Director Zhu had not anticipated such audacity from Gao-Yuan. He surveyed him from head to toe, noting no trace of jest in his demeanor. "We have a child here, suffering from pneumonia for over twenty days without recovery. Let's see your masterful medical arts, Dr. Gao," he challenged.
"Lead the way," Gao-Yuan responded curtly.
With a dismissive wave, Director Zhu took the lead, marching ahead.
The doctors of the city hospital whispered among themselves, discussing the complexity and difficulty of the young patient's condition.
Gao-Yuan knew well that this case was not merely about severity but complexity. Yet, having boasted, he was well-prepared for the challenge.
He strode confidently behind Director Zhu, his steps echoing determination.
The doctors behind him were astounded by Gao-Yuan's boldness. Compelled by curiosity, they followed.
Bureau Chief Yuan Hai, still in disbelief, wondered how the situation had escalated so quickly. Why hadn’t Wang Hanzhang's report anticipated such a turn?
Dean Li, scanning the crowd for Wang Hanzhang and not finding him, decided to join the procession just to see what would unfold.
However, Professor Han Dai intercepted him. "Why aren't you intervening?"
Dean Li, puzzled, countered, "Why should I?"
Professor Han Dai warned, "Gao's methods are too radical. What if he fails?"
Dean Li quickly raised his hand to stop him. "Don't say more."
"Why?" Han Dai was puzzled.
"Because now I want to see it too," Dean Li replied.
Professor Han Dai was at a loss for words.
Bureau Chief Yuan Hai looked on, equally speechless.
Even Old Wan, who had already started to leave, turned back upon hearing this, his expression one of bemusement.
...
In the ward, Director Zhu pointed inside. "The child is in there."
"Director Zhu," the exhausted parents emerged, bewildered by the gathering.
"This is the traditional Chinese medicine expert I've found for you," Zhu indicated Gao-Yuan.
"Ah?" The parents looked at Gao-Yuan, skepticism painted across their faces. He seemed too young to be an expert.
The father, frowning, asked, "Director Zhu, are you joking?"
Director Zhu glanced at Gao-Yuan. "Whether it's a jest or not, you should ask Dr. Gao."
"I never jest," Gao-Yuan affirmed solemnly.
Director Zhu's eyes narrowed slightly as he briefed Gao-Yuan. "The child has been suffering from high fever, cough, and shortness of breath for six days. Admitted a week ago, the fever subsided, but the breathing issues persisted. Over three weeks, the lung consolidation hasn't cleared, with numerous small bubbles. After three weeks, there were irregular fevers, dullness on percussion of the right back. Blood tests show a white cell count of 12,600 per cubic millimeter, 41% neutrophils, 59% lymphocytes. For over twenty days, the condition has fluctuated, with fever recurring, coughing up much phlegm, and persistent dyspnea and agitation."
"What medications were used previously?" Gao-Yuan inquired.
Director Zhu hesitated, glancing at the TCM doctors behind him before admitting, "Various antibiotics."
The TCM doctors exchanged knowing looks; antibiotics had proven ineffective.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Gao-Yuan knelt to examine the child, with Professor Han Dai joining him. He asked the child to stick out his tongue - it was red without coating, indicating high fever with perspiration. The cough was productive, breathing was labored, and the child was irritable with abdominal fullness. He then took the child's pulses.
Seeing Gao-Yuan dive into treatment, everyone marveled at his fearlessness.
The parents watched, stunned.
After taking the pulses, Gao-Yuan concluded, "The right pulse is rapid and weak, the left tense and strong."
Professor Han Dai was taken aback. "Weak on the right, strong on the left - is this liver wind stirring?"
Gao-Yuan nodded. "A classic case of prolonged fever damaging Yin."
Professor Han Dai agreed. "With the illness lasting over twenty days, the lung's Qi is weakened, fluids are being robbed, hence the red, scant-tongued appearance. The pulse confirms this."
With just four words from Gao-Yuan, Han Dai could elaborate extensively.
