Night had already fallen, and it was too late for them to rush home. Besides, the discussion wasn’t over yet.
So, under Zhang Yuancai's arrangement, they stayed at the herbal medicine company for the night.
Throughout the evening, Zhao Huangzhang was restless, constantly sighing deeply.
It got on Gao-Yuan’s nerves. He sat up on the bed and asked, “What are you doing?”
Zhao Huangzhang replied, “Doctor Gao, I actually want to talk to you about being cautious when prescribing medicine.”
Gao-Yuan was speechless. He hadn’t even had a chance to talk about bold prescriptions, and here Zhao Huangzhang was preaching caution.
They debated for a while, but neither could convince the other.
Finally, Gao-Yuan said, “How about this—let’s wait until tomorrow to see how Director Qi’s treatment turns out. After that, we’ll discuss it again, okay?”
“Fine,” Zhao Huangzhang reluctantly agreed.
They finally went to sleep.
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Early the next morning, there was a knock at the door.
Zhao Huangzhang pulled up his pants and opened the door, only to find Zhang Yuancai standing outside. He asked, “What’s the matter?”
Zhang was out of breath and hurriedly said, “Doctor Zhao, Doctor Gao, it's our director... something happened.”
Before he could finish, Zhao Huangzhang had already jumped to conclusions: “What? Something happened to your director?”
His face changed immediately, and he quickly turned to look at Gao-Yuan.
“See?!” Zhao Huangzhang’s expression was filled with anxiety.
Gao-Yuan was also pulling up his pants. Hearing this, he looked puzzled and asked, “What happened to your director?”
With regret in his voice, Zhao Huangzhang muttered, “It must have been that Xiao Chengqi decoction from yesterday. I told you, Director Qi is too old for such a strong medicine, but you didn’t listen! Look at this now. It’s my fault for not stopping you.”
Zhao continued to ramble on.
Zhang Yuancai quickly explained, “Oh, no, no! Our director is fine. He’s no longer hiccupping this morning.”
“Huh?” Zhao Huangzhang, who had been pounding his chest in regret, suddenly froze.
Gao-Yuan looked at him, exasperated.
Zhao Huangzhang asked, “Then what did you mean by'something happened’?”
Zhang replied, “I meant our director needs your help. His grandson is at the county hospital, and his condition isn’t good. That’s why he rushed off last night, and now he’s asking you both to take a look.”
Gao-Yuan glanced at Zhao Huangzhang.
“Oh.” Zhao responded, turning away to hide his face before quietly getting dressed.
Once Gao-Yuan finished dressing, he asked, “What’s wrong with Director Qi’s grandson?”
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“I’m not sure,” Zhang said. “You’ll know when you get there.”
So, the three of them hurried to the county hospital.
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The old county was small, with only one busy intersection. The herbal company’s office building was less than a kilometre from the county hospital, so they arrived quickly.
The county hospital had been established in the 1950s and was the only place in the county with Western medical services. It had 28 medical staff and a multipurpose operating table that could handle simple surgeries like appendectomies, hernia repairs, and caesarean sections.
They could only conduct basic tests like blood, urine, and stool analysis. The hospital didn’t yet have X-rays or other radiology equipment, nor did it have ECGs or monitoring devices. It had internal medicine, surgery, and obstetrics departments, but no other specialised departments.
When they arrived at the hospital ward, Qi Dongsheng came out to greet them, shaking hands with Gao-Yuan, “Doctor Gao, thank you for coming.”
Zhao Huangzhang was taken aback. Yesterday, he was just “Comrade Gao,” but today, he was “Doctor Gao.”?
Gao-Yuan nodded and said, “Treating patients is important—no need to mention the effort.”
Qi Dongsheng continued, “I should’ve personally come to pick you up, but things here are too hectic. Please excuse the slight. Doctor Gao, I hope you don’t mind.”
“There’s no need for formality. Let’s see the patient first,” Gao-Yuan replied.
“Of course, please, this way.” Qi gestured for them to enter the ward and then smiled and nodded at Zhao.
This made Zhao feel a bit awkward. He was the director of the joint clinic, while Gao-Yuan was the young, new doctor. How had their roles reversed, making him seem like an assistant?
They entered the ward and saw a young boy, about eleven or twelve years old, lying on the bed. He was convulsing frequently and vomiting uncontrollably, with his mother caring for him by the bedside.
“This is my grandson,” Qi said anxiously. “Yesterday evening after school, he suddenly had a severe headache, vomited, and fainted. The school principal carried him home. That’s why I had to rush back yesterday.”
Gao-Yuan nodded, now understanding what had happened the previous evening.
Qi continued, “These two are the county hospital doctors: Doctor Qiao and Doctor Xiao Tian. They treated him last night.”
Gao greeted them, “Hello.”
Doctor Qiao and Doctor Xiao exchanged a glance, both unable to hide their puzzlement. Doctor Qiao, being older, asked, “Director Qi, is this the Chinese medicine expert you went to get?”
Qi nodded. “Yes, don’t be fooled by Doctor Gao’s youth. His medical skills are excellent. And this is Doctor Zhao, who came with him.”
Only then did the two doctors look at Zhao Huangzhang.
Doctor Xiao Tian couldn’t resist teasing, “Oh, it’s our old teacher Zhao, here to share more theories about meridians flowing through the nervous system.”
Doctor Qiao gave Xiao Tian a subtle glare but didn’t say anything.
Zhao’s face flushed with embarrassment.
After all, this trip was initially for Zhao to teach a class to these Western doctors.
Qi looked between them.
Frowning, Gao said, “Let’s save the medical discussions for later. The patient’s condition is the priority. Tell me what treatment you’ve given so far.”
With that, he pushed his way forward, forcing the two doctors aside. They frowned, thinking this young man was being quite rude.
Gao crouched beside the boy’s bed and placed his hand on the boy’s body. The child’s skin was burning like hot coal, showing a dangerously high fever, but his limbs were cold, indicating he was in a state of shock. Gao asked, “What’s the child’s temperature?”
Surprised by how serious Gao seemed, Xiao Tian asked incredulously, “Is he really going to treat him?”
Doctor Qiao glanced at Zhao Huangzhang, who was nervously looking at the child but still hesitated to step forward. His face showed anxiety but also fear.
Seeing neither doctor responding, Gao raised his voice, “I asked, what’s the temperature?”
Even Qi turned to look at the two doctors.
Finally, Xiao Tian replied, “39.7°C.”
Gao continued his examination, finding that the boy’s neck was stiff, his back arched like a drawn bow due to muscle spasms, and his vomiting was projectile. He had already lost consciousness and was mumbling incoherently.
Doctor Qiao approached Qi and said, “Director Qi, your grandson has explosive encephalitis, a critical condition. This illness can be fatal if it becomes severe. The accountant Sun Dehai’s son died from it. We recommend transferring him to the city hospital immediately, where he might have a chance to survive.”
Qi’s face was filled with worry. “But we need transportation to get to the city. The next coal train won’t leave until tomorrow. We can’t afford to wait.”
Doctor Qiao frowned deeply. The accountant’s son had also died because they couldn’t get him to the city hospital in time. He glanced at Gao and said to Qi, “Still, we should try to find a way. Chinese medicine... well, saving lives is what matters.”
Qi’s expression showed his dilemma.
Gao stood up and said, “There’s no need to transfer him.”
Doctor Qiao frowned. “Why not?”
Gao replied, “Because I’m afraid they won’t be able to treat him in the city, and he’ll just be sent back here critically ill.”