Chapter 108

"Although I am not a medical practitioner, mountain physiognomy, medical divination, and fortune‑telling are ancient traditions; traditional Chinese medicine also originally developed from the same source, and it simply exists in this world in another way." No Chinese.

Translation: "Although I am not a medical practitioner, the ancient tradition of mountain physiognomy, medical divination, and fortune‑telling holds that traditional Chinese medicine originally developed from Daoist medicine; it merely exists in this world in another form."

"Check: "mountain physiognomy, medical divination, and fortune‑telling" we translated as "mountain physiognomy, medical divination, and fortune‑telling". Might be okay. Could also be "mountain physiognomy, medical divination". We'll keep as "mountain physiognomy, medical divination, and fortune‑telling". Ensure we didn't add extra." Contains quotes with English phrase, fine.

"The chubby fellow's mood was low; although the old man's words were brief, everyone could sense the bleak feeling in his heart. A simple sentence fully revealed the current predicament of traditional Chinese medicine. Consequently, the chubby apprentice who had entered Master Seven's school to study medicine could not lift his spirits." No Chinese.

Translation: "Pangzi felt low; the old man's brief words conveyed a sense of desolation that anyone could sense. In a single simple sentence he laid out the predicament of traditional Chinese medicine, so Pangzi, an apprentice who had entered Master Seven's school to study medicine, could not cheer up."

"Check: "apprentice who had entered Master Seven's school to study medicine" -> "apprentice who had entered Master Seven's school to study medicine". Good." Contains English inside quotes and arrow, fine.

"Not being able to gather all the medicines—this isn't just a problem in Macau; even inland, in places like Guangdong and Shenzhen, sometimes you have to run to several pharmacies to collect a prescription. Preparing herbal medicine requires cultivation, nurturing, and processing, which takes a long time. Moreover, herbs have a limited shelf life; if left unused too long they mold and lose potency." No Chinese.

Translation: "Not being able to gather all the medicines is not just a problem in Aomen; even inland, in places like Guangdong and Shenzhen, sometimes you have to run to several pharmacies to collect a prescription. Preparing herbal medicine requires cultivation, nurturing, and processing, which takes a long time. Moreover, herbs have a limited shelf life; if left unused too long they mold and lose potency."

"Check: "Not being able to gather all the medicines" -> "Not being able to gather all the medicines". "Not just a problem in Aomen; even inland" -> "Not just a problem in Aomen; even inland". "places like Guangdong and Shenzhen" -> "places like Guangdong and Shenzhen". "sometimes you have to run to several pharmacies to collect a prescription" -> "sometimes you have to run to several pharmacies to collect a prescription". "Preparing herbal medicine requires cultivation, nurturing, and processing, which takes a long time." -> "Preparing herbal medicine requires cultivation, nurturing, and processing, which takes a long time." "Moreover, herbs have a limited shelf life; if left unused too long they mold and lose potency." -> "Moreover, herbs have a limited shelf life; if left unused too long they mold and lose potency." All English.

"So many pharmacies, like the one just mentioned, don't stock expensive medicinal materials because they fear no one will buy them, leading to waste." No Chinese.

Translation: "Therefore many pharmacies, like the one just mentioned, lack expensive herbs because the owners fear no one will buy them and they would go to waste."

"But why would shop owners worry that no one will buy medicine?" No Chinese.

Translation: "But why would shopkeepers worry that no one will buy medicine?"

"Because nowadays people increasingly prefer Western medicine and abandon traditional Chinese medicine, they cannot spare the time to regulate their bodies; many drugstores dare not stock up, and many even stop selling Chinese medicine altogether, only offering Western medicine, since Chinese medicine is costly, yields low profit, and business is also difficult." No Chinese.

Translation: "Because people nowadays increasingly prefer Western medicine and abandon traditional Chinese medicine, lacking the time to tend to their bodies; many drugstores dare not stock herbs, some even stop selling Chinese medicine altogether and sell only Western drugs, since Chinese medicine is costly, low‑margin, and hard to profit from."

