Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1243 The Poison Passed Down Through Nine Generations, A Life-or-Death Contract (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)

Seeing Fang Yan's solemn expression, Tao Guangzheng added, "My family's processing method is quite particular. This sal ammoniac must be soaked in well water or spring water, then replaced with goat milk, and finally dried over charcoal and ground into powder, which removes most of its toxicity."

“My grandfather used this method to treat many serious ailments. As long as the dosage is accurate, there will be no problems.”

He took out an oil paper package from his canvas bag. Inside was a gray-black crystal with sharp edges and a cold look: "This is what I always carry with me. Look at the color. There are no impurities. It's genuine salt lake crystal. It's already been processed. All I need to do is grind it into powder."

Fang Yan picked up a small piece of aloeswood, which felt icy cold to the touch. He then put it to his nose and smelled it. A salty and astringent smell rushed to his head, and strangely, there was a milky smell in the aftertaste.

He pondered for a moment:
How do you determine the dosage of this stuff?

Tao Guangzheng said:
“Initially, take one part (about 0.3 grams) daily, divided into three doses.” Tao Guangzheng held up one finger. “If Comrade Wang’s pulse does not show any abnormalities after three days of continuous use, increase the dose to two parts. The maximum is no more than three parts; this is a family rule.”

He paused, then continued to explain:
"To deal with this kind of deep-rooted stagnation, you have to peel an onion, layer by layer."

“Realgar is potent; too much could damage the spleen and stomach, making it counterproductive. Have someone monitor Comrade Wang’s pulse daily, and stop the medication immediately if the pulse shows even the slightest abnormality.”

After Tao Guangzheng finished speaking, he heard the sound of water boiling in the kitchen, and he quickly said to Fang Yan:

"However, whether or not to use it ultimately depends on your decision."

Fang Yan was speechless upon hearing this. The old monk had said the same thing last time, and now Tao Guangzheng was saying the same thing.

Although Wang Huiyuan's glioma was stabilized by the initial treatment plan of Fang Yan and Master Hai Deng, her pulse still showed "deficiency mixed with excess," which actually means that the tumor has not disappeared and the blood stasis and toxins are entangled. The current state is "superficial qi is rising, but internal qi has not dissipated," which means that the condition may worsen at any time.

As for when it will worsen, it's hard to say.

Although there is no development now, the urgency still exists.

Thinking about dialects...

The Tao family has been practicing medicine for nine generations, specializing in brain diseases. Their family's secret recipes have clear experience in "eliminating accumulations and softening hard masses, breaking up blood stasis and dispersing nodules," so it is actually feasible to use them.

Moreover, the quantity was indeed small, showing that Tao Guangzheng was quite cautious.

Recalling the months before his transmigration in his previous life, when research confirmed that arsenic could cure leukemia, Fang Yan thought it was definitely worth a try.

Promoting the standardized use of this technology will also fill the gap in traditional Chinese medicine's ability to tackle severe diseases.

Whether it has therapeutic or academic value, Fang Yan believes it is worth giving it a try.

Seeing that Old Zhang had already brought out the tea, Fang Yan thought for a moment and said:

"Let's try one dose of the medicine first. If the pulse becomes irregular, stop the medicine immediately. Prepare mung bean and licorice soup and other antidotes in advance to deal with any sudden toxic reactions."

"Also, I'll contact your father later."

"Please trouble him to come to the capital."

After the dialect was finished, Secretary Huang added:

"Let's talk to Lao Zhang, at least his family should be informed."

Fang Yan nodded after hearing this:

"Hmm! That makes sense. This matter needs to be clarified."

Old Zhang came out of the kitchen carrying a cup of tea, and said with a smile:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the tea is here!"

As soon as Old Zhang placed his teacup on the small table, Secretary Huang gently pressed down on his wrist.

"Old Zhang, please have a seat." Secretary Huang's voice was low and carried an undeniable solemnity.

He said:
"There's something I need to discuss with you all in detail."

Old Zhang's smile froze instantly, a hint of tension flashing in his eyes. He subconsciously glanced at the bedroom door, then turned back to look at Fang Yan and the others, finally lowering his voice to Secretary Huang:
"Is...is there something wrong with Hye-won?"

Secretary Huang straightened his posture and looked serious.

He said in dialect:

"Let me tell you."

Secretary Huang nodded, and Old Zhang looked at Fang Yan.

Fang Yan took a deep breath and gestured for Tao Guangzheng to take out the oil paper package.

He then showed the grayish-black alum crystal to Lao Zhang. The crystal had sharp edges and corners, and under the living room light, it had a cold, hard metallic luster.

Fang Yan then lowered his voice and said to Lao Zhang:

“Uncle Zhang, I won’t hide it from you anymore. As Dr. Tao just mentioned, Aunt Wang’s condition seems much better on the surface, but it’s like a house that looks good on the outside but has a big problem hidden in its foundation. The tumor in her brain is still there and is very stubborn, and it could cause problems at any time.”

He pointed at Tao Guangzheng:

"Dr. Tao's family has been treating brain diseases for nine generations. They have a special formula for these deep-rooted lumps of blood stasis and toxins. The most crucial ingredient is this..." He pointed to the grayish-black crystal with his finger, "This thing is called sal ammoniac. It is a mineral medicine produced in nature. It has a strong medicinal effect and is specially used to break down and disperse lumps, but... it is itself toxic."

