Chapter 48 Lu Xiaoqi has lofty ambitions and plans to do…
The resident doctor is named Qian Guanshan, and this clinic was opened by his father, Qian Chenghai. Qian Chenghai was previously the former director of Qinghe City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and he was a highly skilled doctor promoted from the front lines of clinical practice, a provincial-level renowned doctor. After retiring, he couldn't stay idle, so he opened this clinic in Anping County, which has a very good reputation.
Recently, Qian Chenghai went to the provincial capital to attend a seminar and was invited to give a lecture at the provincial medical college. As a result, he handed over the management of his clinic to his son, Qian Guanshan, and grandson.
Qian Chenghai was a remarkable man, but his son, Qian Guanshan, had no talent for medicine and was ambitious but incompetent.
He had studied medicine under Qian Chenghai for over twenty years, and while he considered himself not quite as skilled as his father, he was still among the best in Qinghe City. Having been in the industry for so long, he naturally understood the unspoken rule of not arbitrarily changing prescriptions for others and not criticizing the attending physician in front of patients, but this time he couldn't tolerate it.
This person completely altered the classic formula; changing the dosage is common, but he even changed the combination of ingredients. Moreover, Qian Guanshan couldn't quite understand the logic behind this combination.
That's definitely a mess!
Chen Meiling paused for a moment when she heard what he said, a hint of hesitation flashing across her face. But in the end, she took the prescription and said unhappily, "Do you still want to get the medicine? If not, we'll go somewhere else."
For some reason, she was willing to trust that Dr. Zhang from earlier. And since she had chosen him, she shouldn't keep changing her mind.
Qian Guanshan's son, Qian Bojiang, who was also the pharmacist, quickly took the prescription and said apologetically, "Of course I'll get it!"
He secretly tugged at his father's clothes, and Qian Guanshan snorted but didn't say anything more.
After Chen Meiling left, Qian Bojiang sighed and said with a headache, "Dad, changing prescriptions is like changing generals. Publicly questioning someone else's original prescription is a big taboo! If Grandpa finds out, he'll definitely call and give you a good scolding!"
His father is something else.
He brought up Qian Chenghai, and Qian Guanshan felt a little guilty, but still stubbornly insisted, "I was just anxious, wasn't I? Besides, her prescription itself had problems..."
Qian Bojiang secretly rolled his eyes. His father was arrogant and had low emotional intelligence. If it weren't for that, his grandfather wouldn't still be so worried after retirement, insisting on personally overseeing the clinic.
If the behavior just now caused the patient to distrust the doctor, who would be responsible if a medical dispute occurred? Moreover, each patient's situation is different, and each attending physician has their own approach. How can you speak recklessly without understanding the situation?
Qian Guanshan felt even more uneasy: "I didn't intend to change it..."
I only raised a small question.
Qian Bojiang was almost laughing in anger: "You're actually planning to modify it yourself? Don't you want your medical license anymore?"
This violates the "Prescription Management Regulations"!
"Never mind, never mind..." He rubbed his chest, feeling a heavy responsibility. His grandfather had said long ago that he couldn't count on his father, and the burden of the Qian family would probably fall on his shoulders from now on. Alas, what a miserable life!
Qian Bojiang was also pondering who had written the prescription. The old man had indeed said he was a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and a native of Qinghe Ancient Town. Could it be him? But at the time, he didn't seem to have even read the *Compendium of Materia Medica*...
Qian Bojiang's heart skipped a beat, and he frowned, feeling that there was something slightly strange about this matter.
......
Several large trucks drove into the back gate of Qinghe Ancient Town and stopped in the parking lot. This parking lot is specifically for cargo transportation and has been very busy lately, with trucks continuously delivering timber and other building materials.
"Come on, unload!"
After taking a smoke break to stay awake, the truck driver helped the workers unload the timber, loading it onto the tricycle and securing it. Trucks aren't allowed on the roads inside Qinghe Ancient Town, so this method of transporting timber to the construction site, like ants carrying grains, was the only way to get it.
With a shout, tricycle driver Lao Wang started his vehicle and sputtered off into the town. A dozen or so other tricycles, like his, were waiting to unload goods—the days when the ancient town only had one tricycle were long gone; now it boasted a whole fleet of tricycles.
