Hu Meiqiao looked out the window: "Old Wang, you've been at the Health Center for so many years, you should know my temperament. If it were any other time, even if Lu was only here on his second day, I would have scolded him a bit, not just the way I did today, merely reminding him indirectly.
You're right; some things shouldn't set a precedent.
But thinking about the news I got from the district today, I just couldn't bring myself to say those scolding words."
"What's wrong?"
Hu Meiqiao looked serious: "Lu seemed to have offended the director Liu Rong from the District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is why, after less than six months of internship, he ended up at our Health Center."
Wang Youqing was stunned; when he first heard about Lu Xuan, he already had this suspicion.
By all accounts, a top student like Lu Xuan, who graduated from Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, wouldn't typically be assigned to a Health Center, at least a major hospital in the district.
Now, he finally understood.
An intern not yet officially recognized offends a high-positioned director of internal Chinese medicine; the result is self-explanatory.
He's heard of District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine's Liu Rong—no real talent in medicine, but skilled in manipulation, and supposedly family with one of the hospital's deputy directors. His smooth promotion to chief physician was unexpected, yet also expected.
And considering Liu Rong's narrow-mindedness, Lu Xuan was lucky not to be directly driven out of the Yong City medical system.
Now, Wang Youqing finally understood why the director only reminded without scolding Lu Xuan.
That kid Lu Xuan truly is a bit pitiful.
To put it bluntly, in Lu Xuan's current situation, even if there's a chance to leave the Health Center, it'd only be to the District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but now evidently, that path is blocked.
As for other district hospitals, cross-district transfers are too difficult.
And don't even think of the City Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.
Unless Lu Xuan reaches a highly profound achievement in Chinese medicine that makes him immune to Liu Rong's influence, otherwise, he'll probably stay in the Health Center his whole life.
But is that possible?
Achieving something in Chinese medicine relying on himself is almost impossible for Lu Xuan.
What he can figure out, you think Hu Meiqiao wouldn't know?
Under such circumstances, how could Hu Meiqiao bring herself to scold such a pitiful young man?
Wang Youqing stopped talking.
Hu Meiqiao didn't mention it again but instead spoke seriously: "Let's not talk about Lu for now, but we still need to notify the child's parents and have them go to the Provincial Women and Children's Hospital as soon as possible to avoid delaying the condition."
"I'll arrange that!"
Wang Youqing also understood the seriousness, "I'll call the child's parents immediately to explain the severity."
"That's what I thought too. I trust you to handle this matter."
Hu Meiqiao glanced toward the distant Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, thought for a bit, and said solemnly: "There's one more thing I need to trouble you with..."
"The director is talking about Lu, right?"
"Yes."
A glint of helplessness flashed in Hu Meiqiao's eyes: "I understand Lu's situation and feel bad for him, but obviously, this is not something we can control. He has his difficulties, and we have ours. The Health Center is small and can't withstand much turmoil."
"I understand. I'll find time to have a good chat with Lu."
"Alright then, I'll leave these two matters to you."
Not staying long on the second floor, after arranging the follow-up work, Hu Meiqiao hurriedly rushed to the district for a meeting.
Once Hu Meiqiao left, Wang Youqing stayed busy. After finding the child's parents' phone number through the back-end, he called and emphatically instructed Zhou Minjun to take the child to the Provincial Women and Children's Hospital, then hung up.
"Go to the Provincial Women and Children's Hospital?"
Zhou Minjun glanced back at the little one sleeping soundly, hesitating.
She knew Wang Youqing wasn't wrong. A hex-headed screw wasn't something a ten-month-old child could pass on their own, and surgery was the best option.
However, in the days after the child swallowed the screw, today was the calmest day.
Especially after eating the porridge mixed with Bone Charcoal Powder and drinking a spoonful of castor oil, the child was exceptionally well-behaved, no more crying fits, and none of the seizures that happened at the City Women and Children's Hospital. This peaceful scene subconsciously reminded Zhou Minjun of Lu Xuan's last words.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing his wife fall silent after a call, Qi Wei became nervous, worriedly looking at Zhou Minjun.
Zhou Minjun finally snapped back and briefly explained the situation.
"What do you think, dear?" Zhou Minjun suddenly asked.
Qi Wei was taken aback. In his impression, his wife rarely asked for his opinion on matters concerning their child, but soon he caught on, thought for a moment, and said: "Dr. Wang isn't wrong; Dr. Lu is young. In this situation, surgery is the better option. I understand you feel the child is too young and the risks too high, but ultimately, it might not be up to us.
But similarly, having taken Dr. Lu's medicine, Nini's condition has improved significantly, so perhaps the screw might pass through the small intestine. I think we could wait one night.
Didn't Dr. Lu say it should pass in about twelve hours? Let's wait overnight, and if it doesn't pass by tomorrow morning, then we take the child to the Provincial Women and Children's Hospital."
"Then let's wait one more day."
Looking at the little one sleeping, a resolute expression flashed across Zhou Minjun's gentle face.
Meanwhile, in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Lu Xuan was relaxed, especially as he listened to the chatter around him, looking rather pleased.
[Wow! This guy actually knows this kind of folk remedy?]
[This... this is impossible! This remedy, among us, only licorice knows a bit about it because of its harmonizing properties. How could someone so young know?]
The group of Chinese medicine experts was deeply shocked.
Bone Charcoal Powder, castor oil, mixed with porridge.
Frankly, the probability of even old traditional Chinese medicine doctors knowing such a remedy is extremely low. How could a young Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor know?
At this moment, never mind the rest, even licorice, who proposed the Bone Charcoal Powder remedy, was shocked.
[Could his family have a heritage?]
[Doesn't make sense! We haven't heard of anyone in his family studying medicine!]
[Strange!]
Until one of the medicinal herbs proposed a guess that immediately resonated with many others.
[Maybe he read it in some folk remedy book!]
[Didn't expect he studied folk remedies; we miscalculated this time.]
The chatter around made Lu Xuan almost laugh.
Now, do you see what I can do?
With a thought of benefitting more from them next time, Lu Xuan didn't further engage with the group; instead, he pulled out the "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases" he'd read countless times.
Relying on the wool to keep benefiting isn't guaranteed every time; currently, improving his own skills is most important.
There's that saying, 'Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will naturally appear.'
Without guidance, just read the book more times.
Also...
Lu Xuan glanced at the herbal samples on the desk; aren't they the ones who understand traditional Chinese medicine the best?
With this thought, Lu Xuan smiled slightly and intentionally moved the book closer to the herbal samples; maybe these guys would casually give him some pointers.
But, until the end of the workday, Lu Xuan realized his plan was wrong; this group was true chatterboxes about diagnosing illnesses, but when it came to explaining medical texts, they were silent, much to Lu Xuan's disappointment.
If they could guide him, it would be like having dozens of old Traditional Chinese Medicine doctors teaching him hands-on. He believed if he worked hard enough, becoming a Traditional Chinese Medicine expert wouldn't be a problem.
"However, it's not bad right now."
Lu Xuan smiled contentedly, got up, and closed the door.
The second day in the Health Center ended perfectly.
But for Lu Xuan, it wasn't the end; it was just a brand new beginning.