Taoist Doctor - Chapter 33

Professor Mo hadn’t even finished his lecture yet, but Dr. Zhu had already found someone to switch seats with him, distancing himself from Zhou Jinyuan.

 

He originally wanted to leave outright—this was just too embarrassing. However, he couldn’t bring himself to miss out on Professor Mo’s insights.

 

Who would’ve thought this kid had such a connection with Professor Mo! What started as a simple competition over treating baldness ended up involving a big shot?

 

And that smile—it gave him the creeps!

 

Zhou Jinyuan, on the other hand, was completely innocent. He had always treated others with respect.

 

After Professor Mo finished his lecture, there was still half an hour left for interactive questions. Whether there were questions about today’s content or difficult cases on hand, it was a rare opportunity to seek advice.

 

Afterward, there was a chance to take photos with Professor Mo and the other big names—an experience that definitely needed to be documented with photos!

 

At this time, Dr. Mao from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department finally arrived, fashionably late. Many in the TCM department had been puzzled by his absence; after all, many well-known experts in classical formulas were attending today, and Dr. Mao, being a typical proponent of classical formulas, had long expressed that he couldn’t miss such an event.

 

They thought he would be, at most, a couple of minutes late, but he still hadn’t arrived even after Professor Mo had finished his segment. What could have delayed Dr. Mao so much?

 

Dr. Mao didn’t come alone either; he was accompanied by a girl. The girl didn’t have an admission pass, so Dr. Mao exchanged a few words at the door.

 

Luckily, since the event was hosted by the Third Hospital and everyone was considered an insider, they allowed her in.

 

“Isn’t that Dr. Mao? Finally made it,” someone said, waving to Dr. Mao to show him his seat.

 

Dr. Mao nodded from afar, but when he approached, he asked, “Have you seen Dr. Huang?”

 

“He’s over there, surrounded by people taking selfies,” Xie Min pointed in a direction. Dr. Huang Zhongwen was also one of the most popular figures at the event. Just taking photos wasn’t enough for everyone anymore—they insisted on getting middle-aged selfies from a low angle to show off both of their chins, as that was considered more intimate. “Isn’t this Qiaoqiao? Why did you bring her along?”

 

Qiaoqiao was the girl Dr. Mao had brought with him.

 

Zhou Jinyuan, who had not been at the Third Hospital for long, didn’t know her, but many older doctors in the department did. She was Dr. Mao’s youngest daughter, whom he had in his later years and cherished like a treasure. She was only 19 this year and was studying at a music conservatory, being talented and versatile since childhood.

 

Dr. Mao smiled wryly, “I’m ashamed to say, Qiaoqiao suddenly fell ill. I prescribed some medicine for her, but it didn’t help. I took her to see an old friend, but she still wasn’t getting better, so… I was wondering if I could ask Dr. Huang for some advice since he’s here for the meeting today.”

 

Not only was Dr. Huang Zhongwen present, but there were also various other experts on-site. This was the perfect opportunity, almost like a consultation with the top specialists, with a near-guarantee of success.

 

“Oh? What’s wrong?” Xie Min, hearing this, scrutinized Qiaoqiao, then noticed that the usually polite girl hadn’t even greeted anyone today. “Could it be… she’s lost her voice?”

 

Dr. Mao nodded. That’s exactly why he was so anxious. Qiaoqiao had signed up for a singing competition, and the preliminaries were just around the corner. On top of that, she had her final exams coming up soon. Knowing his daughter didn’t want to miss these opportunities, he was especially worried.

 

Honestly, if he wasn’t truly out of options, Dr. Mao wouldn’t have sought advice so lightly. Being an old TCM doctor skilled in classical formulas himself, he had initially treated Qiaoqiao’s voice loss with such formulas, but they had no effect at all.

 

Even after consulting a close friend, there was still no improvement. The two of them figured it might take someone of Dr. Huang’s caliber to see through the issue. With so many experts on-site today, it was the perfect time to ask for help.

