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... (Continuing from previous text) ... In childhood. By the time he reached the age of *chengtong* (childhood), he had no vision whatsoever, and it was then known that he was blind in both eyes; he attempted to drown himself. Later, a neighborly old woman took pity on him and raised him. She taught him to recite texts, which his ears absorbed easily, and his voice was clear and audible. Whenever he went out, people were happy to give alms, sufficient for his livelihood. At the age of twenty, I arrived in his village and needled one eye for him. Although the opacity (*zhang*) was removed, he still could not recognize people or objects. When taught to identify them by touch, and when questioned, his responses were accurate. This led me to realize that the story told by Su Changgong (Su Shi) in "The Parable of the Sun" was indeed true, not merely an allegory. The old woman rejoiced, saying, "His parents were ashamed to have born a blind child, calling him 'Raodao' (meaning superfluous/useless). Now he has grown up!" She thanked me repeatedly. Five years later, the old woman passed away. Raodao returned to his original state, carrying a drum board and dragging a staff, leaving without anyone knowing where he went.

Lu the Blind Man of Chenling, his body was thin and small like an old gibbon. Approaching sixty years of age, he had no beard or eyebrows, nor wife or son. However, he was not extremely poor; his wheat fields and vegetable garden were enough for his self-contentment. It happened that I was passing through Shangping and saw that his eyes were treatable. Upon asking for the cause, I learned that during a summer night bath, he was seized by a tiger, carried over more than ten high ridges, dropped down, sniffed and licked him, bit off his genitals, and left. He survived and returned home, terrified and grieving, resulting in this condition. Zhang Shuzhan of the same village did not believe such medical skills existed in the world. He cleaned the guest bed and hosted me. He earnestly requested that I needle one eye. The pupil became clear as autumn water in an ice pot, free of any dust. Zhang was extremely happy and shouted, "Having survived the tiger's mouth, today I can see the scenery of the East District again. How shall I celebrate your longevity?" Lu responded with fear and inability to answer. After a while, he pointed to his tongue, feigned vomiting, and acted as if having an epileptic seizure, whispering with two or three others in the courtyard. I smiled and said, "This is Luo Dongshan's old trick. You and I should retreat slightly and remain calm." Sending someone to investigate confirmed this.

Tang Sanliu, a blind beggar from Guangchang, stayed at the residence of Yu, a fellow villager. I glanced at him and said, "This case can be cured by needling." The crowd considered it empty talk but forced the treatment. As soon as the needle entered, light perception appeared. When asked what he saw, he claimed, "It is black as lacquer, accompanied by severe pain. Only when money and rice are provided to my satisfaction will I leave." The following year, he dug rat holes at Baishui Zui, was caught by others, and sent to the yamen. Yu's son encountered him on the road and realized my previous words were not exaggerations. Tang Sanliu was a petty person, worse than dogs and pigs who refuse to eat leftovers.

Tong Jingshan from Longhu, Taiyi, admired my skills and became my student. I treated other ailments briefly, but there were no cases of internal cataracts. I happened to find Dai Liuya, an orphaned and impoverished man, and after needling him, his eyebrows and beard seemed vividly visible. Tong carefully asked about the visual conditions, but Dai's response was similar to Tang Sanliu's (i.e., deceptive). Alas! Worldly matters cannot be fully understood by worldly standards. Did Tang Yiren not say so? Among the five patients treated consecutively above, Dongshan and Sanliu were indeed fraudulent. But what was the role of Lu, Rao, and Dai, acting against their conscience to such an extent?

The second son of Xue Bogong from West City, a beggar, was also born blind, though his family was unaware. During the first-year celebration (Zhou Sui), when testing his grasp of objects, he could not pick up a single item. They urgently sent a cart to invite me for examination. I said, "This is an internal cataract, which requires gold needles to open. However, the patient must be older and sensible before treatment can be performed." I prescribed several formulas, instructing them to administer them in order, ensuring the benevolent Qi of Spring Wood remained constant, preventing the condition from worsening. Fifteen years passed. When I wished to reiterate my proposal, the family's fortune had declined. In the Yiyou year, his full brother Huan Sheng and cousin Wei Jie met me at Zhangjiang in the provincial capital. Over tea and conversation, they asked about their younger brother's condition. They said, "The family style has changed greatly, only the nephew's eyes remain as they were originally. Since you are skilled, would you consider the love for the house extending to the crow (a metaphor for caring for relatives of friends), and show mercy to this invalid? Please allow me to invite you." I respectfully agreed. Returning in October, my wife sorted out letters and found that an invitation had already been made on my behalf, along with five thousand cash. Soon another letter arrived, fixing the date for my visit. The Xue family seemed unaware; Wei Jie advised dining at his academy the night before and earnestly asked for forgiveness. The next noon, I reluctantly needled one eye. The eyeball was clear as a mirror. When asked if he saw people or objects, he alternately said yes and no. It was clearly an attempt to evade payment. Huan Sheng realized this and compelled the payment to send me back. Only two thousand cash were produced; the rest were excused as not yet obtained. I despised these unscrupulous rascals, donated the money to those who loved goodness and gave alms, and left immediately, never mentioning them again. Later, the second beggar, collecting cloth for villagers, saw me, turned his head and ignored me. This can be called blindness of the heart.

