Chapter 175
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: A Native of Sacheon
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Sacheon native.
Even knowing it referred to Sacheon City in South Gyeongsang Province, I suddenly felt a surge of fondness.
"My son has been mature since he was little, always taking good care of himself. He was great at studying too. So I figured he'd handle university and finding a place to live without any issues, but I never dreamed he'd pull something this absurd!"
Busan wasn't all that far, but it wasn't close enough for daily commutes either.
Naturally, he'd ended up living on his own.
And since there'd been no reason to check in on him, she hadn't known... until now, when she'd seen his basement apartment and his pale, worn-out face.
"What's so absurd about it? They say you should seek out hardships when you're young."
The patient, Jang Minjun, grumbled curtly.
It was rare for someone his age to say something like that. This didn't feel right.
...Did he have a friend like Seo In-ae?
"Did I not give you enough money? What didn't I provide?"
"It's not that you didn't provide anything."
"We're not rich, but we get by. I pay his rent and send him seventy thousand won every month for spending money, without fail. Good lord, I'm going to lose my mind."
His mother shot me a look, as if pleading for agreement.
"Whoa, that must have been a shock."
What? She was giving him way more than I expected.
It wasn't a fortune, as she said, and if he lived in an officetel, it might all go to rent.
But in a modest one-room and eating at the school cafeteria, it should have been plenty.
"It's money you gave me to spend anyway, so what's wrong with using it my way?"
"You should spend it without making yourself sick!"
"Yeah, yeah. How do you think it makes Mom feel, worrying like this?"
With me taking his side, his mother gained confidence and scolded him more fiercely.
Parents often brought child patients hoping the doctor would back them up with a scolding.
Things like 'Make sure you eat properly' or 'Don't sleep without clothes on if you have a cold.'
Common sense to adults, but kids didn't listen, so they borrowed the doctor's authority.
It was uncommon for them to drag a twenty-something in for the same treatment, though.
"What on earth did you blow it on? Don't tell me you gambled like your uncle..."
"Absolutely not!"
"You can't do that. It would be like driving a spike into my heart...!"
"I said no!"
I listened to their bickering for a moment, gauging their family dynamic.
The mother worked in agriculture and had suffered both emotionally and financially because of her older brother.
But thanks to her smart, precocious son, she'd had plenty to brag about for a while.
Until now, when her son had stirred up this non-incident incident.
Just as I wondered if I should step in, they stopped on their own.
His mother asked me once more to take good care of him with supplements, and he clammed up.
"Anyway, just looking at Minjun's complexion, it's clear your mom is right—he's suffering from summer heat."
"See?"
"His face is flushed, his energy is low. His breathing is shallow and rapid too. Has your appetite dropped at all?"
"I manage two meals. Breakfast is tricky since I'm living alone..."
"He barely touches his food now! Back when he'd come home on leave, he'd wolf down two bowls, but now he just picks at it!"
"You can't compare it to army days."
It wasn't as bad as she worried, but his appetite had dipped a bit.
Loss of appetite was one of the key signs of depleted energy.
"Did you go straight to the army from school? Before starting university?"
"...I missed the minimum for active duty, so I did civil service."
"Impressive."
"My boy always ranked in the top ten at school..."
"Ah, that's just a frog in a well!"
She nearly launched into bragging again but he cut her off.
Jang Minjun's face had reddened a shade more.
Hm, coming from the countryside myself, I got it.
"How's your digestion?"
"Fine."
"You're sweating a lot too, right, Minjun?"
"Yeah."
"Sleep okay?"
"...Yeah."
"Be honest! We're already here!"
"The heat woke me a few times. But sleep's not the issue."
"If you're waking up hot, turn on the AC and go back to sleep! Good grief!"
His mother shook her fist at the air.
She couldn't very well smack him in the clinic.
"Won't it get better on its own after a bit?"
Jang Minjun seized the opening to ask me.
"If you'd rested in a cool place right when you first felt the heat, sure. But now your energy's badly depleted, heading toward chronic exhaustion. You need treatment."
"Expensive treatment's a bit..."
"Don't worry about the cost—prescribe the best supplements. I saw the poster for top-grade deer antler outside; use that, please."
At the mention of top-grade deer antler velvet, Jang Minjun startled and grabbed his mother's arm.
"Mom! It's really not that bad! In the army, it was way hotter sometimes..."
"That's different!"
"Come on, let's take a look at your pulse first."
"Do whatever the doctor says!"
Of course, it was temporary, but his pulse—a young man's in his twenties—was as thin as a fifty- or sixty-year-old's.
Fortunately, no major damage in any specific area.
This time, I sided with the son.
"It's not bad enough to need deer antler. A simple summer tonic will do the trick. Something like Shengmai Powder."
"Shengmai Powder?"
His mother seemed to recognize it; Jang Minjun looked blank.
"It's a basic formula with just three herbs: ginseng, schisandra, and ophiopogon. It replenishes vital energy, clears heat, and generates lost fluids. I'll add astragalus and licorice to boost the energy a bit more. A week's worth should suffice."