 

In fact, Dr. Mao had hesitated earlier, considering whether he should ask Zhou Jinyuan for help, but ultimately, his pride held him back. After all, there’s a difference between seeking advice from Zhou Jinyuan and asking Dr. Huang for guidance…

 

“Let’s go quickly then. I’ll go with you to find Dr. Huang. Don’t worry, with so many experts here, we’ll definitely get to the bottom of this,” Xie Min said, glancing at Zhou Jinyuan. She had once seen Zhou Jinyuan treat voice loss with great accuracy in diagnosing lung metal imbalance, yet now, he was uncharacteristically quiet.

 

Dr. Mao led his daughter to Dr. Huang Zhongwen, and others followed, eager to learn.

 

At events like this, it’s common to have live demonstrations for teaching purposes, and many doctors take the opportunity to present difficult cases to senior experts for guidance.

 

“Dr. Huang.” Dr. Mao was very respectful in front of Dr. Huang. He had once had the privilege of studying classical formulas under Dr. Huang for two months, and Dr. Huang had praised his use of classical formulas, something Dr. Mao had always been proud of.

 

“I’d like to humbly ask for your guidance on a case. The patient is my daughter, who suddenly lost her voice three days ago. I carefully prescribed medicine, but after three doses, there was no effect. Today, I asked a friend to treat her, but there were still no results,” Dr. Mao explained the situation.

 

Dr. Huang had just finished discussing a few medical cases with others. Upon hearing this, he immediately began to observe Qiaoqiao’s complexion.

 

Having studied under Dr. Huang, Dr. Mao knew his level of expertise. If three doses of classical formulas had no effect, had he completely misdiagnosed the case?

 

Professor Mo had just finished taking photos and, seeing a crowd gathering around a girl, walked over and asked, “What’s wrong with this little girl?”

 

“Professor Mo, this young lady has lost her voice. Dr. Mao from the Third Hospital treated her without success, so he brought her here to seek further diagnosis,” Dr. Huang explained politely, inviting everyone to join in the discussion.

 

“Xiao Huang, may I take a look?” Professor Mo asked. He was slightly older than Dr. Huang.

 

“Please do,” Dr. Huang said, extending his hand.

 

Dr. Mao felt a surge of hope; with both Dr. Huang and Professor Mo involved, things were looking promising.

 

Professor Mo took Qiaoqiao’s pulse and immediately understood the situation, then invited Dr. Huang to take her pulse as well. Afterward, he smiled and said, “Well, why don’t we let the younger doctors try diagnosing first?”

 

It was clear that he intended to use this as a teaching moment—perhaps a result of his habit as a professor.

 

Dr. Huang agreed with a nod, thinking this case was indeed well-suited for teaching.

 

Especially after Professor Mo looked at Zhou Jinyuan, many people thought the professor was encouraging the young doctor he favored to say something.

 

Unfortunately, Zhou Jinyuan didn’t respond. The other doctors took turns examining the pulse and tongue coating after Dr. Mao detailed the patient’s condition, while other experts observed the on-site diagnosis but chose to remain silent, waiting to see how the case would unfold.

 

The doctors each expressed their views, and Zhou Jinyuan also took the pulse for a moment but said nothing.

 

The hospital leaders from the Third Hospital frantically signaled to Zhou Jinyuan, urging him to speak up. With such a significant case, involving even Professor Mo, the situation clearly had deeper implications. If someone could crack it, it would be a huge point of pride. But Zhou Jinyuan didn’t play along.

 

“What do you think? Any thoughts yet?” Dr. Huang asked.

 

A TCM doctor from another hospital, eager to try, said, “Then I’ll throw out a suggestion: I believe this could be a case of Yin deficiency!”

 

As soon as he said this, several doctors nodded in agreement, including Dr. Zhu, who added, “I think it’s a case of Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency, the so-called ‘Gold cannot cry’ syndrome!”

 

But Dr. Mao had a strange look on his face and said awkwardly, “I initially treated her for Yin deficiency, but all three doses had no effect.”

 

Upon hearing this, the room fell into an awkward silence. It seemed that this case was indeed difficult to diagnose if it had been brought to Dr. Huang.

 

Everyone had to go back to carefully reconsider the diagnosis—what exactly was the syndrome?

 

“Zhou Jinyuan, Xiao Zhou, do you have any thoughts?” Huang Zhongwen asked.

 

Zhou Jinyuan was being called out again, this time by Dr. Huang.

