Ghostly Fragrance [COMPLETED] [UNEDITED]

Bird Nest Soup

Fangsu followed the boy to a dilapidated house, the crooked roof tiles were barely holding on to the makeshift cementing which was mainly made of rice flour, the walls that were meant to protect the residents from the element was eroding, the floor creaked even with the slightest pressure and the support beams were bending from moisture seeping from poor maintenance. There was a slight mouldy smell that was being emitted from the walls where the moisture was seeping into.

A dry hoarse cough echoed through the small house which was quite familiar to Fangsu. The same dry cough was exactly the same as her mother's who would constantly neglect her health in order to care for her children, "A' Jin, did you have something to eat today?" The boy's mother's posture was slouched as her thin arms pushed against the wall tried to support her weight, "Do you want to eat something now?" Her thin and weak physique caused Fangsu to frown as she felt her heart being twisted at the sight of the frail woman.

A' Jin rushed to his mother, "Mummy! Why did you get out of bed! " Supporting her to an old chair so that she could rest, "You should be resting!" He rushed to the kitchen to make some tea for the client and his mother.

Fangsu awkwardly stood in the room hoping that she wouldn't be noticed, however, the mother had noticed her, "Who are you?" The frail woman seated herself in a more comfortable position. On closer inspection the woman's limb were bony thin, her hollowed cheek was devoid of colour, her hair was brittle and broken at the ends.

Fangsu grasped her finger together as she awkwardly stood in the middle of the room, "I hired your son to harvest some bird nests," Briefly explaining her presence in the room.

The woman rushed to Fangsu in a panicked manner, "Did anyone follow you to the ravine?" Tightly grasping her shoulders. However, Fangsu shook her head, assuming that no one had followed the two of them. The woman released a breath as her stiff shoulders lessened to a more relaxed state before returning back to the chair she was previously sitting on.

A' Jin came into the room carrying a tray with cups and a teapot to serve to the client, "Young Master! Mummy! Drink some tea," He began serving the tea to both his mother and Fangsu, "Young Master, can you look at my mother?" A' Jin asked. Fangsu nodded her head as she seated herself next to the frail woman, pressing her finger against the pulse. Occasionally, questions were asked about her health history and lifestyle.

Underneath her finger, Fangsu felt that the pulse was unstable and weak, "You're are suffering from anemia in combination with other health problem," Sucking in air through her teeth, "Ordinary treatments will not be able to help you," Fangsu knew that this frail woman suffers from a mouldy environment that would worsen her condition, malnutrition, stress and anemia. Treatment for the fragile woman would be the establishment of a balanced diet to accommodate the malnutrition and anemia. Moving to a cleaner environment to improve air quality.

Fangsu pitied the poor mother and son having to suffer in an inhospitable environment that would not accommodate their needs and especially since the moth was of ill health; it was of most importance that the mother to be in an environment to recuperate her health otherwise A' Jin would be left alone, "Young Master, is it incurable?" A' Jin downcasted his eyes as the low prospects on his mother's health.

Fangsu nodded her head as she held her hands together, "It honestly depends," Released a breathe as her heart ached painfully for the poor woman, "But with regular treatments then you can manage it," Fangsu summoned out ginseng, jujube and honey. Entering the kitchen, she took out a knife.

A' Jin followed her to the kitchen as she began cutting the pits out of the jujube and the heads of the ginseng, "What are you making?" Peering at the ingredients with a confused expression.