Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1004 Discussing the Dao in the Herb Garden: Caution is the Best Policy (Combined Chapter)
"Oh, it involves state secrets?" Deng Tietao raised an eyebrow and asked Fang Yan.

Fang Yan shook his head and said with a smile:

"Not really, it's just that I'm not clear about the process standards either; they were developed by other people."

After saying that, Fang Yan extended an invitation to Deng Tietao:

"If you are interested, Mr. Deng, I will accompany you to visit next time you come to Beijing."

Deng Tietao laughed loudly:

"Haha, if you put it that way, I'll take it seriously. If I actually go, don't kick me out!"

He said in dialect:

"No, that's not true. Traditional Chinese medicine is all about mutual exchange."

"As long as it's for the good of traditional Chinese medicine, I'm willing to share the secret recipes I have."

Deng Tietao's smile faded, and he nodded in agreement, saying:
“I heard from Chengzhi that you shared most of your medical records from Peking Union Medical College Hospital with everyone.”

He said in dialect:

"Yes, I'm happy to share as long as they're willing to watch, unless it's something that the higher-ups require to be kept secret. I can provide them with anything else they want to see."

Deng Tietao gave a thumbs up to the dialect:
"Young friend Fang, you already possess such a grand vision at such a young age!"

"I am unworthy of such praise..." Fang Yan cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

At this moment, Shen Huaimin walked over carrying a tea set:

"Master, Brother Fang, the tea is here!"

After saying that, he handed a cup of tea to Fang Yan:

"Brother Fang, try some of the Dancong tea that my master made. The tea leaves were picked before Qingming Festival last year."

Dialect of surprise:

"Old Deng can even roast tea?"

Deng Tietao said:
"Of course I can. I know how to process medicinal herbs, so there's no reason I can't make tea, right?"

Fang Yan was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening and laughed:
"Haha, that's true..."

He thought to himself: I can't do that!

At this moment, after Shen Huaimin had set out the tea set, Deng Tietao stood up and said:
"By the way, I just happened to make some medicinal and edible tea snacks. Young friend Fang, please taste them and see if you can tell what they're made of?"

Fang Yan paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded:

"Okay then, but I'm a picky eater..."

Deng Tietao laughed loudly:

"Haha, it's good that you're picky! I was worried you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between good and bad food if you weren't picky!"

After speaking, Deng Tietao walked to the elm cabinet at the base of the west wall, bent down and opened the bottom cabinet door, revealing neatly stacked celadon jars inside.

He brushed the dust off the top of the jar with his sleeve, ran his fingertips over the mouths of several jars one by one, and suddenly stopped in front of a dark brown earthenware jar.

"Found it!" He smiled, carefully picked up the pottery jar with both hands, and walked to the table.

He had just put it down when he asked Fang Yan again:

"By the way, I heard that the books on Chinese herbal medicine processing taught at the two Chinese medicine universities in Beijing were all compiled by you before you went to university."

"Yes, that's true." Fang Yan nodded, looking at the pottery jar on the table.

Deng Tietao said to Fang Yan:

"People over there have a very high opinion of your book. I originally wanted to get a copy myself, but unfortunately it's in high demand and not available. There aren't enough local TCM doctors to go around."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yan turned his attention to Deng Tietao and said:
"Your information network is truly impressive; you know so much about what's happening in the capital."

Deng Tietao laughed loudly:
"Haha, I have many sources of information."

In the capital, he had more than one person, Xiao Chengzhi, who could send messages back.

While sealing the earthenware jar, he asked;
"By the way, I heard you also know Nanxing and his grandfather?"

He said in dialect:

"Yes, Mr. Deng was my store manager at Tongrentang at the time, and he took good care of me."

Deng Tietao said with a smile:

"It seems we're quite destined to meet."

"I know so many acquaintances."

He said in dialect:

"Of course, I originally planned to visit you directly today, but I ended up running into Brother Shen on the plane."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huaimin smiled and said:

"Haha... When I tried to use the dragon-handled silver needle, it didn't work. It was Brother Fang who took out the Sea Dragon Needle to save me. I knew then that the person who could take out such a needle was definitely not an ordinary person, and sure enough, it was true."

