Taoist Doctor - Chapter 36

After confirming with Qu Qingrui that there were no issues, Zhou Jinyuan organized the medical case and wrote a several-thousand-word article, which he submitted to a Chinese medicine academic journal just before the New Year. He also sent copies to concerned seniors such as Huang Zhongwen.

 

It would likely pass the editors’ review, as Professor Mo was a consultant there, but official publication would still take some time.

 

So Zhou Jinyuan sent it to others first, leaving unfamiliar institutions and individuals to Director Xiao.

 

Director Xiao was thrilled. Building relationships with high-level medical institutions and engaging in academic exchanges was beneficial for improving the level of their hospital.

 

The hospital was on holiday for the New Year, and after Zhou Jinyuan finished his work, it was already time for him to take his leave.

 

Zhou Jinyuan, Rong Xixue, and Rong Shouyun, with their luggage, arrived at the airport, preparing to fly back to Yingzhou for the New Year.

 

Unfortunately, due to the weather, many flights were delayed. After passing security, their boarding time was still uncertain, and the airport was very crowded.

 

“I’ll check around and find a place to get something to eat,” Zhou Jinyuan said, spotting a table at the airport café that had just been vacated. He hurried over, but before he could reach it, a man in a long coat had already taken the seat.

 

The man was alone, with a thin, solitary figure.

 

Zhou Jinyuan approached him and asked, “Excuse me, do you have any companions? Could we share the table?”

 

The man looked up. Zhou Jinyuan saw that he was wearing a long coat, a hat, and a mask, making it difficult to discern his full face.

 

However, the visible part was quite distinctive: his skin was pale, his eyelashes were also white, and his pupils were a faint red, giving off a cold aura. He had a travel mascot from Haizhou hanging from his small suitcase, which seemed incongruous.

 

From his appearance, this was a typical case of albinism. He nodded in response to Zhou Jinyuan’s inquiry.

 

“Thank you,” Zhou Jinyuan said, inviting Rong Shouyun and Xixue to sit down and then went to order coffee and cake.

 

At the counter, while Zhou Jinyuan was paying, a male customer next to him, who had been absentmindedly staring at the menu, looked over and couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you that, um, doctor from the Third Hospital?”

 

“…I’m a doctor from the Third Hospital, but calling us Taoists makes it sound like we’re a Taoist temple,” Zhou Jinyuan replied with a smile. Although fewer people recognized him now, many still knew of him.

 

“Ha ha, it really is you! I’ve seen your videos, and my cousin even went to you for treatment for hair loss!” The customer excitedly extended his hand.

 

Zhou Jinyuan shook his hand, and shortly after returning to his seat, the customer also took the adjacent seat that had just become available, and they exchanged friendly nods.

 

“Taoist, are these your colleagues?” the customer asked excitedly.

 

Rong Shouyun, expressionless, took off his hat, revealing his bald head. “Does it look like it?”

 

The customer was left speechless.

 

Zhou Jinyuan laughed and said, “They’re my siblings. We’re sharing the table with this gentleman.”

 

“Oh… hello, hello,” the customer greeted politely, noticing that the other person had a face as white as snow and a cold, frosty presence. He couldn’t help but shiver slightly but still nodded in greeting.

 

Fortunately, the man appeared to be as polite as he seemed frosty, nodding courteously to the chance acquaintances.

 

The customer, curious about Zhou Jinyuan’s profession, especially the “Taoist” aspect, asked various questions since they had time before boarding.

 

Zhou Jinyuan, having nothing better to do, answered all questions about rituals and practices.

 

The albino man silently sat there throughout, listening to their conversation but remaining impassive.

 

“Speaking of which, last year I met a monk who was really good at fortune-telling! He predicted that there were seven people in my family, but I said it was six. Then he asked, ‘Aren’t you treating your pet as a family member?’ I was surprised. Yes, I have a dog, and my parents call it my younger brother!”

 

The customer was excitedly recounting, almost animated in his gestures.

 

Zhou Jinyuan, who had been chatting calmly, straightened up upon hearing about the effective monk and said with a mystical air, “Hehe, in Taoism, we also have the five arts: Mountain, Medicine, Fate, Face Reading, and Divination!”

 

Rong Xixue and Rong Shouyun exchanged knowing glances, thinking, “Here we go again.”

