Chapter 16: The True Medical Genius
Xiao Wen was certain that Shen Qingtang wouldn't refuse her. After all, to some extent, she was a very easy person to talk to. Although she was aloof and always revolved around the young master, she wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for them.
And indeed it was so. Shen Qingtang immediately nodded in agreement and even offered to take her pulse.
Watching the other person carefully taking her pulse and pondering earnestly, Xiaowen suddenly felt a surge of pleasure. Her eyes lit up, and a mischievous idea came to her.
During this time, Shen Qingtang's medical skills improved significantly. She was both intelligent and diligent, and with the cases of illnesses that kept popping into her mind, she was already comparable to the doctors practicing in outside clinics. However, without any reference, Shen Qingtang had no way to compare herself. In addition, she often studied the "Complete Collection of Ancient Prescriptions of Putian", and deeply felt the exquisite medical skills of these predecessors. She felt that her medical skills were insufficient, so she only thought that she had stumbled onto the path of a beginner and had just taken off the hat of a novice.
Shen Qingtang looked at Xiao Wen in front of her and said in a low voice, "Although you have a fever, it is not serious. Although you have a headache, a stuffy nose and a runny nose, you don't sweat on your forehead and neck. You should have caught a cold."
"Here's what I'll do. I'll prescribe you a formula called Ephedra Decoction, which contains ephedra, cinnamon twig, apricot kernel, and licorice. It can help you sweat, relieve muscle tension, warm the meridians, alleviate headaches, and dispel wind and cold. You should be fully recovered in less than two days."
Seeing Shen Qingtang's eloquent explanation, Xiaowen was filled with disdain and secretly thought to herself: This Shen Qingtang really thinks she's a doctor. At most, she only knows a little about acupuncture. How could she possibly prescribe medicine?
If she actually followed the prescription, wouldn't it kill her? With a slight smile, she had already made up her mind not to eat it. But her face showed gratitude: "Sister Chen, I'll go to the pharmacy outside right away to get the prescription."
“But…” She paused, wrinkled her nose in distress, and cast a pleading look at Shen Qingtang, saying, “But… I’ve never brewed Chinese medicine before, and I don’t know the amount of water or the heat.”
Shen Qingtang: "...I'll cook it for you."
Xiaowen chuckled inwardly, but said shyly, "Sister Chen, thank you so much. Although it will take up some of your time, it's better for everyone if my cold gets better sooner, isn't it?"
These words sounded a bit strange, and Shen Qingtang didn't respond, simply picking up her tray and leaving. She was willing to take Xiaowen's pulse and treat him for two reasons: first, Xiaowen's cold could easily spread to others, especially Brother Qin; second, it was a good opportunity to gain experience in treating illnesses.
As expected, every day thereafter, Shen Qingtang would take time out of her already limited free time to cook a bowl of ephedra soup for Xiaowen.
Three days later, Xiaowen's symptoms seemed to have worsened. Despite wearing a mask, she could still cough incessantly. Although she no longer sneezed or had a runny nose, large beads of sweat were streaming down her forehead. She looked like a red-hot iron, and she would occasionally reach out and press her temples, appearing listless.
As she passed by, Shen Qingtang frowned slightly and asked, puzzled, "Xiaowen, didn't you take your medicine on time?"
Xiaowen replied confidently, "Sister Chen, I've been taking the Chinese medicine you brewed for me every single day, but I don't know why it's just getting worse." As she said the last sentence, her tone lowered a few degrees, and she weakly raised her head and said, "Sister Chen, is it that the ephedra decoction is just too strong for me? Maybe I should just go to the hospital for an injection and an IV drip."
The implication was that Shen Qingtang's prescription was not the right one, which was why her cold was getting worse.
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips, took Xiaowen's right hand, and examined her pulse for a while.
Xiao Wen lowered her head somewhat guiltily, not daring to meet the other person's dark, thoughtful eyes. After a long silence, Shen Qingtang spoke up: "Perhaps I misjudged the power of this kind of typhoid fever. How about this, I'll prescribe a new prescription for you, with a few more potent Chinese herbs. Drink a bowl at noon, and you should see results by the afternoon."
"If it still doesn't work, I'll take you to a big hospital for a checkup."
