Taoist Doctor - Chapter 46

In the early morning, on the opening day of the Xiao Qinglong Clinic, it coincided with the birthday of the divine doctor, Hua Tuo, making it an auspicious day.

 

The small clinic located on Yunxia Road in Yunya Street, Haizhou City, had not officially opened yet. The clinic wasn’t large; through the glass door, one could see a small lobby inside, furnished with a bench, reception desk, and a medicine cabinet, suitable for reception and preliminary examinations.

 

The middle partition was also a pharmacy, used not only for storing spare medicinal materials and preparing herbal remedies but also for cleaning and disinfecting.

 

Further in, there were treatment rooms: one large and one small. The large room had four beds, which could be separated by curtains. The small room had one bed, allowing for more private treatments.

 

Currently, all the beds were covered with brand new blue disposable sheets, looking tidy and clean.

 

The clinic was adjacent to several residential communities, and across the street, there was a school.

 

At this moment, several flower baskets had been placed at the entrance, sent by hospital colleagues, Professor Mo, some familiar patients, and even the principal of Haizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, whom Zhou Jinyuan had only met once.

 

For such a small clinic, Zhou Jinyuan had not prepared any opening ceremony and had declined the many people who wanted to come and celebrate. After all, with their scale, they wouldn’t be able to accommodate everyone.

 

It was still early morning, but Zhou Jinyuan, Rong Shouyun, Rong Xixue, and Ji Huan had all arrived.

 

This was Ji Huan’s first time meeting the two brothers who were bosses. Seeing Rong Shouyun’s bald head and height made him feel a bit restrained.

 

“Don’t be polite; this is Doctor Rong, as I mentioned,” Zhou Jinyuan said. Just then, he noticed Rong Shouyun pulling out a wooden fish from his bag and placing it on the reception desk. He quickly shifted his attention and asked, “What are you doing??”

 

Rong Shouyun nonchalantly replied, “What’s wrong with putting a wooden fish? I’m just doing some homework when I have nothing to do.”

 

What? It’s not a social vibe, but a Buddhist one? Ji Huan felt relieved; he instinctively thought this bald guy was hard to provoke.

 

However, the combination of a Taoist and a Buddhist running a clinic was quite unusual.

 

“With a wooden fish today, tomorrow you’ll have to invite Guanyin in!” Zhou Jinyuan teased.

 

“Don’t think I don’t know! Didn’t you hide a bagua chart?” Rong Shouyun retorted defiantly, “And why are you here so early today? Isn’t it to worship the gods?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan didn’t feel guilty about being exposed. “Today is Hua Tuo’s birthday; I was going to worship!” he replied.

 

He had specially chosen this day to draw on the divine doctor’s aura.

 

Since he had been called out by Rong Shouyun, Zhou Jinyuan didn’t hide it anymore. He took out a folded bagua chart from his pocket and taped it to the other end of the reception desk. At that moment, Zhou Jinyuan felt a bit startled but quickly remembered he wasn’t in the third hospital.

 

Hahahaha, here, Director Xie couldn’t control him; he could believe in whatever he wanted!

 

“By the way, speaking of this, Doctor Ji, do you have any beliefs?” Zhou Jinyuan asked.

 

Ji Huan shook his head repeatedly, “I don’t have any.”

 

He was just ordinary, like most people. He had no beliefs, but when he came across temples or Taoist temples, he would sometimes light incense to wish for a smooth work life or something similar, just a last-minute hope for reassurance.

 

Although neither Taoism nor Buddhism seemed to have favored him…

 

“Oh, then you don’t mind if I worship later, right? Since it’s the opening day, it’s definitely necessary,” Zhou Jinyuan said. Ji Huan had no objections; he just thought his boss was even more superstitious than Professor Mo.

 

Ji Huan watched Zhou Jinyuan setting up a temporary altar and couldn’t help but ask, “Doctor Zhou, do you practice every day?”

 

Ji Huan had heard of many doctors who paid attention to yin-yang and theories of change, but compared to Zhou Jinyuan, he was still a small fish in a big pond.

 

Seeing Ji Huan’s doubtful expression, Zhou Jinyuan found it amusing and replied, “Not really; it’s not like I’m in a hurry to ascend.”

