“This method is very simple.”

The old man continued, “One longan pulp, six or seven Sichuan peppers, and moxa floss. Blend together and put a piece about the size of your fingernail into your belly button when you sleep at night.

Sensing Fang Qiu’s doubts, the old man went on to explain,

“Don’t belittle our belly button. It absorbs.”

During the Republic of China era, some opium addicts were afraid of smoking it during the ...