"With rapid societal development, people nowadays rarely take traditional Chinese medicine. It is bitter and slow‑acting, and those living under high‑pressure lifestyles seem to prefer Western medicine for its quick treatment—saving time and being convenient." No Chinese.

Translation: "With rapid social development, people now rarely take herbal medicine. Herbal medicine is bitter and slow‑acting, so those living under high‑pressure rhythms seem to favor Western medicine's quick treatment, which is time‑saving and convenient."

"But who realizes that medicine contains three parts poison—especially Western drugs, which are more toxic and potent? Take analgin, lincomycin, dimethindene, for example. Although they cure your illness, they also subtly affect your constitution; after you recover, your immunity keeps weakening, so the next time you fall ill you must still use these hormones, and because your body has developed resistance, you need to increase the dosage to see any effect." No Chinese.

Translation: "But who realizes that medicine is three parts poison, especially Western medicine, which is more toxic and potent? Drugs like analgin, lincomycin, and dimethindene—though they cure the illness, they subtly alter your constitution; after recovery your immunity keeps declining, so the next time you fall ill you must still use those hormones, and because you've developed resistance you need to double the dose to be effective."

Note: the names correspond to analgin, possibly lincomycin, and possibly dimethindene.

output: 【34】 Zhenyi Hall also accommodates the business of traditional Chinese medicine, so I and the chubby fellow have seen many examples. Some parents, coming from rural areas and having little education, lack knowledge, so they never ask what medicine the doctor uses when they take their child for treatment; asking wouldn't help them understand, and they simply believe that as long as the effect is quick, it's fine.

Translation: "The Zen and Easy Hall also engages in traditional Chinese medicine business, so Pangzi and I have seen many examples. Some parents, coming from the countryside with little education and lacking knowledge, take their children to see a doctor without ever asking what medicine is used; they neither understand if they ask, nor do they care as long as the effect is quick."

output: 【37】 I once saw an example: a child, whenever he fell ill, his parents would take him to the clinic for an injection—either analgin or dimethindene. Even if he had a 39 °C fever, the fever would drop immediately the next day after the injection. Compared to that speed, traditional Chinese medicine could be called a snail.

Translation: "I once saw a case: a child who, whenever he fell ill, his parents would take him to a clinic for an injection—either analgin or dimethindene. Even with a 39 °C fever, the shot would bring the temperature down the next day. Compared to that speed, herbal medicine is as slow as a snail."

output: 【40】 But beneath this superficial speed lies a deep‑seated chronic poison. Once you use too much of these two drugs, your body becomes addicted to them like a narcotic; when you next run a fever, without these hormones no other medicine can bring the fever down.

Translation: "But behind this apparent speed lies a deep‑seated chronic poison. Once you use too much of those two drugs, your body becomes addicted like to a narcotic; when you next run a fever, refusing those hormones, no medicine can bring the temperature down."

output: 【43】 What's worse, it silently impairs your sexual development and brain cells. Of course, this chronic harm isn't obvious to most people, but anyone with a bit of medical knowledge knows the dangers of these two drugs.

Translation: "What's worse, it silently impairs sexual development and brain cells; although this chronic damage is invisible to most, anyone with basic medical knowledge knows the harm of these two drugs."

output: 【46】 Compared to those fast‑acting but side‑effect‑laden Western drugs, herbal medicine is much gentler and does not harm the body. However, herbal medicine has two drawbacks: its onset is slower than Western medicine's, and it is bitter.

Translation: "Compared to fast‑acting Western medicine with heavy side effects, herbal medicine is far gentler and does not harm the body. Yet it has two drawbacks: its onset is slower than Western medicine's, and it is bitter."

output: 【49】 Moreover, with society's rapid development, people's lifestyles are getting faster and faster; many young people of the new generation are too lazy to see a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, and they also dread taking those bitter herbs. People prefer to choose quick and comfortable ways to treat bodily ailments.

