Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1366 Gradually Improving, Director Liao Feels Unwell (Two Chapters Combined)
Fang Yan thought for a moment. The previous test showed that it contained old blood clots, hemosiderin, and nerve tissue fragments. This time it turned green. What does green mean?
bile?

Could it be that the continuous action of the medication strips away the stagnant toxins from the liver and gallbladder meridians, and then excretes them through the intestines?

“Green belongs to the element of wood, which corresponds to the liver and gallbladder. I guess it is because the rabies virus is deeply lurking in the liver meridian. When the medicine drains the stagnant toxins from the liver meridian, bile participates in the excretion, forming a green substance.” At this moment, Master Lu Donghua, who was standing to the side, had already made the same judgment as Fang Yan.

Initially, it appears as a yellow, jelly-like substance, representing a superficial layer of intestinal stasis, mixed with phlegm, dampness, and metabolic waste.

The following is a rust-colored substance, corresponding to deeper, older stasis such as nerve tissue invaded by the rabies virus.

So now the medication should have progressed to the liver and gallbladder!

“That makes sense!” Fang Yan nodded to his master.

The person from the lab said to Fang Yan:

"We'll take it for testing right away and send the results over as soon as possible."

Fang Yan nodded and told them to hurry up, then went to check Zhang Fu's pulse and tongue.

Once inside the ward, Fang Yan gestured for Zhang Fu to extend his hand to feel his pulse, and at the same time, asked him to open his mouth and stick out his tongue.

The petechiae on the sides of his tongue are now lighter than before, and the tongue coating has changed from yellow and greasy to thin and white, which further confirms the idea of ​​"expelling stagnant toxins from the liver meridian".

"Dr. Fang, how is it?" Zhang Fu's older brother asked Fang Yan. He was also unsure what his younger brother was pooping every day, as it was different every day.

Fang Yan said to him:
"The changes in the color of the foul-smelling excrement indicate that the drug is working its magic step by step."

"The initial yellow jelly-like phlegm is the surface intestinal stasis and toxins; the later rust-colored phlegm is the old stasis and toxins in the deep nerve tissue; the current green phlegm is the manifestation of liver meridian stasis and toxins being excreted with bile, indicating that the medicine has reached the liver meridian where the virus is deeply lurking, which is a signal that the dredging and draining is effective."

"So things are showing signs of improvement now?" Zhang Fu's brother asked Fang Yan.

Fang Yan nodded and said:
"Let's test his sensitivity to water!"

Although I was able to see the water up close yesterday, I was still terrified before drinking the rice wine. I had blue veins on my forehead and neck, was covered in cold sweat, trembling, and my breathing and heartbeat were rapid.

Only after drinking the rice wine, when his senses are somewhat numbed, can he drink normally.

Although the Chinese medicine and rice wine had already been served, Fang Yan planned to have him try the warm water first.

"Pour me a glass of warm water!" Fang Yan said to An Dong.

Upon hearing his master's words, Anton immediately did as he was told.

Anton quickly brought over a glass of warm water, placed it on the small table beside Zhang Fu's bed, and stepped back to make room for Fang Yan.

Zhang Fu's gaze fell on the water glass, his fingers unconsciously clenching the bed sheet. Yesterday, before he drank the rice wine, just looking at the water made him break out in a cold sweat. Although he was still a little nervous, he didn't instinctively want to avoid it like before.

Fang Yan felt his pulse and clearly sensed a change.

“Just look at this glass of water, don’t touch it, and breathe slowly.” Fang Yan’s voice was calm as she watched Zhang Fu’s expression. “If you feel uncomfortable, like heart palpitations or sweating, tell me.”

Zhang Fu nodded and took a deep breath. A few seconds passed, and unlike yesterday, his forehead didn't break out in a cold sweat instantly; only a little sweat seeped from his temples. His breathing was a bit faster than usual, but he didn't experience any bulging veins in his neck or trembling all over.

"How are you feeling? Any better than yesterday?" Fang Yan asked.

Zhang Fu swallowed, his voice trembling slightly, but more steady than yesterday:

"Hmm... I'm not so panicked anymore, but after looking at it for a while, I still feel a little uneasy."

Fang Yan pushed the water glass closer to Zhang Fu's hand, about twenty centimeters away: "Then try getting closer, dare you pick it up with your fingers?"

Zhang Fu's older brother watched nervously from the side, clenching his fists, afraid that his younger brother would suddenly have a fit.