 

Although Zhou Jinyuan had claimed he would never diss monks, he couldn’t help himself in this situation.

 

“Wow, you can do that too?” the customer asked in admiration. “I knew you must do more than just lighting incense. Could you…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan encouraged him, “Hmm?”

 

The customer asked, “Can you do a fortune-telling for me?”

 

“Sure!” Zhou Jinyuan immediately began to search his pockets. “Today is a good day for divination. Let me find—”

 

After searching for a while and not finding a pen, the others also started to look.

 

Rong Xixue had one but it was in the checked luggage.

 

At this moment, the albino man extended his hand, revealing a golden fountain pen lying in his palm.

 

“Ah, thank you!” Zhou Jinyuan took the pen, asking the customer to write a character on a napkin. “Just one character will do.”

 

The customer, feeling the weight and texture of the pen, suspected it might be pure gold. The golden sheen was not gaudy, making him feel a sense of ritual as he wrote the character, commenting, “This pen is really beautiful. My writing doesn’t match up, haha.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan took the paper and, after looking at the customer’s character—‘Wing’—said, “What are you asking? This character suggests distance and separation. Given your age, if you’re asking about marriage, it indicates a long-distance relationship.”

 

“Ha ha! That’s right, my girlfriend and I are in a long-distance relationship. Today I’m going to her house to meet her parents.” The customer praised the accuracy, “It’s spot on!”

 

“Then I wish you a long-lasting relationship,” Zhou Jinyuan said, offering some advice about personality traits, which the customer also found accurate. The albino man looked over with some curiosity.

 

Rong Xixue and Rong Shouyun, used to such situations, calmly continued to eat and drink.

 

Zhou Jinyuan then looked at the other character, which the albino man had written: ‘Rock’.

 

After pondering for a while, and with the customer peering in curiosity, Zhou Jinyuan said, “The character ‘Rock’ used to be written as ‘Mountains’ and signifies a grand, towering appearance.

 

“Look, the three mouths above and the mountain below represent gaps and obstacles, with the mountain being a hexagram signifying high mountains and deep waters, full of difficulties. It’s associated with the ‘Difficult’ hexagram. The hexagram says it’s beneficial in the southwest but not in the northeast.

 

“‘Difficult’ also means challenging progress. Haizhou is in the southwestern part of China, so you might not be from Haizhou but have been troubled by a difficult situation, which brought you here.”

 

The customer asked, “Is that true? Did you come here for business?”

 

Although it was clear the person was not from Haizhou, given the airport setting, the mascot on his suitcase made most think he was here for tourism.

 

The albino man looked slightly surprised, “…I did come to Haizhou because of a difficulty.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan continued, “Though there are obstacles, you are in the southwest now and are preparing to leave. It seems you have encountered a turning point, so this matter should have no further worries?”

 

The albino man, however, shook his head with a hint of peculiarity.

 

He actually shook his head?

 

—

 

“Not successful? Then why are you leaving?” Zhou Jinyuan quickly said, “Opportunities shouldn’t be missed; I suggest you persist a bit longer.”

 

The albinistic man lowered his eyes and said, “But I’ve already been told that persistence won’t help. Perhaps the opportunity is not deep enough.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan was taken aback. Although his divinations were not always accurate, he felt his state today was quite good. How could he receive such a completely opposite answer?

 

If it wasn’t successful, then how accurate could it be?

 

The customer awkwardly smiled and said, “Well, perhaps you’ll hear otherwise when you return. The advantage might be in the southwest. Or maybe the real opportunity hasn’t arrived yet?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan felt regretful and prepared to ask a few more questions to make further calculations. In the divination, this person’s opportunity clearly should be in the southwest. Maybe there were details he missed!

 

Perhaps it could help the other party.

 

At that moment, the airport announcement sounded. The albinistic man said nothing more. He once thought his hope was in Haizhou, but in the end, he only left behind complex emotions among Haizhou’s landscapes. He had already come to terms with it, cherishing the remaining time.

 

He stood up and said to Zhou Jinyuan, “Thank you. It’s been a pleasure to see your divination. Most of what you calculated was correct. Goodbye.”

 

He turned and walked towards the boarding gate.

