Hearing that Mu Lin was going to make medicine himself, the two young female officers seemed even more excited than Finney and the others. The reason was that they both suffered from mild dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation. They had visited many big hospitals, but nothing had worked.
Seeing Mu Lin curing those high-ranking officials day after day, they felt anxious but helpless. Due to a past conflict with Mu Lin, they hadn’t yet resolved their psychological discomfort and thus felt embarrassed to ask him for treatment. As for Mu Lin himself, he already had some resentment toward them due to their racial prejudice and thus had no interest in engaging with them. Eventually, they had no choice but to turn to Finney and her group.
Finney and her friends, who practiced dual cultivation with Mu Lin daily, had become even more radiant in appearance. The two young female officers could clearly see this transformation and naturally assumed it was Mu Lin’s treatment that had enhanced their beauty. After learning the situation, Finney and her group noticed Mu Lin’s indifferent attitude toward the two officers and felt awkward about revealing the truth. Eventually, they had no choice but to inform Mu Lin, who immediately saw an opportunity to get two free laborers and reduce his workload.
In reality, there were plenty of workers available, but Mu Lin claimed that girls were more meticulous and emphasized that only virgins could do the job best, thus creating an excuse. Not knowing any better, the two naive white girls ended up working for him. In truth, Mu Lin just wanted to vent some of his frustrations.
He then bragged to them that once he successfully made the Xiaoyao Pills, he could solve their problems. The Xiaoyao Pill formula consists of ingredients such as licorice, angelica, poria, peony, atractylodes, bupleurum, and others. It is a classic prescription for soothing the liver, relieving depression, nourishing blood, and strengthening the spleen, commonly used for regulating women’s menstruation.
This medicine can also lower blood lipids and remove age spots, making it suitable for elderly patients as well. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the pathological basis of hyperlipidemia is “phlegm-dampness” and “blood stasis,” closely related to dysfunction of the liver and spleen. The Xiaoyao formula, which soothes the liver and strengthens the spleen, can eliminate “phlegm-dampness” and “blood stasis,” thereby lowering blood lipids.
After taking Xiaoyao Pills, cholesterol and triglycerides can significantly decrease, and lipid levels remain stable even after discontinuation. TCM theory also suggests that age spots form due to liver stagnation, kidney deficiency, and blood stasis. Xiaoyao Pills can regulate liver function, promote normal circulation of qi and blood, and since “qi is the commander of blood,” when qi flows smoothly, blood follows, preventing the formation of spots.
In addition, the Xiaoyao formula also nourishes blood and strengthens the spleen. When the spleen and stomach function properly, there is sufficient qi and blood, and kidney essence is nourished, leading to the natural disappearance of spots. The ginger and atractylodes in the prescription can promote digestive secretions and improve appetite. Poria has a preventive effect on experimentally induced ulcers. Bupleurum and peony not only relieve pain, but peony and licorice can also relieve spasms. Together, these herbs have the effect of soothing the liver, relieving depression, and alleviating acute pain, making them effective for gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Mu Lin was making this medicine mainly for his clinic, and helping the two young female officers was just an added bonus. After all, free labor was not to be missed.
The process of crushing solid medicines generally involves applying external mechanical force to partially break the cohesive forces between material molecules, turning large chunks into smaller particles with increased surface area—essentially converting mechanical energy into surface energy.
The drier the material, the easier it is to crush, so it should be appropriately dried according to its characteristics before processing. Thin-walled plant tissues such as flowers, leaves, and some roots and stems are easy to crush. Woody, keratinized structures, materials with high viscosity or oil content, and animal tendons, bones, and shells are more difficult to crush. In the past, manual grinding was commonly used for crushing herbs, but now the two young female officers had become Mu Lin’s “herb grinders.”
Since they had nothing better to do anyway, Mu Lin took the opportunity to bring out other herbs that needed grinding and had them do it all. A task that should have taken one day was extended to a whole week. Seeing such a heavy workload, the two girls were secretly terrified but, for the sake of their health and beauty, gritted their teeth and pushed through. After a week, both had visibly lost weight.
