Elder Li grew more animated as he spoke. "Besides this Boiled Shredded Tofu, there’s another way to eat it called ’Scalded Shredded Tofu.’ The preparation is even simpler. You just repeatedly soak the cut shreds in boiling water a few times to get rid of the beany taste, then squeeze out the moisture and plate it. Pour on a sauce made from simmering top-quality soy sauce and sesame oil, then sprinkle on some dried shrimp and tender ginger slivers, and mix. That flavor is also incredibly refreshing and delicious."

His words made Li Xu and Ding Aiguo’s mouths water, their appetites thoroughly whetted.

Li Xu picked up his chopsticks, lifted a portion of the crystalline, uniformly thin tofu shreds, and carefully placed it in his mouth.

In that instant, it felt as if his every taste bud had been awakened!

The pure, rich umami of the chicken broth was like a river tide, exploding on the tip of his tongue—savory without being greasy, gentle and mellow.

The snow-white tofu shreds had absorbed the essence of the broth, becoming incredibly soft and smooth. They melted in his mouth, requiring almost no chewing before sliding down his throat like a warm current.

Savoring it carefully, he could still feel the tenderness of the shredded chicken, the savory aroma of the ham, the springiness of the shrimp, and the crispness of the chicken gizzard... All these myriad flavors seemed to cling to the seemingly ordinary tofu shreds. The aroma was delightful, a single sip filled his mouth with a gentle richness, and the aftertaste was long and lingering.

’This isn’t just a dish anymore,’ he thought. ’It’s a kind of transcendent elegance. It’s as if the bygone years, veiled in the soft red dust of the mortal world, have found their most perfect expression in this bowl of clear-broth shredded tofu.’

True mastery lies in simplicity. He never would have imagined that this seemingly plain Boiled Shredded Tofu could contain such a rich and moving flavor that left one yearning for more.

Ding Aiguo was also full of praise as he ate.

Before they knew it, the large bowl of Boiled Shredded Tofu was empty.

The two of them put down their spoons, licking their lips, still craving more. The fragrance lingered on their palates.

Just as they were relishing the aftertaste, the second dish was brought out.

This dish was filled with the unique charm of the Jiangnan water towns: Sautéed Artemisia with Dried Tofu.

The artemisia in the dish had been meticulously prepared, a vibrant, fresh green. Not a single superfluous leaf was to be seen—only the crispest, most tender tips of the stalks.

Sautéed with it was dried tofu that had also been cut into fine shreds.

The magic of this dish lay in a single word: "purity."

There were no excessive seasonings or complex cooking techniques. What it aimed for was that natural flavor—the unique, herbaceous fragrance from the artemisia tips and the mellow, beany aroma of the dried tofu shreds, intertwining and blending in the mouth.

Li Xu picked up a mouthful with his chopsticks. The crisp refreshment of the artemisia and the chewy, savory fragrance of the dried tofu combined perfectly in his mouth.

That unique, clean aroma seemed capable of washing away all greasiness and worries, leaving him feeling refreshed and uplifted.

"A fine dish of ’artemisia covering the ground, reed shoots short’ indeed!" Li Xu couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. "This artemisia truly is the most beautiful flavor of spring. To be able to preserve it until now is absolutely incredible."

"Haha, Doctor Li knows his poetry," Elder Li chuckled. "This artemisia is a favorite of us Jiangnan folk. Wait until you come for a meal next spring. By then, the knife fish will be in season, and I’ll make you a dish of ’Knife Fish Wontons.’ Now *that* is what you’d call unbelievably savory!"

After that, Elder Li brought out more dishes in succession: Assorted Vegetable Buns, crayfish, Crab Roe Lion’s Head Meatballs... Every single dish was made with meticulously selected ingredients and exquisite craftsmanship, fully displaying the profound culinary skills of this master chef.

The three of them ate with hearty satisfaction. It was a delightful meal for both host and guests.

After the meal, the three sat in the courtyard, drinking tea to aid their digestion.

