My 1995 Small Farm.

About an hour and a half later.

The room was so quiet that you could hear the rustling of leaves outside the window.

Li Lianjie closed his eyes, his breathing was even, and his face showed a relaxed expression that had not been seen for a long time.

The injured leg lay flat on a raised soft pillow, the gauze covering it slightly bulging.

Chen Ling tiptoed in, carrying another white porcelain bowl containing the second batch of maggots.

"Mr. Li, how are you feeling?" he asked softly.

Li Lianjie opened his eyes, his eyes shining with a newfound light: "Mr. Chen, this is amazing. This past hour has been the most comfortable I've had in the last two months."

The throbbing pain had almost completely disappeared, leaving only a slight... a very mild tingling or itching sensation, like tiny ants crawling on it, but it wasn't uncomfortable at all.

He paused, then added, "And I even feel a cool, comfortable sensation at the wound site."

Chen Ling nodded: "That's a sign that blood circulation is starting to recover after the necrotic tissue has been removed. Let me check it out."

He gently peeled off the gauze covering the area with tweezers.

When the wound was exposed to the air, both Jet Li and his assistant couldn't help but peek inside...

The maggots, which were originally the size of rice grains, had now swelled to more than two or three times their original size!
They are no longer pure white; their bodies have become translucent.

The dark digestive contents inside are vaguely visible, and they even look somewhat grotesque.

Even more noticeable is the change in the wound: the original yellowish-white pus coating has been reduced by more than half, revealing the pink base underneath.

The dark purple, lifeless tissue around the wound edges had significantly decreased, the exudate had become much clearer, and the foul stench had also lessened considerably.

"This……"

Li Lianjie stared in surprise, his eyes widening: "They've grown so much?"

"This is normal."

As Chen Ling carefully picked up the swollen maggots one by one with tweezers and placed them into a discarded porcelain plate, he explained.

"These maggots consumed several times their own weight in necrotic tissue and pus in just over an hour."

The assistant felt a chill run down his spine, but couldn't help asking, "Mr. Chen, these maggots have gotten so big, doesn't that mean the more they eat, the better the wound cleaning effect? ​​Why replace them?"

Li Lianjie also cast an inquiring glance his way.

Chen Ling picked out the last swollen maggot and pointed to how it was slowly wriggling in the porcelain plate: "Look, their activity has obviously slowed down now."

Sure enough, the swollen maggots only wriggled slightly in the porcelain plate, far less active than when they were first placed there.

There is an optimal window of opportunity for cleaning wounds from maggots.

Chen Ling patiently explained, "When they are full, their digestive system is under greater strain, their mobility decreases, and the efficiency of wound cleaning drops significantly. More importantly..."

He gently poked a maggot with tweezers: "These maggots ingest a large number of germs while they are feeding on necrotic tissue and pus."

Although they contain special antibacterial substances, their capacity is limited.

When they approach saturation, not only does the wound cleaning process slow down, but they can also become new sources of contamination.

Li Lianjie suddenly realized: "So we have to replace them before they're 'overfed'?"

"Exactly."

Chen Ling nodded approvingly: "And look closely, the body walls of these maggots have become very thin and translucent."

This indicates that they are about to enter the next stage of growth...

In another hour or two, they will stop eating and look for a place to pupate.

Leaving it in the wound could actually cause blockage or infection.

As he spoke, he began cleaning the surface of the wound with a sterile cotton swab.

After the first batch of maggots "worked", the wound became noticeably cleaner.

Chen Ling gently rinsed the area with saline solution, and the remaining pus was easily washed away, revealing the fresh flesh and blood tissue underneath.

"Mr. Li, look here."

Chen Ling used a thin probe to gently open a small sinus tract deep inside the wound.

"This place used to be full of necrotic tissue and pus, but it's been mostly cleaned out now. That's the advantage of maggots... they can burrow into places that instruments can't reach."

Li Lianjie was deeply shocked to see that the sinus that had caused him so much pain was now clean and unobstructed.

The assistant exclaimed in surprise, "This is much more thorough than surgical debridement! Brother Jay had two debridement surgeries on Hong Kong Island before, and the doctors said they couldn't reach some deep areas..."

"Traditional surgery does have limitations."

As Chen Ling spoke, he began placing the second batch of maggots.

This time, he placed a slightly smaller number, less than twenty.

These new maggots are plump and white, full of vitality, and they can't wait to start "working" as soon as they come into contact with the wound.

"Mr. Chen..."

Looking at the wriggling maggots, Li Lianjie no longer felt the initial fear, but was instead filled with curiosity.

"How did you come up with the idea of ​​treating injuries this way? This...this takes so much courage and wisdom!"

Chen Ling smiled, covered the gauze back up, and gestured for Li Lianjie to relax and rest.

He pulled up a stool and sat down, speaking calmly: "Actually, this idea has been studied by people in the medical community both at home and abroad. I saw it in an old medical journal. During the wars abroad in the last century, military doctors observed that wounded soldiers whose wounds were infested with maggots had a lower infection rate."

