My 1995 Small Farm.

In the following days, Chen Ling arranged for more patrols and reminded villagers to be careful, while also focusing more on his research on the cave and leeches.

Searching for wild pheasants in the mountains on a rainy day is impractical, and Wang Susu and her family would never agree to it, which gave him a rare opportunity for "scientific research".

Whenever the night is deep and quiet, or when the rain has subsided during the day and there is no need to go out to patrol the dikes, Chen Ling would immerse his consciousness in that world that belonged only to him.

Inside the cave, the scene remained vibrant, peaceful, and serene.

In stark contrast to the continuous rain outside, the sky here is clear, the sun is warm, and the air is fresh and pleasant.

He first visited the "mini sea area" nurtured by the seawater of Hong Kong Island.

Initially, they only collected a large amount of seawater and some common seaweed and shellfish. Unexpectedly, under the nourishment of the spiritual energy of the cave, the expansion of this sea area far exceeded expectations.

The seawater was crystal clear, displaying a mesmerizing azure blue color.

The underwater world is even more magnificent and colorful.

Various coral reefs are thriving, with different shapes and vibrant colors, even more abundant than what he had seen in the waters near Hong Kong Island.

Schools of tropical fish dart and frolic among the coral reefs, their scales reflecting a dazzling light under the "sunlight".

The seabirds he brought back from Hong Kong Island, such as pelicans and seagulls, are circling and soaring over the sea, or standing on the rocks preening their feathers, looking extremely content.

Several large sea turtles swam slowly in the shallow water, occasionally poking their heads out to breathe, their eyes revealing a kind of intelligence.

However, the growth rate of kelp and seaweed is somewhat "too vigorous".

Vast expanses of dark green kelp forest sway with the waves underwater, occupying almost the entire shallow sea area. They grow thick and wide, layer upon layer.

"Good heavens, if we fish this out, it'll be enough to feed the whole village for several years."

Chen Ling's consciousness "stood" on the shore, looking at the bountiful scene, feeling both amused and exasperated.

The spiritual water of the cave has an incredibly strong effect on plant growth, and these seaweeds are naturally very prolific. The combination of these two factors creates the spectacular "seaweed forest" we see before us.

"But it's good, kelp is very nutritious. We can harvest some regularly, dry it and store it, or find a way to process it into delicious food. It's another resource."

He quickly adjusted his mindset and began to think about how to make use of this "sweet trouble".

He even considered whether he could try farming high-value seafood such as abalone and sea cucumbers in the cave.

After inspecting the sea area, Chen Ling turned his attention to the "medicinal organism cultivation area" he had marked out.

Those specially made earthenware jars containing leeches are placed here.

He opened the jar and nodded in satisfaction at what he saw inside.

Nourished by the spiritual water of the cave and the juices of specific herbs, these leeches became exceptionally plump and full, with a glossy black color and full of vitality.

They wriggle slowly among the aquatic plants, their bodies gleaming with a healthy sheen.

Chen Ling carefully picked up one with a special bamboo clip and placed it on a clean piece of jade.

The leech sensed the external environment and immediately curled up, then slowly stretched out, its suckers at its mouth opening and closing slightly.

Chen Ling took out a silver needle as thin as a cow's hair, disinfected it by soaking it in spirit alcohol, gently pricked his fingertip, squeezed out a drop of bright red blood, and dripped it onto the jade piece a little distance away from the leech.

The smell of blood seemed to immediately irritate the leeches.

It keenly changed direction and slowly crawled toward the location of the blood bead. Although the movement was slow, it was with a clear purpose.

Soon, it climbed above the blood bead, its mouthparts firmly adhering to the jade piece, and began to suck rhythmically.

Chen Ling observed carefully.

He discovered that this leech, cultivated in the cave, seemed to suck blood faster than ordinary leeches, and its body swelled up more, showing stronger activity and blood-sucking efficiency.

"Indeed, it seems the environment of the cave can indeed improve their quality." Chen Ling thought to himself with delight.