Xiaowen nodded, replying with a mix of insincerity and words, "Okay, Sister Chen, I'll go and get the Chinese medicine prescription in a bit."
Under Shen Qingtang's supervision, Qin Guanlan's daily routine was always very regular.
After lunch, he and Shen Qingtang would each read a book for forty minutes, and then take a nap when reminded by the other, as punctual as a well-programmed robot.
But today... Qin Guanlan looked down at his watch. It was already ten minutes past the time limit, but Shen Qingtang was engrossed in her medical books and showed no sign of looking up.
He coughed lightly and reminded her, "Shen Qingtang, it's time for your afternoon nap."
Shen Qingtang finally snapped out of her reverie. She rubbed her tired eyes and apologized, "Brother Qin, I'm sorry, I forgot the time today."
Qin Guanlan wasn't one to fuss over such things, so he waved his hand and said, "It's nothing." Seeing the other person grabbing the medical book and about to leave, he frowned and asked, "Aren't you going to take a nap today?"
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "Yes, there's one symptom I haven't figured out yet."
He pointed to the obvious dark circles under the other person's eyes, both angry and helpless, and said, "Even if you want to work hard, you don't have to be so hard on yourself, do you? Since you stayed up late last night, it would be better to take a nap at noon." He quoted the words that Shen Qingtang had advised him before, saying, "A nap can eliminate fatigue, improve nerve function, regulate emotions, reduce stress, and consolidate memory. This is a habit that you asked me to cultivate."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "I haven't been mistreating myself. I know what I'm doing." Meeting Qin Guanlan's obviously distrustful gaze, she paused and said, "I'll eat more pig liver tonight to replenish my blood and energy."
Qin Guanlan: "...Can't we look at it this afternoon?"
"No, I need to figure this out quickly." Sensing the urgency in Shen Qingtang's tone, Qin Guanlan pushed his wheelchair to her side, glanced at the pages of the book, and found that the whole thing was about how to cure a cold.
Thinking about Xiaowen's increasingly serious condition, he quickly guessed: "Is it because of Xiaowen?"
Shen Qingtang nodded, a hint of self-reproach on her face, and said, "Perhaps my research wasn't thorough enough. The prescription I gave Xiaowen actually made her condition worse the more she drank it, but I couldn't find the problem even after looking at it for a long time."
Seeing that she didn't cherish her own body for the sake of someone else's, Qin Guanlan felt a surge of anger and coldly questioned, "Do you really have to understand? They say that medicine can heal those who are destined to be healed. This may not be your problem at all."
Shen Qingtang retorted calmly, "That's right, we must understand it."
Qin Guanlan was about to retort when Shen Qingtang's words softened his heart.
"What if Brother Qin develops the same symptoms?"
Caught off guard by these words, Qin Guanlan's ears turned slightly red, and a strong electric current ran down his spine. He coughed lightly a few times, pressing his fist to his lips, before regaining his composure. He was pleased inside, but unwilling to show it on his face, he replied calmly, "My physical condition has always been very good; I've hardly ever caught a cold."
Seeing Shen Qingtang's lips move, he quickly changed the subject, saying, "Since we haven't been able to figure it out, it means we need to change our approach. I won't take a lunch break today; let's go to the small garden to admire the flowers."
Today the weather is clear and sunny, bright but not scorching, perfect for a leisurely stroll in the small garden. In addition, Mrs. Qin's family recently unearthed an extremely rare and precious variety of Su Guan He Ding, which Su Rong had planted not long ago to please Qin Guanlan, making this the perfect time to admire it.
Shen Qingtang could tell that Qin Guanlan's invitation was sincere, so she nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Qin." When she left, she also took Qi Yi and Qi Er with her.
Since they were just taking a break, they strolled around and didn't follow the usual route in the small garden. Along the way, they excitedly chattered on and on about the garden.
"It is said that the flower shape of this Su Guan He Ding is petal-shaped, pure white, with yellow stamens and a short plant. It has the characteristics of lotus, pure white, and unique, and belongs to a rare treasure among orchid species."
"This plant grows on a cliff face. If it weren't for the sharp eyes of the tea craftsmen from the lady's family, we might have missed it."
