"Whether what I said counts, it's not up to me to decide. I'll re-examine you the day after tomorrow and we'll know then."
After a quick drive, she dropped Lu Yi off at the entrance of Qingyun Residential Complex.
"Come up and sit for a while? I'm all alone at home," Lu Yi teased through the car window.
Lin Chuqing shot him a glance and chuckled, "Your facial control has improved since yesterday, but your words are still insincere."
With that, she drove off without looking back.
Lu Yi touched his face and sighed.
Lin Chuqing sped back to her villa. After greeting Qin Yi in the living room, she went straight upstairs to her room—she was staying at her aunt's place in Qingshan County.
Sitting on her bed, she closed her eyes. Having reached the finals of an international "Greatest Brain" competition, she vividly recalled the prescription Lu Yi had just written.
She opened her eyes, quickly typed it out, sent it to the private group chat for People's Hospital doctors, and tagged Wang Fengnian.
She desperately needed a professional to explain whether the prescription Lu Yi had written could actually help someone quit smoking.
Could Traditional Chinese Medicine really help people quit?
And if it truly worked, perhaps she could gain something from this prescription herself!
"9g Trichosanthes fruit, 12 red dates, 9g Bupleurum, 9g Scutellaria, 15g Curcuma, 9g Arisaema, 30g Gypsum. Director Wang, can this prescription really help someone quit smoking?"
"No."
Five seconds later, Zhou Wenxuan was the first to jump in. "Not only can this not help someone quit smoking, but that amount of Trichosanthes fruit will definitely hurt the stomach, and the dosage of Gypsum is also far too high."
"Agreed," the other TCM doctors chimed in. "Looking at the composition, it might alleviate the aftereffects of smoking, but quitting is unlikely."
Seeing their responses, Lin Chuqing frowned. Could it really not help?
"Who wrote this prescription? This prescription might actually work!"
At that moment, Wang Fengnian replied.
Lin Chuqing felt a jolt of excitement and quickly typed, "Is it really possible?"
*Huh?*
Zhou Wenxuan, who was smoking in front of his phone screen, froze. This could help people quit?
The other doctors immediately asked, "What do you mean, Director?"
Wang Fengnian was the head of the TCM department at their hospital and widely recognized as the most skilled practitioner there. Had he spotted something they hadn't?
Doctors from other departments also jumped in, watching the chat out of curiosity. Could TCM really make people quit smoking?
"I don't know if this exact formula can cure the addiction, but the approach is definitely aimed at helping one quit!"
Wang Fengnian typed quickly:
"Trichosanthes fruit is the only herb in TCM that can clear out decades of phlegm in the lungs, so the primary ingredient here is meant to purge the smoker's lungs."
"However, in ancient times, Trichosanthes was used for washing clothes; it's highly alkaline and very hard on the stomach. Adding twelve red dates is precisely to protect it."
"Given that smokers have a lot of phlegm, this prescription uses Arisaema to clear the residual phlegm."
"Even with those three steps, it still isn't enough to make someone quit. The real genius lies in the Bupleurum, Scutellaria, and Curcuma! These herbs regulate liver energy and disperse liver stagnation, allowing the liver to recover and handle the tobacco toxins, directly killing the patient's desire to smoke."
"And the most brilliant part is the Gypsum!"
"After quitting, one's appetite spikes. Using the cold nature of Gypsum to clear stomach heat slows down gastric motility, preventing the patient from binge eating!"
"This prescription even accounts for the weight gain that occurs after quitting. It considers every single aspect. If I were to write a prescription for smoking cessation, I couldn't write a better one than this."
As soon as this message appeared, the entire group fell silent.
After hearing Wang Fengnian’s explanation, they all suddenly felt that this prescription might truly work.
"Who wrote this?"
Wang Fengnian hurriedly messaged Lin Chuqing privately.
Lin Chuqing replied with only two words: "Lu Yi."
"The young man who came to my clinic the other day?"
"Yes!"
"So it was him. A remarkable young man!"
Just then, Lin Chuqing's screen flickered again. It was a message of concern from Zhou Wenxuan.
Lin Chuqing glanced at it and immediately blocked him.
Then, she copied Wang Fengnian's analysis and began searching online for all the world's academic papers on smoking cessation.
In a high-end residential complex in Qingshan County.
After Zhou Wenxuan sent his message to Lin Chuqing, he waited anxiously for a reply.
More than ten minutes passed, and there was still nothing.