"How is it?" Director Zhu asked Gao-Yuan.
"Since it's a case of prolonged heat damaging Yin, with lung Qi deficiency and phlegm-heat binding, the treatment should nourish Qi, generate fluids, clear heat, and transform phlegm. This isn't difficult," Gao-Yuan stated.
At this, the parents couldn't sit still. "Not difficult?" the father exclaimed in disbelief.
"Not difficult?" echoed Director Zhu, who had struggled with this case for over twenty days, only to hear it wasn't difficult from Gao-Yuan.
"It's not difficult; one or two doses will suffice to stabilize the condition," Gao-Yuan confidently declared.
Despite preparing for Gao-Yuan's bravado, Director Zhu was taken aback. Pointing at the child, he stuttered, "Go on, then."
Professor Han Dai, seeing the confrontation, quietly withdrew, deciding to keep his distance from this audacious man. He had initially thought of a mutual exploration of medicine, but now saw safety in distance.
Gao-Yuan wrote the prescription: American Ginseng one qian, Glehnia root two qian, Ophiopogon half qian...
Han Dai, although intending to keep his distance, couldn't resist his curiosity and looked over the prescription. "The child has signs of liver wind; shouldn't we calm the liver and extinguish wind?" he suggested.
Gao-Yuan shook his head. "The liver wind is due to excessive lung Yin deficiency. The root lies in the lungs. Nourish the lungs to control the liver; there's no need to fear liver wind."
Han Dai nodded, impressed by the prescription. "Bold and insightful."
"If you have no further comments, let's proceed with the prescription," Gao-Yuan urged.
Han Dai handed over the prescription and retreated with a wry smile, "I'm just an observer here."
Gao-Yuan then looked at Director Zhu, "Would you like to review the prescription?"
Director Zhu, unable to comprehend the formula, just grimaced.
"Then let's prepare the medicine," Gao-Yuan handed the prescription to a nurse.
The father approached again, skeptical. "Can this really be cured in one or two doses?"
"One or two doses to cure is unlikely, but to control the condition, two doses will suffice," Gao-Yuan clarified.
Despite the reassurance, the parents found it hard to believe, especially after the city's experts had tried for over twenty days.
Director Zhu was puzzled by Gao-Yuan's confidence.
Bureau Chief Yuan Hai observed Gao-Yuan with newfound interest.
After the first dose, everyone watched intently.
Director Zhu, anxious, instructed the nurse, "Check the temperature again."
The nurse measured, gasped, but hesitated to speak.
"How is it? Speak!" Director Zhu urged.
"It's dropped by one and a half degrees," the nurse finally said.
"Wow..." Director Zhu was astounded by the immediate effect.
The parents' faith surged, their eyes fixed on Gao-Yuan with hope.
Gao-Yuan, however, felt it wasn't enough, frowning. "Only this much?"
The crowd was stunned; in such a short time, what more did he expect?
After a brief thought, Gao-Yuan added, "Add five fen of Anemarrhena and two qian of Imperata root to the original formula, continue."
"Alright," the father agreed before Director Zhu could even respond.
With such insistence from the parents, Director Zhu had no choice but to comply.
The new prescription brought even quicker results.
The nurse took the temperature again, announcing, "The fever has broken."
This time, the crowd wasn't overly surprised; the child's agitation and dyspnea had vanished, a first since the fever started.
Director Zhu was speechless, truly taken aback by the control of the condition in just two doses.
Dean Li remained composed, having seen it all before.
Gao-Yuan remarked, "Do not be too surprised. Both Chinese and Western medicine have their strengths. Some conditions where Chinese medicine might not excel, Western medicine can handle well. Conversely, what you've struggled with for over twenty days, Chinese medicine can address in just a few doses. This is quite normal."
Director Zhu looked back at the TCM doctors, who were equally flabbergasted.
Gao-Yuan adjusted his attire, addressing Director Zhu, "Don't just stand there. Who's next? You can't have just one case, can you?"
Director Zhu was taken aback. "Why are you still asking for more patients?"