Chapter 5:

Qin Chaoyu hesitated upon hearing the question, unsure if she was acting impulsively.

Gritting her teeth, she said, “Madam, I’ve studied traditional Chinese medicine under my master and have some basic knowledge. I can tell that the child has a severe heart condition. My master once taught me a method that has remarkable effects in treating heart disease. I wonder if you’d allow me to try it.”

Having spent a long time with her master, Qin Chaoyu had naturally adopted some of his traits—she preferred getting straight to the point rather than beating around the bush.

Madam Han hadn’t expected this young girl to bring up such a matter. It was easy to tell that Xinchen was ill—his pale complexion made it obvious he was unwell. The fact that this girl could identify his heart condition suggested she had some skill.

However, Madam Han was skeptical, even somewhat angered, by Qin Chaoyu’s proposal. She thought, *She’s so young and probably hasn’t studied Chinese medicine for long. What kind of expertise could she possibly have? Is she trying to use Xinchen as practice?*

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. The smile on her lips turned cold, but her good upbringing prevented her from saying anything harsh. Instead, she replied distantly, “No need. I’ve already found a highly skilled TCM doctor. I appreciate your kindness on behalf of Xinchen.”

Hearing the rejection, Qin Chaoyu wasn’t particularly disappointed—it was more or less what she had expected.

Without any proof or prior acquaintance, why would anyone trust her? Still, she was glad the child had found a skilled doctor. Perhaps he could be cured. The world was full of wonders, and extraordinary people weren’t exclusive to her master’s lineage.

Qin Chaoyu smiled warmly and said gently, “That’s good. The child is adorable, and I sincerely hope he recovers soon.”

No mother dislikes blessings for her child—unless she doesn’t love them. But there was no doubt Madam Han adored her son.

Hearing this, Madam Han’s expression softened, and she nodded in gratitude.

Then she turned and called to Han Xinchen, who was playing with Tuan Tuan, “Xinchen, it’s time to go!”

Xinchen was remarkably well-behaved. Unlike most children who would ignore their parents or throw tantrums when engrossed in play, he immediately ran over, gently placed Tuan Tuan back into Qin Chaoyu’s hands, took his mother’s hand, and bid Qin Chaoyu goodbye.

Watching the mother and son walk away, Qin Chaoyu felt a pang of pity for the unfortunate Xinchen.

*I hope he recovers and grows into a lively, cheerful boy!*

—

After parting with Han Xinchen and his mother, Qin Chaoyu continued pushing her cart slowly through the park, admiring the scenery. The view was truly beautiful.

Tall, lush plane trees lined the paths, their dense foliage nearly blotting out the sky. The shade they provided was a welcome relief from the sun.

Beyond the ordinary greenery, there were camellias, milan flowers, and other evergreen shrubs, along with vibrant clusters of blossoms everywhere.

Being in such a beautiful environment naturally lifted one’s spirits.

After walking for a while, Qin Chaoyu felt a little tired. She glanced around, then pushed her cart toward a public bench, sat down with Tuan Tuan in her arms, and idly played with him.

She hadn’t been sitting long when she noticed a crowd gathering not far away.

At first, she paid no attention, assuming it was just some commotion.

But gradually, she sensed something was wrong.

Someone shouted, “Is there a doctor here?”

“An elderly person has fainted!”

“Call an ambulance!”

…

*Someone fainted? An elderly person?*

Qin Chaoyu immediately stood up. Fainting spells in the elderly were serious—their bodily functions were declining, and they often had underlying health issues. A faint could easily lead to complications.

She rushed toward the crowd, leaving her cart behind and placing Tuan Tuan in the basket.

She wasn’t too worried about her cart—if anyone tried to steal it, Tuan Tuan would teach them a lesson they’d never forget!

But the Chinese love for spectacles was undeniable. The moment word spread, more and more people flocked to the scene, making it harder for Qin Chaoyu to push through.

She had to raise her voice and shout, “Please make way! I know medicine!”

At that moment, she seemed entirely different from her usual gentle self—her forceful tone made her appear resolute.

Hearing her claim, some in the crowd gradually stepped aside, allowing her to squeeze through.

The elderly man lay unconscious on the ground, surrounded by onlookers, none daring to approach.

This wasn’t necessarily a sign of cold-heartedness—too many cases of good Samaritans being falsely accused had made people wary. No one wanted trouble, so they chose to stay uninvolved.

But Qin Chaoyu didn’t think that far. In her past life, she had been confined to the inner chambers, her only hardships being her mother’s death and mistreatment by her stepsister. In this life, she had lived in seclusion with her master, untouched by the complexities of the outside world. Her heart remained soft and kind.

She knelt beside the man, careful not to move him recklessly. First, she needed to determine the cause of his collapse.

She examined his tongue—a diagnostic method unique to TCM known as tongue inspection. The tongue’s condition reflects internal health.

The man’s tongue was pale and dull, with dark spots and a purplish, twisted sublingual vein.

But relying solely on tongue inspection could lead to errors. Whether in TCM or Western medicine, a responsible attitude was essential—for the patient’s sake and one’s own.

So, Qin Chaoyu also checked his ears. Traditional Chinese medicine held that “the ears are the windows to the kidneys” and that “all meridians converge in the ears.” The *Lingshu* text stated that the essence of the five organs and six viscera gathered in the ears, making them a microcosm of the body. Abnormalities like tenderness, wrinkles, nodules, or discoloration could indicate underlying conditions.

The man’s earlobes had pronounced diagonal wrinkles. Qin Chaoyu preliminarily diagnosed coronary heart disease.

Finally, she took his wrist to confirm through pulse diagnosis.

She turned his palm upward and placed three fingers lightly on his radial artery.

Her master had taught her to approach pulse-taking with utmost seriousness—back straight, posture correct. She had always adhered to this principle.

The pulse was thin and weak, occasionally irregular, with intermittent pauses—a clear sign of coronary issues.

Qin Chaoyu concluded that the man had fainted due to a sudden coronary episode, likely exacerbated by the heat.

While she was busy with her examination, the crowd grew impatient. Seeing her take so long without announcing a diagnosis, some assumed she was incompetent.

A middle-aged woman scoffed, “If you can’t do it, step aside. What does a young girl know about TCM? Probably just dabbled for a year or two and now thinks she can treat people. What if something goes wrong? Can you take responsibility?”

The woman, Wang Xinhong, had a stern face with deep frown lines—a person who seldom smiled.

Her husband had left her for a younger woman years ago. Though she had won the divorce settlement, she had since harbored resentment toward pretty young girls.

Her words seemed to open Pandora’s box—doubts erupted from the crowd.

“Yeah, she’s too young to know anything!”

“Just wait for the ambulance! What if she makes things worse?”

…

Seeing others echo her, Wang Xinhong smirked in satisfaction.

Facing the skepticism, Qin Chaoyu remained unfazed. Without a word, she pressed a specific point on the man’s body—and he suddenly woke up.

The doubters fell silent, their faces stiff with embarrassment.

But people were quick to shift blame. Instead of admitting their mistake, they directed their frustration at Wang Xinhong—if not for her, they wouldn’t have spoken up.

Qin Chaoyu ignored them. Gently helping the man sit up, she rhythmically patted his back, seemingly to help him catch his breath. In reality, she was using her internal energy to regulate his body.

This was the unique aspect of her master’s teachings—internal energy could enhance treatment with miraculous effects. However, cultivating such energy was difficult, and once used, it diminished.

She didn’t expend much, not out of reluctance, but because the man’s body was too weak. As the saying went, *”A deficient body cannot endure strong tonics.”* Overdoing it could backfire.