This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

”Xintian, could you ask your student for the prescription? And the medications that have been changed recently, could you also get hold of them?”

”What’s wrong, Grandfather?”

”The medication he uses is wonderfully effective.”

”Oh, come on. If you were treating this girl, Grandfather, I’m sure you’d do much better and use even more miraculous medicines.”

Lan Changhua shook his head, but a faint smile touched the corners of his mouth. ”I couldn’t do it. There’s no need for self-deception. I’ve also been running simulations, but with my methods of medication, the effects wouldn’t be this pronounced.”

Putting down the inspection sheet in his hand, Lan Changhua sat up a little straighter. ”My approach to medication should be similar to this Doctor Du’s; both focus on breaking down indurations and promoting softening, as well as eliminating toxins and draining pus.

But this Doctor Du’s use of medicine is so potent; such results can be achieved in just half a month. And from what you’ve said, the patient’s body hasn’t suffered any major issues; on the contrary, her spirits are even higher. His grasp of medication, his sheer boldness—I’m somewhat lacking in comparison.”

In Zhang Xintian’s heart, his grandfather, Lan Changhua, was a god, an idol, a role model. He couldn’t bear to hear others say his grandfather wasn’t capable, nor could he stand to hear his grandfather disparage himself like that.

”That’s because this Doctor Du is still young and hasn’t suffered any major setbacks. He’s just recklessly bold. Let him practice medicine for a few more years, and then we’ll see if he still dares to be so audacious.”

Hearing his grandson defending him, Lan Changhua let out a chuckle. ”He’s no reckless fool. Every change in the patient is within his predictions. Each medication change, the precision of those changes—that’s not something achievable through mere boldness.”

Seeing that Zhang Xintian was about to speak again, Lan Changhua waved a hand. ”Alright, everyone knows what kind of person your grandfather is; you don’t need to defend me. Now, go and ask for me what this basic prescription is.”

Zhang Xintian was dumbfounded. He had majored in public health and didn’t quite understand some of the traditional Chinese medicine terminology. ”Grandfather, what is a basic prescription?”

Lan Changhua sighed. Of all the skills he possessed, while the students he taught had learned sixty to seventy percent, his own children and grandchildren hadn’t learned a single bit.

”The basic prescription is the core formula for treating a patient. As the condition changes, one only needs to add or subtract certain medicinal ingredients from the original prescription; the main body of the formula remains unchanged.

Such prescriptions are mostly classic formulas passed down from ancient medical masters, validated by countless predecessors. However, after observing this Doctor Du’s treatment process, I simply can’t recall any renowned formula that achieves such an effect.”

Zhang Xintian still said defiantly, ”Perhaps it’s an unknown prescription he dug up from some obscure corner, and he just got lucky, like a blind cat catching a dead mouse.”

”’You insolent whelp!’ Hearing his grandson’s reckless words, Lan Changhua suddenly flared up. ’Every prescription that has been passed down is the culmination of the painstaking efforts of countless predecessors. How dare you disparage them like that? And to think, the act of healing the sick and saving lives becomes a ’dead mouse’ in your mouth! You, a teacher, should be ashamed!’”

Startled, Zhang Xintian quickly ducked his head and scurried off.

Hopefully, the prescription can be obtained; otherwise, the old man’s anger will not easily subside.

However, when he tried to contact Zhu Minyan again, he was met with a heartless rejection. It was no longer like the previous times when his connection request would be immediately accepted.

”’Classmate Zhu Minyan, could you share the prescription you’re using with me?’ His video request having failed, Zhang Xintian had no choice but to leave a message.

However, even after a long time, his message received no reply.

Zhang Xintian felt quite helpless; he had no idea what was wrong on her end.

We’d been chatting so well for the past ten days or so, he wondered. Why would she suddenly start ignoring me?

However, to complete the task his grandfather had assigned, he could only try to connect and leave messages daily. All his attempts, however, were like stones dropped into the ocean, eliciting no response whatsoever.

If Zhang Xintian hadn’t managed to get through to Zhu Fanzhong by phone and learn that Zhu Minyan’s condition was improving daily, he would have assumed that Zhu Minyan might have become fatally ill, or perhaps had suddenly passed away.

Zhang Xintian wanted to complete his grandfather’s task, and also, with the school term about to start, he had many things to discuss with Zhu Minyan. So, he asked Zhu Fanzhong to relay a message, requesting Zhu Minyan to maintain communication with him.

