Taoist Doctor - Chapter 18

**Deputy Director Xiao’s Office at the Third Hospital**

 

“This is Deputy Director Xiao. It was he who introduced Xiao Zhou to the Third Hospital.” In Huang Tianlin’s words, the contract worker was given a fresh and natural background.

 

“Director Xiao.” Qu Qingrui, introduced by Huang Tianlin, exchanged a brief but firm handshake with Deputy Director Xiao.

 

As soon as Huang Zhongwen uttered those two words, Qu Qingrui’s excellent memory immediately recalled where he had heard them before and even remembered the slightly youthful face of Zhou Jinyuan.

 

He never imagined that after all the twists and turns, the young Taoist who had appeared in front of him would be the hope for his son’s treatment.

 

Huang Tianlin even tried to introduce Zhou Jinyuan to him, but was instead rejected.

 

This made him both incredulous and somewhat uneasy.

 

Because of this, when Huang Tianlin was found to act as an intermediary, he felt a very subtle sense.

 

Although it wasn’t for him to treat, knowing it was someone he recommended gave him a sense of foreknowledge and pleasure. He also hoped that Zhou Jinyuan’s skills would truly cure Qu Qingrui’s son, which would also make him seem very discerning.

 

At this moment, Huang Tianlin was particularly enthusiastic in his introductions.

 

And Qu Qingrui, after much consideration, came to find Zhou Jinyuan, also taking into account their connections. Huang Tianlin had close ties with the Third Hospital, and Deputy Director Xiao was the one who introduced Zhou Jinyuan. He felt this provided an extra layer of assurance.

 

Deputy Director Xiao was also pondering. He had never met Mr. Qu before, but after working in Haizhou for many years, he had heard of his reputation.

 

Mr. Qu had an extraordinary background and was a significant figure in the business world of Haizhou Province, with family members in politics. For him to come to the Third Hospital and be personally received by the director, having a pleasant chat, was quite fitting. But seeking out Deputy Director Xiao specifically was initially puzzling.

 

Thanks to Huang Tianlin deliberately mentioning Zhou Jinyuan, Deputy Director Xiao now had a clearer picture.

 

It seemed to be related to Xiao Zhou, and most likely, it was a good thing?

 

Thus, Deputy Director Xiao cleverly followed Huang Tianlin’s lead, saying, “Hello, Mr. Qu. Xiao Zhou is a talented member of our TCM department. His family’s medical skills are exceptionally refined. We specially invited him to our TCM department to share his expertise. He has significantly elevated our department.”

 

Indeed, the TCM department had seen a substantial improvement, almost to the point of being renamed the Hair Loss Treatment Department, with the Third Hospital gaining considerable fame in new areas as well.

 

“Is that so?” Qu Qingrui pondered for a moment and said, “I wonder if Dr. Zhou is currently in consultation or otherwise occupied. I would like to understand his main areas of research.”

 

Deputy Director Xiao’s first thought was hair loss treatment, but he said instead, “As far as I know, he excels in acupuncture, herbal medicine, and pulse diagnosis.”

 

“Mm-hmm.” Qu Qingrui nodded in agreement. He had done some research, proving that this young man truly exemplified the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

 

Deputy Director Xiao made a phone call for them, saying, “I inquired, and Dr. Zhou is currently consulting in the neurosurgery ward, treating a patient with traumatic paralysis. Let’s wait for a bit.”

 

He himself was a bit puzzled. Xiao Zhou hadn’t handled such severe cases at the Third Hospital before, and his seniority seemed insufficient. But since he was assigned, it should be fine.

 

Qu Qingrui and Huang Tianlin exchanged a look, both stunned for a moment, then asked, “Can we go and see?”

 

It was too coincidental to have a case of paralysis.

 

No matter how much others or Zhou Jinyuan himself spoke of his skills, seeing him treat a patient with their own eyes would be the only way to fully reassure Qu Qingrui.

 

For the sake of Qu Guanfen’s condition, he had aged considerably in the past few years. His wife had passed away early, leaving behind Qu Guanfen, his only son and heir.

 

Qu Guanfen’s paralysis had left him despondent, and relatives and outsiders alike were eyeing the family business. The myriad of emotions he had to swallow were indescribable.

 

Zhou Jinyuan was the only lifeline presented to him that could break this predicament, so he had to be cautious and serious about it.

 

According to the consultation notice, Zhou Jinyuan arrived at the neurosurgery ward with his acupuncture tools at the scheduled time.

 

As per the notice, the patient was a middle-aged man who had been injured at work when a heavy object hit his head. He lost consciousness and was taken to a county hospital. Upon waking, he experienced dizziness, vomiting, and paralysis in his lower limbs.

 

A month of treatment had no effect; his muscle tone was very low, resulting in traumatic paralysis.

 

After being transferred to the Third Hospital’s neurosurgery department, his head injury was treated successfully, and his cranial nerves were normal, but his lower limb paralysis showed no improvement.

