Zhu Xinfu had no strength to make gestures, so he could only nod to show he understood.
The itching was indeed uncomfortable, but undeniably, it brought him joy. This itch meant he finally had hope of becoming a normal person again. He bit his lip to keep from making a sound, his hands gripping the bed rails tightly to stop himself from scratching.
However, the itch came from the root of his tongue and the bottom of his eyes. He knew that if he scratched, those parts would never recover.
"Old man, shall I tie you up with some cloth strips?" Huang Meiying said from the side.
To prevent Zhu Xinfu from scratching, they had prepared plenty of cloth strips. Tying a person with cloth wouldn't hurt them, but it would effectively stop them from scratching if they couldn't hold back.
Zhu Xinfu nodded. Although he was confident, he wanted to be safe. The itching would last for three days, so he couldn't afford any mistakes.
Seeing Zhu Xinfu agree, Zhu Shunyao and Taishu Yuanxiang, who had come to visit, helped tie Zhu Xinfu to the bed. This way, they didn't have to worry about him scratching.
Zhu Yanyi entered just in time to see this. She had to admit this method was very sensible. She came over to check Zhu Xinfu's pulse, then nodded. "Grandpa, don't worry. You are recovering well. The energy in your tongue and eyes has started to move slowly."
She then took out the sachets she had prepared earlier and distributed them. For Little Monkey, she personally hung one around her neck.
"Tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. I put peach wood strips in these sachets. Don't underestimate them; they come from a ten-thousand-year-old peach tree. I am the only one in the world who got these. I made sachets for everyone, one each, to ward off evil spirits," Zhu Yanyi explained.
Everyone hurried to hang them up. These were precious items. Even for Zhu Xinfu, Huang Meiying carefully hung one for him before saying, "We must be careful during these days. It lasts for seven days."
She then turned to Zhu Yanli. "Ani, you shouldn't come over these days. Stay home and take care of Little Monkey. Even with this sachet, remember to wear gold and silver jewelry. Those also ward off evil."
Xie Xinlian also said, "Little Monkey is only a month old. Children's eyes are the clearest, so it is better for you to stay home. If you come out and see something bad, it won't be good. Even with the peach wood, it is better to be safe."
Zhu Yanli nodded. "Okay. I won't come over for a week starting tomorrow. But let Yuanxiang come. Yuanxiang can take turns with Dad to care for Grandpa."
"That is fine," Xie Xinlian said seriously.
Zhu Yanyi smiled. "Grandpa, don't worry. The itching will slowly decrease after three days. The main thing is these three days. After that, even if it itches, it will be within the range a normal person can tolerate."
Zhu Xinfu nodded. The sweat on his forehead proved it was indeed uncomfortable right now.
Zhang Xin brought the nutrient solution. Zhu Yanyi took out a golden needle and gave Zhu Xinfu an injection, temporarily stopping the itching sensation, before hanging the nutrient drip.
Seeing this, Zhu Shunyao said, "Ani, if your acupuncture can reduce the itching, why not use it?"
Zhu Yanyi glanced at Zhu Shunyao. "Dad, I am blocking Grandpa's sensory acupoints. Blocking these acupoints is not a good thing. It is fine for a short time, but harmful to the body in the long run."
Zhu Shunyao nodded in realization. "I see."
Zhu Yanyi then said to Zhu Xinfu, "Grandpa, after a week, I will give you throat medicine. Then you will practice pronouncing sounds slowly every day to exercise your tongue. This way, you will recover slowly."
Zhu Xinfu nodded, a smile appearing on his face, showing he was satisfied with this situation.
Seeing it was enough, Zhu Yanyi left to check on other patients. First, she went to see Chen Xiangning and her child. Little Bean, Chen Xiangning's child, was doing relatively better here. However, she had congenital heart disease, and she was not even two years old. Zhu Yanyi had to be extremely cautious with her treatment and medication.
Zhu Yanyi took out a sachet and hung it on Little Bean. She then said to Chen Xiangning, "Tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. I made a peach wood sachet for Little Bean. Hanging it is a way to celebrate the festival and ward off evil."
"Thank you, Little Divine Doctor. I have been living such days that I forgot tomorrow is the Ghost Festival," Chen Xiangning said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Zhu Yanyi smiled slightly. "It is nothing. You are all my patients. Although hospitals have many kind-hearted people, they also have heavy yin energy. I have no other meaning. I just want Little Bean to be happy. After all, children's eyes are too clear. If they see something bad, it won't be good."
"Thank you, Little Divine Doctor," Chen Xiangning thanked her sincerely.
Zhu Yanyi shook her head with a smile, checked Little Bean, and then left to go to other wards.
Since they were her patients, she had to do what was necessary. Actually, the peach wood strips she gave to the patients were not from the ten-thousand-year-old tree. They were from a hundred-year-old tree, but the effect of warding off evil was just as strong.
Except for Zhu Xinfu, Zhu Yanyi gave one sachet to each of the patients in the other six wards.
Zhu Yanyi's embroidery skills were already good. Although they were simple sachets, the foreigners praised them with clicks of their tongues.
"Little Divine Doctor, where did you buy this beautiful embroidered thing? What is it called?" Oswaldo asked happily, looking at the sachet.
Zhu Yanyi smiled slightly. "Every girl in our Huaxia knows how to make this. It is my handmade work. I made them in my spare time a few days ago. Mainly because our Huaxia has its own traditional festivals. Tomorrow is what we call the Ghost Festival in Huaxia." Zhu Yanyi said with a smile.
"Ghost Festival? What does that mean?" Oswaldo asked curiously.
"I know this," said Rosa, Oswaldo's girlfriend who was taking care of him. "I heard that during the Ghost Festival, people eat mooncakes."
"No, that is the Mid-Autumn Festival," Zhu Yanyi said with a slight smile. "The Ghost Festival is the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.
In our Huaxia calendar, there are lunar and solar calendars. It is like how your Western New Year is on December 25th, Christmas, every solar year.
But our Huaxia New Year is the lunar New Year, the first day of the first lunar month. However, January 1st of the solar calendar, which we call New Year's Day, represents the first day of the solar year. The lunar New Year is our traditional Huaxia New Year. Only after the lunar year passes do we consider ourselves a year older. The Ghost Festival is the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, while the Mid-Autumn Festival is the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month."
"Wow, you Huaxia people really know how to live. So many traditional festivals must be very fun. If the Mid-Autumn Festival is for eating mooncakes, then what do you eat during the Ghost Festival?" Rosa asked curiously.