Chapter 2, Wei the Blind

Tan XX said: "I am in very good health, your son does not need to do business with me"

On the day I went, there weren't many patients. I heard Wei the Blind muttering some incomprehensible strange language when he wasn't speaking to the patients. I couldn't tell if he was talking to himself or practicing some method of healing. I listened carefully and found the strange sounds to have a rhythmic quality, reminiscent of a fast-paced drumbeat, yet also mysterious like a prayer. I was so engrossed that I suddenly saw Wei the Blind lift his head in my direction, as if he were paying attention to me, but he is blind. I listened intently and found the strange sounds to have a rhythmic quality, reminiscent of a fast-paced drumbeat, yet also mysterious like a prayer. I was so engrossed that I suddenly saw Wei the Blind lift his head in my direction, as if he were paying attention to me, but he is blind. How could he notice me? I hadn't said anything; I was just listening to the words coming from his mouth. Wei the Blind stopped muttering the strange language and a faint, eerie smile lingered at the corner of his mouth. At that moment, I didn't understand his actions or what he was hinting at, but years later, an incident I encountered made me realize why Wei the Blind had noticed me and why he smiled at me. That is a story for another time; I will tell it tomorrow. At that moment, I didn't understand his actions or what he was hinting at, but years later, an incident I encountered made me realize why Wei the Blind had noticed me and why he smiled at me. That is a story for another time; I will tell it tomorrow.

For some unknown reason, Wei the Blind Man wandered to Yichang Mopan. I wonder what kind of predicament he was in when he, being blind, roamed around the world; it is impossible to know. For some unknown opportunity, he arrived at Mopan and chose not to leave, settling down and starting to practice medicine in a clinic.

I once watched that watchmaker at work; his toes were truly agile, deftly handling those tiny, almost invisible screws and springs with remarkable ease. I was genuinely impressed

Wei the Blind said: "You may drink or not drink, it is up to you to decide for yourself"

Later, I also had the opportunity to visit Wei Xiezi's clinic to gain some experience, accompanying someone else for a medical consultation

Wei Xiezi is a renowned physician in Yichang. I believe that anyone from Yichang, when mentioning traditional Chinese medicine, will certainly think of Wei Xiezi. Nowadays, as one travels deeper into the mountains from Mopan, there is a section of road that connects the villages within the mountains to National Highway 318. At the intersection, a stone tablet has been erected, which introduces the life and achievements of Wei Xiezi. He donated 100,000 RMB for this road, and 100,000 is not a small amount in the 1990s.

The "Suwen" section of the "Neijing" contains many chapters that discuss methods for determining a patient's death. It is not surprising that traditional Chinese medicine can predict life and death. However, these methods are based on observing the patient's complexion, and some require thorough diagnosis. Wei the Blind, relying solely on sound, is able to master this skill, which is not simple

In the past, there were two remarkable individuals in Wujia Gang. One was a watchmaker at the Wujia Gang market, who, despite having no hands and his arms severed at the elbows, repaired watches using his feet. Moreover, his craftsmanship was exceptionally skilled, surpassing that of others who used their hands. The most outstanding watch repairer in the entire city turned out to be this disabled person who manipulated small parts with his toes.

Another remarkable individual is Wei the Blind, known for his grinding wheel. Wei the Blind is a person of great renown. I shall not fabricate another surname to create an air of mystery.

Tan XX mentioned above, three months before his death, was in excellent health, showing no symptoms at all. He feasted on fish and meat at every meal, drinking a pound of liquor in one sitting; he could pin a pig down on a bench for others to slaughter; he could inflate a dead pig with a single breath.

Wei the Blind has now passed away, but his medical clinic remains, and it is run by his eldest disciple. It is said that his eldest disciple was originally one of his patients, and in gratitude for the care he received, he voluntarily stayed to assist him. Over time, he also gained some teachings in the medical arts.

Tan XX did not believe it at all, and when he returned home, he treated the matter as a joke and spoke of it everywhere. However, less than a month later, he fell ill and went to the hospital for an examination, where he was diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer. Upon returning home, he could not get out of bed, and soon after, he could not eat or drink anything. It was not long before he passed away

Tan XX does not understand the meaning, but his friend is anxious, which indicates that Wei the Blind has already sentenced Tan XX to death. In Wei the Blind's view, Tan XX is already a dead man. The fact that he is too lazy to even collect money shows that Tan XX's illness is beyond cure. Sending him a few prescriptions is merely a formality.

Tan XX said, "I am not ill, so why should I take any medicine"

The sign of Wei Xiezi is his own, and he took this sign with him to the grave after his death

That Tan XX, having obtained a badge for his friend, was waiting outside. At that time, many people were already waiting outside. Tan XX has a rather boisterous personality; feeling bored while queuing, he started chatting with the patients outside. His voice was loud, and he was both talking and laughing, making quite a ruckus.

He accompanied a friend to seek medical attention, as that friend asked him for help to ride his motorcycle to the grinding plate. It is quite troublesome to find Wei the Blind for treatment at the grinding plate, as there are many people seeking his medical services. (I once worked near the grinding plate and often encountered a car stopping beside me, asking if this was the grinding plate, and then inquiring where Mr. Wei practiced medicine.) The queue for medical treatment is very long, so there is a procedure similar to that of registering at a public hospital, where those waiting for treatment do not receive a number tag, but instead wait for Wei the Blind's apprentice to call out the numbers, allowing one person at a time to enter for treatment. It seems that there are also some villagers from the grinding plate who are not engaged in proper work, specifically taking number tags and queuing, then selling them to patients seeking treatment. These matters are not worth discussing, they are merely idle talk

Wei the Blind casually remarked: "I never said I wanted to take your money"

Unfortunately, the apprentice's skills have diminished. The grandeur of the past is no longer present

I believe the actual situation is certainly not as understated as what is inscribed on the monument, but I have no means to verify what the true circumstances are.

Then Wei the Blind called his disciple, Tan XX, to come in. Tan XX entered and asked the old gentleman if he had any instructions. Wei the Blind remained silent and just listened to him speak. When Tan XX stopped talking, Wei the Blind took his pulse and then prepared several doses of medicine for Tan XX, instructing him to take them home and drink.

From the stele of merit, it can be seen that Wei Xiazi is not from Yichang; it seems that his ancestral home is either from Gong'an or Qianjiang, but I do not remember clearly. After so many years, I truly cannot recall. In any case, he is from the Jingzhou area.

It was summer, and the weather was very hot, but the interior was exceptionally cool. The damp and refreshing coolness enveloped me as soon as I entered, carrying away all the heat from my body. Moreover, this coolness was not the kind of eerie chill, but rather a very comfortable and pure cold. Wei the Blind Man was seated on a bamboo bed, cross-legged, diagnosing the visitors. Several disciples were assisting nearby, fetching medicine according to his prescriptions.