 

The neurosurgery department, following a suggestion, invited a TCM doctor to provide acupuncture treatment.

 

The person who came wasn’t the familiar Director Xie or Dr. Mao, but the renowned “Great Doctor.”

 

In person, he looked even more impressive than in the stories, mainly because he appeared so young, like a little brother. Nonetheless, the TCM department often praised him extravagantly.

 

Of course, Zhou Jinyuan hadn’t been employed for long, and all the hype around him was for curing ailments like hiccups, irregular menstruation, insomnia, and other strange illnesses like tongue protrusion.

 

No one knew how effective he would be in treating such severe conditions. The neurosurgery staff were somewhat expectant.

 

The patient had already been informed and agreed to undergo acupuncture treatment. At this point, it was worth a try.

 

But they did not expect such a youthful, intern-like figure to show up. Naturally, patients always hope for higher-ranking, more experienced doctors to treat them. While that doesn’t necessarily mean the doctor is more skilled, it provides a sense of reassurance to the layperson.

 

However, Zhou Jinyuan entered energetically, saying, “I’ve read the medical history and diagnosis, let’s take the pulse first.”

 

He then immediately started to take the patient’s pulse, barely giving them a chance to speak.

 

Zhou Jinyuan focused on the pulse diagnosis with such seriousness that no one dared to interrupt. It lasted a full minute before the patient’s wife, prompted by her husband’s gaze, addressed the attending doctor, “Doctor?”

 

“Your paralysis problem isn’t too severe!” Zhou Jinyuan suddenly spoke, interrupting her.

 

For a moment, the room fell silent.

 

Not severe?

 

Is this really considered not severe?

 

The attending doctor responded, speechless, “Did you read the summary? The tendon reflexes are diminished.”

 

“I read it thoroughly,” Zhou Jinyuan blinked. “I believe the patient has another issue that has been troubling him for at least two years, correct, Mr. Cao?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan pointed to Mr. Cao’s lower body and then bent two of his fingers.

 

Mr. Cao didn’t react immediately and looked bewilderedly at Zhou Jinyuan.

 

The medical staff were also puzzled by his gestures.

 

At this moment, Mr. Cao’s wife suddenly exclaimed, “Oh!” as if she had realized something, her face full of embarrassment.

 

Soon, Mr. Cao understood too, his face turning slightly red with both embarrassment and astonishment, “You, you know about that?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan, considering the patient’s feelings, had not stated it outright.

 

Mr. Cao knew very well that for the past two years, every time he had an erection, his penis would bend upwards to such a degree that the pain would kill any arousal, leaving him limp.

 

This recurring issue forced him to avoid any stimulating visuals, living an abstinent life with a heavy psychological burden.

 

He had sought treatment for this strange condition many times before but to no avail.

 

To his surprise, this young doctor had identified it just by taking his pulse. Eagerly, he asked Zhou Jinyuan, “Doctor, do you know what this condition is? Can you treat it?”

 

“Yes, I can treat it,” Zhou Jinyuan affirmed confidently, then added, “You’ll need to take a few doses of medicine. For now, let’s focus on treating your legs. Otherwise, even if they recover, you won’t be able to use them properly. Although your leg problem isn’t severe, it won’t be cured in a day or two. It will require a treatment course of over a month. Let’s start with acupuncture today.”

 

Had Zhou Jinyuan not mentioned the earlier issue, the patient might have doubted his assurance that the leg condition wasn’t serious and could be cured in a month. But now, Mr. Cao and his family were overjoyed and convinced.

 

As Zhou Jinyuan prepared for the acupuncture, the patient and his family eagerly helped the nurse arrange the quilt and lift the clothes to expose the skin.

 

Zhou Jinyuan selected long needles and targeted acupoints such as Huantiao, Yanglingquan, Zusanli, and Xuanzhong1, concentrating as he performed the acupuncture.

 

As soon as the needles were inserted, the strong sensation caused the patient’s paralyzed leg to twitch slightly, “Hey, it’s reacting, it’s reacting!”

 

Mr. Cao was overjoyed. The doctor said it would take a month to cure, but he hadn’t expected a reaction from the first session.

 

“Shh.” At Zhou Jinyuan’s signal, he immediately fell silent, afraid of disturbing the doctor’s acupuncture process.

 

The attending physician couldn’t help but step forward, closely eyeing the patient’s leg.

 

When Zhou Jinyuan finally withdrew the needle, he said, “Try lifting your leg yourself.”

 

Mr. Cao thought the previous reaction was already the treatment’s effect. Hearing Zhou’s suggestion to lift his leg, he hesitated until his wife nudged his shoulder. Tentatively, he lifted his leg.

 

He actually managed to lift it, and quite high too, with a slow but steady motion!

 

“Bend it now,” Zhou Jinyuan said, hands in his pockets.

 

This time, Mr. Cao didn’t need prompting. He slowly bent his knee, completing a flexion and extension motion.

 

“Look at that!”