Qin Guanlan added, "This Su Guan He Ding variety used to be very rare, with an extremely low cultivation rate. It once fetched a high price of 12 million at the Asian Flower Show."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yi gasped and said, "Brother Qin, if I steal this orchid and sell it, wouldn't I become rich overnight?"
Qin Guanlan chuckled and said, "I already said that was in the past. With the continuous development of cultivation technology, chemical and physical cultivation methods are emerging one after another. The quality of that one in the small garden would only be worth 300,000 at most now."
Qi Yi smacked his lips and said, "Three hundred thousand is a considerable sum." Hearing Qi Yi's unrestrained words, Qi Er slapped him on the back and said, "Isn't that just your annual salary? Shut your mouth."
Shen Qingtang sighed, "This orchid must be very beautiful, it's just a pity..."
"Is it a pity it doesn't belong to you?" Qin Guanlan rarely made a playful joke, but he was determined to give it to Shen Qingtang if she asked for it.
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "It's a pity that it only has ornamental value and no medicinal value."
Qin Guanlan: "......"
Qi Er: "......"
Qi Yi: ".6"
Shen Qingtang suddenly stopped at a certain spot, looked at the obviously dark area, squatted down, and rubbed the damp soil.
"What? Still thinking about growing medicinal herbs?" Qin Guanlan remembered Shen Qingtang's suggestion to him and suddenly thought that turning the small garden into a herb garden wouldn't be bad. If he looked down from the second-floor window, he could see a busy little herb farmer.
The more Qin Guanlan thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed. But fearing that the other party would be too tired, he narrowed his eyes and said with a slight smile, "I can give you a plot of land. Then you can have the gardener pull out the flowers from that plot."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yi and Qi Er both showed the same shocked expression. This land was cultivated with only the most expensive and valuable flower varieties, such as Blue Enchantress, Cold Beauty, and Peach Snow Mountain, each costing four or five hundred yuan. Yet now Brother Qin wanted to uproot them just to plant medicinal herbs for Sister Chen?
This is such a waste!
Shen Qingtang made no attempt to hide her thoughts, nodding and saying, "Thank you, Brother Qin, but..." She sniffed and said, "Why does this land smell like Chinese medicine?"
She knelt on the ground, leaning forward repeatedly, sniffing the herbs as she named them: "Ephedra, Cinnamon Twig, Apricot Kernel, Licorice..." Suddenly, her expression changed and she said, "It smells like the Ephedra Decoction I prescribed for Xiaowen."
Everyone present was not stupid; they immediately understood what was going on.
Qi Yi gritted her teeth and said, "That Xiao Wen is truly ungrateful; she doesn't appreciate kindness. Sister Chen worked so hard to diagnose her, sacrificing her own rest time, and brewed medicine for her three meals a day without interruption, and she just threw it all away. No wonder her illness hasn't gotten better; so that's the root of the problem."
Qi Er remained silent, but his eyes darkened, and a nameless anger surged within him. He had clearly heard everything outside the kitchen that day: Xiao Wen had taken the initiative to ask Sister Chen for treatment, only to be toyed with in the end, which was utterly humiliating.
Qin Guanlan's face was as black as charcoal. Perhaps because of his anger, his emerald green eyes turned into a pure, dark green, like a flickering will-o'-the-wisp. Deep within his cold and sharp eyes, a dark current seemed to be surging silently.
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and said, "Perhaps it wasn't Xiaowen who collapsed. Quite a few servants have caught colds lately."
But everyone present knew perfectly well that no servant would travel such a long distance to Qin Guanlan's small garden just to throw away a bowl of Chinese medicine.
They just don't have evidence yet.
Not far away, a rustling sound suddenly arose, followed by increasingly loud conversations and occasional coughs.
"Cough cough, cough cough, Xiaoqian, thanks to you for buying me cold medicine, I feel much better now."
"Sister Xiaowen, why are you being so polite? It's all that bitch Shen Qingtang's fault for insisting on brewing Chinese medicine for you. You can only sneak here to pour it out every time."
"She meant well, but she was a bit arrogant. If I had taken the medicine she prescribed, I'm afraid my condition would be even worse now."
"If you ask me, she's just a half-baked acupuncturist at best. I really don't know why the young master values her so much."
