Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1244 Masters Gather to Fight Glioma with Poison (Two Chapters Combined)
While Secretary Huang was still making arrangements, Fang Yan prepared to bring the two old men over.

Fang Yan first inquired about Master Hai Deng's current location from his two disciples, and then asked Secretary Huang to arrange for someone to go and pick him up.

Then Fang Yan made another phone call home.

Let Sofia bring Mr. Zhu over for a look.

After arranging things here, Secretary Huang's medicine arrived.

They were all based on the previous prescriptions in the local dialect, plus the prescription that Tao Guangzheng had just provided.

Under Secretary Huang's arrangement, Tao Guangzheng also sent a telegram home, but it was a little different from what Fang Yan had expected. They sent it directly to the county's health department.

Tao Guangzheng's hometown is in Yutian, which is not too far from here, only about 100 kilometers away. If the train does not stop, it will take about two hours to get there.

The reason for sending it to the health department is that sending it to the post office is too slow. Sending it through the health department's channels means that they will start processing it immediately after receiving it.

"I'll ask them to consider the transportation options. If possible, they can drive the person over directly," Secretary Huang said to Fang Yan.

Fang Yan nodded. If all goes well, Comrade Lao Tao should arrive by tomorrow at the latest.

It's even possible that it will be sent over tonight.

The rest of the work has been done; now it's time to go upstairs and brew the medicine.

Tao Guangzheng was to handle the decoction himself.

Fang Yan and the others watched from the sidelines.

However, he encountered a problem right from the start: he didn't know how to use the gas in Old Zhang's house.

This is very embarrassing.

In the end, it was Fang Yan who went up to help and managed to get the fire going.

He waited until the blue flames rose before placing the earthenware pot on it.

Then, from the herbal medicine bag brought by Secretary Huang, he took out the herbs from the previous prescription, including angelica, astragalus, and white peony... Each herb was weighed with a small scale, and the amount was exactly the same. He then arranged them in a small pile on a white porcelain plate.

"First, boil the astragalus and codonopsis. You have to bring it to a boil over high heat, then simmer it over low heat for half an hour." Tao Guangzheng said as he added spring water to the clay pot, the water level just two fingers above the herbs.

He stood by the stove, watching closely, and every now and then he would stir the herbs with bamboo chopsticks to prevent them from sinking to the bottom and sticking to the pot.

The kitchen in Old Zhang's house faces west and is very hot right now. The heat, mixed with the fragrance of medicinal herbs, wafts out, making the beads of sweat on Tao Guangzheng's forehead shine.

This guy came straight to work today after getting off the train, and Fang Yan asked An Dong to go over and keep an eye on him.

Tao Guangzheng was still a little uneasy when he saw An Dong coming over.

However, when the Russian asked him to hand over his work in fluent Chinese and introduced himself as a disciple of the dialect master, he was surprised to hear the young man speak fluent Chinese.

Tao Guangzheng then realized what was happening.

Following Tao Guangzheng's instructions, An Dong waited until the medicinal soup in the pot started to foam, then quickly turned down the heat.

Begin simmering the medicine over a low flame.

However, Tao Guangzheng was not idle either; he started working on his ammoniac.

Although this stuff has been prepared, it still needs to be ground.

After grinding it up, Tao Guangzheng took out a piece of oiled paper and wrapped it up.

One-third of the remaining ground sal ammoniac powder was scooped out with a silver spoon and carefully poured onto a clean sheet of cotton paper.

He spoke in the dialect:
"This ingredient should be added last. Just put it into boiling water and stir three times. If you add it for too long, the medicinal properties will dissipate."

He held the edge of the cotton paper, his eyes fixed on the medicinal soup in the clay pot in the kitchen, then looked at the watch on his hand, as if waiting for a precise moment.

Seeing this, Fang Yan didn't say anything; this was indeed something to be careful about.

Only Tao Guangzheng himself knew when to add the medicine.

You can only rest after the medicine has been prepared.

While watching the medicine being brewed, Old Hu said to Fang Yan:

Looks like I'll have to stay up late again tonight.

Fang Yan said to Lao Hu:

"You don't need to stay up all night. I'll stay here and watch over things. You can go back with Old Zhu later."

Old Hu asked:

"And what about you? You stayed here the whole time for three days?"

Fang Yan shook his head:
"No, there are people guarding this place. I have to go and discuss specific cooperation agreements with several research institutes tomorrow."

