Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 521: Chapter 521: Catching Cicadas

Hu Qiming froze when he heard what Li Xu said.

Isn’t Cinnamon Bark supposed to warm and unblock the meridians, and assist the yang to transform qi?

It primarily moves things upward, so how can it also descend stomach qi?

Li Xu smiled at his reaction and said, "Don’t just read the books without thinking. In the Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet, the formula ’Gypsum and Cinnamon Decoction’ is used to treat Rushing Pig Qi. That’s when pathogenic cold from the kidneys surges upward, piercing through the middle burner and even rushing into the chest. This formula uses a heavy dose of Cinnamon Bark as the main ingredient. This is clear proof that it can descend rebellious qi and pacify the stomach."

Hu Qiming grew thoughtful as Zhang Zhongjing’s classic writings came to mind.

Li Xu continued, "The Shennong’s Materia Medica also states that Cinnamon Bark can treat ’upward-surging qi, rebellious coughing, and labored breathing.’ ’Labored breathing’ is what we now call wheezing."

Hu Qiming asked uncertainly, "Rebellious coughing and labored breathing... isn’t that about rebellious lung qi? Doesn’t that mean it descends lung qi?"

Li Xu nodded. "Yes, that’s correct. But you must understand that the Lungs and Stomach are related. For lung qi to descend, you must first ensure that the stomach qi is steadily moving downward. Only then can the lung qi descend without obstruction. If both the lung and stomach qi are rebelling upward simultaneously, you’ll find that Cinnamon Bark is extremely effective. It unblocks the yang and transforms qi, smoothing out the body’s qi dynamic. Once the qi flows smoothly, it will naturally descend."

Hu Qiming nodded, only half-understanding. He felt as if a new door was opening up to him.

Li Xu added, "This is something you’ll need to continue to explore in your clinical practice. And remember what I said: no matter how skilled you become, you must never forget to constantly study the classics."

"When you first start to understand a little medicine and read the classics, you’re like a frog at the bottom of a well. You can only see a tiny patch of sky and think you’ve figured it all out, even feeling that the ancient masters weren’t all that special."

"But when your skills improve and you’ve gained clinical experience, you’ll read them again and discover a whole new world. You’ll realize the ancients had already explained all these problems thoroughly; it was just that you couldn’t understand it at the time. This is why we say that every time you read a classic, you gain a new understanding."

Hu Qiming nodded seriously, taking these words to heart.

After dealing with the difficult stomach pain patient, Li Xu let Hu Qiming continue to see patients.

The next few patients had insomnia, lower back and leg pain, and chronic pharyngitis.

With Li Xu guiding him from the side, Hu Qiming found treating patients to be smoother and smoother, and his confidence grew.

Occasionally, when he was unsure about a case, Li Xu only needed to offer a word or two of guidance for him to immediately grasp the point.

They worked like this until noon.

"Alright, let’s go get lunch."

After a busy morning, Hu Qiming’s shoulders were sore, but his spirits were unusually high. "It’s settled then. Lunch is my treat. Let’s go to Songjiang Noodle House."

"Haha! Sisi, did you hear that? Remember to order the most expensive topping."

"Hee hee, okay."

...

In the afternoon, the clinic resumed business.

Hu Qiming remained in the main consultation seat, tirelessly seeing one patient after another.

He kept at it until the clinic closed for the night.

After seeing the last patient out, Hu Qiming collapsed into his chair, feeling like his entire body was about to fall apart.

But the joy of his accomplishments was indescribable.

"Sigh, the progress I’ve made today is truly worth half a year of just copying prescriptions at the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine," Hu Qiming said with a grin, rubbing his shoulders. "Li Xu, I’ve decided. I’m going to bother you every weekend from now on. You won’t be able to get rid of me even if you try."

Li Xu, who was tidying up the desk, burst out laughing. "As long as you’re paying for the meals, come whenever you want. I could use the free labor."

That evening, the three of them had dinner together.

As promised, it was Hu Qiming’s treat.

After dinner, Hu Qiming headed back. He still had to organize everything he’d learned that day.

Li Xu checked his phone. It was just past eight o’clock.

For someone used to the busy clinic life, this was a rare "early night."

"Sisi, want to go for a walk?"

Li Xu suggested, "I don’t think we’ve ever properly gone for a stroll together."

Song Sisi’s eyes lit up at the suggestion, and she readily agreed. "Okay! It’s been a long time since I’ve been out for a walk at night."

The two of them ambled slowly down the street.

They passed the bustling food street next door, and the noise gradually faded behind them.

Ahead of them was Feng City’s old moat.

After a government renovation project, it now featured a smooth riverside walkway, quaint antique-style railings, and banks lined with tall willow and poplar trees.

A river breeze blew past, making the willow branches sway gently and the water’s surface glitter.

Li Xu naturally took Song Sisi’s hand.

Her hand was soft and slightly cool, a perfect fit in his palm.

They walked side by side without saying much, simply soaking in the tranquility of the moment.

It was a wonderful feeling.

At the clinic, although they spent all day together, they were colleagues, and there wasn’t much romantic ambiguity.

But now, under the dim yellow streetlights, in the summer evening breeze, they were lovers.

Their heartbeats seemed a little faster than usual.

They walked to a relatively dim corner where the shadows of the trees danced.

Li Xu stopped and turned to look at Song Sisi.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, sprinkling across her face. Her limpid, watery eyes were sparkling as she looked at him.

Li Xu’s heart stirred, and he lowered his head to kiss her.

Song Sisi trembled slightly, then closed her eyes, responding with a clumsy but passionate fervor.

Just then, an old man on a bicycle zipped past, ringing his bell. "Hey now, coming through, coming through!"

Startled, Song Sisi pushed Li Xu away like a frightened fawn. Her face, red as a ripe apple, was lowered, and she didn’t dare look at him.

Li Xu rubbed his nose in embarrassment. ’That old man really knows how to kill a mood. Oh well, there will be plenty of opportunities later.’

"Ahem. Let’s keep walking, see what’s up ahead."

Li Xu took her hand again, trying to ease the awkwardness.

They continued walking. Before they even reached the main channel of the moat, they saw strange patches of light flickering in the woods up ahead.

The points of light flickered on and off, constantly moving. Some swept across the ground, while others traced paths up the tree trunks.

"Huh? What are they doing?" Song Sisi asked curiously. "Is there some kind of treasure hunt going on? Or did someone lose something?"

Li Xu was also puzzled.

Dozens of people waving flashlights around in a small wood at this time of night did look a bit strange.

The two of them quickened their pace and walked over.

As they got closer, they could see clearly. It was a group of men and women, old and young, holding bright flashlights. They were all staring intently at the tree trunks and the ground. Some even held long poles with nets on the end.

"Here’s one!"

A child suddenly pointed at the base of a tree and shouted. An adult next to him immediately pounced with swift hands, plucked something from the soil, and put it in a bottle.

Li Xu took a closer look and suddenly understood.

They were hunting for cicada nymphs.

It was now the height of summer, the season when cicada nymphs emerged from the ground, climbed up trees, and molted to become adult cicadas.

Seeing this lively scene, Li Xu was instantly transported back to his childhood.

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