As we passed the small lake, a gentle breeze created ripples, and the cool breeze refreshed us.
Old Wang muttered to himself, "The water in Qinghe Ancient Town is getting better and better. Although it's not as clear as the streams and rivers in the nearby mountains, making one want to jump in for a swim, the unpleasant smell from before has completely disappeared. It seems that dredging the river mud was very effective."
I heard the boss will also invest heavily in a filtration system, which should improve the water quality.
Old Wang was really looking forward to this day.
Old Wang is a local from Anning County, and his home is right next to Qinghe Ancient Town. He is delighted with the changes the town has undergone in the past few months. Moreover, the town's recruitment drive has truly created many job opportunities for nearby residents, and the county government and local community organizations have been actively promoting it recently.
He himself applied for the job here last week. Originally, Lao Wang worked as a laborer on a construction site in Qinghe City. He earned a fair amount of money, but it was hard work and his job was precarious. Now there's work right next door, and although the pay is less, he's willing to do it.
He'd already decided that once Qinghe Ancient Town opened, he'd clear out the space on the first floor of his house. He could sell water or open a small restaurant—that would be perfect. If Qinghe Ancient Town did well, he might even be able to rent it out to others, living a carefree life and collecting rent—how comfortable that would be!
Therefore, he genuinely wanted the ancient town to prosper.
The tricycles bypassed the construction site, which was blocked off by a blue curtain, and arrived at the small square in front of Qinghe Tower. All the vehicles were unloading their goods here, and three or four tricycles had already gathered there. Everyone was helping each other out, chatting as they worked.
"What's that construction site that's been fenced off for?"
"I heard they're building a virtual holographic experience center, like the one in the last video. It's a new technology, which is why the security is so tight."
"So that's how it is."
“Last time I accidentally walked there, I was stopped.”
Truckloads of timber were transported to Qinghelou, where craftsmen from Xiangjia Village inspected the quality of the wood, ensuring no flaw escaped their notice. Old Wang had personally witnessed them pick out a bundle of timber that appeared fine on the surface but had actually been soaked in water. It is said that from then on, suppliers became extremely meticulous and rigorous in their factory quality inspections, never daring to be perfunctory again.
He is a truly capable person.
"Of course. You can't earn ten or twenty thousand a month if you're not capable."
Old Wang was extremely surprised: "So tall?"
"There are even people who earn over 30,000 yuan, and they even get five social insurances and one housing fund." My colleague clicked his tongue in envy. "But they're the ones who are truly skilled; we can't compare."
Odd-job workers like them only earn around four or five thousand a month. They do the same hard work, but others earn so much more.
Old Wang couldn't help but sigh, "If this were when I was young, I would have begged and pleaded to become a disciple."
Everyone burst into laughter: "Who says otherwise?"
"I heard the boss has hired several more teams of construction workers from outside, and they'll be arriving in the next couple of days. It seems he's eager to open for business."
"That's right. With such huge expenses, money is at stake every day we open our eyes. We should open as soon as possible."
While the workers were chatting, Lu Xiaoqi was quickly signing the forms sent by the finance department.
Pay slips for temporary workers, various purchase orders, large and small, payment slips to partner companies... For the first time in my life, I realized that the feeling of spending money like water is not so wonderful.
After signing the last form, Lu Xiaoqi put down her pen, clutched her chest, and said to the finance lady, "Just give it to me at the same time every week from now on, so I can suffer all the pain at once."
The finance lady smiled slightly and said, "Okay, boss."
Lu Xiaoqi took out one of the orders; the supplier on this order was a medicinal herb trading company from Qinghe City. The ancient town now has a dedicated purchasing department responsible for meeting the needs of various departments.
"Why did you suddenly purchase so many Chinese herbs? Didn't Doctor Zhang say that he wouldn't open the pharmacy for the time being?"
Su Jun looked up from the computer: "Dr. Zhang said he's going to make some Chinese herbal sachets. His sachets have been very popular lately, and my colleagues have all been asking me about them."
Now everyone knows that if it's anything related to the technical talents in the ancient town, just ask Assistant Su, he's in charge of it.
