Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1220 Nine Apertures Drawing Ice: A 30% Chance, Old Monk's Mystic Art Saves the Day? (Combined Chapter)
Now the decision-making power is in the hands of dialects.

The old monk simply provided a solution; being a seasoned veteran, he handled the matter flawlessly.

"Benefactor Wang has fallen into a coma, and his condition continues to deteriorate. Western medicine has no effective treatment options. The sooner we begin treatment, the better the outcome. However, even I, as an old monk, only have a 30% chance of success with this prescription. Young friend Fang..."

Master Haiteng hesitated, but Fang Yan certainly understood what he meant.

He meant that he could understand if the dialect wasn't used.

However, the cure rate for this disease is already pitifully low, yet the old monk claimed there was a 30% chance of success.

That's quite high!
Moreover, the earlier the intervention for this disease is initiated, the higher the probability of a cure.

If we don't take action now and wait for Tao Guangzheng to return from XJ, the situation will definitely be much more serious than it is now.

She fell ill without any warning signs, and within a few days she experienced convulsions, hallucinations, and coma. Delaying treatment could have meant she would have lost all chance of recovery.

Fang Yan lightly tapped on the windowsill, her gaze sweeping over the unfinished tiger-head shoes on the sewing machine.

The saying came to mind: "Even a long-standing illness can be cured. Those who say it is incurable simply haven't found the right method."

Immediately, he turned to Master Hai Deng and said in a deep voice:

“I’ll use your Nine Apertures Ice-Drawing Method, but I want to increase the Astragalus to 150 grams, reduce the Glauber’s salt by 30%, and add Angelica sinensis tail to invigorate blood and protect the vessels, hoping to gamble on this 30% chance of survival!”

After a moment's thought, the old monk nodded and said:
"Alright, we'll do as you say, young friend Fang."

"However, I must reiterate: this method is like a surprise attack by elite troops. While there is a 30% chance of breaking the deadlock, there is also a 70% risk of complete defeat. If there is no improvement within half a day, then immediately withdraw the medicine to save lives!"

Fang Yan pondered for a moment, thinking that even if this plan failed, the potent medicine might temporarily clear some of the blockages, buying time to contact Tao Guangzheng later. He nodded and said:
"Row."

After saying that, he looked behind him and said:
"However, it's not up to the two of us to decide; we need to explain it to the family first."

The old monk nodded, and then walked into the bedroom with Fang Yan.

They were indeed very restrained, or perhaps it was because Secretary Huang was there, but not a single person came out to eavesdrop on their conversation.

After entering the house, Fang Yan and the old monk exchanged a glance, and then Fang Yan spoke:
"Uncle Zhang, Zhang Li, I just discussed a treatment plan with the master. It might be more effective, but the risks are not small. I must explain it to you clearly."

He deliberately avoided using esoteric terms like "Nine Apertures Ice-Drawing Method," explaining it in the simplest terms:

"This prescription requires some extremely cold and potent medicines, which are sent directly into the orifices to draw out the stagnant toxins from the brain."

“But Aunt Wang is weak right now, like a wall about to collapse. She might not be able to withstand strong medicine.”

"If she's lucky, the stagnation and toxins might loosen, and she might wake up; if she's unlucky, it might damage her foundation and make her even weaker."

At this moment, the old monk added:
“Even more serious situations could occur.”

Fang Yan paused, looked at the father and daughter whose faces were somewhat grim, and emphasized:
"That's right. Simply put, it's like taking a drastic gamble. There's a 30% chance of seeing improvement, but a 70% chance of no effect, or even making the situation worse."

“We will add some blood-nourishing medicine to support it, but the risks are real, and you need to think it through.”

Old Zhang's face paled further, his lips trembled as he couldn't speak, his hands rubbing repeatedly on his knees, his eyes filled with struggle.

On one hand, there was the despair of his wife being in a coma, and on the other hand, there was the fear brought by the word "risk".

