Chapter 141: At Long Last, After Countless Calls

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The consultation fee had been capped at two hundred thousand, which was enough to show just how serious the four patients’ conditions were. Although the young doctors who were disciples and grand-disciples of Elder Lu were eager to give it a try, their professional caution and reason restrained them. Almost in unison, they turned to Elder Lu.

A middle-aged doctor wearing gold-rimmed glasses spoke first. “Teacher, let us assist you.”

Elder Lu looked at him, then at the others, and slowly nodded. Examining four patients at once—especially four critically ill patients—would be a challenge even for him. After all, he was advanced in age, and his stamina and energy were limited.

Five of his disciples had come this time. Apart from one who ran a private clinic, the other four were experts and deputy directors in the traditional medicine departments of municipal hospitals. Each had practiced independently for more than ten years, and in their respective specialties, their medical skills were scarcely inferior to Elder Lu’s.

The six of them then examined the four patients one after another, spending roughly ten minutes in total.

Elder Lu’s expression was grave. He raised his eyes to Director Gao of Qing City First Hospital and pointed toward the old man on the stretcher.

“This gentleman has chronic gastritis that has already undergone malignant transformation. It is approaching the intermediate stage.”

He then pointed to the young man on another stretcher. “This young man has a form of muscular atrophy, with suspected early-to-middle-stage Parkinson’s disease.”

Next, he indicated the middle-aged man among the remaining two patients. “This gentleman has an extreme allergic constitution, with suspected lupus erythematosus and tinea.”

Finally, he pointed to the middle-aged woman. “This lady has suffered from prolonged sleep deprivation and is already experiencing moderate mental exhaustion. Her immune function is also far below normal.”

As Elder Lu announced the diagnoses one by one, the expressions of those around them changed repeatedly. Sharp intakes of breath and subdued cries of astonishment rose from the crowd.

Stomach cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and lupus erythematosus were names familiar even to ordinary people—the very bywords of incurable illnesses.

Of course, to medical professionals, an incurable disease did not necessarily mean that nothing could be done. Everything depended on its stage. If caught in the early or intermediate stages, the illness might at least be restrained, even if it could not be completely cured. Living several more years, or even more than a decade, was not impossible.

Director Gao nodded silently. Elder Lu’s diagnoses were essentially identical to those made at Qing City First Hospital. He then asked, “Doctor, can they be treated?”

Elder Lu did not make any absolute promises. “All I can say is that we can try and do our best to improve their conditions.”

He then treated the four patients with acupuncture in turn.

The young man’s case was the most complicated. Thirty-seven needles were inserted into his body, with a portly male doctor among Elder Lu’s disciples assisting from the side. The middle-aged man received twenty-six needles, assisted by a slightly plump female doctor.

The old man needed only seven or eight needles, while the middle-aged woman received merely two, both placed in her head.

When the treatment was finished, fatigue showed clearly on Elder Lu’s face, and sweat glistened on his forehead. He sat down and drank several sips of hot tea before taking out paper and brush. He glanced at the young man and wrote as he spoke.

“I’ll be staying here for the next half month. Come here every day, and I’ll give you one acupuncture treatment each time. I’ll also prescribe you a medicine. Take it every morning and evening without fail. After ten days, your muscular atrophy should show obvious improvement. But if you want to recover completely, you’ll have to rely on long-term medication, increased exercise, and proper attention to your diet and rest.”

He then looked at the middle-aged man. “You have an extremely allergic constitution, along with severe tinea. Even the slightest bit of strong or spicy food causes an outbreak. Acupuncture may help somewhat, but its effect will be limited. I’ll prescribe two medicines for you—one for bathing and one for internal use. It will take at least half a month before you see substantial improvement.”

After finishing the prescriptions, Elder Lu handed them to the two men. After a brief moment of thought, he said to Director Gao, “The first patient can pay after ten days. The second can pay after half a month.”