"Yes, it's because the young master values Shen Qingtang so much that I dare not offend her."
"Sister Xiaowen, you're so smart. I was wondering why you asked her to help with the treatment. Seeing how much time and effort she had to spend brewing medicine for you every day, it was really satisfying."
"I did this just to teach Shen Qingtang a lesson. Since you're not a doctor, you shouldn't do things that could endanger lives."
......
Hearing this, Xiaoqian laughed even harder, repeatedly giving a thumbs-up and praising, "Sister Xiaowen, you're amazing!" But she quickly noticed that the other person's face was pale, his eyes were darting around, his lips were trembling, and his voice was shaky as he said, "Young Master..."
Wait, the young master? The person behind her is the young master?
A bead of cold sweat instantly appeared on her forehead, and her face turned pale and then purple. When she turned her head, she met Qin Guanlan's gaze. His deep, cold, emerald eyes sent chills down her spine, like those of a venomous snake.
"Young Master... what brings you here?" Xiaoqian asked nervously, unsure of how much of the conversation the other had overheard.
Qin Guanlan snorted coldly and said, "If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known that you all disliked Qingtang so much that you even fed all the Chinese medicine she painstakingly brewed to the flowers here."
The last sentence was clearly directed at Xiaowen, so Xiaowen lowered her head even further, tears streaming down her face. Sobbing, she looked up at Qin Guanlan and said, "Young Master, I'll never dare to do it again." Xiaowen knew she wasn't as young and beautiful as Xiaoqian; her only attractive feature was her fairly round eyes, which looked quite delicate when she cried. Therefore, she deliberately turned halfway to the side and looked up, hoping her pitiful appearance would move Qin Guanlan's heart.
Qin Guanlan glanced at him coldly and said, "You're not afraid, you're just scared." He added at the end, "You look really ugly crying."
Xiaowen's hidden affection was shattered by those words, and her crying stopped abruptly.
"Looking down on Sister Chen's medical skills and ordering her around like she's a fool? You even called Sister Chen a cheap woman, but I think you two are the cheapest ones." After saying that, Qi Yi said angrily, "Brother Qin, this time we have to teach them a good lesson. Just pulling weeds won't do."
Qi Er suddenly spoke up: "Brother Qin, why don't we just kick them out? Old Madam Qin has just hired a new batch of people, so we don't need any more staff."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoqian panicked and knelt down, pleading, "Young Master, you can't do this! No matter what, I'm someone Madam brought from her maiden home. If you kick me out, won't that make Madam lose face?"
Xiao Wen also knelt down and said, "Young Master, please have mercy. I have a large family of younger brothers and sisters to support. I really can't lose this job." After saying that, she looked at Shen Qingtang and said, "Sister Shen, it was my fault. I shouldn't have let you down by helping me brew the medicine. Please forgive me."
This Xiaowen is a ruthless person. Every time she says something, she slaps herself hard. Her originally fair and tender face is swollen and red from slapping herself, like a big steamed bun, with clear finger marks.
Shen Qingtang frowned and said, "That's enough, stop hitting him." Hearing this, Xiao Wen seemed to see a glimmer of hope and seized the opportunity to make a weak request: "Sister Shen, please help me plead for him. The young master likes you the most and listens to you the most."
Shen Qingtang did not respond, but looked at Qin Guanlan and said, "Brother Qin, you should handle it according to the rules of the Qin Mansion."
Qin Guanlan tapped his long middle finger on the armrest of his wheelchair for a while before speaking, "I'm very angry about this, but kicking you all out would make the Qin family seem too petty. Didn't we recently hire a batch of new people?"
"Qi Yi, why don't you send those two girls to Grandma's place to relearn the rules?"
Qi Yi smiled and said, "That's a good idea. Since there are no rules, let's learn some." He deliberately raised his voice and said, "I will definitely make sure Sister Ying takes good care of you."
Upon hearing this, Xiaowen and Xiaoying's already pale faces turned even paler.
You should know that Old Madam Qin was a strict person and the one who valued rules the most in the Qin Mansion. Naturally, Yingjie followed suit. The seven-day onboarding training they underwent back then still feels like a nightmare when she thinks about it now.