He turned to look at Wang Huiyuan on the bed. The scabbed wound on her forehead felt like a thorn in his heart. His mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't make up his mind for a long time.

I waited for about ten seconds.

“Dr. Fang,” Zhang Li suddenly spoke, her voice trembling with tears yet unusually firm:
“My mom is like this now, she gets weaker every day she lies down, and Western doctors say there’s nothing they can do… Since there’s a 30% chance, we’ll take the gamble! Even if… even if it doesn’t work out, we won’t blame you.”

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her palms.
"It's better than just watching her fall asleep like that."

Old Zhang suddenly looked up at his daughter.

“Dad, there’s no need to hesitate anymore. Hesitation and procrastination will only make the situation worse,” Zhang Li said to her father.

Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Old Zhang's bloodshot eyes, and he finally nodded heavily.

"Okay, let's gamble! If Hye-won were awake, she would definitely be willing to take the risk too."

Just then, Secretary Huang, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, his tone serious:

"Ladies and gentlemen, there is something I must say upfront."

All eyes turned to him.

Secretary Huang said, "Let me make this clear beforehand: this treatment process, whether successful or not, must not be leaked. Dr. Fang's reputation is very important. The Ministry of Health, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the Research Institute, Peking Union Medical College, and the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine are all watching. Moreover, the Ministry of Health's mid-year conference is in a few days. If word gets out and the result is not as expected, it will be used against us, and it will not benefit anyone!"

He paused, then looked at Old Zhang and his daughter: "You have to promise that only the few of us in this house know about this, and that we'll only say to outsiders that I'm recuperating. Only if you agree to this can we continue the treatment."

Old Zhang and Zhang Li exchanged a glance, and Zhang Li spoke first:
“Secretary Huang, we promise! We will not utter a single word! If she is cured, it is thanks to the kindness of Dr. Fang and Master Hai Deng. If she is not cured... it is my mother's fate. We will not make things difficult for anyone.”

Fang Yan said to Secretary Huang:
"Secretary Huang, rest assured, we know what we're doing. Uncle Zhang, Zhang Li, since you've agreed, we'll prepare to administer the medicine now. Master, what do you think..."

Master Haiteng put his palms together and said:
"Without further ado, I will draft a prescription. As for preparing the medicine, I will have to trouble you, young friend Fang. It would be best to use authentic local herbs."

Secretary Huang picked up the conversation:
"Comrade Wang is from our Ministry of Health, I'll take care of the medicinal materials!"

Upon hearing Secretary Huang's words, Fang Yan responded:

"That would be the best!"

The medicines the old monk wanted were not cheap, especially the bezoar.

Next, the old monk listed the medicines and equipment needed, and asked Secretary Huang to make the arrangements.

Secretary Huang quickly went downstairs with the things and returned shortly afterward. Of course, he couldn't get the medicine himself, so he sent someone else to do it.

We're going to give Aunt Wang an enema later, and my mother, Sophia, and Zhang Li will be doing it together. Fang Yan is explaining the procedure to the three of them.

Nowadays, there are specialized enema kits, which are relatively safe and convenient to use. In ancient times, it would have been a real hassle. This is one of the advantages of living in modern times.

It took more than ten minutes to explain the matter clearly in dialect. My mother has experience in this area, but she didn't know how traditional Chinese medicine was different. After she understood, she said that she would take charge of this step later.

A few minutes later, the things Secretary Huang had requested were delivered, which was quite efficient.

They even brought special equipment for decocting medicine and a wooden tub for sitz baths.

Even mountain spring water.

I don't know how they managed to get it in such a short time.

The efficiency of work in dialects these days has always felt like a mystery.

When it's slow, it's heartbreakingly slow; when it's fast, it can shock the world.

Once the items arrived, Master Haiteng had already explained all the details to Fang Yan. He then said to Fang Yan:

"From now on, you take the lead, young friend. I'll keep an eye on things from the sidelines and only speak up if anything goes wrong."

Old Hu also said:
"I can help too!"