"As long as things stay stable tonight, there shouldn't be any major problems later on."

Fang Yan had seen someone summarize the experience of this toxic drug in his previous life, and it is true that the adverse reactions of toxic Chinese medicines have the characteristic of "high incidence in the early stage".

Drugs like sal ammoniac, which are highly irritating or toxic, often cause acute toxic reactions such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and irregular pulse, which may appear shortly after administration.

Of course, it's not that we're completely safe, which is why we still need to leave people here.

"We just need to be prepared for unexpected situations," Fang Yan said.

After he finished speaking, he lowered his voice and said:
"Moreover, even if there is no poisoning, it does not mean that the drug will definitely work on gliomas."

Old Hu nodded upon hearing this. If that still didn't work, they would have to wait for Old Tao to come over.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Fang Yan thought it was the old man who had come, so she quickly went to open the door, only to find that it was just someone bringing mung bean soup.

In the summer, the company would usually make its own soup, so Secretary Huang simply had someone send over the mung bean soup from the cafeteria.

"This is what we need. I had them add extra licorice and simmer it until it's thick," Secretary Huang said to Fang Yan. Everyone saw mung bean husks floating in the amber-colored soup, with glistening licorice slices sinking to the bottom of the spoon.

Fang Yan nodded and told him to put it in the kitchen.

Just after we saw the people off, someone came to report that Old Zhu and Sophia had arrived at the door.

Fang Yan quickly went downstairs with Secretary Huang to greet the person, as they couldn't enter without someone escorting them.

Even if you have the necessary documents, it won't work; you must be accompanied by someone from the Ministry of Health.

When Fang Yan met Old Master Zhu, he quickly explained the situation before going upstairs. Old Master Zhu knew about the situation here. This time, he didn't even bring his usual apprentice Chen Youqing. He came directly with Sophia.

This is to cooperate with the confidentiality measures here.

When they got upstairs, Tao Guang was in the kitchen, holding a piece of cotton paper, preparing to pour sal ammoniac powder into the clay pot.

"Is it almost ready?" Fang Yan asked.

Tao Guangzheng said:
"We've been waiting for this moment." Tao Guangzheng's voice was a little tense, his eyes fixed on the center of the casserole, where a layer of fine white foam was floating, like freshly stirred egg white. "We have to wait for this foam to gather into a circle before the medicinal properties can be stabilized."

Fang Yan nodded. If people hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known there were such customs.

Tao Guang paused, and the sal ammonia powder at the edge of the cotton paper fell off in a flurry.

Once the medicinal powder was sprinkled into the pot along the edge, he quickly drew three circles in the soup with bamboo chopsticks, his movements swift and even. Finally, he gently tapped the bottom of the pot three times.

Then he spoke to the dialect:

"My grandfather said that banging your head three times can suppress the medicinal properties and prevent them from rising upwards and damaging your brain."

Fang Yan was taken aback; she hadn't expected there to be such a detail.
Old Zhang, who was waiting anxiously outside, heard the noise from the kitchen and asked:

"Is the medicine working?"

"It'll be a little longer before it gets too stuffy!" Tao Guangzheng said.

Then Lao Zhang saw everyone come out of the kitchen.

"We'll be able to drink it in a little while," Tao Guangzheng said to Lao Zhang.

It was only then that Fang Yan began to introduce Zhu Liangchun to him.

This doctor, known for his five poisons, was quite famous, and Old Zhang was quite excited to hear that he was here in person.

Then he would talk about his wife.

Old Zhu waved his hand and said:

"I've heard about your husband's situation from Fang Yan. Although the situation has stabilized now, other methods are still needed to eradicate it completely. They are trying to find a solution for you."

Hearing what Old Zhu said, Old Zhang nodded repeatedly, agreeing that it was indeed true.

“Don’t be afraid that the ammoniac is poison.” His voice was not loud, but every word was clear. “Mineral medicines in traditional Chinese medicine are like artillery on the battlefield. They look fierce, but if used correctly, they can save lives.”

He glanced toward the bedroom and lowered his voice: "I've seen even more outrageous things in Nantong. Those things are ten times more toxic than ammoniac. If you follow the proper procedures, nothing will go wrong."

"The Tao family has passed down this method for nine generations. They've been battling your husband's illness for a long time. They're more afraid of things going wrong than anyone else. You can rest assured that it can be used."

