Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1427 The Level of Grassroots Work, Night in Lingshi County (Two Chapters Combined)
Judging from the accent of the dialect, everyone knew that this young doctor must be from out of town.

Some time ago, everyone heard that a young female doctor from Beijing came to the county hospital, specifically to promote a medicine for treating liver disease, and most importantly, she didn't charge any money.

Now, seeing this young man before them, some of them couldn't help but ask:
"Young man, are you also from the capital?"

Fang Yan saw that it was an elderly man at the very front of the line, whose face and eyes were jaundiced, the color of an orange. He replied:

"Yes, I just arrived this morning. I came here specifically to see how the promotion of this formula is going."

Upon hearing this, the old man came forward, extended his hand, and said:
"Let me take a look. It feels like someone is poking me from the inside out with a needle under my right rib, and I'm also vomiting and having diarrhea."

Fang Yan nodded and began to take the old man's pulse.

He Yang, Dean Zhang, and Secretary Zhao were all watching from the sidelines, eager to see how this young man from Beijing would treat patients.

They had heard many rumors about this man, mostly saying that he was a young man with superb medical skills and was highly valued by the leaders in the capital.

"How long have you been in this condition?" Fang Yan didn't have time to pay attention to the onlookers at this moment. After sitting down, he got into the zone and asked the old man.

The old man responded:

"I've had pain in my ribs for several months, but the stabbing pain only started in the last few days."

He asked in dialect:

When did the yellowing of your skin begin?

The old man thought for a moment and said:

"About three days ago, I started vomiting and having diarrhea. My urine tasted like strong tea."

"And even though I was vomiting and had diarrhea, my stomach was still very bloated."

Fang Yan nodded; this was clearly acute jaundice.

"Open your mouth so I can see," he said to the old man.

The old man opened his mouth to let the dialect speaker see his tongue coating. His tongue was red and the coating was thick and greasy.

While taking the old man's pulse, Fang Yan asked him:
"Can you eat anything?"

The old man said:
"I can't eat anything, I vomit as soon as I try to eat, I only drank some water."

Fang Yan then asked him to take off his cotton coat to expose the painful area.

The elderly man had difficulty using one hand, so Li Chong came to help. Soon, the problem was exposed. Fang Yan used his other hand to press about two finger widths below the ribs in the liver area of ​​the elderly man. He found that the texture was soft and there was no swelling. He pressed it a couple more times with a little more force.

"How are you? Does it hurt?" Fang Yan asked the old man.

"A little!" The old man was clearly still holding back.

Fang Yan asked again:
Do you drink alcohol regularly?

The old man said:
"You have to drink something before you work, otherwise you won't have the energy the next day."

Fang Yan nodded, then touched his other hand; the pulse was still floating and slippery.

Seeing Fang Yan stop and begin writing medical records, He Yang, who was standing to the side, asked Fang Yan:

"Director Fang, how is it?"

He said in dialect:

"The tongue is red with a thick, greasy yellow coating, and the pulse is floating and slippery. The patient is elderly and has a fondness for alcohol. This is likely due to internal dampness in the gallbladder and stomach, causing qi stagnation and resulting in jaundice. The medicine in package number one should be used."

Then he asked the old man for his name and address, and then gave him some instructions:
"Sir, take the medicine home later. Take one packet each morning and evening, and dissolve it in warm water before drinking. Do not use boiling water, as it will destroy the medicine's effectiveness."

He was afraid the old man wouldn't remember, so he repeated the dosage:
"Remember, one packet at a time, twice a day. Don't drink too much or too little. It will only work if you follow the instructions."

The old man nodded, clutching the medical slip tightly, and continued in dialect:
"If you still feel nauseous when taking the medicine, drink a little at a time and swallow it slowly in three sips. Don't force it down, or you'll vomit and waste the medicine."

"And you really need to change your lifestyle habits." Fang Yan changed the subject, looking into the old man's eyes seriously, "You absolutely can't drink alcohol anymore. Your jaundice is caused by long-term drinking, which has caused dampness to accumulate in your liver and gallbladder. Drinking more will only worsen your condition."

