“Pica. And a rather severe case of it.”
The old woman was bewildered.
“Pica? What kind of illness is that? I’ve never heard of it.”
Seeing her confusion, Qin Jiang patiently explained.
“Pica essentially means, for various reasons, developing a craving to eat things that aren’t considered normal food.”
“For example, some people like to eat dirt, some like to eat wall plaster, and some even like to eat… feces.”
The old woman’s face immediately soured.
She never imagined she had such a condition.
But upon reflection, Qin Jiang’s words made sense. Her cravings for gasoline and pesticide were a form of pica.
The live stream audience was also getting an education.
“Do people really eat feces? I find that hard to believe.”
“The world is a strange and wonderful place. Sometimes you just have to believe it.”
“There’s an eccentric fellow back in my hometown who literally camps outside the restroom, just waiting for a chance to get a… warm bite. I only learned today that this is called pica.”
“Does liking to eat feet count as pica?”
“Hey, you upstairs, there was someone who liked eating feet. He got athlete’s foot and was cured by Dr. Qin. I suggest you tread carefully.”
Qin Jiang continued explaining the causes of pica to the old woman.
“There are a couple of reasons why people develop pica. One possibility is a deficiency in certain trace elements in the body, leading them to seek them out through these unusual means.”
“Another reason is a genetic defect, which can cause someone to be born with a preference for, or an aversion to, certain substances.”
The old woman’s face grew even more troubled.
“A genetic defect? Does that mean there’s something wrong with me? Could it affect my children?”
Her first concern was whether this condition could be passed on to her children.
Qin Jiang found this rather touching.
Wasn’t that just like the older generation?
Always thinking of their children and grandchildren first.
Qin Jiang smiled reassuringly. “Ma’am, there’s no need to worry so much. A genetic defect isn’t necessarily a severe thing. In fact, everyone has minor genetic defects to some degree.”
“Pica isn’t a very strange disorder either. Here’s the simplest example: some people love eating coriander, while others can’t stand it.”
“That’s determined by genes and is also a form of pica.”
“The same logic applies to other acquired tastes, like fish mint root, for instance.”
Hearing this, the old woman visibly relaxed.
She had feared it was a serious, hereditary illness. It seemed she didn’t need to worry excessively.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Well, young doctor, if it’s controlled by my genes, as you say, can this condition still be cured?”
Qin Jiang made a reassuring gesture.
“Don’t worry, pica is quite treatable. Ma’am, please scan the code to pay first. The consultation fee is 2,300. Then I’ll go prepare some medicinal pills for you, and you’ll be fine.”
The old woman now had complete trust in Qin Jiang’s medical skills.
Without the slightest hesitation, she scanned the code and paid.
Ding.
[System detected host was direct with the patient, clearly stating the patient’s underlying condition, greatly assisting the patient. Task Complete.]
[Congratulations to the host for receiving the reward: Divine Brahman Oil]
Holy cow!
Brahman Oil!
Is it the kind of ‘oil’ I’m thinking of?
Qin Jiang, who had just entered the pharmacy, widened his eyes at the reward.
If it was what he imagined, this stuff was amazing! He’d hit the jackpot!
As the system imported the information about the Divine Brahman Oil into his mind, Qin Jiang became so excited he let out a whoop.
The film crew outside the pharmacy exchanged puzzled looks.
What was going on?
Was Dr. Qin that happy about rolling medicinal pills in there?
“Liu Yan, should we go in and check?”
Liu Yan shook her head.
“We can’t enter the pharmacy. The medicinal formulas are confidential. We’ll wait for Dr. Qin to come out.”
Liu Yan had to strictly adhere to the contract terms.
Five minutes later, Qin Jiang emerged from the pharmacy, beaming.
He couldn’t help it. The reward was just too good.
If he got the chance, he even wanted to try it himself.
He handed a small white porcelain bottle to the old woman. “There are ten pills in this bottle. Remember to take one each day. In ten days, your pica will be cured.”
Taking the small bottle, the old woman thanked him repeatedly.
By now, the old man’s leg also felt much better. Qin Jiang sold a pair of crutches to the old man and saw the couple off.
After they left, Liu Yan couldn’t resist asking, “Dr. Qin, you seemed very happy in the pharmacy just now. Did something good happen?”
Qin Jiang said quite proudly, “While I was preparing the pills, I remembered a mysterious and ancient medicine. That’s why I was so excited.”
Hearing this, Liu Yan’s eyes lit up.
Everyone had witnessed Qin Jiang’s medical skills. If even he described a medicine as mysterious and ancient, it must be incredibly potent!
“What medicine is it? Can you share it with us?”
Qin Jiang replied calmly, “No need to rush. I’ll reveal it for everyone later.”
This wasn’t Qin Jiang being deliberately mysterious. He had already figured out the pattern of the system rewards.
The items the system rewarded him were definitely things he could use in his practice.
He just wondered which unfortunate soul suffering from erectile dysfunction would walk into the clinic next.
Just as he was thinking this, a large group of people suddenly bustled in, carefully carrying a water basin.
“Doctor, please help us take a look! What kind of treasure is this?”
Seeing this sudden crowd, Qin Jiang was momentarily stunned.
Were all these men suffering from… that?
Oh no, this is awkward. Wouldn’t this be a collective social suicide?
Qin Jiang coughed and asked somewhat awkwardly, “Which one of you is here for a consultation?”
To his surprise, the men shook their heads.
“We’re not here for a consultation. We’re here for an appraisal.”
“An appraisal?” Qin Jiang was baffled.
“I’m a doctor, not an antique expert. If you want an appraisal, go to a museum. Why come here?”
Qin Jiang wanted to persuade them to leave so they wouldn’t disrupt his business.
Instead of leaving, the group stubbornly insisted, “Precisely because you’re a doctor, you’re the one who must appraise this treasure.”
Qin Jiang was cursing inwardly.
What on earth was wrong with these people? They were determined to have him appraise their treasure?
An old man asked, “You’re a doctor, right?”
“Yes.”
“A Chinese medicine doctor?”
“Obviously.”
“Then you must know what a Taishu is, right?”
The old man pointed quite proudly and arrogantly at the object in the water basin.
“Look, this is a Taishu we fished out of a well. Since you’re a Chinese medicine doctor, come here and tell us if it’s real or not.”
Qin Jiang fell silent.
So, after all that, they wanted him to identify a Taishu.
That was indeed within the purview of a Chinese medicine practitioner. Museum professors wouldn’t be as familiar with it.
But when Qin Jiang took a closer look, he was taken aback.
This is a Taishu?
