The hospital is not far from the courtyard house; it takes about ten or twenty minutes to walk there.

When Li Chu arrived at the Traditional Chinese Medicine department office in the hospital's outpatient department, Dr. Luo Qicheng from the same department was already there, wiping the table. Li Chu quickly put down his bag, picked up a broom, and began cleaning as well.

"Dr. Luo, you've arrived quite early today!"

"I just arrived too, I just put the water on the stove and you came!"

Dr. Luo is 40 years old this year. He has elderly parents and young children to support. His family of six relies on his salary of 28.7 yuan. Doctors are mental laborers. Luo Qicheng receives 30 jin of grain rations each month, his mother receives 27 jin, and his wife is from a rural area in the suburbs of Beijing. Even with their three children, they don't get their share of grain rations, making life very difficult for the family. Therefore, every month he secretly asks Li Chu to exchange his refined grains for coarse grains.

Li Chu studied Traditional Chinese Medicine at medical school and also apprenticed under a renowned master to learn clinical TCM, thus inheriting a lineage of skills. After graduation, he became an attending physician at a hospital, thanks in part to his master's recommendation. His monthly salary was 42.5 yuan. Luo Qicheng was very envious and grateful for Li Chu's help.

This year, the neighborhood committee saw that his family was really struggling, so they arranged for his mother and wife to paste matchboxes. They can earn 30 to 50 cents a day, which means they can earn about 10 yuan more per month, much better than the previous two years.

After cleaning the office, Li Chu made himself a cup of tea and began tidying his desk, preparing for the new day's work.

The Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital has a total of 7 doctors, one of whom is the director. They have four offices and are also equipped with four nurses.

"Hey, Dr. Luo, why hasn't Nurse Yang arrived yet?" Li Chu asked Luo Qicheng as he put on his white coat.

Luo Qicheng shook his head. "I don't know, I didn't see it when I came."

Li Chu didn't pay any attention. He put on his white coat and white hat, sat down at his desk, took out the medical books and notebook he had borrowed yesterday, and prepared to read.

The office door creaked open, and a woman in her thirties walked in—nurse Yang Xiaohong. "Dr. Luo, Dr. Li, you're both here. Dr. Li, Director Liang wants you to come to his office at 9 o'clock."

"Okay, I understand." Li Chu glanced at his watch; it was just past 8 a.m., still early, so he continued reading.

The office quieted down as the three people went about their own business.

Nurse Yang sat down at her desk by the door, took out her notebook, and began to study diligently. Nurses can now transfer to doctors, but they need to pass an evaluation by a professional committee. An application can be submitted every two years, but only twice. She would be taking her second evaluation at the end of this year; she hadn't passed the first time. She wasn't considering becoming a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner now, but becoming a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacist was still a possibility. If she could pass the evaluation and become a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacist, her salary would increase significantly.

She knew that Dr. Li majored in Traditional Chinese Medicine in college and had even formally apprenticed under a TCM master, so she paid close attention to how Dr. Li treated patients and prescribed medicine, and studied diligently. She was too embarrassed to ask Li Chu, so she could only learn quietly like this.

Li Chu knew Yang Xiaohong was observing him treating patients and prescribing medicine, but he didn't mind. He would even deliberately slow down when prescribing, explaining why he prescribed certain medications and combinations. If Yang Xiaohong didn't understand something, he would explain it to her carefully. Li Chu greatly admired her learning spirit.

Dr. Luo Qicheng was also there diligently studying; he had submitted his application to take the examination for attending physician of traditional Chinese medicine this year. Dr. Luo started as an apprentice in a traditional Chinese medicine clinic when he was around ten years old. After the establishment of Xinhuaxia, he was recommended and, after evaluation by an expert committee, became a physician of traditional Chinese medicine. If he passes the examination at the end of this year, he will become an attending physician of traditional Chinese medicine, and his salary will increase accordingly.

Li Chu closed the book, glanced at the time and saw it was almost nine o'clock, then got up to go to the director's office. He said goodbye to Luo Qicheng and Yang Xiaohong and went out.

The third office to the right after you leave the building is the director's office. This row of four rooms are all clinics for the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, and the Chinese medicine pharmacy is on the other side.

The director's office door was ajar, and the director was taking a patient's pulse. Li Chu walked in without a word. The nurse in the director's office saw Li Chu enter but didn't say anything, only nodded.

After taking Li Chu's pulse, Director Liang stood up and said, "Xiao Li, come and take a look and tell me your judgment."

Li Chu didn't refuse and sat down in the chair that Director Liang had offered. He didn't rush to take the patient's pulse; he first carefully examined the patient's face before starting to take the pulse. During this time, he had the patient switch hands and asked the patient a few questions. Only then did he glance at Director Liang, who nodded and said, "Tell me your opinion."

Li Chu stated his diagnosis.

"How should the medication be used?" Director Liang asked.

Li Chu answered each question in turn, even mentioning the precautions.

Director Liang nodded with satisfaction: "Xiao Li, you're very good, really very good! You've learned your master's skills perfectly!"

"No, Director, there's still so much I need to learn," Li Chu said modestly.

"You rascal, excessive modesty is just arrogance. Alright, I'll prescribe the medicine as you said."

Li Chu picked up a pen and wrote the diagnosis on the medical record first, then wrote the prescription on the prescription sheet, handed it to the patient and instructed, "I wrote the usage and dosage in the medical record. Drink it for five days and then come back for a follow-up examination."

Director Liang said to the nurse, "Xiao Su, take the patient to the Chinese medicine pharmacy to get the medicine."

Nurse Su told the patient, "Give me your prescription and medical record." Then she walked out first.

The patient stood up and said to Director Liang and Li Chu, "Thank you, doctor. Thank you, doctor."

Director Liang smiled gently: "No need to be polite, go and get the medicine."

The patient then left.