Translation: "Moreover, as society accelerates, life's pace quickens; many young people of the new generation are too lazy to see a herbalist and dread taking bitter medicines, preferring instead a swift, comfortable way to treat their ailments."

output: 【52】 Thus, in this era, traditional Chinese medicine is dwindling; herbal medicine shops can only scrape by in second‑ and third‑tier cities, struggling to survive. In first‑tier cities, even if they exist, pharmacies sell only inexpensive medicinal materials; moreover, many shops, out of respect for the profession of traditional Chinese medicine—which is a cultural heritage left by our ancestors and not to be lost—have opened a corner dedicated to TCM.

Translation: "Thus in this era, traditional Chinese medicine dwindles; herbal shops can only scrape by in second‑ and third‑tier cities, while in first‑tier cities, if they exist, pharmacies stock only inexpensive herbs, and many outlets, out of respect for the profession and the cultural heritage left by our ancestors, set aside a corner for traditional Chinese medicine lest it be lost."

output: 【55】 Even Master Pine's Zhenyi Hall, despite seeing many patients, barely makes any profit; he operates at a loss, driven by the desire to promote traditional Chinese medicine.

Translation: "Even though QingSongShu's Zen and Easy Hall sees many patients, he barely makes a profit; he runs it at a loss, devoted to promoting traditional Chinese medicine."

output: 【58】 However, how many people in the world are like Master Pine? Some rely on this for a living, but when the business cannot sustain them and they cannot support a family, they have to seek other livelihoods.

Translation: "Yet how many people in the world are like QingSongShu? Some rely on this for a living; when the business fails and they cannot support a family, they must seek another livelihood."

output: 【61】 At this moment, an indescribable sorrow fills my chest. I do not deny Western medicine—it is widely accepted and certainly has its merits—but traditional Chinese medicine, which has been passed down for countless ages, now finds itself in such an awkward predicament; to say I feel no distress would be a lie.

Translation: "At this moment a wordless sorrow fills my chest; I do not deny Western medicine—its widespread acceptance shows it has merits—but the millennia‑old tradition of Chinese medicine has fallen into such an embarrassing state. To say I feel no pain would be false."

output: 【64】 Among the five arts, aside from medicine, the four disciplines of mountain physiognomy, destiny, and divination have been labeled feudal superstition and given a name that the public does not understand. Only medicine has been permitted by society and has been transmitted for over a thousand years.

Translation: "Among the five arts, aside from medical skill, the four disciplines of mountain physiognomy, life divination, and fortune‑telling have been branded feudal superstition and given a name the public fails to understand; only medical technique has been permitted by society and passed down for thousands of years."

output: 【67】 But as society becomes ever more open, second‑ and third‑tier cities will eventually become first‑tier. In a hundred years, a thousand years, people will grow ever more weary and the pace of life will accelerate further. Who will then seek out traditional Chinese medicine when they fall ill? Who will still remember the medical culture our ancestors left us? Who will still use herbal medicine to regulate their bodies? Perhaps by then TCM will have been forgotten.

Translation: "Yet society keeps opening up; second‑ and third‑tier cities will eventually become first‑tier. In a hundred years, a thousand years, people will grow ever more weary and the pace of life will accelerate further. Who will then seek out a herbalist when ill? Who will still remember the medical culture our forebears left us, or who will still use herbal medicine to tune their bodies? Perhaps by then traditional Chinese medicine will have been forgotten."

output: 【70】 Could it really be that traditional Chinese medicine will gradually decline because of this?

