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Cheng Xiaoshan of Taitang was the younger cousin of Cheng Songgu. When he was forty years old and residing in Huzhou, on his birthday (xuán hú, referring to a man's birth), relatives and friends from Huzhou came to congratulate him, summoning female musicians to serve wine. The banquet and music lasted for over a month. One day, he suddenly said, "Recently, I have felt trembling and stiffness in the little fingers and ring fingers of both hands, making them uncooperative. One side of my mouth corner is constantly being pulled and twitched. Please examine me." Upon examination, all six pulses were slippery, large, and rapid, floating without gathering upon pressure. His physique was fat, and his complexion was dark purple. I said, "According to the pulse, slippery and large indicates phlegm-dampness (tán shī), rapid indicates heat (rè), and floating indicates wind (fēng). It is likely that dampness generates phlegm, phlegm generates heat, and heat generates wind. You enjoy drinking, hence there is much dampness in your body. Recently, you have indulged in sexual activities, causing exhaustion of true yin (zhēn yīn) and a floating pulse. These symptoms of finger discomfort and mouth corner pulling are already omens of stroke (zhòng fēng). Fortunately, your dark purple complexion suggests that your spirit (shén) is contained; although ill, it is still treatable. You must abstain from alcohol and sex to protect yourself." I prescribed a formula: Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) with Hua Shi (Talcum) as the sovereign drug, Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root) and Huang Lian (Coptis Rhizome) as minister drugs, to strengthen the spleen, eliminate phlegm, and drain damp-heat through urination; added Dan Nan Xing (Arisaema Cum Bile) and Tian Ma (Gastrodia Rhizome) to settle internal wind; processed with Zhu Li (Bamboo Sap) and Jiang Zhi (Ginger Juice) three times mixed and dried, finally made into pills using bamboo sap as a binder, taking advantage of bamboo sap to guide the herbs into the meridians to resolve phlegm. Externally, Tian Ma Wan (Gastrodia Pill) was used to nourish sinews and bones, treating both root and branch. After taking two doses, nearly half a year passed; not only did the illness recover, but he remained healthy for ten years. However, when he reached fifty, the people of Huzhou celebrated for him as before, and he summoned musicians and feasted as usual, indulging in wine and music, forgetting the cause of his previous illness. The pulling, trembling, and stiffness of his fingers and mouth corner became even more severe. Within a month, he suffered a stroke and became paralyzed on the left side (paralysis, commonly known as hemiplegia). Upon returning home, I examined him again. The pulses were all surging, large, and unrestrained, with profuse sweating that would not stop, and shortness of breath. I said, "This is a sign of deficiency below and exhaustion above. Kidney deficiency fails to grasp qi and return it to its origin, hence sweat flows like oil and panting continues incessantly. Even if Hua Tuo were alive, he could do nothing." He died twenty days later.

When Cheng Xiaoshan returned home for my examination after his stroke, his son was only seven years old and had been suffering from measles (called 'zi' in Xi Wu, 'shazi' in Gusu) for over a month. Fever persisted, coughing with hoarseness, emaciation with visible bones, and complete hair loss. All physicians were at a loss, and the whole family could only shed tears. Because I was visiting for Cheng Xiaoshan's case, I saw the child and said, "The whole family is panicked, believing this child cannot be saved? This is gan syndrome (gān zhèng), which arises from deficient heat following measles. Treating it with Da Lu Hui Wan (Large Aloe Pill) can ensure a complete cure. Your family initially did not ask me because you thought I was not a specialist in pediatrics. Little do they know that this is merely a supplementary skill for an expert physician." I prepared medicine for him, and the illness improved before the medicine was finished. Mr. Songgu told his townspeople, "Mr. Dongsu (Sun Yikui's courtesy name) can judge life and death by examining the disease and adapts treatment to local customs; is he not Bian Que reborn, or perhaps Sun Simiao reincarnated?" Hearing this, I repeatedly apologized for my lack of talent.