Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1343 The Profoundly Heritage-Rich Old Tao Family, and the Stubborn Patient (Two Chapters Combined)
Director Liao watched all this with a smile, saying, "As long as you cooperate with the treatment, everything will be fine!"
He was genuinely worried that the family members here might perceive the treatment as risky and refuse to cooperate with the treatment after hearing what they said in the dialect.

Even if it's not the dialect's fault that such a statement is made, it will still be a small stain, giving others the impression that the dialect is used to make strong medicine.

He spoke in dialect:

"Then I'll leave Mr. Sima to you!"

Fang Yan said to Director Liao:
"Don't worry, Director Liao, we will do our best to treat you."

Director Liao nodded and then began arranging accommodations for Mr. Sima and his family. They had come directly from the airport and hadn't been assigned a place to stay yet.

As per usual practice, they were once again accommodated at the Yanjing Hotel.

The distance is less than one kilometer, so getting around is quite convenient.

Recently, a bus stop was added at the Yanjing Hotel to make it easier for people to get around.

There used to be no bus stop at the entrance, mainly because there were few people, and most of the people coming and going were overseas Chinese businessmen who usually had cars arranged by their companies. However, there were some security issues on public buses in Beijing, so no bus stop was added at that time in order not to leave a bad impression on the overseas Chinese businessmen.

However, there are reasons for the increase now. More and more overseas Chinese businessmen will return to China in the future, and some family members who are receiving medical treatment at Peking Union Medical College Hospital need to travel back and forth between these two places. Setting up a bus stop is also to facilitate these people.

Furthermore, police presence has been increased here, so it's believed that no thief would dare to defy the law.

These are all investments made by people returning to China. If a thief ruins things, that thief will definitely be targeted if caught, and other thieves will suffer the same fate.

This is also a good thing for ordinary people. It's much more convenient and safer to take a bus in this area now.

Next, Director Liao took the Sima family to the Yanjing Hotel, leaving only the patient's wife behind.

After everyone had left, the patient's wife took out a wallet, pulled out a wad of US dollars, and handed it to Fang Yan.

"Director Fang, this is just a small token of our appreciation. We originally planned to attend an auction in Hong Kong before returning, but time didn't allow it. However, we will make it up to you later."

After saying that, he stuffed it directly into Fang Yan's hand:

"Please don't mind! I hope you'll do your best to handle the rest!"

Without mincing words, Fang Yan said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

Then he accepted the items. Fang Yan was entitled to the money, and he didn't intend to hide it or try to refuse. So many overseas Chinese businessmen had come for medical treatment, and everyone understood the rules. Besides, Fang Yan wasn't just taking the money for nothing; he was genuinely going to use the life-saving secret formula he had.

Turning to look at Mr. Sima lying on the bed, his breathing was still somewhat even, though it was still phlegmy. The dark circles under his eyes had faded, and even his hands, which were resting outside the blanket, were warmer than before.

Fang Yan looked up at the patient's wife: "This 'stone goiter' is hard, but it's not an incurable knot. First, use the fire-inducing decoction to replenish his energy. Once the other medicines are taken, you'll be able to feel the lump loosen up in less than half a month. There's just one thing: you have to keep a close eye on him for the next three days. If he wakes up and says he's hungry, even if he wants to eat something greasy, he has to do as I say: millet porridge, steamed yam, and not a single bite of raw or cold food."

The patient's wife nodded hurriedly and said in dialect:

"Director Fang, please rest assured, someone from our family will always be here to watch over you."

Next, we went out and called Lao Tao and Lao He. We found a place and gave them some of the money we had just collected.

"Why would you give me the money I gave you?" He Puren asked, somewhat surprised.

“Yes, this is for you,” Old Tao said.

Fang Yan had never shared any money with them before, and the two of them didn't understand Fang Yan's rules. Fang Yan said to them:

"Today's consultation is a joint consultation, and you all have a share of the money they gave us."

"Take it if it's given to you!"

He Puren paused slightly, clutching the few US dollars. Having seen the world, he quickly pushed them back, a polite smile plastered on his face.

"You won't do that, you're being too polite. Today I just lent a hand by prescribing a modified version of the herbal decoction to help clear the fire. The real emergency treatment and follow-up plans were all your ideas. This money should be yours, how could I accept it?"