"Poisonous?" Old Zhang's face turned pale instantly, and his voice trembled slightly. "You mean you plan to use poisonous medicine to treat illness?"

"Old Zhang, don't rush, let him finish speaking in dialect." Secretary Huang's tone was unusually firm, but the reassuring meaning was also very obvious.

"Don't you trust his medical skills?"

Upon hearing about the medical skills spoken in the local dialect, Old Zhang's expression immediately improved.

This is still widely praised.

Fang Yan continued:

"It is precisely because of its toxicity that Dr. Tao's family has a very particular, nine-generation-old family method for reducing its toxicity. It requires soaking in specific well water or spring water, then switching to goat milk to absorb its heat and toxicity, and finally roasting it over charcoal and grinding it into powder to reduce the toxicity by more than half. Dr. Tao's grandfather cured many seriously ill patients using this method. As long as the steps are correct and the dosage is precisely controlled, there will be no mistakes!"

Fang Yan relayed Tao Guangzheng's detailed explanation of dosage and monitoring to Lao Zhang in more colloquial terms:

"The dosage must be extremely small. At the beginning, use only a tiny amount, equivalent to half a grain of rice (one fen), divided into three doses and mixed with the medicine. Use it for three consecutive days. Our people will stay by your side several times a day, constantly checking your pulse. If the pulse becomes even slightly unstable or disordered, or even shows the slightest abnormal change, stop the medication immediately! If the condition stabilizes after three days, you can cautiously increase the dosage to two fen, but at most, it can only be increased to a tiny amount, equivalent to one grain of rice..."

"This is their family's strict rule. Dr. Tao said that dealing with this stubborn lumps of blood stasis requires peeling an onion layer by layer. You can't rush it; doing too much might harm Aunt Wang's spleen and stomach, and make things worse!"

"..." Old Zhang didn't speak, staring at the cold stone, his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Fang Yan knew his worries and said frankly, "Uncle Zhang, I won't hide it from you, I understand your concerns. But for Aunt Wang's current condition, Western medicine has no other options. We've already done our best to stabilize her and revive her. But this stability is only superficial; the danger is still lurking at the root! If this ammoniac is used well, it's the hope of breaking through the tumor's root! Using medicine is like using troops; sometimes you have to use extraordinary measures. And..."

Fang Yan paused, then emphasized, "We will do our best to control the risks! In addition to closely monitoring her pulse, I've already given instructions to my staff. The detoxification supplies are ready, and the mung bean and licorice soup is on hand, ready to be used immediately if anything happens! This is like giving us double insurance! If this method really works, it will not only give Aunt Wang a chance to live, but it will also be a major breakthrough for traditional Chinese medicine in conquering this kind of incurable disease!"

Tao Guangzheng also spoke at the opportune moment, his tone sincere and steady:

"Comrade Zhang, rest assured, the piece of ammoniac I carry with me is genuine salt lake crystal that I brought back from Altay, Xinjiang. It has a pure color without any impurities and is the best kind in terms of medicinal properties. I personally processed it without being careless in the slightest!"

Fang Yan looked at Secretary Huang: "Secretary Huang, please be a witness here as we've explained the risks. Ultimately, whether or not to use this prescription requires your family's informed consent. Please consider it?"

Old Zhang's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, his gaze sweeping over Fang Yan, Tao Guangzheng, and Secretary Huang's faces before finally looking toward the bedroom, as if looking through the wall at his wife inside.

He recalled the rare, warm smile on his wife's face when she was lucid these past few days, the way she softly said she wanted to go back to work... and then he remembered those dark, devastating days before. The heavy fear of losing his loved ones at any moment was now intertwined with a glimmer of hope in the face of despair.

In the end, that glimmer of hope overwhelmed the fear.

He raised his head, his gaze fixed on Fang Yan, and also on Secretary Huang and Tao Guangzheng, his voice carrying a resolute, all-or-nothing determination:

"Dr. Fang, Dr. Tao, Secretary Huang! I believe in you!" "Like I said before, I'm willing to do anything to save Huiyuan! I'll sell everything I own!"

"Use it! Use this method!"

"I'll do whatever you need me to do! I'll sign whatever you need me to sign right now!"

Fang Yan looked at the unwavering trust and determination in Lao Zhang's eyes and felt a heavy weight in her heart.

He nodded solemnly and said:
“Alright! Uncle Zhang, we will be extremely cautious. Also…” He turned to Tao Guangzheng, “Comrade Guangzheng, just to be on the safe side, try to contact our hometown in Hebei later and ask the old man to come to Beijing to help as soon as possible! With him there, we will feel more confident!”

Secretary Huang then spoke:
"Okay, since the family is fully informed and has given their consent, I will record the situation truthfully and report it."

"What medicine do you need? What personnel do you need? Give me a list, and I'll arrange them for you in a bit."

Next, Fang Yan asked Tao Guangzheng to write down the prescription, and then Secretary Huang arranged for someone to monitor it at all times.

Although Fang Yan wanted to keep an eye on him at all times, he couldn't keep an eye on him for three days straight.

We still need to send people to provide support.

In addition, a telegram needs to be sent to Hebei to summon Grandpa Tao over.

Fang Yan thought of Master Zhu and Master Hai Deng. Both of them were loyal users of this rare prescription. We should call them over. Maybe they can give us some new insights. Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure!

P.S.: That's all for today. Please come early tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)