 

“He can move! Oh my God!”

 

The room was filled with joy and excitement. No one seemed to notice that a few people, including their deputy director, had been standing outside the door for some time.

 

The cheerful atmosphere inside seemed to infect Qu Qingrui as well, causing him to smile unconsciously.

 

This was the best proof that Zhou Jinyuan was indeed skilled.

 

Zhou Jinyuan continued writing the prescription: “Keep up the acupuncture for about eight days, and you’ll be able to walk. After that, do it every other day, and in a month, you’ll be almost fully recovered. I’ll prescribe some medicine to get rid of your chronic illness as well.”

 

Only then did Mr. Cao realize that when Zhou Jinyuan mentioned a month, he meant a full cure, while he could walk after the eighth day. He was even more thrilled.

 

“The treatment is amazing!” The attending physician couldn’t help but praise. Zhou was not just a quick-fix specialist; he was equally effective in treating severe conditions like paralysis.

 

As for himself, well, he had never doubted Zhou, especially since Director Xie had highly recommended him. It was logical to assume he was capable.

 

“Let’s not disturb Dr. Zhou any further. Let’s find a suitable place,” Qu Qingrui suggested softly before Zhou Jinyuan finished his consultation.

 

Deputy Director Xiao understood immediately, realizing that Mr. Qu wanted to keep a low profile. He nodded and quietly led the group away.

 

Inside, Zhou Jinyuan finished his instructions and walked out with the attending physician. A nurse approached them quietly, saying, “Deputy Director Xiao was standing outside your ward for quite a while, checking something.”

 

The attending physician was puzzled but didn’t dwell on it too much, as they had done nothing wrong.

 

“Alright, thank you, Dr. Zhou, for today. I look forward to future collaborations.” The attending physician shook Zhou Jinyuan’s hand vigorously. They had some post-operative patients in neurosurgery who needed acupuncture, so Zhou would be considered more often in the future.

 

Zhou Jinyuan smiled and nodded, hands in his pockets, as he headed back to the TCM department.

 

Before he reached his office, his phone rang. It was a call from Deputy Director Xiao, asking him to come to his office.

 

Zhou Jinyuan, curious, went to Deputy Director Xiao’s office. Upon entering, he recognized the person beside Xiao from Huang Tianlin’s banquet. He nodded and greeted Xiao, “Director Xiao.”

 

“Dr. Zhou, let me introduce you. You know Mr. Huang, and this is Mr. Qu,” Xiao extended his hand, “a friend of Mr. Huang, here to seek your consultation.”

 

“Oh, sure.” Zhou Jinyuan thought Mr. Qu was ill and couldn’t get an appointment, so he came through connections. As he had a consultation scheduled, he wasn’t seeing patients today.

 

But Mr. Qu didn’t look sick. Could it be an internal condition?

 

Zhou Jinyuan prepared to check his pulse, but Mr. Qu gave a bitter smile and said, “Dr. Zhou, it’s not me; it’s my son.”

 

“Alright, where is your son?” Zhou Jinyuan was puzzled why the patient wasn’t brought along.

 

“That’s the problem; it’s difficult,” Qu Qingrui rubbed his forehead.

 

His son, Qu Guanfeng, had been paralyzed from a car accident two years ago. He had undergone three short rehabilitation attempts but couldn’t persist, and his severe injuries led many medical institutions at home and abroad to conclude that full recovery was impossible.

 

Qu Guanfeng, already more withdrawn and sensitive post-accident, lost any desire for treatment after repeated failures.

 

Qu Qingrui had consulted renowned old TCM practitioner Huang Lao, whose authoritative conclusion had further devastated Qu Guanfeng.

 

Today, Qu Qingrui came to the Third Hospital to verify Zhou Jinyuan’s capabilities without informing Qu Guanfeng, fearing another disappointment for his son and himself.

 

During his explanation, Zhou Jinyuan nodded frequently, expressing understanding. Patients often suffered both physically and psychologically.

 

Qu Qingrui handed over the medical records: “These are the Western medicine records and the case notes from an old TCM practitioner I consulted earlier. Please take a look.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan took the documents and began reviewing them. Remote diagnosis wasn’t ideal, but the detailed records allowed him to make a rough assessment.

 

Qu Qingrui said, “Today, I saw you performing acupuncture on a paralyzed patient, and he could bend his leg after just a few needles, so I thought…”

 

“That patient’s condition is lighter than your son’s, with no complete loss of sensation. They can’t be directly compared.” Zhou Jinyuan, already examining the medical records, quickly replied.

 

“Yes, of course. But what do you think about my son’s condition?” Qu Qingrui wiped his forehead, though there was no sweat. “I heard your father once cured a similar case, the chief of Xianglu Temple, Qin Guan. He fully recovered. You also have successful cases.”

