My 1995 Small Farm.

The two turned back and headed towards the east end of the village.

On the way, Chen Ling asked about the donkey's situation in detail: it was a three-year-old donkey that usually pulled a millstone and transported goods. Five days ago, it came down the mountain carrying grain. After the rain, the road was slippery, and it lost its footing and hit its right hind leg on a rock, which swelled up immediately.

The owner applied herbal medicine using a traditional method, but the swelling did not subside significantly, and the person was still limping.

When they arrived at the house, the owner was an old man in his sixties, also surnamed Yao, named Yao Dazhu. He was a cousin of Yao the old man who repaired the plank road.

Upon hearing Wang Qingwen explain his purpose, Yao Dazhu looked surprised and doubtful: "Use leeches to treat wounds? This...this can work?"

Chen Ling didn't explain much, only saying, "Uncle Yao, let me take a look at the donkey first. Whether to treat it, and how to treat it, we'll decide after we see the situation."

Yao Dazhu was skeptical, but he led the two men to the livestock shed in the backyard.

The donkey was tied up in the shed; it was well-proportioned and had a glossy coat, making it a good laborer.

However, its right hind leg was noticeably swollen from the knee down, its fur was shiny, and its hoof barely touched the ground, as it dared not put any force on it.

As Chen Ling approached, the blue donkey alertly pricked up its ears, but remained still.

He squatted down and gently touched the swollen area. The skin was warm, and there was a hard lump when pressed, which was indeed a blood stasis.

The injury wasn't too serious, but the delay of a few days has started to affect his mobility.

"Uncle Yao, I can try to treat this injury."

Chen Ling stood up. "Use live leeches to suck blood and remove blood stasis, combined with my herbal poultice. It should be effective in three to five days if it's quick, seven or eight days if it's slow. If it's cured, the donkey can work normally again; if it's not cured, I guarantee it won't worsen the injury. What do you think?"

Yao Dazhu hesitated, then looked at Wang Qingwen: "Qingwen, this..."

Wang Qingwen patted him on the shoulder: "Old Yao, trust me. Lingzi is no ordinary person; he's cured countless difficult and complicated diseases. If you keep delaying this, the blood stasis won't dissipate, and you might be crippled in the future. Let him give it a try; if it works, it'll save you a lot of trouble."

These words struck a chord with Yao Dazhu.

For a farmer, a strong working animal is half of his family's assets.

It's completely ruined; the loss is considerable.

"Then...then let's give it a try?" Yao Dazhu gritted his teeth. "Tell me what you need."

Chen Ling smiled: "Prepare a clean wooden basin and fill it halfway with water. Also, find a clean old cloth. I'll take care of the rest."

He turned to Wang Qingwen and said, "Brother, I'll have to trouble you to go to where I put the bamboo basket this morning and fetch that earthenware pot. Be careful not to open the lid too wide, lest the leeches escape."

Wang Qingwen responded and left.

Chen Ling then took out a small cloth bag from his personal cloth bag, inside which was a blood-activating and stasis-removing powder that he had prepared himself, mixed with yellow wine into a paste, for later use.

Before long, Wang Qingwen returned with the earthenware pot and carefully placed it on the ground.

Chen Ling lifted the lid, and dozens of dark brown leeches were slowly wriggling in the water, making Yao Dazhu's scalp tingle and causing him to take a half step back.

Chen Ling remained calm and used bamboo chopsticks to pick up three medium-sized leeches and put them into a wooden basin filled with clear water.

As the leeches entered the water, they stretched out their bodies, appearing even more plump.

"Uncle Yao, lead the donkey to a bright place and tie it securely," Chen Ling instructed.

Yao Dazhu did as instructed.

Chen Ling used an old cloth dipped in warm water to clean the swollen fur on the donkey's injured leg. After drying it, he applied the herbal medicine evenly.

Then, he used bamboo chopsticks to pick up a leech from the wooden basin and gently placed it on the most swollen area.

The leech curled up for a moment, then the suckers at its mouthparts adhered to its skin and slowly attached itself.

Then, the body begins to contract and relax rhythmically, starting to suck blood.

Yao Dazhu stared wide-eyed and held his breath.

Wang Qingwen also observed carefully, and his heart was pounding with anxiety.

Once the first leech was firmly attached, Chen Ling picked up the second and third leeches and placed them on other parts of the swollen area.

The three leeches were arranged in a triangle, firmly attached to the body, which gradually swelled up.

The donkey was initially a little uneasy, pawing the ground lightly with its hooves, but perhaps because the cooling sensation of the herbal paste relieved its pain, it quickly calmed down, only occasionally swishing its tail.

"Is that...that's all?" Yao Dazhu asked in a trembling voice.

"It's not over yet." Chen Ling glanced at his pocket watch. "The leeches shouldn't suck blood for too long. The first time, keep it to fifteen to twenty minutes. Once they've had their fill of blood, they'll fall off on their own. If they don't fall off by then, sprinkle salt on them to stimulate them to let go."