Unable to handle his growing anxiety, he nervously sent another message.
"Are you asleep?"
His eyes suddenly widened. That bright red "!" mark hit him like a lightning bolt. His third cigarette dropped from his mouth and landed right between his legs.
"Ah!"
...
The next morning, 6:30 AM.
Wei Bin woke up, went to the bathroom as usual, finished his business, and flushed.
He was just about to have breakfast after washing his hands.
His wife glared at him, whipped off her apron, and rushed into the bathroom clutching her stomach. The moment she entered, a shout echoed out:
"Wei Bin, why are you smoking in the bathroom again? Didn't the doctor tell you to quit?"
A groggy Wei Bin froze in his tracks.
Like a bolt of lightning, Lu Yi's words from the previous night flashed through his mind, and he stood completely still.
*The stool really smelled like smoke?!*
He hadn't even been smoking just now!
If Doctor Lu could truly help him quit smoking, then his heart condition...
At that thought, an expression of urgency appeared on Wei Bin’s face. He quickly put on his clothes and dashed out the door.
"I'm going to get an exam. Have breakfast without me."
As he headed downstairs, he pulled out his phone and called the Chief Physician of the Cardiovascular Department at the People’s Hospital to schedule a check-up.
Half an hour later, the Chief of the Cardiovascular Department, who had been summoned to the hospital early in the morning, stood frozen, holding two Doppler echocardiograms.
He checked them repeatedly, confirming he hadn't made a mistake.
Three days ago, the thrombus area was large. Today, it had clearly shrunk.
"Commissioner Wei, what have you been doing these past few days? How has the thrombosis reduced?" the Chief asked in disbelief.
Wei Bin didn't answer. He was in a daze, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented joy.
*That tree-bumping exercise really works?!*
The image of that straight tree appeared in his mind!
He, the Security Department Commissioner, was determined to get his hands on that tree!
...
At 7:40 AM, the attending physicians of the various departments at Qingyun Street Community Hospital arrived in a rush, having intentionally come ten minutes earlier than usual.
Their goal was to see how the patient traffic looked today.
Upon entering the hospital, their hearts sank as they saw the yard filled with people.
They only let out a sigh of relief when they noticed the absence of a triage station at the main entrance.
Walking deeper inside, they heard that everyone at the triage station was consulting for the TCM department; not a single person was asking for any other department.
Even the registration queue was already packed.
While waiting in line, people were chatting, and the topic was the TCM department—specifically the incident yesterday where the richest man in the county had presented a banner to Lu Yi. They spoke with such excitement that they were spitting as they talked, their voices booming.
The doctors' faces turned even paler as they exchanged incredulous looks.
That little brat Lu Yi had managed to build the reputation of the TCM department in just a day and a half. These people were clearly here because of the word-of-mouth from yesterday’s events!
Not a single person was there to consult them!
Ma Jianshan’s face was pale and sickly. They had acted like petty villains the day before, yet they still hadn't managed to stop Lu Yi. With so many people going to the TCM department, having a triage station or not made absolutely no difference today!
If they had known, they wouldn't have stooped so low.
At that moment, Lu Yi walked in from outside with a smile on his face.
"Keep looking! Maybe it’s just this morning!"
Ma Jianshan took a deep breath, turned his head, and rushed upstairs to avoid meeting Lu Yi.
The other doctors followed, their faces equally grim.
Lu Yi glanced at their retreating backs, then at the bustling crowd in the lobby. His expression remained calm.
*I told you, you would regret making me work triage all day yesterday!*
Under the pointing fingers of the patients, Lu Yi walked inside, but he didn't head to the TCM clinic. Instead, he went toward the pharmacy. The incident with Li Baikang the day before had served as a warning.
*Traditional Chinese medicine!*
No matter how skilled he was or how precise his prescriptions were, if the medicine itself was poor, he couldn't cure his patients!
If the patent medicines could be substandard, then the herbs procured by the community hospital might be faulty too. He had to see for himself.
Doctor Li in the pharmacy felt annoyed when he saw Lu Yi approaching. The last two days had nearly worked him to death.
"Doctor Li, thank you for your hard work with our TCM patients over the past two days."
Lu Yi pulled a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his sleeve and slapped it onto the counter, looking at Doctor Li with a hint of curiosity.
*The internet said this would help appease people.*
*This kid is smart,* thought Doctor Li. His cold face quickly broke into a smile. He waved his hand and said warmly, "Oh, what are you doing? It's all part of my job."