“We practice medicine to heal the sick and save lives, not for this. It’s only right that you accept it, but I can’t take advantage of you.”

Fang Yan waved his hand and said:

"Who said you took advantage of me? This is our rule here, everyone who sees it gets a share. People who helped us before all get a share."

Speaking in his dialect, he pushed the money back into Lao He's hand.

"Here, Lao Tao, you take this too." She said in dialect, gesturing for Lao Tao to take it.

Old Tao's eyes widened as he stared at the money Fang Yan handed him. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and he abruptly pulled his hand back halfway through, his ears turning bright red instantly.

He rubbed his rough hands together, chuckled, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Director Fang, this...this is too much, isn't it? I just helped hold the patient down and didn't come up with any serious ideas."

He glanced at the portrait on the US dollar bill, then quickly looked down. "I don't even see this much money a year when I'm farming back home. I don't feel at ease holding this."

He glanced at He Puren again, feeling even more awkward. He Puren had been helpful today, while he felt he hadn't done anything at all. He said:

"How about... how about I take less? Just a little bit is fine, I really can't accept more."

Fang Yan shoved the money into his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Take it, Lao He. The Fritillaria thunbergii and Bupleurum chinense you added to your fire-inducing decoction are perfect for his phlegm stagnation and qi stagnation. Without these two herbs, the effect would be diminished. Lao Tao, you held his shoulders to stabilize him during the emergency treatment, which allowed me to accurately insert the needles. Neither of you could have been missing." He patted Lao Tao's arm. "Take it. This is what you deserve. There will be many more opportunities for consultations in the future, so don't be polite with me."

Seeing Fang Yan's resolute attitude and hearing him point out the key to his prescription, He Puren had no choice but to carefully fold the money and stuff it into his inner pocket, muttering, "Then I'll accept it without hesitation. I'll lend a hand next time there's a consultation."

Old Tao clutched the money tightly in his hand, his face flushed all the way to the roots of his neck, and chuckled repeatedly, saying, "Well, thank you, Director Fang. I'll do whatever you ask me to do from now on, no questions asked!"

As he spoke, he secretly slipped the money deeper into his white coat, as if afraid of being seen. His excited yet embarrassed demeanor made him look exactly like a peasant who had just come to the city and seen the world.

This was his first time seeing foreign exchange. He had only come to help out today, but he didn't expect Director Fang to be so particular. It was true what the fortune teller said about his good fortune coming in his old age.

Having come from the countryside to the capital, it hasn't been long, but things he never dared to dream of before have been happening to him one after another. It's like a windfall has fallen into his lap, almost knocking him off balance.

I'm not even talking about anything else now, just the houses I live in are all villas.

All of this only came about after I came into contact with the dialect.

With the arrangements made here, Fang Yan still needs to keep an eye on things here, while Lao He needs to go back to the research institute.

The price Fang Yan paid for being a hands-off manager was that He Puren had to handle all the trivial matters. However, Fang Yan was also very generous with his benefits, not only for today's money, but also for the considerable amount the company gave him every month.

That money wasn't just from the research institute; it also included company subsidies for his salary. That's why Lao He wasn't as excited as Lao Tao when he received the money.

As long as he doesn't go abroad, he can live very well in China on his salary alone.

Now his wife and children are quite satisfied with his job, and in short, He Puren is very happy now.

Like him, Zeng Luquan was also glad that he had listened to Fang Yan and joined the secret formula research institute.

It not only solved their employment problems, but also enabled them to fully display their talents and gain trust and rewards far exceeding those of other organizations.

After Lao He left, Fang Yan and Lao Tao stayed here.

Since the two had nothing else to do, they started talking about other treatment possibilities. Old Tao mainly shared his views. His family had been practicing traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. Although he had spent most of his life in obscurity due to the times, he still had the necessary knowledge and skills. Given a platform to showcase his abilities, he could still produce something of value.

“Director Fang, I think Mr. Sima’s illness is somewhat similar to that of an old man I met years ago with a 'bulging neck', but he’s much more peculiar.”