Deng Tietao asked in dialect:

"How could the Sea Dragon Needle appear in the north? Even in the south, there aren't many sets."

He said in dialect:

"You're really something, even knowing this. This Sea Dragon Needle was actually found for me by a friend in the South. I was using the Heavenly Craft Needle to treat his family member when four of them broke. He then compensated me with a set of Sea Dragon Needles."

"You also have a set of Heavenly Craft Needles?" Deng Tietao's hand paused.

Nodding in dialect:

"Yeah, there is."

Deng Tietao said:
"Comparison is the thief of joy! I only have one set of Sea Dragon Needles, while you have a set of Heavenly Craftsmanship Needles and a set of Sea Dragon Needles. No wonder everyone wants to go to the capital, it's such a great place!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Yan suddenly realized:
"No wonder Brother Shen recognized the sea dragon needle at a glance, so you had it here!"

Deng Tietao said:
"I've used it for many years, and I usually can't bear to take it out, since I don't know how to fix it if it breaks..."

"There will be losses?" Fang Yan asked curiously.

Deng Tietao said:
"Of course."

"Needles and needle handles will wear out, just like your broken Tiangong needle."

"No wonder..." Fang Yan suddenly realized.

At this moment, Deng Tietao had already opened the earthenware jar, and a sweet aroma mixed with the fragrance of dried tangerine peel and poria cocos wafted out.

He took out a paper package from the jar, unfolded it layer by layer, revealing amber-colored tea snacks inside. They were square like chess pieces, sprinkled with fine white sesame seeds, and had slightly curled edges, as if they had been carefully baked.

Deng Tietao picked up a piece with bamboo chopsticks and placed it on the celadon plate in front of Fang Yan:
"Try it and see if you can taste what's inside."

Fang Yan brought the celadon dish closer, took a deep breath, and smelled the spicy aroma of dried tangerine peel, the bitterness of poria cocos, and a faint sweetness, like the aroma of honey.

The white sesame seeds on the surface of the tea snack are roasted until slightly charred, each one distinctly stuck to the amber-colored skin. Tiny yam particles can be seen in the curled edges, as if the "chess piece" is edged with gold.

He gently poked the pastry with his fingernail, feeling the crispness of the outer layer, but also the softness inside when he pressed harder, as if he could sense the dense texture of the mixed ingredients through his fingernail.

Only then did he pick up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Take a light bite, and with a "crunch," the crispy outer layer crumbles like snowflakes, revealing a honey-coated filling.

The delicate paste of yam and poria, along with the grainy texture of coix seed, slowly spreads on the tongue, with a sweetness that subtly reveals the spicy edge of amomum.

As you chew, the sweetness of the honey gradually takes over, but is gently pulled back by the slight sourness of the dried tangerine peel in the aftertaste.

As I closed my eyes to savor the dialect, I suddenly caught a faint, refreshing minty sensation that spread from my throat to my nasal cavity, filling my entire mouth with a refreshing feeling.

He opened his eyes, and Deng Tietao looked at him with a smile. The man who had just mentioned that tea and snacks were "food and medicine of the same origin" paused for a moment, then said:

"It's like incorporating Four Gods Soup into a dessert."

Deng Tietao smiled and nodded, pointing with his chopsticks to the tea and snacks:

"You really know your stuff! You could tell just by looking at it!"

This level of proficiency is far too easy for a dialect.

After taking a sip of tea, Fang Yan asked Deng Tietao:
"Professor Deng, what is your opinion on Yu Yunxiu's integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine?"

"Me?" Deng Tietao was taken aback.

Then he smiled and said:

"Hahaha... As long as you don't say it in front of me, I'll pretend I didn't see it."

After saying that, he asked in dialect:

Why did you suddenly ask about this?

Fang Yan took a couple of sips of tea and said:
"Tsk... This is what happened when the flight attendant made some nonsense on the plane."

Deng Tietao nodded thoughtfully, then asked:
"What are your thoughts on the integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine?"

