Chapter 431: Immediate Effect

Chapter 431 One Dose, Immediate Effect

In Western medicine, it's called insomnia; in traditional Chinese medicine, it's termed "inability to sleep."

As soon as Ye Xiaoxiao uttered these words, Cao Zeming stepped forward in surprise.

"Yes, yes! Recently, I haven’t been able to sleep because of some issues."

Cao Zeming was being unusually polite. Suppressing his excitement, he had come with a skeptical hope, but now he genuinely wished for her to cure him.

However... Cao Zeming glanced at Ye Xiaoxiao.

This young woman seemed too young.

Political Commissar Han, on the other hand, was completely reassured. Despite her youth, she clearly had real skill—after all, Mayor Cao hadn’t mentioned his condition, yet Ye Xiaoxiao had nailed it right away.

"Let’s sit down and talk this through."

Political Commissar Han even tactfully offered to leave.

What if Mayor Cao had some embarrassing health issue he didn’t want others to know about?

He gave Lu Hanchuan a pointed look, but Lu Hanchuan pretended not to notice.

No chance he was leaving—his wife was right here. Why should he go?

Left with no choice, Political Commissar Han awkwardly stayed.

Ye Xiaoxiao studied Mayor Cao. "Mayor Cao, you didn’t come here specifically to see me, did you?"

She had been peacefully tending to her garden when suddenly summoned.

She wasn’t angry, but she found it odd that the mayor would seek medical help so indirectly.

"I came because of your reputation."

Cao Zeming was now eager to understand his condition. After sitting down, he laid out his symptoms in detail.

He even assured Ye Xiaoxiao that he would cover the consultation fee and provide anything she might need.

Ye Xiaoxiao asked about the medications Cao Zeming had taken before and whether he had any other health problems.

Since he hadn’t brought his medical records, he answered each in turn.

"There’s no need to talk about payment, Mayor Cao. Your condition isn’t severe. I’ll write you a prescription—just take it as directed, and you’ll be fine."

Just by looking at him, Ye Xiaoxiao had already gotten a good sense of his problem.

After taking his pulse, she borrowed paper and pen from the reception room and wrote out a prescription: "This is the *Jiaotai Pill* formula. Start with five doses, then return for a follow-up if it works."

The prescription included coptis, cinnamon bark, scutellaria, gardenia, and other herbs, to be decocted in water and taken.

The mayor carefully slipped the prescription into his pocket. The entire consultation lasted under twenty minutes.

It might have seemed simple, but Ye Xiaoxiao’s calm confidence was deeply reassuring.

"Dr. Ye, I wonder what exactly is wrong with me that I can't sleep?"

Ye Xiaoxiao explained, "You haven't experienced fainting or a drop in blood pressure, so we can rule out conditions like absence seizures or fainting spells.

Traditional medicine teaches that the heart controls fire, and the kidneys govern water. When heart-fire descends and kidney-water rises, only when fire and water interact—when the heart and kidneys communicate—can sleep be normal.

The Jiaotai Pill contains two key herbs: coptis and cinnamon. Coptis clears heart fire and reduces excessive rising heat, while cinnamon warms the kidneys and guides fire back to its source. When used together, they facilitate the interaction between the heart and kidneys, naturally improving sleep."

Ye Xiaoxiao also added other herbs to clear heart fire, purge excess heat, nourish blood, and calm the spirit. After taking five doses, it would surely take effect.

Though the others didn’t fully understand, seeing how confidently Ye Xiaoxiao explained, they nodded along, impressed.

Cao Zeming also recalled what he had previously told his secretary.

Dr. Ye was truly wasting her talents on this tiny Changjing Island.

But she was a military spouse, and Regiment Commander Lu was both young and accomplished—they definitely wouldn’t stay here forever. They could be transferred any time.

Cao Zeming didn’t pry about Ye Xiaoxiao's work but simply thanked her gratefully.

If this prescription really worked, he would owe Dr. Ye a favor. There would be time later to thank her properly.

After receiving the prescription, Cao Zeming hurried off the island.

He’d fill the prescription the moment he got back. If it really worked, he might finally sleep that night.

Seeing Mayor Cao leave in such a hurry, Ye Xiaoxiao asked Lu Hanchuan, "Was Mayor Cao really here just for medical treatment?"

Lu Hanchuan replied, "Probably, but he used an inspection as his cover. He spent the morning touring the island and only came to the military area to ask about you."

Political Commissar Han sighed in relief. "No wonder he demanded to see Lu Hanchuan as soon as he arrived. If he had official business, he should’ve first contacted Commander Zhang on the island."

With nothing else scheduled for the afternoon, after seeing off Mayor Cao, Lu Hanchuan just walked Xiao Xiao home.

"I was home watering the plants and thought something had happened to you when you rushed to find me," Ye Xiaoxiao complained on the way back.

Lu Hanchuan admitted his mistake. "I didn’t make the messenger explain clearly. I’m sorry."

"Alright, you’re forgiven."

Xiao Xiao was quick to forgive, and Lu Hanchuan’s return meant he could help with the watering.

Truly, a good husband was one who helped with housework.

...

After returning, Mayor Cao immediately told his secretary to get the medicine at a pharmacy.

Once the herbs were brought home, he had the housekeeper simmer them. It wasn’t until past nine in the evening that the medicine was done.

Mayor Cao’s wife watched as he started on another round of herbal medicine.

"Which doctor prescribed this for you? The others didn’t help at all. Maybe we should look for a renowned physician elsewhere."

Because of Cao Zeming’s weeks of insomnia, his wife had even started sleeping in a separate room.

"You go to bed first. I’ll take this and turn in soon," he said.

However, he slept in the spare bedroom to avoid disturbing his wife's rest if he couldn't sleep in the middle of the night.

"Then go to bed early too. If you have heart flutters again, be sure to call me."

Insomnia alone wouldn’t be such a big deal, but Cao Zeming had started getting other weird symptoms along with it, which was pretty scary.

"Alright, alright, I’m fine. Even the doctor said today my condition isn’t serious."

Mrs. Cao shook her head. If it wasn’t serious, why hadn’t it been cured after so many days?

But seeing how confident Cao Zeming looked after just taking the medicine, she didn’t have the heart to bring him down and went back to her room to sleep first.

Cao Zeming, meanwhile, picked up a book and started reading.

Around ten o’clock, he let out a yawn and felt a hint of drowsiness.

At first, he didn’t realize it, but when he lay down in bed, it hit him—he was actually tired.

The medicine had worked after just one dose—now that’s a miracle worker!

Excitement aside, he was still drowsy, and he soon fell asleep.

That night, he jolted awake two or three times but quickly passed right back out.

Though the quality of his sleep still wasn’t great, at least he could finally sleep.

At least his mind got a break, unlike before when he would lie there wide awake. If not for sleeping pills forcing him to sleep, he would’ve been a zombie from no sleep.

Later, even the sleeping pills lost their effectiveness, and the doctor advised against increasing the dosage, leaving him staring at the ceiling all night.

Because he had slept the night before, Cao Zeming woke up early the next morning like a new man.

"Lao Cao… you actually slept last night?"

Mrs. Cao was the first to notice the change in her husband’s demeanor.

"Hahaha, yes! Can’t believe it—after all this time, I’m finally cured!"