李某文江人医名甚着家业饶裕崇仁县有富民病笃邀李医治之约病愈当以钱五百千为谢李
疗拯
旬日不瘥李告归病家以其不效聊赠二百千酬之而去复延临川王医李询王所之以富民之疾委曲
相告王曰君既不能治吾亦徒往耳李曰不然吾得其脉甚精处药甚当奈何主人病不愈者盖吾之运
蹇不胜享其钱物耳余药尚在吾往视之其疾必愈王素敬李诊脉用药一如其说惟易汤使而已越三
日富人病痊合家大喜酬以五千缗王归郡即往诣李以所得分赠其半李坚辞不受乃曰愈病得
酬物君之功也于吾何有二人相让超时人咸叹服吁与世之毁谤同道妒贤嫉能者有间矣(择从录
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吾乡张御医致和为人治疾有召即往往则必为之尽力一日有老媪拜于途泣而告曰外家有子病
滨于
死贫无药资公能恤之乎致和忻然往
视其脉授以药又封裹数服嘱之曰旬日后启之及愈后启其封乃楮帛也媪往问之致和曰若子之疾
积忧所致耳今虽愈安知不以贫苦而复作也吾为此计欲慰尔子之心俾尔衰年有所倚赖耳母子感
泣拜谢而去近时陈聘夫征先君至友也博通诸家医书融会精彻处方制剂率与众异每应人之求不
择
贫富尝有一妇人产后得奇疾邀陈疗治愿以首饰三十金致谢陈许诺及病瘥其夫置酒携所约之物
至陈曰前所以相诺者欲取信于君之夫妇也首饰乃妇人所爱吾安忍取之邪固隙之而去噫世之
乘危射利之徒闻二公之行其颡得无有 乎
Li, a native of Wenjiang, was highly renowned for his medical skills and lived in affluent circumstances. A wealthy man in Chongren County fell critically ill and invited Li to treat him, agreeing to reward him with five hundred *guan* (strings of cash) upon recovery. After ten days of treatment by Li, the condition did not improve, so Li requested to return home. The patient's family, dissatisfied with the lack of efficacy, casually gifted him two hundred *guan* as remuneration, after which he departed. Subsequently, they engaged Wang, a physician from Linchuan. Li explained the details of the wealthy man's illness to Wang. Wang said, "Since you could not cure him, my going there would be futile." Li replied, "Not so. My pulse diagnosis was precise, and my prescription was appropriate. Why has the master's illness not resolved? It is likely that my fortune is poor, and I am unworthy of enjoying such wealth. The remaining herbs are still here; if I go to examine him, his illness will surely heal." Wang respected Li greatly and followed his advice exactly regarding pulse diagnosis and medication, only changing the guiding herbs (*tangshi*) of the decoction. Three days later, the wealthy man recovered. His family was overjoyed and rewarded Wang with five thousand *min*. Upon returning to the commandery, Wang immediately visited Li and offered him half of the reward. Li firmly declined, saying, "The reward for curing the illness is due to your merit; what does it have to do with me?" The two men yielded to each other, and people at the time all sighed in admiration. Alas! How different this is from those in the world who slander their peers, envy the virtuous, and are jealous of talent (Selected from *Zecong Lu*).
Zhihe, an Imperial Physician from our hometown, treated illnesses diligently; whenever summoned, he would go and always strive to help. One day, an old woman stopped him on the road, weeping and telling him, "My grandson is critically ill and near death. We are too poor to afford medicine. Could you pity us?" Zhihe cheerfully went to examine him. After diagnosing the pulse, he prescribed medicine, wrapped several doses, and instructed, "Open this package after ten days." When the illness had healed and the package was opened, it contained paper money (*chubu*, used as spirit money). The old woman returned to ask Zhihe about this. Zhihe said, "Your grandson's illness was caused by accumulated sorrow and worry. Although he has recovered now, how can we know it won't recur due to poverty and hardship? I devised this plan to comfort your grandson's heart and ensure you have support in your old age." The mother and son were moved to tears, bowed in gratitude, and left. Chen Pinfu, a contemporary, was a close friend of my father, Zhengxian Jun. He was well-versed in various medical classics, integrating them thoroughly and profoundly. His prescriptions and preparations often differed from others. Whenever responding to requests, he did not discriminate between rich and poor. Once, a woman suffering from a strange disease postpartum invited Chen to treat her, offering jewelry worth thirty *jin* as thanks. Chen agreed. After she recovered, her husband hosted a banquet and brought the agreed-upon items. Chen said, "My previous agreement was merely to establish trust with you and your wife. Jewelry is dear to women; how could I bear to take it?" He insisted on refusing and left. Alas! Those in the world who take advantage of danger to seek profit, upon hearing of the deeds of these two gentlemen, must surely sweat with shame on their foreheads.