"You should eat a light diet. Don't eat oily or spicy food these days, and don't eat coarse grains or hard rice. Just cook some millet porridge and some soft noodles, which are easy to digest."

He thought for a moment and added, "Drink more water and urinate more often to help expel dampness from the body, but don't drink cold water, drink warm water to avoid irritating your stomach."

"Also, don't overwork yourself, and don't get angry or anxious. You're getting old, and your body can't take any more strain. Rest well, and if you're in a good mood, you'll recover faster."

Finally, he gave the following instructions:
"Take the medicine for three days first. If the vomiting and diarrhea do not improve, or if your yellowing worsens, come to the hospital to see me immediately. If you get better, continue taking the medicine and come back for a follow-up visit in a week. I will then see if I can adjust the prescription for you."

After listening, the old man nodded repeatedly, muttering to himself:

"I'll remember, I'll remember! No alcohol, eat light meals, drink plenty of warm water, and get plenty of rest... Thank you, doctor, you explained it so clearly, I'll definitely follow your instructions!"

The villagers queuing behind, seeing that the dialect was clear and easy to understand, began to whisper among themselves:
"This doctor from the capital is really something else. He asked so many detailed questions, even instructing me to drink warm water."

"That's right, he's much more patient than other doctors."

Hearing these comments, the hospital leaders and the surrounding doctors were speechless.

"..."

Their eyes were now drawn to Fang Yan, wanting to see how he would react.

However, Fang Yan clearly ignored these comments and instead gestured for the next patient to come over.

This eased the somewhat awkward atmosphere considerably.

The three leaders in the hospital were already exchanging glances. The county hospital had indeed not done these things well and they had to be rectified in accordance with the local dialect.

The next patient seen by the dialect group was a woman in her forties. She had a sallow complexion and tired eyes, and sighed as soon as she sat down.
"Doctor, I'm so weak I can't hold on much longer. I can't do any work in the fields, and I always feel tightness in my chest. I don't want to talk."

Fang Yan reached out to take her pulse, and her fingertips detected a thin, thready pulse. She then asked her to open her mouth, revealing a thin white coating on her tongue with teeth marks on the edges.

"How long has this been going on? Have you experienced bloating or irregular menstruation?"

The woman nodded: "It's been almost a month. My stomach is very bloated, and my period is irregular, almost half a month late."

"Are you usually a worrier, always thinking about things?" Fang Yan asked.

The woman paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "That's right. I have to take care of the elderly and children at home, and I can't neglect the work in the fields. I can't sleep soundly at night."

Fang Yan nodded without replying and continued taking the pulse. This time, he took the pulse a little faster, and after a short while, having examined both hands, he said:

"You have liver stagnation and spleen deficiency. You've been thinking too much for a long time, causing liver qi stagnation, which affects the spleen and stomach's digestive function, resulting in fatigue and abdominal distension. It's not infectious hepatitis, but we still have medicine suitable for you."

Then, the dialect writer wrote down the medicine in packet number three.

Then, while writing the medical record, he gave instructions:
"Take one packet of medicine in the morning and one at night, dissolved in warm water. The key is to worry less and not put too much pressure on yourself. When you are relaxed, you will recover faster."

"Avoid eating raw, cold, or hard-to-digest foods, especially food that has just been brought back from outside. Make sure to heat it up thoroughly before eating."

"In addition, go out for walks more often when you have free time. Don't stay cooped up at home all the time. Take a break and relax. When your liver qi flows smoothly, the tightness in your chest will also be relieved."

Fang Yan originally wanted to suggest eating something like yam, barley, or poria cocos, but then he thought about the local conditions and whether they could even get it, so he simply stopped mentioning it. The prescription would solve the problem.

The woman listened attentively and then said, "Thank you, doctor. I'll write it all down and do exactly as instructed."

Seeing Fang Yan like this, other doctors also started to offer a few words of advice.

This made the patients who came after this feel much more valued.

Dean Zhang whispered to He Yang, "This kind of guidance is the only way to get things done. When we train them again, we need to make sure they learn something from this and share some tips on daily life with their fellow villagers."

He Yang nodded: "Yes, just prescribing good medicine isn't enough; we need to learn this method."