Lu Xiaoqi was overjoyed: "This is great! It's sure to be popular."
She used it herself; it was specially made by the Medical Sage, and she hung it by her bedside every night, resulting in excellent sleep quality. Besides, even a small mosquito bite is still a bonus, so this was a source of income.
Su Jun added, "Dr. Zhang also wants to find a few young apprentices who are familiar with herbs to do this."
Zhang Ying often goes to help now, but if it's for mass production, one Zhang Ying definitely won't be enough.
Lu Xiaoqi nodded: "Okay, go find Sister Chen and ask her to recruit people."
Ambitious and eager to succeed, she was determined to expand and strengthen her sachet business, achieving even greater success. Perhaps she could even add some medicinal pills to it, and maybe even create a time-honored brand like Tongrentang or Qingyutang!
Finance lady: "Everyone's been asking me to ask you, if any outsiders want to see Dr. Zhang, are they allowed to come in?"
Lu Xiaoqi was somewhat surprised: "Have people from outside already come looking for us?"
His clinic hasn't been open for very long, has it?
She found out that some employees had gone back to promote the idea, and then relatives and friends kept asking about it. They couldn't just leave their jobs to accompany someone to see a doctor, so they wanted to ask if there was a fast track available.
“Okay.” Lu Xiaoqi pondered for a moment, thinking that with Zhang Zhongjing’s medical skills, more and more people would come to see him, and he himself hoped that the number of patients would be as large as possible. “Those who come to see a doctor can just register here with the security guard, but whether they can get an appointment with Dr. Zhang after they come in depends on fate.”
After the finance lady left, she asked Su Jun curiously, "Dr. Zhang, aren't you thinking of going to the hospital to get checked out?"
She had originally thought that Zhang Zhongjing would be eager to see what a modern hospital was like, but she didn't expect that he would leisurely spend his days in the ancient town working with his medicinal herbs, reading books, examining patients and collecting data, but she never saw him running to the hospital.
Li Bing was recuperating, so he stayed home and rarely went out. The Han sisters were not in a hurry to go out either. They stayed in the ancient town, writing and drawing. Apart from commissioning Su Jun to order a lot of fabric, silk thread and some related books for them, they never left the town.
The people who came this time seemed very cautious and indifferent.
"Dr. Zhang said he wanted to first clarify the history of medicine over the past two thousand years before looking at modern medicine." Su Jun had also asked Zhang Zhongjing this question.
Zhang Zhongjing felt that after his death, many schools of thought in traditional Chinese medicine had flourished over thousands of years, including acupuncture, pediatrics, herbal medicine, and febrile diseases, all of which were remarkable and gave him a lot of new inspiration.
He wanted to catch up on these lessons first, and then broaden his horizons to see something completely different.
Lu Xiaoqi couldn't help but admire him: "Live and learn, truly a medical sage."
In fact, it wasn't just Zhang Zhongjing; Yuwen Kai and others were the same. Yuwen Kai communicated frequently with Professor Lin from Qinghe University, and whenever he had a spare moment, he would go to the city's planning museum and archives.
And then there's Su Jun, who, after dealing with a ton of miscellaneous tasks every day, still reads books related to mechanics. Liu Chan told her he's still in his dorm researching gears and other small parts; Lu Xiaoqi wouldn't be surprised if he somehow manages to create something truly amazing.
You can only say that a master is a master. Unlike her, who goes home every day, lies in bed, and doesn't want to move at all, like a salted fish.
......
"Jiajia, come on, it's time for your medicine." Chen Meiling knocked on her daughter's door, carrying a bowl of dark, murky medicine.
No one answered.
She knocked again, persistently.
The door finally opened, and Wang Jiajia was somewhat disheartened: "I've been taking it for three days, but I don't feel any effect."
She knew it would be like this again.
Chen Meiling placed the medicine bowl on the table and advised her, "The doctor said you need to take it for half a month, so don't be so anxious. I think you've been feeling better these past few days."
Wang Jiajia said quietly, "What's so good about it..."
It's still venting.
Even so, she still pinched her nose and gulped down the whole bowl of medicine.
