In a small hut on the outskirts of a little village, a little girl coughed incessantly.
After long minutes, the itch in her throat subsided. Holding a handkerchief over her mouth and nose, she carefully gasped for breath. The ice-cold air in the room would bring on a worse fit if she wasn't careful.
She laid down slowly again, covering herself thoroughly with the heavy blankets, leaving only a little lump to be seen.
Dull light filtered in through the window, illuminating a messy little dirt-floored room.
The girl shivered under the blanket, and exhausted, drifted into restless sleep.
Suddenly the door was flung open. A gust of even colder wind flushed into the room.
"Miss! I've got the doctor!"
The speaker- a little maid called Luizhu- rushed into the room.
She was followed by an old white-haired and white-bearded man. He was carrying a heavy bag on his back, and walked in slowly using a cane.
The little girl startled awake, clutched the blankets close, and said with dissatisfaction, "Close the door first!"
Luizhu turned back, and closed the door.
Then, she helped the old doctor sit on a little stool by the bed, saying impatiently, "Hurry up old man! My miss has been sick for many days now."
The doctor propped his cane against the bed.
Frowning briefly at the little maid, he turned to the girl who wordlessly took one hand out of the mound of blankets.
Two ice-cold fingers were placed on the burning delicate wrist.
As the doctor carefully took her pulse, his frown grew deeper.
Releasing her wrist, he rummaged in his bag, and handed a little box to Luizhu, "Boil these herbs for your miss. Bring a big bowl for her to drink quickly."
The maid took the herbs, and walked to the kitchen. Soon, the smell of burning wood spread in the hut.
The girl began coughing again. The doctor frowned again, and rising slowly, opened the window slightly to let the smoke out.
The girl protested, but the old doctor ignored her as he took his seat again.
A little later, Luizhu arrived with a large bowl of hot yellow herbal tea. Arranging pillows, she helped the girl sit up and carefully held the bowl, helping her drink.
The girl drank, and feeling even more tired, swiftly fell into a deep sleep. Luizhu covered her carefully with the blankets.
The doctor gestured for the maid to follow him into the kitchen.
He looked around the little dark and dirty kitchen with a frown, and then asked, "Why is there no adult here?"
The maid crossed her arms, huffed, and said, "My lady said I can't tell you anything without her permission. Just wait for her to wake up."
Without waiting for a reply, she brushed past him, went to the main room, and closed the window.
"Leave that open," the doctor commanded, standing at the doorway between the the kitchen and the main room.
"It's too cold," Luizhu protested.
The doctor gestured impatiently, "The smoke is worse for your miss' health."
Reluctantly, Luizhu left the window cracked open.
Then, she returned to the kitchen to prepare porridge while the wood was still burning in the little mud stove.
---
When the girl woke up a few hours later, it was already dark outside.
She sat up slowly, and found the doctor sitting at the table.
Seeing her awake, he came over to take her pulse again, "I've written the prescription, and given a bag of medicinal tea to your maid. You should pay the other half of my fees, and I'll be on my way."
"Mister Doctor, it's already dark outside, and the way to the city is long. Stay here for the night. I'll have Luizhu prepare dinner to thank you for making the trip."
The old doctor started shaking his head.
But just then another coughing fit took over, and the little girl doubled over. Just listening to her coughs made one feel sympathy for her. It was like she was trying to cough her lungs out.
Luizhu emerged from the kitchen with quick steps. She put the bowl she was holding down on the bedside table, then rushed over to pat her mistress' back.
She glared fiercely at the old doctor, "Why did you upset miss so much?"
The doctor was speechless.
For a long minute the only sound in the room was the infernal coughing that made everyone feel uncomfortable.
Slowly the fit subsided.
Luizhu's expression had transformed from anger to sadness, and sniffing she said, "Miss has been suffering for so long, and no one cares about her." She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
The doctor cleared his throat uncomfortably.
The little girl, still gasping for breath, said, "Luizhu... the doctor has... done his best... It's not his fault... that my cough is so persistent... Give him some... dried food... for the journey back."
Luizhu stamped her foot, "Miss..."
The girl patted her hand softly, "I haven't been able to eat for a long time. It's okay. Soon I won't need the food anyway."
Luizhu sniffled again, said, "This slave obeys." Two large teardrops slid down her cheek as she bowed.
The doctor stared at the worn table in front of him.
The little girl had already closed her eyes though she was seemed to be still struggling to breathe.
Luizhu emerged with a sack of dried nuts and grains as large as a small pillow and placed it on the table in front of the doctor.
Red-eyed from crying, she bowed miserably, "Luizhu thanks the doctor for his generosity."
For a moment everyone was silent.
Then the doctor said, "Alright, alright, set up a bed for me for the night. I'll check on your lady again in the morning, and leave later."
Luizhu looked at him with shining eyes, "Really? The doctor is really virtuous and worthy of being given the title doctor!"
The doctor shifted uncomfortably under her gaze filled with hero-worship, "Feed your lady the medicine before it grows cold."
"Yes!" Luizhu eagerly hurried to her mistress' side, and picked up the bowl of medicine again.
The girl in bed could barely raise her head, but drank obediently.
She opened her eyes briefly, and said, "Thank you doctor. You have saved this little girl's life."
Her dark eyes shone with unshed tears in the candle light. The doctor felt pity on seeing her thin face and how every breath seemed to come with great struggle.
He nodded in response.