Chapter 25: Looking Down on Traditional Medicine

Liu Shuiqing promptly changed into his scrubs and entered the operating room, where the surgery had yet to begin—they were all waiting for him. As the doors of the operating room closed, Li Zeming and his wife, Du Juan, were weighed down with anxiety. Du Juan silently prayed for her son’s survival, for he was her only child.

Ten minutes passed, and suddenly the operating room door swung open, and two people emerged. “Secretary Li, your son’s injuries are extremely severe. I cannot guarantee his recovery, and if we proceed hastily, he may not survive. I need your unequivocal consent,” Liu Shuiqing said. After entering the operating room, he had carefully reviewed Li Kun’s injuries, and after consulting with several specialists, they arrived at a consensus: the surgery could proceed, but Li Zeming must sign an agreement absolving the hospital of responsibility if Li Kun did not survive.

“As long as there’s even the slightest hope, we won’t give up. Director Liu, do your utmost. Even if my son…” Li Zeming’s voice faltered, and he could only nod to Liu Shuiqing.

“Secretary Li, would you like to try traditional medicine? The main issue is the uncontrollable bleeding in your son’s chest cavity. There is a practitioner of Chinese medicine in the hospital—I’d like to have him try,” Liu Shuiqing suddenly thought of Chu Feng, wanting to see if he had any solution for such a situation.

“Of course. So long as there’s hope, I won’t abandon it,” Li Zeming considered for a moment and decided to place his trust in traditional medicine.

“I’ll fetch him now. Let’s hope he can save Li Kun’s life,” Liu Shuiqing said, then left with his assistant for the ward on the second floor where Elder Chen resided.

Li Zeming watched as Director Liu personally went to invite someone, and was deeply shocked. Liu Shuiqing was the director of the Air Force Hospital; for him to fetch someone in person, that person must be of great importance.

At that moment, Chu Feng was chatting in Elder Chen’s ward with Old Jin and Old Wang. Although Chu Feng had joined the organization Dragon Scale, there were still matters he needed to learn from them.

Dragon Scale had the power of life and death, but could not act recklessly against ordinary people. Old Wang and Old Jin were there to explain to Chu Feng what considerations Dragon Scale must take into account.

“Mr. Chu, I need your help,” Liu Shuiqing called out as he entered.

“Let’s talk outside—Elder Chen is resting,” Chu Feng replied, and the two stepped outside together, Chu Feng not wanting Elder Chen to be disturbed.

“There’s a patient with a particularly severe condition—three broken ribs, one just a centimeter from the heart, and bleeding in the chest cavity that cannot be stopped. Do you have any advice from traditional medicine?” Liu Shuiqing quickly explained the situation, knowing time was pressing.

“I can stop the bleeding in his chest cavity. As for the rest, it’s up to you,” Chu Feng replied, confident he could use silver needles to halt the bleeding.

“Let’s go then—the patient is in the operating room on the sixth floor, his parents are there as well,” Liu Shuiqing said, without mentioning Li Zeming’s identity.

Before leaving, Chu Feng returned to the ward to greet Old Jin and Old Wang, asking them to look after Elder Chen and to notify him if the old man awoke.

Then, Chu Feng and Director Liu Shuiqing headed for the sixth floor, where Li Zeming and his wife waited anxiously.

“Secretary Li, this is Mr. Chu, the miracle healer I mentioned. This is Secretary Li Zeming of the City Committee, and his wife, Du Juan,” Liu Shuiqing introduced Chu Feng to the couple.

“Secretary Li, I need to confirm something with you, and I hope you’ll answer truthfully,” Chu Feng said, adhering to his own principles before treating anyone.

If the patient was a good person, Chu Feng would do all he could to save him. But if he was truly wicked, even with a ninety percent chance of survival, Chu Feng would send him to the afterlife.

“How is your son’s character? Please be honest,” Chu Feng asked, wanting to know if Li Zeming’s son was a bad man.

“My son has always been upright. Though I am the City Committee Secretary, he’s never abused his position to bully anyone. He often helps others, sometimes even sweeping the streets with sanitation workers,” Li Zeming was taken aback by the question, and his wife Du Juan answered on his behalf.

“Very well. I can stop the bleeding in his chest cavity. The rest will depend on Director Liu and his team. Let’s go in,” Chu Feng said.

While Du Juan spoke, Chu Feng observed her intently, noting the firmness in her gaze. She showed no sign of evasion, and he was convinced she was speaking the truth.

“Wait! Director, you’re letting this greenhorn treat Secretary Li’s son? If anything happens, who will take responsibility? I don’t trust this youngster’s traditional medicine,” Deputy Director Sun interjected, questioning Chu Feng’s abilities. Li Zeming felt conflicted upon hearing Sun’s words.

If Chu Feng was as capable as Director Liu claimed, his son would be saved. But if Sun was right, his son had no hope.

“Deputy Director Sun, if I truly stop the bleeding with silver needles, you’ll kneel and kowtow three times, calling me ‘father.’ If I fail, I’ll kowtow a hundred times, calling you ‘father’ a hundred times,” Chu Feng retorted, annoyed by Sun’s stubbornness. Liu Shuiqing frowned at Sun’s lack of tact.

This Deputy Director Sun was clearly out of line and would need to be disciplined in the future. If he caused trouble, it wouldn’t just be him who suffered; the hospital’s reputation would be at stake.

“Fine, I’ll wait for you to call me father. And don’t use Elder Chen as leverage,” Sun replied, inwardly contemptuous of Chu Feng.

He had always resented Chu Feng, and now that he had a chance to trip him up, he wouldn’t let it slip by.

Chu Feng and Liu Shuiqing said no more. Chu Feng donned his white coat and, together with Director Liu, entered the operating room.