Friday.
This was the fifth day Lu Xuan had been at the Health Center.
The communities surrounding the Health Center all knew that the traditional Chinese medicine department had reopened, and a young man with real skills had arrived—a young man who had treated cases that the City Women and Children's Hospital didn't dare to touch. It was rumored that many doctors at the Health Center specifically sought out Dr. Lu in the traditional Chinese medicine department for treatment, which was a testament to his ability.
Moreover, retirees were spreading the word, one telling ten, ten telling a hundred, and more and more people were learning about Lu Xuan.
However, having a reputation didn't necessarily mean a flood of patients in the traditional Chinese medicine department.
People's thinking was still quite rigid, often wondering what kind of skills a young person could possibly have?
Even though he successfully treated a child who swallowed a screw, many people believed it was just a case of dumb luck.
"Is what people say about him really that amazing?"
"He graduated from a university of traditional Chinese medicine less than half a year ago. What skills could he have!"
Some were still full of doubts about Lu Xuan's abilities.
If he were a doctor of Western medicine, no one would probably say anything.
While Western doctors also undergo significant training, it's generally not a problem for them to handle minor ailments.
But traditional Chinese medicine is different. Those who graduate from a university of traditional Chinese medicine, even master's, let alone doctoral students, aren't easily trusted.
However, soon there were rebuttals: "What university degree? Dr. Lu is not just a top graduate from Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He has been exposed to traditional Chinese medicine since he was a child, coming from a long line of practitioners, with immense skills."
"A family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners? Then perhaps there's really some skill there."
"Absolutely! Dr. Lu has been familiar with traditional Chinese medicine since he was a child. He has seen more patients with his family than the number of people you know. If he had no skills, how could he treat a child who swallowed a screw?"
Many were convinced, yet their hearts were still somewhat anxious.
The crucial issue was that Lu Xuan had seen very few patients, with only Nini's case as evidence, making it hard for people to fully trust him.
The debates among retirees were unknown to Lu Xuan.
At this very moment, he helplessly looked at the woman sitting in front of him and said, half-jokingly, "Why do you all come to me for gynecological issues? Just the other day it was Sister Cheng, and now you're here, Dr. Zhou."
"Can't I come?" Zhou Liting rolled her eyes at Lu Xuan.
"Of course, you can!"
Lu Xuan nodded repeatedly, but felt slightly amused at the situation, wondering if he was being pushed to specialize in gynecology.
He could, but this was not the path Lu Xuan wanted to pursue.
Nowadays, many practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine choose to delve deeply into one or two fields, and gynecology is a popular choice. After all, there are many women, and numerous gynecological issues ensure their skills won't go to waste.
However, Lu Xuan's thinking was more comprehensive.
Why could the old masters of traditional Chinese medicine treat almost everything in the past?
But today, it has become a matter of specializing in one field versus another?
Lu Xuan really liked a saying from his mentor: Western medicine treats the diseases of life, while traditional Chinese medicine treats the person who is ill.
A person is an entirety in themselves, and traditional Chinese medicine considers the overall state of a person rather than just treating a specific disease. If one only focuses on one area, then what's the difference between that and the approach of Western medicine?
"By the way, Dr. Zhou, I haven't seen Sister Cheng these last two days. How is she doing now?" Lu Xuan inquired about Cheng Gaowen's situation.
After taking the medicine for two days, there should be some effect, right?
Lu Xuan felt a little nervous.
But unexpectedly, mentioning Cheng Gaowen made Zhou Liting become suddenly excited: "Dr. Lu, you don't know?"
Lu Xuan was puzzled. Was he supposed to know?
Although he was the doctor, after all, Cheng Gaowen sought him out for gynecological issues. He couldn't possibly ask her directly, "Sister Cheng, is your menstrual pain better?"
To be honest, for Lu Xuan, who had been single for over twenty years, he could never bring himself to ask such a question.