Old Zhang loosened his grip on the hem of his clothes, and his Adam's apple bobbed: "I just... I'm just afraid she'll suffer."

“Suffering is inevitable, but it’s for the better now.” Old Zhu smiled, indicating that he should relax. “Look, she can drink water and eat now, which is better than when she was unconscious. It’s like planting crops. You have to loosen the soil before you can plant seeds. The prescription that Fang Yan and the others used before was like loosening the soil. Now, Dr. Tao’s sal ammoniac is the real seed that’s being dug up from the root.”

“I’ve used a lot of toxic drugs in my life. Even the special heart-saving decoction that Fang Yan used before was first promoted in my area. People in other places didn’t dare to use it.”

"Many of them are afraid to use poison mainly because they are afraid of problems. But these prescriptions that have been passed down in an orderly manner and have been verified and have medical records are not to be afraid of. What is most frightening is the kind that has just been created."

"The Tao family's business has been passed down for nine generations. How many people have used it? Think about it, doesn't that make sense?!"

Hearing what Old Zhu said, Old Zhang nodded.

Fang Yan also sighed at this moment, no wonder he was able to bring out such a divine body of healing as Meng Jimin. When communicating with patients, Zhu Lao also had a strong affinity that made patients trust him.

Unlike the sense of conviction that comes from the calmness of dialects, Zhu Lao's approach is much gentler.

Of course, it's hard to say whether this is good or bad; as long as it can calm patients and their families down and make them trust the doctor, it's a good approach.

Just then, Master Hai Deng arrived.

Fang Yan explained the current situation to the old monk. He had participated in the rescue before and knew more details. He already knew that Fang Yan was looking for Tao Guangzheng, so after Fang Yan said a few words, he understood the current situation.

At that moment, the kitchen door opened, and steam carrying a rich, slightly peculiar mineral aroma of medicine wafted out.

Tao Guang was carefully holding a celadon bowl containing freshly filtered medicinal soup, a thick, brownish-red liquid with a thin, almost imperceptible layer of oil on its surface.

"The medicine is ready." Tao Guangzheng's voice was low, but heavy with emotion. Fang Yan could tell he was also very nervous.

The people here are all extraordinary, and for Tao Guangzheng, this is no less than a postgraduate entrance exam.

“Go straight to the bedroom!” Fang Yan said.

Tao Guangzheng nodded, and he carried the bowl to the bedroom, followed closely by Fang Yan. Old Zhu, Master Hai Deng, and others also got up.

For a moment, no one spoke, and the atmosphere became unusually quiet.

Old Zhang was also nervously rubbing his hands, following at the very back.

He was a little nervous; he had already told his wife and daughter inside about it.

In the bedroom, Wang Huiyuan leaned against the headboard, supported by her daughter Zhang Li.

Seeing Tao Guangzheng bring in the medicine, Wang Huiyuan forced a smile, but her smile betrayed her obvious nervousness.

"Comrade Wang, the medicine is ready." Tao Guangzheng walked to the bedside and handed the medicine bowl to Wang Huiyuan.

He said:
"The temperature is just right. Please drink it while it's hot, slowly, and it's best to drink it all in one go."

For some reason, the medicinal smell seemed to become even stronger when it was in front of me, mixed with the previous herbal scent, and an indescribable, slightly fishy and salty, mineral-like, raw and cold aroma.

Wang Huiyuan couldn't help but shiver. She glanced at the dark, murky medicine, then at her worried husband and daughter beside her, and finally at Fang Yan, Elder Zhu, and Master Hai Deng standing intently by the bedside... She took a deep breath...

"..." Everyone's eyes were on Wang Huiyuan.

At that moment, she seemed to have made a great decision, and with slightly trembling hands, she accepted the bowl of medicine.

"It's alright, don't be nervous!" Old Zhang, as the head of the family, said to his wife.

However, it seems more like he was saying this to himself.

At this moment, Fang Yan stepped forward and said:
"Aunt Wang, the amount of sal ammoniac in this is very small, only about 0.3 grams."

Tao Guangzheng also quickly added:

"Yes, at first we were just testing your body's reaction. If you can tolerate it, we will increase the dosage!"

At this moment, the old monk stepped forward and said:

“If Mr. Wang is still worried, I can try it first.”

These words left everyone present completely bewildered.

This phrase was only used in dialects when referring to the "extraordinary heart-saving soup".

