The doctors in the hospital were buzzing with excitement. Compared to dry theoretical lectures, they certainly preferred hands-on demonstrations.

The crowd bustled out of the lecture room.

Zhao Huanzhang held Gao-Yuan back, asking urgently, “Hey, don’t go causing trouble, alright?”

Gao-Yuan retorted, “What trouble? I’m here to treat patients, aren’t I?”

Zhao was exhausted. “Does this look like treating patients to you? What exactly are you planning?”

“I told you yesterday, I’m going to bring Chinese and Western medicine together in true collaboration,” Gao-Yuan replied.

“Really?” Zhao still sounded sceptical.

Gao-Yuan nodded and then headed out.

Puzzled, Zhao trailed after him. He had a feeling something was off.

In truth, Gao-Yuan wasn’t bluffing. He genuinely wanted to unite Chinese and Western medicine to tackle this outbreak of adenovirus pneumonia that he anticipated. Bringing the doctors together at Zhangzhuang Clinic had helped manage the recent flu epidemic, but the looming threat of adenovirus pneumonia called for closer, more comprehensive collaboration.

In difficult times, it was always the impoverished and underserved who suffered the most, their communities hit hardest by disease. In this era, waves of infectious diseases relentlessly threatened the public’s health. As soon as one epidemic subsided, another emerged.

Compared to adenovirus pneumonia, the flu was child’s play.

Adenovirus pneumonia was merciless, particularly targeting children under five and showing a deadly preference for infants aged six months to two years. With underdeveloped immune defences, these young patients often fell critically ill, and the mortality rate was high. Even those who survived were frequently left with severe complications—this was truly a scourge of the youngest.

To fight this killer, combining Chinese and Western medicine was the best approach.

Western medicine, with its oxygen therapy, suction, intravenous fluids, and intensive care, could stabilise these fragile patients, providing the critical window of Chinese medicine needed for symptomatic treatment. These medical facilities and equipment were absent in rural joint clinics, and even if they had the money, purchasing them was near impossible. Only the county hospital could provide this essential life support.

Though antibiotics were ineffective against adenovirus pneumonia, they could help manage bacterial coinfections and prevent certain secondary infections. For severe cases with impaired swallowing, traditional Chinese medicine could only be administered through a nasal tube, requiring Western equipment.

Winning this hard battle would necessitate seamless cooperation between Chinese and Western medicine. In his past life, the failure of both systems to work together had hindered the rescue of countless young patients.

Just after the flu outbreak, Gao-Yuan had been considering how to bridge this divide, but before he could bring it up, Bureau Chief Wang presented him with a golden opportunity.

For many Chinese doctors, lecturing Western physicians was a daunting task. For Gao-Yuan, it was a mission he was determined to undertake.

…

Gao-Yuan followed the group out quickly.

The county hospital was small, consisting of just one building, with patient rooms on the ground floor.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The group entered a patient room.

The doctors made way for Gao-Yuan to go in. Zhao Huanzhang wanted to follow, but the doctors closed ranks, leaving him awkwardly standing at the back.

Inside, a seventy-something man lay in bed, attended by his elderly wife and a scholarly-looking son in his fifties, who wore glasses.

The family was visibly surprised to see so many doctors enter.

Dr. Miao Ran introduced the case to Gao-Yuan: “Dr. Gao, this is our patient, age seventy-six. After breakfast, he suddenly lost consciousness, collapsed, and his left limbs became rigid. He doesn’t respond when called. His family rushed him here immediately.”

“We diagnosed a stroke, measuring his blood pressure at 240/200 mmHg. We quickly provided respiratory support and intravenous access to stabilise him and manage his blood pressure, but he hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”

The family looked at Gao-Yuan, noticing the air of authority the young man exuded.

“Alright,” Gao-Yuan said, stepping forward to examine the patient.

The patient’s son asked, “Who is this doctor?”

Dr. Miao introduced him, “This is a traditional Chinese doctor we invited for a consultation.”

The son frowned. “I brought my father here because of the hospital’s facilities. Why did you bring in a Chinese doctor without asking us?”