 

“Yes, but none were as severe as your son’s, and even with similar conditions, individual cases vary.” Zhou Jinyuan was not surprised Qu knew Qin Guan. Director Xiao and Qin Guan were friends. He pointed to the medical records and said, “Look at this, the muscular function…”

 

Qu Qingrui urgently said, “I know the situation is different, but Master Qin of Xianglu Temple told me that you’ve surpassed your master. Can’t you treat him?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan responded cautiously, “I’m not saying I can’t treat him. I haven’t personally examined the patient yet. Based solely on these Western and Chinese medical records, if I must give a conclusion, I can only say that I can’t guarantee your son will be able to engage in strenuous physical activity.”

 

Qu Qingrui was silent for a moment.

 

Observing Qu Qingrui’s expression, Zhou Jinyuan asked hesitantly, “Mr. Qu, does your son have any aspirations or hobbies related to sports?”

 

“No,” Qu Qingrui hesitated, “Not being able to engage in strenuous physical activity means he can walk?”

 

“Yes,” Zhou Jinyuan replied. “He can also do light activities like jogging or cycling.”

 

Qu Qingrui clutched his chest, taking a few deep breaths.

 

Zhou Jinyuan’s light words felt like a heavy weight lifted off his heart.

 

If it was only strenuous physical activity that was off-limits, it essentially meant a near-complete recovery, no longer confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life!

 

Known for his steadiness and depth in the business world, Qu Qingrui, in front of a doctor, was just a concerned family member. He grasped Zhou Jinyuan’s hand tightly, “Dr. Zhou, can you really guarantee this? How long will it take? I’ll pay your fee right now!”

 

Zhou Jinyuan stepped back slightly, understanding the concern. After all, every parent worries about their children. Initially, he thought Qu Qingrui had overly high expectations. Now it seemed he would be satisfied with just a recovery.

 

“I need to personally examine the patient to know the details. Severe injuries definitely require some time for recovery, so you need to be mentally prepared. Just pay the consultation fee to the hospital according to standard procedures.”

 

The records indicated they wanted him to visit the patient’s home because of the patient’s poor psychological state and low willingness for treatment. Zhou Jinyuan owed Deputy Director Xiao a favor, so he had to do it regardless.

 

There was no need to haggle over the fee. Qu Qingrui seemed ready to spend a lot of money, but for Zhou Jinyuan, his goal was simply to open a personal clinic someday. If he wanted to get rich, he could have made a lot of money long ago.

 

All things come and go with destiny.

 

Zhou Jinyuan stood outside a community, holding a white medical kit labeled with “Third Hospital.” It was six in the evening, and he had come directly from the hospital.

 

Qu Qingrui initially offered to pick him up, but seeing the place wasn’t far, Zhou decided to come on his own.

 

After receiving a call, Qu Qingrui personally came out to lead Zhou Jinyuan inside. The community was in a bustling area of Haizhou City but managed to maintain a tranquil environment.

 

Qu Qingrui had purchased this property in the past two years for his son. The home elevator in their old house, initially installed for the elderly, was now only used by Qu Guanfeng. Noticing his son’s emotions, Qu Qingrui had quietly bought a spacious flat here.

 

Qu Qingrui opened the door and let Zhou Jinyuan in.

 

Zhou Jinyuan glanced around. The decor was very cozy but seemed overly neat, almost as if no one lived there regularly.

 

The living room was large, without a TV. The most noticeable feature was a wide workbench with several computer monitors and some wheelchair parts.

 

“Please wait a moment, Dr. Zhou. Have a seat,” Qu Qingrui said as he knocked on a door. “Guanfeng, can you come out? I’ve brought a guest.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan heard a faint, unhappy voice, followed by the sound of a wheelchair moving. Soon, a familiar figure appeared before him.

 

Zhou Jinyuan was surprised to see the young man in the wheelchair, someone he had encountered twice before!

 

This time, the young man wore thin black-rimmed glasses, but Zhou Jinyuan recognized him immediately.

 

So it was him. Zhou Jinyuan suddenly remembered that he had briefly met Qu Qingrui at a hotel, and it all made sense now.

 

What did he say? Things come and go with destiny!

 

“Long time no see.”

 

Qu Qingrui looked surprised; he hadn’t expected that Zhou Jinyuan and Guan Feng had met before.

 

Seeing Zhou Jinyuan, Qu Guanfeng’s expression changed slightly. He sneered and said softly, “Have things gotten to this point? Seeking help from gods and Buddha? Dad, this isn’t like you.”

 

Although Zhou Jinyuan was dressed casually today, in Qu Guanfeng’s mind, he was just a Taoist priest, possibly a mediocre one working a nine-to-five job.

 

Qu Qingrui’s face changed; he tried to persuade Guan Feng again, but previous setbacks had made Guan Feng refuse even introductions, showing such an attitude.

 

Zhou Jinyuan had been solemnly invited by him. Although he had already explained the situation, Qu Qingrui was still somewhat worried and looked towards Zhou Jinyuan.