Once the herbs were ground, Mu Lin had them help with the decoction process. The two young officers watched as Mu Lin brought out a round, lid-covered copper cauldron from somewhere, poured in the ground herbs, added water, and began boiling.
Upon hearing that Mu Lin was going to refine medicine himself, the two young policewomen seemed even more excited than Fenny and the others. The reason was that they both suffered from mild dysmenorrhea and irregular menstruation. They had visited numerous major hospitals, but to no avail.
Every day, they watched Mu Lin treat high-profile patients, growing increasingly anxious yet unable to bring themselves to ask for his help due to their unresolved past conflicts with him. Mu Lin, on the other hand, harbored resentment over their racial discrimination and couldn’t be bothered to pay them any attention. Left with no other choice, they turned to Fenny and her friends for help.
Fenny and the others had been practicing dual cultivation with Mu Lin daily, and their beauty had noticeably improved. The two young policewomen could practically see the transformation and naturally assumed Mu Lin was responsible for their radiant appearance. However, Fenny and her friends, aware of the real reason but noticing Mu Lin’s indifference toward the policewomen, felt too awkward to explain. Eventually, they relayed the request to Mu Lin.
Seeing an opportunity, Mu Lin decided to take advantage of the situation—not only would he gain two free laborers, but he could also reduce his own workload.
In truth, there were plenty of workers available, but Mu Lin insisted that only young women—preferably virgins—could handle the task, claiming they were more meticulous and that the medicine’s efficacy would be best preserved this way. His reputation preceded him, and the two naive women, unaware of his ulterior motives, fell right into his trap. Mu Lin simply wanted to vent his frustration.
He boasted that once he successfully refined the “Free and Easy Wanderer Pills,” their problems would be solved. The pills, composed of licorice, angelica, poria, peony root, white atractylodes, and bupleurum, were a classic formula for soothing liver stagnation, nourishing blood, and strengthening the spleen—commonly used in gynecological treatments.
Additionally, the pills could lower blood lipids and reduce age spots, making them suitable for the elderly as well. Traditional Chinese medicine theory held that hyperlipidemia stemmed from “phlegm-turbidity” and “blood stasis,” closely linked to liver and spleen dysfunction. The Free and Easy Wanderer Pills, with their liver-soothing and spleen-strengthening properties, could eliminate these pathological factors, thereby reducing blood lipids.
After taking the pills, cholesterol and triglyceride levels would drop significantly, and even after discontinuation, lipid levels remained stable. Similarly, age spots were believed to result from liver stagnation, kidney deficiency, and blood stasis. The pills could regulate liver function, ensuring smooth qi and blood circulation—preventing stagnation that led to pigmentation.
Moreover, the formula’s blood-nourishing and spleen-fortifying effects ensured proper digestion, ample qi and blood, and kidney nourishment, which naturally dissolved blemishes. Ingredients like ginger and white atractylodes promoted digestive fluid secretion and appetite, while poria had ulcer-preventive properties. Bupleurum and peony root not only relieved pain but also alleviated spasms, especially when combined with licorice.
Mu Lin’s primary goal was to prepare these pills for his clinic—helping the two policewomen was merely a side benefit. After all, free labor was too good to pass up.
The process of pulverizing solid medicine involved applying mechanical force to break molecular cohesion, reducing large particles into smaller ones, thereby increasing surface area—converting mechanical energy into surface energy.
The drier the herbs, the more brittle they became, making them easier to grind. Thus, appropriate drying was necessary before pulverization. Herbs with thin-walled tissues, such as flowers, leaves, and some rhizomes, were easy to grind, whereas woody, viscous, or oily herbs—like animal tendons, bones, and shells—were more challenging.
Traditionally, Chinese medicine was ground manually using mortar and pestle. Now, the two young policewomen became Mu Lin’s human grinding machines.
With time to spare, Mu Lin took the opportunity to have them grind other medicinal ingredients as well, stretching a one-day task into a full week. Faced with the overwhelming workload, the two women were terrified, but their desperation for relief and beauty kept them going. By the week’s end, they had visibly lost weight.
Once the grinding was done, Mu Lin had them assist in decocting the herbs. They watched as he produced a lidded bronze cauldron, filled it with the powdered herbs and water, and began the boiling process.
