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Chapter 121 A Few Things About the Clinic: Reputation Rises with Spring

For two months, Xinglin Chuntang was bustling with patients, with a constant stream of people coming to see the doctor from dawn to dusk every day.

With his superb medical skills, Dr. Feng has successfully resolved many difficult and complicated cases.

There was an old man, a private tutor, who had taught many students throughout his life and was well-known as a scholar among the common people.

He had been coughing incessantly for months, and despite seeking medical help from various sources, nothing had worked. He even had trouble sleeping at night, and his body became increasingly emaciated.

Dr. Feng carefully examined the patient's pulse and tongue coating, diagnosing him with lung yin deficiency and lung heat due to deficiency fire. He prescribed a formula to nourish yin, moisten the lungs, stop coughing, and relieve asthma. After a few doses, the old man's cough significantly lessened, and he was able to sleep peacefully at night.

The old gentleman specially wrote a poem in praise and presented it to Xinglin Chuntang. When this news spread, the reputation of the clinic was established.

As the day was drawing to a close, the clinic hurriedly locked itself, as it would be too late to walk on the road.

Just then, a farmer came staggering along with his wife and children.

"Doctor Feng! Doctor Feng! Look at my young child!"

The child's father, holding his crying child, rushed into the clinic with a look of anxiety on his face, followed closely by the child's mother, whose eyes were red with tears.

Doctor Feng quickly got up and reassured him, "Don't worry, don't worry, put the child on this bed first, and we'll talk slowly."

The child's mother said with a sob in her voice, "Doctor, I don't know what's wrong. My child suddenly has abdominal distension and pain, and keeps crying. We can't soothe him no matter what we do. We're so worried!"

The child was already pale, presumably from severe diarrhea. Doctor Feng, with focused attention, first gently touched the child's stomach, then examined the child's eyes, carefully took the pulse, and then said:
"The child has a weak spleen and stomach. If the spleen and stomach are not properly regulated, this situation is likely to occur."

The child's father hurriedly asked, "What should we do, doctor?"

As Dr. Feng walked toward the medicine cabinet, he said slowly and deliberately:
"Don't panic,"

Because the child was too young, Doctor Feng was worried and asked Cui'er and others in the back hall to prepare the medicine. So he first administered acupuncture to relieve the symptoms, and then went to prepare the medicine himself. By the time the child had recovered his complexion, it was already dark.

The four had no choice but to stay overnight at the clinic.

A few days later, the child's parents came to the clinic again. This time, the child was jumping around beside his parents, with a smile on his face.

The child's mother excitedly grasped Dr. Feng's hand and said, "Dr. Feng, thank you so much! My child recovered so quickly after taking the medicine you prescribed! You are truly a great benefactor to our family!"

Dr. Feng smiled and waved his hand: "It's good that the child is alright. Just pay more attention to the child's diet in the future."

The reputation of Xinglin Chuntang spread like wildfire, not only among the surrounding neighbors but also among people who traveled several alleys to seek medical advice.

Gradually, some special patients also came seeking treatment. Often, women wearing caps, looking shy yet anxious, would come to seek treatment for ailments they found difficult to talk about.

This was precisely Yunshan's forte; she always gently and patiently led the women into private cubicles, speaking softly to comfort them and ease their tension and anxiety.

After a thorough examination, she would provide a precise treatment plan based on each person's condition, and also thoughtfully offer advice on recuperation, allowing the women to leave with peace of mind and hope after arriving full of worries. In her spare time, Yunshan would also follow Dr. Feng to learn about diagnosis, observe Dr. Feng's diagnostic techniques and medication strategies, and ask questions promptly when she encountered doubts, showing an astonishing rate of improvement.

After years of diligent study of pharmacology and medical theory, she has finally been able to fully apply and improve her knowledge through these three months of practical experience.

One afternoon, the sun was high in the sky, and the heat was unbearable. The clinic was as busy as ever. Yunshan was helping Doctor Feng organize medical records when a commotion came from the doorway.

A middle-aged man rushed in carrying a pale-faced young woman. The man was very anxious and cried out, "Doctor, please save my sister! She suddenly fell unconscious!"

Doctor Feng and Yun Shan immediately went to examine her. The woman's eyes were tightly closed, her breathing was weak, and her pulse was very erratic. Doctor Feng frowned, carefully taking her pulse, checking her pupils, and then examining her eyelids.

Yun Shan watched nervously from the side. After a diagnosis, Dr. Feng also looked troubled, and after a moment of contemplation, he said:

"It's like the body's qi and blood suddenly becoming disordered, mixed with the invasion of evil toxins, making it difficult to determine the root cause for a while."

After hearing this, Yunshan mustered her courage and said, "Dr. Feng, I see that her lips are bluish-purple and her extremities are cold. Could this be related to blood stasis in her heart meridian? Considering her pulse, could we try methods to promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, and clear her mind?"

After listening, Dr. Feng's eyes flashed with approval, and he nodded, saying, "Your analysis makes some sense. Why not give it a try?"

So Yunshan quickly prepared the medicinal materials with the clinic staff, and prepared, decocted and fed the medicine according to the prescription they had discussed.

After more than an hour, the woman's complexion gradually regained some color, and her fingers twitched slightly.

After a while, she slowly opened her eyes. The man was overjoyed and wept, repeatedly thanking Doctor Feng and Yun Shan.

This successful treatment greatly boosted Yunshan's confidence. Under Dr. Feng's guidance, Yunshan gradually became able to work independently, and Xinglin Chuntang became a warm and reliable presence in the hearts of ordinary people in this land.

However, Xinglin Chuntang's reputation grew daily, and patients flocked to it every day, almost wearing down the doorstep. This prosperity, however, aroused envy among its peers.

Jishengtang, which also claims to offer "affordable medicine and medical services," used to be bustling with customers, but now it is deserted and almost empty.

Zhou Fu, the manager of Jishengtang, was a narrow-minded man. He was so angry that he saw Xinglin Chuntang taking away his business that he started to plot against him.

He first bribed the shop assistant at the grocery store next to Xinglin Chuntang to spread rumors that Xinglin Chuntang used inferior medicines and that Doctor Feng's medical skills were just a facade, and that the patients he had cured before were all paid shills.

Rumors spread like wildfire in the city, and some people who were unaware of the truth began to doubt Xinglin Chuntang. The once bustling clinic gradually saw fewer and fewer visitors.

Business fluctuates, which is perfectly normal. Besides, the fact that their medicine cabinets are covered in dust means that the people are healthy, which is not a bad thing. Yun Shan didn't pay much attention to the reasons at first.

On this bright spring day, two carriages from Xinglin Chuntang, fully loaded with fresh medicinal herbs, were slowly making their way from outside the city to the city center.

Suddenly, the bushes on both sides of the road rustled, and several fierce-looking men sprang out and rushed straight at the carriage.

The burly man at the head deliberately rammed the first carriage. The horses were startled and neighed, their front hooves raised high. The carriage shook violently and then overturned with a crash, spilling the freshly acquired medicinal herbs all over the ground.