Chapter 373: An Unexpected Turn for Healing

This was truly his first time witnessing the marvels of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

“Haha, it’s really nothing so mysterious. What seems incurable to Western medicine might just be treatable with Chinese medicine, and vice versa. I’ve seen plenty of cases where only Western medicine could save a life.”

Master Chen lit up with joy when he heard Su Qianqian’s condition was improving.

The laughter ringing from the other end of the phone was bright and hearty.

“Yes, yes, both Chinese and Western medicine have their strengths. Isn’t the country actively promoting their integration these days? My girlfriend has finished her medicine, but you only see patients at home on Saturdays. That’s four days without any medication—I’m worried about her getting worse. Would it be possible to arrange a visit before then?”

Zhou Can made his request as politely as he could.

For him, money was never the issue.

He was fully prepared to thank Master Chen for the house call—no less than ten thousand yuan in that red envelope.

If Master Chen could cure Su Qianqian, he’d happily pay even more.

Last time, Master Chen had just taken a symbolic six-yuan consultation fee—about the same as a charitable clinic.

“Normally, I don’t see patients outside my set hours. But you’re Director Jian’s friend, and he recently called to tell me you have a solid character, a real talent for medicine, and you’re deeply devoted to your girlfriend. I really admire upstanding young folks like you, so I’m willing to make an exception. If you’re free tonight, bring your girlfriend to the staff dormitory at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Institute.”

Master Chen gave him the address.

Thanks to Director Jian’s glowing recommendation, Zhou Can had gotten this rare chance.

After work, Zhou Can headed straight to Director Jian’s home with gifts in hand.

You should always remember those who help you.

If not for Director Jian’s information and connections, there never would have been this breakthrough for Su Qianqian.

Director Jian’s home was just over three hundred meters from Tuyu Hospital.

Hongfu Garden was a newly built, upscale complex going for over 22,000 yuan per square meter. Every apartment was at least ninety square meters, with three bedrooms, a living room, and a bath. The largest units were a whopping 180 square meters, with prices rivaling townhouses.

Many people only know surgeons earn big money, but internal medicine doctors’ incomes are just as impressive.

Once you rise to chief physician, your monthly take-home is rarely below fifty thousand.

Director Jian Dong wasn’t just a well-established chief physician—he also held the post of deputy head for the department.

His authority didn’t match the department head, but he still wielded real power.

There was no shortage of gray-area income to be had.

From what Zhou Can learned during his two months training in the nephrology department, Director Jian got paid significantly more than his peers for lectures and guest talks.

Insiders knew exactly how those arrangements worked.

Gone are the days when pharmaceutical reps could win over chief physicians by sleeping with them and handing out kickbacks. With regulations so tight, both sides want to play it safe now.

Imagine going through all that only to see your carefully cultivated chief physician get investigated right after.

What could the rep do—cry to herself?

Wouldn’t that be a huge waste?

So nowadays, reps have found much safer ways to pass along benefits.

They get the doctor invited to give lectures or talks, and the organizers pay a hefty appearance fee.

This money is legitimate and stands up to any scrutiny.

Doctors feel at ease taking it, companies feel secure paying it.

With a strong regular income—and some extras—it’s no surprise Director Jian could afford a place here. Senior doctors like him usually pay upfront; mortgages are for new buyers.

Zhou Can knew exactly where Director Jian lived, thanks to that one time he’d helped him home after a drinking session.

He rang the doorbell.

A woman with curlers in her hair opened the door.

It wouldn’t be right to call her an old lady—she still fell into the ‘middle-aged’ range. Her hair was jet black, skin only lightly wrinkled, and she was clearly well cared for.

“Oh, it’s Zhou Can! Come in, come in!”

This, of course, was Director Jian’s wife.

She remembered Zhou Can well, after he’d brought her husband home before.

“Auntie, is Director Jian home?”

Gifts in hand, Zhou Can was hoping to see the man himself.

“Old Jian went out. Anything I can help you with?”

“Nothing too pressing. I came to thank Director Jian for saving my girlfriend. Just some small supplements as a token of appreciation—please don’t mind.”

Zhou Can handed over the gifts.