He paused, trying to recall the details: "That old man also had lumps on his neck. At first, they were like walnuts, but they kept getting bigger and bigger. He even became hoarse and had a bad temper, arguing with people all the time. When my grandfather treated him, he said it was because 'qi was wrapped in phlegm, and the phlegm had formed lumps.' He used tangerine peel and pinellia to resolve the phlegm, and added cyperus and turmeric to soothe the liver. It gradually subsided a bit. But Mr. Sima's case is different. His lump was as hard as iron, and it had even metastasized. He also had so many lipomas on his body. This is because he was 'too weak to contain the evil.'"

Fang Yan didn't interrupt, gesturing for him to continue. Old Tao also became interested, and his speaking speed increased:
“My grandfather used to say, ‘Any lumps are either phlegm or blood stasis, or either blood stasis or deficiency.’ This Mr. Sima has all three. Over forty years of smoking, the phlegm in his lungs must have piled up like a mountain, that’s 'phlegm'; his bad temper, the stagnation of qi over time becomes blood stasis, plus the radiation therapy that blocked his meridians, that’s 'blood stasis'; eating raw and cold foods damaged his spleen and stomach, and the radiation and chemotherapy depleted his vital energy, leaving his kidney yin completely depleted, that’s 'deficiency'. Deficiency is the root, phlegm and blood stasis are the surface, if the root is not firm, the surface cannot be dispersed.”

Fang Yan asked him:
"Do you remember what the prescription was for that patient your grandfather treated?"

Upon hearing this, Old Tao rubbed his chin with his fingers, his brows furrowing slightly.
"I can't remember them all. After all, it was more than 30 years ago. I had just started learning about medicine from my grandfather at that time, and I only remember a few main ingredients."

He paused, his eyes brightening as if grasping at fragments of memory, and continued, "My grandfather probably used 'Er Chen Tang' as a base, which definitely contained ingredients like dried tangerine peel, pinellia, poria, and licorice. These are all old hands at drying dampness and resolving phlegm, just like spreading a layer of dry soil to absorb moisture when there's wet mud in the ground. But just resolving phlegm isn't enough. That old man had a temper as fiery as a firecracker. My grandfather said, 'If the qi doesn't flow smoothly, the phlegm won't dissolve,' so he added cyperus and turmeric, which are both for soothing the liver and regulating qi, essentially giving the blocked qi an outlet."

“There are two other herbs that I remember well.” Old Tao leaned forward and lowered his voice even further. “One is Zhejiang fritillary bulb, which can soften and disperse nodules, and is specifically for dealing with hard lumps on the neck. My grandfather said it’s like ‘loosening the muscles and bones of the lumps’; the other is raw oyster shell, which has been calcined and has a strong salty and astringent taste. It can both resolve phlegm and astringe qi. I was afraid that the previous herbs would be too dispersing and would deplete the old man’s already not very strong vital energy. It’s like ‘removing the lumps while leaning against the wall.’”

At this point, he scratched his head again, a little embarrassed: "I've forgotten the specific dosage. Back then, my grandfather would prescribe medicine by feel, judging by whether the old man's tongue coating was thick or his pulse was deep, and he would just grab the medicine by hand, unlike now where we have to weigh the amount. But after drinking that prescription for almost two months, the lump on the old man's neck did shrink a bit, and he spoke more fluently, but his temper didn't change much."

He looked up at Fang Yan, his tone tinged with emotion: "Now that I think about it, that old man's illness was nothing compared to Mr. Sima's. That old man was 'more excess than deficiency,' with severe phlegm and qi stagnation, but his constitution wasn't damaged; Mr. Sima was 'more deficiency than excess,' with phlegm and blood stasis ten times worse than that old man's, and his constitution was also weak. My grandfather's prescription definitely couldn't be used directly, mainly because it was too drying. I was afraid that drinking it would make the dryness in his lungs even worse, and his spleen and stomach wouldn't be able to handle it."

“However, I think Grandpa’s approach is correct,” Old Tao added. “First, regulate the qi and resolve phlegm, then soften the hardened masses and disperse the nodules, and finally protect the body’s vital energy.”

He paused, then added, "Of course, what you said about 'repairing before attacking' makes sense. There's an old saying in my hometown: 'Build the foundation before building a rotten wall, patch the bottom before patching a broken pot.' His body is like an old, neglected wall; the plaster has all fallen off, and the beams are rotten. If you directly use strong medicine to remove the knots in the wall, it will definitely collapse. The 'fire-starting soup' is like the mud for building the foundation. Stabilize the foundation first, and then use the seaweed and licorice soup to remove the knots. That's the only way to make it stable."

