Chapter 8: Sleep Wherever You Like

Gong Langzhong was utterly astonished; he had never seen the prescriptions of Gu Yezhou before, and he was currently using them without knowing their efficacy. However, Gu Yezhou's skillful and remarkably mystical acupuncture techniques left him dumbfounded. It is important to note that the level of acupuncture can be assessed in two ways: first, by the precision of the acupoint selection, and second, by the proficiency and smoothness of the technique. Moreover, the art of acupuncture is generally not passed down. In medical practice, there are only acupoints, and very few teach the techniques of acupuncture. This is because many acupuncture methods can only be understood intuitively rather than verbally articulated; they cannot be written down and must be grasped through personal insight. It is akin to a recipe: even if all the steps are provided, one may still be unable to create a dish that is visually appealing, aromatic, and flavorful.

It is used for cooking a lot!

Gong Langzhong said with a hint of embarrassment: "I was originally worried that you were not skilled in acupuncture and feared it might harm your health, so I came to take a look. Now I see that you are indeed a master in the field, and I can rest assured. I shall take my leave now"

Dr. Gong has practiced medicine for several decades and has encountered many skilled acupuncturists; however, he has never seen anyone with acupuncture techniques as proficient and acupoint selection as precise as that of Gu Yezhou. Not to mention anything else, just this skill alone makes Dr. Gong feel inferior.

Gong Langzhong looked at the changing expressions on his face, feeling somewhat apprehensive. After all, he was not someone who specialized in academic pursuits. Although what he was saying was quite simple and he was aware of it himself, he was still afraid that there might be inaccuracies in some parts, which would lead to the scholar's ridicule

Ancient Leaf Boat Path: "Please stay a moment, Master Gong."

Gu Yezhou saw that Ning Sanmei did not move, and said again: "Hurry up!"

Gu Yezhou further inquired: "The renowned pediatrician Qian Yi of the Song Dynasty possesses profound expertise in pediatrics. What is your opinion, Dr. Gong?"

Gu Yezhou asked Ning Sanmei to prepare the internal medicine again. Just as Ning Sanmei placed the medicine pot on the fire to brew the medicine, Mo Huaixiang returned, holding a handful of salt, and handed it to Mo Huaixiang, saying: "Take it!"

Ancient Leaf Boat Path: "Where is the golden needle?"

"I did not mean that," Gu Ye Zhou listened to him say, "Our Tang Dynasty," and felt a stir in his heart, then asked: "Is it now the Tang Dynasty?"

Indeed

What made him even less inclined to delve deeper was the voice that had spoken during his crossing, which had said that the world he had arrived in would ultimately face destruction amidst natural and man-made disasters. What was the point of knowing so much? The most crucial thing was to find that police car and leave this world that was on the brink of annihilation

Gong Langzhong shook his head again, his face showing a look of shame: "I have not heard of it."

It is almost ready. I will pour it for you to drink now

Death? Everyone wishes for his death, yet he is living quite well, having taken over Chang'an Ah!

This is not a good era, but a time of great chaos. Gu Yezhou is deeply worried, hoping that he is mistaken, and asks: "Has Huang Chao, this rebel, already died?"

As the golden needle was inserted, Gu Yezhou immediately felt a significant reduction in the severe pain in his head, and the nausea and vomiting in his chest quickly disappeared. The surroundings also became much brighter. He finally let out a sigh of relief

Gu Ye Zhou listened to his laughter, which carried a hint of bitterness, knowing that he was worried because of his own revelation, concerned that he might take away his livelihood. He originally wanted to say that he would not practice medicine, to reassure Gong Langzhong, but then he thought about how he had crossed over to this ancient time, which had suffered from two consecutive years of drought. To survive and live well, he could only rely on his medical skills. Since they were in the same profession, competition was inevitable. Thus, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He turned to ask Ning Sanmei: "Is the medicine ready?"

Famous Ming Dynasty physician Li Shizhen

Ning Sanmei gently bit her red lips and cast him a resentful glance in the darkness: "Well... I will sleep in the granary next door. If you have anything to say, just knock on the wall behind, and I will hear it and come over"

Gong Langzhong was taken aback again: "Qian Yi? The Song Dynasty? — I, an old man, have never heard of it, as you say, due to my ignorance and limited knowledge."