The clinic is quick to respond to patients, but it takes meticulous care of each one, from diagnosis and prescription to instructions.

Before we knew it, the number of people outside gradually decreased, and the sky outside the window gradually darkened.

The lights in the outpatient clinic finally came on, and all the villagers who had been waiting in line finally finished their appointments.

After the last patient left, Fang Yan rubbed her slightly sore wrists and stood up.

He Yang quickly handed over a cup of hot water:
"Director Fang, you've worked hard! You've seen quite a lot this afternoon."

Fang Yan took the hot water, took a sip, and said with a smile:

"The villagers have come from a long way, so it's good that I can help them solve their problems."

Secretary Zhao said:
"Yes, yes, Director Fang's awareness is truly exceptional..."

Fang Yan waved his hand, explaining that he had been observing the doctors here while seeing patients this afternoon.

His overall quality was indeed a bit lacking. He had spent the whole day surrounded by a bunch of geniuses, and only after arriving here did he clearly feel the difference.

This also means that the situation at the grassroots level is definitely worse, and medical resources are already scarce, so these places are in great need of people.

The urgent need to develop traditional Chinese medicine truly resonates in these remote areas.

Talented people are hard to find.

At the grassroots level, it's not just about medicines, but also the educational level of TCM practitioners and their overall quality.

Fang Yan sighed inwardly.

However, this matter cannot be changed in a few words. He looked at the wall clock and it was almost 5:30.

He glanced at the sky outside and changed the subject, saying:

"It gets dark pretty quickly here?" He Yang said.

"This is what it's like in the mountains."

Dean Zhang said:
"It's getting late, let's go have dinner. After dinner, get some rest. Director Fang, you still have to go to Jingsheng Town tomorrow."

"Okay, we'll follow Dean Zhang's instructions." Fang Yan nodded, beckoned to Li Chong and the other two, and then followed the hospital leaders toward the cafeteria.

At this moment, the entrance to the outpatient building is deserted, with only the streetlights casting a dim yellow light in the cold wind, and the footprints of the villagers still remaining on the ground.

Fang Yan looked around and noticed that the emergency room lights were off. He asked the person in front of him:

"Is the hospital's emergency department closed at night?"

The three people in front turned around, and He Yang explained:
"Go ahead and open it. There aren't any patients here right now. The doctor on duty has gone to eat."

Fang Yan suddenly realized, well... in every aspect, it really can't compare to Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Every place has its own circumstances. Their population is small, so it's understandable that they do this.

Then they went to the cafeteria. The cafeteria was quieter at dinner time than at noon, with only a few tables occupied by medical staff on duty.

As soon as Fang Yan and his companions sat down, the chefs from the kitchen brought in dishes one after another, filling the table to the brim. It was much more lavish than lunchtime: a plate of steaming stewed chicken pieces, the meat firm and the broth thick; a plate of braised fish, glistening and tempting, a rare delicacy in those days of scarcity; stir-fried seasonal vegetables, cold black fungus salad, and even an extra bowl of sweet and sticky millet porridge, with a small dish of red dates on the side, all of which looked incredibly appetizing.

I had just sat down when another bowl of soup arrived, but I couldn't recognize what it was because of the local dialect.

"Director Fang, you must be tired from seeing patients this afternoon. I specially asked the kitchen to add a few extra dishes. Please eat more to replenish your energy," Secretary Zhao said with a smile, inviting Fang Yan to sit down.

At the same time, he picked up his chopsticks and put a piece of chicken in Fang Yan's bowl: "This is a free-range chicken raised by our hospital. It's very tender and easy to digest."

Fang Yan looked at the table full of dishes and felt a little embarrassed:
"Oh, you're too kind. There's no need for such extravagance. A simple home-cooked meal will suffice."

While pouring Fang Yan a glass of warm water, He Yang said, "It's not extravagant. The vegetables are all grown in the garden in the yard, and the chickens are raised by us. They're not worth much."

"You helped so many fellow villagers this afternoon and even guided us in rectifying the problems. We have no other way to express our gratitude but to offer you a meal to make you feel at ease."

