Chapter 6: Disease Argument

After a few more presses, Zeng Yi stopped the massage. This technique, used to relieve pain, is very effective the first time it is used, but there is no need to continue pressing after that. He smiled awkwardly at Feng Yuqin, "More than half a month ago, didn't you have a cold? At the time, you felt chills without sweating, neck and head pain, but no fever?"

"Ridiculous!"

Zhang Renjie muttered in the crowd. If you can diagnose a cold just by feeling the wrist, wouldn't feeling the ankle mean the patient has hemiplegia? He never believed in traditional Chinese medicine, thinking it was all a fraud. However, if he had any faith at all, the TCM department of the Provincial People's Hospital wouldn't have been reduced to just four doctors.

To everyone's surprise, Feng Yuqin exclaimed, "Ah," her face showing extreme surprise.

Zhang Renjie's face instantly turned the color of liver. From Feng Yuqin's reaction, he knew the intern had hit the mark again.

Half a month ago, Feng Yuqin had a minor illness while inspecting a lower-level area. The symptoms were exactly as Zeng Yi described. Because there was no fever, she thought it was just a common headache. After taking two painkillers, the symptoms disappeared, so she didn't take it seriously and didn't mention it to anyone, not even Fang Nanguo.

"What does this have to do with my current illness?" Feng Yuqin asked. Just a few minutes ago, she had no faith in this young doctor, but at this moment, she believed he could definitely cure her.

"Your illness is called a combined disease of Taiyang and Yangming, caused by cold pathogenic factors invading both the Taiyang and Yangming meridians simultaneously. If I didn't feel it wrong, you were probably exposed to a cold wind at the time."

Feng Yuqin nodded. Now, recalling, it seemed that the symptoms appeared after she was exposed to a cold wind.

"In the early stage of a combined disease of Taiyang and Yangming, the cold pathogenic factors are more on the surface, meaning they gather on the body's surface, causing mild cold symptoms. Because cold pathogenic factors do not coexist with heat, when the cold is on the surface, the heat is suppressed inside the body. Eventually, the heat forces the large intestine to malfunction, leading to dry stools and difficulty in defecation."

"Ah?"

Feng Yuqin exclaimed again, this time not in surprise but in regret! She didn't know that a cold could cause constipation. If she had known, she would have told the hospital about her cold earlier and wouldn't have suffered so much.

She thought this, but the reality might not be as she wished. All the experts in the room were completely baffled. A cold causing constipation? They had never heard of it! Each of them was trying to figure out the pathology and the mechanism.

Shao Haibo was even more shocked. Feng Yuqin's medical records were kept confidential, and Zeng Yi had no way of accessing them. Today, everyone had been discussing diarrhea, and no one had mentioned constipation. His junior had figured it all out just by feeling the pulse. Impressive! Just this alone was on par with their master's skills.

"As the disease progresses, the cold pathogenic factors gradually move from the surface to the interior. At this point, the situation is reversed. Inside, because the cold pathogenic factors are condensed in the large intestine, it causes dysfunction, leading to continuous diarrhea. Outside, because the heat is concentrated on the surface, it naturally results in a persistent low fever." Zeng Yi looked at Feng Yuqin, "Do you have the feeling that although your body is hot, your mind is not hot or restless, as if you are in an oven but your heart is in a cold storage?"

Feng Yuqin nodded vigorously. This young doctor's explanation hit the nail on the head, as if he had experienced the illness himself. Unlike Zhang Renjie and his team of quacks, who only knew how to give intravenous drips, making her feel cold inside.

"That's right!" Zeng Yi concluded, "Don't worry, this illness is not serious. I'll write a prescription, and you'll get better after taking it!"

Feng Yuqin let out a long sigh. For some reason, she felt a warm and trustworthy aura from this young doctor, making her feel much better even before the treatment began.

Li Zhengkun nodded inwardly. He noticed that Zeng Yi always had a slight smile on his face, sincere and honest, which was very rare. Even he, an experienced doctor, found it hard to do. Often, some patients' conditions were not serious, but they were scared by the exaggerated expressions of doctors, leading to worse conditions.

Moreover, this young man was very skilled. He knew his youth was a disadvantage, so he didn't ask about the symptoms or the illness but relied solely on pulse diagnosis and a pain-relief technique to quickly gain the patient's trust, boost her spirits, and clearly explain the cause and effect of the illness.

This technique, known as "showing the mountain gate" in the medical field, relied entirely on genuine skills, with no falsity.

Li Zhengkun couldn't help but give a mental thumbs up. This was definitely an outstanding talent, on par with the best in the field. Unfortunately, he was a bit impetuous. Thinking of how he had been rudely interrupted earlier, Li Zhengkun still felt a bit annoyed. Arrogance due to talent is not a good trait for a young person.

