The story of mulberry twig

The reason why jiangnan called land of fish and rice

Jiangnan has been known as the "land of fish and rice" since ancient times, and is rich in rice, fish and silk. According to legend, in ancient times, there were families on the Yangtze River who lived by breeding silkworms. There were only two old couples and a sickly son in the family. The old couple are honest and kind-hearted. Although the family life is not relaxed, they often take care of the lonely elderly people around them.

The story of sang zhi

The old couple have been breeding silkworms for decades and have planted large mulberry forests in front of their homes. However, due to long years of fatigue, the couple suffered from shoulder pain (similar to today's frozen shoulder). However, due to the tight schedule, in addition to seeing the sick son, they also need to take care of the lonely elderly people nearby. The couple both resisted not going to the doctor. Over time, the shoulder pain of the couple became more and more severe, and it was very difficult for them to even raise their hands to wash their face and comb their hair. But even so, the couple insisted on taking care of the few elderly people around them every day.

One day, just as the couple were eating, a beggar came at the door. The beggar was unkempt, ragged, skinny, and trembling with crutches. It seemed that a gust of wind could blow him down. When the couple saw that this beggar was so pitiful, they gave the beggar all the food that was not enough. Seeing the beggar gorging himself, the couple felt uneasy, so they wanted to help him. The couple let the beggar stay, boiled hot water to bathe him, and put on new clothes for him. After washing, the beggar looked dignified, but due to long-term malnutrition, his body was already weak. After that, the old couple saved their rations every day to exchange for some fish to supplement the beggar's body. After half a month of meticulous care, the beggar's body gradually recovered.

On this day, the beggar said to the old couple: "Thank you both for the meticulous care these days, I have recovered my body. Now, my body is getting better, and I can't bear to disturb them anymore. I will continue to move forward. , I will definitely repay the two of you for your life-saving if I have a chance in the future." After thanking the couple, he turned around and left.

At this time, the couple said to the beggar: "Although our family is not rich, if you don't dislike it, you can continue to stay in my house."

The beggar said that he didn't want to stay to disturb them, and insisted on leaving, so the couple took out all the money left in the family for him.

When the beggar took the money in his hand, he burst into laughter, and instantly turned into an ugly man with unkempt tendrils, black face and huge eyes, holding an iron crutch in his hand and lame a right foot.

Looking at the amazed couple, the man said: "I am Tieguai Li among the Eight Immortals. I didn't expect your couple to be so kind-hearted. Even if you let yourself starve, you have to take care of those lonely old people like me. I was moved by the people I met."

After speaking, he broke a mulberry branch from the mulberry tree next to him, and said to the couple: "The two of you have been tired for a long time, and your shoulders have been painful for a long time. You can use this mulberry branch to decoct water to drink, and you will be able to heal." He took out a pill from the gourd on his back and gave it to the couple, saying, "Your father has been sick for many years, and he can be cured by taking this pill." Then, he picked up some stones from the ground, wrapped them in cloth, and handed them over. Give it to the couple, let them wait for him to leave before opening.

The couple had not reacted yet, and Li Tieguai went away in the clouds. The couple opened the package left by Li Tieguai, which was full of white silver, which was as much as a hundred taels. The old couple drank mulberry stick decoction water according to Tieguai Li's instructions, and fed the pills to their son. Within a few days, the couple's shoulders no longer hurt, and the son's illness was cured. When the whole family was happy, they did not forget what Tieguai Li said, so they used these silver coins to build a large asylum dedicated to adopting the elderly and the homeless.

Mulberry sticks have the effects of dispelling rheumatism, clearing the meridians, and promoting moisture. It can treat rheumatic arthralgia, stroke and hemiplegia, edema, beriberi, body wind itching, shoulder, arm, joint pain, numbness and other diseases.