"Tell me how to decoct the medicine, what to prepare, and if you need anything, just let me know."

Now that he's seen this, he realizes that this is a major event comparable to saving Zhou Zhaoqin's life, and he can at least get involved this time.

Old Zhang and his daughter Zhang Li also said:
"We can do it too."

Fang Yan nodded, took a deep breath, and swept his gaze across everyone present, his voice steady and powerful:
"Time is of the essence, so let's divide the work clearly and act quickly."

He first looked at his apprentice, Anton, and said:
"Go and process the bamboo sap. Take the freshest section of bamboo from the very center, roast it with an alcohol lamp while it's still dripping, and collect the sap in a white porcelain bowl. Remember to filter it through three layers of gauze; there can't be any impurities. Bamboo sap is very strong, so it needs to be completely cooled before use. Find an ice basin to keep it chilled."

Anton responded and left, while Master Haiteng added from the side:
"When roasting bamboo, it should be turned constantly to allow the juice to seep out evenly. It should not be burned, otherwise it will have a burning taste and lose its cooling properties."

Anton responded; after learning his skills for so long, it was time to put him to the test.

Fang Yan turned to Lao Hu and said, "Brother Hu, is it alright for you to be in charge of brewing the astragalus soup?"

"No problem, it's not like I haven't cooked for my wife before," Old Hu said proudly.

Fang Yan smiled and said:

"Soak 150 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, 30 grams of Angelica sinensis (tail), and 20 grams of stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala in spring water for 20 minutes. The water level should be about three fingers above the herbs."

"After soaking, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for an hour. Mix the resulting three bowls of decoction together and keep it warm on the stove for later use."

"Remember, you can't rush it; you have to let the medicinal properties seep out slowly."

Just as Lao Hu was about to agree, the old monk added:
"Atractylodes macrocephala should be stir-fried with wheat bran until slightly yellow to remove its dryness and prevent damage to yin. The earthenware pot used for decocting the medicine should first be soaked in rice water to remove the heat."

"Understood!" Old Hu, who had been working in the pharmaceutical factory for several months, agreed and carried the medicinal herbs to the kitchen.

Bodyguard Lao Cui also went to help. He also came from the pharmaceutical factory, so he knew a thing or two.

Then Fang Yan looked at Lao Zhang:

"Uncle Zhang, please dissolve the Glauber's salt in warm water, just like the cool boiled water we drink, not too cold to touch. Pour it into the sitz bath tub, the water level should be below your knees, stir it well so that the Glauber's salt doesn't sink to the bottom. After you apply the medicine, Aunt Wang needs to sit in it for fifteen minutes, so please move the tub to the side of the bed beforehand and lay out the mat."

Old Zhang nodded vigorously, and Master Hai Deng reminded him:

"The amount of Glauber's salt must be accurate. Too much will make it too cold and damage the spleen, while too little will make the medicine less effective. Follow the amount in the prescription and don't guess."

"Sophia, Zhang Li, and Mom, you three double-check the enema ingredients." Fang Yan turned to them and said, "Filter the mugwort ash solution. It has to be ash from burnt mugwort, the fine ash on top. Rinse it with boiling water and let it cool to lukewarm before pouring it into the enema bottle. Don't let the liquid level exceed the mark. Push it slowly, like water droplets, don't rush it."

The three quickly replied, "Okay!"

Master Haiteng chimed in from the side: "The enema tube must be scalded with boiling water and cooled with mugwort ash water until it is no longer hot to the back of your hand. Too hot will damage the intestines, and too cold will cause stagnation of qi."

Finally, Fang Yan looked at his eager apprentice, Zhao Zhengyi:
"Come with me, let's grind the medicine."

He picked up the bezoar and borneol. "These two must be ground together. Wipe the mortar with alcohol first, let it dry before using. Grind them until you can't taste any particles on the tip of your tongue, like flour. When grinding, rotate clockwise, don't rub back and forth."