 

Zhou Jinyuan shifted his medical kit, revealing the “Third Hospital” logo on the other side: “Seeking help from gods and Buddha isn’t always necessary, especially Buddha. But coming to the Third Hospital to see me is probably very necessary.”

 

He extended his hand, “You must be Qu Guanfeng. I’m Zhou Jinyuan.”

 

Qu Qingrui felt relieved and watched their interaction without showing it.

 

Qu Guanfeng ignored Zhou Jinyuan’s outstretched hand, “If you managed to deceive my father, your methods must be impressive.”

 

To Qu Guanfeng, Zhou Jinyuan had already shifted from a Taoist priest to a fraudster.

 

“I wouldn’t say that. If my methods were impressive, I wouldn’t have been so abrupt when we met in the elevator. Perhaps I shouldn’t have waited until our second encounter at the hotel to ask if you were undergoing rehabilitation, but back then, I wasn’t sure yet if you could fully recover,” Zhou Jinyuan replied casually.

 

Qu Qingrui had no idea about their two previous encounters, but his sharp judgment told him that this conversation contained significant information.

 

Looking at Qu Guanfeng, his expression was indeed somewhat frozen.

 

What does “fully recover” mean?

 

Is this a long-planned scam targeting him, or can this man, who is both a Taoist priest and a doctor, really determine his chance of recovery with just two encounters?

 

Qu Guanfeng recalled Zhou Jinyuan’s curious gaze and abrupt inquiries…

 

“Mr. Qu,” Zhou Jinyuan took a wooden pulse pillow from his medical kit, raising his hand slightly and bending his fingers.

 

Qu Guanfeng’s somber eyes swept over Zhou Jinyuan and Qu Qingrui. Qu Qingrui looked at him nervously, while Zhou Jinyuan remained calm, maintaining his posture.

 

Zhou Jinyuan possessed the factors that made patients uneasy: he was very young, almost youthful. He boasted that he could help Qu Guanfeng, someone diagnosed by numerous authorities as having no chance of full recovery. Moreover, he was a Taoist priest.

 

Their previous two encounters were not pleasant. In any light, Zhou Jinyuan seemed to be at best an outright fraudster and at worst someone making exaggerated claims.

 

Yet, as he looked at Qu Guanfeng, prepared to take his pulse, his eyes were clear and full of confidence.

 

Ironically, at that moment, Qu Guanfeng felt a glimmer of hope from this seemingly deceitful man, perhaps because he had never heard the positively charged phrase “fully recover” before.

 

Even when Qu Qingrui tried to persuade him, he used the same words, but without the spirit and confidence that Zhou Jinyuan exuded.

 

Perhaps even Qu Guanfeng didn’t realize that such confidence was what he valued the most.

 

“Are you a Taoist priest or a doctor?” Qu Guanfeng asked softly.

 

As soon as he spoke, Qu Qingrui knew that his son was moved since he didn’t reject the idea outright.

 

It was strange. From an oratory perspective, Qu Qingrui should have been more persuasive. Zhou Jinyuan hadn’t boasted extravagantly; he was straightforward. Yet, Qu Qingrui couldn’t convince Qu Guanfeng, while Zhou Jinyuan did.

 

Maybe it was because Qu Qingrui had tried too many methods?

 

“You could call me a Taoist doctor. Using medicine to promote Taoism, saving and helping people,” Zhou Jinyuan answered without hesitation.

 

Qu Guanfeng glanced at him, frowned, and slowly placed his hand on the pulse pillow.

 

Zhou Jinyuan’s fingers fell, taking Qu Guanfeng’s pulse.

 

Five minutes later, after completing the four diagnoses, Zhou Jinyuan especially carefully examined Qu Guanfeng’s meridians.

 

Putting away the pulse pillow, Zhou Jinyuan took out a notebook and pen, recording as he spoke: “Vital energy is depleted, tendons lack nourishment, meridians are blocked, leading to paralysis.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan didn’t mention muscle tension, reflexes, or the degree of muscle atrophy—these had been extensively covered by numerous Western doctors to the patient and his family. He only spoke about the situation and conclusions from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine.

 

Qu Guanfeng’s condition was categorized in Chinese medicine as “Wei Syndrome.” He not only experienced paralysis and loss of sensory functions and reflexes but also had pale complexion and cold skin, indicating a deficiency of vital energy.

 

However, Zhou Jinyuan estimated that there was indeed a possibility of cure.

 

His handwriting was quite beautiful. After finishing writing smoothly, he raised his eyebrows and said, “Acupuncture and massage primarily, supplemented by medication, combined with appropriate functional exercises in daily life. Boost vital energy, strengthen tendons and bones, dissolve blood stasis, and unblock meridians. Give me about six months, and you’ll at least be able to walk three kilometers continuously.”

 

After personally diagnosing and treating him, Zhou Jinyuan gave a more detailed and affirmative result. At that moment, Qu Qingrui wanted to burst out laughing but held back and looked at Qu Guanfeng.