The old monk didn't seem worried about this method.

Hearing Master Hai Deng's words, Wang Huiyuan finally mustered her courage and said:
"No need, no need! Master, you're too kind. So many of you have already explained things clearly. How could I not trust you?"

"With so many masters, others don't receive this treatment."

After saying that, she twitched the corner of her mouth, picked up the bowl, and brought it to her lips.

The rim of the bowl touched her lips, and the complex flavor rushed into her nostrils. She closed her eyes, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, and then, as if making a painful sacrifice, she tilted her head back and gulped down the medicinal soup!
"Cough cough...uh..." The medicine was thick and bitter, with an unusual fishy, ​​salty, and spicy sensation that rushed straight to her throat and stomach. Less than ten seconds after drinking it, Wang Huiyuan suddenly bent over and coughed violently, her face instantly turning bright red.

"vomit!"

Immediately afterwards, she suddenly experienced an uncontrollable bout of dry heaving!

"Ugh—!" She covered her mouth, her body convulsing violently, tears streaming down her face.

"Huiyuan!" Old Zhang was so frightened by the sight that his face changed color, and he was so heartbroken that he immediately rushed over to her.

"Don't panic!" Master Hai Deng's voice was not loud but unusually calm. He took a step forward, gently placed one hand on Wang Huiyuan's slightly twitching back, and patted it a few times slowly but firmly. At the same time, he said to Old Zhang, "Benefactor Zhang, don't be anxious! This reaction is normal, which means that the medicine is being administered!"

Upon seeing this, Fang Yan noticed that Master Hai Deng had started chanting incantations again.

At the same time, his hand also touched the inch-long ruler of Wang Huiyuan's other hand.

Tao Guang was watching Wang Huiyuan's reaction closely, explaining in rapid succession in dialect:

"This ammoniac is a potent ingredient. After swallowing it, some people feel as if they are being burned by a raging fire. It can cause stomach upset and nausea. It is common to experience vomiting or even brief abdominal pain after taking it for the first time!" His eyes were serious. "The most important thing is the pulse! You must keep a close eye on whether the pulse is disordered!"

At this moment, Wang Huiyuan's gagging subsided slightly, but she was still bent over, breathing rapidly, with a fine layer of cold sweat on her forehead and her lips turning pale.

"It's nothing, it's nothing, I just drank it a little too fast!" she explained to those around her, panting heavily.

Master Haiteng closed his eyes slightly, feeling the pulse under his fingers, his expression as focused as a still well.

No one disturbed him. After a while, he spoke in a deep voice:
"The pulse is strong and rapid, with a slight slippery quality, but the root is still stable and there are no obvious abnormalities."

Fang Yan was taking pulses on the other side at this moment, and nodded, saying:

"The medicinal energy is surging, surging through the meridians and blood, but it has not yet reached a dangerous state."

These words left the Zhang family of three looking bewildered.

Following up on Master Hai Deng's words, Elder Zhu gently explained to the still-shaken Old Zhang and Zhang Li:

"Did you hear that? The master said the pulse is not disordered."

Upon hearing this, they nodded in realization.

Tao Guangzheng said:
"This vomiting is the drug's toxicity impacting the tumor and stagnant toxins; it's called a 'reversal reaction.' It's like turning over the soil; the filth underground is brought to the surface. It looks scary, but it's actually a good start. You see, Comrade Wang can vomit now, which means his blood and qi are still moving, and he's much better than before when he was so drowsy!"

Hearing this, Old Zhang's tense body relaxed slightly, but his eyes still looked at his wife with heartache.

"Is...is that really true? Is suffering like this...a good thing?"

"Of course!" Old Zhu's tone was full of certainty. "If you don't turn it over and move it, how can you get rid of this stubborn ailment? That's exactly the kind of strength we need to break it down! Think about how she was before? Now she can vomit and feel uncomfortable, which means her body is fighting back and is on the road to recovery!"

He turned to Wang Huiyuan, who was still panting and clearly uncomfortable, and comforted her:
"Comrade Wang, just bear with it. This is the medicine fighting the battle for you! Just get through this shock. Breathe slowly, don't hold your breath."

Wang Huiyuan nodded weakly, her forehead drenched in cold sweat without her realizing it.

She was about to speak when she could only manage a short, hoarse "hoarse" sound.

Fang Yan looked at Tao Guangzheng: "Comrade Guangzheng?"