When opening the door, one must bow at a 45-degree angle; when talking, one must not look directly into the eyes of the host; it is forbidden to tidy one's clothes or pick one's ears in front of the host; one must always maintain a "smile without showing teeth" demeanor; when walking, one must take small steps and the sway of the skirt should not exceed 30 centimeters... The thick stack of rules and regulations for wealthy families will not only be checked at any time, but also put into practice.
If they fail to meet the target, they will have performance points deducted, and their year-end bonus will be much less than others.
Now they've become the focus of attention again, so you can imagine how badly they'll be treated, even if they don't die.
However, unless they are willing to resign from their high-paying jobs at the Qin Mansion, they must go there for training.
After weighing the pros and cons, Xiaowen and Xiaoqian gritted their teeth and agreed to the condition.
Qi Yi was incredibly efficient and quickly sent the two people over.
At Qin Guanlan's signal, Qi Er quietly left, leaving space for the two of them to be alone.
"Qingtang, don't be sad." Qin Guanlan, sitting in his wheelchair, keenly sensed a hint of barely perceptible dejection beneath Shen Qingtang's composed expression. Unfortunately, this straight-laced man spent a long time trying to come up with a dry, unconvincing word of comfort.
Shen Qingtang sighed softly and shook her head, saying, "I'm not sad. Actually... it's not their fault for not believing in my medical skills." She gently pulled away Qin Guanlan's tightly clenched hand and said, "The sea of knowledge is boundless. I will study medicine more diligently in the future."
After saying that, she smiled and squatted down, touching Qin Guanlan's crippled legs, and promised with a determined look in her eyes, "Brother Qin, I will definitely heal your legs."
At that moment, Qin Guanlan seemed to see a vast starry sky in the other person's eyes. The dark eyes, like black holes, unconsciously attracted his attention. His heart trembled uncontrollably, and his blood rushed to his head. He turned his head away unnaturally to avoid the gaze, as if his heart would explode if he looked at it for another second.
Although Shen Qingtang said she wasn't sad, Qin Guanlan still sensed the blow this incident had dealt to her confidence.
At 11 p.m. that night, Qi Yi sat on a bench in the small garden, feeling the cold night wind sweeping in. He immediately shivered and sneezed several times. He hugged his chest, trying to warm his hands, and tried to persuade, "Brother Qin, let's go back quickly. Can we continue looking at the Su Guan He Ding tomorrow?"
After being rejected by Qin Guanlan, Qi Yi suggested, "Look, you're dressed even less than me. How about I go back and get you a thick blanket to put on?"
Although it's still summer, autumn is fast approaching, and the temperature difference between day and night can be more than 20 degrees Celsius. In addition, it's the season when colds are prevalent, so it's easy to catch one without even realizing it.
Qin Guanlan felt the icy coldness in his arm, but a faint smile appeared on his lips as he said, "No need, I'll watch for another hour and then go back to sleep."
Qi Yi: "..." He blinked helplessly and immediately gave Qi Er a pleading look.
Qi Er suddenly spoke up: "Brother Qin, although our position is hidden, Sister Chen can still see us."
Upon hearing this, Qin Guanlan rubbed his arms and immediately changed his mind, saying, "Then ten minutes."
Ten minutes later, Qin Guanlan kept his promise and returned to his room. But just before going to bed, he suddenly said, "Qi Yi, I remember the main kitchen sent some fresh milk ice cream today. Bring two up so I can try them."
Hearing this, Qi Yi said with a strange expression, "Brother Qin, it's too late today, how about we eat it tomorrow? Besides..." He paused, then muttered in a low voice, "Don't you dislike ice cream?"
Qin Guanlan coughed lightly and said, "I suddenly feel a bit hot and want to try it."
"Hot?" Upon hearing this, Qi Yi immediately looked worried and reached out his hand, saying, "Brother Qin, do you have a cold? That's why you feel hot. I was wondering why you were acting so strange tonight."
Qin Guanlan slightly turned his body to avoid Qi Yi's outstretched hand and said in a low voice, "I don't have a cold, hurry up and bring the ice cream up."
A glint of light flashed in Qi Er's eyes. He immediately went downstairs, grabbed two ice creams, handed them over, and dragged Qi Yi away.
