One time Wong-Ziang’s mother fell sick. He said, “I will go for the doctor.” But his mother said, “I have no silver. Wait and you will soon have work. I think I shall be well then.”
But Wong-Ziang ran to the city of Nim-Chu and asked the doctor to come to his mother. He said to him as they went to his mother’s house:
“My mother did not get up at sunrise. She is weak and sick and can not eat food. She does not want a doctor, as we have no silver, but I believe you will wait and, when I get work, I will pay you.” The doctor [[113]]said, “I always help the poor when I can, and will not charge you this time.”
When they reached the widow’s home, the doctor made the examination of the tongue, the eyes, and the pulse. He then said, “She is very weak. I will leave medicine, but it is better that she eat good food that she likes. Twice in five days, she should have a carp fish boiled in rice wine. But it is winter and the river is frozen. I know not how you will get that fish,” and then he went away.
Wong-Ziang gave his mother the medicine, and she asked, “What did the doctor say about me?”
“He said you needed a carp fish cooked in rice wine so that you may be strong,” answered Wong-Ziang. “It is very easy for me to find one. I am going now to the river.”
But the mother said, “Not now, my son. Wait until spring. The river is covered with ice.”
“I will see,” said Wong-Ziang; and he put on his fishing clothes.[2]
His mother said, “I fear you will die, if you go into the water.”
“I will see first if there are any fish,” said he. [[114]]