 

“……” Ji Huan asked hesitantly, “Why?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan lazily responded, “If you ascend, you’re still doing the same job; what’s the rush?”

 

Although the medical path shared the same origins, Ji Huan didn’t understand it that deeply and muttered in confusion, “You still have to work after ascending?”

 

“In the Nine Heavens, they open hospitals, and at the Six Paths, they resolve the root of illnesses! Do you think ascending means escaping the fate of being a wage slave?” Zhou Jinyuan shook his finger.

 

“In the Upper Clear Heaven’s various administrative offices, there’s a hospital in Upper Clear Heaven, with the main deity being the Divine Farmer Emperor, and below him are the thirteen celestial doctors—probably more than thirteen now. Zhang Zhongjing of the Wind Department, Sun Simiao of the Major Pulse Department, Hua Tuo of the Surgery…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan launched into an enthusiastic monologue, recounting the thirteen celestial doctors without missing a beat. “They were renowned for their medical skills in life, and after ascending, they served in the Heavenly Hospital. They not only saved lives but also helped the dead, redeeming ten thousand souls. The heavenly doctors are responsible for healing the souls of those who died from various illnesses, restoring their spirits, and providing care to the underworld.”

 

He thought for a moment and added, “I think with my medical skills, I could at least mix in as a chief physician up there. If I have to keep busy with promotions, that might be even busier than now. Sigh, so it’s all the same whether I ascend or not.”

 

Ji Huan: “……………”

 

He found himself speechless.

 

“Zhou Jinyuan! Zhou Jinyuan!”

 

Rong Shouyun was shouting from inside.

 

Ji Huan saw Zhou Jinyuan walk into the pharmacy room, followed by Rong Shouyun questioning him, “Why did you bring the bagua alchemy furnace too??”

 

Ji Huan: “???”

 

The Bagua Alchemy Furnace—what? He couldn’t have heard that wrong.

 

Even though Ji Huan had just seen Zhou Jinyuan sticking up a Bagua diagram, he still felt it was too exaggerated. He looked at Rong Xixue, who appeared unfazed, even leisurely preparing today’s opening event poster, while he couldn’t help but sneak inside to see the spectacle.

 

He saw Zhou Jinyuan carrying a pot with a Bagua affixed to it.

 

Ji Huan: “…”

 

So this is the Bagua Alchemy Furnace? Isn’t that a bit too casual? You guys really know how to have fun.

 

Zhou Jinyuan said slowly, “I’m just preparing to make some pills to expand the business. Look at all the nearby residential communities; there’s even a school not far away. If I make some Confucius Dream Pills, won’t they sell like hotcakes?”

 

Rong Shouyun mocked, “With those stinky pills you make, only Rong Xixue would eat them, and she’d still be sick for half an hour afterward.”

 

Outside, Rong Xixue: “…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “Nonsense, a lot of my patients take them home and force their kids to eat them.”

 

Rong Shouyun: “…”

 

Ji Huan: “…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan seemed quite justified.

 

“It’s just a matter of breaking them into smaller pieces at home. I make them larger for convenience,” Zhou Jinyuan set the pot down again. He wasn’t going to make them right away; he was just getting ready to gauge the situation on the first day of opening.

 

In fact, they had prepared some free medicinal plasters for common ailments like colds, fevers, and joint problems.

 

In traditional Chinese medicine, there are both internal and external medicinal plasters. The convenience of external use reassures everyone since it doesn’t go into the mouth, and the formulas can showcase their skills. Offering some plasters for treating everyday minor ailments to attract “repeat customers” is the most appropriate strategy.

 

As for the large pills, they could wait until the patients trusted them; making them now might just make the patients turn away.

 

…

 

At eight o’clock, Zhou Jinyuan and Rong Shouyun pushed open the door, and the Xiao Qinglong Clinic officially opened.

 

On the first morning, naturally, the place was deserted, something Zhou Jinyuan and the others had anticipated.

 

He had sat idle at the third hospital before.

 

Moreover, if it weren’t for Zhou Jinyuan feeling grateful to Director Xiao and not wanting to use his current reputation for any publicity, he would have probably been balding by now… Besides, the baldness specialty was adequately covered by the third hospital, so there was no need for the Xiao Qinglong Clinic to cater solely to bald patients!

