Wang Youcai didn't care about soaking his feet and instead asked: "Ping'an, what did you say? What do you mean by 'not being with your parents in the future' and where are you going?"

  Yang also reacted and hastily asked: "Is that right, son? You're going on a long trip, why didn't you ask us first?" She was a bit angry, when did her son learn to be so self-willed!

  Wang Ping'an laughed and said, "Isn't it just about taking the imperial examination in Beijing next year? The court can't set up an examination hall in our Xuzhou, besides, the journey is long, I'm not a kid anymore, I couldn't possibly have my parents accompany me, you guys wouldn't be able to withstand the bumpy ride either!"

  Yang was delighted and said, "So Qiu Shan Zhu really gave you a quota! Why didn't you say so earlier!" She had just heard Wang Ping'an say that Qiu Xiang Pu didn't have any expression, and her heart was greatly disappointed. Now, after hearing her son say this, her hopes rose again.

  Wang Youcai clapped his hands and laughed, saying: "I understand now. Although nothing is given for the time being, it will definitely be given in the future." He said to Yang Shi: "Old lady, this is just like our treatment of tenants. If a tenant works hard and makes more effort for our family, I won't immediately show him what he's got, will I? We have to wait until after autumn, when we should reduce some rent, then we'll reduce it; when we should send some annual goods, then we'll send them!"

  Yang understood and clapped her hands, she now had a special fondness for clapping. She laughed: "This is indeed a good way to test whether the tenant is really diligent or not. If he makes an effort twice and sees that we don't show any appreciation, but still works hard, then this person must be rewarded. But if he makes an effort twice and sees that we don't say anything, don't give him any benefits, and he doesn't work anymore, then we can save a sum of money!"

  Wang Ping'an couldn't help but laugh when he heard his parents compare themselves to tenant farmers. He thought, "It seems that ancient people weren't any less clever than modern people. The tactics used by bosses on their employees in the modern workplace were already being used with great skill by wealthy landowners in rural areas during the early Tang Dynasty!"

  He said: "Alright, let's go to the bedroom, son will teach you how to wash your feet!"

  "Do you still need to learn how to wash your feet? Which book would write about washing feet!" Yang always thought that as long as it was written in a book, it was a profound topic. Washing feet is something that can't be put on the table, let alone written into a book!

  Three people entered the bedroom, Wang Ping'an asked Ding Danruo and Ke Lianwu to help find two high-waisted wooden basins, the best basin should be able to reach the knee. The two little maids went out to search for a while, but only found one, the Wang family's basins were not few, but it was hard to find a basin with a very high waist, unless it was a wooden barrel, but the wooden barrel had handles that couldn't be removed and wasn't suitable as a foot-washing basin.

  Yang saw the wooden basin and smiled at Wang Ping'an, "Son, do you still remember this basin? This is what you used to bathe in when you were little. Your father specially found a carpenter to make it. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed, my son has grown up, and this basin can't hold you anymore!"

  Wang Ping'an said, "When I was young, my parents bathed me, now I wash their feet." He ordered the servant to bring hot and cold water, adjusted the temperature, and asked two little maids to prepare a large pot of hot water on the side. He helped his parents take off their shoes and socks and put their feet in the basin.

  Wang Youcai shook his head and said, "This water is not hot enough. The water Father usually uses to soak his feet is even hotter than this!"

  Yang said, "It's okay, why boil it so dry, the skin is all red. Son, mom thinks there's a bit too much water, it's all up to your calf, we're washing our feet, not our legs!" But although she said that, the old lady was very happy in her heart, her son had grown up and was still so filial, what mother wouldn't be delighted?

  Wang Ping'an first gently massaged his father's feet and said, "The water for soaking your feet doesn't need to be too hot. If it's too hot, you'll feel anxious, sweat a lot, and get excited easily, which will actually make it harder to sleep!"

  Wang Youcai continued: "But Father likes to sweat a lot, the more he sweats when soaking his feet, the better!"

  "Yang scolded: 'You old man, your son washing your feet is the smoke rising from your ancestral grave, it's the blessing of who knows how many generations. You see that family's children being so filial, yet you still pick and choose, you're just stuffed from eating too much!'"

  Although Wang Youcai was used to being scolded, he still felt a bit uncomfortable when his son was present. He said, "Your son even washed your feet for you, are the ancestral tombs of your family also emitting auspicious smoke?"

  Yang said with pride: "Our Yang family was the royal family of the previous Sui dynasty, and I still have relatives in the palace today, and I heard that they even gave birth to a prince!"

  Wang Ping'an was shocked and said: "Is our family related to the emperor?"

  "Stop listening to your mother's nonsense, you're not even close relatives! It's been many years since then, the imperial court has changed, what's the point of bringing it up again? You know them, but do they know who you are? Don't mention these old things in front of our son again!" The old man seemed extremely disgusted that Yang was bringing this up and unexpectedly became impolite to his wife.