"Our country also has relevant records..."

"When it comes to ancient battles, some military medics would find that some wounded soldiers whose wounds were infested with maggots actually healed faster and festered more slowly."

But at that time, I didn't understand the reasoning behind it; I just thought it was a coincidence, or that the maggots had sucked away the 'poison'.

"Really?" Li Lianjie sat up straighter, intrigued.

"Yes." Chen Ling nodded: "It's just that back then, they used naturally grown maggots, which posed a high risk of carrying bacteria, so it has never been widely adopted from ancient times to the present."

I was thinking, if we could cultivate sterile maggots and control the usage conditions, wouldn't that be a natural and precise tool for wound cleaning?

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Later, by chance, I figured out a cultivation method."

These maggots were fed with herbs under specific conditions, so they were virtually bacteria-free and much more vigorous than ordinary maggots.

Li Lianjie listened intently and couldn't help but ask, "So you've cured quite a few people with this method, haven't you?"

"For some severe wounds, burns, and pressure sores that conventional methods are not effective, I would consider using this."

Chen Ling said casually, "Strictly speaking, Mr. Li, you are the third..."

"I usually don't have much to do, so I like to go into the mountains and forests and fuss over flowers, plants, insects and birds."

Later, I started reading some medical books with my wife and figuring out some folk remedies.

Once, I encountered a group of golden monkeys in the mountains. One of them had a large abscess on its body that wouldn't heal and was almost rotting to the bone.

I suddenly had a brilliant idea, I tried it, and it really cured the disease.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on it ever since.”

"Later I thought, could I try getting some 'clean' maggots myself?"

I've tried raising flies with different things, collecting their eggs, and then hatching the maggots in different environments...

"We failed many times; either the maggots were too weak, or they were prone to carrying bacteria."

He spoke of it casually, but Li Lianjie could imagine how many observations, experiments, and deliberations were required behind it.

A young man from a rural area, without a laboratory or a mentor, relied entirely on his own trial and error to eventually figure out an effective method.

This is not just a brilliant idea, but also an amazing perseverance and practical ability.

"Later, it was also luck."

Chen Ling continued, "As I just said, I used some medicinal residues that I processed myself as a culture medium and found that the maggots raised in this way were particularly vigorous and not easily contaminated by other bacteria."

He used it on some wild animals, and the effect was surprisingly good. Later... He looked at Li Lianjie: "Professor Li's son suffered a severe burn infection. Western doctors said he needed a skin graft, but it wasn't guaranteed to be successful."

Professor Li was desperate and sought any treatment he could find. He heard about my folk remedy and came to me with the mindset of "nothing ventured, nothing gained."

I used it on him, and it worked well. This was actually the first time I used it on a person.

Li Lianjie and his assistant were deeply moved as they listened.

He suddenly remembered what Xu Yingguang had said on the phone: "A-Ling is an extraordinary person. He has some abilities that science cannot explain, but they are effective."

Now he understands a little.

The assistant exclaimed in surprise, "So our Brother Jie is the second one! If this gets promoted, it'll probably go down in history..."

"Haha, yes, but although it's a good method, it's not a panacea. It can only be used for external injuries that are difficult to heal."

Chen Ling smiled and corrected, "The external wound has been thoroughly cleaned and blood circulation has improved. We still need to add traditional Chinese medicine to regulate it and wait for the wound to heal naturally."

After a moment of silence, Li Lianjie suddenly exclaimed, "Mr. Chen, if your method could be popularized, how many people could be saved! I have seen many patients with chronic wounds in Hong Kong Island, and the pain they suffer is unimaginable... You are doing something of immeasurable merit."

Chen Ling shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Mr. Li thinks too highly of me. This method cannot be promoted at the moment."

"why?"

Li Lianjie was puzzled: "The effect is so good..."

"The cost is too high, and the operational requirements are too high."

Chen Ling spoke frankly: "First of all, the cultivation of sterile maggots is not something that ordinary hospitals can do, otherwise why haven't the Americans figured it out?"

This requires strict environmental control and specific culture media; contamination can occur if not handled carefully.

Secondly, the operator needs to have extensive experience and know when to replace it, how much to use, and how to place it.

Besides…”

He pointed to the wound on Li Lianjie's leg: "The psychological acceptance of patients and their families is a big problem. Not everyone is like you, Mr. Li, who can overcome psychological barriers in order to get treatment."

Li Lianjie nodded with deep feeling, recalling his initial reaction to seeing maggots.

"So what I can do now is..."

Chen Ling continued, "We will compile the mature treatment plans, cultivation methods, and operating procedures into a paper."

You can submit your work to medical journals both domestically and internationally.

At least let the medical community know that such an effective adjunctive treatment method exists.

As for widespread adoption... that will take time, and requires further research and improvement.