 

Not having any patients at the moment wasn’t a problem; Zhou Jinyuan and Rong Xixue sat behind the counter making plasters, while Ji Huan chatted with Rong Shouyun, who was occasionally striking a wooden fish.

 

“Doctor Rong, where did you work before?” Ji Huan asked.

 

Rong Shouyun said, “Uh, I left the monastery not long after my apprenticeship and just returned to secular life recently.”

 

Ji Huan thought he must have been a lay disciple of some sort, but it turned out he had actually been a monk. If students were considered Confucian, then the Xiao Qinglong Clinic really did encompass Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.

 

“I see you’re still inclined towards Buddhism. Why did you return to secular life?” Ji Huan asked again. He found Rong Shouyun easy to get along with and had heard that his medical skills were quite good, stemming from traditional teachings.

 

Rong Shouyun glanced at Zhou Jinyuan and said quietly, “It’s unavoidable. At several monasteries I went to, either the abbot was reported and ousted or the place closed down, so no one dared to take me in… Hey, what about you? Where were you before?”

 

“…” Ji Huan now understood why Zhou Jinyuan said he didn’t care if he stayed; he numbly replied, “About the same.”

 

Rong Shouyun was startled: “You were also a monk?”

 

Ji Huan: “The places I went also closed down.”

 

Rong Shouyun: “…”

 

Ji Huan: “…”

 

The two exchanged speechless looks, gazing deeply at each other, creating a feeling that everything was understood without words.

 

—

 

At this moment, outside the clinic on the street.

 

A young woman holding a feverish child muttered to herself while looking at the sign: “Xiao Qinglong Clinic? When did it open? It looks like a children’s clinic…”

 

Children are prone to fevers; their body water content is higher than that of adults, their nervous systems are not fully developed, and once they have a fever, it can easily recur.

 

The woman’s child was no different, especially at night. She didn’t always take him to the emergency room; instead, she would first treat him at a nearby clinic and give him some medicine. If the fever didn’t subside, she would then go to the hospital for treatment.

 

Generally, she would go to a farther clinic, but this one, which seemed to have just opened, was a traditional Chinese medicine clinic. Although the flower basket blocked most of the facade, making it hard to see what they specialized in, the name clearly suggested it catered to pediatrics!

 

Xiao Qinglong, how cute!

 

Moreover, it also has the meaning of making children lively and energetic; it really shows a lot of thoughtfulness.

 

Additionally, there was a sign outside saying it had just opened and that there were free medicine giveaways.

 

“Xiao Qinglong…” The dazed little girl heard these words and repeated them, recalling that her mother had sung her a children’s song called “Xiao Qinglong.”

 

The young woman stopped pondering and decided to go in and take a look. This clinic was right at her doorstep, so if it turned out to be good, it would be convenient for future visits.

 

As soon as she stepped into the clinic, the young woman saw a bald man sitting at one end of the counter, holding a wooden fish and chatting with a handsome young man with big, beautiful eyes. On the other end, there was a Bagua diagram, and two young people were busy making plasters, one with light-colored eyes that looked mixed-race, and the other with a doll-like face.

 

Though they all wore white lab coats, the strong atmosphere of superstition startled the young woman. Although many traditional Chinese medicine clinics are a bit mystical nowadays, this place’s mix of Buddhism and Taoism was quite impressive.

 

Another notable difference was that the decor here was not as luxurious as in other TCM clinics.

 

She stood at the door and noticed someone staring at her, so she asked, “…Do you treat pediatric cases here?”

 

To be honest, perhaps it was just her preconceived notion, but she felt these people looked very much like pediatricians. It wasn’t that they couldn’t work in a kindergarten; even the bald man seemed kind because he was banging the wooden fish.

 

It was just that the overall vibe was a bit strange; she wondered if it was some sort of gimmick. She had had her experiences with TCM before and knew that sometimes it could be quite exaggerated, with even an moxibustion treatment getting names like “Taiyi Divine Moxibustion” or “Thunder Fire Divine Moxibustion.”

 

Rong Shouyun immediately put down the wooden fish and warmly welcomed her, “Ah, beautiful lady, come here. Your child has a fever, right? Let me see; they must have caught a chill!”

