Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 146: Premium Mugwort Bag

"Tsk, tsk..."

He hadn’t expected today’s intel would be the recipe for a premium Mugwort Bag.

Li Xu compared it to the recipe he had found in a book yesterday.

It wasn’t much different.

A few of the herbs and their weights had been adjusted.

Most importantly, the premium Mugwort Bag had rosewood added to it.

And he just so happened to own a piece of rosewood heartwood that was over 800 years old.

He could use it to make the premium Mugwort Bags.

According to the book, mugwort essential oil had a mosquito repellency rate of 60% to 80%, making it suitable for hanging up or wearing during summer or outdoor activities.

The premium Mugwort Bag provided by the system was presumably even more effective.

Of course, the cost was also far greater than that of a regular Mugwort Bag.

After all, just one gram of high-quality rosewood was worth several hundred.

Li Xu carefully took out the Rosewood Sculpture.

A clean fragrance immediately wafted from it.

Just one whiff was enough to make a person feel a hundred times more energetic.

He took out a sharp little knife and gently scraped some powder from an inconspicuous spot on the base of the Buddha statue.

"Boss, what are you doing?" Song Sisi asked as she walked into the clinic, eating a steamed bun from a bag she was carrying.

"Don’t get too close," Li Xu said with a smile, pushing her away gently. "Don’t get any oil from your bun on the wood."

Song Sisi asked in surprise, "What are you doing with the rosewood? Who’s it for?"

Li Xu didn’t explain much. Following the recipe provided by the system, he mixed the scraped Padauk Powder with the mugwort leaves, angelica root, mint, and other herbs he had prepared the day before.

He had specifically chosen high-quality dried mugwort leaves, the fine, silvery-white fuzz on their undersides clearly visible, and they exuded a rich, herbal aroma.

"Get me one of the sachets you bought yesterday."

"You got it."

Li Xu packed all the prepared Chinese medicinal herbs into the sachet, then pulled the drawstring tight to seal it.

Song Sisi couldn’t help but ask, "Boss, isn’t it a bit too extravagant to use rosewood to make a Mugwort Bag?"

"It is extravagant, but the effect is also that good," Li Xu said with a mysterious smile.

A regular Mugwort Bag could already achieve a 60% to 80% mosquito-repelling effect.

The premium Mugwort Bag would definitely be even more powerful.

He carried the newly made premium Mugwort Bag to the backyard.

The base of the backyard wall was overgrown with weeds, and the ground was still a bit damp from the rain a few days ago.

Li Xu squatted down and, sure enough, saw a few mosquitoes resting on the blades of grass.

He held his breath and slowly approached.

Just as he was about two meters away from the patch of grass, something astonishing happened—the mosquitoes that had been resting quietly suddenly flew up in a frenzy as if startled, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"Oh my god!" Song Sisi, who had followed him, exclaimed. "What’s going on... Did... did the sound of our footsteps scare them off, or was it the Mugwort Bag?"

Li Xu was also surprised. He thought for a moment. ’It must be because of the Mugwort Bag.’

’The system’s recipe really is incredible.’

However, this was just a preliminary test. The best time to verify it would be in the evening when the mosquitoes were more numerous.

"We’ll see how it goes tonight."

Li Xu returned to the clinic.

He had made five of them just now.

He handed one to Song Sisi. "This is for you."

"Thanks, Boss."

Song Sisi’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

This was far more precious than the Mugwort Bags she had made yesterday.

One of these was worth a hundred of those.

"Boss! If the mosquito-repelling effect is really this good, won’t we make a lot of money selling them?" Song Sisi said excitedly.

Li Xu shook his head. "The rosewood is too precious; we can’t make many. However..."

He mused thoughtfully, "We could make a few more and market them as a high-priced premium product."

...

At nine in the morning, Hu Qiming got out of a car with a nurse.

The moment he stepped out, he caught the rich aroma of herbs. "Whoa, you guys are really prepared!"

Song Sisi proudly pointed to the small mountain of Mugwort Bags piled by the entrance. "Dr. Hu, I worked hard to make all of these yesterday! They’re made with the boss’s recipe, so the effect is guaranteed to be good!"

