Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Pork and Vegetable Stew

A large, steaming pot was brought to the table, its aroma instantly filling the entire living room.

Unlike the previous mushroom soup and bee pupae, this fragrance carried a rich, meaty scent mingled with a unique herbal perfume. It was so appetite-whetting that you couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Elder Li personally ladled out a bowl and handed it to Li Xu, a proud look on his face. "The meat, of course, is the wild boar you brought last time. This wild boar bacon was made with a special technique to remove the gamy taste before it was smoked. The texture is a bit coarse, but it has a fantastic chew. Paired with wild mountain vegetables, it has a truly unique flavor."

「Back in Qinling,」

Wang Baimu had smoked some bacon, which included wild boar.

He had prepared it himself. When Li Xu left, he had taken a few pounds and given them all to Elder Li.

Li Xu accepted the bowl and took a deep breath. The scents of various herbs washed over him, blending perfectly with the rich aroma of the wild boar. The combination was invigorating.

He carefully identified the ingredients, then exclaimed, "Asparagus root... capped bamboo shoots... budding grass hearts, and... thorny rose moss? Elder Li, have you been studying Chinese medicine as well? This isn’t just a pot of food; it’s a top-grade medicinal meal."

"Hahaha, it seems I really can’t hide anything from Doctor Li," Elder Li laughed heartily, not the least bit displeased at being found out.

He smiled and explained, "The wild boar meat you brought is excellent, so I had someone gather these wild Chinese herbs especially for it. These mountain vegetables are paired with Huang Jing, fleeceflower root, lily bulb, and Poria Cocos. Eating these sweet, glutinous, and moisture-generating things that also greatly tonify qi and blood provides wonderful nourishment. It satisfies cravings and nurtures the body—killing two birds with one stone."

Elder Li pointed to the ingredients in the pot and began to describe them as if listing his own treasures:

"You see, this is asparagus root. It grows deep in mountain bamboo forests in lush, bluish-green clumps about half a person tall. At the end of winter and the start of spring, its arrow-shaped tender stems shoot up from the ground. We pick them when they’re about a foot long, looking just like jade hairpins. They’re plump, tender, and crisp in the mouth, with a smooth, savory flavor reminiscent of winter bamboo shoots and dried bamboo tips. The aftertaste is sweet, and it’s very nourishing for the heart and lungs."

"And these are capped bamboo shoots. They’re flavorless on their own and only as thick as a little finger. Once you peel off the green husk, they have a glistening, tender white sheen and are crisp and refreshing. I use them to balance the richness of the wild boar meat and add a fresh texture."

"This budding grass heart is also a common wild vegetable. You can pull it from the leaf sheath, pinch off the tough ends, and stir-fry it with snails and slices of ham for a beautiful dish of black, white, red, and green. Today, I’ve stewed it with the wild boar. The magic is how the meat provides a deep, mellow, and lasting savory flavor, while the vegetable offers a clean, subtle, and lingering sweetness. The textures are distinct, like traveling between the mortal world and a pure land, or a bustling city and a secluded valley. The flavor is simply endless."

Listening to Elder Li’s descriptions while tasting the delicacies in the pot, everyone was full of praise.

The wild boar bacon had a rich, smoky aroma. Its meat was firm and chewy, with a unique, wild flavor.

Stewed together with the various wild vegetables, the boar’s coarse texture was smoothed out, and the dish was enhanced by the fresh scent of the greens and the nourishing effects of the medicinal herbs.

With every bite, the fragrance of the meat, the aroma of the herbs, and the fresh scent of the vegetables intertwined on the palate, leaving a lingering, unforgettable taste.

After the meal, everyone sat around drinking tea in a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Elder Li picked up his teacup, took a gentle sip, and then set it down. "Doctor Li, this lead poisoning incident has been causing a huge stir lately. As you know, the government is under a lot of pressure right now."

Li Xu nodded. He knew what Elder Li was about to say.

"Some people came to me, hoping I could persuade you not to get any more involved in the lead poisoning incident."

Elder Li sighed. "The government has its own difficulties. The preliminary investigation has found that a shopping mall used toxic paint for a children’s play area, and some food ingredients also contained lead. The government will handle it in due time. It’s not advisable to let this escalate further, or it will cause a bigger panic and have a negative impact on Feng City’s economy and social stability."

Elder Li’s tone was gentle. "I’m just relaying their message; I’m not forcing you. If you feel you should continue to speak out, I will respect your decision. Besides, even if you do, I’ll stand by you and won’t let anyone harass you. My words still carry some weight."

Li Xu fell silent.

He understood the government’s reasoning.

In the current social climate, "stability" was indeed the overriding priority.

’If they hadn’t found the source, I would have definitely spoken out. But since they have, it will probably be handled quickly. There’s no need for me to add fuel to the fire.’

Li Xu nodded. "Elder Li, I’ll listen to you."

...

On a cold winter morning, Wang Linlin was curled up on the sofa, her fingers flying across her phone screen.

She was nineteen, a freshman in college, possessing the characteristic liveliness and charm of a girl her age.

Her long, flaxen hair was casually draped over her shoulders. Her fair face was set with a pair of bright, expressive eyes, and even without makeup, she couldn’t hide her youthful energy.

Her parents had divorced when she was very young, so she was raised by her grandparents.

In a traditional mindset, education about reproductive health was always treated as a taboo topic.

Growing up, she only knew that girls got their "Aunt Flo" every month, but she never learned any of the detailed physiological knowledge behind it.

It wasn’t until after her college entrance exams that she accidentally discovered something seemed abnormal with her body: she had never gotten her period.

At first, she didn’t think much of it, assuming it was caused by academic stress or an irregular schedule.

But as time went on, the abnormality began to make her feel uneasy.

She had gone to the hospital for a check-up a few days ago, had some scans done, and was currently waiting for the results.

Just as she was aimlessly scrolling through her phone, a news notification caught her eye: "’TCM Divine Physician’ Works Another Miracle, Shrinks Late-Stage Lung Cancer Tumor! Western Medical Expert: Chinese Medicine Is Indeed Effective, but Must Be Viewed Rationally!"

The report praised Li Xu as a Divine Physician who could bring the dying back to life, its lines filled with flowery compliments.

Wang Linlin clicked on it curiously and began to read carefully.

When she saw the photo of Li Xu accompanying the article, she couldn’t help but let out a small "Huh?"

In her mind, TCM doctors were mostly "old men" with white hair and the air of immortal sages, dressed in simple long robes, slowly taking a patient’s pulse.

But the Li Xu in the photo completely upended her expectations.

He was young and handsome, with a refined air and a steady, composed look in his eyes.

’Wow, this TCM doctor is so handsome!’ Wang Linlin’s heart skipped a beat as she marveled.

Young, handsome, a Divine Physician... these words swirled in her mind, sparking an intense curiosity about this Li Xu.

The problem of "not getting her period" had been bothering her, and the hospital results weren’t back yet.

’Instead of just waiting around at home, why not go see this ’Divine Physician’ who’s so popular right now?’

A flash of inspiration struck her.

’I’m also an outdoor streamer with hundreds of thousands of followers. If I could livestream the process of going to see a TCM doctor, wouldn’t that be a great gimmick?’

’A young, handsome "Divine Physician" and my own "mysterious illness"... the potential for online traffic and buzz is simply immeasurable.’