"I heard from Chengzhi that your expertise in Western medicine is unmatched by most people..."

He laughed in dialect:

"He's giving me too much credit. My knowledge of Western medicine is limited."

Deng Tietao asked:
"So, how well do you understand it?"

Fang Yan put down the teacup:

"The more I learn about them, the more I feel that these two disciplines are not a system. They can collaborate and assist each other, but combining them is nonsense."

Deng Tietao smiled and said with great interest:
"Oh? Tell me in detail?"

Fang Yan put down his teacup, gently stroking the edge of the celadon saucer, his gaze suddenly sharpening:

"Old Deng, you see, traditional Chinese medicine talks about 'qi,' 'yin and yang and the five elements,' and 'differentiation of syndromes and treatment,' just like these tea snacks..." He pointed to the amber-colored pastries on the plate, "The formula of Si Shen Tang follows the solar terms. Poria cocos must be harvested at Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and coix seed must be dried for a sufficient number of days. This is the system of time medicine and natural medicine."

"Looking at Western medicine, anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology emphasize data, indicators, and evidence-based medicine. Just like the dragon-handled silver needle that Brother Shen just used, Western medicine studies the antibacterial effects of silver ions and uses CT scans to see the effect of the needle insertion angle on nerves. These are two different ways of understanding, one is 'symbolic thinking' and the other is 'empirical thinking,' they are not on the same wavelength at all."

Deng Tietao narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering the information revealed in the dialect, and then asked:

"So where do you think the 'integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine' is wrong?"

“The mistake lies in the word ‘combination’ itself,” Fang Yan said with great certainty.

He paused and continued:
"It's like trying to put Tai Chi and free fighting on the same stage to compare their strengths. The former emphasizes 'using softness to overcome hardness,' while the latter emphasizes 'strength and speed.' The rules are different, and the goals are different. Forcing them together will only result in mutual destruction."

“Some so-called ‘integration of traditional Chinese and Western medicine’ is nothing more than adding Western medicine ingredients to Chinese medicine, or using traditional Chinese medicine theory to forcefully explain Western medical pathology. This is not integration, but separation!”

Shen Huaimin poured tea for the two of them, but Fang Yan took the teacup without drinking it and continued:

“To give a simple example, in traditional Chinese medicine, ‘spleen deficiency’ could mean indigestion, muscle weakness, or even low mood; but in Western medicine, the ‘spleen’ is just an immune organ. How can you combine spleen deficiency with spleen removal?” He shook his head and sighed, “It’s not that traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine can’t coexist, but we shouldn’t force a ‘combination’ like the night-blooming cereus and longan tree in your yard. They each have their own growth patterns, and forcibly grafting them will only cause them to wither and die.”

Deng Tietao gave Fang Yan a deep look and said, "Back when I was learning martial arts from Master Fu, he often said, 'There are different styles of fist fighting and different techniques of staff fighting.' This principle is indeed reasonable when applied to both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine!"

He suddenly pulled a yellowed newspaper out of the drawer; the headline on the front page was "My Views on the Scientification of Traditional Chinese Medicine."

“Look at Yu Yunxiu’s advocacy of ‘abolishing traditional Chinese medicine and preserving medicine’ back then, and now some people are calling for ‘modernization of traditional Chinese medicine’. In essence, they are all using the yardstick of Western medicine to measure the merits of traditional Chinese medicine.”

"That's why I never mention 'combination,' I only say 'complementarity.'"

To everyone's surprise, he still had the newspaper. Fang Yan took the newspaper and glanced at the faded handwriting, which seemed to be older than him.

Then he said:

"Traditional Chinese medicine treats diseases before they occur, while Western medicine treats emergencies; traditional Chinese medicine regulates the body, while Western medicine targets specific areas. It's like you use Four-Ingredient Decoction and tea to regulate the spleen and stomach, while I use Sea Dragon Needle to treat a heart attack. The methods are different, but the goal is the same: to save lives. This combination leads to problems. The key is that the so-called combination is to change traditional Chinese medicine without changing Western medicine. What exactly is the intention? Yu Yunxiu expressed it very clearly back then."