After putting it down, she lay down on the bed and said, "I'm not going to class today, Mom. Can you ask for leave for me?"
She didn't want to face those humiliations anymore; the thought of going to school made her stiffen.
Chen Meiling sighed: "Okay, I'll talk to the teacher."
She didn't want her daughter to spend her high school years in such a class. Transferring schools wasn't feasible, but transferring classes was still an option.
Actually, Wang Jiajia wasn't like this before. She would fight back and protest when she encountered injustice. Perhaps this time the blow was just too great for her, and she was completely overwhelmed by this illness.
After her mother passed away, Wang Jiajia opened her phone and joined her fellow patients' group.
She joined this group while searching for information online when she was sick. It was full of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Perhaps because of the stress of high school, her emotions were easily affected; half of the other members were teenagers like her.
As soon as I joined the group, I saw someone post:
Yesterday I went to school and people laughed at me again. I really hate it, why did I have to have this disease!
I recently went to Shanghai to see a doctor, who prescribed medication and gave me some advice. I'll let you know if it's helpful.
I want to die! Maybe I wouldn't be in so much pain if I died.
Wang Jiajia felt a chill run down her spine.
She knew this group member, A, who was also a high school girl. The two had previously discussed which perfume could best mask body odor.
After this was said, many group members quickly came to comfort A:
Don't think like that! It's not a terminal illness. Take your medicine, relax, and you'll get better.
Yes, I had a change of heart recently, and my mood improved a lot. As a result, my symptoms lessened, and I'm slowly getting better now.
No! Why let other people affect your emotions...
Wang Jiajia nervously opened the group member's account and sent her a private message:
[Baby, are you alright?]
There was no reply. Wang Jiajia lay in bed, her heart pounding. She suddenly realized that she actually understood her friends' thoughts a little. Because, in those fleeting moments, she too had thought that perhaps death would be the end of everything…
However, she felt that it shouldn't be like this.
And there were things she couldn't bear to part with: her parents, their pet dog…
Lost in thought, I received a message on my phone.
A replied: "It's okay, I was just talking nonsense."
Wang Jiajia was finally relieved.
She thought for a moment and replied: "My family found me an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor; maybe I'll get better this time. I'll let you know if I do."
A: [Hmm.]
Wang Jiajia turned off her phone.
She was so engrossed in the events that had just transpired that she didn't notice that twenty minutes had passed since Chen Meiling came in, and that she hadn't been constantly expelling gas as usual during those twenty minutes.
...
Qian Bojiang strolled leisurely through the ancient town of Qinghe.
He's been hearing a lot of news about this ancient town lately; it's become the most talked-about place in the entire county. Even when he goes out for a meal, he hears all sorts of discussions, speculating about when it will open, inquiring about job openings, and so on.
But this was his first time here.
The security guard, upon hearing that they were there to see Dr. Zhang, had them register and then let them in, saying enthusiastically, "You were referred by someone? That's great, now the boss is letting you in. Hehe, from now on you'll have to buy tickets. Let me tell you, you've come to the right place, Dr. Zhang is truly amazing!"
Qian Bojiang tentatively asked, "Have you consulted him?"
"Yes, he did free medical consultations for us!" the security guard said happily. "The prescription he gave me cured my night sweats that I'd had for years. It was also cheap, only about a hundred yuan for one course of treatment. Dr. Zhang said that if I take two more courses of treatment, I should be completely cured."
Qian Bojiang became even more curious about this Dr. Zhang.
After asking for directions, he arrived at the entrance of the clinic in Zone Two. He saw several people gathered around the entrance, using a ladder to hang a plaque above the door. The old gentleman he had seen before was among them. He looked up to check the angle of the plaque.
"A little more to the right... Okay, that's it."
It really was him! Qian Bojiang thought to himself.
The plaque was made of ebony with gold lacquer, bearing the three elegant characters "Guanmai Hall" in flowing strokes, powerful and vigorous. The calligraphy was written by Yuwen Kai, and Zhang Zhongjing was very satisfied, stroking his beard and nodding repeatedly. Turning around, he saw Qian Bojiang standing to the side, recognized him, and was overjoyed.
"Young man! What brings you here today?"
