Taoist Doctor - Chapter 48

Director He looked at the others with a hint of panic in his bewildered expression.

 

The others also looked at this community director: “………”

 

A bit speechless, and with a headache?

 

Director He: “……”

 

The pressure is enormous!

 

At this moment, Director He deeply felt his incompatibility with this world!

 

Where did Dr. Zhou collect these people, each sicker than the last, each one more attractive than the previous, what happened to the grading system of medical treatment? Isn’t this small clinic supposed to only treat headaches, colds, and fevers?

 

So aggrieved—aren’t you the ones who ran into the wrong world?

 

Fortunately, at this moment, someone came to free Director He from his embarrassment. The time for leaving the needles had already passed. Since Zhou Jinyuan was preparing the herbal medicine, Ji Huan came over to help Director He remove the needles, indicating that he could leave.

 

Ji Huan had no idea what had happened in this room.

 

Director He walked out calmly, but just before closing the door, he could vaguely hear Irina asking them in a foreign language, “What’s his condition? Pointing at his head, did he have cerebral palsy…”

 

Director He: “…”

 

“Dr. Zhou.” Walking to the entrance of the dispensary, Director He called out.

 

Zhou Jinyuan turned back, “Director He, you’re awake? Take care not to get wet for the next couple of hours, and don’t bathe today…”

 

“Mm-hmm, I know.” Director He, who was no stranger to acupuncture, twitched his mouth, feeling a bit uneasy, “Dr. Zhou, those patients inside, are they all yours?”

 

Irina’s father, Mr. Brown, also couldn’t understand Chinese and was just staring blankly at them. Just now, Zhou Jinyuan had discussed Irina’s condition with him in a foreign language. He had learned a bit of Chinese along with his daughter, but only enough for daily greetings.

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “Yes.” He had no idea what kind of shock Director He had just experienced, still feeling a bit unreal.

 

Director He exclaimed, “I looked at each of them, and they don’t seem lightly sick!”

 

Zhou Jinyuan took the disinfectant alcohol and replied casually, “That’s why they came here.”

 

Director He: “…”

 

Hearing Zhou Jinyuan’s explanation, Director He had a newfound respect.

 

Unlike others, Director He didn’t think Zhou Jinyuan was boasting, because if he was, he’d be exaggerating way too much.

 

Look at them—those people didn’t seem short on money, and their identities didn’t look ordinary either.

 

To put it bluntly, even if they were frauds, they’d be the most capable frauds, managing to bring people to such a small clinic.

 

If you don’t have real skills, can you take on such work? Perhaps they do have special treatments—Director He had seen it before, folk doctors with one prescription passed down for generations to treat specific diseases, sometimes not even practicing medicine formally, only selling ancestral remedies by word of mouth.

 

Director He raised his thumb, “You’ve got skill. If you were in a major hospital, you’d probably be famous by now.”

 

He even doubted that if he went back and told others about this, anyone would believe him. In similar situations, most people would probably prefer to go to a major hospital, right?

 

“Haha…” Zhou Jinyuan laughed awkwardly.

 

Ji Huan also silently looked away. Director He didn’t know that getting an appointment with Zhou Jinyuan now was already like seeing an expert at a top-tier hospital…

 

…

 

After Director He left, Zhou Jinyuan finally brought the needles and medicine and went in to treat Irina. “It seemed like our community director was a bit frightened here just now…”

 

But as soon as he entered, he saw Jin Chuo Xian in a daze. Realizing Zhou Jinyuan had entered, Jin Chuo Xian said, “Dr. Zhou, sorry, but I’ll head back first.”

 

“Hey, wait, what are you doing? You haven’t even had your acupuncture yet!” Zhou Jinyuan tried to stop him but failed to catch up. Goodness, he just dashed out like that—does he even remember he’s a cancer patient?

 

This scene reminded Zhou Jinyuan of the time when they were leaving country B, and everyone went out for a meal together. Jin Chuo Xian had suddenly disappeared then, too.

 

“What’s going on? I haven’t even started singing yet?” Zhou Jinyuan muttered speechlessly.

 

Who knows what sparked Jin Chuo Xian’s inspiration this time. Last time, Arthur even mentioned it in such amazement, making him quite pleased. Now it seems, does Jin Chuo Xian get bursts of inspiration anytime, anywhere—even scaring Director He could spark it?