“Yes.” Deng Tietao nodded, then suddenly pointed to the herb garden outside the window:
“Look at that mugwort plant. The mugwort picked during the Dragon Boat Festival can repel mosquitoes and ward off evil spirits, while the mugwort picked during the Mid-Autumn Festival can only be used as medicine. This is the ‘time medicine’ of traditional Chinese medicine. Western medicine, on the other hand, will extract the volatile oils from the mugwort and analyze them to find eucalyptol and thujone. These two understandings are like the sun and the moon, each with its own light.”

Fang Yan looked at Deng Tietao and recalled how he had defied public opinion in 2002 to treat patients using traditional Chinese medicine. This man truly understood the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine.

What he wanted was not "union," but "harmony in diversity."

"So, Professor Deng, you never get involved in the debate between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine?" Fang Yan suddenly asked with a smile.

"What's there to argue about?" Deng Tietao waved his hand.
"The therapeutic effect speaks for itself. Back then, I used Buzhong Yiqi Tang to treat myasthenia gravis, and Western medicine said there was no scientific basis for it, but the clinical effectiveness speaks for itself..." He suddenly paused, then lowered his voice:

"However, Xiao Fang, what you just said about 'different systems' is true, but you still need to be careful in public..."

“I understand.” Fang Yan nodded, his gaze falling on the couplet on the wall, “May all people in the world be free from illness,” and then he said:

“A true practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine should focus on how to treat and save lives, rather than arguing about who is superior. Just like your tea snacks, people love to eat them and they are effective, which is more practical than any theory.”

Although that's what he thought in his heart, Fang Yan didn't think so.

He said this only to Deng Tietao, implying that they should stick together.

Upon hearing this, Deng Tietao smiled and said, "That's right! Treating the sick and saving lives is the real skill, and the people know how to choose."

After saying that, Deng Tietao poured Fang Yan half a cup of tea: "Yu Yunxiu just doesn't understand this. He's spent his whole life thinking about destroying traditional Chinese medicine."

“Actually… I think he was paid.” Fang Yan suddenly spoke up.

"You've already taken the money?" Deng Tietao's hand trembled, and tea dripped onto the stone table.

"Of course, this is just speculation," Fang Yan said in a low voice. "Think about it, if there were no profit motive, what kind of 'spiritual qualities' could have supported him from shouting 'destroy traditional Chinese medicine' in 1917 until he breathed his last in 1954? In his early years, he advocated 'abolishing traditional medicine and preserving drugs,' but later, seeing that the situation was not good, he went on to promote 'integration of Chinese and Western medicine'?"

"I don't think this is an academic dispute at all, it's clearly..." Fang Yan hesitated before continuing.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the red brick wall beyond the terrace railing:

"Who were the high-ranking figures who supported him back then? Wang Jingwei, Chu Minyi... You know better than I what became of them."

Deng Tietao paused for a moment, picked up his teacup and swirled it around, then slowly said:
“I’ll just say that to you; if it gets out without concrete evidence, it’ll cause trouble.” He suddenly looked at the nursery in the distance, his tone softening. “You’re still young; you don’t know how fierce the ‘Abolish Traditional Chinese Medicine’ movement was back then. So many veteran pharmacists had their medicine pots smashed, and so many classic texts were burned to the ground…”

“I understand,” Fang Yan nodded, “but compared to his blatant ‘destroying traditional Chinese medicine,’ I suspect there’s a chain of interests behind him, which makes him seem less radical.”

Deng Tietao suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with bitterness. He shook his head and said:
You have no idea how formidable they are.

"I am also in this corner of Lingnan, guarding this little bit of medicinal herbs and students, doing what I can."

Fang Yan gave him a deep look, then asked:

"So, Xiao Chengzhi was sent to the capital by you..."

Deng Tietao shook his head:
"I wouldn't dare to speak carelessly. Chengzhi's decision to go to the capital was his own. His grandfather is the top of the four famous doctors in the capital, with extensive connections and a solid foundation. It's a much better place to develop than here."

