This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

”I’ll pick one aspect to quiz you all on: the kidney opens at the ears. Do you know what this means? Why does the kidney correspond to our ears?”

Some of the Chinese Medicine teachers in the audience furrowed their brows, while others appeared unfazed, sitting cross-legged with blank expressions as they watched Professor Ding on stage.

The new students, however, knew nothing about ’the kidney opens at the ears’ and could only guess wildly, making the venue quite lively for a moment.

Professor Ding smiled as she watched the reactions of the teachers and students below. She was very pleased with this effect.

After a light cough to suppress the noise from the audience, she slowly said, ”This question has puzzled me for quite some time. I’ve always wondered, why do the kidneys, located at the waist, correspond to the ears on our heads?

”Not to mention the distance between them; one is an organ of the body’s metabolism, while the other is an external auditory organ. It seems there is no apparent connection between them.”

Professor Ding paused for a moment, adopting a mysterious expression.

However, Du Heng frowned and couldn’t help but exchange glances with Li Jianwei beside him.

As expected, Li Jianwei’s eyes were also full of doubt as he looked back at Du Heng.

Both of them had the same question: as a teacher of the basics of traditional Chinese medicine, is it really appropriate to say that the kidney is merely a metabolic organ?

In Chinese Medicine, ”kidney” indeed refers to the organ known in Western medicine as the kidney, but it’s not limited to the organ itself; it’s a more abstract concept.

So how could a teacher of Chinese Medicine, particularly a professor, claim that the kidney is only a metabolic organ?

But the things making Du Heng frown were far from over.

After her mysterious pause, Professor Ding slowly said, ”It wasn’t until I once saw a Western medical report on fetal development. The report detailed that during fetal development, the kidneys and ears originate from the same nerve.

At that moment, I had an epiphany! So, this is the principle behind ’the kidney opens at the ears’.”

Du Heng’s mouth gaped open; his jaw almost dropped to the ground.

Is *this* how ’the kidney opens at the ears’ is explained?

On stage, Professor Ding suddenly spoke proudly, ”Our ancestors, in ancient times, without the aid of modern medical equipment or the verification of modern medicine, were still able to accurately conclude that ’the kidney opens at the ears.’ This shows...”

Listening to Professor Ding continuously boasting about Chinese Medicine and its predecessors, Du Heng suddenly felt nauseated.

He felt sick that Chinese Medicine had such a professor.

Although she was vigorously praising Chinese Medicine and its ancestors to the heavens, Du Heng couldn’t help but feel a sense of revulsion.

At this moment, Du Heng didn’t feel the person on stage was a professor of Chinese Medicine or a devout believer in it. Instead, he saw her as the ultimate Traditional Chinese Medicine black.

With such a Chinese Medicine professor, could anyone really expect her to produce capable TCM students?

Moreover, the most critical point was that she was a teacher! She taught new students every year. Judging by her current age, she could probably teach for at least another twenty years, couldn’t she?

Adding the students she had already taught, plus those taught during her itinerant lectures like today’s... this... this...

Du Heng didn’t dare to think further. He swallowed hard and, his face darkening, prepared to stand up. He couldn’t control other students, nor did he have the authority to, but the students at *this* school absolutely could not be misled by such ideas.

Moreover, one thing particularly worried him: Professor Ding had such a solid platform and an impressive background that the other Chinese Medicine teachers at the school looked dazed. They were clearly intimidated by her credentials and standing, seemingly believing she was right. This was even more problematic.

Just as Du Heng impulsively moved to stand, Li Jianwei beside him, disagreed.

He knew Du Heng’s temperament too well. Du Heng could be carefree about other matters, even laugh them off, but when it came to professional issues, Du Heng was never ambiguous.

Even when Li Jianwei, his own teacher, made mistakes in diagnosis or prescription, Du Heng would point it out, either subtly or directly, and watch until it was corrected, showing no deference whatsoever. So, it was even less likely he’d back down for a visiting professor with whom he had no connection.

So, as Du Heng started to rise, Li Jianwei quickly reached out, grabbed his arm, and whispered, ”What are you doing? Sit down.”

Du Heng glanced at Li Jianwei’s hand on his arm, gave Li Jianwei a faint smile, then removed his hand and resolutely stood up.

”Professor Ding, hello. I have a question I’d like to ask, if I may.”

”...You are... a teacher, correct? We’re simply exchanging ideas, discussing. ’Advice’ is too formal a term, I wouldn’t dare.” Professor Ding, her expression as warm as a spring breeze, smiled at Du Heng. ”May I ask your name, Teacher, and what subject you teach?”

”My name is Du Heng, and I teach Diagnostic Studies.”

”Diagnostic Studies?!” Professor Ding’s eyes flickered. ”Diagnostic Studies is the most crucial part of Chinese Medicine, its very essence. To teach Diagnostic Studies, Mr. Du, your skill in diagnosis and treatment must be very high indeed.

Please, go on. Let’s discuss it together.”

Flattery?

Du Heng’s mouth twitched. This Professor Ding certainly knew how to play the game, deeply understanding the principles of mutual flattery—’you praise me, I’ll praise you’—and ’one doesn’t hit a smiling face.’ With such upfront praise, combined with her background and status, most people would indeed find it difficult to challenge her.