“Oh my, Zhou, you didn’t have to! That’s far too much!” She waved her hands repeatedly, though her eyes lingered on the packages.

“Auntie, you must take them. It’s just a small thank-you for what Director Jian did.”

“How could I? Come sit for a while, have some tea!”

She half-heartedly refused, but still accepted the gifts.

“I’ll come again soon. I have some errands—goodbye, Auntie!”

“Thank you, Zhou Can!”

“No need to thank me!”

With a wave, Zhou Can hurried off.

Right outside the complex, a BMW was parked—it was Su Qianqian’s car.

Wei Fang had the coordinates, sent over by Zhou Can.

“Honey, hop in!”

Su Qianqian was in high spirits, practically glowing. The happiness on her face was obvious.

As soon as he got in, Zhou Can said to Wei Fang, “Head to the research institute’s dormitory!”

“That’s the location you sent me before, right?”

“Yeah!”

“Got it!”

Wei Fang started the navigation and drove off toward their destination.

Modern technology moves at lightning speed—mobile payments, GPS navigation, online shopping. Life has never been more convenient.

“I really hope I can get better soon! Then I can marry you!” She leaned her head on Zhou Can’s shoulder.

“You definitely will! Honestly, you don’t have to wait—nothing in the law says a sick person can’t get married.”

The more she cared like this, the deeper Zhou Can’s love.

Her kindness and genuine concern for others made her all the more beautiful.

Every man wants a woman with a beautiful heart.

She said nothing more, simply closed her eyes and savored the comfort of his steady shoulder.

Over thirty minutes later, they found Master Chen Guoli at the staff dormitory of the research institute.

The place looked seriously rundown.

It was just another sign of traditional medicine’s struggles: research needs funding, but if you’re not making big money, there’s no support.

“Master Chen, I never expected such humble living from someone with skills like yours. Your single-minded focus on medicine and disregard for material comforts is truly deserving of respect.”

Zhou Can saw that the dorm was a cramped two-bedroom unit, nothing fancy at all.

Apart from books and equipment for herbal research, there was hardly anything of value.

The television was an ancient color model.

There was no air conditioner—just a faded old fan in the corner.

Even the refrigerator was the most basic kind.

The furniture looked decades old and worn.

“All my life, I’ve only cared about studying Chinese medicine and herbs. Food, clothes, housing—all those things don’t matter to me. Sorry the place is so simple. Please, have a seat!”

Master Chen seemed quietly content.

“This may be a humble home, but character makes it shine. A mountain’s not special unless there’s a wise man living there. If not for your brilliant healing, my girlfriend would still be suffering, with no hope in sight.”

Zhou Can spoke from the heart.

“Haha, you’ve really got a sweet tongue! Still, it’s nice to hear.”

Master Chen was delighted by the praise, a satisfied grin on his face.

“Come, have some tea!”

Master Chen’s wife, hair fully gray but bearing herself with elegance, reminded one of a classical scholar’s lady.

“Thank you!”

Zhou Can quickly rose to accept the tea—proper manners.

Su Qianqian followed his lead and accepted her cup as well.

“Thank you, Auntie!”

Her words were even sweeter than Zhou Can’s.

“This is just a little token of our thanks for you, Master Chen—something we picked up when buying supplements for Qianqian. I hope you won’t mind!”

Zhou Can offered the gift.

“Young man, you don’t know Guoli’s ways. He never accepts gifts. We appreciate your kindness, but please take this back.”

Master Chen’s wife stood her ground.

“Master Chen, this really is just our heartfelt gratitude. We’re truly thankful for everything you’ve done.”

Zhou Can could only look hopefully at Master Chen.

But his wife was not budging.

“A doctor’s duty is to heal, nothing more. If anyone tries to bribe me, I get angry—plain and simple.”

Master Chen’s face grew stern.

If Zhou Can had pushed any further, he’d have been shown the door right then.

“Okay, okay, no more gifts! Please, don’t be upset!”

Zhou Can truly admired this couple’s principles.

“Your integrity will be a guiding light for my own medical career. In today’s world where greed often wins, few doctors still live by your standards.”