 

“Forget it, he can come back for treatment tomorrow.” Zhou Jinyuan thought to himself that he should still check on him during dinner later, just to make sure Jin Chuo Xian had a proper meal.

 

For now, it was best to finish the work at hand. Zhou Jinyuan nodded at Qu Guanfeng, drew the curtain, and said to Irina, “I apologize, the setup is a bit basic.”

 

“No problem,” Irina immediately replied.

 

Previously, Zhou Jinyuan had prescribed internal medicine for Irina, beneficial for nourishing qi and blood, tonifying the liver and kidneys. With strong yang energy, it could nourish the muscles and bones, a direct treatment for her myasthenia.

 

But more importantly, of course, was acupuncture to open her meridians and relax her muscles.

 

“Within the depths of the grand Dao, all thoughts find harmony. Refining essence to reach the immortal truth, forming a body as strong as diamond. Beyond the three realms, the five pains of hell are relieved…” Zhou Jinyuan chanted ancient verses while performing acupuncture on Irina, this time adding moxibustion as well.

 

After a long journey to a foreign city, Irina was actually physically and mentally exhausted. Meeting Zhou Jinyuan again filled her with excitement, and as she listened to the chanting and felt the needles in her legs, she unexpectedly drifted into sleep.

 

Her delicate face was half-covered by her hair, appearing pure and angelic, still clutching a corner of Zhou Jinyuan’s white coat in her hand.

 

After lighting the moxa, Zhou Jinyuan gently pulled out his coat and quietly exited, softly telling Mr. Brown that Irina was sleeping soundly and suggested he also take a rest.

 

Mr. Brown nodded with relief and lay down to sleep on the clinic’s sofa, also weary from their journey.

 

At this moment, Zhou Jinyuan went back to check on Qu Guanfeng, only to find him lying on the bed, also fast asleep.

 

He patted Qu Guanfeng’s shoulder, “Friend, did you not sleep last night? Get up for acupuncture.”

 

Qu Guanfeng woke up with a start. In fact, he hadn’t fallen into a deep sleep, but under Zhou Jinyuan’s chanting, he had entered an extremely comfortable, half-dream, half-awake state—just one step away from sleep—before Zhou Jinyuan pulled him back.

 

Zhou Jinyuan had already changed Qu Guanfeng’s perceptions or habits many times. For example, he didn’t like staying anywhere other than his own home, but later he stayed in the hospital and even fell asleep in Zhou Jinyuan’s treatment room, on a strange treatment bed, while receiving a massage.

 

Now it had gone even further. Here he was, dozing off on a small clinic’s treatment bed, surrounded by other patients, completely letting his guard down.

 

Qu Guanfeng rubbed his eyes and asked first, “I feel like I’ve heard this song before. Did you let me listen to it?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “Yes, I played it during your treatment. It’s not a song, it’s a sutra chant.”

 

This pair of people both had emotional issues, so he included blessings in their treatment. He’d played a lot of Daoist music for Qu Guanfeng, including this chant.

 

Qu Guanfeng looked thoughtful, then asked, “Why?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan was puzzled. “Why what? You’ve noticed—it has a bit of a hypnotic effect, or rather, it relaxes the mind.”

 

Qu Guanfeng: “Why did you use Bluetooth speakers when treating me, but here, you’re chanting yourself?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan was speechless. “Why do you look like you’re about to file a complaint? I didn’t sell you concert tickets and then lip-sync.”

 

Qu Guanfeng: “…”

 

It wasn’t about rights protection; it was just that Qu Guanfeng had noticed that Zhou Jinyuan’s singing was subtly different from what he’d heard before, and he had to admit that Zhou Jinyuan’s version was more captivating, making him feel relaxed.

 

If, along with such singing, Dr. Zhou could massage his head and neck, it would be quite enjoyable.

 

Qu Guanfeng glanced at the price list on the wall but didn’t find what he was looking for, so he asked, “How much for a session of singing service?”

 

“…” Zhou Jinyuan was speechless. “Please don’t prescribe treatments for yourself. If I feel it’s necessary, I’ll sing… No, I mean, chant. This is called Zhuyou therapy.”

 

Qu Guanfeng, however, said, “Dr. Zhou, you’re free anyway.”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “I’m very busy!”

 

Qu Guanfeng’s insomnia had long been cured, and his mood was back to normal, so Zhou Jinyuan had every reason to suspect that Qu Guanfeng was treating this place like the Xiaoqinglong Foot Bath Parlor! He was determined to resist such behavior!

