Chapter 448: Chapter 448: Dannanxing
Bezoar, to put it simply, is a gallstone found inside a cow. Although it might not sound like anything rare, the probability of a cow developing gallstones is actually very low—typically only one or two in a thousand.
Therefore, Natural Bezoar is extremely scarce and very difficult to find.
There’s a common saying that "one tael of Bezoar is worth two taels of gold," which speaks to its immense value.
Hu Qiming gave a bitter laugh. "Sigh, it’s a long, sad story."
Li Xu continued, "However, as precious as Bezoar is, there’s another medicinal ingredient that can rival it: Dannanxing."
"That’s right."
As a student of traditional Chinese medicine, Hu Qiming was naturally familiar with Dannanxing.
Dannanxing is a processed product made from the dried tubers of Aconite, a plant in the Araceae family, combined with ox bile.
Unprocessed Aconite, as a Chinese medicinal herb, has properties that reduce swelling and break up nodules. It can be used externally to treat boils, carbuncles, and bites from snakes or insects, but it is highly toxic and cannot be consumed orally.
After being processed into Dannanxing, however, its original toxicity is greatly reduced. Its medicinal properties also change: its nature shifts from warm to cool, its taste from pungent to bitter, and its effects transform to calming wind and stopping convulsions.
Dannanxing can rival Bezoar because, after a long period of fermentation and preparation, a chemical reaction occurs between the Aconite and the ox bile. This process imbues Dannanxing with the same active ingredients found in Bezoar, such as bilirubin, cholic acid, and deoxycholic acid.
In terms of efficacy, while both are effective at resolving phlegm, Bezoar is superior for clearing the heart and reducing fire. Dannanxing, on the other hand, focuses more on drying dampness and calming wind.
The Ming Dynasty’s Zhang Jingyue recorded in his *Jingyue Complete Book*: ’Dannanxing is best when it is seven- or nine-processed.’
Jia Suoxue’s *Yàopǐn Huàyì*, Volume 8, also states: ’With Dannanxing, the emphasis is not on the Aconite but on the ox bile. The Aconite is merely a vessel to absorb the bile’s essence, which is different from how other herbs are processed. Thus, it must be nine-processed to achieve purity.’"
The so-called "seven-processed" and "nine-processed" methods refer to adding new ox bile to the Dannanxing each year during its fermentation. A product fermented for up to seven years is called "seven-processed," while one fermented for nine years is called "nine-processed."
Looking at the records of Dannanxing preparation methods in medical texts throughout history, it’s clear how much the processing time affects its efficacy.
As they spoke, the car entered the borders of Shanyang County. The sign for Mei Family Village came into view.
The two got out of the car. At a glance, they saw lush green crops thriving on the rolling hillsides.
Vast fields stretched out before them, filled with large plots of Aconite.
The Aconite plants had broad leaves and sturdy stems, their exceptional quality obvious at a single glance.
The air was filled with the refreshing scent of earth and plants, invigorating the soul.
"Wow, the environment here is amazing! No wonder the Aconite is growing so well!"
Hu Qiming couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
Li Xu nodded, pointing to a figure busy in a nearby field. "Let’s go. We’ll head over and ask about the situation."
The two walked along the ridge to the edge of a field where a middle-aged man was bent over, skillfully weeding the Aconite.
"Hello, sir. How are the Aconite sales here? Has anyone come to buy the harvest?"
Li Xu asked politely.
The middle-aged man straightened up, wiped the sweat from his brow, and gave a simple, honest smile. "Young men, you’re here to buy Aconite, aren’t you? The quality of our Aconite here is excellent, so we never have trouble selling it. Herb merchants come to buy it every year. But it’s not time for the bulk harvest yet this year, so we still have some stock left over."
Li Xu decided to take advantage of the opening. "Is that so? That’s great. When it’s time for the large-scale harvest, you can sell some to me, too. I happen to need some. By the way, about that leftover stock you mentioned... could I buy it from you now?"
The middle-aged man thought for a moment. "Sure. I have some dried goods from last year at home. The quality is pretty good. If you trust me, you can come to my house and take a look."
"That would be great! Sir, where is your house?"
Li Xu asked happily.
The middle-aged man pointed to a courtyard at the edge of the village.
"Alright, we’ll go to your place first to pick up some goods," Li Xu said.
Just as the two were about to follow the man to his house, they saw an old man hunched over and working in a nearby field.
Hu Qiming glanced over casually but was suddenly struck by a sense of familiarity with the man’s back.
His heart skipped a beat, and he started walking over.
As he got closer, Hu Qiming saw the old man’s profile and cried out in shock, "Holy shit, it’s that old scammer!"
He was both shocked and delighted. He never expected to run into the scammer here.
Hearing this, Li Xu hurried over as well.
’He’d been planning to ask around slowly.’
’He never thought he’d find the scammer so easily.’
He grabbed Hu Qiming and instructed in a low voice, "Old Hu, you keep an eye on him here. Don’t let him make any calls, and don’t let him run. I’m calling the police right now."
Hu Qiming nodded firmly.
He had been bottling up his anger, and now he finally had a chance to settle the score.
He strode toward the old man and shouted from a distance, "Hey, old man! Do you still recognize me?"
The old man heard the voice and looked up, confused. When he saw Hu Qiming’s furious face, his expression changed drastically, and he turned to run.
"Stop! Where do you think you’re going?"
Hu Qiming lunged forward and grabbed the old man’s arm in a death grip.
The old man struggled desperately, yelling, "Let go of me! You’ve got the wrong person! I’m not who you’re looking for!"
Meanwhile, Li Xu had already dialed the police and was concisely explaining the situation.
Soon, a police car arrived with sirens wailing, shattering the tranquility of the fields.
Several officers quickly got out and subdued the struggling old man.
After a few simple questions, the old man quickly gave up the location of his accomplices.
The police acted decisively, immediately heading to the courtyard the old man had pointed out.
The bald man and the man in the suit, Liu Ming, were still asleep.
They never dreamed that the police would actually show up at their door.
When the police broke down the door, both men jumped in fright. Before they could even react, they were restrained by the officers.
And just like that, the nomadic "Fake Bezoar" fraud ring was finally caught in one fell swoop in Mei Family Village.
Watching Liu Ming and the other two being handcuffed, the frustration that had built up in Hu Qiming for days finally vanished.
He looked at Li Xu gratefully. If it weren’t for him, his forty thousand yuan would have truly gone down the drain.
"We’ll need you to come with us to the station to give a statement," an officer said to Li Xu and Hu Qiming.
"No problem," the two agreed.
At the police station, Liu Ming and the other two confessed to their fraudulent activities without reservation.
Fortunately, they hadn’t had time to squander all the money they had scammed.
Hu Qiming’s forty thousand yuan was successfully recovered and returned to him in full.
When Hu Qiming got his forty thousand yuan back, he was so excited he nearly jumped for joy.
He immediately shared the good news in his class group chat and once again expressed his gratitude to Li Xu.
