Chapter 55: 第 55 章

Once she knew the other party had agreed to treatment, Su Fuling simply activated the detection function.

This patient's illness happened to be a special case. Although this kind of chronic disease was slow to show results and she couldn't adjust the prescription based on changes in the condition, it could help her gain a more detailed understanding of the illness.

[Patient Name: Wen Tao. Gender: Male

Age: 62

Primary Condition: Chronic glomerulonephritis

Symptoms: lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, general fatigue. Hematuria (Note: kidney damage aggravated by the patient's excessive use of antibiotics.)

Predicted Course of Illness: No significant change.]

It matched the condition she had judged before; the system had merely also annotated the cause of the aftereffects left by the patient's previous treatment. This made it even easier for Su Fuling to prescribe the right medicine for the symptoms.

Relying on this function of the system she had developed herself, Su Fuling could now "boldly prescribe medicine" even for these serious illnesses. After all, there was the chance to carefully verify.

Still, with every herb Su Fuling wrote down, she weighed it carefully in her mind. This process of writing the prescription was both treating the patient and an opportunity for self-study, letting her apply each herb's use ever more precisely.

Old Mr. Wen's main problem was weakness of the spleen qi, leading to protein loss. To address this, Su Fuling increased the dosage of codonopsis to strengthen the spleen and boost qi. The patient also had hematuria, so she needed to add herbs like cogongrass root to clear the urinary passages and stop bleeding.

Su Fuling thought as she wrote, and after finishing, checked the changes in the patient's condition—sure enough, no change. That was normal; a chronic illness couldn't possibly respond to the very first dose. It would take at least a few days. But Su Fuling had long since planned her approach. For this kind of chronic disease, one couldn't seek speed at the start, only stability; after finishing seven doses she would change the prescription, and by then the changes in the illness would be apparent. So now, as long as the system issued merit points, it meant her prescription was correct. That was enough.

After Su Fuling deliberated over a few figures, she didn't hear the notification of merit points arriving. Instead, the detection information actually changed after she modified the data. The last line on the course of illness now read: [Predicted Course of Illness: Due to the addition of kansui root conflicting with rhubarb, intestinal perforation results.]

Su Fuling: "...!!!"

How could she make such a mistake—there was no kansui root in this prescription at all!

So...

Su Fuling looked at Uncle Wen before her.

Seeing his sincere expression, Su Fuling didn't believe a bit of it. This man seemed to sincerely trust her, yet he didn't fully trust her. So even after taking her prescription home, he would find someone else to examine it, then carelessly add herbs to the prescription, and in the end be poisoned by a conflicting herb someone slipped in.

Su Fuling set down her pen. "Mr. Wen, I'm sorry, I can't treat you anymore."

Uncle Wen had been watching Su Fuling write the prescription. Seeing that her way of prescribing differed from others—constantly deliberating over dosages—he had no idea what she was relying on to measure these medicines. Suddenly seeing Su Fuling change her attitude, he hurriedly said, "Doctor Su, why do you say that all of a sudden?"

Huang Bao grew anxious too. "Yes, Doctor Su, you just said it could be treated."

Su Fuling glanced at him. He immediately shut his mouth.

Su Fuling said, "A healer can only treat those who follow medical advice. Mr. Wen, will you actually take the medicine I prescribe?"

Uncle Wen smiled. "Of course I will."

He had already planned it out: he'd take the prescription back and have another Chinese medicine practitioner look it over; if there was no problem, he'd take it. Even if there was a problem, after slight modifications he'd still take it for a while, as a way of giving her an answer. What he mainly valued was Su Fuling's unknown mystical power.

Having Su Fuling examine him was just to draw the two of them closer. After all, as Ah Shan had said, this one was only close to her patients.

Su Fuling said, "When you take my prescription back, aren't you going to have someone look at it?"

Uncle Wen's usually rock-steady expression finally shifted somewhat. Though he had been mentally prepared, the shock of experiencing it firsthand was different.

In that instant, he didn't dare think anything at all.

Su Fuling said, "One medicine, one prescription. I write a prescription and you don't trust it, so you find someone else to look at it. If someone else adds medicine and something goes wrong, wouldn't that be my sin? So I'd rather simply not treat you."

Su Fuling was somewhat angry—she had nearly indirectly killed someone. If you don't trust it, don't take it; taking it while letting others add things into it was another matter.

Seeing Uncle Wen's expression, Chen Shan knew Doctor Su had hit the mark.

Huang Bao, meanwhile, was secretly delighted—now Uncle Wen knew he hadn't been lying.

But neither of them intended to speak. Right now, taking either side wouldn't be good.

After Uncle Wen composed his shocked thoughts, he hurriedly said, "Doctor Su, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I don't believe in your medical skill. It just so happens I know a Chinese medicine practitioner, so I wanted to discuss the prescription with him."

Su Fuling thought, like hell I believe you. He was even adding things into it.

Uncle Wen didn't want to thoroughly disgust Su Fuling over this. A Doctor Su with such ability naturally wouldn't use any medicine to harm people. He immediately guaranteed, "I, Wen, guarantee that I will take this medicine exactly as written."

