Incurable Traits

At the end of Tung Han dynasty, there was plague everywhere. A doctor CHEE and his family escaped to Chukzhoug. CHEE and his son TOR practised doctor on street. A famous doctor KING used a red string to feel a girl’s pulse. TOR admired him very much. Because CHEE did not teach TOR medical art, he requested KING to be his master. A swindler PU cheated KWAN YU’s neighbor LAM. KWAN argued with PU but was sent to prison. On the other side, TOR realized KING’s eldest daughter MIU was his fiancee. However, MIU did not have good impression on him. TOR then threatened her to introduce him to KING to be apprentice. KWAN had beaten PU seriously but TOR saved him. TOR promised KWAN that he could cure LAM in order to exchange PU’s life. After several tests, TOR was able to be KING’s apprentice. When TOR was curing LAM, he noticed pestilence was spreading quickly.

TOR intruded into KING’s study and peeped at medical books. KING was angry and asked district magistrate to lock him in prison. KWAN came and could not find TOR. He demanded KING to cure LAM. After checking LAM’s pulse, KING recognized TOR’s word was true. He ran away immediately but MIU realized it. She bailed TOR out. CHEE found that two schools of medical theory might cure pestilence. In medical cottage, an official told KING to cure his father’s pestilence within two days. KING found it was difficult. Meanwhile, TOR came and asked to teach him the theory of typhus. KING promised if TOR could find a method to cure pestilence. Sound of gong and drum was coming from TOR’s room, everybody thought TOR was able to get the method.

KING’s two younger daughters LAN and WAI got two pigs for TOR as experiment, but they could not find him. The official’s father was dead and KING blamed on TOR. MIU believed TOR was not faithless. KING was worried the official would revenge on him. PU instigated him to play a lousy act about the god of plague, which villagers believed that donation could stop plague. With CHEE’s help, TOR, MIU and KWAN were able to find a special herb as an ingredient of a prescription. LAM’s pestilence was finally cured. On the other hand, the wicked plot of KING and PU.

PU thought he had pestilence. He therefore returned money to villagers hoping TOR would cure him. Due to poor business, KING and his family moved to Loyang. Moreover, CHEE wanted TOR to enter the imperial medical college in Loyang. He also told him that CHO CHO had saved him before. KING, CHEE and others stopped at Hsuchang. KING’s friend NG treated KING and his family. NG admired MIU very much. MIU asked TOR to write her love letter. TOR studied hard at home and NG chased after MIU. MIU did not see TOR for several days. She was worried and visited him. TOR was writing her love letter but it was just like a prescription. PU showed it to others. MIU was embarrassed but was happy with it.

MIU convinced TOR to work in KING’s medical cottage for their future. One day, TOR delivered medicine and passed by imperial medical college. He went in and was misunderstood as assassin. Fortunately, CHO was an understanding person and let him out. TOR also noticed CHO had hidden disease. On the street, TOR met CHO again and claimed he could cure him. However, CHO laughed away. TOR felt that he was lack of development and determined to leave. MIU borrowed money from NG helping TOR to set up his business. However, TOR always offered free medication, which put him into economic difficulty. Later, KING even came to demand TOR to repay him money. TOR then understood MIU’s grievance.

NG’s friend LEUNG also admired MIU, but she only loved TOR. TOR practised doctor outside. CHO’s adopted daughter TING and his son CHUNG looked for consultation, PU puff-recommended his homemade medicine. He quoted a price unreasonably. TING thought TOR was a quack doctor too. TING and CHUNG went to a ferry for fun. CHUNG was clever to repress the spirit of a western region envoy. CHO appreciated. Suddenly, CHUNG was seized with cramp. Since childhood, CHUNG had asthma. Though CHO had looked for famous doctors, it was in vain. KING made MIU believed TOR had gone to brothel. He even shut her up and compelled her to marry LEUNG. TOR realized and brought MIU away from home. KING and MIU declared to break off the father and daughter relationship.

The wedding of TOR and MIU was simple and very warm. MIU hoped TOR could enter the imperial medical college. She therefore looked for help from district magistrate who requested for a golden tripod. In the house of Prime Minister, CHUNG’s sickness was broken out again. The imperial doctor WEN was having acupuncture for him. Suddenly, CHO heard that there was assassin and he investigated immediately. Meanwhile, he met TOR who was coming to accuse the district magistrate of corruption. However, CHO neglected him because of headache and TOR was beaten cruelly. In a lane, TOR met KWAN who in fact was the assassin working for LAU PEI. They were happy to see each other again. CHO called for a medical conference. CHO’s hope of entering the medical college was rekindled. CHUNG begged TING to bring him outside when he was still alive. They met TOR.

TOR was trying to go aboard to Sanhsiang. He looked for a corpse of an old man in order to study CHUNG’s disease. However, TING and CHUNG occupied the ship. TOR used tricks to go with them. On the other hand, MIU took risk to have consultation in a brothel so as to earn a living. TOR arrived Sanhsiang. TING then realized they were being cheated. She was angry and walked a different way from TOR. However, she and CHUNG fell into a hole. TOR tried to save them and at the same time, he discovered the corpse. From the medication the old man taken, TOR got some idea. On the way of rescue, TING was almost buried alive. Fortunately, TOR was able to save her. TING had a good impression on him. In order to buy the golden tripod, MIU promised to go roaming with a brotheler SIU to earn fifty taels. However, TOR met them.