The bailiff, who had delivered the message, respectfully cupped his hands towards Li Yue Shu and said, "Madam Shen, our magistrate has not forgotten the matter you entrusted him with previously."
"There is a death row prisoner in our county jail, scheduled to be executed after autumn next year. He said that if Madam can meet his conditions, he is willing to hand over his lungs after death."
As he spoke, the bailiff took out a small bottle from his bosom. "According to Madam's earlier wishes, we have taken the blood of those who were willing."
Li Yue Shu took the porcelain bottle, then took out some broken silver from her sleeve. "Thank you, elder brother, for making this trip. Please convey my thanks to the magistrate, and I will definitely visit him another day."
The bailiff declined a few times before accepting, his smile becoming even more cheerful. After a few pleasantries, he left.
Dr. Chen then walked over, his face full of curiosity. "Yue Shu, I just heard the bailiff mention taking blood. What is the meaning of this?"
After spending so much time together, the two had become quite familiar.
Li Yue Shu did not conceal it. "I previously asked the magistrate to help me inquire if anyone was willing to donate their lungs after death, to perform surgery for A Lian's mother."
Dr. Chen understood her meaning and his eyes widened in shock. "You mean... a lung transplant?"
He had previously treated Mo Lian's mother and knew her condition.
Throughout history, in Mo mother's case, other than finding ways to slightly alleviate her suffering, there was only death to await.
Yet, Li Yue Shu's intention was clearly to save her, and with such an unheard-of method.
Once a person's chest cavity is opened, they cannot survive. How could there be talk of a lung transplant?
Having known Li Yue Shu for this period, Dr. Chen knew she was not one to speak nonsense, especially on matters of life and death.
Could there truly be such miraculous medical skills in this world?
Dr. Chen's eyes lit up. "Yue Shu, when you perform surgery on Mo's mother, may I observe?"
Li Yue Shu had guessed he would say this and replied with some helplessness, "Dr. Chen, I apologize, but surgery has extremely high environmental requirements. The patient could easily become infected, and I cannot take that risk."
The surgery would take place in her space. She couldn't possibly bring Dr. Chen in.
Seeing Dr. Chen's slightly disappointed expression, Li Yue Shu pursed her lips and added, "I have a diagram of the human organ and vascular distribution. Would Dr. Chen need it?"
Dr. Chen's eyes instantly brightened, and he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! Thank you, Yue Shu!"
Hearing Dr. Chen's excited voice, Shen Wei, who was moving things, subconsciously looked over. He happened to see Li Yue Shu smiling, and frowned.
His wife was happy just being called Yue Shu?
Shen Wei suddenly seemed to understand something.
...
On the other side, after leaving Heng De Pharmacy, the bailiff prepared to report back to the magistrate.
As he reached the entrance, he coincidentally met the magistrate's wife, who was preparing to send pastries to the study.
Upon hearing the bailiff's report, the magistrate's wife was somewhat puzzled. "What does she want the blood for?"
The bailiff didn't know either and could only shake his head.
The magistrate's wife frowned, seemingly deep in thought. "When you went to Heng De Pharmacy today, how was its business?"
The bailiff knew about this. "I observed that Heng De Pharmacy's business is even better than Dr. Chen's previous clinic. It is said that Madam Shen's medical skills are even higher than Dr. Chen's. The medicines from the pharmacy are effective and convenient to take. Word has spread throughout the town, and my family even keeps some common medicines."
The magistrate's wife was surprised.
Previously, due to Elder Xu, they had paid some attention to this newly opened pharmacy, but had not paid much attention since. They hadn't expected it to be so well-known in town.
After thinking for a moment, the magistrate's wife asked no further questions and went in with the pastries.
The magistrate's wife placed the pastries down and mentioned what the bailiff had said earlier.
Upon hearing this, the magistrate nodded, indicating he was aware of it, and did not ask further questions.
However, the magistrate's wife was a bit curious. "My lord, I heard that you were helping Madam Shen find something for her lungs in the prison. What is this about?"
The magistrate did not conceal it. "She asked me to help her find people who were about to die and inquire if anyone was willing to donate their lungs after death. In return, she would fulfill their dying wishes. I don't know what she intends to do."
"You agreed without knowing her intentions? When did you become so bold, my lord?" The magistrate's wife playfully chided him with a glare.
The magistrate put down his brush and smiled. "After all, she is Elder Xu's savior, and Dr. Chen is involved. How could I refuse?"
The magistrate's wife nodded in agreement. "That's true. Dr. Chen was formerly Elder Xu's personal physician. Since he co-owns a pharmacy with Madam Shen, it is likely Madam Shen is not someone who would act recklessly."
"However, this matter is truly rather strange. My lord would be well-advised to investigate it thoroughly."
The magistrate nodded, making a mental note of it.
He then suddenly remembered something else. "By the way, the matter of asking you to send someone to Heng De Pharmacy to record the efficacy of all the medicines, how is it progressing?"
"It was completed long ago. Since you have been busy, I didn't send it to you, and almost forgot about it."
The magistrate's wife was confused. "However, my lord, why are you collecting this?"
The magistrate pulled her to sit down and patiently explained. "Think about it. Since ancient times, most people who suffer from heart conditions cannot be saved. Yet Madam Shen managed to save Elder Xu with just a pill."
"If she has other miraculous medicines, in Chen Nan... no, in the entire realm, how many people would flock to her?"
Hearing this, the magistrate's wife's eyes widened in surprise. She clearly hadn't considered this point.
The magistrate continued. "I had people investigate. The prices of most medicines at Heng De Pharmacy are quite affordable. Some of the more expensive ones are for special conditions like heart disease, which are otherwise incurable in this world, so higher prices are normal."
"If these medicines can be widely promoted, it would be a great benefit to this county and to people everywhere."
Listening to his analysis, the magistrate's wife's mind was suddenly enlightened. "As expected, my lord has foresight."
...
Li Yue Shu was unaware of this. After closing up and returning home, while the children were studying, she took some of Mo's mother's blood.
She did not tell Mo Lian about the bailiff's message for now. After all, if the lung source was not a match, it would only lead to disappointment.
When Mo Lian came in with water, he happened to see Li Yue Shu bandaging Mo's mother's finger. Beside them were a blood-stained dagger and a small bowl containing blood.
Mo Lian was surprised but, trusting Li Yue Shu, he did not ask further questions and handed the water to Mo's mother.
Mo's mother noticed her son's reaction and felt gratified.
She had endured her illness all these years and refused to pass away precisely because she was worried that after her death, A Lian would be utterly alone in this world.
Fortunately, heaven was merciful and allowed their mother and son to meet Madam Shen. She was willing to die now.
Mo Lian, unaware of his mother's thoughts, turned to Li Yue Shu. "Madam, have you heard about the Shen family's affairs?"