The moment he said this, Su Fuling heard the notification: "Merit Points +12"

The merit points had come in.

The predicted course of illness in the last line of the detection also changed, reverting to "No significant change."

This showed the other party no longer had any intention of adding things to the medicine.

Only then did Su Fuling's mood ease. With the merit points received, she handed the prescription over and instructed, "I'll say it once more—don't add anything to this prescription. Some herbs conflict with each other; adding even one extra herb can turn life-saving medicine into life-taking poison. For instance, rhubarb and kansui root conflict and would cause intestinal perforation. Don't listen to others and add medicine carelessly."

Uncle Wen hurriedly assured her, "Doctor Su, rest assured, I, Wen Tao, will absolutely not hide anything from you. Since I've taken the prescription, I will definitely take it accordingly."

Su Fuling didn't say more. Anyway, the other party was indeed telling the truth, and she had done her duty. "I'll revise the prescription in seven days. Go back and start taking it."

Uncle Wen put away the prescription and said, "Thank you, Doctor Su. I won't disturb you further."

Like Huang Bao, once he'd seen the doctor he left in a hurry. Anyway, now that he was Doctor Su's patient, there would be plenty of chances to interact later. Right now he just wanted to find somewhere far from Su Fuling to settle himself.

Seeing him leave, Chen Shan and Huang Bao couldn't well linger either.

Only Huang Bao, terrified of death, hastily placed twenty Hong Kong dollars on the table and asked Su Fuling, "Doctor Su, how's my complexion today?"

Su Fuling said, "Your complexion is fine. Go back and apply the medicine I gave you. Take the prescription too."

Hearing his complexion was fine, Huang Bao hurriedly said, "I'll definitely follow the doctor's orders."

With that, he went chasing after Uncle Wen.

Once in Uncle Wen's car, Huang Bao said to him, "Uncle Wen, you saw it, right? Doctor Su really can know what people are thinking."

Uncle Wen closed his eyes—he still hadn't recovered. Honestly, he'd never even heard of this kind of ability before. Even those great masters only read birth charts and feng shui.

"What exactly is this Doctor Su's background?"

Chen Shan said, "She came from the mainland to seek refuge with her uncle."

Uncle Wen said, "Is it that simple? I don't think so."

Huang Bao said, "Uncle Wen, should we investigate? Getting to the mainland is convenient now anyway."

Uncle Wen gave him a cold look, instantly silencing Huang Bao. Uncle Wen said, "Ah Bao, I know you don't act steadily, but I advise you to be steady when it comes to Doctor Su. She can even see through what others are thinking—do you think she wouldn't know if you investigated her? Don't offend this kind of person. What other unknown methods she has, no one knows."

Uncle Wen had spent these years cultivating himself and rarely lost his temper. Even this merely cold tone let Huang Bao understand the warning in it.

"Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Wen, otherwise I really would have done something wrong."

Uncle Wen waved his hand. "Go back. All of you, attend to your own affairs. Ah Bao, hurry up and root out the traitor at your side—that's the proper business."

Huang Bao said, "Understood."

Uncle Wen instructed further, "Ah Shan, Doctor Su is here—you must look after her well. This is your opportunity, and an opportunity for the Four Directions Society as well. With such an extraordinary person, be careful until you understand the situation."

Chen Shan nodded. "Rest assured, Uncle Wen."

Uncle Wen sighed. "I wonder what changes Doctor Su's arrival in Hong Kong will bring. And what purpose she has."

...

"Doctor Su, look at the proposal I put together—I have experience opening shops." He Li handed Su Fuling a simple business plan she'd made the night before.

He Li did have some experience in financial matters. Over the years she'd worked in all kinds of industries; only after becoming obsessed with stock trading had she stopped doing business.

Su Fuling looked it over. The content was somewhat unfamiliar to her, but she could understand it. Truly, different trades were like different mountains.

Su Fuling said gratefully, "I'll take it back to show my aunt. Thank you."

He Li smiled. "It's nothing. Our shop has already started its trial opening—once we make some fresh desserts, I'll have someone send them over."

Su Fuling quickly said, "No need, I'll come buy them myself when I have time."

"Doctor Su is so busy, there's no need to make a special trip. We have delivery service anyway."

Behind her, Sun Zhonghao urged, "He Li, you've been taking up the spot too long, everyone's queuing."

He Li: "..." She turned back and glared at Sun Zhonghao. "What's the rush? I only just finished my consultation."

Still, she couldn't really delay Doctor Su's time, so she smiled and said, "Doctor Su, Ah Xiang and I will head back first."

As she left, she glared at Sun Zhonghao again.

Sun Zhonghao thought to himself that once his wife was discharged, he'd bring her along, and he wouldn't have to suffer this attitude.

When his turn came, he also brought out the proposal his wife had made—even the design drawings were ready. Who knew how he'd gotten hold of the floor plans for Su Fuling's shop.

Seeing the tiny shop designed to be fully functional and packed to the brim, Su Fuling found it quite novel.

Sun Zhonghao smiled. "I have a friend who does design and renovation. If Doctor Su thinks it's decent, you could give my friend the business. One of our own—he definitely won't cheat you."

