed it down. "We'll see if your words hold true," he muttered before signaling the maiden to support him. Standing up, he said, "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Fang Weimin, from the Fang family, and this is my daughter, Fang Meixu" the old man said as he and the guard slowly walked toward the carriage. Fang Meixu glanced silently at Zhang Wei before they finally left.
Zhang Wei stands up as he returns the formality and properly introduced himself.
The next morning, Zhang Wei's stall was swamped. Villagers crowded around, each trying to get his attention. At the front of the old man was no longer supported by his daughter, Fang Meixu.
"Herbalist Zhang!" he called, his voice booming. "It worked! My knees haven't felt this good in years. You truly are a master of medicine!"
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
"Grandmaster Zhang!" a woman shouted. "My son has been coughing for weeks. Can you help?"
"Grandmaster, I have headaches every morning. What do you recommend?"
The title caught Zhang Wei by surprise, but he raised his hands to calm the growing frenzy. "One at a time," he said gently. "I'll do my best to help everyone."
Zhang Wei invited Fang Weimin inside and offered him a seat. "It seems you don't have your carriage this time," Zhang Wei smiled as he spoke.
"Normally, I'd be riding my carriage because of my knees, but thanks to you, I can now walk again without being supported by Mei'er," the old man said with a smile on his face. It was clear that he was truly happy, as his face showed a noticeable improvement, likely because he was no longer in pain.
"You flatter me, Elder Fang. In fact, I was just doing my duty, curing people," Zhang Wei smiled, then picked up another vial. "I made this yesterday. Take it every night before bed, and in three days, the pain will be gone. Make sure to avoid any strenuous activity to keep from stressing your knees," Zhang Wei reminded the old man.
The old man reached into his robe pocket and smiled. "Grandmaster Zhang, this is the promised reward." He handed Zhang Wei the reward. Zhang Wei didn't decline because he knew the old man could afford to pay him, and he desperately needed the money if he wanted to learn more about the new world.
Elder Fang bade farewell, along with his daughter. After they left, Zhang Wei spent the rest of his day curing the sick people of the town. Most of the people he treated were elderly, many of whom had known the deceased Zhang Wei.
After a long day of helping others, Zhang Wei returned home, wondering why Pan Qiang hadn't bothered him that day. He soon fell asleep from exhaustion, forgetting all about dinner.