Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor Gao-Yuan

Hearing such a bold statement, Director Qi couldn’t help but assume the role of a senior, advising, “Confidence is, of course... hic... a good thing, but you can’t be... hic... arrogant. Young people shouldn’t be too proud; you must remember, there are always those better than you and mountains higher than the ones you see.”

At that moment, Zhang Yuancai brought over two cups of water. "Director, don't underestimate Dr. Gao. Though he's young, his medical skills are quite extraordinary. My mother was terribly sick before, and even the city hospital couldn't cure her. But Dr. Gao gave her just two doses of medicine, and she was fine afterward."

"Oh?" Director Qi looked surprised once again.

Gao-Yuan offered a polite smile.

Director Qi gazed at the young man before him and said, "If that's the case, then today I’ll... hic... see whether this young doctor... hic... is that higher mountain or better person."

Zhao Huanzhang, however, was growing anxious. He pulled Gao-Yuan aside and whispered, “Are you really going to treat Director Qi’s illness?”

Gao-Yuan replied matter-of-factly, “Of course. We’re doctors, and doctors are supposed to treat people.”

Zhao Huanzhang lowered his voice even further. “But even Dr. Li Runyu couldn’t cure him. Can you?”

“We’ll find out once I treat him,” Gao-Yuan said calmly.

Zhao Huanzhang, still nervous, asked, “What if you don’t succeed? He’s the director, after all!”

Gao-Yuan frowned at him and said, “So what if he’s the director? Treating an illness is treating an illness. Why overthink it? You’re worrying about all the wrong things. You think too much!”

Zhao Huanzhang was stunned by Gao-Yuan’s blunt response. He opened his mouth as if to say something but ended up turning his head away.

Director Qi had already stepped out and sat down on a chair. He said to Gao-Yuan, “Young doctor, could you... hic... take a look at me now?”

“Alright,” Gao-Yuan agreed and walked over without hesitation.

Facing such a tough case, Zhao Huanzhang felt a bit bitter but could only follow behind.

Gao-Yuan asked, “Director Qi, do you have a pair of scissors here?”

“Scissors? I have some... hic...” Director Qi, though confused, pointed to his desk.

Gao-Yuan got up, fetched the scissors, and said, “Please, cut some of your fingernails for me.”

“Huh?” Director Qi looked at Gao-Yuan, puzzled.

Zhao Huanzhang and Zhang Yuancai also stared at Gao-Yuan in confusion.

Without saying anything, Gao-Yuan just gave Director Qi a serious nod.

Seeing Gao-Yuan’s earnest expression, Director Qi took the scissors and began trimming his nails. His hiccups made his hands tremble several times, and he nearly cut himself.

At last, he finished.

Gao Yuan grabbed an assault and some matches from the table. He placed the fingernail clips in the ashtray and lit a match to burn them.

Soon, the room was filled with the pungent smell of burning nails.

Gao-Yuan blew out the flame and said to Director Qi, “Director, quickly bring your nose close and inhale deeply. Don’t hesitate; inhale now.”

Perplexed, Director Qi leaned forward and took a few deep breaths, only to burst into a violent coughing fit.

“Ugh... What’s this awful smell? Why would you have me inhale that? Cough... Ahchoo! It’s horrible! I say, young doctor, what kind of treatment is this? Is there any logic behind it?” Director Qi complained, utterly disgusted.

Zhang Yuancai, however, exclaimed in surprise, “Director, you... you’re not hiccupping anymore!”

“Huh?” Director Qi stopped in his tracks, instinctively feeling his throat and chest. The uncomfortable sensation of hiccups had greatly subsided.

“What’s going on?” Director Qi asked in amazement.

Gao-Yuan explained, “Burning the fingernails and inhaling the smoke serves as the remedy. Its extreme stench causes a rapid downward flow of energy. Inhaling it into your throat triggers a cough, which is a sign of your lung qi clearing. It follows the medical principle of ‘to descend, one must first ascend.’ That’s the reasoning behind it.”

Upon hearing this, Director Qi no longer dared to underestimate Gao-Yuan.

Zhao Huanzhang also showed signs of amazement.

Zhang Yuancai broke into a smile. He had said it before—Gao-Yuan was indeed quite skilled.

Director Qi marveled, “I didn’t expect this young doctor to have such hidden talents at such a young age.”

Gao-Yuan shook his head, “It’s just a little trick, nothing worth mentioning.”

“No need for such modesty, no need,” Director Qi waved his hands repeatedly.

Zhang Yuancai quietly glanced at Director Qi, secretly thinking, Weren't you just saying he was too arrogant?