 

Six months, long-distance walking, and functional recovery starting sooner—compared to previous plans which often spanned one or two years with smaller goals, Zhou Jinyuan’s words were bold. Qu Guanfeng even wanted to ask if he knew where he had been treated before.

 

Even though Qu Guanfeng was moved by this confidence, he found the man too arrogant!

 

“I have treated cases like yours before. The last patient was already riding a shared bike to buy groceries during the follow-up,” Zhou Jinyuan said, sounding a bit boastful, but his sincerity was so convincing that Qu Guanfeng was perplexed.

 

Saving and helping people were neither empty words nor big talk.

 

Zhou Jinyuan looked at Qu Guanfeng with a slightly serious expression and asked, “However, now I want to ask, how long have you had severe insomnia? It should be within a year?”

 

Qu Qingrui exclaimed in surprise, “Insomnia? Dr. Zhou, he doesn’t have insomnia.”

 

Living under the same roof, Qu Qingrui had never noticed his son had insomnia, let alone severe insomnia.

 

“Impossible,” Zhou Jinyuan replied almost without hesitation.

 

Qu Qingrui instinctively looked at Qu Guanfeng.

 

But Qu Guanfeng’s eyes were evasive.

 

Qu Qingrui felt as if a bone was stuck in his throat. It was true. He didn’t know, and neither did the other doctors. Obviously, Qu Guanfeng hadn’t told anyone about this.

 

No need to ask why Qu Guanfeng had severe insomnia and kept it to himself.

 

Zhou Jinyuan continued, “How long has it been since you last slept? Twenty-four hours?” He observed Qu Guanfeng’s expression. “Longer, right? Thirty-six hours?”

 

Qu Guanfeng turned his head away, speaking lightly, “Nothing to talk about.”

 

But soon, he turned back. Zhou Jinyuan had seen through his condition.

 

Severe insomnia tortured him, making sleep impossible. On those sleepless nights, he loathed his body even more. Or perhaps it was this deep melancholy causing his insomnia.

 

Zhou Jinyuan took out his acupuncture tools. “The formal treatment will need a few more days; I’ll schedule another time. For now, let’s address Mr. Qu’s insomnia.”

 

Qu Guanfeng wanted to say he hadn’t verbally agreed to treatment yet, but he quickly realized Zhou Jinyuan had already won his trust.

 

Even he was surprised; after countless moments of despair, he could still find a glimmer of hope in adversity.

 

They went to the room, and Zhou Jinyuan had Qu Guanfeng lie flat on the bed. From his medical kit, he took out a mini Bluetooth speaker. “You don’t mind, do you?”

 

He believed it best to incorporate some traditional healing techniques in Qu Guanfeng’s treatment.

 

Qu Guanfeng gave a barely perceptible nod.

 

Zhou Jinyuan adjusted his phone, and the speaker began to play serene, classical music typical of a Daoist temple.

 

Accompanied by the music, Zhou Jinyuan inserted needles into Qu Guanfeng’s acupoints such as Zhaohai, Shenmai, Neiguan, Xingjian, and Ganshu2.  Although both he and Wu Shen Yu suffered from insomnia, Qu Guanfeng’s was due to liver depression transforming into fire and an imbalance of yin and yang, so the chosen acupoints differed.

 

Administering acupuncture was akin to deploying troops. Selecting acupoints was similarly precise.

 

Zhou Jinyuan had asked if Qu Guanfeng’s insomnia had been less than a year from his diagnostic pattern. If it had been over a year, the diagnosis would have included more than just liver depression transforming into fire.

 

Liver qi is prone to stagnation, often due to emotional distress.

 

After inserting the needles, Zhou Jinyuan didn’t stop immediately. The needles had to remain for fifteen minutes. He sat by the bed, lightly tapping the bed’s edge in rhythm with the music, creating a unique cadence.

 

Originally alert, Qu Guanfeng gradually felt a warm sensation at the needled points, and his consciousness slowly became hazy.

 

“Remember to come for your treatments on time. I have many patients.”

 

In this drowsy state, Zhou Jinyuan’s rhythmic tapping and his gentle instructions to Qu Qingrui seemed almost divine, lulling Qu Guanfeng into a deep sleep he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

 

Seeing the immediate effectiveness of the treatment, Qu Qingrui was overjoyed and quietly asked, “Dr. Zhou, why did you say formal treatment would be in a few days? Can’t you treat his legs today?”

 

He was eager to see Zhou Jinyuan’s treatment in action, even though he reassured himself that after waiting so long, a few more days wouldn’t matter. Yet, he couldn’t help but ask, fearing that Qu Guanfeng’s attitude might change again, despite witnessing his son’s relaxation.

 

“Oh, I plan to use special needles to relax the muscles, which need to be custom-made, and also…” Zhou Jinyuan felt Mr. Qu should understand him by now, explaining, “For non-urgent but severe cases like this, I need to calculate an auspicious day for the acupuncture.”