Their new task was tending the fire—specifically, maintaining a wood-fueled flame for days on end. By the time the decoction was complete, their once-radiant faces were covered in soot and ash. Seeing the two bright-eyed beauties reduced to the state of charcoal sellers, even Fenny and the others couldn’t bear it and pleaded with Mu Lin to ease up. By then, his anger had mostly subsided.
Mu Lin considered excluding the two from further work, but they insisted—since they were the direct beneficiaries of the Free and Easy Wanderer Pills, how could they not participate? No amount of persuasion could change their minds.
“Fine, suit yourselves,” Fenny and the others resigned, deciding it was better to leave and spare themselves the frustration.
Next came the honey-refining process. This involved heating raw honey to remove impurities, deactivate enzymes, kill microbes, reduce moisture, and enhance viscosity. The refined honey, known as “processed honey,” was adjusted based on the medicinal properties, powder moisture, and seasonal temperatures—lighter in winter, thicker in summer.
Throughout the process, Mu Lin had them test the honey’s stickiness and sweetness—using their hands and mouths, of course. By the end, the two women developed such an aversion to honey that they avoided it for life.
Then came pill formation. Traditionally, jujube paste, brown sugar, or flour was added to mask the bitterness of medicinal extracts. Mu Lin, however, incorporated starch and papaya powder to suit Western palates. Once the mixture reached a dough-like consistency, the two women were tasked with rolling it into pills.
A week later, they had become so proficient that their pills were perfectly round and uniform. The downside? They had turned into human pill-rolling machines—now instinctively shaping anything dough-like into tiny spheres, much to Fenny’s amusement and exasperation.
Finally, the pills were coated. The coating material, part of the prescription, served both therapeutic and aesthetic purposes—enhancing efficacy while protecting the pills. In this case, wax was used. By the end, the two women vowed never to touch wax products again.
When Mu Lin finally handed them the finished pills, declaring the ordeal over, the two policewomen burst into tears, sobbing, “It’s finally done—no more damn medicine-making!”
For the rest of their lives, the mere mention of “medicine-making” would trigger an aggressive reaction—anyone who dared bring it up would face their wrath.
Later, Mu Lin was inclined to exclude the two from further work, but they insisted on participating, arguing that as direct beneficiaries of the Xiaoyao Pills, they couldn’t possibly entrust this task to anyone else. No matter how much others tried to persuade them, they refused to listen.
Fine! You reap what you sow, then, Finney and her group thought as they excused themselves, deciding it was better not to see and not to worry.
Next came the honey-processing stage. Honey-processing refers to the process of heating and refining honey. The resulting product is called “refined honey.” Raw honey contains moisture, dead bees, wax, and other impurities, so it must be refined before use. The purpose is to remove impurities, destroy enzymes, kill microorganisms, reduce moisture content, and increase viscosity. The degree of honey refinement depends on the nature of the medicinal ingredients, the moisture content of the powder, and seasonal temperature variations. Under the same conditions, slightly softer honey is generally used in winter, and slightly harder honey in summer.
During the honey-processing, Mu Lin occasionally had them test the viscosity and sweetness of the honey—how? Naturally with their hands and mouths. After one session, the two girls developed a fear of honey and would run away at the sight of it.
Next came the pill-making stage. Traditionally, jujube paste, brown sugar, and flour were added to the herbal paste to mask the bitterness of the medicine. Now, Mu Lin added starch and papaya powder to the herbal paste to suit Western palates. Once the paste became dough-like, he had the two girls roll it into pills. After a week of practice, their pills were perfectly round and uniform. But they had practically become pill-rolling machines, instinctively rolling any dough they saw into tiny pills. Finney and the others couldn’t help but laugh and sigh at the sight.
Then came the coating process. Coating materials are part of the pill formula, serving both medicinal and protective functions. Here, wax coating was used. After finishing, the two girls swore never to touch wax products again.
When Mu Lin finally handed the pills to the two young officers and told them the work was done, they burst into tears of joy, crying loudly, “Finally over! This damned medicine-making!”
For the rest of their lives, the words “making medicine” became a taboo for the two officers. Anyone who mentioned it would face their wrath.
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