Chapter 97: Chapter 97: I want you to lose face!
Translator: 549690339
“Little Long, what’s the matter?” Su Xiaoman asked from the sidelines.
“Sister Xiaoman, I’ve been challenged.” Huang Xiaolong responded, somewhat bemused.
“Challenged?” Struck by surprise, Su Xiaoman quickly became anxious as she had not been aware of the situation.
At this moment, a phone call came in for Huang Xiaolong.
Seeing the caller ID, it was Brother Zhao Qi.
Huang Xiaolong answered the phone.
“Doctor Little Long, you must have received the WeChat message from First People’s Hospital?” From the other end of the line, Brother Zhao Qi’s voice vibrated with evident fury. “I just got it. Pulse diagnosis for pregnancy? That’s too much! How could they compare this? Moreover, that Doctor Bai who caused this mess, doesn’t he have any shame? For a petty grudge against you, he has not only implicated the entire hospital, but has also manipulated public opinion! Sensationalizing! It’s nothing more than a vile publicity stunt! The today’s First People’s Hospital is exploiting this situation for their own promotion. It seems the competition among Binhai’s major hospitals is indeed fierce.’
“Oh… Brother Zhao Qi, I don’t understand these intrigues of you city folks. But, since they’ve delivered me the challenge, I will go tomorrow.” Huang Xiaolong responded calmly, no hint of anger or dissatisfaction in his tone.
“Doctor Little Long, your medical skills are truly a marvel,” Brother Zhao Qi expressed vehemently. “But the way the First People’s Hospital has gone about this is too despicable. Their hospital’s ultrasound for pregnancy testing is bound to be 100% accurate. Their so-called volunteer is likely one they specifically selected. Thus, they’ve already positioned themselves in an invincible situation. This is absolutely unfair to you! If they had any true skills, they could compete in other areas such as treatment of diseases. They’re definitely no match for you. They had to resort to such underhand tactics! I bet 1 million on this event, so I will be there tomorrow to stand by your side. Let’s get them to change the challenge!”
“Oh… Brother Zhao Qi, no need to change any challenge. Let it be pulse diagnosis to confirm pregnancy,” Huang Xiaolong responded nonchalantly.
“See you tomorrow then.”
“Well… alright… Doctor Little Long, see you tomorrow.” With a heavy heart, Brother Zhao Qi hung up.
“Little Long, could you tell me what’s going on?” Su Xiaoman asked, her concern evident.
“Oh, Sister Xiaoman, it’s just a small matter. How about you accompany me to First People’s Hospital tomorrow morning?” Huang Xiaolong suggested casually.
“Alright, I’ll go with you.” Su Xiaoman readily agreed.
After having dinner with Huang Xiaolong, Su Xiaoman went on to take care of some leasing matters for her shop. Huang Xiaolong retreated to his bed for a nap.
That evening, Su Xiaoman stayed over at Huang Xiaolong’s place.
Huang Xiaolong and Su Xiaoman spent the night together, cuddling and caressing each other. Su Xiaoman was on the verge of losing control but since her monthly cycle had kicked in, they didn’t cross the final boundary. Nevertheless, there was no part of Su Xiaoman’s body that remained unknown to Huang Xiaolong.
The next day!
It wasn’t even 8 0’clock in the morning yet!
First People’s Hospital!
The conference room!
The hospital’s leaders, comprising the dean, deputy dean, and union chief, had already assembled together.
In addition, several invited experts were also present.
That man, Bai Hai, was also among them.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, today is a significant day for our First People’s Hospital. Our hospital, as a representative of western medicine, will engage in an academic debate with a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner named ‘Huang Xiaolong’. This is related to the reputation of our First People’s Hospital. The challenge is more than an hour away, and many journalists have already arrived. Lastly, I would like to hear your opinions.” The dean said sternly. “We cannot afford to lose this challenge.”
“Dean, honorable leaders, esteemed experts,” Bai Hai laughed. “I need to correct something. Huang Xiaolong is not a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, but a rural doctor. He probably does not even have a medical license. Last time at a real estate sales event, he openly disparaged western medicine and our First People’s Hospital. His intent is clearly malicious.”
Bai Hai has fanned the flames for this challenge. Moreover, in Binhai in recent years, the performance of the First People’s Hospital has been surpassed by the Fourth People’s Hospital, creating a significant gap. Thus, the leaders of the First People’s Hospital have agreed with Bai Hai to use this event as a way to boost the hospital’s visibility—an advertising campaign of sorts.
The challenge topic was also decided after the hospital leadership held several meetings.
