"Chen Feng, perhaps we should just drop it," Wang Ziwei said, losing her resolve.
It wasn't that she didn't want to honor her grandmother. It was just that her grandmother was stubborn, and no amount of persuasion could change her mind. So, it was better not to try.
To be fair, her grandmother's mobility was limited, but otherwise, she was quite healthy.
"If it were any other illness, and Grandma insisted like this, I would let it go. But, from a quick look at her complexion, her condition could worsen at any moment and become life-threatening. Therefore, we cannot just let it go," Chen Feng explained earnestly.
"Chen Feng, did you perhaps misread it? Grandma's complexion actually looks quite rosy and radiant. To be honest, most people don't have such a complexion; only very healthy individuals do," Wang Ziwei retorted with a hint of confusion.
"On the surface, it appears that way, but this is not the view of traditional Chinese medicine. In TCM, while Grandma's complexion is rosy and radiant, there's a trace of chilling energy emanating from her brows. In TCM, this is called 'death energy.' Once a person has death energy in their brows, it signifies a serious illness that requires treatment," Chen Feng explained unhurriedly.
"What? Grandma's brows have chilling energy? How come I can't feel it?" Wang Ziwei still looked perplexed.
"You haven't formally studied TCM, so naturally, you can't see it. I've been reading TCM books for several years. While I'm not a miracle doctor, I can at least identify basic pathologies," Chen Feng replied seriously.
"Then tell me, how can Grandma's illness be treated? Oh, right, I saw in TV dramas and books that silver needles can be used to pierce acupuncture points to cure all diseases..." Wang Ziwei said excitedly.
"I don't know how to use silver needles," Chen Feng replied, sounding bewildered.
"Chen Feng, did I hear you correctly? You're a TCM practitioner, and you're telling me you don't know how to use acupuncture? Isn't that a joke?" Wang Ziwei asked, not understanding.
"Teacher Wang, this is the profound depth of TCM. Even though I've studied TCM in my spare time for two to three years, I only possess basic TCM techniques like massage and simple herbal prescriptions. Acupuncture requires a master TCM practitioner; it's not like what's depicted in novels where any TCM practitioner can perform acupuncture. It's also impossible to learn acupuncture in just a few days. TCM is a practical science that requires methodical progression," Chen Feng explained.
"Chen Feng, to be honest, this has given me a new perspective on TCM. Before, I always thought TCM was something mysterious and unfathomable. Now, I feel that TCM, like any other field, is quite down-to-earth, not at all mystical. The idea of arbitrarily using acupuncture to cure all diseases is simply not true," Wang Ziwei replied with a smile.
Chen Feng's sincere and pragmatic attitude towards TCM further indicated that he could help her grandmother.
"Grandma, please do it as a favor to your granddaughter. So many people are watching. If Chen Feng can't do anything, won't it be a total embarrassment? He's my boyfriend, and his embarrassment is my embarrassment. Grandma, can you really bear to see me embarrassed?" Wang Ziwei pleaded, acting cute.
"Alright, alright, I'll do it for my granddaughter's sake," Wang Ziwei's grandmother replied with a smile.
After hearing the two young people discuss TCM, she felt it was quite reliable.
In any case, Western medicine had already been tried with no effect, so it was worth trying TCM.
Chen Feng didn't hesitate. He carefully examined Wang Ziwei's grandmother's tongue coating and pulse.
After his examination, Chen Feng had a preliminary diagnosis.
Simply put, Wang Ziwei's grandmother's healthy state, with soft and weak legs, was caused by a rare insect bite.
This insect is called 'Nine Yin Worm' in TCM.
After being bitten, one's legs become soft and weak within a month, followed by generalized weakness, and eventually, slow death. It is irreversible.
"Chen Feng, since you know I was bitten by a Nine Yin Worm, you should be able to treat it, right?" Wang Ziwei's grandmother asked excitedly.
At least Chen Feng could identify the cause of her illness, which in itself was more reliable than Western medicine. Previously, despite seeing many Western doctors, none of them, even the so-called miracle doctors, could provide any explanation for her condition.
"Grandma, there are two simplest methods for treating bites from the Nine Yin Worm: one is acupuncture, and the other is precision cupping..."
"Since there's a way, treat it quickly. Honestly, lying in bed unable to move is too uncomfortable," Wang Ziwei's grandmother interrupted excitedly before Chen Feng could finish.
"However, I'm not proficient in either of these; I can't force it," Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"You understand TCM, don't you? Acupuncture and precision cupping shouldn't be difficult for a TCM practitioner," Wang Ziwei's grandmother was taken aback.
"Grandma, Chinese TCM is vast and profound. Even with my talent, I can't master acupuncture and precision cupping in just two or three years. These two skills require time and experience. I definitely can't do them now. However, I believe that if I persist in practicing in my spare time, I will learn them in a few years," Chen Feng explained earnestly.
"Chen Feng, if you say that, then won't my grandmother have no hope of being saved?" Wang Ziwei asked worriedly.
"I truly don't know how to perform acupuncture or precision cupping. Moreover, even though many TCM practitioners know these techniques, they would be ineffective. The acupuncture and precision cupping required for the Nine Yin Worm are not ordinary ones..." Chen Feng continued to explain seriously.
"Then what should we do?" Wang Ziwei asked anxiously.
"We can try an unconventional approach," Chen Feng replied earnestly.
"Unconventional approach? What does that mean?" Wang Ziwei asked, confused.
"Since we can't treat Grandma's illness with acupuncture or precision cupping at the moment, let's try to use poison to fight poison. TCM advocates using poison to fight poison, and this is exactly that. By drinking the juice extracted from the Nine Yin Worm, Grandma can recover," Chen Feng explained word by word.
"That sounds like a good method, so let's not delay any longer. Hurry and extract the Nine Yin Worm juice..." Wang Ziwei exclaimed excitedly.
"Teacher Wang, please be patient. Nine Yin Worms are very rare, and it's difficult for ordinary people to find them in ordinary places. We need to ask Grandma where she went on the day her legs became weak," Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, let me think carefully. I went to quite a few places that day: shopping malls, parks, friends' houses, coffee shops..." Wang Ziwei's grandmother tried to recall.
"Anything else?" Chen Feng asked.
"Chen Feng, do you mean that the places I just mentioned wouldn't have Nine Yin Worms?" Wang Ziwei's grandmother asked cautiously.
"Yes, Grandma. Nine Yin Worms prefer damp, cold places. The places you mentioned, Grandma, definitely wouldn't have Nine Yin Worms."
"Then it's strange. I really only went to those places that day. If those places don't have Nine Yin Worms, how could I have been bitten by one?" Wang Ziwei's grandmother was perplexed.
"Grandma, could it be that someone deliberately..." Chen Feng probed, a thought striking him.