He moved a tree stump to sit on and quietly observed.

Wang Qingwen and Yao Dazhu also found a place to sit, all three pairs of eyes fixed on the three leeches.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The leech's body swells at a visible rate, transforming from a slender strip into a full spindle shape, and its color changes from dark brown to dark red.

That's what it looks like when it's saturated with blood.

Fifteen minutes later, one of the leeches loosened its grip slightly, its suckers detached from its skin, and it fell to the ground with a "thud," curling up into a ball.

Then, the second and third stripes also fell off.

Chen Ling immediately used bamboo chopsticks to pick up the three blood-sucking leeches, put them into another empty earthenware jar, and put the lid on.

Then he examined the donkey's wounds.

Three small triangular wounds were left where the leeches had attached themselves, with tiny beads of blood seeping out, but the bleeding stopped quickly.

The skin at the swollen area seemed to have lightened in color, and the donkey's reaction was not as intense when pressed.

"Uncle Yao, look."

Chen Ling pointed to the wound, "The leeches have sucked away some of the bruising, reducing the local pressure. Continue this treatment once a day for three consecutive days, along with topical herbal compresses. We'll adjust the treatment based on the swelling after three days."

Yao Dazhu leaned closer to examine it, his face showing surprise and uncertainty, but his eyes had already gained some conviction: "It seems... a bit looser? This donkey was trying to lift its leg a moment ago, but now it's standing steadily."

"When blood stasis obstructs the flow of blood, the local pressure is high, which naturally causes discomfort. Removing some of it relieves the pressure and makes the patient feel more comfortable."

Chen Ling explained, "But this is just the beginning. It will take a few more days to completely reduce the swelling and bruising. Don't let it do any heavy work these days, and feed it more concentrated feed to ensure it gets enough nutrition."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Yao Dazhu nodded repeatedly, his attitude completely changing. "Oh, young man, your method is amazing! And this leech..."

"I'll take the leeches that have sucked blood away and deal with them."

Chen Ling said, "They have absorbed the blood clots and can no longer be used for treatment. I need to observe their survival status and excretion, which is also part of the experiment."

After packing his things, he gave Yao Dazhu a few more instructions before leaving with Wang Qingwen.

On the way home, as the sun set, Wang Qingwen remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking, "Lingzi, tell me honestly, how confident are you?"

Chen Ling paused, then thought carefully: "Judging from the donkey's injury alone, I'm about 70-80% confident. But the leech therapy itself still needs more case studies to verify."

The reaction may vary depending on the type of injury, the location of the injury, and the individual's constitution.

I need to figure out the patterns and establish safe operating procedures.

He looked at Wang Qingwen: "Brother, I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, I'll conduct thorough trials before using anyone to ensure everything goes smoothly."

Furthermore, even if it were to be used in the future, it would require the patient's own willingness and full informed consent. Medical matters cannot be forced.

Wang Qingwen let out a long sigh and patted Chen Ling on the shoulder: "Lingzi, you have this heart and this caution, I believe in you. It's just... this path is not easy to walk, ordinary people can't understand it, and there will definitely be a lot of gossip. You have to be mentally prepared."

Chen Ling laughed: "Brother, if I were afraid of gossip, I wouldn't have used maggots to treat Li Lianjie's injuries, nor would I have given early warnings about flood prevention, and I certainly wouldn't have kept a tiger at home. What needs to be done should be done, as long as I can live with my conscience."

Wang Qingwen paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's right. With your personality, I don't need to tell you anything. I trust you."

The two returned home after dark.

Dongdong and Xiaotong were doing their homework under the lamp, while their second sister-in-law, Guo Xinping, was busy in the kitchen. The aroma of food wafted out, filling the air with the warmth of home.

During dinner, Chen Ling briefly recounted how he used leeches to treat the donkey's wounds, omitting the details and only saying that it was an experiment with a new treatment method.

Sister-in-law Su Ligai frowned as she listened, but didn't say anything more.

She knew her brother-in-law's capabilities; if he dared to do it, there must be a reason.

At night, Chen Ling lay on the bed in the guest room, his consciousness sinking into a deep abyss.

The leeches collected during the day were placed in a specially designated area of ​​water in a corner of the cave.

The water here is clear and full of vitality, with fine sand and pebbles on the bottom and moist aquatic plants growing along the edges.

The leeches wriggled leisurely in the water, appearing exceptionally active.

Chen Ling carefully observed their condition and compared them to the three leeches that had sucked blood.

They are kept separately in another small water tank.

The leeches, bloated from sucking blood, moved slowly and lay quietly at the bottom of the water, seemingly digesting their food.

On a whim, he took a few herbs from the medicinal field in the cave to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.

Salvia miltiorrhiza, Paeonia lactiflora, and peach kernel are crushed into juice and dripped into the water where ordinary leeches are raised.

The leeches seemed to be attracted by the medicinal liquid and slowly gathered together.

"If leeches are fed with specific herbs for a long period of time, will it enhance the medicinal properties of their saliva?" Chen Ling wondered.