Just as little Zhao Zhengyi was about to make a move, the old monk said again:
"When grinding, keep your breathing even and don't talk into the powder, otherwise your saliva will get on the medicine and ruin it. After grinding, divide it into five portions. The portion under the tongue should be slightly thicker, just add half a spoonful of bamboo sap. The portion for the nose and ears should be thinner, so that it can flow into the orifices." Fang Yan and Zhao Zhengyi both nodded.

Then everyone received the instructions, and the room immediately became busy.

The bubbling sound of decocting medicine, the rustling sound of grinding medicine, and the occasional low reminders intertwined, and the aroma of medicine gradually filled the air.

Fang Yan ground the medicinal powder while occasionally glancing up to check the progress: "Is the bamboo sap filtered yet? We'll need it in a little while." "Is the astragalus soup bubbling yet? Don't let the heat get too high, just keep it at a gentle boil."

Master Haiteng stood by the bed, his gaze fixed on Wang Huiyuan's face, and suddenly spoke:
"Young friend Fang, before administering the medicine, remember to massage her Hegu and Taichong acupoints for three minutes each to improve blood circulation and allow the medicine to flow more smoothly."

Nodding in dialect:

"I've got it. Zhang Li, go get a basin of warm water. Before applying the medicine, wipe your mother's face and hands gently so as not to disturb her."

Zhang Li responded and went to do so. Old Zhang had already moved the sitz bath tub to the bedside and was using a thermometer to check the water temperature, muttering to himself:

"Just right, just right, not too hot or too cold."

Fang Yan divided the ground medicinal powder into five portions, mixed them with bamboo sap, and placed each portion into a bamboo spoon. He also checked the mugwort ash solution in the enema bag.
"The temperature is about right, Sophia. You and Zhang Li get ready. I'll start the enema as soon as I finish applying the medicine to my nose and ears."

Master Haiteng, fingering his prayer beads, looked at the orderly scene with a hint of approval in his eyes:

"You've followed the procedure step by step, that's good. Remember, for half an hour after administering the medication, make sure she's not exposed to drafts. Just leave a crack in the window; if the wind gets into her body, the medication will be ineffective."

Fang Yan responded with a "Okay".

Then his gaze swept back and forth between the enema syringe and the medicine spoon, carefully recalling whether he had missed anything.

Then he got up and walked to the table, picked up an empty bamboo spoon, scooped out half a spoonful of green bamboo juice, and then added a little bit of borneol.

"Justice, help me divide this bowl of powder into two portions and dilute it even more with bamboo sap." His voice was steady, and there was nothing unusual about it.

Little Zhao Zhengyi did as instructed.

Fang Yan carried the freshly prepared medicine to the bedside and said to Zhang Li, who was preparing warm water:
"After you finish wiping my face, gently open Aunt Wang's eyelids for me. I need to put some eye drops in her eyes."

Zhang Li was taken aback: "Eye drops?"

“Yes, the eyes are also acupoints; they can help draw out poison.” Fang Yan didn’t explain further, turning to look at Anton:
"Go get two sections of moxa sticks, and find a small dish to pour some alcohol into. When we apply the medicine later, you will be responsible for moxibustion on Baihui and Fengfu acupoints."

Just as Anton was about to ask the reason, the dialect shifted to the kitchen:
"Brother Hu, set up another small earthenware pot on the stove, slice wild ginseng, and fry it over high heat, so it's always ready for use."

Old Hu responded from the kitchen, and Old Cui poked his head out: "Dr. Fang, what is this ginseng soup?"

"Just in case," Fang Yan said casually, his gaze sweeping over the enema kit in Sophia's hand.
"Let the soup in the enema bottle cool for another three minutes. When I say 'start,' we'll all get to work together. I'll apply the medicine to your nose, ears, and eyes, and you'll all do the enema at the same time. Anton will do the moxibustion at the same time. Nobody should be slow."

Sophia and Zhang Li exchanged a glance. Although they didn't understand why the order had suddenly changed, they nodded in agreement.

