After Qin Chaoyu and her group had all arrived, the event quickly commenced.
The host was once again Zong Nanhan, who was dressed particularly formally today in a well-tailored black suit. Holding a microphone, he stood on the stage at the front and said, “Students, quiet down, quiet down. Listen to me for a moment.”
The room instantly fell silent. Satisfied, he nodded and continued, “I’m sure you’re all wondering—what’s this all about? Why are there cameras here? And why am I dressed so formally in a black suit instead of my usual casual attire? Honestly, I’m not used to it either. This suit is too restrictive, not comfortable at all. I’d much rather be in my white thermal shirt.”
Zong Nanhan’s tone was lighthearted and humorous, and as soon as he finished speaking, the classroom erupted in laughter.
Once the laughter subsided, he went on, “The format has been changed last minute, and since it was quite sudden, we didn’t have time to notify you in advance. So, I’ll explain it here.”
“This Q&A session isn’t just for you TCM students—it also includes clinical students from the Western medicine program, from first to fourth year. All of this is because of a certain professor from Huajing University’s School of Medicine who bluntly stated that he hasn’t seen much of TCM’s capabilities. Our TCM professors, being kind and enthusiastic, decided to clear up any doubts for this professor so he wouldn’t have any lingering regrets. And to ensure this professor can revisit the experience later, we’ve decided to record the entire process and upload it online for easy access. Don’t be too nervous—just act as you normally would. This is just an exchange of ideas; no need to be overly formal.”
Brutal. Absolutely brutal. With these words, Zong Nanhan had thoroughly trampled that professor’s dignity underfoot. Saying he hadn’t seen TCM’s capabilities was essentially implying that the professor looked down on TCM.
Uttering such remarks, whether justified or not, made him seem incredibly thoughtless. Moreover, due to differences in treatment methods and theories, there had always been debates between TCM and Western medicine, but most were constructive discussions. Even when conflicts arose, they were usually among minor figures and didn’t disrupt the broader harmony.
As a professor at Huajing University’s School of Medicine, if someone with ulterior motives twisted his words, they could easily label him—or even the entire medical school—as “stirring conflict between TCM and Western medicine” or “worshipping the West.” That would be disastrous, and no amount of justification could clear his name.
Precisely because of this, the medical school’s leadership had agreed to host this event on their turf. They had no choice—they were in the wrong. If they didn’t compromise, the offended TCM professors wouldn’t let it slide. Worse still, if the situation escalated and implicated the renowned TCM master who currently advised the nation’s leaders on health, things would get ugly. That master, despite being in his seventies, still had the same fiery temper as his youth.
With just a few words, Zong Nanhan had effortlessly dethroned this professor. Unless it was later proven that TCM was useless, there was no way the professor could salvage his reputation.
But given the circumstances, would the TCM professors dare to proceed without confidence?
As Zong Nanhan spoke, a tall, thin man in the audience looked increasingly grim, his face darkening as if about to drip with fury.
This was the professor who had arrogantly dismissed TCM as useless during that dinner.
Now, he squirmed in his seat, feeling as if mocking, disdainful gazes were piercing him from all directions. He wanted to storm out in anger but lacked the courage. Before arriving, the dean had warned him that if he caused another scene, his time at Huajing University would be over.
How could that be? As a professor at Huajing University, he enjoyed not only a high salary and excellent benefits but also elevated social status. No matter how humiliated he felt, he had to endure it.
As he clenched his teeth in restraint, the medical school dean sitting beside him glanced at his tightly balled fists and whispered, “Control your temper. Use this opportunity to clear the nonsense from your head.” Then, raising his head, the dean smiled amiably at Zong Nanhan’s playful banter on stage, as if completely oblivious to the sarcasm. Truly, the dean’s composure was impeccable.
Hearing the dean’s words, the professor slowly lowered his hands to his lap, hiding them under the table as they repeatedly clenched and unclenched.
It didn’t matter. A true man could bend without breaking. As long as he weathered this storm, enduring a little humiliation was nothing.
Zong Nanhan said, “Now, let me introduce our panel of professors and experts.” He gestured to the middle-aged men seated in the front row. “From left to right: TCM expert Zhou Lianglei from Yuzhou Hospital, expert Gu Jinglin from Huajing Hospital, TCM professor Xin Fengdu from Huajing University, TCM professor Jing Huima from Jiaozhou University, and TCM professor Wei Bolan from Yuzhou University. Let’s give them a round of applause!”
“Clap clap!” The students enthusiastically applauded.
Yin Ledan clapped while leaning toward Qin Chaoyu and whispering, “I didn’t expect Professor Wei to be here too.”
“Professor Wei holds a significant position in TCM circles. His presence is only natural. Now, stop talking and pay attention.” Qin Chaoyu glanced at Wei Bolan, even suspecting that this entire event might have been his idea.