Director Qi then asked, “So, am I cured now?”

Gao-Yuan responded, “If it were a regular case of hiccups, it might have been cured. But since you’ve been suffering for a few days, it’s clear that something inside your body is causing this. This method only treats the symptoms temporarily, relieving your discomfort. To address the root cause, further diagnosis and medicine are necessary.”

By this point, Director Qi’s attitude had softened considerably. “Oh, then I’ll have to trouble you. Please, have a seat, young doctor.”

“You’re too kind,” Gao-Yuan sat down next to him and asked, “How long have you had these hiccups?”

“Eight days,” Director Qi answered.

Gao-Yuan carefully observed Director Qi’s complexion. He then asked, “Have you had a fever?”

Director Qi nodded. “After taking some medicine two days ago, I had a low fever.”

“Stick out your tongue; let me take a look,” Gao-Yuan instructed.

Director Qi stuck out his tongue.

Zhao Huanzhang, also observing, commented, “His tongue coating is thick and yellow.”

Director Qi glanced at Zhao Huanzhang.

Gao-Yuan said, “Alright, let me feel your pulse.”

“Okay,” Director Qi extended his hand.

After diagnosing him, Gao-Yuan asked Zhao Huanzhang to check as well. While Zhao Huanzhang was diagnosing, Gao-Yuan stood aside, deep in thought.

Soon, Zhao Huanzhang finished and returned.

After exchanging their thoughts, Gao-Yuan said, “The pulse is soft, slow, and stagnant.”

Zhao Huanzhang nodded in agreement. “Based on the pulse and other signs, I’d say it’s due to old age and physical weakness, along with some aversion to cold. It’s likely a case of stomach cold-induced hiccups.”

But Gao-Yuan shook his head.

Zhao Huanzhang didn’t dare dismiss Gao-Yuan’s judgment and carefully asked, “What did I get wrong?”

“There are two things,” Gao-Yuan explained. “First, cold-induced hiccups typically present with low-pitched hiccuping, which worsens with cold and improves with warmth. The patient’s mouth is usually not thirsty, and the tongue is pale with a white coating. Director Qi’s symptoms don’t fully match those.”

Zhao Huanzhang appeared thoughtful.

Gao-Yuan continued, “More importantly, there’s one crucial factor.”

“What’s that?” Zhao Huanzhang asked, looking up at him.

Gao-Yuan smiled and said, “If it were that simple, do you think Li Runyu wouldn’t have been able to treat it?”

Zhao Huanzhang froze for a moment. True, there’s no way Li Runyu couldn’t have treated such a straightforward condition.

Looking worried again, Zhao Huanzhang said, “If even Li Runyu couldn’t cure it, it might be a complex and difficult case. You should be cautious.”

Gao-Yuan shook his head and said, “That’s where you’re wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Zhao Huanzhang asked, puzzled.

“Dr. Li couldn’t cure it because he made the wrong diagnosis. He’s already helped me eliminate one incorrect answer. How could I possibly get this wrong?” Gao-Yuan replied confidently.

Zhao Huanzhang was taken aback, “Can... can it really be understood that way?”

Gao-Yuan chuckled, then turned to Director Qi and asked, “Director, what prescription did Dr. Li give you? Let me have a look.”

By now, Director Qi’s hiccups had stopped, and he was feeling much better. He quickly stood up and handed the prescription to Gao-Yuan.

Gao-Yuan took one look and then passed it to Zhao Huanzhang.

After reading it, Zhao Huanzhang immediately glanced at Gao-Yuan. As expected, Dr. Li had treated the condition as cold-induced hiccups, prescribing Dingxiang Shiti powder with additional medicine to replenish yin.

Zhao Huanzhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing how close he had come to making the same mistake.

Dingxiang Shiti powder is used to nourish qi and warm the middle, expelling cold and calming hiccups. It’s for cases of chronic illness, physical weakness, and stomach cold. Unfortunately, after taking it, Director Qi’s condition hadn’t improved; in fact, it had worsened.

The situation was now clear.

This is why Gao-Yuan had been so confident from the start. Not only was he more capable than Dr. Li Runyu, but he also had the advantage of standing on Dr. Li’s shoulders, seeing the problem from a higher vantage point. With that, how could he go wrong?

Director Qi, still somewhat surprised, asked, “So, Doctor Gao, what exactly is my problem?”

Gao-Yuan looked at him intently and asked, “Before the onset of your hiccups, did you suffer from an external illness, like a cold or flu?”

Director Qi was startled by the question, his face filled with astonishment. “How do you know that?”