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Mr. Cheng Yunlai from Xin'an once compiled the *Jide Fang* (Immediate Success Formulas), for which I had already written a preface and facilitated its publication. After some time, he presented me with his *Yixia Zhiyan* (Idle Words on Medicine). Upon reading it, I laughed and said, "Alas, how can a physician have leisure? I know the so-called famous physicians of this world. In the morning, they receive visitors until shoes fill the doorway. Entering the room, they inquire about illnesses, prescribe medicine to each patient, and send them away. When invited by scholars via short letters, they record names on their registers, eat at noon, depart in sedan chairs, and stop at the door. They observe the host's demeanor; before social exchanges are complete, they take up pens to finalize prescriptions for messengers. Returning home, they consult with disciples to assist in compounding medicines, returning only at dusk with medicine bags indeed full. Those who treat children stay indoors during the day, knocking on doors at twilight or night, examining patients by candlelight, and departing hastily like postal couriers. They rest only when the water clock is empty, or are detained on the road, or awaited at the door; everyone rejoices in their arrival but regrets their lateness, while inferior physicians envy them. Although the number of patients may vary, they often ride carriages with servants, parading through the market, exhausting their strength for the entire day. Onlookers marvel, saying, 'This man is extremely busy; he must be a famous physician.' How can a physician have leisure?" The Master replied, "No, no. If a physician has no leisure, how can he become a good one? Diseases are myriad, and medicinal variations are equally countless; thus, one must employ focused intent. One assists with vital energy (Qi), sustains patients with principle (Li), guards with spirit (Shen), achieves understanding through stillness, and wanders through rest. Can such matters be treated with haste and anxiety? Treating illness is like commanding troops. Luanzhen praised the Jin army, saying, 'They prefer composure.' When drums and gongs were urgent, allowing soldiers to drink ensured victory at the Battle of Yanling. Zhuge Liang's feather fan, Xie Ai's bamboo chair, Ji Zun's pitch-pot game, and Wang Anshi's gambling at Shu were all manifestations of leisure. My treatment of illness is likewise. Some say, 'Since you have leisure, you should annotate the *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet); why resort to idle words?' I have heard Xu Zi say, 'Medicine lies in intention (Yi); what is understood by intention cannot be conveyed by words.' Therefore, Mr. Cheng's *Jide Fang* expounds without creating. As for his *Zhiyan*, it encompasses heaven and earth, gathers all things, and indulges freely in discussions of hard-white and same-different distinctions. Though it does not explicitly discuss medicine, the Way of Medicine resides within. The theory of wheel-making connects to reading ancient texts; the principle of dissecting the ox advances into health preservation. By observing the *Zhiyan*, half of the questions and answers are resolved. The *Rites of Zhou* states that perfect success is best, ten errors with one success is second, ten errors with two successes is third, and ten errors with four successes is poor. There is no concept of 'immediate success.' Mr. Cheng's 'immediate success' is achieved through his leisure." Written by You Tong, younger colleague from Wu Gate, on the first day of mid-spring in the Bingchen year of the Kangxi reign.