After saying that, he patted Fang Yan on the shoulder:

"Some things are best left unsaid. Once you speak them out and make your stance clear, you'll find that some people will stand against you."

Before Fang Yan could speak, Deng Tietao stood up and pointed to the wooden frame on the east side outside:

"Enough of that. Let me show you my newly harvested Morinda officinalis. This year's abundant rainfall has made the roots thicker than usual..."

He walked ahead, with Fang Yan following closely behind, seemingly lost in thought.

The two went into the courtyard.

Two red dogs ran over again, glanced at Fang Yan, and then started circling around Deng Tietao.

The honeysuckle in the courtyard was in full bloom. Deng Tietao picked a flower and gently smelled it.

“Smell it, the fragrance of this flower carries a bitter taste, just like our profession.” As he turned around, his eyes behind his glasses suddenly became clear. “But as long as these plants are still here, and the people still believe, traditional Chinese medicine will never die out.”

Looking at the honeysuckle in his hand, Fang Yan suddenly felt that the situation might be more serious than she had thought.

However, he had too many protective shields around him, his brilliance was too dazzling, and he did not explicitly oppose the integration of Chinese and Western medicine. He even joined a Western medicine club, so those talented people never appeared.

Listen to what Elder Deng just reminded me of. The more Fang Yan thought about it, the more he felt there was more to it than met the eye.

Perhaps if I go back and ask my seniors, I can figure it out.

Take Lao Fang for example; he clearly expressed his attitude in class (see Chapter 781).
Thinking of this, Fang Yan nodded and said:
"Thank you for your guidance! I've written it down."

Deng Tietao said:
"Haha, it's not really giving pointers, I just felt we could chat, so I'm giving you a few tips."

The two then chatted about the local medicinal herbs in the courtyard.

Guangdong is a major production area for many traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. Because the climate is mild and suitable for the growth of many plants, there are indeed many medicinal herbs in Mr. Deng's courtyard.

It's early May now, and many medicinal herbs are growing well.

Several patchouli plants, each about the height of a person, were planted at the base of the east wall. Their leaves were broad and glossy, with fine water droplets clinging to their veins, indicating that they had just been watered.

Deng Tietao bent down and parted the leaves, revealing the red rope wrapped around the roots, and introduced:

"These seedlings are from Shipai. They are planted in a mixture of red soil and leaf mold. They need to be watered with rice water every three days, otherwise the aroma will be weak."

In the ceramic pot in the south corner, the branches of the Buddha's Hand citron climbed upwards along the bamboo trellis, with fist-sized greenish-yellow fruits hanging from the branches. The surface of these fruits was covered with fine lines, resembling miniature palms.

Deng Tietao gently squeezed the fruit: "It will be ready to pick in two more months. This year the rainfall has been even, and there are twice as many fruits as last year. After drying, soak them in medicinal wine; it's most effective for regulating qi and resolving phlegm."

Then the two went to the circular flower bed in the center of the yard, where perilla and mint were growing wildly.

The leaves of perilla are deep purple with curled edges like waves, and they exude a strong spicy aroma; mint is lush and green, and if you pluck a leaf, your hand will immediately be covered with a cool scent. Fang Yan felt that she could also grow some of these things in her yard, mainly because they are easy to grow.

Deng Tietao picked a perilla leaf and rubbed it between his fingers:

"These two are the easiest to care for. Just scatter some seeds and they'll grow. They're better than any other seasoning for making cold dishes or removing the fishy smell in summer."

Hearing him say that, Fang Yan realized that he must be quite good at cooking.

Then the two came to the wooden box at the base of the west wall, where the seedlings of sand cypress were pushing their new leaves upwards, with a few drops of water hanging on their tender stems.

Deng Tietao squatted down and used a wooden stick to stir the damp soil:

"These seedlings were just sent by my disciples in Yangjiang. We need to mix them with wood ash and soil first, and then cover them with a layer of pine needles. Amomum villosum prefers shade, and too much sun will scorch the leaves."

Fang Yan suddenly realized that Deng Tietang had a huge influence in Guangdong, and naturally he had taken on many apprentices.

