Chapter Thirty-One: Promoting Traditional Chinese Medicine

When Wang Miaor finished speaking, the patient standing at the door was utterly stunned. A doctor at Gu's Hospital actually claimed that traditional Chinese medicine was not a fraud—had the world turned upside down? Had Western medicine begun to endorse traditional Chinese medicine?

“Did you hear that? Traditional Chinese medicine isn’t a scam. Come on, come on, Chunshan Hall is definitely cheaper than here. Just a checkup in this place costs several hundred; it’s outrageously expensive.” Zhou Jinfan pulled the bewildered patient and led him straight across to Chunshan Hall.

Watching their retreating figures, Wang Miaor slammed her clinic door shut in anger, venting her frustration by crumpling the paper in her hand.

“A patient has arrived,” Zhou Jinfan exclaimed with delight after ushering the patient into Chunshan Hall, and Xie Qingtang began the consultation.

At first, the patient glanced around suspiciously, then eyed Xie Qingtang with skepticism. The girl before him was young, her features refined and serene, exuding a calm maturity, but her age was simply too tender.

“Stick out your tongue for me,” Xie Qingtang said, having finished taking his pulse.

The patient hesitated briefly but eventually complied. Xie Qingtang observed for a moment, then declared, “Do you often feel exhausted and weak, struggle to wake up in the morning, suffer from dizziness and a foggy head, break into cold sweats, have dry mouth and bad breath?”

The patient’s eyes widened in surprise, and he nodded eagerly, “Yes, doctor, everything you said is true. Sometimes my whole body aches—muscles and joints—and sometimes I get constipated too.”

At this last admission, the patient looked embarrassed, but Xie Qingtang, having already diagnosed him through pulse and observation, was unfazed.

“You’re exhibiting symptoms of internal damp-heat. You should exercise more, avoid prolonged sitting, and stay away from overly spicy foods, as they weaken your spleen and stomach and generate more dampness. I’ll prescribe you a week’s course of herbal medicine to regulate the dampness—after that, you should be fine.”

She took up the brush beside her, rolled up her sleeves, and began writing the prescription. The patient looked on in wonder; hardly anyone used a brush nowadays, only pens.

On the mountain, Xie Qingtang had studied medicine with her master using a brush and couldn’t break the habit even after returning to town. To others, it simply seemed peculiar.

“Go get your medicine,” Xie Qingtang said, handing the prescription to the patient.

He took the medicine with half-hearted trust and left Chunshan Hall. Zhou Jinfan clapped his hands and turned to Xie Qingtang, “Boss, rest assured. I’ve given that woman a warning. If she doesn’t refer patients to Chunshan Hall, I’ll make sure her reputation at Gu’s Hospital suffers.”

“Let’s hope so,” Xie Qingtang replied coolly. Surprisingly, Wang Miaor actually kept her word. Several more patients came to Chunshan Hall, all claiming Wang Miaor had sent them.

People couldn’t help but wonder why, after visiting Gu’s Hospital, the doctors there recommended Chunshan Hall instead.

“That’s because our doctors here are excellent, which is why she recommends you come,” Zhou Jinfan, ever sociable, struck up lively conversations with the patients as they collected their medicine, unlike Xie Qingtang, who discussed nothing but the illness.

Throughout the day, Wang Miaor, keen to avoid further trouble from Zhou Jinfan at the hospital, swallowed her anger and sent her patients to Chunshan Hall, quickly drawing the attention of the hospital.

“What’s going on with Dr. Wang today? Every patient who enters her office comes out almost immediately and heads across the street to Chunshan Hall. There’s something off,” a young nurse remarked to the head nurse at the station.

The head nurse paused, then said, “Focus on your work and don’t concern yourself with other matters.”

Despite her words, she kept a closer eye on the patients entering Wang Miaor’s office. Sure enough, the patients emerged within a minute, confusion written on their faces, and made their way to Chunshan Hall.

News of this swiftly reached the hospital’s upper management, and Wang Miaor was promptly summoned for a meeting.

“Dr. Wang, what’s going on? I’ve heard rumors that you’re promoting traditional Chinese medicine in your office and sending patients to Chunshan Hall,” the director said sternly.

Wang Miaor had no way to explain herself; she couldn’t admit that she’d lost a bet and now had to refer her patients to Chunshan Hall.

She could only lie, telling the director, “Director, this has nothing to do with me. I haven’t been promoting traditional Chinese medicine—it’s just the patients’ own choice.”

“Nonsense! How could that be? These patients registered at our hospital, yet after entering your office, they suddenly decide to go to Chunshan Hall. Why does this never happen in other doctors’ offices?” The director’s brow furrowed, clearly not believing her explanation.

Knowing she was at fault, Wang Miaor said nothing further, bowing her head. The director proceeded to lecture her against promoting traditional Chinese medicine in the hospital, insisting it was all a scam and warning that any problems arising from it could spell trouble for the hospital.

After the reprimand, Wang Miaor returned to her office in a foul mood. Now, the only way she could avoid referring patients to Chunshan Hall was by not seeing any at all.

She arranged for her shift to be covered, then left the hospital. Just as she stepped outside, she unexpectedly ran into Gu Xiucheng.

“Miaor, do you have time to join me for dinner tonight?” Gu Xiucheng, somehow aware that she had taken the day off, greeted her.

Knowing his status, Wang Miaor felt she couldn’t keep refusing, so she nodded and left the hospital.

Meanwhile, without Wang Miaor’s referrals, the number of patients at Chunshan Hall dwindled once more. Zhou Jinfan visited the hospital and, learning that Wang Miaor had given up her shift and left, nodded in admiration.