Of course, Qin Chaoyu wouldn’t voice this thought—it was just a guess based on Professor Wei’s personality. But the likelihood was at least eighty percent.
Yin Ledan pouted but knew this wasn’t the time for chatter, so she retreated to her seat and focused on Zong Nanhan’s speech.
Once the applause died down, Zong Nanhan continued, “Now, let’s invite the patients from that day to come forward.” From the left, twelve patients filed in—some unable to walk were carried by staff. The patients included men and women, young and old.
Chairs were then brought out for those who could move on their own.
Most of these patients came from impoverished backgrounds, unable to afford expensive medical treatments, leaving them to endure their illnesses. Their willingness to volunteer stemmed from the organizers’ promise to provide free treatment afterward, along with a monetary reward.
With such incentives, finding twelve patients had been effortless.
“Due to receiving some treatment, these patients’ conditions may have slightly changed, but don’t worry—the time gap is only a day or two, so the differences are minimal. Moreover, we allow for a margin of error. As long as the diagnosis falls within that range, it’s considered correct,” Zong Nanhan explained. “Now, let’s invite Wei Bolan to the stage to begin the explanations.”
Wei Bolan wore a modified Tang suit, his hair streaked with gray, exuding the dignified aura of a benevolent elder from a wealthy family. Only his sharp, shrewd eyes betrayed his formidable intellect.
He strode onto the stage, took the microphone, and said, “No unnecessary talk—I’ll get straight to it.”
This was typical of him—no wasted words. In his view, time spent on idle chatter was better spent on practical work, reading, or research.
His no-nonsense demeanor immediately impressed the Western medicine students.
Hearing their awed murmurs, Kong Han squinted in satisfaction and said, “That’s our Professor Wei for you—so cool!”
The students around him were all participants in the selection process. Though Kong Han’s remark was shameless, they suppressed the urge to knock sense into him to maintain a friendly atmosphere for the Western medicine students, showcasing TCM students’ camaraderie.
Wei Bolan approached the first patient, an elderly man with sallow, sun-weathered skin and deep wrinkles like dried bark. Unaccustomed to such a grand setting, the man hunched his shoulders nervously. When Wei Bolan reached for his wrist with clean, well-groomed hands, the old man resisted the urge to pull away. How could such pristine hands touch his own, calloused and dirt-stained?
Sensing the old man’s insecurity, Wei Bolan tactfully pretended not to notice. He took the man’s hand, patted it reassuringly, offered a few comforting words, and began his examination.
After examining two patients, he addressed the audience.
The first patient suffers from chronic overwork, resulting in spinal stiffness and difficulty sitting or standing—a condition known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as “bone impediment” (骨痹), a type of bi syndrome. This encompasses what Western medicine refers to as osteoarthritis.
The *Yellow Emperor’s Canon* states, “If bone impediment persists and is aggravated by external pathogens, it invades the kidneys,” accurately describing this condition. This patient likely ignored his early symptoms, neglecting proper rest and recovery, which led to severe progression—manifesting as fixed spinal rigidity and a hunched posture.
Treatment should prioritize gentle approaches: herbal medicine supplemented by massage and acupuncture to expedite recovery. However, due to the late intervention, a full return to pre-illness health is unlikely.
The second patient has lung issues. Earlier, I asked him—he snores loudly during sleep, producing unusual sounds, which prompted his family to seek medical attention. But why associate snoring with lung problems? Here’s a brief explanation: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the lungs govern respiration and open into the nose. The nose serves as the body’s gateway to external air and pathogens. Therefore, lung disorders first manifest in the nose. If the nose inhales the six climatic excesses (wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire), the lungs are the first organs affected. When lung function is healthy, breathing is smooth and silent. Conversely, thunderous snoring that disturbs others’ sleep indicates impaired lung function. Western medicine often struggles to diagnose this—doctors might simply label it as “suboptimal health” and recommend dietary adjustments and exercise. While not entirely incorrect, this approach lacks precision and targeted treatment. TCM, however, offers a straightforward solution: a few doses of herbal medicine are usually sufficient.
Wei Bolan’s dual explanations—TCM and Western—left the Western medicine students murmuring in admiration, some even daring to ask questions of their TCM peers. The atmosphere grew lively and harmonious.
Once finished, Wei Bolan stepped down without giving Zong Nanhan a chance for pleasantries. Zong Nanhan sighed but understood his style and simply invited the next expert.
Each professor analyzed two patients, leaving two unexamined after five experts had spoken.
As the last TCM professor exited without another taking the stage, whispers spread among the students. Why were the remaining two patients ignored?
Noticing the murmurs, Zong Nanhan grinned. “Curious about the last two patients? Don’t worry—they’ll be addressed. But not by the five professors.”
At this, Qin Chaoyu felt a twinge of foreboding.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage