My 1995 Small Farm.

Nine o'clock the next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the old-fashioned wooden lattice windows of the guesthouse, casting dappled shadows on the dark red carpet.

Chen Ling's family had already gotten up and washed up.

Wang Susu played with Kang Kang and Lele in the room, while Rui Rui and Wang Zhenzhen leaned against the window, curiously watching the bustling flow of bicycles and the occasional yellow taxi passing by downstairs.

Chen Ling changed into a slightly worn leather jacket, which made him look composed and capable.

He instructed Wang Susu, "Susu, I'll go to the hospital to check on things. You guys wander around the neighborhood for a bit, buy some odds and ends for the journey, but don't go too far. I'll be back as soon as possible."

"Okay, go ahead, be careful on the road."

Wang Susu straightened her husband's collar and whispered some words of advice.

Chen Ling nodded, picked up the old medicine box containing the special medicine box and simple acupuncture tools, left the guesthouse, and walked to the nearby Municipal People's Hospital.

In the late 1990s, the main building of the Municipal People's Hospital was a gray, five-story Soviet-style building with mottled marks all over its walls.

There were many bicycles and several rare Santana and Jeep cars parked in the yard.

The air was filled with the complex smells of disinfectant, traditional Chinese medicine, and the crowds.

The registration hall was packed with people, a mix of coughs, children's cries, and anxious inquiries.

Chen Ling bypassed the noisy outpatient hall and followed the signs to the inpatient department at the back.

As soon as I reached the stairwell of the surgical ward on the third floor, I saw an elderly man in his fifties, wearing a dark blue Zhongshan suit, with gray hair, black-rimmed glasses, and a refined yet deeply anxious face, pacing back and forth in the corridor, rubbing his hands.

Standing next to him was an old woman of the same age, wearing a dark purple jacket with her hair neatly combed, but with red eyes and a haggard face.

The two kept glancing towards the stairs, their expressions anxious.

Chen Ling knew that this was probably Professor Li, Zhao Yubao's old friend, and his wife.

He quickly stepped forward and politely inquired, "Excuse me, are you Professor Li and Aunt Li? I am Chen Ling, introduced by Uncle Zhao Yubao."

The elderly couple turned around abruptly upon hearing the sound, their eyes immediately falling on Chen Ling.

Professor Li was taken aback for a moment, seemingly not expecting that the "Boss Chen" whom Zhao Yubao described as "extremely capable" was so young.

But he quickly realized what was happening and hurriedly stepped forward to grasp Chen Ling's hand, his voice trembling with excitement: "Yes, yes, yes! I am Li Hanwen! This is my wife, Shulan. Dr. Chen! We've been waiting for you! You are even more young and promising than I imagined!"

Li's mother quickly came over, her eyes even redder, her voice choked with emotion: "Dr. Chen, thank you for your long journey! We...we really don't know how to thank you enough!"

"Professor Li, Aunt Li, you are too kind. Just call me Chen Ling or Xiao Chen."

Chen Ling smiled gently, feeling the slight tremor and coldness in the other person's hand. "Let's not stand in the corridor, let's check on the child first?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at me, I'm so flustered! This way, please, this way!" Professor Li quickly led the way, and his mother also hurriedly wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Ward 306 is a single room, which is considered quite good these days, but it is still a bit rudimentary, with a metal-framed hospital bed, a bedside table, and two wooden chairs.

A young man who looked to be in his early twenties was lying half-reclined on the hospital bed, his left arm wrapped in thick, yellowish, and oozing gauze from his shoulder to his wrist.

His face was pale, his lips were chapped, his eyes were somewhat dim, and his brows showed a pain and dejection that should not be present at his age.

Upon seeing Chen Ling enter, he struggled to sit up, but Li's mother quickly pressed him down: "Xiao Bin, don't move. This is the Dr. Chen that I told you about, the expert introduced by Uncle Zhao."

"Dr. Chen, this is my son, Li Bin," Professor Li introduced in a low voice.

Chen Ling nodded, walked to the bedside, and asked gently, "Li Bin, right? How are you feeling?"

Li Bin forced a smile, his voice a little hoarse: "Hello Dr. Chen... I'm alright, it's just... a little painful, and it's very itchy."

Chen Ling put down her medical kit and said to Professor Li and his wife, "Professor Li, Aunt Li, I need to see the specific condition of the wound before I can make a judgment."

"Of course, of course!" Professor Li quickly gestured for his mother to help.

Li's mother carefully and gently began to unwrap the layers of gauze wrapped around Li Bin's arm.

As the gauze was unwrapped layer by layer, a smell mixed with the odor of medicine and a faint putrid stench filled the ward.

When the last bandage was removed, even though Chen Ling was somewhat prepared, he still felt a slight chill.

Li Bin's entire left forearm was almost completely covered in skin!
The wound area is large, mainly second- to third-degree burns, and the skin has an unhealthy dark red and waxy white color.

The surface is uneven and covered with proliferating, contracted scar tissue that looks like the grotesque legs of a centipede.

The skin on his arm was stretched taut, preventing his elbows and wrists from fully straightening.

In some areas, a faint yellowish fluid is still oozing out, and the surrounding skin is red, swollen, and hot, clearly indicating an infection and inflammatory reaction.

The injury was more serious than Chen Ling had anticipated.

It appears that the splashing of boiling oil and subsequent improper handling caused significant damage.

"The hospital uses the best imported sulfadiazine silver cream, changes the dressing regularly, and I've had two debridement and skin graft surgeries..."

Professor Li pointed to the wound, his voice choked with emotion, "But...but the new skin is growing too slowly, the scar contracture is out of control, and the infection keeps recurring."

"The doctor said... with current medical conditions, it would be a miracle if the arm could be saved from amputation. As for functional recovery and a smooth scar... it's going to be very difficult!"

Finally, Li's mother couldn't hold back anymore, and tears streamed down her face. She covered her mouth and sobbed, "My child is only twenty-three... He hasn't even settled down yet... What will become of this arm... Every time I change the dressing, he's drenched in sweat from the pain... My heart is breaking..."

Li Bin lay on the bed with his eyes closed and his brows furrowed, clearly unwilling to look at his arm or see his parents so heartbroken.

Chen Ling watched silently, sighing inwardly.

With the medical capabilities of that era, there were indeed limited means to treat such severe burns in the later stages, especially to control hypertrophic scarring and promote functional recovery.

He let out a soft breath, his tone calm yet reassuring, and comforted her, "Professor Li, Aunt Li, don't be too sad. There are many extraordinary people in the folk, each with their own methods."

"I do have a folk remedy here, as you know, it's a bit... special, but it can sometimes have unexpected effects on wounds that don't heal for a long time and have necrotic tissue."

He paused, then looked at Professor Li and his wife, whose eyes had been rekindled with a glimmer of hope: "However, let me be frank from the start, my method is not a panacea. I cannot guarantee whether it will work, or to what extent."

"If you're willing to give it a try, I'll do my best. If you feel it's not a sure thing, don't force it. Think of another way. There's always a way out."

"Just because it doesn't work for me doesn't mean it doesn't work for others."

"Let's give it a try! Let's try it!"

Professor Li grabbed Chen Ling's hand almost without thinking and said urgently, "Dr. Chen, no, Mr. Chen! We trust you! We absolutely trust Brother Zhao's character and judgment!"

"His health has improved so much thanks to you! We're willing to try anything, no matter how much it costs, as long as there's a glimmer of hope!"

Li's mother nodded repeatedly, wiping away her tears, and said, "Yes! Mr. Chen, please go ahead and treat him! Just tell me what you need! We...we've run out of options..."

Li Bin, who was lying on the bed, also opened his eyes, and looked at Chen Ling with a pleading look in his eyes.

Seeing their resolute attitude, Chen Ling nodded: "Alright. Since you trust me, I'll give it a try."

"However, to use my method, you need a relatively independent, clean, and dry room, preferably similar to a hospital's dressing room or treatment room. There shouldn't be too many outsiders disturbing you, and there shouldn't be any dust."

"After all, with the wound open, hygiene is the top priority."

“That’s easy! I’ll go talk to the hospital right away! I’ll even rent a room!” Professor Li immediately stood up.

At this moment, the ward door was pushed open.

A middle-aged doctor in his forties, wearing a white coat and glasses, walked in with two young interns. He was Li Bin's attending physician, Deputy Director Wang.

That's one of the advantages of being rich.

Good resources are available everywhere.

Even if it means waiting for Chen Ling in the city, we must find the best local doctors.

Even if these doctors aren't very good.

"Professor Li, it's time to change Li Bin's dressing..."

Dr. Wang frowned as he spoke, noticing Chen Linghe's open medicine box and Li Bin's exposed wounds. "Who is this?"

Professor Li quickly introduced, "Director Wang, this is Dr. Chen Ling, whom we invited for a consultation."

He carefully considered his choice of words.

"consultation?"

Deputy Director Wang sized up Chen Ling, who was dressed simply and had an old-fashioned medicine box, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. "Which hospital are you from? I didn't hear that you were going to invite an expert from another hospital. Do you have a consultation form?"

Chen Ling calmly replied, "I'm not a doctor within the system. My wife is a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and I'm a veterinarian who knows a bit about folk remedies."

"Veterinarian? Folk remedy?"

Deputy Director Wang frowned even more, his tone becoming more serious and disapproving.

"Professor Li, Aunt Li, I know you're anxious, but treating and saving lives requires scientific methods!"

"Li Bin's wound infection is not fully under control yet, and the scar tissue is also very active. This is a critical period, so we can't rush into treatment without proper medical advice!"

"Some folk remedies of dubious origin have not been clinically verified. If they cause more serious infections or allergies, or contain heavy metals or hormones, the consequences could be unimaginable!"

The two interns behind him exchanged glances, clearly holding reservations about "folk remedies".

We live in an era that idolizes the West. Traditional Chinese medicine has virtually no future.

Professor Li's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but out of consideration for the fact that the other party was the attending physician, he still tried to be polite and said, "Director Wang, we appreciate your kindness."

"But... you've seen the effects of the hospital's treatment plan, and we want to try another approach."

"This Mr. Chen is a highly capable person; we trust him!"

Deputy Director Wang shook his head and said earnestly, "Professor Li, I understand how you feel."

"But science has its own laws. Burn treatment is a global challenge, especially the management of post-burn scars, which requires time and comprehensive treatment."

"The folk remedy you mentioned might be helpful for some minor ailments, but for such a severe wound..."

"Sigh, forgive my bluntness, but the risks are too great! We should still trust modern medicine and stick to the current anti-infection and rehabilitation treatments..."

Chen Ling remained silent throughout, simply watching Professor Li and his wife quietly.

His attitude was clear: if I believe you, I will treat you; if I doubt you, I will leave immediately.

Indeed, without the slightest hesitation, he turned and left.

He didn't make a living from this; he only helped Zhao Yubao out of kindness, without any sense of obligation whatsoever.

I wouldn't even bother with these doctors.

Professor Li looked at his son's pained eyes, then at Deputy Director Wang's "for your own good" yet distrustful expression, and then thought about how many hospitals like this he had visited.

All attempts to resolve the issue proved futile, and a long-suppressed anger finally surfaced.

He straightened up abruptly, his usually refined voice rising eight octaves, carrying the stubbornness of an intellectual and the resolute determination of a father: "Director Wang! Thank you for reminding us! But our family has already made a decision!"

"We'll use Mr. Chen's method to treat it! If any problems arise, we'll take full responsibility and won't blame the hospital or the doctors!"

"Please arrange a clean treatment room for us right now!"

"We'll cover every single rental and disinfection fee!"

"If the hospital isn't convenient, we'll be discharged immediately and find somewhere else!"

Professor Li's resolute words stunned Deputy Director Wang and the intern.

Deputy Director Wang opened his mouth, but seeing Professor Li's red eyes and unyielding expression, he finally sighed and waved his hand: "Fine, fine... Since you insist... Xiao Liu, go and open a spare treatment room for them, and prepare it strictly according to the disinfection procedures!"

"Professor Li, let me be frank from the start, this..."

"We will take full responsibility! Thank you, Director Wang!"

Professor Li interrupted him directly, her tone resolute.

Chen Ling nodded slightly in his heart. Professor Li was quite decisive at the crucial moment, and it was worth the trip.

Soon, a relatively quiet sterile treatment room located at the end of the corridor was ready.

Bright lights, snow-white walls, stainless steel equipment tables, and a strong smell of disinfectant in the air.

Li Bin was wheeled in and lay down on the treatment bed.

Chen Ling washed her hands and put on sterile gloves.

Professor Li and his wife stood nervously to the side, barely daring to breathe.

Deputy Director Wang was still worried, so he followed them in, stood at the door with his arms crossed, and watched coldly, intending to see what would happen.

The two interns also curiously peeked in.

Chen Ling ignored the gazes behind him, focusing all his attention on Li Bin's wound.

He examined the wound carefully again to confirm the extent of necrotic tissue and the degree of infection.

Then, he opened the old medicine box and took out a special wooden box, about the size of a baby's fist, wrapped in breathable gauze, which seemed to be still slightly wriggling.