Translation: "Could it be that traditional Chinese medicine will thus gradually decline?"

output: 【73】 "No, it will not," the chubby fellow clenched his fists, his voice resonant and deliberate, saying each word clearly: "Traditional Chinese medicine will not decline because of this; as long as a single spark remains, it will be passed down through generations. Our ancestors endured countless hardships, leaving us this cultural treasure of saving lives. It will not fall because of this… I will study hard under Master Seven, master the medical arts, and promote them gloriously—"

Translation: "\"No, never! \" Pangzi clenched his fists, his voice rising and falling, and said word by word: \"Traditional Chinese medicine will never decline because of this; as long as a single spark remains, it will be passed down generation after generation. Our ancestors endured countless hardships, leaving us this cultural jewel of saving the world. It will not fall because of this… I will strive to learn medicine well from Master Seven, to develop and glorify it, and I must…\""

output: 【76】 Tears glimmered in the chubby fellow's eyes as he let out a loud roar—this is the resentment of a custodian of ancient culture, the sorrow of one who has witnessed the gradual decline of that heritage.

Translation: "Pangzi's eyes glimmered with tears as he let out a loud roar—the lament of a traditional‑culture heir unwilling to see it fade, the sorrow of one who has watched the ancient heritage dwindle."

……………………

Translation: (ellipsis) We'll keep as is: "……………………" (the same number of dots). Should we translate? It's just punctuation; we keep same.

output: 【82】 After we had eased our troubled feelings, I and the chubby fellow bought honey and some food from the street, then returned to Grandma Zhao's house.

Translation: "After easing my heavy heart, Pangzi and I bought honey and some food from the street, then returned to Grandma Zhao's home."

output: 【85】 Shishi was still asleep, Grandma Zhao was looking after her, while Yaorong and Sirijing sat in the hall chatting.

Translation: "Shishi was still asleep, Grandma Zhao was looking after her, while Yao Yirong and Silijing sat in the hall chatting."

output: 【88】 After returning, the chubby fellow said nothing, lowered his head, and went straight into the kitchen carrying the medicinal herbs and honey.

Translation: "After we got back, Pangzi said nothing, lowered his head, and carried the medicinal herbs and honey into the kitchen."

output: 【91】 The prescription the chubby fellow wrote called for processed ephedra, not raw ephedra. But the pharmacy only had the raw herb, so he bought it and processed it himself.

Translation: "Pangzi's prescription called for stir‑fried ephedra, not raw ephedra, but the pharmacy only had the plain herb, so he bought it and prepared it himself."

output: 【94】 How to process it? Place the ephedra in a cooking pan, drizzle honey over it, and heat it once—that's processed ephedra.

Translation: "How to prepare it? He dumped the ephedra into a wok, poured honey over it, and gave it one stir‑fry—that's stir‑fried ephedra."

output: 【97】 "What's wrong with Weijiang? He seems downcast." Sirijing watched the chubby fellow silently walk into the kitchen, turned her head, and asked me puzzledly.

Translation: "\"What's wrong with Weiqiang? He seems down in the dumps. \" Silijing watched Pangzi walk silently into the kitchen, turned to me, and asked puzzledly."

output: 【100】 I lightly shook my head and said, "Nothing?" In fact I understand the chubby fellow's gloom; as a bearer of medical tradition, he has personally witnessed the decline of the TCM industry, and to claim he feels no sorrow would be untrue.

Translation: "I gently shook my head and said, \"Nothing. \" In truth I understood Pangzi's gloom; as a medical heir who has personally witnessed the decline of the herbal‑medicine trade, to claim I feel no sorrow would be false."

output: 【103】 Not long after, the chubby fellow came out, his mood noticeably improved. He picked up a pair of chopsticks, opened his lunchbox, told everyone to eat, and then began to shovel rice into his mouth.

Translation: "Not long after, Pangzi emerged, his mood much improved; he picked up a pair of chopsticks, opened the lunchbox, said \"Let's eat, \" and began to shovel rice into his mouth."

output: 【106】 Although the chubby fellow had returned to his usual optimistic demeanor, no one could tell whether he still felt distress inside.

Translation: "Although Pangzi had returned to his usual optimistic demeanor, no one knows whether he still feels anguish inside."

output: 【109】 He is skilled at disguising himself, always putting on a carefree façade, hiding all his sorrow, pain, and unhappiness behind a lewd smile, never letting his emotions affect those around him.