Tao Guangzheng was taken aback. He stared at Wang Huiyuan's face and reaction, then glanced at Master Hai Deng and Fang Yan's hands that were taking her pulse. He quickly said to Fang Yan, "The peak effect of the medicine has not passed yet. It has just gone down and is still working."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Wang Huiyuan spat out a mouthful of phlegm.

Feeling much relieved, he said to Fang Yan and the others:

"I'm fine, it's just phlegm."

Fang Yan checked his pulse and, finding nothing wrong for the time being, said:
"Well, keep observing."

At this moment, Secretary Huang said:

"I'll go to the kitchen and have some licorice and mung bean soup ready, just in case!" he said. He immediately turned around and strode towards the kitchen, where the prepared antidote was located.

Inside the room, Lao Hu and the others held their breath. The small bedroom was filled only with Wang Huiyuan's heavy breathing and Master Hai Deng's occasional reports in Fang Yan: "The pulse at the cun position feels rough when pressed deeply, but the patient has not lost focus... The cun and guan positions are still strong and slightly rapid..."

Old Zhang and Zhang Li stayed by the bedside, while Old Zhu explained the pharmacological reactions from time to time, trying to soothe the family's anxiety.

As time passed, Wang Huiyuan's violent retching gradually subsided, turning into intermittent low moans and furrowed brows. At this moment, her abdomen began to ache slightly.

Master Haiteng's forehead was also beaded with sweat; the old monk looked a little weak, perhaps because he hadn't rested well.

Seeing this, Master Zhu asked him to step aside and began to take his pulse, exchanging subtle changes in the pulse with Fang Yan.

"The slippery sensation has slowed down... the rapid pace has also subsided slightly... it seems the medicine's effects are waning?" Fang Yan asked softly.

Old Master Zhu nodded slowly: "Yes, Hong Da's momentum has subsided somewhat, and the situation has stabilized a bit. But... we still need to be vigilant against any subsequent changes..."

After saying that, he gave Lao Zhang and Zhang Li an encouraging smile: "Look, we've made it through the most dangerous first wave! Enduring the pain is better than being half-dead before! You held on! Now it's all about seeing if the medicine can take hold... That's the most important thing. In the next few days, you'll have to stay with Comrade Huiyuan and fight this battle well!"

Old Zhang held his wife's hand tightly, tears welling in his eyes, and nodded emphatically.

Although Wang Huiyuan's face still showed pain, the faint light in her eyes seemed to have strengthened her resolve.

Anton and the staff who were supposed to take over the night watch watched from the sidelines, barely daring to breathe. This was the first time they had observed such a dangerous and meticulous treatment process up close, and they deeply understood what danger truly meant.

Another half hour passed, and the cold sweat on Wang Huiyuan's forehead stopped.

Fang Yan knew that the strongest effect of the medicine had passed.

At this moment, her lips were a little dry, and Fang Yan asked her:
"Aunt Wang, would you like some water?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Li quickly brought warm water to Wang Huiyuan's side. Wang Huiyuan shook her head and said to her husband:

"Old Zhang, my brain... seems a bit lighter."

These words startled everyone in the room.

Tao Guangzheng immediately bent down:
"Comrade Wang, can you see how many fingers I have?" He held up three fingers, and Wang Huiyuan blinked: "Three... fingers?"

He turned to the crowd and said:

"He's mentally sound! The medication must be working!"

Fang Yan gave up his seat so that he could take his pulse.

Tao Guangzheng placed his hand on Wang Huiyuan's wrist, his other hand on her carotid artery. He closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, then opened them and said:
"The blood is flowing smoothly! This medicine is fine!"

Hearing him say that, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Just then, Wang Huiyuan frowned again, clutching her lower abdomen and whispering:
"It feels a bit heavy...like getting my period."

After saying this, she broke free from everyone's grasp and said:
"I need to go to the toilet..."

Zhang Li quickly helped her get off the bed. After taking only two steps, Wang Huiyuan suddenly hissed and stopped.

Everyone's hearts jumped into their throats again, but then she slowly breathed a sigh of relief: "That pain just now felt like being pricked with a needle, but it felt better afterward."

He then walked towards the restroom.

A few minutes later... when she came out of the bathroom, her complexion was actually better than before.

"She passed some black stool," Zhang Li whispered to the others.

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

(End of this chapter)