Qian Bojiang: "...Old sir, haven't you had enough of acting yet?"
Zhang Zhongjing laughed heartily: "Life is like a play, how can it be so easy to get over it? Come, come, come inside and sit down."
Qian Bojiang was speechless. Before he could react, Zhang Zhongjing invited him to sit down inside.
"Sir, why is this clinic called the Pulse Observation Hall?" Qian Bojiang asked curiously. "Is it from the phrase 'Observe the pulse and symptoms to know what kind of adverse condition has been committed, and treat accordingly' in the Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases?"
Zhang Zhongjing paused, his hand holding the teacup still; it seemed he had indeed written that sentence in his book. This was also a principle he consistently upheld in his diagnosis.
He smiled and asked, "Have you read this book too, young man?"
Qian Bojiang: "Of course, how can anyone who studies traditional Chinese medicine not read the Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases written by the Sage of Medicine?"
This can be considered the pioneering work of the founder, and many classic soup recipes originated from here, which have remained popular for thousands of years.
Mentioning this book, Qian Bojiang's expression turned serious. He had come here today specifically for this matter. He recited Wang Jiajia's prescription to Zhang Zhongjing, the contents of which he had already memorized:
"Do you remember the prescription you gave to a girl a few days ago?"
Zhang Zhongjing was surprised: "Of course I remember."
Qian Bojiang: "I would like to ask you, sir, this prescription is derived from Banxia Xiexin Decoction in the Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, but with significant changes. I am a little confused after reading it and would like to ask you why you made these adjustments?"
He actually put it subtly.
Actually, Qian Bojiang felt something was off, probably because of that copy of the "Compendium of Materia Medica." Plus, several people had recently come in to get medicine based on those prescriptions, so he was a little worried. He wanted to come and take a look, and if there were any problems, he could point them out.
After all, these are all related to the patient's health.
Zhang Zhongjing suddenly realized: "Ah, it's that prescription."
He certainly remembered: "I removed a few herbs, added stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala and Poria cocos, and then adjusted the dosage of Coptis chinensis and dried ginger."
Qian Bojiang nodded.
Zhang Zhongjing began, "I ask you, what symptoms do stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala and Poria cocos treat?"
Qian Bojiang blurted out: "These two herbs are the core ingredients of Linggui Zhugan Decoction, which is mainly used to treat internal retention of dampness."
In Western medical terms, this is an abnormality in intestinal fluid metabolism.
"Not bad," Zhang Zhongjing praised him. "That day, I observed that the patient had a white, greasy tongue coating, abdominal distension, and loose stools, indicating spleen deficiency and dampness, so I added these two herbs. Judging from her pulse, she had upper body heat and lower body cold, and her lower body cold was more severe than her upper body heat, so I increased the dosage of dried ginger..."
He took a liking to Qian Bojiang, who had given him a book, and treated him like a student or nephew. He explained his dialectical logic to him in great detail, dissecting the issues step by step. To his delight, Qian Bojiang was clearly also quite knowledgeable, and was able to continue to raise his own questions after listening.
They had a question-and-answer session, and the two discussed the case enthusiastically for half an hour. Of course, Zhang Zhongjing did most of the talking, while Qian Bojiang listened.
It was more like imparting knowledge and resolving doubts than a discussion.
After listening to the beginning, Qian Bojiang realized he had misunderstood the old man. The man's knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine was extremely profound; he even felt the old man was better than his grandfather. Moreover, he followed a purely traditional approach, which was quite rare.
“You just said that by observing the pulse and symptoms, one can know what kind of illness has occurred and treat it accordingly.” Zhang Zhongjing spoke until his mouth was dry, and he took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. “Even the same disease will manifest different symptoms in different patients. One must learn to differentiate syndromes rather than memorizing prescriptions. If one only knows how to use the original prescription to treat the current disease, it is like trying to find a sword by marking the boat.”
Qian Bojiang's face turned bright red.
Although he refuted his father at the time, he couldn't help but feel that the prescription had indeed been altered too much. People had been using medicine this way for thousands of years; it must be a proven classic. Was such a major adjustment to the formula necessary? Wasn't it just reckless?