"You think?"
"Yes. Try it, and if it's not enough, we'll adjust. Drink plenty of water while taking it, keep the temperature and humidity right, and you'll be fine. Youth has its recovery power, after all."
She visibly relaxed at my words.
"What about the cost...?"
A week's supply wasn't pricey.
Jang Minjun eased up too.
"Saving money is good, but right now, your body's your biggest asset. No matter the job, you need health for peak performance. Wreck it banking on youth, and you'll suffer for life."
"...Got it."
"Eat well, exercise, avoid extreme cold, heat, humidity, or dryness as much as possible. A week of treatment will fix you now, but if your protective energy—your immunity—breaks down and you lose homeostasis, even months of meds won't get you back to 100%."
"Listen to the doctor! Surgery would cost even more!"
His mother barked.
Jang Minjun stopped grumbling and bowed his head quietly.
"Ma'am, anything else on your mind?"
"No. If he's still rough after a week, we come back, right?"
"Exactly."
For all their fussing, it was a close mother-son duo.
"Head to the waiting room first. I need a quick private word with the patient."
I chatted with him alone for three minutes, in case there was something hard to say in front of Mom.
Nothing relevant to the prescription, but he left the room politely, unlike on arrival.
"Thank you, Director. I'll take good care of it."
I finished the prescription.
Shengmai Powder base, with astragalus and licorice added per Donguibogam modifications.
Prescriptions like Jeon Yu-ri's were trickier.
One-timers who never returned—you had to hook them into coming back by healing fast.
Acupuncture for quick effects, show changes from the meds right away.
But Jang Minjun's case was straightforward.
His habits seemed fixable too, so no worries.
Jang Minjun's symptoms improved quickly.
Cold sweats that left his clothes clammy had plagued him, but after three days on the meds, he felt refreshed.
And somehow, breathing felt easier too.
'Was my body really in that bad shape?'
The doctor had noted his shallow, rapid breaths, and the medication guide mentioned ophiopogon benefiting respiration.
He'd wondered—no cough, no runny nose, so why respiration?
But after taking it, deep inhales and exhales came much easier.
'Did she spot it just from the pulse?'
A few more days, and he felt energy returning.
During part-time work, he'd crave food, and after eating, he'd feel solidly fueled.
He'd claimed sleep was fine at the visit, but waking up felt different now.
'Your body really is your wealth.'
Worrying his mom constantly wasn't right.
Caught now, he listed the room with a realtor.
Twenty thousand more a month in rent, plus extra for meds...
'No, don't skimp. Just pick up short part-time gigs to cover the higher rent and electric bill.'
Academic scholarships first—he'd stuck to one steady job.
But better short stints outside exam season than skimping on AC.
'I'll hit my goal soon anyway.'
He had no plans to overdo it forever.
Even without getting caught, he'd planned a normal one-room by next year.
He checked his bank balance and smiled.
His parents' joyful faces came to mind.
Thinking of them always tugged at his heart.
A warm swell? They weren't gone, but it felt oddly sad.
He couldn't bear to spend the money his mom sent.
Especially knowing how hard she earned it, when they barely had enough for themselves.
Parents who thought their slightly studious country kid was the world's best.
He'd wanted to live up to it, but failing entrance first try had crushed him.
Still, he'd pulled himself together and enlisted.
No desire to mooch at home post-adulthood or beg for cram school.
In the army, he'd studied in spare moments amid the grind.
And made it to his dream national university.
Money saved in service, plus parents' support.
Part-time earnings after living expenses—for his plan.
"If there's anything hard to say in front of your mom, tell me. Some big reason you're skimping...?"
I'd held him back during consult.
If sensitive symptoms or habits, I'd keep it secret—just say it.
He scratched his head sheepishly and confessed.
"Truth is, my parents never had a proper wedding or honeymoon."
"Oh?"
"This year's their 30th anniversary, so I want to send them a vow renewal and cruise. Been planning for years."
I let out a hollow laugh.
"You're doing it for your mom—don't let it backfire!"
Totally right.
"Yeah, gotta get better fast."
A trip—how wonderful.
Especially a son's gift for their first honeymoon in thirty years. How moving! If only without harming his health.
'Hearing about the trip makes me want to go again.'
Thinking of that Europe trip—really, truly...
Well, honestly, it wasn't all great.
But that was a special case.
Trips don't usually go haywire every time!
[Yeowon-ah, that doctor from Italy you mentioned last time—hasn't come yet, right?]
Huang Seoyeong, texting after ages, brought it up.
[Yeah? Probably winter, with grad school starting next year.]
[Aah~ Thanks!]
[Why?]
[Figured Robert could use a compatriot friend lololol]
Robert? Who's that?
I frowned at the screen.
The Rich Chairman's son? No, that was Paolo.
Robert...
Not ancient history, but buried deep in memory—it took a while to recall.
[That mafia boss's son??????]
Hold on—compatriot friend? Seoulites don't call fellow Seoulites that.
[He's in Korea?]