Ji Fang practiced medicine with a benevolent heart to help the world.
Shen Jifang's "Cheng'an Hall" was already renowned throughout Jiangnan, with a constant stream of patients coming from far and wide. She inherited the essence of her great-grandmother Su Yunqing's medical skills and also drew upon a wide range of folk remedies. Her diagnosis was meticulous, employing observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, and her prescriptions were precise. Even the most difficult illnesses were often brought to a close by her. Even more remarkable was her kindness; she not only treated the poor without charging a penny but also frequently gave them medicine and food out of her own pocket. Throughout Jiangnan, everyone spoke highly of "Doctor Shen."
That afternoon, just as the clinic had seen off a group of patients, a child's heart-wrenching cries suddenly rang out from outside. Shen Jifang looked up and saw a boy of about seven or eight years old helping a frail old woman stagger towards them. The old woman's face was ashen, her chest heaving violently with each cough, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She collapsed onto a bench as soon as she entered. The boy knelt down with a thud, tears mingling with dirt streaming down his face: "Dr. Shen, please, please save my grandma! She's my only family left! I'm begging you!"
Shen Jifang quickly helped the boy up and placed her fingertips on the old woman's pulse. The pulse was weak and scattered. Judging from her complexion and coughing symptoms, she was in the late stage of tuberculosis and was already on her deathbed. Her heart sank, but she couldn't bear to let the child despair. She said softly, "Don't cry, child. I will do my best." She immediately took out silver needles and accurately applied them to the acupoints on the old woman's chest and back. She also quickly prepared a decoction to nourish qi and yin, stop coughing and bleeding, and personally decocted it and fed it to her.
In the days that followed, Shen Jifang personally treated the old woman every day, adjusted her prescriptions, and instructed the staff to bring her hot porridge and clean clothes daily. The old woman's cough gradually subsided, and her complexion regained some color. The boy finally showed a long-lost smile and stayed by the clinic every day, helping with sweeping and dispensing medicine, never leaving her side.
Half a month later, the old woman was able to get out of bed and walk with difficulty. She took Shen Jifang's hand and tremblingly took out a cloth bag from her bosom. Inside were a few polished copper coins: "Dr. Shen, this is all the savings my family has. Please don't think it's too little..." Shen Jifang quickly pushed the cloth bag back and said with a gentle smile: "Grandma, I told you long ago that you don't need to pay for the medical expenses. I didn't open the clinic to make money. Seeing you recover is more important than anything else."
Upon hearing this, the old woman burst into tears and bowed deeply to Shen Jifang: "You are truly a living Bodhisattva! I have no way to repay you, I can only pray for you every day, wishing you a peaceful and prosperous life."
This story quickly spread throughout Jiangnan, and the people held Shen Jifang's medical ethics in even higher esteem. Many neighbors volunteered to help at the clinic, some bringing rice and vegetables, others helping with cleaning and dispensing medicine. Even the usually gossipy women in the city praised "Dr. Shen is a benevolent doctor who saves lives" to everyone they met. The clinic was no longer just filled with the aroma of medicine; it also gained a touch of warmth and neighborly assistance. The warm sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the plaque that read "Skillful Hands and Benevolent Heart," making the entire hall feel cozy and inviting.
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