In his few days here he'd also figured out that Doctor Su didn't like accepting favors. Better to build ties through business dealings instead.

Su Fuling didn't understand these things, and being new and unfamiliar with these trades, she feared being cheated. "I'll go back and discuss it with my uncle."

However, when she gave Sun Zhonghao his checkup, she discovered he was actually a mission target.

His body was fine—which meant his luck wasn't good.

She warned him, "Be careful today."

Sun Zhonghao: "...Doctor Su, what accident is going to happen to me?"

"No danger to your life." Huang Bao's experience last time had proven it—if there were mortal danger, it would be a white symbol.

So these mission targets weren't going to die.

Sun Zhonghao couldn't feel at ease. "Can Doctor Su give me some guidance?"

Su Fuling had no way to—there was only one detection slot, and it had already been used. She said, "I'm just a doctor doing a checkup. Complexion reflects a person's mental state; in this situation, what might happen is impossible to say. It may just be a fall, or accidentally getting a small cut. Mr. Sun, just be more careful yourself. As for bigger problems... where are you planning to go today?"

Sun Zhonghao hurriedly pulled out his itinerary notebook. "I need to go to the company for a meeting."

Su Fuling said, "Don't go."

Sun Zhonghao quickly nodded.

Su Fuling observed that he was still a mission target.

"I also need to go to the bank to handle the company's accounts."

Su Fuling said, "Don't go."

Sun Zhonghao said, "But I already made an appointment... though I can skip it." But if it was only a small problem, couldn't he still go? What if it was a big problem?

Su Fuling noticed that after the bank item on his itinerary, the symbol began to flicker—one moment a mission target, the next back to normal.

Su Fuling: "..." So this could happen too.

"Are you hesitating? I suggest you don't go. But if you feel getting a bit hurt is acceptable, you can go."

Sun Zhonghao looked at Su Fuling.

Su Fuling said, "I've said all there is to say. Make your own decision."

She was only giving people checkups; she couldn't make decisions for them. Anyway, it wasn't life-threatening—how severe the injury might be, she didn't know.

Sun Zhonghao left full of conflict. His daughter Sun Xiaofeng, at his side, said, "Daddy, you really shouldn't go. You should listen. Look, Mommy's still in the hospital."

"Some engagements can't be... ah, fine." In the end Sun Zhonghao was still afraid of an accident. No matter what, he couldn't gamble with his own health.

Su Fuling was busy from morning until noon before stopping. Business at her place was getting better and better, probably because word of mouth had spread. Quite a few people came about their chronic ailments. Though not all of them accepted treatment, Su Fuling took the chance to accumulate quite a few case records.

While eating, she even found a moment to check Uncle Wen's detection status, to see whether his condition had changed.

Though he had promised not to take medicine recklessly, and the system had issued merit points—what if he suddenly had a brain spasm and took something anyway... there'd be nothing she could do.

"System, if he takes medicine on his own later, the merit points won't be deducted, right?"

Merit System: "The merit points issued by this system are never in error and will not be reclaimed. Unless the host abandons treatment of a patient midway."

Su Fuling was reassured. "Of course I wouldn't abandon a patient."

After finishing lunch, Uncle Wen received the old Chinese medicine practitioner he had invited. This practitioner had some renown—he had once treated the Governor's wife.

In the old days, Uncle Wen lived a life of violence, and Western medicine was more convenient—when sick, he was hospitalized. But this time, since Doctor Su had recommended Chinese medicine, he had to take it.

Still, although he had promised Doctor Su to take the medicine, he also wanted to see just how good her medical skill really was.

The old practitioner, surnamed Zhou, examined the prescription, deliberated for a long while, then smiled. "The prescription is written quite conventionally, though adding one more herb might make it better."

Hearing this, Uncle Wen thought of Su Fuling's words. He kept his composure: "May I ask what herb to add?"

"Kansui root. Kansui promotes urination—perfect for relieving your kidney disease. When I treated the Governor's wife's kidney ailment before, I added this herb too."

The moment Uncle Wen heard the words "kansui root," he fell silent.

His mind was now full of what Su Fuling had said earlier. Kansui—don't add kansui.

Why had Doctor Su specifically mentioned kansui? If this were mere coincidence, it would be far too coincidental.

So Doctor Su must have foreseen that someone would add kansui!

"Mr. Wen?" Doctor Zhou called out.

Uncle Wen came back to himself from his shock, and when he looked at Doctor Zhou again, his state of mind was naturally different from a moment ago. Would such a famous doctor really not know that kansui and rhubarb conflict? There was only one possibility—this man intended to harm him. And how coincidental, that he had invited a doctor who wanted to harm him?

Faces were already flashing through Uncle Wen's mind—who had recommended this man, who had gone to invite him.

No matter how much churned in his mind, his face remained steady as a mountain, and he smiled. "Doctor Zhou has treated the Governor's wife, so your skill is naturally superb. Of course I trust Doctor Zhou. Today I'll have someone fill a dose and try it. This illness—the sooner it's treated, the sooner it's cured. With a stubborn ailment unremoved, one can never feel at ease."