Translation: "He is adept at disguising himself, always putting on an off‑hand façade, hiding all his sorrow, pain, and unhappiness behind a lewd smile, never letting his emotions affect those around him."

output: 【112】 Such a person is by nature a cheerleader—someone who swallows bitterness inwardly yet keeps a smile on their face.

Translation: "Such a person is a natural optimist—one who swallows bitterness in the stomach yet keeps a smile on the face."

output: 【115】 "Right, Yaorong, how did you and Jingjing end up coming to Macau together?" That was my initial puzzlement when I first met them, but now I use it as small talk.

Translation: "\"Right, Yirong, how did you and Sister Jingjing end up in Aomen, and together at that? \" This was my initial puzzlement when I first met them; now I use it for small talk."

output: 【118】 "Don't you know? Jingjing and I have always been close sisters; what's strange about us coming to Macau together for a trip?" Yaorong snorted, laughing at my overreaction.

Translation: "\"You don't know? Jingjing and I have always been close sisters; what's strange about us traveling together to Aomen? \" Yao Yirong snorted and laughed at my overreaction."

output: 【121】 I rolled my eyes and snapped, "How would I know if you don't tell me? Do you think I can read your mind?"

Translation: "I rolled my eyes and retorted testily, \"How would I know if you don't tell me? Do you think I can read your mind? \""

output: 【124】 "You didn't ask us either!" Sirijing and Yaorong said in unison.

Translation: "\"You didn't ask us either! \" Silijing and Yao Yirong said in unison."

output: 【127】 I……

Translation: "I…………" (ellipsis). Keep same.

output: 【130】 "Hai Sheng, could you help out? You promised me!" Fortunately, Grandma Hong's urgency timely interrupted our conversation; otherwise I wouldn't know how I'd keep enduring this embarrassment.

Translation: "\"Hai Sheng, help me out—you promised you would! \" Fortunately, Grandma Hong's urgency interrupted our conversation; otherwise I wouldn't know how to endure this embarrassment."

output: 【133】 Of course, this is merely my wishful thinking; Grandma Hong's voice could be heard only by me and the chubby fellow, not by Yaorong or Sirijing.

Translation: "Of course, this is merely my wishful thinking; Grandma Hong's voice could be heard only by me and Pangzi, not by Yao Yirong or Silijing."

output: 【136】 "Grandma Hong, didn't you say Shishi's spirit‑opening aperture was injured? If it's injured, how could you still sign the contract?" I spoke to the air, my manner as if talking to no one, which naturally drew Yaorong's and Sirijing's attention. They even quietly asked the chubby fellow, "Hai Sheng, who are you talking to?"

Translation: "\"Grandma Hong, didn't you say Shishi's Spiritual Aperture was injured? If so, how could you still sign the contract? \" I spoke to the air, and my absent‑minded manner naturally drew Yao Yirong's and Silijing's attention. They even quietly asked Pangzi, \"Who is Hai Sheng talking to? \""

output: 【139】 The chubby fellow lowered his head and explained at length, but I had no mind to pay attention to their conversation, because from Grandma Hong's mouth I heard five words.

Translation: "Pangzi lowered his head and explained, but I had no mind to follow their talk, for in Grandma Hong's mouth I heard five words."

output: 【142】 "Eight Treasures Purple Gold Blossom"

Translation: "\"Eight Treasure Purple Gold Pill\""

output: 【145】 Those five words struck me like thunder, leaving me dazed for a long time; even the chubby fellow, who was half‑explaining, half‑flirting with Sirijing beside me, couldn't help but turn his head in astonishment toward Grandma Hong…

Translation: "Those five words struck me like thunder; I could not regain my composure for a long time. Even Pangzi, who was half‑explaining, half‑flirting with Silijing nearby, couldn't help but turn his head and stare in astonishment at Grandma Hong."

Eight Treasure Purple Gold Blossom, that is a divine pill that, in legend, belongs only to Daoist physicians.