 

Many people were wondering to themselves, what is the connection here?

 

It’s one thing for Professor Mo to favor this young man, but now Dr. Huang also seems familiar with him. Why didn’t he join the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospital and instead ended up in the TCM department of this general hospital?

 

In fact, this was also the first time Huang Zhongwen and Zhou Jinyuan had met, but like Professor Mo, Huang Zhongwen had long known about Zhou Jinyuan. It all started when he recommended Qu Qingrui to inquire with Qin Guan, which eventually led to Qu Guanfen being treated by Zhou Jinyuan.

 

Huang Zhongwen had followed up on the case afterward and learned that Qu Guanfen had recovered well, leaving a strong impression on him. Earlier, when Professor Mo mentioned Zhou Jinyuan by name, he had remembered him.

 

However, Zhou Jinyuan shook his head and said, “I don’t have any thoughts for now.”

 

Huang Zhongwen nodded lightly, feeling a bit disappointed.

 

The colleagues in the TCM department had initially been very excited. The TCM department at the Third Hospital had always been in an awkward position within the Haizhou TCM community, neither excelling nor falling behind, and they didn’t even have inpatient wards before. This seminar was only held there because Qu Qingrui insisted on it.

 

When Professor Mo called out Zhou Daxin (Zhou Jinyuan), everyone felt proud. Now that this case had stumped the experts, if they could answer Dr. Huang’s question, it would be a great honor in front of the visiting doctors.

 

But the “god” (Zhou Jinyuan) wasn’t as quick-witted as usual, which made them a bit disappointed, though they hadn’t figured out the correct diagnosis themselves.

 

Xie Min sighed. This case of aphonia had even stumped Xiao Zhou; it was indeed a rare occurrence, but it was certainly a difficult case. She was also contemplating the condition.

 

The hospital leadership hadn’t given up, and they kept a close eye on Zhou Jinyuan, then shifted their focus to Xie Min. After all, the Third Hospital was the host, and they even had a speaking slot. But if they couldn’t even offer a solution, it would be quite embarrassing.

 

As Xie Min was deep in thought, she suddenly felt someone poke her waist. Looking down, she saw that Zhou Jinyuan had slipped his phone in front of her.

 

Upon closer inspection, the phone was on a notes page with a few lines of a prescription. The first few words read: “Xiao Qinglong Tang” (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction).

 

“Ah!” Xie Min couldn’t help but exclaim, forgetting to control her volume.

 

The phone was quietly taken back, and the doctors who had been racking their brains all turned to look at Xie Min.

 

“Xiao Xie, did you come up with something?” Huang Zhongwen asked.

 

Only then did Xie Min realize her outburst and quickly composed herself. Her mind had been full of Qiaoqiao’s symptoms and pulse characteristics, and when she saw those words, everything suddenly clicked!

 

“Well… I have some thoughts,” Xie Min glanced at Zhou Jinyuan, unsure of what to make of the situation, but she stepped forward and said, “I believe the patient is suffering from cold evil invading the lung defense, causing lung Qi dysfunction and impaired speech. Using a reduced dosage of Xiao Qinglong Tang to dispel the wind-cold should be effective.”

 

The doctors mulled over this for a moment, and then the room buzzed with discussion over this idea.

 

Dr. Mao immediately asked his daughter, “Did you catch a cold before you lost your voice?”

 

Qiaoqiao thought about it for a long time before she recalled: “There was a sudden drop in temperature a while ago, and I had a slight cold, but it wasn’t anything serious.”

 

Because of that, she didn’t think much of it. Patients with aphonia already have difficulty communicating about their condition, and she hadn’t even realized that the two things might be connected, so she had forgotten about that small incident.

 

The doctors suddenly understood—so it wasn’t Yin deficiency but rather wind-cold-induced aphonia.

 

Dr. Mao said, “That’s right! That’s right! This Xiao Qinglong Tang is a classic prescription from the *Shang Han Lun* (Treatise on Cold Damage), primarily for cough and wheezing, but it can also be used for unresolved wind-cold on the exterior. Since the aphonia was caused by wind-cold with cold Qi trapped inside, using Xiao Qinglong Tang to disperse the cold is indeed the best approach! Director Xie…”

 

He momentarily ran out of words and simply gave a thumbs-up.