Zhang Fu hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the side of the cup. He felt the touch, flinched, and then gritted his teeth and picked it up.

"I'm not...not that scared anymore!" Zhang Fu said.

Zhang Fu's eyes lit up, and his tone was filled with surprise, "It looked much more difficult to carry a water cup yesterday than it does now."

Fang Yan nodded and said:
"better."

"Yesterday it was still shaking when I picked it up and I needed to help it, but today it's already a big improvement."

Then, in a dialect, he asked him:
"Would you dare to bring it to your lips and take a sip?"

Upon hearing Fang Yan's words, Zhang Fu's breathing became noticeably more rapid. However, he still followed Fang Yan's instructions and brought the water cup to his lips. He was clearly nervous, but not nearly as nervous as he was yesterday.

He closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and poured water from the cup into his mouth.

At that moment, his hands began to shake uncontrollably and violently.

Zhang Fu's brother immediately went to help, but Fang Yan was one step ahead and quickly helped stabilize Zhang Fu.

Fang Yan gently pressed down on Zhang Fu's trembling wrist with a soft but very steady hand, helping him to steady the water glass so that the warm water could slide down the rim into his mouth.

A small sip of water flowed down Zhang Fu's throat; his Adam's apple bobbed slightly before he swallowed it.

"Don't be afraid, I'll help you hold it, swallow slowly." Fang Yan's voice was steady and reassuring. "See, it's okay to drink the water, don't panic."

Zhang Fu opened his eyes, his forehead more sweaty than before, but his eyes held less fear and more confidence: "Just now... just now my hand suddenly wouldn't obey me, thankfully you caught me." He paused, then added, "But when I swallowed, I didn't feel any tightness in my throat, much better than yesterday!"

Zhang Fu's brother came over excitedly and said, "Yes, Dr. Fang! Yesterday he needed you to help him hold the cup the whole time, but today he was able to bring it to his mouth by himself and even swallowed it. That's such great progress!"

Fang Yan slowly released his hand, letting Zhang Fu try to hold the water glass himself, while continuing to feel his pulse: "The pulse is more stable than before, and it's not beating too erratically due to nervousness, which means that the nerves' stress response to water is weakening. Although your hand is still shaking, you can control most of your movements on your own, which is a sign of improvement."

Upon hearing the dialect, Zhang Fu nodded repeatedly. He felt that he was making significant progress every day and that he would probably be back to normal soon.

Next, Fang Yan made Zhang Fu drink yellow wine first, and then drink blood stasis soup.

His eyes weren't covered; now he can just close them.

After finishing his drink, Zhang Fu said to Fang Yan:

"Dr. Fang, I...I think I'm a little hungry."

Fang Yan was taken aback. Zhang Fu had never said he was hungry before, but today he actually said he was hungry.

"Great news!" Lu Donghua said from the side.

"Feeling hungry means that your spleen and stomach functions are recovering! Before, the toxins disturbed the body, hindering the spleen and stomach's digestion and absorption, which led to a loss of appetite; now that the toxins are being expelled, the burden on the spleen and stomach is lighter, so you naturally want to eat. This is a more tangible sign of improvement than just getting better from a water test!"

Fang Yan nodded in agreement, reached out and touched Zhang Fu's abdomen, gently pressing it: "Is your stomach bloated? Do you feel uncomfortable?"

Zhang Fu shook his head, a long-lost sense of relief appearing on his face:
"I'm not bloated, but my stomach feels empty. I want to drink some porridge or eat a steamed bun. This is the first time in so many days. I didn't feel it just now. I only felt hungry after taking the medicine. It's really strange."

“Okay! I’ll have the nurse go to the cafeteria and get you a bowl of millet porridge and a soft steamed bun.” Fang Yan turned to An Dong and said, “Go tell them to put less sugar in the porridge and make it thicker so it’s easier to digest.”

Just as Anton was about to leave, Zhang Fu's brother quickly stopped him:
"I'll go, I'll go! Dr. Fang, you're busy, I'll go get food for my brother and see if there are any light side dishes so he can eat more!" With that, she walked out quickly, her steps much lighter than usual.

Zhang Fu watched his brother's retreating figure, then looked at Fang Yan:

"Dr. Fang, am I almost better? I can feel hungry and drink water, and I feel much more comfortable than before."