 

He didn’t bother to explain that this wasn’t a specialized pediatric clinic; after all, treating children wasn’t out of the question.

 

Did that bald guy almost call her “Benefactor” and swallow it back just now??

 

The young woman thought while responding, “Are you a doctor? Yes, she has a slight fever, and her hands and feet are a bit cold.”

 

Not only that, but the little girl also looked lethargic; she was snuggled in her mother’s arms, already realizing that Xiao Qinglong wasn’t a children’s amusement park but a clinic. With tears streaming down her face, she said, “I don’t want an injection, I don’t want to take medicine…”

 

“Don’t cry, little one! No injections, no injections, and no medicine,” Rong Shouyun immediately reassured her. “You came at the perfect time; we at Xiao Qinglong just opened today and are having an event. We’re giving away medicinal plasters, and there’s one specifically for lowering children’s fevers; just one application will do.”

 

Actually, in the young woman’s mind, she was just planning to check the environment and the doctors, and then buy some Chinese patent medicine for fever.

 

Although the doctor was a bit young, he seemed quite observant.

 

With free medicinal plasters available, and since plasters are typically safe for external application compared to injections and pills, this clinic looked tidy. She could see that the necessary credentials were displayed; otherwise, why not give it a try…?

 

While she hesitated, Zhou Jinyuan had already brought over a plaster. “Let me see. Hmm, just a slight fever; it should subside in half an hour. Come here, little one; let’s apply this, okay?”

 

The little girl glanced at Zhou Jinyuan and felt a good impression of this handsome older brother, quickly nodding her head.

 

“Half an hour to bring down the fever? Should I give her some antiviral granules as well?” The young woman instinctively felt he was exaggerating the effectiveness. Sometimes when she took her child for pediatric tuina, it would still take a while for the fever to go down.

 

She had experience with taking care of children, and she hesitated, feeling it was better to let her child take some medicine.

 

“No need; it’s just a slight fever,” Zhou Jinyuan replied, making the young woman curious again. It didn’t make sense to not make money, after all.

 

At this moment, the little girl had already cooperatively lifted her clothes; heaven knows she had just said her hands and feet felt weak after having a fever.

 

Zhou Jinyuan applied the plaster to her and gently ruffled her hair, saying, “All done; you’re really good.”

 

“Beautiful lady, why don’t you sit down with your child? By the way, I can see your back isn’t doing well; do you want to get it treated?” Rong Shouyun seized the opportunity to ask.

 

“Oh, you really noticed?!” the young woman said. Ever since she gave birth, her back had been uncomfortable; she couldn’t sit still and had to get a massage from time to time, or else her back would hurt. Especially when her child was sick, carrying her for a while would make her back ache again; she was just enduring it.

 

“We also have plasters specifically for alleviating various bone diseases here. Normally, we give away one plaster per visit, but since you’re the first patient, it’s a double good fortune; you can take one for relieving back pain as well.”

 

“Then hurry and put the child on the sofa; I’ll take a look at you.” Rong Shouyun immediately got to work.

 

Rong Shouyun asked Zhou Jinyuan to find a marked plaster, and since the weather wasn’t cold, the young woman lifted her shirt to apply the plaster to her back.

 

The formula for this plaster was made by Rong Shouyun. Traditional Chinese medicine for treating bone injuries definitely doesn’t rely solely on manual techniques; the internal and external medications are also extremely important!

 

Zhou Jinyuan learned some bone manipulation techniques from Rong Shouyun, and they discussed medicinal formulas together. Moreover, since many of the medications used for bone-related diseases can be quite potent or even toxic, Rong Xixue had been assisting them from a young age to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity.

 

“If you have time in the future, you can come back, and I’ll diagnose your muscles and prescribe some medicine for conditioning to eliminate the root cause of your pain,” Rong Shouyun said.

 

“Mm-hmm, okay. Thank you!” the young woman replied casually.

 

—

 

After leaving the clinic, the young woman took her daughter to a nearby fruit shop in the community to buy some fruit and then went to the supermarket to pick up some other items before heading home. However, as she walked, she began to feel warmth coming from where the plaster was applied, making her back feel particularly comfortable.