 

Director Xie’s diagnosis was accurate, identifying the cause despite incomplete information, and then skillfully using a classic prescription—truly remarkable.

 

Huang Zhongwen smiled and said, “Indeed, this aligns perfectly with our theme today. This is a textbook example of using a classic prescription.”

 

However, Dr. Zhu was still somewhat puzzled and asked, “I don’t quite understand. If the aphonia was caused by wind-cold, wouldn’t it be better to use the original formula and emphasize the effects of Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Mahuang (Ephedra), Ganjiang (Dried Ginger), and Xixin (Asarum) to warm the Yang and dispel the cold?”

 

Professor Mo shook his head and simply said four words: “Too much is as bad as too little!”

 

Huang Zhongwen explained, “Treating upper Jiao is like handling feathers! The patient has a lung Qi disorder, so when treating an upper Jiao condition, the medication should be light and clear. Of course, the dosage should be reduced!”

 

The concept of “upper Jiao” comes from one of the diagnostic theories in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the *San Jiao* (Triple Burner) differentiation. It divides the body into three burners: the upper burner, which includes organs above the diaphragm, such as the heart and lungs; the middle burner, which includes organs below the diaphragm, such as the spleen and stomach; and the lower burner, which includes organs below the navel, such as the urinary and reproductive systems.

 

The *Shang Han Lun* primarily uses the Six Channels differentiation method, but doctors are flexible and adaptable in their approach. Professor Mo used this explanation to justify the dosage, and there was no issue with that.

 

Dr. Zhu, realizing his oversight, blushed and didn’t dare to say anything further.

 

With the diagnosis settled, they immediately went to the herbal pharmacy to prepare a reduced dosage of Xiao Qinglong Tang. Following Huang Zhongwen’s advice, since it was wind-cold-induced, they brewed it in hot water and served it in a large tea mug.

 

While the doctors continued their discussion, Qiaoqiao held the tea mug, blew on it, and slowly drank it.

 

Because it was piping hot, Qiaoqiao drank it slowly. After finishing the mug of Xiao Qinglong Tang, Huang Zhongwen kindly asked, “Little girl, how are you feeling now?”

 

Qiaoqiao, who had unknowingly started sweating on her forehead, wiped it and tried to speak. Though her voice was still a bit hoarse, she managed to say, “Cough—I’m… I’m feeling better… now…”

 

Although still hoarse, her voice had indeed recovered! She could speak, and her speech was gradually becoming more fluent!

 

Many had anticipated that the treatment would work, but no one expected it to be effective after just one dose.

 

Such swift results—this is what all doctors strive for.

 

Someone joked with a smile, “In our seminar today, using a classic prescription on the spot to cure a patient with one dose—this will be a story worth telling!”

 

“Indeed, isn’t this the true meaning of ‘faster than a cup of tea’?”

 

Like the saying “as effective as a drumbeat,” “faster than a cup of tea” is a phrase that describes the rapid efficacy of TCM treatments. The original meaning referred to doctors diagnosing and treating patients while sipping tea, with the patient being cured by the time the tea was finished.

 

In this case, the patient drank the tea cup by cup, which could be considered a “new faster than a cup of tea.”

 

“A story worth telling, indeed!” The hospital leadership couldn’t have been more pleased.

 

…

 

By noon, it was time for lunch, which was arranged at a nearby hotel. Thanks to the host’s privilege and Qu Qingrui’s support, Xie Min, Dr. Mao, and Zhou Jinyuan were able to sit at the same table as Professor Mo.

 

With so many people, it took quite a while to decide on seating, and no one knew who to toast first.

 

One of the experts from out of province, holding a tea cup, said, “Don’t toast me. I think we should raise our tea in honor of the Third Hospital’s doctor here. Her use of Xiao Qinglong Tang today was truly remarkable! Promoting classic prescriptions requires more examples like this to boost confidence on both sides!”

 

Everyone nodded in agreement.

 

Xie Min felt a bit embarrassed, but when she looked at Zhou Jinyuan, who remained calm, she had an inkling of what might be going on and became even more reluctant to speak up.

