In a year of famine, Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da are so hungry that their vision blurs. Risking their lives, they steal and butcher a sick cow. Just as they are about to feast, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly doubles over with excruciating stomach pain and rolls on the ground. Chen Xu, who has just transmigrated, takes one look and realizes this is no divine punishment. It’s acute appendicitis!
With no anesthetic and no tools, Chen Xu grits his teeth, picks up the sharpest shard of broken tile, douses it with strong liquor, and solemnly says to the “future CEO of the Ming Dynasty” beside him, “Chongba, trust me. I can save you. Hold still. Don’t move.” And so begins an exploratory laparotomy performed with a butcher’s knife...