What he needs is this kind of "medical-grade" leech, which is more vigorous and may have better medicinal effects.

After feeding, Chen Ling gently placed the satiated leeches back into another labeled earthenware jar for observation and recording.

He plans to continuously track the physiological changes, excretion cycles, and lifespan of these leeches after they have sucked blood, and establish detailed records.

At the same time, he also added more carefully prepared herbal extracts for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, such as extracts of danshen, sanqi, and red peony, to the water in the earthenware pot.

He wanted to try to see if this "dietary therapy" could further enhance the effective components in leech saliva.

The days passed by in this busy and fulfilling rhythm.

The rain outside was sometimes heavy and sometimes light, sometimes stopping and sometimes continuing, but there was no more of the torrential rain that had lasted for several days.

The flood control pressure in places like Chenwangzhuang and Jinmen Village has been greatly reduced, the dikes are stable, and the water level continues to drop.

The grain purchase was nearing its end, and most of the villagers had exchanged their surplus grain for real cash. They felt at ease and their gratitude towards Chen Ling was palpable.

Good news also came from Liang Yuemin's side: the flour mill is operating at full capacity, and a new batch of instant noodles is about to roll off the production line and be ready to be launched on the market.

Everything seems to be moving in the right direction.

However, on this day, under continuous rainy weather...

Wang Cunye's legs started to ache again.

Originally, we were eating and drinking well at the farm, nourished by spiritual products.

His injured leg has not recurred.

This is also Chen Ling's fault. He was afraid that the effect would be too obvious, so he didn't give his father-in-law too much spiritual water and spiritual food.

However, since entering the fifth month of the lunar calendar this year, the mountains have been humid for a long time, and the temperature is low at night.

Wang Cunye's legs gave out again.

"Dad, is your leg hurting again?"

Wang Susu, being perceptive, immediately noticed her father's unusual behavior and put down her bowl to ask him with concern.

Her medical skills are becoming increasingly refined, and she is particularly sensitive to arthralgia caused by wind, cold, and dampness.

"It's an old ailment, nothing serious." Wang Cunye waved his hand, not wanting his family to worry, especially with his two babbling grandsons beside him.

Kang Kang and Le Le were being fed egg custard by Gao Xiulan, their little mouths smacking sweetly as they ate, completely unaware of their grandfather's pain.

"How can it not be a problem?"

Gao Xiulan sighed, her voice full of heartache, "It's been raining for almost a month now, there hasn't been a single sunny day. Your father's legs feel like they've been soaking in water, and he has a hard time even turning over in bed at night. The medicinal wine that Lingzi found last year was quite good, but it seems to be less effective this year."

Chen Ling silently finished the last bite of rice, put down his chopsticks, and his gaze fell on his father-in-law's legs, which showed signs of stiffness even when he was sitting.

He knew in his heart that the effects of ordinary medicinal wine would indeed gradually weaken for this kind of long-standing cold.

While the spiritual water from the grotto was indeed miraculous, he had previously been wary of its sensational nature and had diluted it thoroughly for his family, intending to improve their constitution gradually. For such stubborn ailments, it was more of a gentle tonic than a strong remedy.

"Father, your legs are blocked because cold and dampness have invaded your meridians."

Wang Susu took over the conversation and offered her own solution, "How about I do some moxibustion for you tonight? I'll focus on the Heding and Xiyan acupoints around your knees, and then do some cupping to draw out the deep-seated cold and dampness."

Or... if all else fails, you can try bloodletting at the Weizhong acupoint in the back of your knee to release the blockage, which should provide some relief.

Wang Susu described the conventional and effective methods in traditional Chinese medicine for treating cold-dampness arthralgia, and her explanations were clear and logical.

Wang Cunye listened, but hesitated.

He can accept moxibustion and cupping, but the word "bloodletting" makes him a little scared. After all, he is from the older generation and has an instinctive aversion to seeing blood.