Now, hearing Zhang Zhongjing's words, I feel quite ashamed. I realize that I was bound by classical prescriptions and authority.
He also followed Zhang Zhongjing's example, cupping his hands in a traditional greeting and saying, "Thank you for enlightening me, sir."
After chatting for a few more minutes, Qian Bojiang was about to get up and take his leave, but Zhang Zhongjing stopped him: "Young man, don't be in a hurry to leave. Come, come, come and take a look at this newly arrived batch of medicinal herbs and help me process them."
He vividly remembered how skillfully the young man dispensed the medicine.
If Lu Xiaoqi were present, she would have noticed how familiar Zhang Zhongjing's kind smile and the way he conscripted men looked.
And so, Qian Bojiang spent an afternoon fussing over medicinal herbs for Zhang Zhongjing, completely bewildered.
What's going on? Wasn't he supposed to be testing the other party's strength? How did he suddenly become his medicine apprentice? They even made an appointment to come back the next day... Walking home, Qian Bojiang couldn't help but chuckle.
However, he learned a lot from Zhang Zhongjing while working.
Qian Bojiang decided that he would definitely arrive on time tomorrow.
After several days of this, Qian Guanshan was puzzled. Why was his son always running off outside? There was only one intern left at the clinic to dispense medicine. He inquired and found out that Qian Bojiang had gone to Qinghe Ancient Town to help out for free at the traditional Chinese medicine doctor who had previously annoyed him. His face darkened.
His son never listens to him.
Moreover, he always felt that Qian Bojiang looked down on him. This made Qian Guanshan even more dissatisfied.
He leaned against the counter for a moment, then a surge of anger welled up inside him. Taking advantage of his father's absence, Qian Guanshan decided to give his son a good lesson, to let him know that his father wasn't someone to be trifled with. Moreover, he wanted to see just who this person was who had arbitrarily altered the prescription!
So, on this day, just as Qian Bojiang was grinding medicinal herbs into powder in Guanmai Hall, he saw his old father appear before him, his beard bristling and eyes wide with anger.
"Dad, what brings you here?" He frowned.
Qian Guanshan snorted coldly: "What? You're allowed to come here every day to do your hard work for free, but your old man isn't allowed to come and take a look?"
Zhang Zhongjing was taken aback. This was Xiao Qian's father? He remembered that Qian Bojiang had once said that his grandfather and father were both traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, so he smiled and went over to greet him: "Are you Dr. Qian?"
He praised Xiao Qian to Qian Guanshan repeatedly, making Qian Bojiang, who was listening nearby, feel a little embarrassed.
However, to his surprise, his father raised his head slightly and asked arrogantly, "Are you the doctor who arbitrarily altered the prescription of the medical sage Banxia Xiexin Decoction?"
Zhang Zhongjing frowned slightly. Why is it this again? This is never going to end!
Qian Bojiang suddenly stood up, both angry and anxious, and blocked his father's path, saying in a low voice, "Dad, be more polite to Dr. Zhang. Besides, you haven't even met the patient in person, how can you know he made the changes without knowing the specifics?"
Even if he had questions at the time, he would have asked them politely, unlike his father!
He figured it out: his dad was just looking for trouble because he was in a bad mood!
Although Zhang Zhongjing had a good temper, he wasn't without one. He immediately suppressed his smile and asked calmly, "What? Prescriptions come from laws, and laws are established according to symptoms. A physician must differentiate symptoms before prescribing. What is differentiation of symptoms? Since you know about Banxia Xiexin Decoction, haven't you studied these things?"
Seeing that his son was still defending him, Qian Guanshan became even angrier: "The formulas of classical prescriptions have been verified over thousands of years and have become classics. You may be satisfied with your rash changes, but what if they harm the health of the patients?"
"Dad!" Qian Bojiang shouted sternly as he pushed him, while apologizing to Zhang Zhongjing.
The scene became a bit chaotic.
As if the heavens weren't chaotic enough, the door to Guanmai Hall was pushed open again.
Chen Meiling stood at the door with Wang Jiajia, beaming with joy, her voice rising eight octaves: "Dr. Zhang! Dr. Zhang! We've come to thank you! Our Jiajia... our Jiajia is much better now!"
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