 

Instead, Dr. Mao sighed, stood up, and said, “Director Xie, wasn’t it you who prescribed that Xiao Qinglong Tang today?”

 

Everyone was puzzled. What did he mean by that? They had all heard Xie Min first mention the wind-cold diagnosis.

 

Dr. Mao had previously praised her, and they both came from the Third Hospital, so why was he now questioning it?

 

Xie Min kept silent, choosing not to respond for the moment.

 

“Perhaps it wasn’t obvious to the rest of you, but I’ve worked closely with Director Xie for many years, and I’m very familiar with her prescribing style. After Qiaoqiao recovered, I had a moment to think it over. If she had prescribed Xiao Qinglong Tang, I would believe it, but the dosage wouldn’t have been so precise—no offense, Director Xie.”

 

Dr. Mao then looked at Zhou Jinyuan and said, “And the rapid effect of this prescription reminds me of another colleague’s style. Xiao Zhou, this prescription was yours, wasn’t it?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan? Now, even Professor Mo and the others were confused. Everyone had seen Zhou Jinyuan push back when Dr. Huang asked him earlier—how could it be his prescription now?

 

But Huang Zhongwen had a thoughtful expression. He knew Dr. Mao better than anyone else there.

 

Dr. Mao candidly said, “I’ve always prided myself on my use of classical prescriptions. Everyone in the department knows this. In the past, I made a mistake with a patient by using a classical formula, but Xiao Zhou here cured the patient with one of his own prescriptions. I think this time, Xiao Zhou didn’t want me to lose face again, so he had Director Xie step in. I really didn’t expect it—Xiao Zhou usually uses his own formulas, and even the topics he presented today were based on them. But it’s not that he doesn’t understand classical prescriptions; he’s actually quite skilled at using them when appropriate.”

 

He paused for a moment and then smiled, “You better not tell me I guessed wrong, or I’d be even more embarrassed.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan had no way out. He had indeed considered Dr. Mao’s feelings in this situation and thought that since there were several senior doctors present, he’d just stay out of it. But later, as the pressure from the leadership to save face for the hospital increased, he quietly passed the solution to Director Xie.

 

However, he hadn’t expected Dr. Mao to be so perceptive. Even though he understood his colleagues well, not everyone could identify the prescriber so accurately and then openly speak about it.

 

“Dr. Mao, I was the one who judged you with a small-minded heart,” Zhou Jinyuan said as he stood up, admitting honestly.

 

He had only thought that Dr. Mao could be a bit stubborn sometimes. However, his medical ethics were impeccable, and he was always willing to mentor young doctors. He genuinely cared about the development of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department. Zhou chose to remain anonymous since the classical prescription was indeed the best treatment for this case, but he hadn’t expected Dr. Mao to be so frank about it.

 

“Don’t say that. I was indeed a bit embarrassed before and just didn’t want to admit it,” Dr. Mao laughed heartily, “But this time, I’m truly at peace. Xiao Zhou, the reason I’m being so open today is to make it clear: from now on, there will be no more grudges between us!”

 

This is where the difference between people lies—some, like Dr. Zhu, let unpleasant situations fester, while others, like Dr. Mao, handle them with grace.

 

He deliberately said this here, in front of Professor Mo and the others, to clarify that it wasn’t because Zhou Jinyuan couldn’t answer.

 

Only then did the others understand the full context. Huang Zhongwen lightly tapped the table, “Well, this makes for the second great story of the day. The second toast should be between the two of you!”

 

Professor Mo, with a slight smile, nodded subtly, showing even more appreciation for this young doctor.

 

The two filled their tea cups, clinked them together, and drank them dry.

 

With that last bit of tension resolved, Dr. Mao felt much more at ease. He patted Zhou Jinyuan on the shoulder and said, “Xiao Zhou, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while now. Can you help me figure out why my ‘burning the mountain fire’ technique just doesn’t seem to work?”

 

“No problem, I’ll explain it to you later,” Zhou Jinyuan also placed his hand on Dr. Mao’s shoulder. “But only if you agree to one thing.”

 

Dr. Mao asked, “What is it?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan replied, “In the future, whenever a patient questions me, you have to step up and swear by your gray hair to vouch for me!”

 

Dr. Mao: “………Alright, alright.”