Ning the Blind Man was famous in the same village. His cousin lived in Youfangqiao. At fifty, he had only one son who died of epidemic disease, causing sudden blindness in the eyes. At that time, in September, during the Shen Hui opera troupe performance, everyone watching sighed in admiration. Ning anticipated my return and carried him to HT (location name) seeking treatment. Examination revealed it was a shock-induced internal cataract, caused by the son hitting his head against pillars and stones in grief and wailing. The next day, Ning accompanied his clan nephew Songgu to discuss etiquette and promised a reward of three taels of silver. I said, "The amount of silver must be as agreed, but it must be sealed in advance before needling." Songgu strongly offered to guarantee it. I refused, saying, "For this condition, the disease is removed upon needling. In an instant, they may claim not to see to deceive. Let us set a specific date for needling." On the appointed day, Songgu's brother-in-law Kejie and his uncle Jucun came to speak, hearing that the blind man's sight would be restored at noon, they specially went to watch. Asking where Songgu was, they were told, "He has prepared the goods and left first." These two men were respected and loved by me, being part of the same family, so I trusted them without doubt. Upon arriving at Ning's room, the promised three taels were indeed placed on the seat. Needling was performed. The patient could distinguish a mustard seed. The crowd was shocked and noisy. Songgu secretly hid the silver in his sleeve and fled. Ning hurried forward to apologize, saying, "My elder brother brought his own money; why borrow from relatives and friends? We will deliver it to your residence after the meal." As the sun was setting, Ning hid and did not appear, and no money could be demanded. Returning to look for Songgu, the woman replied he had not come down. The next noon, returning to HT, the blind man had already returned to Youfang early in the morning. Human hearts are treacherous and unfathomable, reaching such extremes.

Zeng Douxian from Danyang was the great-uncle of my grandson's wife. Due to his wife's death, sorrow led to internal cataracts, and he invited me for treatment. Upon close inspection, it resembled a round opacity. Upon needling, turbid water surged, and the wind wheel (cornea/pupil area) suddenly filled like evening smoke. I felt severe palpitations. I immediately stopped, decocted Yangying Decoction (Nourishing Blood Decoction) for him to take, and instructed him to sleep. After a short while, his breathing was loud like thunder. I ordered not to disturb him. There was no incident that night. In the morning, upon removing the dressing, the fluid was clear and exquisite, and fine details could be distinguished. I originally did not calculate profits, especially since he was a relative. Who knew he would have honey on his lips and a sword in his belly? Meeting me, he thanked me earnestly, but speaking to others, he claimed that if I hadn't understood medical principles then, one needle would have nearly killed him. His words implied that he recovered by taking medicine himself. Alas! This old widower lived alone for ten years, and his children and daughters-in-law abandoned him like worn-out shoes. Now, earning a living through teaching/speech, he completely denies my kindness. Is he not also a follower of Luo Dongshan?

Jiang Ziwan from Shangpan, a stone mason by trade. One day, while chiseling a stele in the factory, a piece of stone flew and injured his left eye, causing blindness. His right eye subsequently developed a shock-induced opacity. He begged Cheng Yizhen to request my needling, agreeing on four taels of silver. Upon insertion, the opacity dropped. Cheng asked if he could see, but Jiang did not answer. I scolded, "Your virtue likely does not deserve light; I will raise the opacity back up." He hurriedly said, "I see! I see!" His daughter-in-law urgently took out hairpins and bracelets to hand to Cheng as collateral. Thus, the procedure was completed according to method. It is said that ancient customs are lost. And human hearts are unpredictable. Regarding the art of gold needling, I have learned much.