Chapter Nine, Medicinal Ingredients

The person gently sat at the edge of the bed, tucked the quilt covering Han Sheng snugly, and then said: "My surname is Wei, and I am the forest keeper here. You can just call me Wu Chushan. This valley is called 'Wolong Valley.' You fell from the mountain and rolled down to the bottom of the valley from halfway up; fortunately, you are quite lucky, as it seems you have only injured one leg. Once the weather improves, I will go and call your family to come and fetch you."

Father chuckled softly and said, "Nonsense, which doctor does not dream of finding a cure for difficult and complicated diseases? However, even after a lifetime of effort, it often proves fruitless. Being able to treat some common ailments is already commendable. Aspiring traditional Chinese medicine practitioners should start from the basics of everyday minor illnesses and not aim too high."

The rocks intertwined like wolf fangs. Just as he slid down for over ten meters, a sudden shadow flashed in the stone crevice, startling Hansheng and nearly causing him to loosen the rope. He looked closely and saw a large sandy-colored old mountain rat, baring its two rows of white, sharp teeth, glaring fiercely at Hansheng. Behind it, in the stone den, there was a group of flesh-colored mountain rat pups. It turned out that he had disturbed the mother mountain rat.

Upon arriving at the old pine tree, I realized that the slope where the licorice grew was incredibly steep, with no path to descend.

The sky was overcast with dark clouds, and heavy rain poured down. The icy rainwater fell on Han Sheng's face, and he slowly regained consciousness, feeling a sharp pain in his right leg, before losing consciousness once again

The desolate guesthouse by the shore, a boat anchored; the bright moon and clear breeze at the ancient ferry. The wild geese do not come, as the clouds seem to darken; a single tree of emerald leaves, fully autumnal.

It is certainly too late to climb up; if the rope breaks before reaching the top, it would result in certain death. Han Sheng looked down and saw that there were still more than 10 meters to the flat ground, so he hurriedly began to descend, putting all other thoughts aside.

A total descent of approximately 40 meters had occurred, and I could already see that patch of licorice field. However, at this moment, I sensed that something was amiss. Looking up, I saw the mother mouse frantically gnawing at the rope hanging in front of the mouse nest

"Waking up so early, did you not sleep well?" the father asked, noticing that his son's eyes were somewhat red.

Han Sheng had never seen such a large mountain mouse, which he estimated was about the same age as himself. He offered a friendly smile to the startled female mouse and then continued his descent.

"Father, is it true that the uglier someone appears, the more handsome they originally were?" Han Sheng seemed to be completely ignoring his father's teachings

Han Sheng explained, "I am becoming increasingly interested in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in those difficult and complicated diseases that others cannot treat"

What is weeping blood syndrome?" Han Sheng suddenly asked

Just when there were only five or six meters left to the bottom, the rope finally snapped, and Han Sheng fell heavily down, feeling a darkness before losing consciousness

"How have you been playing for so long?" the father asked

Han Sheng shouldered the medicine basket, picked up the small medicine hoe, packed the dry rations, whistled, and set off towards Dazhang Mountain with the big yellow dog

Indeed, a sharp pain radiated from my right leg to my hip

The medicinal catalysts are incredibly diverse, "Han Sheng muttered to himself.

Although Han Sheng had visited with his father before, the scenery was always different. In autumn, the mountains are adorned with vibrant red maple leaves, and the valleys are filled with numerous waterfalls, as if dragons are spitting out jade. In this remote place, where human presence is scarce, one truly appreciates the beauty of nature beyond the world.

The term "Yao Yin Zi" refers to the concept of guiding medicinal properties to specific meridians or affected areas using certain herbs as a guide, essentially serving a guiding function for other medicines.

Han Sheng arrived at the Feng family's noodle shop, where his father had been waiting for quite some time.

I was contemplating the issues related to the medicinal catalysts of traditional Chinese herbs last night

The father and son hurriedly ate their noodles, and then rushed to catch the return bus back to Nanshan Village

Your mention has reminded me; please go to Dazhang Mountain today to collect some licorice, as the medicinal herbs at home are nearly depleted

People in the northeastern region of Jiangxi enjoy eating mountain rat meat, often capturing them in the mountains around the time of the beginning of winter. After gutting and removing the internal organs, they are dried, resulting in a golden color, referred to as "Golden Bamboo Mountain Rat Dried Meat." As a result, adult mountain rats harbor a deep fear and hostility towards humans, generally avoiding them.

Mount Dazhang, also known as "Three Sons of Heaven's Mount," is located on the border of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces and is part of the Huangshan mountain range. The Qing dynasty poet Wang Xun wrote: "On Qingfeng Ridge, my eyes are wide open, in front of Leigufeng, I count the nine provinces, coiling over Huizhou and Raozhou for three hundred miles, evenly dividing the two sources of Wu and Chu."