"It's steadily moving in a positive direction, but we still need to consolidate it for a while."

Fang Yan's tone was calm yet certain: "Only when you can eat normally, are no longer afraid of water, and are sure that the toxins have been completely eliminated, can you be considered truly well."

"Your current improvement is a 'chain reaction' – the stagnant toxins in your liver meridian are being expelled, and your nerve stress is reduced, so you are no longer afraid of water; the toxins are no longer disturbing your spleen and stomach, and your digestive system is recovering, so you have an appetite. Continue taking the medicine as prescribed to clear out the remaining toxins. Don't worry."

"I estimate it should only take a few days, not too long."

After a while, Brother Zhang Fu came back from the canteen. He didn't really feel comfortable asking them to cook the porridge again and add sugar, so he just brought over a breakfast for Zhang Fu. As for adding sugar, he pretended not to hear it.

Upon seeing this, Fang Yan had someone go to the nurses' station and fetch a packet of white sugar. They had plenty of such things in their area. He added a spoonful of sugar to Zhang Fu's porridge before letting Zhang Fu eat it with his steamed bun.

Zhang Fu's appetite has really improved. Except when he has to close his eyes and have his older brother help him feed him porridge, he can eat two steamed buns in just a few bites.

"Don't eat so fast, be careful not to choke!" Fang Yan reminded him.

Zhang Fu nodded repeatedly, while also asking in the dialect:

"Dr. Fang, did you change your medicine today? I feel hungry after taking it."

Fang Yan looked at Zhang Fu wolfing down his food and explained with a smile, "The prescription hasn't changed, but your body's condition is changing. Before, the toxins blocked your spleen and stomach, and the medicine was mainly used to expel the turbidity; now that some of the toxins have been expelled, your spleen and stomach are functioning properly, and the spleen-strengthening ingredients in the medicine are taking effect, so you naturally feel hungry. This is a signal that your body is 'waking up'."

Zhang Fu chewed on his steamed bun and nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

He said:
"No matter what, being able to go hungry is a good thing! Before, I didn't want to eat every day and felt weak all over, but now that I've eaten something, I feel energetic again."

Zhang Fu's brother, who was helping to hand him water, said with a smile, "That's right! It was so hard to get him to eat anything before, but today he asked for food on his own and even ate two steamed buns. It's all thanks to you, Dr. Fang!"

Fang Yan reached out and felt Zhang Fu's pulse again, confirming that the pulse was more stable than before and no longer had the previous agitation.

He said:
"Your pulse is also deeper and slower than before, which means that your spleen and stomach's qi and blood are slowly recovering. However, don't eat too much at once. Take two days to adjust first, and then gradually increase the amount once your digestive function has stabilized."

Lu Donghua added from the side:
"Although you have an appetite now, your spleen and stomach have just recovered, so avoid greasy, raw, and cold foods. Just eat porridge, steamed buns, and light side dishes like you did today. Nourishing your spleen and stomach will help you recover faster."

Zhang Fulian readily agreed: "I'll remember! I'll eat light meals from now on, and then I'll eat more nourishing foods once I'm better!"

Fang Yan recorded all of Zhang Fu's changes in condition in his medical record book.

The Blood Stasis Relief Decoction really brings about changes after each dose. Who would have thought that a prescription for treating gynecological diseases, with just a few simple herbs, could be used to treat rabies?

It's completely unrelated, but this has really taught me a lesson about dialects. Now he even believes that Yuxue Tang (a traditional Chinese medicine formula) is specifically used to treat rabies.

It was only later that he realized why all those traditional Chinese medicine practitioners had wanted to change its name.

Sometimes it's called "Dian Gou Yao Du Tang" (a traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating epilepsy), sometimes it's called "Kuang Quan Ling" (another traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating rabies). To be honest, they all want to promote the spread of this prescription.

But it seems they didn't succeed.

Now that this task is about to fall on his shoulders, Fang Yan is a little uneasy.

Despite her anxiety, Fang Yan felt that she should be able to make it happen, since her circumstances were much better than theirs back then.

……

Next, Fang Yan went to Mr. Sima's ward, where he was now the one in the most serious condition.

Thyroid cancer with cervical metastasis, and widespread lipomas on the chest, back, and limbs.

After drinking the cancer-fighting and life-saving soup, he feels that his breathing has improved, but the tumors in his body have not changed much.

He had just taken his medicine when Fang Yan made her rounds and was waiting for her to come.