 

Different days had different prohibitions. Male patients avoided Wu days, females avoided Ji days. Days associated with disasters, death, or adverse influences were unsuitable for acupuncture or medication.

 

Qu Qingrui: “…”

 

Luckily, he had seen Zhou Jinyuan practice medicine firsthand.

 

After a long pause, he could only say, “You’re quite particular.”

 

The latest news from Third Hospital was that the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department would soon have inpatient wards!

 

Although the hospital was building new facilities, initially there was no plan for a TCM department. Recently, there were rumors about allocating wards to the TCM department and recruiting new staff.

 

A few months ago, no one would have believed this. Most TCM departments in comprehensive hospitals, if they had wards, often left them unused, usually allocated to internal medicine.

 

But now, it seemed plausible. With the hospital increasingly recognized as a specialist in hair restoration, the patient volume was rising, creating a demand for wards.

 

Even the TCM staff were unsure, so they asked Xie Min for information.

 

Xie Min confirmed subtly that yes, indeed, the TCM department would soon have wards and new colleagues, thanks to Dr. Zhou.

 

Certainly, they should thank Dr. Zhou for his miraculous hair growth treatment, which opened new opportunities for the TCM department.

 

It must have been the hospital considering the department’s needs.

 

Everyone was joyous but wondered, wouldn’t other departments have objections? The building was already constructed, so this must be a temporary arrangement for the TCM department, right?

 

“What objections could they have?” Xie Min knew more details but couldn’t disclose them yet.

 

When she mentioned thanking Zhou Jinyuan, she wasn’t only referring to the hair growth treatment.

 

Zhou Jinyuan had officially taken over the rehabilitation treatment of the Qu family’s young master. Mr. Qu generously forged a strong relationship with Third Hospital, donating considerable money and materials, because Zhou Jinyuan refused extra fees. Understanding Zhou Jinyuan’s altruistic nature, Qu Qingrui requested only that the TCM department’s facilities be upgraded. As a result, Zhou Jinyuan’s private consultation room was set up swiftly.

 

Others didn’t doubt much either, happily thinking that it was because the number of patients had increased, and the hospital was considering their needs. Normally, such procedures wouldn’t be so fast.

 

Even though Xie Min hadn’t disclosed much, rumors quickly spread, causing widespread discussion within the hospital.

 

Many people didn’t know the specifics of Qu Guanfeng’s condition, nor the nature of his illness. Due to this lack of understanding, some were naturally shocked and thought:

 

With Qu Qingrui’s wealth, he actually sought treatment at their general hospital’s hair loss department—no, the TCM department!

 

So just how severe was that Qu Gongzi’s hair loss?

 

Rong Shouyun got off the plane, followed the map to take the subway, and upon arrival, couldn’t figure out which direction to go. He asked a passerby how to get to the Third Hospital.

 

The passerby gave him a couple of strange looks before pointing him in the right direction.

 

“Thanks.” Rong Shouyun almost habitually added “Amitabha,” but realized that saying it while wearing regular clothes might confuse people.

 

It wasn’t long before he saw the building of Haizhou City’s Third Hospital, with prominent red letters.

 

Rong Shouyun first went into the outpatient building, looked at the directory, and then went to another building where the TCM department was located. As a child from a family of traditional Chinese medicine, he’d visited many TCM departments, hospitals, and clinics.

 

However, the Third Hospital’s TCM department wasn’t as desolate as he had imagined. He knew about the place, which had no inpatient beds or nurses, only about ten doctors. He wondered if this had anything to do with Zhou Jinyuan.

 

Rong Shouyun peeked in, then approached the reception desk.

 

At the same time, a middle-aged man also approached, having just registered and needing to line up at the reception desk.

 

The nurse glanced at them and extended a hand, “Who’s first?”

 

The two men looked at each other, and Rong Shouyun smiled, realizing the nurse was mistaken.

 

However, the middle-aged man elegantly gestured, “You first, buddy. You seem to need it more.”

 

Rong Shouyun: “…”

 

He was momentarily taken aback until he noticed the man’s gaze on his bald head. Then he realized many people in the waiting area had thinning hair as well.

 

Rong Shouyun touched his bald head.

 

Damn.

 

He didn’t need to register; he calmly said, “I’m a monk,” making the nurse laugh. She directed him to Zhou Jinyuan’s office.

 

As he walked, he couldn’t help but notice the many people with thinning or bald heads, wondering if there was a special clinic today. No wonder they mistook him. Thinking back to the way people stared at his head earlier, it all felt a bit strange.

 

Zhou Jinyuan had just moved into a private office and was performing acupuncture on a patient. They exchanged a glance, and Rong Shouyun closed the door and sat aside to wait.

 

“Alright, keep the needles in for ten minutes,” Zhou Jinyuan instructed, then turned to Rong Shouyun. “What’s up with you? Explain properly.”

 

Rong Shouyun had called him that morning to say he had resigned and was coming to Haizhou to relax.

 

Zhou Jinyuan found it odd—hadn’t he joined a monastery?