Qi Yi complained in a low voice, "Qi Er, why did you give Brother Qin ice cream? What if he catches a cold?"
Qi Er looked at Qi Yidao with the same gaze one would give an idiot: "Go to sleep early, kid. You have no idea what Brother Qin is thinking."
"Intention?" Qi Yi scoffed. "Eating two ice creams can be related to intention? That's too far-fetched." The only response he got was the sound of Qi Er's bathwater splashing.
On the other side, Qin Guanlan endured the chill and quickly finished two ice creams. After feeling a wave of coldness wash over him, he nodded in satisfaction, then kicked the blanket far away. After confirming that the air conditioner was set to 16 degrees Celsius, he finally fell asleep contentedly.
When he woke up the next morning, he found his throat dry and itchy, dizzy, with a dry mouth and a persistent cough. A satisfied smile appeared on his pale face.
Shen Qingtang pushed open the door as usual and was the first to notice Qin Guanlan's unusual condition. She immediately frowned, her fair palm lingering on his forehead for a moment before pressing her left hand to take his pulse, saying, "Brother Qin, you have a cold."
She said with some doubt, "That's strange, everything was fine yesterday."
Qin Guanlan, without batting an eye, said, "It's probably because the temperature suddenly dropped last night that I caught a cold." He paused for a moment and then said, "So, could you write me a prescription?"
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "Of course." She quickly judged, "You have a high fever and mild chills, so it should be a wind-heat cold." Countless treatment methods immediately appeared in her mind. "Brother Qin, let me prescribe a prescription according to your constitution. It contains Chinese medicinal herbs such as forsythia, mulberry leaves, mint, honeysuckle, and isatis root, which can clear heat and detoxify, relieve headaches, cool the blood and soothe the throat, and dispel wind and heat."
"I'll give you a few more acupuncture needles later, and you'll be fully recovered by tonight at the latest."
Seeing that Shen Qingtang's eyes were noticeably brighter, Qin Guanlan chuckled and said, "Then I'll trouble you." Shen Qingtang shook her head and said seriously, "Brother Qin, it's no trouble at all." Being able to accumulate her own case practice experience was actually a good thing for her.
After finishing breakfast, taking the Chinese medicine prepared by Shen Qingtang, and receiving acupuncture, Qi Yi suggested in a low voice, "Brother Qin, how about I call Dr. Li over to take a look?" For wealthy and powerful families, a family doctor is naturally a basic requirement.
Dr. Li Mingsheng is a specialist in serving wealthy families like the Qin family. Born into a family of Western medicine practitioners, he studied and grew up abroad. At the young age of 27, he obtained his postdoctoral degree in medicine, the value of which is self-evident. He is currently the director of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Municipal Hospital and can be considered an outstanding young man.
Qin Guanlan shook his head and said, "No need. I feel much better now. My head doesn't hurt or feel dizzy, I don't cough, and my throat isn't dry anymore." Qi Yi said anxiously, "Brother Qin, whether you feel better or not isn't up to you to decide. I also believe in Sister Chen's medical skills, but it wouldn't hurt to call Dr. Li over for a check-up."
Seeing Qi Yi's anxious eyes, Qin Guanlan knew that the other party was genuinely concerned about his health, so he relented and said, "Then let's call Dr. Li over."
Dr. Li was very professional; he arrived an hour after I made the call. After checking his temperature, blood pressure, and pulse, Dr. Li removed the stethoscope from his ear and said, "Mr. Qin, your cold is completely cured, and you are in good health now."
"What? Healed so quickly?" Qi Yi was stunned by the amazing results.
Only an hour has passed!
He couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister Chen, your medical skills are truly amazing!"
Out of professional interest, Dr. Li asked with great interest, "Ms. Shen, how did you treat Mr. Qin?"
"If it were me, for the symptoms Mr. Qin just mentioned on the phone, I would prescribe one Tylenol tablet, one ibuprofen tablet, and two cough suppressants, and if necessary, add oseltamivir, and administer an IV drip. But even then, it wouldn't achieve such a significant effect."
It's well known that Western medicine pills are notoriously fast-acting but have significant side effects and only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. Traditional Chinese medicine, on the other hand, treats the root cause and has fewer side effects, but its effects are much slower.
