Shanlaomazi

In the northern countryside, this is a kind of plant that can be seen everywhere, which is too common.

The fruit of Old Mazishan is quite similar to that of Ricinus communis. It is spherical and has many long thorns on the surface, which is several times larger than Ricinus communis. In the village, it is customary to call castor as old pockmarked, and add a word "mountain" in front to show the difference (mountain means wild), hence the name "old pockmarked mountain".

Old Mazishan is not picky about its growing environment. Ditches, embankments, village entrances, roadsides and even garbage dumps ... seem to be everywhere, and it is its ideal residence, which quite means "everyone has evil, so I say a few words".

When we were young, we always loved to tear off their trumpet-shaped purple or white flowers and play with them. Remove all the parts under the receptacle, put them in your mouth, blow air, and squeeze the other end with two fingers. It's not a leak. Just take a breath, it will expand, then pop off and make a silky sound. Look at the flowers in your hand. Unfortunately, there is a big hole in the flower coat. But we don't feel sorry. There are countless old pockmarked hills there, and we like to play trumpet games as long as we like, as if we can make progress until the end of time. Everyone is happy and thinks life is really interesting.

But we never pick the fruit. These thorns are hideous and really scary. Moreover, adults have warned countless times about its toxicity, and even if it enters the eyes, it will endanger life. We always stay at a respectful distance from others.

For the people around it, including us, the old pockmarked mountain is so useless that it doesn't need to be invaded, and it is sick and dead year after year. The ancients said, "If you don't kill an axe, it's useless and useless." Useless value is really important.

Later, I gradually realized that the old pockmarked mountain was by no means useless. It has a scientific name Datura, and the original western name can also be charming. Its mosaic fruits are all good medicinal materials, especially suitable for making anesthetics. According to legend, the hemp boiling powder made by Hua Tuo is mainly composed of it, but unfortunately it has become an antiperspirant in Water Margin, and it is terrible to think about it. In Europe, it is even used as a hallucinogen, and it is also very cute. It is said that it also has the function of relieving cough and asthma, but the specific situation is unknown.

Being hated by everyone seems useless. Old Mazishan's indifferent attitude towards the environment and its living conditions are completely in line with Taoism. At the same time, it also conforms to Confucianism. "Zhouyi? There is a saying in the copula: the gentleman hides his weapon in his body and waits for the opportunity to shoot ... This is the explanation of the six hexagrams, which means that the gentleman is ready to shoot the bird on the wall, but hides his bow and arrow in his body until the time is ripe, thus gaining something. The Analects of Confucius? Taber is more thorough: (gentleman) believe in learning and guard the dead end. Dangerous countries do not enter, and chaotic countries do not live. There is a road in the world, you will see it, and without it, you will hide it. The country has a good way, and it is extremely vicious and shameful; There is no way to make the country rich and expensive, and it is also shameful. The humble old pockmarked mountain looks like a gentleman, hiding his things in his body and looking like a waste. Then he can fully release his own value and benefit others. It can naturally seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. Like a gentleman, it is "dangerous country does not enter, chaotic country does not live", and it is peaceful and obedient. Really have unusual knowledge.

At this moment in winter, the chill rises, but the old pockmarked mountain on the soil slope outside the door is still standing silently and growing in the wind. The cold wind blows its leaves, but it doesn't care. It still bears its own seeds there, year after year.