The registration hall suddenly fell into dead silence.
Hu Meiqiao's heart went cold halfway.
You want to try?
That's not what I wanted to hear!
Isn't this something that should be refused?
Shouldn't it be avoided?
Believing wholeheartedly that Lu Xuan would help her persuade Ms. Wu and others to leave, Hu Meiqiao was dumbfounded at this moment.
She never expected that Lu Xuan not only didn't persuade Ms. Wu to take her husband elsewhere but even wanted to try. Is this something you can just try?
She couldn't understand.
This result was far too different from what she expected, and for a moment, Hu Meiqiao found it hard to accept.
A patient who had been issued a "death notice" by City First Hospital—she didn't believe the Health Center had the capability to treat him, or in other words, didn't think that Lu Xuan could use Traditional Chinese Medicine to forcibly pull back this patient, who likely only had a few days to live, from the clutches of King Yama.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is not good at dealing with this kind of situation.
Besides, Hu Meiqiao wasn't just thinking about these things.
To be a bit cruel, a patient can die in a Western medicine rescue room, but they absolutely cannot die at the hands of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Lu Xuan's current actions might stem from a doctor's duty to save lives, but he hasn't considered that his approach would undoubtedly bring him huge trouble.
If the patient is fine, it doesn't matter; but once something goes wrong, by that time, few family members of patients would be reasonable; they would only think that the person died in your hands, so you must be responsible.
It's very cruel, but that's reality.
Don't be fooled by Ms. Wu's reasonable demeanor now; she's not causing a scene and is just praying.
But if her husband truly dies at Lu Xuan's hands, can she maintain her current rationality?
It would be hard to say then.
Hu Meiqiao, having worked in a major hospital, had seen too much of these kinds of things.
The human heart can't be tested.
The results of testing often run counter to what you imagine.
Hu Meiqiao had to be cautious.
She stepped forward, and amid other surprised glances, directly pulled Lu Xuan aside and said in a low voice, "Lu, what's going on?"
"You're even daring to treat this kind of situation?"
"You're just looking for trouble for yourself."
As she spoke, Hu Meiqiao's expression also became serious.
Lu Xuan is young, just out of school, hasn't dealt with much of the world, and doesn't understand these things—he may be ignorant, but Hu Meiqiao couldn't pretend not to understand.
This matter is not only about Lu Xuan himself; it would also have significant implications for the Health Center.
Something truly happens, and by that time, it's not only the patient's family that will cause trouble—even the District Health Bureau won't let it go.
Being criticized or even demoted is one thing, but she had to consider others in the Health Center.
"I know."
"You know and yet you dare to take it?"
Hu Meiqiao's eyes widened even more than before: "Do you know how high the risk is in taking in this patient?"
"I know you want to save people, but the premise for saving people is that you are confident you can cure them, and without any accidents."
"I'm not from a Traditional Chinese Medicine background, nor do I understand it, but there's one thing I've heard."
At this point, Hu Meiqiao paused and said a sentence: "When a patient dies under Western medicine, it's nothing major, but when a patient dies under Traditional Chinese Medicine, it becomes a major issue."
Indeed, that was the sentence.
Lu Xuan's expression was complicated, having heard this before.
When he was an undergraduate at Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, his teacher had said the same thing.
At that time, his teacher told him a principle.
If you encounter a disease you're not confident about, especially a life-threatening one, avoid it if you can; otherwise, it could lead to endless trouble.
Recalling that scene in the classroom, Lu Xuan came to his senses and said earnestly, "Dean, I heard this sentence from my first lecture at Zhijiang. The risk of treating this patient is indeed very high, but it's not that I have no confidence–I'm not a fool."
"Not a fool?"
"I think you are a fool."
Hu Meiqiao said indignantly, "In such situations, others avoid them like the plague, yet you welcome it. I really don't know what you're thinking."
Lu Xuan could only give an awkward smile.
"However, let me speak candidly with you."
Her tone changed: "Even if you say you're confident, I can't let you mess around with this. Accepting this patient affects not just you, but the entire Health Center.
If nothing goes wrong, all is well, but if something does, you won't escape, and the entire Health Center will suffer. Lu, you're very smart, and I believe you can understand my concerns.
As the dean, I need to consider the interests of the entire Health Center."
Lu Xuan had a headache.
What he worried about had happened.
Facing this situation, as the dean, Hu Meiqiao would not fail to stop it.
However, Lu Xuan also had his reasons for having to take this patient: "Dean, do you know why, despite the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine to this day, it has not advanced but instead regressed?"
Hu Meiqiao rolled her eyes; she wasn't from a Traditional Chinese Medicine background, so how could she know such details?
Lu Xuan explained, "Apart from the past secrecy and reluctance to share knowledge in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the greater issue is that, in situations like this, there are fewer and fewer practitioners with the resolve to risk everything."
"If you learn it, you should use it—without the spirit of adventure, how can Traditional Chinese Medicine be carried forward?"
"Maybe you think I'm being foolish, but if no one dares to eat the first crab, I'm willing to be the first one to try."
He finished, looking at Hu Meiqiao with a determined expression.
He wanted to use this attitude to show her his resolve.
Hu Meiqiao was visibly moved; Lu Xuan's ambition was grander than she had imagined.
After a long pause, Hu Meiqiao sighed: "Have you decided?"
"You need to know, this path is filled with thorns and dangers—one wrong move, and you might be shattered."
"I've decided!"
Lu Xuan nodded solemnly.
Hu Meiqiao put on a serious expression: "In that case, I agree."
Lu Xuan was a bit taken aback but quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Dean."
"But there are conditions."
Lu Xuan wore a cheerful expression; if there were no conditions, he would suspect that Hu Meiqiao was joking with him.
With conditions, it means there's a chance.
"Go ahead," Lu Xuan replied respectfully.
Hu Meiqiao glanced at Ms. Wu and the others looking over, then turned and lowered her voice: "I'll go negotiate with the patient's family in a moment; you must not object throughout, or I won't agree to let you treat the patient."
Although unsure of what Hu Meiqiao would say in a moment, Lu Xuan, not wanting to miss the opportunity, obviously had no other choice but to agree reluctantly.
After they finished talking, Hu Meiqiao directly approached Ms. Wu: "Ms. Wu, regarding your husband's condition, I've had a brief communication with Dr. Lu. He is willing to give it a try. There are some things he won't say, but as the dean and also his senior, I have to say it."
"Please, Dean Hu. As long as there's hope, we don't want to give up," Ms. Wu wouldn't dare hesitate; right now, Lu Xuan was her husband's last hope.
Wang Youqing's eyes were as wide as saucers.
The current situation was entirely different from what he imagined.
He thought the dean had convinced Lu Xuan, but it seemed now that Lu Xuan had convinced the dean!
Are these two crazy?
They dare to take on this situation?
He could understand Lu Xuan wanting to try—after all, the young are fearless.
But for Hu Meiqiao to join in, that was unexpected.
Wang Youqing looked anxious, wanting to remind the dean but couldn't open his mouth; otherwise, the patient's family might go after him.
After thinking for a moment, he could only patiently wait.
"Let's first hear what the dean has to say!"
He thought to himself, shifting his focus to Hu Meiqiao.