Dean Zhang chimed in, "Yes, Director Fang, you not only have excellent medical skills, but you're also so down-to-earth, genuinely caring for your fellow villagers. We admire you from the bottom of our hearts. Please don't be shy, try all the dishes, especially this fish, it was caught from the Fen River, it tastes delicious!"

Fang Yan stopped refusing, picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of chicken. It melted in her mouth and was full of freshness and aroma. It was indeed better than the radish and pork rib stew she had at noon.

He took another bite of the fish, and the meat was indeed fresh and delicious, with just the right amount of seasoning and not too greasy. He couldn't help but nod and say, "It tastes really good. Thank you all for your hospitality."

During the meal, the group seemed to deliberately avoid discussing work-related issues and instead started talking about the folk customs of Lingshi.

I can tell what they're thinking by speaking dialects. I discovered a lot of problems today, and it was awkward to talk to them.

The dialect isn't here to cause trouble. Some things are best left unsaid. People are smart enough to know that if they feel there's a problem, they'll fix it themselves.

He Yang said:

"Director Fang, we have a tradition in Lingshi that we hold a temple fair every spring. There are dragon and lion dances, Jin opera performances, and all kinds of snacks. It's very lively. If you can stay a few more days, you might be able to catch it."

Secretary Zhao added, "During the temple fair, people from the surrounding villages will come, and there are also many folk artists who will set up stalls at the fair to treat patients and sell herbs. It is a unique feature of Lingshi."

While eating, Fang Yan asked, "There are temple fairs like this? If I had enough time, I'd love to see it. But I'm mainly here to check on the pilot program, so I probably won't be staying long. I'll definitely come back to see it when the pilot program is rolled out."

Dean Zhang said:
"That's great! Once the pilot project is successful, we'll definitely let you know the good news. We'll invite you to the temple fair and let you try the most authentic local snacks in Lingshi."

Next came the enthusiastic chatter. They also inquired about things in Beijing. Fang Yan told them about the medical treatment for overseas Chinese businessmen and the efforts to attract them back to invest in China. The group was stunned. They realized that the newspapers hadn't reported enough about it before, and only after hearing it from Fang Yan did they understand that this was no easy task.

These are all diseases that have been rigorously selected worldwide, diseases that would make other hospitals scratch their heads.

After I casually mentioned a few words in the local dialect, they felt that this job was inhuman.

At least they find it daunting.

Even before the treatment plan was explained to them in dialect, they were completely clueless.

As a result, they gained a deeper understanding of the medical techniques used in their local dialect.

Dinner ended in a traditional Chinese medicine academic atmosphere. Fang Yan enjoyed the meal and had a pleasant chat.

After the meal, He Yang escorted Fang Yan back to the guesthouse, saying as he left:

"Director Fang, I'll pick you up at seven o'clock tomorrow morning. We'll take a jeep, and it'll take about half an hour to get to Jingsheng Town. I'll call Dr. Bai Xiaochun and Dr. Li Ke later and ask them to wait for you at the health center."

"Okay, thank you for your help, Dean He." Fang Yan nodded.

"No trouble at all!" He Yang waved his hand. "Then I'll pick you up at seven o'clock sharp tomorrow. Get some rest. If you need anything, just call me anytime. I'm in the office next door."

Back at the guesthouse, Fang Yan and the others washed up.

Fortunately, this is an industrial town, so there is a boiler room, and their rooms are heated, which made them much more comfortable.

The temperature drops rapidly after dark.

Fang Yan saw that the water in front of the door had turned into dark ice.

The air here is quite dry, so it hasn't snowed.

Fang Yan took out a pen and notebook and began to record what he had seen and experienced on the first day. Li Chong brought him a cup of hot water.
"Director Fang, you must be very tired this afternoon. Why don't you tell me what you want me to do, and I'll write it?"

Fang Yan took the hot water and took a sip: "It's alright. Organizing these records will make our conversation with Dr. Li Ke more targeted tomorrow."

After saying that, he asked:
"By the way, have you made arrangements for Wang Feng and Deng Cai?"

"It's all arranged. They're right across the street. They'll contact us anytime if anything happens," Li Chong replied.

Fang Yan nodded and continued organizing the notes.