They had agreed beforehand that payment would be made only after the patients showed improvement. Given Elder Lu’s status, he would never go back on his word. The two patients had merely shown initial signs of improvement, and genuine recovery would require a long period of recuperation. Since the office director of Qing City First Hospital was acting as guarantor, Elder Lu was not worried about failing to receive his fee.

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As for the other two patients, he said nothing about consultation fees. The implication was clear: there was nothing he could do for them. The needles he had used on the old man had merely provided nutritional support, while those given to the middle-aged woman had only soothed the nerves in her brain. Both treatments were simply restorative in nature.

Director Gao nodded in silence. The doctors in white coats who had accompanied him brought out various instruments and reexamined all four patients.

The young man’s muscles had relaxed considerably. The red spots on the middle-aged man’s body had faded substantially, though the pale patches had not changed much. The old man’s stomach pain had temporarily subsided, but several important indicators remained dangerously high. The middle-aged woman appeared somewhat more alert, but nothing else had changed.

In truth, this result was already remarkable. Qing City First Hospital had been unable to devise an effective treatment plan for these four critically ill patients and could only offer conservative care. Now, two of them had gained hope of recovery. This alone proved that Elder Lu’s medical skill was extraordinary.

“Wait—Doctor Hong is here too! Doctor Hong, these four critically ill patients have been tormented by illness for years. Please treat them. We beg you!”

After the reexaminations, several doctors in white coats reported their conclusions to Director Gao. Director Gao stepped forward and shook Elder Lu’s hand in thanks. Just as he was preparing to leave, one of the doctors suddenly cried out.

Everyone’s eyes followed his gaze. In an instant, Hong Chen, who had been forgotten in a corner, became the center of attention.

“Doctor Hong, a healer must have compassion. You can’t stand by and watch people die! Please examine them!”

The doctor in the white coat was visibly agitated, his voice trembling slightly. He looked like a drowning man who had suddenly spotted a plank floating toward him.

His plea infected the patients who had come to the Health Hall for treatment, as well as the passersby watching the spectacle. One after another, they began calling out in agreement.

The people from the Health Hall exchanged uneasy glances. If this had happened an hour earlier, they would certainly have joined in the encouragement, perhaps even enthusiastically. But now, every one of them kept their mouth shut. The oppressive atmosphere had grown heavier, as though the dark cloud overhead had thickened.

Elder Lu had come directly to challenge Hong Chen, yet Hong Chen had refused to accept. He had allowed Elder Lu and the others to set up their consultation stand outside the Health Hall. It was obvious that Hong Chen considered his medical skill inferior to Elder Lu’s.

At present, even Elder Lu could treat only two of these four critically ill patients, and even those two would need a long period of recovery before they improved. Under such circumstances, urging Hong Chen to step forward was nothing less than forcing him to humiliate himself.

“That’s right. Doctor Hong’s medical skills are nothing short of miraculous. He can surely bring the dead back to life.”

The people there did not want to see Hong Chen disgraced, but some were eager for precisely that. The young female doctor who had previously slandered him put on an expression of feigned concern. Her red lips parted, and her voice rang clear.

A young male doctor immediately followed. “More than bringing the dead back to life—he can even snatch people from the jaws of death. As long as a patient still has a breath left, there’s no illness Doctor Hong can’t cure.”

Even the middle-aged female doctor among Elder Lu’s disciples spoke up. “Doctor Hong, these four patients came here specifically for the Health Hall. As the Health Hall’s foremost physician, you ought to treat them, both morally and logically.”

Seeing this, the people from the Health Hall were furious and humiliated. It was obvious that they intended to elevate Hong Chen as high as possible, only to hurl him down afterward. What vicious scheming!

Ma Lan’s delicate face flushed as red as a ripe apple. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Doctor Hong only treats patients by prior appointment. Without an appointment, he won’t see them.”

She genuinely meant to help Hong Chen out of the predicament, and what she said was reasonable. But the timing was wrong. Four critically ill patients stood before them, and Hong Chen happened to be present. No argument could outweigh the urgency of human life. The foremost principle of medicine was to heal the sick and save the dying.