 

Qu Guanfeng: “Do you offer membership cards here?”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “… Starting at a thousand.”

 

.

 

.

 

In the few days after opening, thanks to the enthusiastic residents who had used the free medicinal patches from Xiaoqinglong Clinic and helped promote it—not everyone was willing, but gradually, more residents came, some not only for patches but also seeking consultations.

 

Director He even helped out, and he’d seen Zhou Jinyuan treat paralyzed patients, but even if he promoted this, not everyone would believe it or dare to come.

 

So, for now, most cases were minor ailments, especially from parents with young children at home.

 

Other than his rest days, Zhou Jinyuan would come to Xiaoqinglong Clinic after his shifts at the Third Hospital.

 

This day was no different. He entered the clinic and put on a white coat. At that moment, a young couple had brought their child in for a cold.

 

They had come earlier, recommended by neighbors in the same building, to get a medicinal patch, which had quickly reduced their child’s fever, working even faster than an injection. So, today, they brought the child in for a cold.

 

A cold wasn’t a major issue, but after taking the child’s pulse, Ji Huan asked, “Does your child frequently get colds, or, to put it another way, does he often have upper respiratory infections?”

 

The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, pharynx, and larynx, so common colds, viral pharyngitis, and pharyngoconjunctival fever are all types of acute upper respiratory infections, mostly caused by viruses.

 

The parents immediately responded, “Yes, the child’s health isn’t great. He basically catches a cold every month.”

 

“That’s recurrent respiratory infection; it’s a chronic condition. It has to be fully treated, or a cold is manageable, but if it leads to myocarditis or bronchopneumonia, that’s a problem.” Ji Huan wasn’t trying to scare them. To make it easier to understand, he used Western medical terms.

 

Children are prone to qi deficiency, so when wind pathogens enter the body without being expelled, it becomes a recurring illness, which over time will inevitably lead to other health issues.

 

The young parents, new to all of this, hadn’t expected such a diagnosis. They used to just give their child cold medicine, assuming the frequent colds were due to poor health and playful habits like kicking off blankets and eating ice pops, unaware there was an actual medical term for it.

 

“Your child will need a period of herbal treatment… Don’t look at me like that; even with Western medicine, you’d need long-term treatment for chronic conditions,” Ji Huan said as he began contemplating a prescription.

 

Upon hearing that he’d have to take medicine, and for a while, the child immediately started fussing, squirming on the chair, “I don’t want to take medicine, I just want to use that magic patch!”

 

He pointed to the medicinal patches in the clinic.

 

“Quite the vocabulary, you even know about ‘magic patches,’” Ji Huan said with amusement.

 

The child glared at him, “Liar.”

 

Ji Huan: “When did I lie to you?”

 

The child, aggrieved, said, “I wasn’t talking about you; I meant my classmate. My classmate said you don’t need shots or medicine here…”

 

It wasn’t just his classmate; his parents had told him the same. Last time, his parents had even bought a patch here for him.

 

“No shots or medicine, then,” Zhou Jinyuan stepped forward with a smile and winked at Ji Huan, pointing to his own nose, “The lungs connect to all vessels and open to the nose. Dr. Ji, I think you should prepare some medicine and make it into a sachet.”

 

“Oh… Oh, right.” Ji Huan immediately understood Zhou Jinyuan’s idea.

 

Using the herbs to make a sachet allows the medicinal properties to enter the lungs through inhalation and then circulate through all vessels, achieving the desired effect without causing the child any resistance. This greatly reduces the difficulty for both parents and doctors.

 

Professor Mo sometimes said that Ji Huan was meticulous but lacked flexibility. Now, seeing Zhou Jinyuan’s approach, he felt his teacher was absolutely right. Look at how pleased both the child and the parents were.

 

Zhou Jinyuan bent down and patted the child’s head, saying, “We’re here to consider what the patients want. Kiddo, if there was a sweet-tasting medicine, would you take it?”

 

“Brother, are you going to make sweet medicine? Then I’d definitely take it!” The child was overjoyed.

 

Being a child, he disliked medicine and shots, and his parents usually just persuaded, forced, or tricked him. But this doctor stood on his side, with an attitude that made him feel truly valued.

 

Meanwhile, Ji Huan had finished preparing the prescription, which not only boosted lung and spleen health and enhanced qi but also dispelled wind and cleared heat. Wearing it long-term would gradually improve the child’s constitution.

