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Recently, I read *Dun Yuan Yi An* (Medical Cases by Xiao Zhuoru of Changsha), which records an incident involving the incompatibility between silver carp (*Hypophthalmichthys molitrix*) and licorice root (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*). It states that in the late Qing Dynasty, a physician named Yan XX, who was honest and sincere, told me one day: "I once treated patients in a certain county and witnessed a bizarre case that is hard to explain."

A farming family with many members drained a pond in winter to catch fish, which they boiled for lunch. The able-bodied adults ate almost all the fish and then dispersed to work. Several women and children took the remaining fish to cook as a side dish. That evening, one woman initially felt bloated and uncomfortable, so she lay down to rest; no one paid much attention. The next day, she could not be awakened, and upon closer inspection, she had already stiffened and died. The whole family was astonished and could not understand the cause. After repeated investigation, it was found that after lunch, no other food had been consumed, nor had any minor accidents occurred. They then carefully examined the pot used to boil the fish the previous day. Besides fish broth, bones, and meat, only a piece of licorice root (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*), about four or five inches long, remained. Upon inquiry into its origin, the women of the household said that when the children cried, they were often given licorice root to eat, so what remained in the pot must have been dropped by a child. Furthermore, the fish cooked were all silver carp, which are not poisonous. Moreover, there is no theory stating that licorice root is incompatible with silver carp. Since several people ate them together, why did only one person suffer this disaster?

Neighbors gathered within moments. Later, her maternal relatives also arrived. The family explained the facts to everyone. A young man spoke loudly to the crowd: "Death caused by eating licorice root and silver carp together is a miracle unprecedented in history. How can we accept this as a lie? If it is true, then cook these two substances together again and let me eat them." Having spoken, he urged those present to comply and personally placed both items into the pot. After cooking, he arranged plates and chopsticks on the table. When others doubted and tried to stop him, he angrily rebuked them, ate heartily on the spot, and mocked the bystanders for being foolish, dark-minded, and cowardly. By evening, he indeed suffered no pain and showed no symptoms. However, by the next morning, he lay stiff and motionless. Thus, the suspicion from his maternal family was cleared.

Note: Silver carp is a common food item, and licorice root (*Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*) is a frequently used medicinal herb. If these two substances were truly incompatible, prescriptions containing licorice root should explicitly warn against consuming silver carp.