 

Rong Shouyun looked dejected. “I actually resigned half a month ago but couldn’t find a new temple. I didn’t expect even monasteries to be as dark as the rest of society.”

 

The patient with needles in his head turned his eyes curiously towards them.

 

The Third Hospital had recently become quite famous locally, particularly for its hair loss department, which seemed to be a key specialty. And the doctor just called this man “Tu.”

 

But this man was a monk—why wasn’t he wearing monk robes?

 

Zhou Jinyuan asked, “What do you mean? Start from the beginning.”

 

“It’s nothing much. I found out the abbot was embezzling donations and reported him. As a result, the new abbot didn’t like me, so I resigned. But this news seemed to spread to many monasteries. Our abbot has quite a network in the industry, and maybe they’re afraid I’ll report them too, so no one wants to take me in. I figured they must have guilty consciences,” Rong Shouyun explained. Zhou Jinyuan understood why he referred to it as “dark.”

 

“In a fit of anger, I decided to come to Haizhou. I left home and didn’t bring my monk robes,” Rong Shouyun said with a grin. “I’m also looking to see if any new place will take me in. It’s far enough that they shouldn’t block me here. If things settle down later, I can make new plans. What do you think?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan, who initially wanted to comfort him, was surprised at how well Rong Shouyun was taking it. Seeing he had it all figured out, Zhou Jinyuan could only say, “You said you came to relax, but I haven’t told Xiaoxue yet.”

 

Rong Shouyun replied, “No worries. I’ll tell him when we get home.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan asked, “You’re not staying in a hotel?”

 

Rong Shouyun was shocked, “Jin, I came all this way, and you’re not going to let me stay with you?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan explained, “But there’s only two beds.”

 

Rong Shouyun stood up, feigning anger, “Excuses, excuses. You’re just holding a grudge because I didn’t join your sect.”

 

The patient watched with great interest as the door suddenly burst open. Liu Qi, with her sleeves rolled up, stood at the door with a nurse and two interns behind her, anxiously asking, “Are you okay?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan and Rong Shouyun immediately stopped: “…”

 

Liu Qi looked between the two of them, her eyes sweeping back and forth.

 

The nurse from the triage desk nervously said, “Sorry, Dr. Zhou. He said he was a monk, and it didn’t seem right, then I saw he didn’t register and rushed to find Dr. Liu…”

 

One of the interns stammered, “Uh, please talk it out. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are, after all, originally one family.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “…”

 

Great, now there’ll be rumors again. I didn’t even diss monks that frequently, did I?

 

　

 

1

1. **Huantiao (GB30)**:

   – **Location**: On the buttock, at the junction of the lateral third and medial two-thirds of the distance between the prominence of the greater trochanter and the sacral hiatus.

   – **Indications**: Sciatica, hip pain, lower back pain, and leg pain.

 

2. **Yanglingquan (GB34)**:

   – **Location**: In the depression anterior and inferior to the head of the fibula.

   – **Indications**: Disorders of the liver and gallbladder, musculoskeletal problems, knee pain, and lower limb weakness.

 

3. **Zusanli (ST36)**:

   – **Location**: Approximately four finger-widths below the knee cap, one finger-width lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia.

   – **Indications**: Gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, immune system support, and general wellness.

 

4. **Xuanzhong (GB39)**:

   – **Location**: 3 cun above the tip of the external malleolus, on the anterior border of the fibula.

   – **Indications**: Bone health, neck pain, ankle pain, and general musculoskeletal disorders.

 

2

1. **Zhaohai (KD6)**:

   – **Location**: On the inner side of the foot, below the ankle bone.

   – **Indications**: Often used to nourish kidney yin, it is commonly applied in treating insomnia, throat dryness, and menstrual disorders. It is part of the Kidney Meridian.

 

2. **Shenmai (BL62)**:

   – **Location**: On the outer side of the foot, slightly below the ankle bone.

   – **Indications**: Used to calm the mind and treat insomnia, headaches, and epilepsy. It is part of the Bladder Meridian and is also known to open the Yang Qiao Mai, which influences the eyes and motor activity.

 

3. **Neiguan (PC6)**:

   – **Location**: On the inner forearm, about two inches above the wrist crease.

   – **Indications**: This point is famous for its ability to relieve nausea and vomiting, treat insomnia, palpitations, and chest pain. It is part of the Pericardium Meridian and is also known to calm the mind.

 

4. **Xingjian (LV2)**:

   – **Location**: On the top of the foot, between the first and second toes.

   – **Indications**: This point clears liver fire, making it useful for headaches, dizziness, red eyes, and irritability. It is part of the Liver Meridian.

 

5. **Ganshu (BL18)**:

   – **Location**: On the back, between the second and third thoracic vertebrae.

   – **Indications**: Used for liver disorders, it helps in the treatment of eye diseases, depression, and digestive issues. It is part of the Bladder Meridian and is the back-shu point of the Liver, meaning it has a direct effect on liver function.