 

“Thank you so much, doctors! Your Xiaoqinglong Clinic really lives up to its name; you’re experts in pediatrics!” The parents, smiling, praised them, impressed by Zhou Jinyuan’s suggestion and ease in interacting with children. “Many parents here think the name gives off a vibe of vitality and strength for children, which makes them willing to come!”

 

“…Haha, you’re welcome,” the doctors replied, tactfully avoiding the pediatric topic.

 

After the patients left, Rong Shouyun commented, “This name is indeed well-chosen. I thought so from the beginning; it suits our situation. A small clinic should focus on its customer base.”

 

“Exactly,” Zhou Jinyuan said, adding that he had also liked the name from the start.

 

Rong Shouyun claimed he’d recognized its potential early.

 

Zhou Jinyuan boasted, “Didn’t you know? I chose the name on purpose.”

 

Ji Huan: “…” Their boss was even more shameless than he’d thought.

 

Rong Shouyun scolded, “Give me a break! With your naming skills, even for ‘Invincible Hair Growth Elixir,’ you’d still pin it on Rong Xixue!”

 

Ji Huan stared at Zhou Jinyuan in disbelief. He’d once asked Teacher Mo about the name, who said it seemed to have been randomly chosen by a relative of Xiao Zhou.

 

So this was the truth!

 

Zhou Jinyuan denied it flatly, “You’re talking nonsense. Do you have any proof? You were already off to become a monk by then.”

 

Rong Xixue, sitting nearby, quietly said, “I named it.”

 

Rong Shouyun retorted, “Why would you need to be there? If you post on social media that you named ‘Invincible Hair Growth Elixir,’ you’ll probably be reported for account hacking!”

 

Rong Xixue: “…”

 

Zhou Jinyuan: “…”

 

Just as they were arguing, a patient walked in—a tall young man who entered with a bow, saying, “Good evening, doctors.”

 

Everyone exchanged glances. “…Good evening?”

 

Ji Huan asked, “Are you a salesperson?”

 

“No, I’m here to buy a medicinal patch.” The young man said awkwardly, “I have neck pain. I heard there’s a special remedy here.”

 

“There is. It’s still the promotion period, so I’ll give you one for free,” said Rong Shouyun, handing him a patch.

 

Unexpectedly, the young man took a step back, then bowed again before carefully accepting the patch.

 

Rong Shouyun: “??”

 

What was going on? Had he unknowingly acquired a saintly aura? This guy was acting like he was worshipping him.

 

The young man then solemnly placed the patch in his backpack. No joke—those in the know were aware that Xiaoqinglong Clinic was actually a secret medical branch of some unnamed major gang. Which gang exactly? Well, one had to figure that out from the name “Qinglong.”

 

People like him, who had experience with various pains and fractures, knew where to find effective remedies, and this was definitely the place. It was just important to be polite; he’d heard that one baby-faced doctor here had many underlings and was notoriously temperamental.

 

He’d come for the remedy and also to see the big boss in action.

 

Accustomed to gossip, Zhou Jinyuan figured it out at once, asking, “Friend, do you know what level I’m at?”

 

The man looked at Zhou Jinyuan in horror, then started pulling out money. “I…I didn’t plan to take it for free. I’ll pay for it.”

 

He didn’t know the doctor’s level or the faction he belonged to. He only knew that this man had a baby face—yes, the legendary hot-tempered doctor who would even argue online!

 

Zhou Jinyuan initially thought this was someone aware of his cultivation journey, but that seemed unlikely upon reflection; the emergency room gossip from the Third Hospital couldn’t have spread that widely.

 

After leaving the money, the man walked away. Before leaving, he noticed two bags of garbage by the door and took them with him.

 

Everyone: “…”

 

Ji Huan scratched his head, puzzled, and said, “Again? I ran into two people like this the past two days—polite, all here to buy pain patches. What’s going on with them?”

 

“No idea. It’s so strange. Why act so cautious at a pediatric clinic? If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were the Qinglong Gang.” Zhou Jinyuan joked. By now, he had been unanimously certified by parents and kids alike as a super approachable pediatrician.

 

Little did they know, Xiaoqinglong Clinic had already amassed multiple titles: a pediatric clinic, an underworld branch, a foot massage parlor… In the future, nearly half a street’s storefronts would benefit from their presence, and the local security would be remarkably improved.

 

Author’s Note: Rong Xixue: No one believes it when I take the blame.