Dr. Xu: A Chinese Medicine Novel

Professor He’s praise leaves Alex with a small problem.

For a moment, though, Alex felt this was his moment of glory.

Professor He was praising him in front of everyone. Professor He—a leading specialist from the provincial hospital!

Alex looked at his stunned colleagues, the admiration in the women’s eyes and the envy on the men’s faces. He felt ready to float away.

But before he could get off the ground, he came straight back down.

He had spotted several thoroughly unimpressed looks.

Leo. Dr. Zhong. Dr. Qi. And Hannah, the resident.

Ugh.

They looked positively disgusted with him.

Alex grew embarrassed too. His face red, he said, “Professor He, this isn’t my prescription. It was… it was written by Dr. Xu. I only recited it.”

“Oh! I see.” Professor He finally understood.

The others shook their heads. That explained it. Alex had given them quite a shock.

Professor He nodded. “Then this Dr. Xu must be very good. Make sure you learn all you can from him. Following an older doctor and copying his prescriptions is an excellent way for a young doctor of Chinese medicine to learn.”[1]

Dr. Qi had been listening for some time. “Professor He, can we use this prescription, then?”

“Yes, of course. I might not be able to write a better one myself. This Dr. Xu really is impressive. I’d like to meet him if I get the chance.”

At that, those who knew the circumstances were dumbstruck.

Professor He was one of the province’s leading specialists in Chinese medicine, his skill widely recognized in the profession.

And now this expert was saying Evan’s ability was on a level with his own.

How could they not be stunned?

Leo and Dr. Zhong exchanged a slightly embarrassed glance. They had thought there might be something wrong with the prescription. All along, the problem had been their own lack of skill.

Dr. Qi cast a cautious glance at the pair too.

Alex was privately startled. He’d already thought very highly of Dr. Xu. Somehow, he’d still underestimated him.

Hannah grimaced. Was Dr. Xu really that good?

Good heavens!

Her crush stirred again. A doctor so handsome, so capable, and so young—where else would you find one?

But… then she pictured Evan on that pink electric scooter, wearing that pink helmet, and it seemed such a shame all over again…

With the consultation over, they sent the prescription off to have the herbs decocted. The doctors trooped after Professor He to the next patient.

After seeing several inpatients, Professor He began his outpatient clinic. He was a visiting specialist under contract with the hospital’s renowned physicians’ clinic, where he saw patients for a few days each month. All his appointments had long since been booked.

As he saw patients in the consulting room, young Chinese medicine doctors crowded around, taking notes.

He was known for his good temper, his medical ethics, and his willingness to help younger colleagues. He shared his clinical experience without holding anything back. Whenever he came, the room filled with young doctors.

He patiently explained the key points of pattern differentiation and what to watch for when choosing formulas and medicines.

For the young doctors, it was a rare opportunity.

Before they knew it, it was noon.

They hosted Professor He for lunch, with several department directors joining him.

Dr. Qi spoke first. “Thank you for all your hard work today, Professor He. I really ought to offer you a toast.”

Professor He waved a hand and chuckled. “I have patients to see this afternoon. No alcohol.”

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“Then I’ll toast you with tea.”[2]

Professor He raised his teacup too. “All right, then. You’re very kind, Dr. Qi.”

“Not at all. You’re the one who’s been so kind.”

They each took a sip.

“How is the patient with the bowel obstruction?” Professor He asked.

Dr. Qi smiled. “You know, that prescription has worked wonderfully. After he took it, his belly kept rumbling, and the vomiting stopped very quickly.”

“His qi movement is starting to return to normal.”

“He finally felt comfortable a little while ago, and he began to feel hungry. He hasn’t eaten in twenty-five days. Now he actually wants food.”

Professor He nodded, smiling. “That’s a sign his bodily functions are recovering. His Stomach qi was rising against its proper direction, which is why he kept vomiting and couldn’t eat. The Stomach functions properly when its qi descends. Now it has finally descended, the vomiting has stopped, and his middle qi is recovering. Naturally, he’ll feel hungry.”[3]

The doctors at the table nodded repeatedly.

“When we started lunch, I sent Hannah to check on him,” Dr. Qi said. “To see how he’s doing now. Ah, here she is. Hannah!”

Hannah hurried over at a jog. “Dr. Qi.”

“How’s the patient with the obstruction?”