Li Xu took the opportunity to carefully check Elder Li’s pulse again.

"Elder Li, your liver is recovering very well," Li Xu said. "Your pulse is steady and strong. The previous taut and choppy quality has completely disappeared. It seems you’ve been diligently taking the prescription I gave you."

"Of course!" Elder Li laughed. "How could I dare be careless with the medicine you prescribed? I feel much lighter and more energetic than before."

Time passed quickly.

In the afternoon,

the sun began to set, and the temperature dropped rapidly.

But the three were so engrossed in conversation that they were reluctant to let the day end.

Elder Li set down his teacup and suddenly asked, "Doctor Li, your medical skills are exquisite. In the field of pharmacology, you already have the bearing of a master. I’d like to ask, do you know acupuncture?"

Hearing this, Li Xu shook his head and answered frankly, "To be honest, Elder Li, the art of acupuncture is vast and profound. I only learned the basics in school and have rarely used it in a clinical setting. I really wouldn’t dare say I know it."

"Oh? That’s quite a shame."

A look of regret appeared on Elder Li’s face.

He took a sip of tea, his gaze growing distant as if lost in reminiscence of times past. Slowly, he began to recount the rise and fall of acupuncture for his two guests.

"You young people may not know this, but in the long history of Chinese medicine, acupuncture has always held an incredibly important position. It and pharmacology are known as the two pillars of traditional medicine; one cannot exist without the other."

"Especially in treating acute conditions, acupuncture can often produce miraculous, instantaneous results, bringing the dying back from the brink of death. The saying ’a needle in hand, an effect as immediate as a drumbeat’ speaks to this. In ancient times, a truly great physician’s travel bag would contain not just a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, but most importantly, their personal acupuncture kit. Inside, you’d find a complete set of silver needles of all lengths and thicknesses. That was their greatest asset for making a living and saving lives."

Ding Aiguo was listening with rapt attention and couldn’t help but ask, "So when did the art of acupuncture reach its peak?"

"If you’re talking about a peak, it would have to be the Ming Dynasty." A look of longing flickered in Elder Li’s eyes. "During the Ming Dynasty, the study of acupuncture, both in theoretical research and clinical application, reached an unprecedented height. Nearly every famous physician of that era was also a master of acupuncture. The Imperial Hospital established by the government even made acupuncture a mandatory subject, its status even higher than that of pharmacology."

At this point, Elder Li’s tone suddenly shifted, filled with regret.

"But it’s a pity. Its zenith marked the beginning of its decline. By the reign of Emperor Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty, the art of acupuncture suffered an unprecedented catastrophe."

"Oh? Why was that?"

Ding Aiguo, unfamiliar with the history of acupuncture, asked again.

"Sigh, it’s almost laughable." Elder Li sighed. "The reason stemmed from an imperial edict from Emperor Daoguang. Emperor Daoguang believed that administering needles to members of the imperial family in his presence would inevitably require baring their chests or backs, which was a breach of decorum. More importantly, he worried that unscrupulous individuals might use the opportunity to make an attempt on his life. So, he issued an edict ordering the Imperial Hospital to permanently abolish the acupuncture department!"

"The emperor was the Son of Heaven, and his word was law. Once that edict was issued, it was like pouring a bucket of ice water over the burgeoning art of acupuncture. With the government no longer promoting it, the status of acupuncture plummeted. Gradually, it devolved from mainstream medicine into a ’common folk art’ practiced by wandering street peddlers."

"Things got even worse during the Republican era. The nation was weak, the people were poor, and there was an influx of Western knowledge."

Elder Li’s voice grew heavy. "At that time, some so-called ’new-school scholars,’ under the banner of ’science,’ heavily criticized our own traditional culture. Some even clamored for the complete abolition of traditional Chinese medicine, labeling it as ’witchcraft’ and ’feudal dross.’ In that kind of environment, the already declining practice of acupuncture had it even worse, reaching a critical point where its lineage was in danger of being completely broken."