Master Haiteng paused, his hand holding the prayer beads faltering. He looked at Fang Yan with a deeper meaning in his eyes, but said nothing.

Actually, the old monk had said at the beginning that the medicine should be applied to both nostrils, both ears, and under the tongue, so that the medicine could enter the body. At the same time, a very diluted decoction of mugwort ash should be used as an enema... one in and one out, forming a pathway.

Fang Yan's plan was to first prepare medication for the nose, ears, and under the tongue, and then administer the enema last, while maintaining privacy. After thinking about it, Fang Yan realized that he had disrupted the "intake and output" linkage effect by ordering the medications in sequence, which might cause the medication to remain in the body or counteract the effects, thus failing to achieve the goal of "guiding the poison downwards." This was not acceptable.

As for ginseng soup, it's best to prepare it in advance to avoid being caught unprepared and scrambling when you need it.

After going through the dialect again and confirming that there were no problems, he finally asked the old monk who hadn't reminded him earlier:
"Does the master have anything to add?"

Master Haiteng looked at the medicine spoon and instruments that Fang Yan had rearranged, twirled the prayer beads between his fingers halfway, pondered for a moment, and then slowly spoke:
"Young friend Fang made the timely correction, but there is still one detail to pay attention to."

He walked to the bedside, his gaze falling on Wang Huiyuan's wrist:
“When the nine orifices are synchronized, someone needs to keep an eye on her pulse and breathing. If the pulse suddenly becomes scattered and the breathing becomes rapid when the cold medicine is going down, it is a sign that the yang energy is about to be depleted. At that time, the ginseng soup must be given immediately, and the moxibustion must be changed to ginger-separated moxibustion on Guanyuan. You can't just keep an eye on Baihui.”

As he spoke, he took out a small packet of dried ginger from his cloth bag:

"This is roasted ginger powder. Have someone mix it with warm water and apply it to the Guanyuan acupoint. When it really comes to that, use moxa sticks directly over the powder to apply the heat, so that the heat can support the Yang energy."

Fang Yan nodded. This couldn't be blamed on the old monk. It must have been his first time doing this, and he didn't have a memory as good as Fang Yan's.

After a while, the preparations were finally completed.

After examining the patient and confirming that there were no problems, Fang Yan and Master Hai Deng finally began the treatment.

Fang Yan glanced at his watch; the hour hand pointed to 3:30 PM. He said:

"Time's up, everyone get back to your positions."

Then everyone went into the room and began preparations. Fang Yan first took the pressure of the acupressure point, pressing three fingers together on the Hegu acupoint, gradually increasing the pressure. Zhang Li had already wrung out a towel and was gently wiping her mother's cheeks with tender movements.

My mother and Sophia prepared an enema for Aunt Wang Huiyuan.

Wang Huiyuan is a patient now, so there's no point in making do anymore.

Life is the most important thing.

Three minutes later, Fang Yan switched to the Taichong acupoint and could feel a slight pulse under his fingertip, which was indeed more active than before.

Then he called on everyone to prepare for execution.

A cold-natured medicinal liquid is dripped into the seven orifices of the brain: both noses, both ears, both eyes, and under the tongue.

After an enema at the outlet of the lower orifice, a sitz bath is performed.

A pathway for "one in and one out" must be established.

Once everyone was in position, Fang Yan gave a low shout: "Enter!", and instantly multiple lines of communication were activated.

Fang Yan's right hand swept across the headboard like a butterfly flitting among flowers, first touching the left nose with a bamboo spoon, then tapping the right ear, and the medicine slid in smoothly.

Wang Huiyuan's earlobe trembled slightly.

Zhang Li held her breath and pried open her mother's eyelids. Fang Yan flipped her wrist and precisely dripped the medicine from another bamboo spoon into her eye socket, two cool drops falling onto her cornea.