 

“This plaster is really effective!” the young woman exclaimed in surprise. It had only been a short while since she applied it, and the pain was gradually easing. Since she started having back pain, she not only went for regular massages for relief but also bought various pain relief patches from domestic and foreign manufacturers.

 

But she could responsibly say that none of them were as effective as this one; perhaps it was because they genuinely used quality ingredients. She even saw them handling medicinal materials in the shop.

 

Upon arriving home, the young woman placed her sleeping daughter on the bed and reached out to touch her hand, discovering it was no longer cold. When she touched her back, she was surprised to find her covered in sweat. She quickly took her temperature, and sure enough, the fever had subsided!

 

It had barely been half an hour since applying the plaster, and during that time, it wouldn’t have been enough for her to make a round trip to the nearest children’s hospital.

 

After sitting at home for a while, she began to work; her job was done from home. Usually, after sitting for a while, she would feel back pain and have to get up to move around and rest.

 

She had gotten into the habit of standing up to move every half hour.

 

However, today she got up to move several times without feeling any back pain in between; the plaster was even still warm, not the uncomfortable kind of heat, but a gentle warmth that felt extremely comfortable. To exaggerate a bit, it felt as if the medicinal properties were seeping in.

 

The young woman was extremely satisfied with the Xiao Qinglong Clinic and couldn’t help but recommend it in her daughter’s kindergarten parent group. The kindergarten was nearby, so most of the students’ parents were also local residents.

 

**[Today I visited the newly opened Xiao Qinglong Clinic near the Yunxia Community office. I got two herbal medicinal plasters, one for my child’s fever, and after using it for about half an hour, the fever was gone! 👍 The doctor is young and handsome, very gentle and attentive, just like our class teachers; my child really likes him. They just opened, and the plasters are all free. If you need it, you can give it a try.]**

 

It was common for parents to recommend things to each other in the group, and everyone responded positively.

 

**[Really? My little Qi is especially afraid of doctors; every time we go to the hospital or clinic, she cries and continues to cry when we get back. Sigh, so I say it’s easy to bring down a fever, but hard to stop the crying!]**

 

**[My little Bao is also very afraid of doctors! But in this clinic, she wasn’t scared at all; in fact, she really liked it. The plaster doesn’t hurt and is made of traditional Chinese medicine. Just now, she even wanted me to sing “Xiao Qinglong” for her. P.S.: If there are any mothers with back pain, you can also grab a plaster for back pain to try; it works really well from personal experience.]**

 

**[👍 I really need to go try it; it seems this clinic genuinely cares about pediatrics, especially with such a cute name.]**

 

—

 

After chatting in the parent group for a while, a video call came through from the child’s father.

 

“Has the fever gone down for Bao? If it hasn’t, should I come home at noon and take her to the hospital?”

 

“It’s gone down. There’s a new children’s traditional Chinese medicine clinic in the community; I used an herbal fever-reducing plaster, and she’s all better now,” the young woman said.

 

“Oh,” the child’s father replied and then seemed to recall something, saying, “Speaking of which, I heard from a buddy that there’s another newly opened clinic around here, and the people there have some underworld connections. Apparently, it’s run by a former underworld boss, a bald guy with a fierce look… It’s said that rogues go there for bone setting and applying medication, and while you shouldn’t avoid it completely, if you go in, you need to be respectful to the doctors, and you should never litter in front of their door.”

 

The young woman exclaimed, “Is it that scary? What’s the name?”

 

“Wow, it’s called the Xiao Qinglong Clinic!” he said ominously.

 

“??” The young woman looked puzzled. “Isn’t that the pediatric clinic I went to this morning?”

 

The couple stared at each other through the video call.

 

The child’s father replied speechlessly, “Are you mistaken? How could it be a pediatric clinic? That’s an orthopedics clinic with a notorious background.”

 

“Yeah, they treat orthopedics too; I even got medication for my lumbar pain,” the young woman scoffed, teasingly saying, “Your buddy must have heard some rumors; how could he not have heard of ‘Xiao Qinglong’?”

 

—

 

Author’s note: A thousand people have a thousand interpretations of Hamlet.

A thousand people have a thousand interpretations of Xiao Qinglong…