This needs time to prove, but it's worth a try.

The cave has a unique environment, different from the outside world, and is nourished by spiritual energy, which may be able to cultivate "medicinal leeches" with stronger medicinal effects.

As we exited the grotto, the moonlight outside the window was hazy, and a gentle mountain breeze was blowing.

Chen Ling gradually developed a clearer plan: first, accumulate experience on animals and optimize operations; at the same time, try to cultivate and strengthen leeches in the cave; and then consider clinical application when the time is right.

The first step is to heal the donkey's wounds.

For the next two days, Chen Ling went to Yao Dazhu's house on time every day to treat the donkey.

The leech therapy, combined with topical herbal application, shows increasingly noticeable effects day by day.

The next day, the swelling had subsided by 30%, and Qing dared to try to gently put weight on his injured leg.

On the third day, the swelling had subsided considerably. Although there was still a slight limp when walking, the person was able to stand and eat normally.

Yao Dazhu was overjoyed, his eyes practically disappearing behind his teeth. He told everyone he met that Chen Ling was a "miracle doctor" who had cured his donkey with leeches.

The news spread throughout the village. At first, people were skeptical, but after seeing the donkey's condition gradually improve, their discussions were filled with surprise and admiration.

On the evening of the third day, after the treatment ended, Yao Dazhu held onto Chen Ling, refusing to let him leave and insisting that he stay for dinner.

During the meal, after a few drinks, the old man became more talkative: "Fugui, to be honest, at first I really thought you were just messing around. But after watching for these three days, I'm convinced! The things passed down from our ancestors are truly wise!"

Chen Ling smiled and took a sip of wine: "Uncle Yao, leech therapy is an ancient method, but how to use it, how much to use, and what the contraindications are, we still have to figure out ourselves. Your donkey's injury isn't too serious, so it's working quickly. If it were a more complex injury, we might have to adjust the treatment plan."

"Then you'll have to figure it out yourself!" Yao Dazhu slammed his hand on the table. "Our village may not have much else, but we have plenty of livestock—horses and donkeys. They often get injured while working. If you need to try, just say the word! I'll help you arrange it!"

These words were exactly what Chen Ling wanted to hear.

He definitely needs more diverse cases to gain experience.

Yaowangzhai has a large number of livestock, and the injuries there are common to mountain work, making it an ideal testing ground.

“Then I’ll have to trouble Uncle Yao.” Chen Ling raised his glass. “However, let’s make it clear beforehand: the treatment is free, but the host must fully cooperate, rest when he needs to, and take care of him when he needs to. Also, I need to keep detailed records of all the treatments, and you have to agree to that.”

"No problem!" Yao Dazhu patted his chest. "Leave it to me!"

That evening, Chen Ling returned to Wang Qingwen's house and told him about Yao Dazhu's willingness to help organize the experiment.

Wang Qingwen pondered for a moment and said, "This is a good thing, but Lingzi, you have to be careful. The people in the village are honest. If you cure them, they will be grateful; but if something goes wrong, gossip will spread quickly. You have to be careful in choosing the experimental cases. It's best to avoid those with serious injuries or those with old livestock for now."

“I understand.” Chen Ling nodded. “Let’s start with mild to moderate injuries and gradually expand as we gain experience.”

On the morning of the fourth day, Chen Ling prepared to return to Chenwangzhuang.

Wang Qingwen's family saw him off at the village entrance. His eldest sister-in-law, Su Ligai, gave him a bag of freshly baked scallion pancakes, while his second sister-in-law, Guo Xinping, packed some newly made spicy strips.

Dongdong and Xiaotong held Chen Ling's hands, reluctant to part: "Uncle, when will you come again?"

"Once the weather clears up and the roads are easier to travel, I'll come pick you up and take you to Chenwangzhuang to play." Chen Ling patted the two children's heads. "Study hard at home and listen to your parents."

Wang Qingwen escorted them all the way to the entrance of the plank road. The plank road had been completely repaired and paved with new wooden planks, making it much more stable to walk on. The two brothers stood at the bridgehead, the mountain breeze caressing their faces, with layers of verdant mountains in the distance.

"Lingzi, my father-in-law's back injury..." Wang Qingwen hesitated before speaking.

"Brother, I remember," Chen Ling said solemnly. "When I get back, I'll organize the data from the leech experiment and figure out a reliable plan for human use. Then we can discuss it in detail. This is no small matter and can't be rushed."

Wang Qingwen breathed a sigh of relief and patted Chen Ling's shoulder hard: "I feel relieved to hear that. Be careful on the road, and let me know when you get home."

Chen Ling led the little blue horse over, mounted it, waved to Wang Qingwen, and began his journey home.

The mountain road winds its way through the morning mist.

There are signs that it's going to rain again.

He originally planned to go home on the third day, but the leeches made him eager to hunt them, so he couldn't help but stay for two more days.

If it weren't for the signs of rain today, he would have liked to observe the situation a little longer. (End of Chapter)