Hu Qiming picked one up and sniffed it, his eyes lighting up. "This scent... it’s much more fragrant than the ones they sell on the market!"

He turned to Li Xu with a smile. "Old classmate, thanks for supporting my work."

Li Xu pursed his lips. "Just with words?"

"Haha, I’ll treat you guys to lunch."

"That’s more like it."

"Let’s go to Songjiang Noodle House," Song Sisi chimed in.

"No problem."

Li Xu and Song Sisi helped carry a table out and placed it at the clinic entrance.

Hu Qiming and the nurse from the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine set up simple equipment like a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor, and put up a promotional sign.

Soon, curious residents began to gather, and when they heard Mugwort Bags were being given away, they quickly formed a long line.

Song Sisi helped hand out the Mugwort Bags.

Hu Qiming stood to the side, explaining health tips related to the Dragon Boat Festival.

The nurse he had brought with him was busy taking photos to document the event.

"Mugwort is a ’warming’ herb. It can warm the meridians to stop bleeding, and dispel cold to relieve pain..."

Hu Qiming enthusiastically promoted, "During the Dragon Boat Festival season, the damp-heat is strong. Hanging mugwort not only repels mosquitoes but also helps prevent colds..."

In the line, Wang Ruiying, who was off for the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, had also come over with her neighbors to show support.

She took a Mugwort Bag and inhaled deeply. "This smells so pleasant. It’s clearing my head!"

The event was a huge success. In less than a morning, the several hundred Mugwort Bags they had prepared were all given away.

As the event was winding down, Aunt Li rushed over.

She was still holding a broom, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. "Oh dear, I’m late! I got held up sweeping the streets this morning..."

Song Sisi spread her hands apologetically. "Aunt Li, the regular Mugwort Bags are all gone..."

"Ah?"

Aunt Li was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. "It’s alright, I can just make one myself when I get back... Xiao Xu, are there other herbs in the packet besides mugwort leaves?"

Seeing this, Li Xu thought for a moment, then went back inside and returned with an exquisite Brocade Bag. "Aunt Li, this is for you."

"Huh, this one’s different from what the others got."

Aunt Li curiously opened the Brocade Bag, and a clear, distant fragrance immediately wafted out.

Unlike the strong, medicinal smell of the regular Mugwort Bags, this sachet’s aroma was richer and more enduring, calming one’s mind upon smelling it.

"Is this... a better one?" Aunt Li asked in surprise.

"It’s a premium Mugwort Bag," Li Xu explained. "The effect is better. Wear it on you or hang it up at home, and I guarantee you won’t be bothered by mosquitoes all summer."

Aunt Li beamed with joy. "Xiao Xu, thank you. Looks like I didn’t dote on you for nothing when you were a child..."

After Aunt Li left, Hu Qiming stared and peered into Li Xu’s pocket. "Any more? Give me one."

Before Li Xu could speak,

Song Sisi quickly cut in, "Dr. Hu, our boss added rosewood to the premium Mugwort Bags. They’re very expensive."

Hu Qiming sighed. "Alright, how about two meals? Songjiang Noodle House for lunch, and barbecue tonight."

Song Sisi looked at Li Xu eagerly, her face full of longing.

Li Xu smiled, took out a premium Mugwort Bag, and handed it to Hu Qiming. "I already had one set aside for you."

Hu Qiming grinned mischievously. "In that case, no barbecue tonight."

"Give the Mugwort Bag back."

"Haha..."

...

At noon in Songjiang Noodle House, the four of them sat around a table by the window.

"This beef noodle soup is really good!" Hu Qiming said, slurping his noodles, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Much better than the hospital cafeteria."

Song Sisi sipped her iced plum juice, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. "Dr. Hu, you promised you’d still treat us to barbecue tonight!"

"Don’t worry. When have I, Divine Physician Hu, ever gone back on my word?" Hu Qiming puffed out his chest and turned to Li Xu. "By the way, is your premium Mugwort Bag really that magical?"

Li Xu leisurely picked up a piece of braised beef with his chopsticks. "You’ll find out tonight."

The clinic wasn’t busy in the afternoon, so the nurse Hu Qiming had brought with him went back to the hospital first.

When six in the evening arrived, the three of them walked to a nearby open-air barbecue plaza.