 

Zhou Jinyuan stood there, somewhat dejected. People’s destinies change in an instant; he was merely trying to find the most likely outcome. Maybe a butterfly flapping its wings could alter the development.

 

The customer had been won over by Zhou Jinyuan, who encouraged him, “Taoist, most of it was accurate. And if he had stayed, maybe the advantage would have really been in the southwest! It’s a pity he’s boarding now!”

 

As he spoke, his flight was ready to board. He bid farewell to the three and left.

 

Zhou Jinyuan looked at the paper again, “Sigh, I should have first asked what was troubling him. The time was too tight; it was unfortunate.”

 

Rong Shouyun asked, “After all, he’s just a passerby. Does it make any difference?”

 

“Of course, there’s a difference. This way, we can further calculate the possibilities and solutions for his journey. And if it’s about career or romance, it’s fine, but if it’s health…”

 

“I mentioned earlier, ‘rock passes through,’ and if you add a ‘disease’ radical to the top, it becomes ‘cancer.’” Zhou Jinyuan crumpled the paper. “Forget it. Let’s see how his destiny unfolds later.”

 

As he put away the paper, Zhou Jinyuan noticed a golden pen left on the table. But by now, the albinistic man had already disappeared.

 

—

 

The plane landed at an airport in a city in Yingzhou.

 

As usual, Rong Xixue and Rong Shouyun’s parents wouldn’t return, and their grandparents had already passed away. So, Zhou Jinyuan took a taxi to bring them to his home for the New Year.

 

Zhou Jinyuan’s home was on the outskirts of the city, quite remote. This was a tradition of the Zhou family, believing that living in such a place was better for cultivating the Dao.

 

Although the place was inexpensive, the mountain wasn’t high, and the water wasn’t deep. With Zhou’s father around, it was quite lively.

 

Even before the first day of the New Year, patients whom Zhou’s father had helped in the past came to pay New Year’s greetings. These people might be going out of town for the New Year, so they visited in advance. Knowing Zhou’s father’s habits, they didn’t bring any valuable gifts—just some fruits and snacks.

 

Zhou’s father had always treated patients regardless of their status, practicing medicine to promote the Dao and help others. If a patient came from a poor family, he didn’t charge for the consultation. It was this simplicity that kept his reputation local.

 

When they arrived home, Zhou’s father was seeing off a former patient who came to pay New Year’s greetings. Standing at the entrance, he saw a few young people dragging their luggage back.

 

Zhou’s father, nearing fifty but still upright, had one hand slightly weakened from an old injury. From a distance, he called out energetically, “The monk is here too! Not staying at the temple this year?”

 

Rong Shouyun replied with a forced smile, “Uncle Zhou, I’m no longer a monk. I’m a lay practitioner now.”

 

Zhou’s father rarely used his mobile phone at home, being busy with his medical practice. He wasn’t aware of such matters.

 

Even Zhou’s mother sometimes complained about his lack of concern for their son, to which he would justify himself, saying that once their son was born, he had already calculated his future. The son’s fate was good, so there was no need to worry… which often frustrated Zhou’s mother.

 

“Dad,” Zhou Jinyuan greeted, then whispered, “He’s been banned from the monk community again.”

 

“Hahahaha!!” Zhou’s father laughed heartily, much to Rong Shouyun’s chagrin.

 

“Uncle,” Rong Xixue also greeted Zhou’s father. Zhou’s father patted his shoulder, “Xixue, you seem thinner. Is Jinyuan bullying you? Older people not taking care of the younger ones, always making you cook. See how ruthless he is.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “…He volunteered!”

 

Rong Xixue smiled, saying nothing.

 

Everyone knew Zhou’s father was joking, and under such a pretext, Zhou Jinyuan even went to accompany him in his studies.

 

Zhou’s mother had gone out to buy New Year’s goods and hadn’t returned yet. Zhou Jinyuan put down the luggage, had some fruit to fill his stomach, and intended to discuss matters with Zhou’s father, particularly about his career in Haizhou.

 

“So, the monk has left the monastic life and invited me to open a clinic in Haizhou,” Zhou Jinyuan said.

 

Rong Shouyun also added a few words, mainly about the market research he had done recently.

 

Zhou’s father maintained an indifferent expression throughout.