The doctors exchanged uncertain glances.

Dr. Miao asked, “Are you saying you don’t want Chinese medicine involved?”

The son glanced at the young Gao-Yuan and shook his head firmly, “That’s right.”

Even Gao-Yuan was stumped. He turned to Dr. Miao.

Dr. Miao gave an awkward smile. She hadn’t expected the family’s resistance to be this strong. “It looks like we might have to find another opportunity.”

Gao-Yuan looked at the son, frowning.

The son, noticing Gao-Yuan’s gaze, addressed him directly, “It’s not that I’m against Chinese medicine. But not every Chinese doctor has the skill to heal people like Qi Dongsheng’s grandson.”

“Huh?” The remark left Gao-Yuan speechless.

“What?” Dr. Miao looked equally surprised.

Seeing their confusion, the son furrowed his brow and explained carefully, “Chinese medicine places a lot of emphasis on individual expertise. Not every practitioner has the skill level of Zhangzhuang’s Dr. Gao-Yuan.”

Dr. Miao looked over at Gao-Yuan.

The expressions of the doctors behind him lit up with realisation.

Dr. Qiao Zheng let out a laugh, “But this doctor is Gao-Yuan.”

“Huh?” Now it was the son’s turn to look bewildered. “Which Gao-Yuan?”

Gao-Yuan, smiling wryly, replied, “Are there that many?”

Realising the mistake, the son’s face lit up with excitement as he hurried forward, taking Gao-Yuan’s hand in a warm grip. “Oh, I’ve been so clumsy. I’ve heard my friend Dongsheng talk about you countless times. It’s an honour to finally meet you. Dr. Gao, you’re usually at Zhangzhuang; what brings you here?”

Gao-Yuan replied, “I’m here to exchange medical knowledge with our Western colleagues. Now, about your father’s condition...

The son stepped back eagerly, “Oh, Dr. Gao, please, do what you need!”

The son even brought over a chair for Gao-Yuan, eager to be of service.

Gao-Yuan examined the patient, observing a crimson tongue with a yellow coating and a wiry pulse.

The others watched intently as he conducted his diagnosis.

After a moment, the son asked, “Dr. Gao, how is my father?”

Gao-Yuan said, “Here’s what we’ll do. Just outside is the New Life Joint Clinic. Please go and buy some musk and borneol.”

“Got it.” Trusting Gao-Yuan implicitly, the son immediately turned to leave, then paused to ask, “Should I get some gypsum as well?”

Zhao Huanzhang chuckled at this. He could see the rumours about Gao-Yuan had clearly made an impression.

Gao-Yuan shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Alright.” The son nodded and left.

Dr. Miao asked, “Dr. Gao, is this the method you call ‘the heart governs the spirit’?”

“Yes,” Gao-Yuan explained. “Musk and borneol both enter the heart meridian. Musk opens the orifices to restore consciousness, while borneol clears heat and opens the orifices. Together, they stimulate the heart meridian, promoting consciousness and aiding in this gentleman’s stroke recovery.”

Dr. Miao nodded, turning to discuss with the other doctors.

Soon, the son returned with the medicine and handed it to Gao-Yuan.

Gao-Yuan put the ingredients into a small bowl, adding hot water, and stirred with a cotton swab to create a solution.

Dr. Miao finished her discussion and returned, asking, “Do these ingredients stimulate the brain as well?”

“Yes, they do,” Gao-Yuan confirmed.

“But then, how can you be sure this is truly ‘the heart governs the spirit’?”

Gao-Yuan gently opened the patient’s mouth, “You’ll understand by how I administer the medicine.”

Dr. Miao was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Dipping the cotton swab in the mixture, Gao-Yuan applied it to the patient’s tongue. “I’m applying it to his tongue.”

The doctors looked baffled.

“Why the tongue?” Dr. Miao asked.

Gao-Yuan glanced at her. “The tongue is the sprout of the heart. Applying the medicine here allows it to reach the heart’s orifice swiftly.”

Dr. Miao’s mouth twitched, barely stifling a smile. “Do you really call that scientific?”