Speaking of seaweed and licorice soup, Old Tao recalled the "Eighteen Incompatibilities" and smacked his lips:

“My grandfather used to say, ‘There are no fixed rules in medicine, and no fixed prescriptions for medicine.’ I didn’t understand that back then and always followed the rules. I dared not violate the rules of the eighteen incompatibilities and nineteen taboos. Only today have I truly seen the truth of it. Licorice is incompatible with seaweed, which is an old rule, but the old Mr. Dong from Lanzhou was able to make them ‘mutually restraining and complementing each other.’ Only someone with some ideas could do that.”

"You're now using Yin Huo Tang to nourish Yin, and a modified Hai Zao Gan Cao Tang to clear blood stasis. You're being much more thorough than my grandfather was back then." He didn't forget to flatter him in the dialect as the conversation went on.

Fang Yan waved his hand and said:

"The old man's words make a lot of sense. There are no fixed rules in medicine, and no fixed prescriptions for medicine. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible, and diseases are ever-changing. If we cling to the 'Eighteen Incompatibilities' as golden rules and dare not touch them, many treatable diseases will be delayed."

"Mr. Dong dared to use seaweed with licorice, not out of recklessness, but because he had a thorough understanding of the properties of the herbs."

"Seaweed softens hard masses and disperses nodules, but its medicinal properties are too dispersive, and it is easy to deplete qi when used alone; licorice seems to be the opposite, but in fact it can 'guide' the medicinal power of seaweed to the depths of the lump, and can also stabilize the body's vital energy and prevent it from leaking out. This is the principle of 'using the opposite to assist the correct.' The old man used oysters to astringe qi and protect the body's vital energy back then, which is actually the same principle. They were all afraid of 'attacking evil' and damaging the body's foundation."

“Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes ‘inheriting the past without being bound by it.’ The old man’s approach was ‘regulating qi and resolving phlegm first,’ which is suitable for symptoms with more excess than deficiency. Our approach is ‘nourishing yin and strengthening the body’ first,’ which is suitable for symptoms like Mr. Sima’s, which have both deficiency and excess. The approaches are different, but the fundamental principle of protecting the body’s resistance and eliminating pathogens is the same.”

You can tell from their dialect that the Tao family is quite capable.

Because of the times, the tradition has been somewhat interrupted. Of course, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse, and their family is still much better off than the average family.

As they were talking, a slight noise came from the ward. A moment later, a nurse came out and waved to the two of them. They quickly went inside.

Mr. Sima had already woken up in the ward, staring at the ceiling with his eyes open, making soft, muffled sounds in his throat.

His wife quickly leaned closer: "How are you feeling?"

Mr. Sima rolled his eyes, his lips moved, and his words became clearer: "Water..."

Mr. Sima's wife looked at Fang Yan and asked:
"Can he drink water right now?"

"Wait a moment!" Fang Yan sat down and quickly began to take Mr. Sima's pulse.

Compared to the previous shallow and weak pulse, the pulse at this moment is noticeably deeper and more solid. Although there are still signs of weakness, it has regained its strength.

He then looked up to observe the patient's complexion. The sallowness that had been mixed with the flushed face had faded considerably, and the lips had taken on a moist, light pink hue, no longer appearing dry, cracked, and dull as before.

“He can drink it, but there are some things to consider. He has just woken up and his spleen, stomach and airway are still weak. Drinking too much warm water can easily cause him to choke and dilute the medicinal effects of the 'heat-inducing soup' in his stomach.”

He turned to the nurse and instructed her, "Go get a small celadon spoon and bring a small bowl of warm water. The water shouldn't be too hot, just warm is perfect."

The nurse left as instructed, and Fang Yan then explained to Mr. Sima's wife:
“He hasn’t fully recovered from his yin deficiency yet, and the dryness in his lungs hasn’t completely subsided. He needs to drink water to soothe his throat, but not too much.”

Seeing the latter's bewildered expression, Fang Yan said:

"Just like when you first plant grass in a garden, you have to water it slowly, because watering too quickly will drown the roots. When you feed him later, only fill a spoon with more than half a spoonful, and put it to his mouth to test it first. If he can swallow it, then feed him. Stop after feeding him two spoonfuls at a time, and feed him again after ten minutes."