Having organized everything, Ning Sanmei finally let out a sigh of relief, only to realize that her forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat

Ning Sanmei originally intended to say that the vegetables in her family's field had withered and turned yellow, making them inedible. Aside from pickled vegetables and preserved vegetables, there were no fresh vegetables left to stir-fry with salt. However, she was afraid that Mo Huaixiang might run back to get some vegetables, so she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Gong Langzhong quickly took out the gold needle tube and handed it over

Mo Huaixiang glanced out the window; the sky had completely darkened, with stars twinkling. In their kitchen, only the glow of the fire in the stove illuminated the space, and no additional lights were lit. Thus, the light was very dim

Having said that, Mo Huaixiang also took her leave and departed

Huang Chao? The Huang Chao Uprising? Huang Chao from "Curse of the Golden Flower"?

Gu Yezhou shook his head without understanding the nuances: "Gong Lang has overpraised me. I have merely learned a little bit in my spare time, and it is nothing significant."

"Salt... well, there hasn't been any salt at home for a long time..." Ning Sanmei said

Gu Yezhou understood that the ancients would rise with the sun and rest at sunset. As long as there were no matters to attend to, they would go to bed early in the evening. At that moment, he simply nodded.

After Doctor Gong left, Mo Huaixiang looked at Gu Yezhou with some surprise: "Sir, how is it that you do not even know about the Huang Chao Rebellion? Did you not discuss all of this with everyone?"

Upon hearing this, Doctor Gong laughed, stroked his beard, and said: "What is there to hesitate about? Please feel free to ask, sir."

Good! Mo Huaixiang immediately ran out.

Gu Yezhou pondered for a moment and said, "In the renowned work 'Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies' by the famous physician Sun Simiao of the Tang Dynasty, there are some formulas and medicines that I do not quite understand. Would Dr. Gong be willing to offer some guidance?"

Then why did the village head, Uncle Mo, say it was 'Da Qi'?

Ning Sanmei assisted Gu Yezhou in removing his clothing, and when only his inner garment remained, she intended to help him take it off as well. However, he stopped her and gestured that it was fine to sleep like this. Thus, Ning Sanmei helped him lie down to rest

The mention of "Apricot Forest" stirred something in Gu Yezhou's heart. This term for traditional Chinese medicine originates from the "Records of Immortals" during the Three Kingdoms period, which documents the legend of the renowned physician Dong Feng. Since Doctor Gong was able to use this term, it indicates that the era to which he has now traveled must be after the Three Kingdoms. Of course, this is merely another world parallel to the real ancient one.

You can sleep wherever you like

Mo Huaixiang immediately said: "I have it at home, I will go get it! How much do you need?"

Doctor Gong shook his head again

Alright! Thank you!

Well, you must hurry and take your medicine. Remembering things, the children in our village are counting on you to teach them well, so that they can achieve success and perhaps even become scholars in the future. Alright, I won't say more. It's getting dark, so I will head back now

Gong Langzhong hurriedly stood up and clasped his hands, saying: "Then this old man shall take my leave"

Since he knew he had crossed over to a world similar to the Tang Dynasty, Gu Yezhou, relying on his understanding of the imperial examination system, understood why the villagers called him a scholar while he lived a life so poor that he had to gnaw on coarse rice cakes. This was because, in the Tang Dynasty, apart from the term "scholar" referring to those who passed the examination, anyone who participated in the imperial examination was also called a scholar, which is different from the scholars of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Therefore, he was merely a literate person who had taken the imperial examination and had likely not passed. However, in a mountain village where most peasants were illiterate, this was already quite rare, and thus he was respected by them. This was because, in the Tang Dynasty, apart from the term "scholar" referring to those who passed the examination, anyone who participated in the imperial examination was also called a scholar, which is different from the scholars of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Therefore, he was merely a literate person who had taken the imperial examination and had likely not passed. However, in a mountain village where most peasants were illiterate, this was already quite rare, and thus he was respected by them. However, Tang Dynasty scholars had certain privileges because they were approved by the county magistrate to participate in the imperial examination and were considered the magistrate's students. For instance, they were exempt from taxes, did not have to bow when meeting officials, and could not be arrested or tortured without the magistrate's approval. They had privileges but no money to enjoy them, so life was a bit hard, making him a poor scholar. However, Tang Dynasty scholars had certain privileges because they were approved by the county magistrate to participate in the imperial examination and were considered the magistrate's students. For instance, they were exempt from taxes, did not have to bow when meeting officials, and could not be arrested or tortured without the magistrate's approval. They had privileges but no money to enjoy them, so life was a bit hard, making him a poor scholar.