He pinched the last spoonful of the paste-like medicine between his fingertips, and gently scraped it under Wang Huiyuan's tongue. The taste of bezoar and borneol filled his mouth, and even the air seemed to carry a slightly bitter coolness.

Almost simultaneously, Sofia and her mother pressed the piston of the enema device, and the mugwort ash soup in the transparent tube was being sent in.

The fine ash from burning mugwort mixes with warm water, creating a strange pull between it and the coldness in the seven orifices.

The sound of hissing
It felt as if one force was drilling into my brain, while another was pulling me down into my intestines.

Anton held the moxa stick three inches above the Baihui acupoint, the smoke curling around it, making the scalp feel slightly hot.

Old Zhang gripped his wife's wrist tightly, watching all this with bated breath. He felt Wang Huiyuan's pulse suddenly quicken.

He opened his mouth as if to shout, but then held back when he saw the current atmosphere.

Fang Yan then observed Wang Huiyuan's brow.

A fine layer of white frost-like sweat was forming there, which should be a sign that the pent-up internal heat was being forced out by the cold medicine.

"Prepare the bath tub!" Fang Yan said, looking up.

Bodyguards Lao Cui and Lao Zhang quickly pushed the bucket over, while Sophia, very vigorous, picked up Wang Huiyuan and put her into the bucket, where the Glauber's salt water just reached her knees.

As if a key had been unlocked, Wang Huiyuan's previously sluggish breathing suddenly became even, and the medicinal liquid in her seven orifices stopped seeping out, but instead seemed to be absorbed by her skin, slowly disappearing into her flesh.

"The effect is so obvious?!" Zhang Li was stunned.

The dialect didn't relax; according to the old monk, the next step was crucial.

Can Wang Huiyuan withstand this 'arrow of ice' and use it for her own purposes?
How to ensure that this 'arrow' can accurately hit the 'poison target' deep in the marrow sea is something even the old monk himself is unsure about. It all depends on Wang Huiyuan's fate. If it doesn't work, she will have to be given the medicine immediately.

Feeling Wang Huiyuan's pulse, Fang Yan's heart skipped a beat.

The pulse suddenly lost its rhythm; the previous lively energy seemed to have been cut off by something, becoming sometimes fast and sometimes slow, teetering on the brink of collapse like a candle in the wind.

Wang Huiyuan's brow suddenly became sweaty, which trickled down her temples. Her lips turned bluish-white, her breathing became rapid, and her chest heaved violently.

"not good!"

Fang Yan's heart tightened, and he looked up to call someone to bring him ginseng soup.

Then Master Haiteng suddenly stepped forward, put his hands together, and stood to the side.

His lips moved, uttering obscure syllables that were neither scripture nor ordinary speech, but rather a kind of incomprehensible syllable.

Fang Yan was stunned for a moment, not knowing what the old monk was going to do, but he immediately shouted to Lao Hu:

"Ginseng soup!"

Old Hu immediately realized what was happening and went to take it.

At this moment, Master Hai Deng suddenly raised his hand and made a light stroke above Wang Huiyuan's Baihui acupoint. Wang Huiyuan suddenly let out a muffled sound from her throat, and her chest heaved even more violently, as if something was churning in her lungs.

Old Zhang clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, but Fang Yan held him down with a look.

"Here it is!" Old Hu came over carrying a bowl of ginseng soup.

Suddenly, Master Haiteng opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping across Wang Huiyuan's face like lightning, and his chanting stopped abruptly.

"Wait a little longer." The old monk's voice was slightly hoarse as he gently touched Wang Huiyuan's philtrum with his fingertips.

With just that gentle touch, Wang Huiyuan's rapid breathing surprisingly slowed down by half a beat.

The cold sweat on her brow slowly disappeared, and a faint pink blush appeared on her pale lips, as if something was seeping out from within.

Fang Yan's pulse, which had been chaotic before, became steady and strong again. Although it was still weak, it was rising with a tenacious force.

He asked the old monk in surprise:
"Is this a kind of incantation ritual?"

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

(End of this chapter)