"Don't move, your right leg is broken," the man said in a standard Northern dialect.

"I remember falling from the mountain, how did I end up here?" Han Sheng could not understand.

Having traversed several valleys, he suddenly felt a pang of hunger and thirst. Han Sheng took out some provisions, broke off a piece, and handed it to the large yellow dog, Benben. He then sat on a piece of blue stone and took a few bites. Across from him, a steep hillside was adorned with a patch of reddish-yellow plants that caught his attention; it was high-quality red-skinned licorice, estimated to number in the hundreds.

As he walked along the path, the mountains gradually became higher and the forests denser. Occasionally, he could see jumping black-spotted squirrels on the branches, and he knew that he had already entered the Dazhang Mountain.

"What is it, Hansheng? What are you thinking about?" asked the father beside him

After taking a few sips of the cool and sweet spring water, I then took a detour with Benben to the old pine tree at the top of the opposite mountain, from where we sought a path down to gather some fruits.

At night, Han Sheng lay in bed, experiencing insomnia for the first time, his mind constantly pondering the appearance of Lan Er before she fell ill. On the back of the second page of the "Qing Nang Jing," there is a description of a treatment for weeping blood syndrome, with the main ingredient being Baicao Frost. In the countryside, every household has a wood-burning stove, and when smoke rises from the stove and passes through the stove's eaves, it forms a layer of black frost, which, when scraped off, becomes Baicao Frost. However, the medicinal catalyst is difficult to find, known as "Thunder-struck Riding Cloth." This cloth is coated with a mixture of Baicao Frost and earth paste, and when applied to the face during the hour of Chou, it can heal by the hour of Hai, which amounts to less than twelve hours. Yet, the scriptures do not specify what this cloth actually is.

***

Han Sheng smiled but did not say a word

Han Sheng got up very early and went to the kitchen to start a fire and prepare a meal

This is a simple earthen house with a thatched roof, the walls are coated with lime wash, and a few calligraphic paintings are hung on them. There are simple tables and chairs, and I am lying on an old wooden bed.

The clouds in the sky are gradually thickening, and it is overcast; it is necessary to harvest the licorice before the rain comes

"Bèn bèn, wait for me here," Han Sheng instructed the big yellow dog, while taking a rope from the medicine basket, tying one end securely to the pine tree trunk and the other end around his waist. He then strapped the medicine basket and a small hoe to his back and slowly slid down the steep rocks.

Sitting in the courtyard at night, Han Sheng gazed silently at the stars in the sky.

Han looked at the old man speaking in a foreign dialect with suspicion and asked, "Aren't you a local?"

Han Sheng was taken aback, shouting loudly below in an attempt to scare away the mother rat, but the mother rat paid him no mind and continued to gnaw away. The big yellow dog, Benben, heard the shouting and poked his head out from behind the rocks, looking at Han Sheng with a puzzled expression

The sky is overcast, and I hope it does not rain. On rainy days, the roads in the mountains become slippery, and one could easily fall into the valley if not careful

"Generally, licorice is used as a guide, as it best harmonizes all medicines and is regarded as the king of herbs. Therefore, throughout history, traditional Chinese medicine has revered licorice as the 'National Elder.' To truly understand it, one must put in considerable effort. Well, I will teach you when I have time," explained my father.

Licorice, which is used as a medicinal catalyst, is a leguminous plant that must be harvested in the spring and autumn seasons. It is cut into thick slices and dried for use. It primarily grows in semi-arid regions, and in Jiangxi, where rainfall is abundant, it is generally found only on steep, sunlit slopes.

The father looked at him with a peculiar expression, pondered for a moment, and said: "I have heard that in ancient times, there was an emperor in the Shu Kingdom named Wang Di. Due to poor governance, his country ultimately fell apart, leading to the destruction of his family. After his death, his spirit transformed into a cuckoo, crying blood every night in sorrow, earning the title 'Cuckoo Crying Blood.' According to ancient medical texts, there is a rare disease among the people where the appearance of the patient changes; the handsome become ugly, while the ugly become beautiful, and even their speaking voice changes. However, regardless of how they change, there is one commonality: the tears they shed are red, resembling blood. In ancient times, people believed that this disease was caused by excessive longing for loved ones, leading to the depletion of kidney water and the rise of liver fire, much like that Wang Di, hence it was called the 'Crying Blood Syndrome.' You ask about this for what purpose?"

"Where is this, and who are you?" Han Sheng asked, while attempting to rise.

Why is it necessary to use a medication primer

You are awake. A lean man with a short, grizzled beard entered Han Sheng's line of sight; this man appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old

"Well, perhaps it is," the father mumbled, thinking to himself that this child must be daydreaming about all sorts of nonsense, and there was certainly no hope for a career as a doctor.

Uncertain of how much time had passed, Han Sheng finally began to awaken slowly

What exactly is "thunderstrike riding cloth"?