The assistant couldn't help but interject, "Mr. Chen, if your paper is published, especially in an international journal, wouldn't that prove that our traditional wisdom combined with modern medicine is at the forefront of the world?"

Chen Ling laughed: "It's not that exaggerated. In fact, there are medical institutions in Europe and America that are researching maggot therapy, but the progress is slow."

If we can come up with a mature and replicable solution, it will at least prove that the Chinese people are not lagging behind others on this path.

He glanced out the window; sunlight was filtering through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. "I've been organizing these materials lately. After your treatment, Mr. Li, is finished, I'll include your case in the book..."

Of course, personal information will be omitted, and the analysis will only focus on typical cases.

Li Lianjie immediately said, "No need to hide it! Mr. Chen, you can use my real name."

Having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, I know all too well the power of role models.

If I could publicly admit that I cured my leg injury with maggot therapy, it would definitely help more people understand and accept this treatment.

Chen Ling smiled upon hearing this and asked again, "Mr. Li, are you sure? This might cause some... gossip."

"I am sure."

Li Lianjie stated unequivocally: "During these days since my injury, I have seen far too many patients with chronic wounds."

I can relate to that despair.

If it helps them, I don't care what others say.

Moreover……"

He smiled, revealing that classic sunny smile he always had on screen: "I'm a martial arts actor, isn't it pretty fitting for my character to use such a 'unusual' method to treat my injuries?"

The people in the side room all laughed.

The atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Chen Ling checked the time: "The second batch of maggots will work for another hour and a half. Mr. Li, please take a break. I'll go out and check how lunch is being prepared."

"Mr. Chen, you're busy." Li Lianjie lay back down and closed his eyes.

This time, his heart was filled with hope.

Chen Ling walked out of the side room and into the courtyard.

Wang Susu was busy in the kitchen when she saw him come out. She wiped her hands and walked over: "A-Ling, how is Li Lianjie doing?"

"very good."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "The maggot therapy is very effective, and he is very cooperative. By the way, make more dishes for lunch. He is a guest and a patient, so he needs to be well-nourished."

"Don't worry, Dad just went to the river and caught two crucian carp. I made soup with them."

As Wang Susu spoke, she lowered her voice and said, "This person looks a bit short, not as dashing and pleasing to the eye as he appears on TV. He doesn't look quite right to me."

Chen Ling was immediately amused by his wife: "You'll find out later, this Kung Fu Emperor is also a superstitious person who believes in metaphysics, it's quite a contrast."

However, he has no major problems getting along with people; he's very easygoing and down-to-earth.

Wang Susu sighed, "It seems what they said before was true. What you see on TV is all fake. It's completely different from what you see in real life."

"You need to wear makeup, right? I'll do your makeup another day, you'll definitely look like a fairy."

As Chen Ling was speaking, he suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, what about the three little wild boars?"

“In the storage room in the backyard where the wine was kept, Dad made a nest out of straw, fed the baby some rice porridge, and the baby drank it all.”

As Wang Susu spoke, she couldn't help but laugh: "Xiaoming and Ruirui watched it all morning, insisting on giving the little pig a name."

Just then, the two little ones ran over.

"Dad! Daddy!"

Rui Rui rushed over and hugged Chen Ling's leg: "Can we raise those three little pigs? They're so pitiful!"

Xiao Ming looked at Chen Ling expectantly: "Uncle, Rui Rui and I can cut pig feed for them every day!"

Chen Ling squatted down and rubbed the two children's heads: "Wild boar babies are not easy to raise. They will want to go back to the mountains when they grow up."

"Then let's raise them until they're grown up, and then release them back into the mountains!" Rui Rui said cleverly.

Chen Ling was amused: "Okay, then you can take care of them, but remember, wild boars are wild animals after all, so don't get too close to them, and be careful when feeding them."

"Got it!" the two children cheered and ran towards the storage room.

Chen Ling shook his head and was about to walk towards the kitchen when a commotion came from outside the courtyard gate.

It was Wang Laishun who arrived with several village officials, followed by several unfamiliar faces who, judging by their attire, appeared to be county leaders.

"Wealth!"

Wang Laishun called out from afar, "Busy? A leader has come to see you!"

Chen Ling went to greet him and saw a middle-aged man in his forties standing next to Wang Laishun, wearing a Zhongshan suit. He had a calm demeanor and was clearly a cadre within the system.

"Comrade Chen Ling, hello."

The middle-aged man extended his hand and said, "I am Zhou, the deputy director of the county health bureau. We heard that Mr. Li came here, so we came to see him."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling exclaimed inwardly, "Good heavens! This Kung Fu Emperor's background is indeed extraordinary. No wonder some people's speculations in my previous life were so frightening."

In the past, when Zheng Shaoqiu and his group came, there were never this many leaders.

Now, not only are top leaders getting involved, but even county-level leaders are coming over, which speaks volumes. (End of Chapter)