Dr. Li smiled again and said, "Don't let my Western medicine background fool you, I'm actually quite interested in traditional Chinese medicine. Do you have any special Chinese herbal prescriptions?"
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "The prescription is nothing special. Chinese medicine prescriptions that have been passed down to this day are naturally the result of survival of the fittest. I just diagnosed Brother Qin with a wind-heat cold, so I added some extra Chinese medicinal herbs to the prescription to treat the symptoms."
"If there's anything special about it, it's probably because I know a little about acupuncture. I inserted a few needles into Brother Qin's acupoints such as Fengchi, Dazhui, Hegu, and Quchi, which can help him better dispel wind and relieve symptoms such as headaches."
"In addition, I make a medicinal meal to nourish Qin's qi and blood every three days. His physique is also stronger than that of ordinary people, so he recovers quickly."
After listening to Shen Qingtang's explanation, Dr. Li suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly, saying, "So that's how it is. Traditional Chinese medicine is indeed profound and extensive. I didn't expect that you, at such a young age, would know acupuncture. I had heard of this auxiliary method before..."
Dr. Li noticed that although Shen Qingtang was young, she spoke with great insight, as if she had studied traditional Chinese medicine diligently for many years. Coupled with her humble yet assertive attitude, and a hint of appreciation in her eyes, Dr. Li felt as if he had found a kindred spirit and began to speak at length: "I've actually encountered quite a few difficult cases. I once stayed up for three days and three nights working on a treatment plan to successfully save a patient's heart..."
Seeing the two chatting so happily, Qin Guanlan felt increasingly annoyed and abruptly interrupted, "Dr. Li, didn't you just say you were going to consult on a patient later?" He reminded them with an unhappy expression and an unfriendly tone, "It's getting late."
The implication is that you can now return to where you came from.
The oblivious Dr. Li didn't notice the deeper meaning. He glanced down at his watch and said with a hint of regret, "Time flies so fast, Qing Tang. I really hope we'll have another chance to talk again next time."
He said confidently, "You must be an intermediate-level physician now, right? Take some time to get your advanced physician certificate as soon as possible. I can recommend you to my friend's clinic as a resident doctor. You can accumulate a lot of cases sooner and open your own pharmacy to make a living in the future."
He thought Shen Qingtang was a maid in the Qin family, so he couldn't bear to see her waste her talent and was very enthusiastic about planning her future path.
Shen Qingtang shook her head and clarified, "I am not a doctor, and I have never obtained any certifications."
"You must be joking with me." Dr. Li shook his head, not believing it at all. He said with certainty, "Your medical skills are really good. Many experienced Chinese medicine doctors can't even match half of your knowledge."
"That was just the result of my own study at home by reading medical books."
Dr. Li was stunned. Only after seeing several people around him testify did he reluctantly believe it.
"He only glanced at a few medical books and knows so much." Dr. Li, who had been hailed as a genius since childhood, swallowed hard, suddenly feeling ashamed. A thought popped into his mind: What kind of genius is he?! The real genius is right in front of him!
He handed her his business card and earnestly advised, "Qingtang, you must make time to take the TCM license exam. It's a loss for patients if there aren't excellent TCM doctors like you. My senior brother is actually the manager of a pharmacy. I'll recommend you to him for an internship for a while. He has many rare and precious prescriptions that he'll definitely be willing to pass on to you."
In fact, Shen Qingtang owns her own pharmacy and doesn't necessarily need to intern at someone else's. However, given Dr. Li's kindness and her own plans to obtain a traditional Chinese medicine license, she accepted the business card and said, "Thank you, Dr. Li."
Dr. Li waved his hand and said, "Don't be so polite. My name is Li Mingsheng. You can just call me Brother Li from now on."
Shen Qingtang naturally changed her address, saying, "Thank you, Brother Li." After seeing the other party off, she received admiring glances from Qi Yi and Qi Er.
"Sister Chen, you are really amazing. Even those who study Western medicine are impressed by your level of traditional Chinese medicine."
Qi Er then said, "Sister Chen, this Dr. Li is truly talented. Making connections with him will definitely be of great help to you in the future."