Upon seeing the wooden box, Deputy Director Wang frowned deeply, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something but held back.

Professor Li and his wife were on tenterhooks.

Chen Ling took a deep breath and carefully peeled off the gauze from the wooden box with tweezers.

Inside the wooden box were clean, damp herbs, covered with hundreds of tiny, milky-white, translucent... maggots, densely and orderly crawling on them!
These maggots were different from what he had imagined; they appeared unusually "clean" and were wriggling actively.

"This...this is?!"

Deputy Director Wang exclaimed in surprise, almost jumping up.

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! How can you use something like this as a folk remedy!"

Li's mother also turned pale, her stomach churning, and she instinctively covered her mouth.

Although Professor Li was mentally prepared, seeing it with his own eyes still made him feel very uncomfortable.

Their generation either went to the countryside or simply grew up in the countryside.

Those who live in dry toilets know better than anyone what it's like in the summer.

Even Li Bin, who was on the bed, stared wide-eyed in horror.

Chen Ling's expression remained unchanged, and he had no intention of explaining. He simply asked, "Are you still going to use this method?"

This was a calm, even indifferent tone.

This gave Professor Li a much-needed boost.

He nodded quickly: "Yes, we need to get treatment."

Then he turned his face away, his tone very unpleasant:
"Deputy Director Wang, please leave. Don't disturb us unless it's absolutely necessary."

These days, professors are valuable and have status.

They are not pretentious; they have good tempers.

When someone loses their temper, even a municipal hospital can't handle it.

"Professor Li, I meant well..."

"go out!!"

Professor Li was furious, and Deputy Director Wang and his men left dejectedly.

Chen Ling never intended to take anyone seriously.

It's just that Zhao Yubao's family is on good terms with him, simply giving the old man face.

Without saying a word, he carefully used a specially made soft brush to pick up the active maggots and gently placed them evenly on the areas of Li Bin's wound where there was more rotten flesh and obvious infection.

What happened next was something that all the onlookers, including Li Bin himself, would never forget.

As soon as the white maggots touched the wound, they immediately began to work actively.

They seemed to have no interest in the healthy, pink new flesh, instead precisely targeting the dark yellow, grayish-white necrotic tissue and pus.

With subtle, almost imperceptible wriggling movements, the rotting flesh is gnawed away and cleared away at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Even more amazingly, where the maggots crawled, there was no bleeding, but instead a very light, shiny layer of mucus was left behind.

As the maggots "worked," the worrying oozing from the wound seemed to decrease, and the swollen surrounding skin seemed to... relax a bit?
Moreover, the expected scene of pus and blood flowing freely and emitting a foul stench did not occur; only an extremely faint sound, similar to wiping with a damp cloth, was heard.

Li Bin's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? The itching... the itching feeling is much less! In fact... it feels a little cool... quite comfortable?"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the ears of Professor Li and his wife, as well as Deputy Director Wang!

Li's mother leaned closer in disbelief, staring intently at her son's arm.

Professor Li adjusted his glasses and leaned forward.

His eyes widened, almost pressing them against the wound to see!

Is it really that fast?!

Such a severely infected wound, even changing the dressing was excruciatingly painful, but now using this... this thing, not only does it not hurt, it actually feels "comfortable"?!

Chen Ling was completely focused, occasionally using tweezers to adjust the position of the maggots to ensure they covered all the areas that needed cleaning.

His movements were skillful and steady, as if he were performing a meticulous work of art rather than treating a horrific wound.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The treatment room was so quiet that only the soft rustling of maggots gnawing and the heavy breathing of the people could be heard.

About twenty minutes later, Chen Ling carefully picked up the maggots, which had obviously grown larger and become somewhat bloated, one by one with tweezers and put them back into the wooden box.

Look at Li Bin's wounds again!
The thick layer of yellowish-white pus and necrotic tissue that was originally covering the wound had mostly disappeared, revealing a fresher, healthier red wound underneath!
The redness and swelling around Chuangyuan have visibly subsided considerably!
The entire wound looked... "clean"!

Although it is still ferocious, it exudes an indescribable "vitality"!
"Oh my god..." Li's mother covered her mouth, tears welling up again, but this time they were tears of joy. "It's clean! It's so much cleaner!"

Professor Li was trembling with excitement. He grabbed his wife's hand and stammered, "It works! It really works! Brother Zhao didn't lie to us! He didn't lie to us!" (End of Chapter)