“He’s just passed stool,” she said happily. “His bowel function has recovered, and the abdominal pain has stopped too.”

Dr. Qi was surprised as well. “So quickly? It’s only been four or five hours altogether, hasn’t it?”

Even Professor He looked surprised. “It’s worked faster than I expected!”

Dr. Qi couldn’t hide his admiration. “Sometimes Chinese medicine works just as fast as conventional medicine. Faster, even, and with better results.”

Professor He chuckled. “That’s why we should encourage the two to work together. Each has strengths that can make up for the other’s shortcomings. We need to improve clinical diagnosis and treatment together.”

“Yes, yes.” Dr. Qi nodded repeatedly. “We have a few more difficult cases in our department. Could I trouble you to join us for consultations this afternoon?”

“Of course.” Professor He readily agreed.

With the results right there before them, Dr. Zhong and Leo exchanged another look, more embarrassed than ever. It was just as Evan had said: one batch of the decoction to resolve the symptoms; two, and the patient could go home.

“Oh, by the way.” Professor He turned to Dr. Zhong and Leo. “Where’s the Dr. Xu who wrote this prescription? Why hasn’t he come to lunch?”

“Uh…” Both men looked even more embarrassed.

Dr. Qi looked at them too.

Leo gave an awkward smile. “Dr. Xu doesn’t work at our hospital. He’s a Chinese medicine doctor at an outside clinic. We invited him in for a consultation earlier.”

“Oh… He really is very good! There are some remarkable doctors out there. You must thank him properly. Ha!” Professor He reached out with his chopsticks for some food.

“Yes,” Leo said. “Why don’t we invite Dr. Evan Xu to dinner tonight? Since you’re here too, Professor He, I can introduce you.”

Professor He’s chopsticks suddenly clattered down. He turned toward Leo in disbelief.

“You… what did you say his name was?”

Leo looked baffled.

So did everyone else.

What was wrong? Why such a strong reaction?

“Evan… Evan Xu,” Leo replied.

“Oh…” Professor He picked up his chopsticks, shook his head, and smiled. “Sorry. I lost my composure for a moment. Yes, I’d very much like to meet this older doctor.”

“Dr. Xu isn’t very old,” Leo said. “I don’t think he’s thirty yet. He only finished graduate school recently.”

“What did you say?” Professor He’s tone changed completely.

Leo was startled again. What was going on? Why was Professor He reacting like this a second time?

The others were just as bewildered. What was the matter with him?

Still holding his chopsticks, Professor He hurried to his feet and gestured urgently. “Is he about this tall? And… and does he look… look…”

“Very handsome!” Hannah supplied.

Professor He nodded emphatically. “Yes! Very handsome!”

Before they could answer, he asked urgently, “Where’s Evan Xu?”

Reader Notes

Reader Notes

↩︎ Learning through a mentor’s prescriptions. In Chinese medicine, studying beside an experienced practitioner can include recording cases and copying prescriptions to examine how findings lead to a treatment approach and a choice of medicines. “Copying” here describes a way of learning. It does not mean claiming another doctor’s work as one’s own. Professor He is recommending that kind of clinical study; his advice does not establish a formal master–disciple relationship between Alex and Dr. Xu. Source: National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine — Mentorship education, articles 3 and 15–16 (in Chinese).↩︎ A toast with tea. Tea is a familiar expression of hospitality and respect in Chinese social life. A toast can therefore keep its meaning when tea replaces alcohol. Here Dr. Qi thanks a visiting specialist, who declines alcohol because he has patients to see that afternoon. They acknowledge one another’s courtesy and take a sip. The choice of tea carries the thanks; the scene does not depend on drinking alcohol or finishing the cup. Source: Hunan University of Science and Technology, School of Humanities — Tea in place of alcohol (in Chinese).↩︎ Stomach descent and middle qi. In traditional Chinese medicine, Stomach qi normally moves downward as food passes through digestion; upward counterflow is associated with symptoms such as vomiting. “Middle qi” refers to the functional qi of the Spleen and Stomach, not air in the intestines. Capital letters distinguish this traditional usage from anatomical organs. Professor He uses these concepts to interpret the reported return of appetite. The rapid improvement is an event reported within the story; the terminology source explains the concepts, rather than establishing this prescription’s efficacy. Source: WHO — International standard terminologies on traditional Chinese medicine, entries 193–194, 243, 245 and 1214.