As he spoke, he deftly tucked the cigarettes under the counter.
"It's only right," Lu Yi said, seizing the moment. "Doctor Li, I’d like to take a look at the herbs in our pharmacy."
"Go ahead! Look all you want!" Doctor Li said with a generous wave.
Lu Yi went to the herb cabinets and opened them one by one, checking as he went.
"By the way, Doctor Li, the medicine we procure from Li Baikang’s company can be moved to the corner. I won’t be prescribing their medicine anymore."
Doctor Li paused. Considering the pack of cigarettes he’d just received, he whispered a warning: "Doctor Lu, you really shouldn't offend Li Baikang. He has influence in both the underworld and the establishment in this county..."
"He’s already in the station," Lu Yi said while examining the herbs.
*What?* Doctor Li froze.
"He came to see me yesterday, but he’s in the detention center now."
Doctor Li understood, and he was completely stunned. *He came to see you? And now he's in the detention center? You put him in there?*
He suddenly remembered the rumors that the richest man in the county had come to deliver a banner in person.
At that moment, he felt the pack of Zhonghua cigarettes burning his hands. He even started calculating whether he should return them or perhaps give another pack as a gesture...
Lu Yi didn't notice Doctor Li's expression. He checked drawer after drawer, his frown deepening with each one.
From start to finish, not one of the herbs he saw was a premium product. Even decent-quality ones were rare; most were merely "acceptable"!
Some were clearly not processed according to standard methods, meaning they had no efficacy—let alone the power to save lives!
Lu Yi opened another drawer and froze when he saw a finger-thick herb that looked like ginseng.
He couldn't hold it in anymore!
Unprecedented anger flashed in his eyes!
...
Qingshan County was the home of authentic Danshen!
The herbs produced locally were being supplied to the hospital as subpar products!
What does "authentic" mean? It means that for thousands of years, TCM practitioners have recognized that the herbs produced in a specific place have higher quality than anywhere else.
Qingshan County was the origin, and Qingshan County Danshen was the authentic herb!
Danshen is bitter and slightly cold. It not only promotes urination and tonifies energy but also invigorates blood and resolves stasis. Because it is slightly cold, even healthy people can consume it daily.
Most importantly, this herb is vital in gynecology!
If a pregnant woman experiences prenatal bleeding with blood stasis, she needs medicine to invigorate blood and resolve stasis. If other herbs are used, the fetus can easily be lost. But Danshen is different; it clears the stasis while simultaneously securing and calming the fetus!
Such an important herb, in a hospital in its own birthplace, was being stocked as a substandard product!
People were gambling with lives for the sake of profit. It was detestable!
"Who procured these herbs?" Lu Yi asked, suppressing the rage in his voice.
Doctor Li answered absent-mindedly, "I don't know. It should be the unified procurement for all seven community hospitals in the county."
*Unified procurement?*
Did that mean the TCM in all seven community hospitals across the county had issues?
Lu Yi paused, his expression turning cold. He suppressed his anger, took a piece of Danshen for his pocket, and continued to quickly inspect the rest of the stock.
Once finished, he turned and walked out of the pharmacy, his face as cold as ice.
From now on, he wouldn't prescribe any of these substandard herbs. He would replace them all with others of equal efficacy!
Seeing this, Doctor Li’s heart skipped a beat. *Is he looking like that because I took the cigarettes?* He felt extremely conflicted.
Returning to the TCM department, Lu Yi kept his hand tightly clenched around the piece of Danshen in his pocket. He brought it out and looked at it, his face unreadable.
Qingshan County produced Danshen; it was impossible for the community hospitals to look elsewhere. The Danshen in the pharmacy had to be locally grown.
*If all the Danshen produced in Qingshan County is like this, then the reputation of Qingshan County as an authentic source is ruined!*
"Doctor Lu, I'm here to thank you on behalf of my mother and myself. We don't have anything good, but we have some eggs from our free-range chickens back home. They're completely green and pollution-free. You can eat them with peace of mind."
The clinic door pushed open, and a rough-looking man carrying a bamboo basket of eggs rushed in.
It was the rugged man who had suffered a stroke the afternoon before. He set the eggs down and turned to leave.
But just as he turned, he saw the herbs on Lu Yi's desk. His eyes lit up. "Doctor Lu, do you need this? We grow it in our fields. I can bring you a few pounds another day!"
*You grow it in the fields?*
Lu Yi was stunned. Forgetting about the eggs, he quickly stood up and looked directly at the man. "The fields you mentioned, what kind of fields are they?"