"Happy National Day, Dr. Fang!" Mr. Sima greeted him as soon as he entered the door. It was clear that this grumpy old man was in a good mood today. However, such unsolicited hospitality must have some ulterior motive.

He asked in dialect:

"Dr. Fang, I feel much better breathing now. I wonder when I can have a cigarette? Even half a cigarette is fine... no, even just one puff!"

As soon as Fang Yan entered the ward, he was amused by Mr. Sima's words, but then he put on a serious face: "You can't smoke, not even a single cigarette! Your thyroid cancer has metastasized, and your lungs are already affected. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes will irritate your respiratory tract and may even aggravate the burden of the tumor. You can't let all the suffering you endured from difficulty breathing go to waste."

Mr. Sima's smile vanished instantly, and he sighed, "I know smoking is bad, but when the craving hits, it's so intense, especially now that I can breathe easily, I just want a puff to satisfy my craving." As he spoke, he subconsciously reached into his pocket, only to remember that his family had taken away his cigarettes when he was hospitalized.

Fang Yan walked to the bedside and first looked at his neck. The swollen area could now move, and when she pinched it, she could feel a slight fluctuation. The skin color had also returned to normal and was no longer as dark red as before.

He then reached out and pressed on the lipoma on Mr. Sima's chest and back. The texture was a little softer than before: "The anti-cancer and life-saving soup has just taken effect. It has first helped to clear your qi, so your breathing is smooth. But the tumor will take a long time to shrink. If you smoke at this time, it will be like adding to the blockage in your body, and the previous effects of the medicine may be wasted."

"Then... how long will it take before I can draw it?" Mr. Sima asked unwillingly.

“Once your cervical lymph nodes have completely disappeared, the lipoma has shrunk, your lung function has returned to normal, and your follow-up examination shows no problems, we can discuss it slowly.” Fang’s tone softened. “If you really want to smoke now, just suck on a preserved plum to distract yourself. Think about it, if you resist the urge to smoke now, you’ll recover faster, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy life later. If you can’t resist now, and your condition relapses, it will be even more troublesome.”

Lu Donghua added from the side, "Smoking is drying and will deplete your body fluids. You need to nourish your body and fight the tumor right now, so you can't let the dryness damage your vital energy. Listen to Dr. Fang, put off your nicotine cravings for now, and wait until you are completely recovered before talking about smoking again."

Mr. Sima was silent for a while, then finally nodded: "Alright, I'll listen to you! I won't smoke anymore. As long as I can get my illness cured, I can tolerate this little addiction."

He paused, then asked, "Dr. Fang, when will my tumor shrink noticeably? I touch it every day, but I don't feel much change. I'm getting a little anxious."

"Don't worry, the tumor's regression is gradual," Fang Yan explained. "The cancer-fighting and life-saving decoction first helps to strengthen your body's resistance and eliminate pathogens. Now that your Qi is flowing smoothly, it will slowly work on the tumor, causing it to shrink gradually."

Fang Yan noticed that none of his family members, who usually accompanied him, were present today, and asked curiously:
"By the way, where are your family members?"

Mr. Sima said:

"Oh, they went to Tiananmen Square. They were taken there by people from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office. Nothing has changed here. I'm tired of seeing them every day."

"Besides, watching the flag-raising ceremony and strolling around the square during the National Day holiday can help them relax. It's too tiring for them to stay in the ward all the time."

"If I were feeling better, I'd like to go and join in the fun too."

“Once your condition stabilizes, there will be plenty of opportunities to go,” Fang Yan said as she took his pulse.

Compared to the relatively minor changes in the body, the changes in the pulse were obviously more noticeable.

Fang Yan confirmed that the cancer-fighting and life-saving soup he was using was effective, so he was no longer worried.

However, Mr. Sima's treatment period will likely be quite long.

After reading it, Fang Yan said to Mr. Sima:

"Then you should rest for a while. The medicine is still working, so don't overexert yourself. I'll come back to check on you this afternoon. If you feel unwell, just let the nurse find me."

"Okay, thank you, Dr. Fang!" Mr. Sima replied with a smile.

As soon as Fang Yan stepped out of Mr. Sima's ward, he stopped the nurses and caregivers on duty in the corridor. His tone was serious but clear: "Mr. Sima has a heavy smoking habit. Now that his condition has just improved, he's already thinking about smoking. You need to keep a close eye on him."