Just then, Chen Ling spoke up: "Su Su's method is correct. However, bloodletting to remove blood stasis is a bit too forceful. Father is old and may not be able to withstand it. I... have recently come up with a new method that may be gentler and more targeted."

"A new method?" All eyes in the family were on Chen Ling.

Even Wang Zhenzhen, who was secretly eating spicy snacks, stopped what she was doing and looked over curiously. "Hmm." Chen Ling nodded, looking at Wang Cunye and Gao Xiulan with a sincere expression, "Didn't I go to Fenglei Town a while ago? In the forest near Yaowang Village, I found that the leeches are growing exceptionally well this year. In ancient medical books, these things are called 'leeches,' and they are a good medicine for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and clearing the meridians."

"Leech?! Ah Ling, you mean...let Dad use live leeches to suck his blood?"

When it comes to using her own family members, Wang Susu can't help but worry.

"Yes, live leech therapy."

Chen Ling affirmed that he knew he had to dispel his family's doubts.

“I don’t just grab any animal and use it. I’ve carefully selected them; they’re all of moderate size and good vitality, and they’ve been repeatedly cleansed and kept fresh for many days with my specially prepared herbal water to ensure they’re clean and sterile.”

"Its principle is that when leeches suck blood, their mouthparts release a substance called 'hirudin,' which can naturally prevent blood clotting, dilate local blood vessels, and clear the meridians, bringing out the stagnant cold and dampness through the tiny wounds. The effect is more precise and gentler than simply bloodletting."

He tried his best to explain in simple and easy-to-understand language.

Wang Cunye and Gao Xiulan exchanged a glance, the elderly couple communicating with each other but not speaking immediately.

They didn't understand what "hirudin" was, but they believed in Chen Ling.

This son-in-law has never done anything unreliable.

Since he brought it up so solemnly, he must have been absolutely certain of his success.

Gao Xiulan spoke first, her tone filled with unconditional trust in her son-in-law: "Lingzi, you know a lot. If you think this method will work, then give it a try! It's better than your father stubbornly enduring it every day."

Wang Cunye took a deep breath, slapped his thigh, and said heartily, "Alright! Let's do it Lingzi's way! What are we afraid of with a few little bugs? As long as we can make this old leg feel better, anything goes!"

Seeing that her parents had agreed, Wang Susu, though still a little apprehensive, did not object. She simply instructed, "Then... Ah Ling, you must be careful and pay attention to disinfection."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Chen Ling gave his wife a reassuring look.

"Wow! My brother-in-law is going to use leeches to cure Dad's illness?!"

Wang Zhenzhen perked up immediately. The little girl was naturally curious about strange and unusual things, and she jumped up right away, "I'll go call Rui Rui and Xiao Ming! Liu Ni'er and the others definitely want to see it too!"

Without waiting for the adults' reply, she darted out like a little deer.

Before long, the farm became lively.

Rui Rui and Xiao Ming were pulled out of the pile of toys by Wang Zhenzhen. They heard that their father was going to use "blood-sucking bugs" to treat their grandfather's leg. They were both scared and curious, and they peeked out from the door frame.

Liu Nier, Xizi, and a bunch of other mischievous kids rushed into the courtyard as soon as they heard the news, crowding at the entrance of the main room, chattering and gossiping.

"Uncle Fugui is really going to put leeches in Grandpa Cunye's house?"

"Leechs are terrifying! I was bitten by one near the water last time, and I couldn't get it off!"

"What do you know? Uncle Fugui definitely didn't use ordinary leeches, he used divine insects!"

"..."

The arrival of the children actually eased the tension before the treatment.

Chen Ling smiled and didn't chase them away. He just told Wang Susu to settle the children down and not to get too close so as not to affect the operation.

He then turned and walked into the west wing, which was used to store medicinal herbs and other miscellaneous items. With a thought, he actually took out the specially made earthenware jar and all the necessary tools from the cave.

A clean white porcelain plate, a small bottle of strong liquor, cotton swabs, tweezers, and a hemostatic and tissue-regenerating powder that he had prepared in advance.