The effect was quite good; communication, which had been broken for ten days, was finally restored.

However, when they connected again, Zhu Minyan’s attitude towards him had undergone a dramatic transformation.

She was no longer as enthusiastic as before and didn’t answer every question as she used to. Moreover, whenever they chatted, Zhu Minyan no longer covered her face with a silk scarf. She faced him, her teacher, directly with her blotchy skin.

As a result, although they spoke less, he could clearly observe Zhu Minyan’s daily changes.

Later on, every time Zhang Xintian had a video call with Zhu Minyan, Lan Changhua would even hide behind him to observe her changes.

And every change he witnessed left Lan Changhua feeling it was incredible, simply miraculous.

After each observation, Lan Changhua would imagine himself at that stage of treatment, wondering what the outcome would have been if he were the one prescribing the medication.

Unfortunately, each time, the timing he would have chosen for changing the medication differed from when Zhu Minyan actually received her changes. Moreover, based on his own understanding of the medicines, none of the improvements he projected were as good as Zhu Minyan’s actual progress.

At certain moments, Lan Changhua truly felt he was getting old.

Time passed, and everyone continued to watch Zhu Minyan’s progress. Unfortunately, Zhu Minyan never told Zhang Xintian what medicine Du Heng had prescribed for her, or what medicines were changed.

On September tenth, the tumor on the left side of her neck had shrunk to the size of an egg. The tumors on the right side, as well as those under her armpits and in her groin, had all disappeared.

On October third, the remaining tumor on her left side had shrunk to the size of a thumb.

Zhu Minyan left a message saying she had no other particular sensations, only thirst and shortness of breath. After an examination by Doctor Du, her tongue was found to be red and without coating, and her pulse was deep and slippery. He immediately changed her prescription to one that would strongly replenish her original qi and nourish Yin to resolve phlegm.

Zhang Xintian was once again frustrated; there were symptoms, examination findings, and treatment goals, but still no prescription was disclosed.

On October twentieth, Zhu Minyan declined a video call but left a message stating that the tumor on her left side had completely disappeared. Doctor Du had issued a new prescription, which included Decoction medicine and pellet medicine, aimed at eradicating the root of illness and consolidating the therapeutic effect.

She was also informed that, starting that day, her treatment for vitiligo would commence.

And so, from that day on, Zhang Xintian was never again successful in establishing a video call; each day, he could only read Zhu Minyan’s text messages.

Lan Changhua, looking at the messages on his grandson’s mobile phone, was overcome with an indescribable excitement.

Malignant lymphoma is not an incurable disease nowadays, but for the patient to recover to her original state in merely two months, without any lasting side effects, was truly astonishing.

Now, the only question was whether the patient would relapse in the future.

If he could also prevent a relapse, then this Doctor Du’s achievement would truly be immeasurable.

”’By the way, did you say he’s about to start treating the girl’s vitiligo?’”

”’Yes, that’s what Zhu Minyan said in her message.’”

Lan Changhua fell silent once more.

Lately, it seemed that every time he saw or heard anything about this Doctor Du, he would fall silent.

The strength of traditional Chinese medicine lies in its holistic approach; any form of specialization was considered unorthodox.

This was a viewpoint held by many traditional Chinese medicine practitioners some years ago.

However, with the progress of society and the development of modern medicine, many traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have had to gradually align with modern medicine, also beginning to develop towards more specialized paths.

It wasn’t as if understanding the Spleen and Stomach meant complete ignorance of the cardiopulmonary system, but their actual depth of knowledge in other areas was often not much better.

At best, their knowledge could only be considered superficial. This led to the saying that traditional Chinese medicine doesn’t cure illnesses, or that treating illnesses with it is a ’Slow Doctor’ affair. Of course, limitations on medication dosage were also a significant contributing factor.

But to switch from treating lymphoma, a type of tumor, to a skin disease like vitiligo—that’s quite a significant leap. Can he really manage it?

Over these two months, Lan Changhua’s feelings towards this Doctor Du, whom he had never met, had transitioned from initial interest to admiration, then to respect, and now even to a sense that he himself couldn’t measure up.

However, upon hearing that Doctor Du would also be treating vitiligo, a hint of doubt and worry arose in him.

”’Xintian, continue to stay in contact with this student of yours, and keep me updated on the treatment progress at all times.’”

”’I understand, Grandfather.’”

Zhang Xintian had now grown accustomed to such arrangements and no longer raised any questions.