 

“Talking to me about these things is pointless. I’ve spent my whole life practicing medicine. You’re all grown up and can take responsibility for yourselves—except for the monk, of course.” Zhou’s father glanced at Rong Shouyun, who had suddenly become a monk after working well in his job.

 

Rong Shouyun: “…” Unable to refute.

 

Zhou’s father looked at Rong Xixue, “Are you with them?”

 

Rong Xixue calmly replied, “Yes, Uncle. Anything he can do, I can do. Grandpa also left money for me. If he drops out, I’ll take over.”

 

Zhou’s father was reassured. If Rong Shouyun failed with the clinic or suddenly wanted to return to being a monk, it would be a problem. Although he had repeatedly assured that he was banned from the Buddhist community, who knew? Monks weren’t known for their tolerance.

 

“Alright then. It’s good to try things out.” Zhou’s father said seriously, “Now, there’s only one last important matter—”

 

Everyone focused on Zhou’s father.

 

Zhou’s father stood up: “I’ll cast a divination to see if this venture will be successful.”

 

Rong Xixue and Rong Shouyun: “…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan stood up and said, “Dad, I’ve already cast three divinations. It’s fine!”

 

“That’s not reassuring. I need to cast one myself.” Zhou’s father went to get his bronze coins, preparing to cast a divination using the Six Lines method.

 

“I’ve done it! It’s accurate!” Zhou Jinyuan stressed, following Zhou’s father.

 

The Rong brothers found it amusing, watching them. Outside, Zhou Jinyuan, often troubled by his appearance, usually had to maintain a mature demeanor but occasionally showed such youthful reactions, reminding people he was only twenty-one.

 

—

 

After just a few days off, Zhou Jinyuan, on the second day back, went with his family to climb the mountain and pay respects. It was a well-known local mountain, Deer Spirit Mountain.

 

Deer Spirit Mountain was famous not for its height but for the controversies surrounding it.

 

At the foot of the mountain was a public high school, a school established since the previous dynasty. On the other side, there was a church. Further up, halfway up the mountain was a Buddhist temple, and at the top, there was a Taoist temple.

 

The mountain accommodated Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and foreign religions, all of which had disputes because of a legend about a divine deer. Except for the church, all three groups claimed the deer was theirs.

 

Buddhists said it was enlightened by the Bodhisattva and called it Master Deer. Taoists claimed it practiced Dao and was Deer Immortal. The high school students said it was the first principal who gained spiritual wisdom after reading.

 

Zhou Jinyuan’s family, along with the Rong brothers, carried offerings up the mountain. Zhou Jinyuan and Zhou’s father had changed into thick blue cotton Taoist robes and were still debating over various divinations.

 

As they neared the temple halfway up the mountain, two monks suddenly appeared, blocking their way.

 

“What’s going on?” Zhou’s father was startled and immediately assumed a defensive posture.

 

The passersby widened their eyes, wondering if the monks and Taoists were about to clash over the deity of the deer.

 

—

 

“Doctor Zhou.” The two monks only offered a respectful gesture to Zhou’s father before blocking Rong Shouyun’s path. “Brother Zhaokong, please stop!”

 

Zhaokong was Rong Shouyun’s monastic name.

 

Rong Shouyun said, “…What’s this about!”

 

He glared at the monks, frustrated, and added, “I’m not even a monk here!”

 

The monks remained silent and said, “The abbot has instructed that Brother Zhaokong is strictly forbidden from entering the temple.”

 

They glanced around, noticing there were no familiar faces, and whispered, “It’s the New Year. Please don’t make things difficult for us.”

 

Rong Shouyun felt exasperated.

 

It was the New Year; couldn’t they give him some face?

 

Zhou’s father’s eyes widened in surprise. “So it wasn’t an exaggeration. He really offended the monks to this extent!”

 

Zhou Jinyuan whispered, “It’s the same in Haizhou…”

 

“…” Rong Shouyun clenched his fists and said, “Stop making things up. I’m… just going to the Taoist temple at the mountain top.”

 

The monks exchanged glances, somewhat skeptical, but Rong Shouyun had already linked arms with Zhou Jinyuan and was walking towards the mountain top.

 

They’re really going up? The two monks murmured to each other, “I need to message the temple at the top. They’re really bold, aren’t they!”