Chapter 8, Going to the Market
Han Sheng grabbed the silkworm, used one hand to pry open Lan Er's mother's mouth, and stuffed the silkworm into her mouth
On the ground in front of the little girl lay a piece of cowhide paper, on which was written in a crooked manner: Seeking a doctor, my mother has a strange illness, if someone cures her, I will repay with my body
The text appears to be incomplete or consists solely of symbols. Please provide a complete sentence or phrase for translation.
"So, is it true that the divine doctor exists and it is not just a rumor?" Huang Qiansui looked at his brother-in-law and exhaled a puff of smoke
"Brother-in-law, this matter is absolutely true. Many people at the market have witnessed it with their own eyes. It is said that the old woman's illness is what they call 'frozen person syndrome,' and it was cured in just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea." Meng Zhuqi stated emphatically.
Han Sheng's face flushed red, and he nodded slightly
It became simple from there; Han Sheng placed the silkworm into the bowl, and the worm, upon seeing the blood and ash, unexpectedly opened its mouth and began to eat
"What? You say it can be cured?" The old man's ears were quite sharp.
The girl raised her head, and a wave of hissing arose from the crowd. However, one could see that the girl's brow bone was prominent, her eye sockets deeply sunken, her small eyes like beans, her flat nose and large mouth, and her face was covered in freckles, making her extraordinarily ugly
Huang Qiansui nodded and said, "Master Wu makes a valid point, but our Chinese nation has a long history of five thousand years, during which many extraordinary individuals have emerged from the folk traditions. It is not impossible that among them there could be a few miraculous doctors, just like you, Master, who is also a leader in the field of Yin-Yang and Feng Shui"
After Han Sheng left his father, he wandered around aimlessly and inadvertently discovered a crowd gathered ahead. As he approached, he saw a little girl in a tattered blue floral coat kneeling on the ground, with an elderly woman behind her, her hair gray and her body frail, barely clinging to life. The onlookers all sighed in sympathy.
Hmph, if the cause of the illness is unknown, how can it be treated? Today's young people are unaware of the vastness of the world.
Han Sheng ignored the puzzled gazes of the crowd and walked straight to Lan Er's mother, crouched down, grabbed a handful of her hair, and with a "snap," cut off a lock.
***
As everyone was filled with astonishment, Lan'er Niang opened her eyes and slowly sat up...
"Brother-in-law, I think so too." Meng Zhuqi's expression was somewhat excited
"Little girl, this illness seems to be called 'Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis'. Unless Hua Tuo were to be reincarnated or Bian Que were to come back to life, there is simply no cure. It would be better to arrange for your affairs early," said the white-bearded old man selling dog-skin plaster at the side.
The warm sunlight shone upon her, gradually evaporating the white frost
Han Sheng recalled the words in the wooden box letter, "Those who have received the teachings should hang their pot to benefit the world." The plight of this mother and daughter was so pitiful that, since the "Qing Nang Jing" contains a prescription for treating the "Ice Man," he should take the risk to give it a try. He looked around and said, "I need a pair of scissors, a bowl of water, and a box of matches."
Han Sheng's face flushed, and he said softly, "At the next grand market, if it's still here, I will treat your weeping blood syndrome again." After saying this, he slipped out of the crowd and ran away like a gust of wind
Han Sheng shook his head: "I don't know"
Han Sheng nodded gently
"Little girl, what illness did your mother have?" someone in the crowd asked.
"Hemorrhagic Syndrome." Han Sheng blurted out.
Wu Daoming smiled slightly and said: "Director Huang, to my knowledge, 'Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis' is internationally referred to as 'Motor Neuron Disease'. The motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord of patients are attacked for unknown reasons, leading to gradual muscle atrophy, weakness, and paralysis, as if the body is slowly being frozen. Typically, patients tend to die within two years. This disease is listed as one of the five major incurable diseases in the world, and there have been no known cases of cure globally."
The current master is Huang Qiansui, the director of the county revolutionary committee, and he is also the brother-in-law of Meng Zhuqi from Nanshan Town
A booing sound arose from the crowd, who would be willing to marry such an ugly girl
It is unclear how much time has passed, but suddenly someone called out softly. As everyone looked closely, they discovered that a thin layer of white mist was rising from Lan'er’s skin and clothing. As the mist grew thicker, it eventually formed a layer of white frost.
"Little girl, how old are you this year?" someone else asked
Lan'er gazed at Han Sheng's back, tears of a faint red hue streaming down from her deeply sunken eyes
Alright, you will conduct a secret investigation into the matter of the divine doctor, with the key objective of determining its authenticity. If it is false, then those who spread the rumors must be apprehended, and you are to report to me at any time. Additionally, the search for the dragon's lair must be expedited, and utmost confidentiality must be maintained.
"Young man, stop talking nonsense. Do you know how this illness is contracted?" The old man looked at him with a hint of disdain.