Since this Doctor Gong only knows about Sun Simiao from the Tang Dynasty, but is unaware of figures from the Song Dynasty onwards, it can be inferred that the era I have arrived in must be situated between the Tang and Song Dynasties

Doctor Gong smiled and asked, "Sir, your acupuncture technique is truly remarkable! It turns out you are a hidden master in the field of traditional Chinese medicine!"

Gu Yezhou felt very complicated emotions and did not want to speak much, so he forced a smile and said to Doctor Gong: "The day is already late, so I will not disturb you any further. Let us talk another day."

I do not speak of the research, but I do know a bit about their poetry

A grasp of three points with the fingertips will suffice

I have several medical questions that I would like to consult about. May I ask if Dr. Gong would be willing to provide guidance

Ning Sanmei interjected, "The gentleman has just sustained an injury to his head, and he cannot remember many things. After taking the medicine, he will gradually start to recall them."

The late Tang Dynasty

This is too much, the gentleman said, just three minutes will suffice

That was the work of the rebel Huang Chao after he captured Chang'an and declared himself emperor, and it does not count

She brought a wooden basin, scooped a small ladle of clear water, added a pinch of salt according to Gu Yezhou's instructions, then removed the bandage from Gu Yezhou's head, washed away the ointment on the wound at the back of his head with the saline solution, and following Gu Yezhou's orders, applied the external medicine and re-bandaged it properly

Gu Yezhou pondered for a moment and then said, "Have you studied the great Tang dynasty poets Li Bai and Du Fu?"

Gong Langzhong had already stood up but sat down again: "Is there anything else, sir?"

The research is not substantial, and I only have a limited understanding. Unfortunately, the original text has been lost and cannot be found. What I have in hand are merely some scattered prescriptions and records

Gu Yezhou's heart sank to the bottom, as he found himself transported to the chaotic era of the Huang Chao Rebellion at the end of the Tang Dynasty. It no longer mattered who was the emperor, for he understood that the emperors of the late Tang were essentially controlled by eunuchs, with warlords carving out their own territories and waging battles against one another, leaving the emperor unable to exert any control.

Gu Yezhou, with the assistance of Ning Sanmei, settled down and skillfully disinfected the golden needles with a medicinal solution before deftly inserting them into his own acupoints, including Ashi, Fengchi, Hegu, Taichong, Tianzhu, and Kunlun.

Oh, what about the warm disease scholar Liu Wansu from the Jin-Yuan period

Ning Sanmei sat with Gu Yezhou for a while, then whispered to him, "Let us also go to sleep."

Then, Ning Sanmei extinguished the furnace fire of the forge, standing by the forge in the darkness, and asked: "Sir, you have asked me to stay, so where shall I sleep?"

Are you familiar with the An Lushan Rebellion?" Gu Yezhou asked again

Merely superficial, yet it is already so remarkable. If the gentleman were to devote himself to medicine, I fear that this old man would have no means of livelihood. Hahaha

Gu Yezhou casually asked, "Has Doctor Gong conducted any research on Zhang Zhongjing's 'Treatise on Febrile Diseases'?"

Gong Langzhong said: "I do know a bit about Sun Simiao's 'Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergency Use.' However, I cannot claim to offer guidance."

Gong Langzhong expressed some displeasure: "How could I possibly be unaware of such a significant event happening in our Tang Dynasty? Sir, you underestimate me too much, don't you?"