He emphasized to the nurses: "First, keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't sneak around looking for cigarettes when you're not looking. Second, when his family comes back from Tiananmen Square, if they have cigarettes with them, politely ask them to put them away. Tell them that smoking will affect the cancer treatment and that the previous smooth breathing may be wasted. Try to get them to put the cigarettes away on their own."

The caregiver nodded in agreement, and Fang Yan added, "If his family doesn't cooperate, don't get into a conflict with them. Call me or the head nurse immediately, and we'll talk to them together. Also, pay close attention to Mr. Sima's mood. If he's agitated because of his nicotine addiction, chat with him or give him some preserved plums to distract him."

"Okay, Director Fang, we've got it!" The nurse quickly took out her notebook and wrote down the key points one by one. "We'll take turns watching the ward door. We'll keep an eye out for his family members when they return, and we'll report to you immediately if anything happens."

Lu Donghua watched from the side and said with a smile, "You've thought things through quite thoroughly. You've prevented him from smoking and also avoided conflicts between the medical staff and the family. This way, you can ensure the treatment's effectiveness without causing any resistance from the family."

Fang Yan nodded: "The main problem is that his illness can't withstand much stress. Smoking is bad for the tumor and his lungs, so we have to be careful. If we put in more effort, we can prevent the condition from recurring and allow him to focus on his treatment."

Fang Yan was actually worried about Mr. Sima; his temper was the most crucial factor.

I encountered dialects in my past life.

He was also a cancer patient with a severe smoking addiction. He was just as impatient as Mr. Sima, and because he had some family wealth, he didn't take the medical staff's advice seriously at all.

That night shift, Fang Yan had just finished making her rounds when she heard the sound of something being smashed coming from the ward.

When I ran over, I saw the patient arguing heatedly with the nurse, his face red with anger, still holding a half-smoked cigarette in his hand, and a spilled water glass on the ground.

When Fang Yan tried to persuade him, he became even more aggressive and started yelling at Fang Yan and the others.

Later, the patient's family members arrived and managed to persuade the person to stop.

Two days later, the patient secretly smoked in the toilet when the nurses weren't looking, which resulted in a severe lung infection, persistent high fever, and he almost didn't survive.

Although the condition eventually stabilized, the treatment period was extended by half a month, and the patient suffered a lot.

Next, Fang Yan checked on other rooms. After finishing that, Fang Yan sent his master to see patients. He was supposed to rest today, but the old man still had to go to work.

There are fewer doctors on duty today; the local doctors are on rotating shifts.

Only Lin Hongjun and Zou Guoqing are working; the other three are on holiday, and all the classmates are also on holiday. Speaking of which, it's Zou Guoqing's birthday today. Fang Yan originally wanted to give him the day off, but this guy wanted to show off and volunteered to work today, saying that it would be more meaningful that way.

Fang Yan didn't say anything, and just agreed to his request.

Just as Fang Yan arranged for An Dong to watch over Lu Donghua during his consultation and was about to go to the lab to check the results, Director Liao arrived.

Upon seeing the dialect, he said:

"Come on, take a look at me. I didn't sleep well last night. I was busy outside all night, and I'm feeling a little unwell right now."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yan quickly led Director Liao to his consultation room. He wasn't seeing patients today, but he absolutely had to see Director Liao.

As he opened the door, Fang Yan asked Director Liao:
"Didn't you go to the Yanjing Hotel last night? Why were you busy all night?"

Director Liao clutched his chest, his face pale, and said:
"I had just finished my work last night and was about to leave when I received a call from a leader who had just finished a reception. He said he wanted to hold a small meeting for the leaders of our relevant units, which lasted until 4 a.m.."

Dialect puzzled:

"Leader? Which one?"

Director Liao held up a finger, pointed to the ceiling, and said with a smile:

"How many leaders do you think I have?"

After saying that, he said helplessly:

"It won't be long before another big move happens. The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office has a lot of work to do, and I don't know if this old man can handle it."

The dialect clearly refers to the reform and opening up, and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council indeed has a very heavy workload.

Thinking of Director Liao's health, Fang Yan said:

"I think you should take it easy! Give young people more opportunities and don't try to shoulder everything yourself. Come on, let me take your pulse first."

Speaking in dialect, he touched Director Liao's left hand.

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words has been updated.

There will be an extra chapter later.

(End of this chapter)