Director Huang, I have also been pondering this issue. It is said that the young miracle doctor at the market cured the old woman using ash made from a green worm and hair. If this is indeed true, there are hundreds of thousands of patients with 'Lou Gehrig's disease' in the world, but with just this one remedy, how much could it be worth in billions of dollars? The business opportunities here are limitless
Oh... Lan'er cried upon hearing this, her tears falling onto the paper book, surprisingly taking on a light red hue
It is a pity that no matter how advanced the medical skills of doctors in this world may be, it is still difficult to cure this ailment, the old man sighed
The "Qing Nang Jing" records that within the five elements of earth, there are silkworms of five colors: white, blue, black, red, and yellow, which absorb the essence of the earth and are extremely effective in medicine. It is also a coincidence that the first disease treated by the wood silkworm is the "Ice Man," which can be said to be a perfect match for the condition
It can be cured, Han Sheng said, his voice so low that only he could hear it
***
Who is he? Lan'er asked
Han felt equally tense, uncertain about what would happen next. From the perspective of the Five Elements theory, the symptoms of the "Ice Person" should belong to the Water element. When Water is at its peak, it becomes ice. The green color of the silkworms and the eggs of the mulberry moth belongs to the Wood element. In the Five Elements, Water can nourish Wood, and conversely, Wood can drain Water. From the standpoint of Traditional Chinese Medicine, using Earth to forcibly control Water is much harsher than a gentler approach, which aligns with Lan'er Niang's frail constitution.
Director Huang waved his hand, stood up, and paced on the ground, saying meaningfully: "We will not discuss money; even if it is the contribution of the Chinese nation to the world, its impact is immensely significant. As far as I know, among the older generation of revolutionary leaders in the central government, there are those suffering from this terminal illness. If we can cure it, we can ensure that the revolutionary foundation remains unchanged forever, and that is the greatest contribution."
"Yes," Meng Zhuqi and Wu Daoming replied
In a moment, the silkworm's belly swelled up, and its skin turned even greener, likely because it had eaten its fill, and thus it closed its eyes to sleep
The remarkable aspect of the "Qing Nang Jing" is that it requires only one main ingredient, and the medicinal catalyst is exceptionally unique, even beyond comprehension. For the treatment of the "Ice Man," the main ingredient is the wood silkworm, and the catalyst is "Xue Yu," which is annotated in the text as the patient's hair.
Lan'er Niang's throat twitched a few times as she swallowed the silkworms
"Oh, this young man actually knows about 'weeping blood syndrome,' which is also an ancient incurable disease. Are you studying medicine?" the old man turned his head in surprise and said
He placed his hair in a porcelain bowl, then struck a match to ignite it, producing a burnt smell. After it turned to ashes, he took out the green clay egg from his pocket and forcefully smashed it on the ground
Lan'er turned around, her eyes brimming with tears, and knelt before Han Sheng, bowing her head in gratitude, saying: "Divine Doctor, you have cured my mother, and Lan'er is willing to repay you with my hand in marriage."
"The divine doctor, truly a divine doctor!" someone exclaimed
At this moment, everyone was already stunned, even the old man with white beard beside them was staring intently. Lan'er knelt beside her mother, her body trembling slightly
The crowd gradually dispersed, and news of the miraculous doctor in Wuyuan spread like wildfire, reaching most of the county town by that evening
At dusk, within the city of Wuyuan, there stands an ancient and deep courtyard.
The elders present immediately erupted in cheers, while several women wiped the tears from their faces, and Lan'er rushed into her mother's embrace
If my mother is cured, I am willing to marry you, Lan'er said firmly
In the main reception room, surrounded by swirling cigarette smoke, three individuals are seated on the huanghuali wood armchairs.
Han Sheng made a sound of "hm".
There is a green caterpillar! People exclaimed in astonishment
My name is Lan'er, and I am sixteen years old. My mother fell ill with this strange disease last December, and over the past year, her condition has worsened, leaving her body stiff as if frozen, and she can only curl up into a ball. The hospital said this disease is incurable and advised us to prepare for her final arrangements. I kneel and plead with all the esteemed gentlemen, hoping for a glimmer of hope; I am willing to work like a cow or a horse.
Lan'er Niang's curled body gradually unfurled, and Lan'er's tense expression also relaxed.
Thank heavens, Han Sheng cautiously pinched the green caterpillar and held it in the palm of his hand. The silkworm was plump and chubby, wriggling with its two greenish-blue little eyes wide open.
There must be silkworms in the eggs, he prayed in his heart
This residence is a typical Hu-style ancient dwelling, featuring a three-entry courtyard, powder-coated walls, gray tiles, high gable walls, and flying ridges. The courtyard is adorned with winding corridors, and particularly noteworthy are the wooden carvings on the door canopy. To the east are depictions of fishermen, woodcutters, farmers, and scholars, while to the west are representations of musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The carvings are exquisitely crafted, suggesting that it once belonged to a family of scholarly lineage or an official household.
Han Sheng listened, his voice hoarse like a frog's croak, and his eardrums were painfully pierced.
"Brother, can you heal my mother?" Lan'er looked at Han Sheng with confusion
Huang Qiansui turned his gaze to the person on his right: "Master Wu, what do you think?" This person was none other than the Feng Shui master from Hong Kong, Wu Daoming
Han Sheng was taken aback upon first seeing her, thinking to himself that there could be such an ugly woman in the world. Just as he was pondering this, he heard the girl begin to speak.
In Jiangxi, there are many warm-hearted people, and everything is already prepared. As the news spreads, more people gather at the market.