Unless Cheng Gaowen approached him to explain her situation, he could only keep his curiosity to himself.
"I don't know, Sister Cheng never mentioned it to me." Lu Xuan shook his head.
Zhou Liting widened her eyes: "Sister Cheng sure is carefree, not even telling her attending doctor about such a significant matter."
"What happened?" Lu Xuan felt a bit anxious, fearing that there might be something wrong with the medicine he prescribed.
Seeing Lu Xuan's nervous face, Zhou Liting covered her mouth, laughing: "Don't worry, nothing bad happened. Just that Sister Cheng's menstrual pain got a lot better after taking your medicine. I heard her say that even her sleep improved quite a bit. You're nearly revered as a god to Sister Cheng. Inspired by her, I came out of curiosity. Lately, my period has been a bit irregular—heavy last month, and this month almost half a month late without a sign."
So, you're actually here for period problems?
Lu Xuan felt somewhat at a loss, but hearing that Cheng Gaowen had improved, he also breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he focused his attention on Zhou Liting's face.
Zhou Liting's complexion wasn't great, a bit sallow with some pigmentation, and, most critically, were those... helminth spots?
Lu Xuan doubted his own judgment.
Helminth spots were common in times of poor living conditions and often appeared on faces. But nowadays, with improved living standards and hygiene, it wasn't as prevalent. If it appeared in children, it wouldn't be surprising, as they are naturally inclined to ingest dirty things.
But finding helminth spots on Dr. Zhou Liting was hard to believe.
However, even though he doubted, the inner voice Lu Xuan heard reassured him that his judgment was correct.
"So, how is it?"
Seeing a peculiar expression on Lu Xuan's face, Zhou Liting couldn't help but ask.
Lu Xuan honestly replied, "Parasite accumulation along with menstrual irregularities."
"Parasite accumulation?"
"It commonly refers to intestinal parasites in Western medicine, and there seem to be quite a number of them."
"Oh."
"No way, Dr. Lu, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"
Zhou Liting acknowledged her menstrual irregularities, but since they weren't severe, she never bothered dealing with them. However, being told she had parasites was somewhat unbelievable.
As she was very hygienic, being a doctor herself, how could she possibly have intestinal parasites?
"Dr. Zhou, we're both doctors here. I have no reason to deceive you on this. If you don't believe me, feel free to have your stool tested. Under the microscope, there should be eggs visible."
Lu Xuan looked at her sincerely: "Shall I write a prescription?"
Seeing Lu Xuan wasn't joking, Zhou Liting had no choice but to nod: "Go ahead!"
"Let me see your tongue."
Zhou Liting stuck out her tongue.
"Your hand."
Zhou Liting placed her hand on the pulse pillow, and Lu Xuan placed his hand on hers to feel her pulse.
After a while, he opened his eyes and, through facial examination, tongue diagnosis, and pulse reading, he had a good understanding of Zhou Liting's condition.
"Dr. Zhou, do you often feel emotionally down?"
"How do you know?"
Zhou Liting widened her eyes: "I often feel depressed, and my mood is generally low. Can you tell from this?"
"You can usually get a sense of that." Lu Xuan nodded.
Zhou Liting was awed: "I've heard people say traditional Chinese medicine is awesome, even more so than some advanced instruments in Western medicine. I didn't believe it, but now I do. Traditional Chinese medicine is truly incredible. No wonder Sister Cheng holds you in such high regard, saying you could recite the 'Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Warm Pathogenic Diseases' by heart as a child, with tremendous abilities."
"Dr. Zhou, you're exaggerating; it's not as mystical as Sister Cheng says."
Zhou Liting pouted but said no more, though inwardly she agreed with Cheng Gaowen's earlier words. Dr. Lu was indeed modest, perhaps overly so.
If he hadn't been exposed to traditional Chinese medicine from a young age, could he really possess such skills?
She definitely didn't believe Lu Xuan's humble statements; only fools would.