  Yang hummed and actually shut his mouth!

  Wang Ping'an saw his parents' attitude and knew that asking questions would not get him anywhere, so he could only bury his doubts in his heart. He said: "Dad likes to soak his feet in hot water, but it's actually not very good for your body. Everything should be done according to one's suitability. Dad is getting older and his body is starting to weaken. Sweat is the liquid of the heart, if you sweat too much, it's not good for your heart."

  After massaging his father's feet, he massaged his mother's and said: "Mother says why the water should be put on the calf. This is because if only the feet are soaked, the feet will be opened, but the blood in the calf area is still blocked, so the blood can't flow well throughout the body. Therefore, just soaking the feet won't achieve the best effect!"

  Yang didn't quite understand, could only hum in agreement, glanced at Wang Youcai, and found that the old man was also confused, just like her, humming along. She had been scolded by him a few times earlier and felt a bit uncomfortable, but seeing that he didn't understand either made her feel better. It's comforting to be equally clueless!

  Wang Ping'an finished massaging his mother's feet and began to press the reflex zones on her feet. Yang shouted "ah" several times, and soon she couldn't open her eyes anymore, slowly falling asleep.

  Wang Ping'an helped his mother wash her feet, supported her to the kang for a rest, and softly said to Wang Youcai: "Father, have someone make another wooden basin. In the future, you two can soak your feet separately. Mother's body is slightly cold, next time when soaking feet, it's best to boil some ginger in the water."

  Wang Youcai said, "Alright, I'll listen to you!" Seeing his son come over to massage his feet again, he said, "No need to give Dad a massage, you should go back and catch up on some sleep too. I reckon you didn't get much rest last night."

  Wang Ping'an smiled and said, "It's great to press, it's comfortable to sleep after pressing. When I carefully write down the method, Dad and Mom will learn from each other, and you two will learn from each other, learn the art of nourishing life, eat well, sleep well, and have a good body!"

  He massaged his father for a while, looked at Wang Youcai's reaction and said: "Dad, your joints are not good, add some safflower to the water when you soak your feet next time!" Not long after, seeing that Wang Youcai had also fallen asleep, he helped his father up and then left his parents' bedroom.

  Just as he was about to return to his study, a servant suddenly came to report that a couple had arrived at the front courtyard with a child in their arms. The child looked like it was on its last breath and begged the young master to hurry out!

  Wang Ping'an had no choice but to go to the front yard. Since he didn't come out today, the housekeeper wouldn't allow the people seeking medical treatment to enter the courtyard, so they all waited outside. When Wang Ping'an came out of the gate, he saw many people standing outside, all of whom were there for medical treatment. At the very front of the crowd was a couple, dressed in tattered clothes, holding broken bowls and wooden sticks, looking like beggars. Next to them on a torn mat lay a small child.

  When Wang Ping'an came out, the people who were seeking medical treatment hurriedly paid their respects and called him Little God Doctor Ping'an. Wang Ping'an arrived at the bedside and saw that the child was listless, had a foul odor on his body, and lay on the bed sobbing.

  The beggar couple looked miserable and knelt down together to Wang Ping'an, calling out: "Ping'an, little divine doctor, please take a look at this child for me!"

  Judging from their accent, this couple is not from Xuzhou. Wang Ping'an said: "Where are you from? How do you know me?"

  The beggar said: "We are from Bianzhou, our home was flooded, and we escaped to this place. The child is ill, and we can't afford a doctor. We heard that the young doctor has a good heart and doesn't charge poor people money, so we dared to come!"

  Wang Pingan let out a sigh of relief, escaped the disaster, could it be that this child has contracted the plague? Amitabha, please don't let it be!

  －－－－－－－

  Here is the translation:

  Additionally, Ping An would like to express gratitude to book friends Awen2006 and oldcatxMarco for their continuous generous rewards. Ping An also wants to thank book friends I am Xiaoxiao Snake, Happiness is good, and 100419181839138 for their enthusiastic rewards. Furthermore, thanks are due to book friends Xiao Lin Baozi and Monglian for their passionate support. Ping An bows in appreciation here, thank you very much!

  Dietary Therapy for Urinary Tract Infections - Blood Heat Syndrome

  Dioscorea oppositifolia grape gel

  Prescription: 250ml of fresh lotus root juice, 250ml of grape juice, 200g of raw land, and a suitable amount of honey.

  Method: Soak the raw herbs until they are transparent, then add water and decoct for 20 minutes. Take the decoction once, repeat three times, and combine the decoctions. Concentrate the combined decoction over low heat until it becomes thick and sticky, then mix in lotus root juice and grape juice. Continue to concentrate until a paste forms, then add an equal amount of honey. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, let cool, and store in bottles for later use.

  Efficacy: Clearing heat and nourishing yin, cooling blood.

  Dosage: Twice daily, 10ml each time.