The young female doctor immediately shot back, “So you mean that because these four patients didn’t make appointments, Doctor Hong should simply watch them suffer without lifting a finger? How can someone like that call himself a doctor?”

Ma Lan was rendered speechless by the retort. The young female doctor gave her a cold smile, then rolled her eyes. A gleam of excitement sprang into them. Suddenly, she raised her voice and shouted:

“Where is the finest medicine in our nation? At the Health Hall in Qing City, X Province! If you do not meet Doctor Hong before death, even a hundred years of life are wasted!”

Once she had taken the lead, the dozen or so grand-disciples of Elder Lu quickly understood her intention. One after another, they joined in:

“Where is the finest medicine in our nation? At the Health Hall in Qing City, X Province! If you do not meet Doctor Hong before death, even a hundred years of life are wasted!”

Their voices rang out bright and loud, brimming with passion, like fans raising an impassioned cry upon seeing their idol.

The people from the Health Hall looked as though they had swallowed flies. They were determined to force Hong Chen into a dead end. Whether he extended his head or kept it tucked away, the blade would still fall.

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They were publicly elevating Hong Chen to the heavens. If he refused to act, he would be branded as someone who stood by while others died. If he did act but failed to cure even one patient, he would be exposed as a fraud who had lived on an empty reputation—perhaps even proving the young female doctor’s earlier accusations that he was nothing more than a quack.

Once Doctor Hong’s reputation was ruined, the Health Hall’s reputation would be destroyed along with it.

“Doctor Hong, Heaven cherishes life, and physicians should possess compassionate hearts. Please make an exception and treat them,” Director Gao said solemnly, cupping his hands toward Hong Chen.

The other doctors in white coats also cupped their hands and echoed the request.

Seeing this, the dozen or so grand-disciples of Elder Lu quickly stopped shouting and imitated the gesture.

Everyone thought the matter would end there. Unexpectedly, Qi Gang suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and called out loudly, “Doctor Hong, please make an exception and help us. We’re counting on the Health Hall!”

The people from the Health Hall were stunned at first, but then they understood. There was only one path left: risk everything and hope for a miracle.

Led by Qi Gang, they too cupped their hands one after another and shouted, “We beg Doctor Hong to help!”

After countless calls, he finally emerged.

A faint smile touched the corner of Hong Chen’s mouth, though the mask concealed it from everyone else. This was exactly the effect he wanted—one move accomplishing three aims. The buildup had been thorough, even more so than he had anticipated. With Elder Lu’s grand-disciples adding fuel to the fire, it was time for the real performance to begin.

He nodded silently and, under the concentrated gaze of the crowd, slowly walked toward the four patients.

The first patient Hong Chen treated was the young man with muscular atrophy on the stretcher. He studied the man’s complexion and took his pulse for two minutes. Then silver needles appeared between his fingers. Through the young man’s single layer of clothing, he inserted them into various acupoints across his body.

Several minutes passed. The number of needles in the young man’s body exceeded forty. Hong Chen then began removing them one by one.

No one knew what was going through the young female doctor’s mind. She suddenly blurted out in a mocking tone, “Doctor Hong, you’d better be careful. If a medical accident occurs, it won’t just ruin your reputation—you could end up in prison.”

Her words immediately drew displeased looks from those around her. Even Elder Lu frowned and glanced at her.

She realized that she had gone too far, shrank her neck, and whispered to Elder Lu, “Grand-teacher, that man is just putting on an act. You used more than thirty needles on that patient earlier, and now he’s using more than forty. He’s obviously doing it on purpose. If you ask me, those needles are completely useless and won’t have any effect at all. He might even try to claim credit for your work later. A fraud like him is capable of any shameless act.”

Before she had finished speaking, Elder Lu had even had time to process her words when the more than forty needles had already been removed in rapid succession.

Hong Chen reached out and patted the young man on the shoulder, smiling faintly.

“All right. Stop lying on the stretcher. Stand up and take a walk. Move your body a little.”