Meeting people of such virtue is always inspiring.

“Everyone has their own goals and ways to live, son. Just never become the sort who’ll do anything for money, or betray your ethics. We old-timers grew up in tough times. If you can eat, stay warm, and live somewhere dry, that’s happiness. No need for you young folks to mimic us.”

Master Chen was strict with himself but open-minded and never rigid.

“Don’t worry, no matter how poor I get, I’ll never lose my conscience!”

Zhou Can made his promise with real sincerity.

Master Chen nodded, satisfied. “I believe you. Old Jian had nothing but praise for your character. Now, tell me—after a full course of medicine, do you feel any changes?” He turned to Su Qianqian.

“Yes! My body feels much lighter now, and honestly, I feel so much better, especially… well, even going to the bathroom is easier. I don’t get as worn out when I’m tired, either.”

Su Qianqian described the changes she’d noticed.

Master Chen took out a wrist pillow and placed it on the table.

“Come here—I’ll check your pulse.”

He carefully felt the pulse at both of Su Qianqian’s wrists, then lifted her eyelids for a closer look.

“Not bad. If things keep going this way, your right kidney could return to normal within eight months. The left kidney is in rougher shape—eventually, you might need two special main herbs to get it fully recovered.”

Hearing this, Zhou Can and Su Qianqian were overjoyed.

If she hadn’t tried the medicine for a full course, they’d have thought it was all nonsense.

But now, they really believed every word.

Seeing is believing. Personal experience trumps everything.

“What are the two special herbs? I’ll start searching right away.”

With what Zhou Can had, no herbal price would deter him.

“They’re not easy to find. As far as I know, they’re extinct in the market. Back in the late Qing Dynasty, my teacher had a patient whose family spent a fortune, but managed to get those two herbs and save the patient. The diagnosis back then was for eye disease, but with today’s knowledge, it would’ve been uremia in the mid-to-late stage—kidney failure, toxin buildup, blindness, and blackened, swollen legs.”

The late Qing was the weakest era in Huaxia—medical standards were far behind, pretty much limited to Chinese medicine.

Western doctors only showed up with the missionaries.

“However tough, I’ll do my best. Please, just tell me the names of the herbs.”

Zhou Can pleaded.

With modern industry, nature has suffered—whole species are gone, and with them, crucial medicines.

It’s a huge loss for humanity.

Keeping biodiversity alive is still a massive challenge.

“Alright, I’ll add the names when I finish the prescription. One of the main herbs is currently being artificially cultivated; if it works, you’ll be able to find it. The other, though, comes from an extinct animal. My knowledge hasn’t yet found a replacement—finding it would take a miracle.”

What Master Chen didn’t realize was Zhou Can’s resources.

With enough money, just about anything was possible.

He wrote out a new prescription for Su Qianqian, including the two possible main herbs just in case.

“But those herbs might not even be needed. My advice—stick with the regimen for now and come back in eight months. With luck, even your left kidney could turn a corner. Our bodies can do amazing repairs. Her chronic renal failure is mostly qi deficiency—her kidney damage isn’t that severe. If you’d found me two years ago, she could have been fully cured by now.”

Master Chen shared his thoughts.

Sometimes fate just has obstacles waiting for us, making them impossible to dodge.

If Su Qianqian’s kidney problems hadn’t gotten so serious, Zhou Can wouldn’t have rushed to seek help from Director Jiang and Director Jian. If he wasn’t close with Director Jian, the referral to Master Chen might never have happened.

And even if it had, Zhou Can might not have trusted the advice.

Everything in life has its cause and effect.

Only when the timing is right do things naturally happen.

Otherwise, even if a chance is staring you in the face, you might not notice—or grasp—it.

“Miss, remember to keep up with the exercises I taught you. Dietary supplements can be a long-term help too. Just take it slowly—don’t rush. Too much of anything can backfire.”

Master Chen reminded her.

“I understand!”

She nodded.

No matter the supplement, too much can cause indigestion or even worse—do real harm.

“Is the consultation fee still six yuan?” At this point, it was time to take their leave.

Their gifts hadn’t been accepted.

But the consultation fee needed to be paid.