Under the curious, nervous, and expectant gazes of everyone, Chen Ling carried the earthenware pot back to the main room.

He placed the earthenware pot on the table and opened the lid.

Suddenly, several dark brown leeches, about the thickness of a finger, slowly wriggled in the water and came into view.

"Oh!" The children gasped softly. The timid ones shrank back, while the bolder ones, like Liu Ni'er, tiptoed and tried to push forward.

Wang Cunye remained calm, rolled up his trousers, and propped his right leg on another stool.

The trousers were rolled up above the knee, and the exposed calves appeared slightly swollen than the right leg, with an unusually dark complexion.

Chen Ling first used a cotton swab dipped in liquor to carefully wipe the skin around his father-in-law's knees and the back of his legs to disinfect it.

The coolness of the alcohol made Wang Cunye's muscles tense slightly.

After disinfection, Chen Ling carefully used specially made bamboo tweezers to pick up the fattest, most vigorous leech from the earthenware jar.

Nourished by the spiritual water of the cave, this leech appeared exceptionally "spirited," with a glossy and smooth surface.

Under the light, everyone's eyes were focused on the little insect.

Wang Susu instinctively clenched her hands, Wang Zhenzhen's eyes widened, and Rui Rui and Xiao Ming covered their mouths tightly.

Chen Ling held his breath and gently placed the leech on the skin slightly above the Weizhong acupoint on the back of Wang Cunye's knee.

That was the area where he felt the most severe blockage and the stiffest muscles when he touched it earlier.

When the leech first touched the skin, it seemed to pause for a moment, and then the suckers at its mouthparts quickly attached and firmly adhered to it.

Then, its body began to slowly contract and expand in a peculiar rhythm, officially beginning its "work".

"I'm sucking! I'm sucking!" Liu Ni'er whispered.

Wang Cunye felt a slight pressure, like being clamped, coming from the suction point, but it wasn't painful. Instead, a strange tingling sensation began to spread outwards.

His tense mood gradually relaxed.

Chen Ling carefully observed the leeches' condition and his father-in-law's reaction.

The leech's body visibly swelled and became plump, its color gradually changing from dark brown to dark red.

On Wang Cunye's legs, a faint blush began to appear around the absorption point, indicating that local blood circulation had improved.

About fifteen minutes later, the first leech, having sucked its fill of blood and become plump, automatically released its grip and fell off.

Chen Ling immediately picked it up with tweezers and put it into another empty jar.

The site of the adhesion left a tiny, Y-shaped wound, from which a small amount of thin, dark-colored blood slowly seeped out.

"Dad, how are you feeling?" Chen Ling asked as he gently dabbed away the oozing blood with a clean cotton swab.

Wang Cunye stretched his legs, a look of surprise on his face: "Huh? It seems...it seems much more relaxed! That sore and swollen feeling is much lighter! It's like...like a pipe that's been blocked for a long time suddenly cleared!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Xiulan and Wang Susu both breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

"You know what, watching Lingzi use those maggots to treat other people's illnesses, I didn't feel anything, it was quite strange."

"I'm still a little hesitant to use insects like leeches to treat my own illness today."

"However, Lingzi would never harm one of our own people..."

Wang Cunye tried to move his left leg slowly, and his face lit up with even more surprise: "Look, hey! It feels so much better! That sore and swollen feeling has gone down by more than half! It's just that the area that was sucked in is still a little numb."

"This is normal, it will be fine in a little while."

Chen Ling smiled and said, "Let's leave it at that for today, and see how things go tomorrow. Try not to put too much strain on this leg these next few days, and get plenty of rest."

As he said this, he was also thinking about it in his mind.

Perhaps leeches, maggots, and other parasites used on animals do not need to be sterile, or require such strict sterility.

For example, common maggots can be used to treat the rotting flesh from wounds of wild animals in the mountains.

Exactly! Ordinary maggots are definitely disgusting. Chen Ling still needs to cultivate some in the cave, since the process is simpler.

We can conduct experiments gradually later. (End of Chapter)