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "I understand." Suddenly, she felt a chill run down her spine. After finding the source of her gaze, she asked, somewhat puzzled, "Brother Qin, is there something on my back?"
"No." Qin Guanlan answered quickly, feeling a little better when he saw that Shen Qingtang's gaze was still on him. After casually turning a page of the book in his hand, he said in a light tone, "You seem to get along very well with Dr. Li. You chatted for quite a while just now."
Shen Qingtang pondered for a moment and said, "It's because we're both interested in medicine that we have something in common." Although Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine are two completely different treatment methods, their fundamental ideas are the same—that is, to cure diseases and save lives.
Qin Guanlan suddenly raised his head and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Actually, I've been reading medical books lately too."
So we do have things in common.
But Shen Qingtang was a blockhead and didn't grasp the deeper meaning of those words at all. She simply said with a sudden realization, "So Brother Qin is now interested in medicine too. Then I can recommend a few medical books to you."
"You can start with the basic theories. The two books, 'Basic Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine' and 'Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine,' are easy to understand and are very suitable for beginners like Brother Qin to build a knowledge system and master the basic skills of syndrome differentiation and treatment."
"After reading it, you can study the classic works such as 'Medical Three-Character Classic' and 'Treatise on Febrile Diseases' in detail. It is recommended to study 'Treatise on Febrile Diseases' in conjunction with annotated editions such as Ke Yunbo's 'Collection of Treatises on Febrile Diseases'."
"If you prioritize practicality, the 'Pharmacopoeia,' 'Formulas for Decoctions,' 'Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion,' or 'The Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Nourishing Life' are all good choices."
Qin Guanlan: "......."
*
The following afternoon, Yingjie was in the courtyard with Old Mrs. Qin, discussing the performance of the newly hired maid in teaching her manners.
Suddenly, a rumbling thunderclap sounded in the sky, and the previously sunny sky immediately turned gloomy. The dry air became noticeably humid, and sure enough, raindrops began to fall.
Sister Ying said worriedly, "The weather forecast is so inaccurate; it changes so suddenly." She then immediately pushed Old Mrs. Qin back into the house, glancing worriedly at the woman's legs, and said, "Miss, let me go get you..."
Seemingly knowing what Yingjie was going to do, Old Mrs. Qin frowned and coldly refused, "Yingzi, I don't want to take the medicine. Even if you give it to me, I won't take it. I'd rather just suffer the pain to death."
Grandma Qin is getting on in years, and her legs were injured when she was younger. Even with proper care and treatment, she still suffers from arthritis flare-ups on rainy, damp days. The sharp, needle-like pain is excruciating. Western medicine once prescribed her a highly effective drug, but due to long-term use, her body has developed resistance, and the effect has been halved.
In addition, the side effects became increasingly pronounced. After each dose, she would feel dizzy, drowsy, and nauseous, and would have to stay in bed for two or three days to recover. This time, Old Mrs. Qin was determined not to take the medicine again, no matter what.
Yingjie frowned and earnestly advised, "Miss, this won't do. If you don't take your medicine in advance, you'll be in a lot of pain." Yingjie had served Old Madam Qin for many years and naturally knew that when her arthritis flared up, her painful groans were like a butcher's knife, and she could wail all night long.
She held up two white, round pills and coaxed, "Miss, if you eat them obediently, I'll make you some rice cakes right away."
Just as the two were facing off, a maid said, "Grandma, Sister Ying, someone from the eldest young master's side has arrived. You should go and take a look."
Grandma Qin said, "Why would Guan'er send someone over for no reason? Could something have happened?" She gestured to Yingjie and said, "Put down the pills and quickly push me out to see."
Catching a hint of relief on the other woman's face, Yingjie sighed helplessly and said, "Miss, why are you doing this? You'll still need to take it when you get back." Even so, she still took out a tissue, wrapped the two pills, placed them under the water glass, and pushed Old Madam Qin out of the room.
-----------------------
Author's Note: (Erkang hand gesture) There will be another chapter at 12:05 AM!!!
Thank you to reader "White Egret Unparalleled" for the comment.
Thank you "Lin Lingling" for watering with nutrient solution +1 2025-09-16 14:59:29
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