Pregnancy verification through pulse diagnosis can secure an unbeatable position for the First People’s Hospital.
“Professor Zhu, what is your view on this challenge?” The dean smiled, asking a thorough-looking old man sitting by his side.
This old man is a visiting professor to the First People’s Hospital and also the principal of the Binhai City Medical School – a luminary in the field of Western medicine in Binhai.
Professor Zhu chuckled, “I do not wish to comment on traditional Chinese medicine. However, with the development of modern medicine, pulse diagnosis for pregnancy is no longer the main diagnostic method. Pregnancy diagnosis should mainly rely on laboratory tests, ultrasounds, and other means of western medicine. This is universally acknowledged by both traditional Chinese and Western medicine. From my understanding, true traditional Chinese medicine believes in the combination of four diagnostic methods, observing, hearing and smelling, asking, and feeling the pulse. Many renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioners throughout history have opposed prescribing medicine based on pulse diagnosis alone. The so-called observing, hearing and smelling, asking, and feeling the pulse – the weight of pulse diagnosis in the overall assessment is limited, accounting for only about 20% to 30%. This is why it is insisted that the four diagnostic methods be combined. This aims to prevent the shortsightedness and unilaterality of diagnosis and to reduce errors, thereby getting as close to the reality as possible. Therefore, I will go straight to the point. Pulse diagnosis for pregnancy is extremely unscientific, and its accuracy should be extremely low.”
Upon hearing the authoritative Professor Zhu’s remarks, the leaders of the
First People’s Hospital and Bai Hai were relieved and felt more confident.
“Old Master Shi, what is your opinion?” The dean then turned to an elderly man who was about the same age as Professor Zhu.
The man, dressed in a Tang suit, exuded an air of ethereal charm.
If Professor Zhu is an authority in western medicine in Binhai, then this Tang-suited elder, Old Master Shi, is the North Star of Mount Tai in the realm of traditional Chinese medicine!
Old Master Shi has a profound traditional Chinese medicine heritage, rumor has it that his ancestors even served as imperial physicians in the Qing Dynasty, thus carrying the tradition of a few hundred years of medical lineage.
Old Master Shi has devoted his life to medical practices and is very well respected among the people of Binhai.
“I cannot agree with what Professor Zhu said,” Old Master Shi gave a slight smile. “The pulse diagnosis for pregnancy is not a gimmick or a legend—it does exist in reality. In ancient China, pulse diagnosis for pregnancy was known as the ‘Joyous pulse,’ a method that has been handed down and practiced for thousands of years. Everyone must remember the popular drama series ‘Legend of Zhen Huan’? Scenes were countless where imperial physicians diagnose the pulse of concubines. These are indeed reliable references. Of course, not every traditional Chinese medicine practitioner is skilled enough to perform this magical technique. Additionally, pulse conditions can easily be influenced by factors such as diet, exercise, and emotions. Clinically, we hope that the patients maintain a calm emotional state, and hurried or anxious visits may affect the results of pulse diagnosis. Pulse diagnosis should also be avoided after a full meal or drinking alcohol.”
“Ha, so, Old Master Shi, you’re the undisputed number one in the traditional Chinese medicine world here in Binhai, If you were to diagnose a woman’s pregnancy by her pulse, how sure would you be in confirming if she is pregnant?” Professor Zhu raised his eyes to look at Old Master Shi, his expression a bit mocking, as he made a sarcastic remark.
“Well…my…my skills are not proficient enough, I would have about fifty percent confidence,” Old Master Shi admitted, blushing with embarrassment.
“Hahaha, fifty percent? So it’s half and half? Excuse my bluntness, but how is that different from a wild guess?” Professor Zhu mocked.
Old Master Shi’s face turned red; he defended himself, “My incapacity doesn’t mean that other Chinese medicine practitioners can’t do it! It doesn’t mean that Huang Xiaolong can’t do it either!”
“Alright, alright, there’s no need for the two of you to argue,” the dean quickly intervened to smooth things over. “Let’s hurry to the location. Since even a renowned practitioner like Old Master Shi only has fifty percent confidence, I believe that there’s no way that rural doctor Huang Xiaolong can win!”
The dean exchanged glances with the hospital leaders present, who all sported relaxed expressions as if they held certainty of victory in their hands.
Bai Hai looked even more haughty, ‘hehehe, you small peasant, last time at the sales center you slapped my face – you enjoyed that, didn’t you? This time, I will make you lose face! You won’t be able to continue practicing medicine here in the medical community of Binhai!’