"Mountain fields, our dry land on the hillside," said Wang Yiguang. As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and opened some photos he had taken.
Lu Yi rushed over to look. He saw fields that looked just like normal farmland, but they were filled to the brim with lush green Danshen. He froze.
A deep, bitter smile played on his lips.
*How could Danshen grown like this have any efficacy?*
TCM and Western medicine use completely different approaches!
Western medicine looks at chemical components—if the components treat the symptoms, it works. TCM looks at the *nature* of the medicine, using that nature to correct imbalances!
The nature of the herb is crucially related to whether TCM works!
And the nature of an herb is inextricably linked to the environment where it grows!
For example, a ginseng grown in the snowy mountains of Changbai and one grown in a northern radish patch are nearly identical in chemical composition, but because the growth environment is different, the nature of the herb and its therapeutic efficacy are worlds apart!
One causes overheating after a small dose, while you could eat seven or eight of the others like radishes without any problem!
That is the medicinal nature at work!
TCM herbs can be cultivated, but not like this! One must mimic the natural environment!
How was this kind of farming any different from growing sweet potatoes?
"Is the yield high?" Lu Yi asked, his expression looking as strained as if he were constipated.
"Very high. Every household in our townships grows this."
"They all grow it this way?"
"Yeah! Too many people are growing it now, so the price isn't great, but it's better than growing crops. You can make 3,000 to 4,000 yuan per mu."
Lu Yi took a deep breath. He looked at the pictures on the phone and then at the Danshen beside him. He finally understood why the hospital pharmacy was procuring such low-quality herbs.
With this farming method, Qingshan County wouldn't have any premium products!
The farming method was wrong! The location was wrong!
Nobody here knew how to grow Danshen!
"Leave your number, add me on WeChat!"
Lu Yi pulled out his phone. "I’ll come by your village to take a look another day. If you or your mother have any health issues, you can reach me directly on WeChat."
He decided to go to the source of the Danshen himself.
The revitalization of TCM wasn't just about good doctors and good skills; it was crucially about good medicine!
Without good medicine, TCM had no weapons to fight with; how could it cure diseases?
If Qingshan County’s Danshen cultivation was really all like growing sweet potatoes, he absolutely could not let the status of Qingshan County as an authentic source be destroyed for nothing!
And he certainly couldn't let TCM lose a good source of authentic Danshen!
If no one in Qingshan knew how to grow it, he would teach them!
And if they didn't listen to him... then he would have to do it himself!
At this thought, Qin Yi’s beautiful face appeared in his mind. She had the physical and financial resources...
"That sounds great!" The rugged man, Zhang Guangyi, was overjoyed. He quickly added Lu Yi on WeChat and left with a chuckle.
Watching the man’s retreating figure, Lu Yi steadied his emotions and began seeing patients. Today was the first day of full operations for the TCM department; he had to make a splash.
...
"Do you guys have any patients this morning?"
"No, you?"
"Neither."
At noon, the attending physicians of each department changed their clothes and walked out of their offices on time. They looked at each other and shook their heads in frustration.
The group arrived at the first-floor lobby. The triage station and registration desk were just as packed as they had been in the morning. Their faces darkened again.
*How are there still so many people?*
*They've been registering all morning, and the TCM department's quota isn't full yet?*
"Wait!" Ma Jianshan looked at the long line at the registration desk and asked, surprised, "Doesn't each department in our hospital only have a 200-patient limit? Why does Lu Yi's TCM department still have open slots? Were those people in the morning just there to watch the show?"
That was it! The other doctors realized it too.
If there was still a line, it meant the 200-patient quota hadn't been filled!
"The TCM department's quota for today was filled long ago."
Just then, the head nurse of the community hospital, Qin Lan, passed by, clutching her stomach and casting a disdainful glance at them.
*Filled?*
Then who were these people...
"Sister Qin, how many patients did our surgery department register this afternoon?" Ma Jianshan grabbed the head nurse to ask.
"None!"
Qin Lan was annoyed at being grabbed—she had a stomach ache. Then, something occurred to her. She quickly used her fingers to measure on her right wrist and pressed down on the Changguan point on her right arm.
Ten seconds later, an expression of surprise appeared on her face.
The diarrhea sensation had actually subsided!
"None?" Ma Jianshan was dumbfounded.
"What about our Dental department?" the Dental attending physician asked hurriedly.
"None either."
The Dental attending physician was also stunned.