Just then, the nurse returned with water and a spoon. Mr. Sima's wife quickly took it and, speaking in their local dialect, scooped up half a spoonful of warm water and brought it to her husband's lips.

Mr. Sima's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he swallowed the water smoothly. His cloudy eyes seemed to brighten a little, and he weakly uttered a single word: "...a little more."

"Don't rush," Fang Yan said, pressing down on the patient's wife's hand as she was about to scoop water.

“Do as I say. It’s not good to do too much now. He can just speak, which means his breathing is smooth and the medicinal effects of the fire-inducing soup have already taken effect. We need to let his body adapt slowly.”

He then looked at Mr. Sima and slowed his speech:
“Mr. Sima, you are feeling weak right now, so you should drink the water slowly. I’ll have the kitchen make some millet porridge later. It’s more nourishing than water and will make your stomach feel better.”

Mr. Sima made a "whoosh" sound in his throat, which seemed to indicate that he was somewhat displeased.

This guy is known to his family as a hot-tempered guy.

His reaction was not unexpected.

“I know you are very thirsty and your throat is burning. This is because the dryness in your lungs has not completely subsided. Although the Yin Huo Tang (a traditional Chinese medicine formula) nourishes Yin, its effects need to be gradual and can not be rushed.”

He raised his hand and gently pointed to the lump on Mr. Sima's neck, his movements very light, as if afraid of hurting him, and said:
"Is it still tight here? This lump is pressing on your trachea. If you drink too much water at once, it will irritate your trachea and you might cough again, which will only waste the energy you just saved up. Let's bear with it for now and wait until the millet porridge is cooked. That stuff is very moist. One sip will slide down your throat to your stomach. It's more thirst-quenching than water and doesn't take much effort."

After hearing this, Mr. Sima said another sentence:
"I'm so thirsty..."

Fang Yan didn't stop her anymore. She turned to the nurse and winked, signaling her to hand her another clean gauze.

Then he dipped some warm water in it and gently placed it on Mr. Sima's chapped lips: "Please hold this damp gauze in your mouth to moisten your lips; it will make you feel better. I know that if you're thirsty to the point of despair, anyone lying here for half a day would feel like their throat is steaming."

"Okay, let's compromise. I just fed you two spoonfuls, so I'll add another spoonful, just one, and then wait for the porridge to thicken. Swallow this spoonful slowly, let the water swirl around in your throat a bit more, let it moisten your throat thoroughly before swallowing, okay?"

As he spoke, he gestured to the patient's wife.

The patient's wife quickly scooped up a small half spoonful and carefully brought it to her husband's lips.

This time, Mr. Sima did not urge him. His Adam's apple moved slowly, and he swallowed even more slowly than before. The gauze on his lips was still damp, and the tension on his face had indeed eased a bit.

He was at his wit's end; the doctor wouldn't give him any more, so this was all he could do.

There's nothing I can do about getting angry now.

After he finished drinking the water, Fang Yan continued to take his pulse.

Fang Yan could clearly feel the subtle changes in the pulse. It was more stable than before the water was added, and the previously hidden restlessness had subsided somewhat. However, the underlying weakness remained, like a candle flickering in the wind. Although the flame had been temporarily stabilized, it could not withstand the slightest disturbance.

He released his grip and bent down to examine Mr. Sima's tongue more closely. He lifted the tip of the tongue slightly and saw that although the surface was still dry, it was no longer as prickly as before, and the teeth marks on the edges had faded. "Alright, you've caught your breath."

Mr. Sima closed his eyes, the phlegm in his throat lessened considerably, but his lips still occasionally brushed against the damp gauze, clearly his thirst hadn't subsided, yet he didn't ask for more. Fang Yan, seeing his "restrained" appearance, smiled and said to his wife, "You see, Mr. Sima is a sensible man; he knows he has to take care of himself right now."

These words seemed to hit the nail on the head. Mr. Sima's eyelids twitched, and although he didn't open his eyes, the corners of his mouth relaxed almost imperceptibly. As irritable as he was, he knew perfectly well that his body was no longer at an age where he could act on impulse.

Fang Yan said to him:
"Your progress is going very well. We will begin treating your tumor soon. If you cooperate, you will recover quickly."

Never mind all that, just make a big promise first, otherwise this old guy won't cooperate.

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

(End of this chapter)