While Li Zhengkun was pondering, Zeng Yi wrote a prescription, checked it for accuracy, and then approached Li Zhengkun, handing him the prescription with a sincere attitude, "Old Master Li, please review this prescription and see if it is appropriate."

This move completely took Li Zhengkun by surprise!

To be honest, he didn't understand traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, but he was very satisfied with Zeng Yi's attitude. The slight annoyance he had earlier vanished.

"Very good, this prescription is indeed very good," Li Zhengkun smiled and nodded, "I think we should use this prescription. The condition is urgent, so we should start the treatment as soon as possible!" He then handed the prescription back to Zeng Yi.

"Old Master Li's words make me feel much more at ease!"

Li Zhengkun stroked his back, feeling extremely comfortable. This young man was extraordinary, with exceptional medical skills and a humble attitude. Even he, in his younger days, might not have had such a demeanor. He had misjudged him today and would need to pay more attention to him in the future, as he might be useful someday.

Zhang Renjie was getting anxious. It seemed he had no chance to show his skills. He turned his eyes and stepped forward, suggesting, "Director Feng, for safety, shouldn't we have a discussion before using the medicine? We have several famous old TCM doctors at the Provincial People's Hospital. I'll call them, and I'll also coordinate with two experts from the Provincial TCM Hospital."

Hearing this, Feng Yuqin couldn't help but want to slap Zhang Renjie. What had he been doing earlier? There were TCM doctors, but he didn't mention them when she was admitted or when the treatment plan was being discussed. He only told her that the only treatment option was enemas. Was he trying to make a fool of her?

"No need for a discussion, I'll take this medicine!" Feng Yuqin decided directly, thinking that if she listened to him again, she might have to stay in bed for much longer.

Li Zhengkun was also annoyed. A discussion? Purely a waste of time! Could his eyes be wrong?

Zhang Renjie didn't realize that his unnecessary action had already sealed his fate in Feng Yuqin's mind. He was still putting on a show of "urgency for the patient": "Director Feng, no matter what, you must listen to me this time. It's better to have a discussion! I am responsible for your health!"

Feng Yuqin frowned and turned her head away. After a moment, she coldly said, "Too little, too late!"

Though the words were soft, everyone in the room heard them clearly.

Zhang Renjie's face turned red and then white, standing by the bed, unsure whether to stay or leave. He had been reprimanded twice in one day, and his authority as the hospital director was completely lost.

Everyone looked at Zhang Renjie, thinking, "Why are you doing this? As long as the illness is cured, the credit will still be yours. Moreover, Director Feng now trusts the intern completely and follows his advice. Whether there is a discussion or not, she will take the medicine. By trying to delay, aren't you hoping she doesn't get better?"

Li Zhengkun shook his head slightly. Comparing people can be deadly. Zhang Renjie's level was so low; it was a mystery how he became the hospital director.

Fang Nanguo had witnessed the entire process. Now that Zeng Yi had a new treatment plan and Li Zhengkun's endorsement, he felt much more relieved, and the frown on his face relaxed.

"Old Master Li, I am very grateful to you today. If it's convenient, please stay in Nanjiang for a few more days. I'll accompany you around and treat it as a way to relax," Fang Nanguo extended a warm invitation to Li Zhengkun.

"It's my duty, nothing to thank me for," Li Zhengkun showed a difficult expression, "I would love to stay in Nanjiang longer, but I have to host a consultation for a leader tomorrow. What do you think?"

Fang Nanguo immediately agreed, smiling, "There are no small matters around a leader! When Yuqin gets better, I'll definitely have her go to the capital to thank you personally."

"Actually, if it weren't for this young Doctor Zeng's help today, we might have missed something important. Secretary Fang, if you want to thank someone, thank him," Li Zhengkun was fair and didn't take credit for Zeng Yi's work.

Everyone, intentionally or unintentionally, looked at Zhang Renjie again. Look at Old Master Li's demeanor and grace...

Zhang Renjie couldn't stand it anymore and volunteered, "Since it's a TCM prescription, I'll prepare the tools for decocting the medicine." He hurried out of the VIP Room 1.

Fang Nanguo immediately instructed his secretary, "Xiao Tang, you'll have to work hard. Go and help Doctor Zeng get the medicine."

The doctors were collectively shocked. The secretary of the provincial party secretary, usually a high-ranking and unapproachable figure, was now going to run errands for an intern. This was something they never thought possible.

"Can't, can't!" Zeng Yi hurriedly declined.

"It's appropriate, appropriate," Secretary Tang smiled, eager to help. He politely invited Zeng Yi out.

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