The night outside the window grew darker and darker, and Lingshi County became completely quiet, with only the occasional barking of dogs and the sound of machinery from a distant coal mine.

Fang Yan wrote down everything he had seen that day, which was actually a written report to be submitted to his superiors. He quickly recorded his own analysis and observations, and soon compiled a long document.

After finishing writing, Fang Yan checked the time and it was already 9:30 pm.

He then washed up, packed some things he needed for tomorrow into his coat, and went to bed.

Using Chen Tuan's sleeping technique, Fang Yan quickly drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up again, I heard the sound of a broadcast outside.

I opened my eyes and listened carefully, only to find it was a broadcast from a nearby school.

Fang Yan rubbed his eyes, sat up in bed, and saw that it was just getting light outside the window.

The school's loudspeaker wasn't very loud, drifting intermittently into the room like a morning news broadcast, occasionally interspersed with a few rousing slogans, which sounded particularly clear in the quiet morning of the county town.

He put on his cotton coat and walked to the window, pushing it open a crack. A cold wind rushed in instantly, carrying a faint smell of coal dust. This smell was more pronounced than during the day, probably because the air was moving slowly in the early morning and the lingering smell of the coal mine's nighttime operations had not yet dissipated.

The icicles under the eaves had thickened, and the red brick main building of the county hospital was faintly visible in the morning light in the distance. Only a few rooms were lit up, presumably because the medical staff on duty had already begun their work.

"Director Fang, you're awake?" Li Chong jumped up.

His voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up.

The place was safe, so he slept a little more soundly.

"You're awake. Get ready, Dean He should be here soon." Fang Yan didn't seem to mind waking up before the guard. She reminded him and then turned to tidy up the notebook on the table. She put all the information about grassroots medical issues and Li Ke that she had compiled yesterday into her canvas bag. She also checked the pen and the medical form template in her pocket to make sure nothing was missing.

Li Chong quickly got dressed and ran out to fetch hot water for Fang Yan.

Fang Yan didn't refuse his kindness. After washing up with hot water, He Yang knocked on the door.
"Director Fang, I've come to pick you up. Breakfast has been prepared by the cafeteria. Let's eat and then set off."

"Oh dear, thank you for coming so early, Dean He." Fang Yan opened the door and saw He Yang wrapped in a thick cotton coat, his face showing a hint of coldness. Behind him was a middle-aged man, the driver she had met yesterday.

This is the same person who took them more than ten kilometers away today.

"It's not hard work. Many people from Jingsheng Town go to the doctor in the morning. If we go there early, we can catch the morning clinic," He Yang said with a smile.

Fang Yan invited Li Chong and the others to go out for breakfast together.

He Yang led the way.

The canteen was quiet in the early morning, with only the chefs in the kitchen busy at work. Breakfast was already laid out on the table: several steamed buns, boiled eggs, and a large bowl of steaming millet porridge, with a small dish of pickled vegetables and pickled radishes on the side. It was simple but comforting.

"Director Fang, it's cold this morning, have some millet porridge to warm yourself up." He Yang served Fang Yan a bowl of porridge. "This millet is grown locally, and it's cooked until it's sticky and fragrant, much better than the kind you buy in the city."

Fang Yan took a sip of the porridge; it was indeed fragrant, sweet, and soft, and it dispelled much of the chill. As he ate, he asked, "Dean He, is the health center in Jingsheng Town located in the Wang Family Compound? Do you know which compound specifically?"

“It’s over at Gaojiaya. It used to be the Wang family’s study courtyard. There were a few empty rooms, so they were temporarily converted into a clinic and pharmacy.” He Yang put down his chopsticks. “The conditions there are worse than in the county town. There’s no heating in winter, so you can only use a coal stove. You’ll need to wear more clothes then.”

"It's alright, I can handle it." Fang Yan waved his hand.

Then he looked around and asked:
"By the way, where are Dean Zhang and Secretary Zhao?"

He Yang said:

"They have something to do today, I'll go with you."

Fang Yan nodded, then started eating. Soon they finished breakfast, packed their things, and got into the car.

Several people squeezed into a car and headed towards the Wang family compound after leaving the county hospital.

I'll see Li Ke soon.

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

(End of this chapter)