There are countless students who are taught in schools, those who are nominally affiliated with schools, and those who have become apprentices.

In addition, next to the wooden box, several Morinda officinalis vines climbed along the wall, their dark brown roots emerging from the soil as thick as a child's arm.

Under the old longan tree in the corner of the yard, the vines of Polygonum multiflorum twined around the trunk and grew upwards, with hastate leaves and clearly visible veins.

Deng Tietao lifted a withered leaf, revealing the brown tuberous root underneath:
"This plant has been planted for five years, and it will be ready to be dug up in two more months. To make He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), it needs to be soaked in black bean juice for three days and three nights, and then steamed and dried nine times to achieve a sufficiently dark and glossy color."

"When you leave later, I'll pack some of last year's food for you."

Dialectal astonishment:

"Oh? No need!"

I don't really lack these things.

"I don't have much to give you since you're here, so I'll just give you some local specialties to take with you."

The dialect is both funny and exasperating; it's truly a "rustic" specialty!

The two then talked about some medicinal herbs.

After we finished discussing the medicinal herbs, the sun was setting and it was getting late.

Before leaving, Deng Tietao led Fang Yan into the study.

Compared to the spacious study in Fang Yan's home, this place is slightly smaller, but it has the advantage of a rich collection of books. The solid wood bookshelves are crammed with thread-bound ancient books, yellowed periodicals and handwritten notes. Next to classic works such as "Huangdi Neijing" and "Shanghan Zabing Lun", there are also modern textbooks such as "Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnostics" and "Collection of Experiences in Processing Chinese Herbal Medicines", and even a few documents wrapped in newspaper.

Deng Tietao walked to the bookshelf, his fingertips quickly tracing the spines of the books. Suddenly, he pulled out several books with blue cloth covers, including "Deng Tietao's Medical Talks", "Clinical Insights on Spleen and Stomach Theory", and "Lectures on Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnostics". Although the corners of the books were worn, they were very well preserved.

He gently placed the book into his canvas bag and smiled:

"There's nothing valuable, just a few booklets I wrote myself. Feel free to flip through them." He paused and added, "Chengzhi said you read quickly. Remember to bring them to the kid after you're done, so he doesn't keep thinking about slacking off."

Fang Yan chuckled upon hearing this, thinking to himself that Xiao Chengzhi really said anything in front of Deng Tietao.

As soon as he took the bag, he saw Deng Tietao take out a carved wooden box from the desk drawer. When the lid was opened, a fragrance of dried tangerine peel, honey and fried rice wafted out... Inside were neatly arranged amber-colored tea snacks, which were the Four Gods Soup snacks that he had just tasted on the terrace.

“I was just joking when I said I was giving you medicinal herbs,” Deng Tietao blinked. “The tea and snacks in this box are made with herbs from the garden. Take them back to the capital and enjoy them slowly. They’re much better for your spleen and stomach than the snacks sold in the market.”

"Thank you so much, that's so kind of you." Fang Yan slung the bag over his shoulder, held the wooden box in his palm, and thanked Old Deng.

Deng Tietao said with a smile:

"Thank you so much, for bringing your master's tea all the way here."

Fang Yan opened his mouth:

"Um... I didn't know what to bring, so I just brought this."

Despite his words being on the tip of his tongue, he still didn't tell Deng Tietao the truth about the tea.

Then, as it was getting late, Fang Yan checked his watch and realized it was time to go back. After saying goodbye to Old Deng, he was escorted to the gate by Old Deng and Shen Huaimin.

"Come again next time you have time!" Deng Tietao waved to Fang Yan.

Shen Huaimin then said:
"Brother Fang, I'll be going to the capital soon, and I'll come see you then!"

Fang Yan agreed to everything and turned to get into the car.

As the engine started, he looked through the car window and saw Deng Tietao still standing in front of the door, watching him leave.

"I'm leaving! See you next time!" Fang Yan called out.

With a wave of his hand, the red flag left its spot, and the shadows of the trees outside the window began to recede into the distance.

Next, we returned to the Yingbin Hotel.

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words has been updated.

There will be an extra chapter later.

(End of this chapter)