Ma Zhonghua
The Peerless Divine Physician
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Ma Zhonghua (马忠华) |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | Approximately 47–48 at his introduction 23 |
| Affiliation | Sanxingdui Museum, Luo City 23 |
| Occupation/Role | Museum director; addressed as “Curator Ma” and “Director Ma” 23 24 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 23, “Sanxingdui” 23 |
Background / History
Seeking Help for the Archaeologists
Ma Zhonghua previously worked under Ye Yiming and remained on good terms with him. During a business trip to Ba City, he visited his former superior and described the mysterious illness affecting Sanxingdui’s archaeological team. Ye Yiming subsequently brought Luo Yang to the museum to help 23.
Surprised by Luo Yang’s youth, Ma delayed the examination and privately questioned whether Ye Yiming had been deceived. After Ye angrily defended Luo’s medical abilities, Ma agreed to take them to the patients, while explaining that an officially assembled expert team would arrive the following day 23.
Ma escorted them to temporary isolation buildings outside the museum grounds. Eight people were affected: they were usually unconscious, had stable vital signs, and became mentally unstable while muttering unintelligibly when awake. Because the illness was suspected to be contagious, municipal authorities had isolated them rather than sending them to a hospital 24.
Luo Yang attributed the condition to an artifact’s brain-affecting energy and requested access to the Sacrificial Pit. Ma considered an animal test feasible but found the energy explanation far-fetched. Citing the need for higher approval, he proposed waiting for the expert team; Luo left his number and warned that further assistance would require payment 25.
Hiring Luo Yang
After an expert from the provincial capital also developed symptoms, Ma called Luo Yang back and offered access to the patients and excavation site. He secured his superiors’ approval for a one-million-yuan fee and personally wrote their contract 27.
| Contract term | Arrangement |
|---|---|
| Scope | Cure the affected archaeologists and eliminate the root cause 27 |
| Payment | One million yuan, payable after the problem was resolved 27 |
| Responsibility | Luo Yang would take responsibility if anything happened to a patient 27 |
| Noninterference | Nobody could disturb Luo Yang’s work, including at the Sacrificial Pit 27 |
When Zhang Zhi denounced Luo Yang as a fraud and insinuated misconduct, Ma challenged his accusations. Nevertheless, he remained worried about Luo’s separate 500,000-yuan wager to cure Shi Fei within half an hour. His official position prevented him from participating in the wager, and he feared that failure could expose Luo to fraud allegations 28 29.
Shi Fei’s recovery vindicated Luo Yang. Ma enthusiastically praised him, rebuked his detractors, and agreed that treatment should continue before the excavation site was investigated 30.
Securing the Bronze Knife
After Bai Jing recovered, Ma offered to have the suspected Bronze Knife retrieved. Luo Yang immediately warned him not to let anyone touch it. Ma then directed Luo to Su Changming’s ward and later repeatedly sought reassurance about the professor’s safety before the visit to Pit No. 8 31 33.
Ma initially objected when Luo brought the knife out of the pit, citing regulations and responsibility for the relic. After Su confirmed that the knife had controlled him again, and Ye Yiming supported Luo’s proposal, Ma allowed the spirit-removal procedure to take place in a secluded museum office 36.
Concerned that the procedure might damage an irreplaceable cultural relic, Ma eventually went to check on Luo with the others. Seeing the preserved knife and receiving assurance that its harmful energy was gone, he thanked Luo and asked him to stay overnight as a precaution 37.
Ma placed the knife in the collection room and guarded it through the night. The following morning, he confirmed that payment would be transferred after leadership approval and offered Luo a celebratory evening meal. Luo declined because he had another patient to visit 39.
Appearance
Ma has a scholarly air 23.
- Build and face: Lean.
- Complexion: Fairly pale.
- Eyewear: Black-framed prescription glasses 23.
Personality
Ye Yiming describes Ma as honest and upright. Ma is courteous to visitors but initially distrusts Luo Yang’s reputation because of his age, even suggesting that Ye’s granddaughter’s recovery might have been coincidental 23.
His caution centers on institutional rules, patient safety, and personal accountability. Even after employing Luo, he worries about the legal consequences of the wager and the possibility of damaging the Bronze Knife. Once Luo demonstrates his abilities, Ma openly praises him, while retaining enough anxiety to guard the relic overnight himself 29 30 36 37 39.
Relationships
- Ye Yiming — Former superior and longstanding friend. Ye introduces Luo Yang and repeatedly reassures Ma during the crisis 23 29 36 37.
- Luo Yang — Hired troubleshooter whose abilities Ma initially doubts. Their dealings become friendly after the patients recover and the knife is made harmless 23 27 30 37 39.
- Zhang Zhi — Expert-team leader with whom Ma clashes over attacks on Luo Yang and insinuations of an improper arrangement 28 30.
- Ye Zi — Ma admires her judgment. Following her prediction about Luo City housing prices, he bought an apartment whose value doubled within three years 29.
- Wife — Unnamed. She repeatedly complains that he did not buy a second apartment before prices rose 29.