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Stethoscope and Wheelchair
The spring air is growing stronger, and everything is coming back to life. The scent of flowers drifts with the wind, the willow branches gently sway, and new buds stretch out under the warm sun. Birds sing joyfully on the branches.
However, Old Man Zhang, in this season full of vitality, has his old back problem flare up again, causing him pain so intense that he can’t straighten up. Last time, when his back pain flared up, he had seen Dr. Liu Mingyi, and this time, he came to the Weimin Medical Hall again.
As soon as Old Man Zhang entered the medical hall, he noticed that the receptionist had changed. It was no longer the familiar Shunxing.
Bixia smiled and hurriedly approached him, respectfully bowing, and said, “Sir, you’re here to see a doctor, right? Please tell me where you feel uncomfortable, how long have you been ill, and whether you’ve taken any medicine before?”
Old Man Zhang rubbed his aching back and replied, “Ah, this back pain is an old problem of mine. It flares up every time the season changes, and it’s been happening for many years.”
Bixia nodded, asked a few more questions, and then handed him a number tag, saying, “Please take this number and wait in line over there for your turn.”
Old Man Zhang took the number tag, and with a somewhat unsteady step, he slowly moved to the waiting area. He glanced around and saw people coming and going in the medical hall, and the noise was constant.
While he was lost in thought, he suddenly overheard a conversation between a mother and daughter ahead. The daughter quietly said, “Mother, we came late and missed the free consultation. If we had come earlier today, we could have saved a lot of money on medicine.” The mother nodded slightly and replied, “Yes.”
Upon hearing their conversation, Old Man Zhang was curious and interrupted, asking, “What’s this free consultation? I’ve never heard of it before.”
Seeing his curiosity, the mother patiently explained, “Every day, the first five patients of Dr. Wei and Dr. Liu receive free treatment and medication, no charge at all.”
Old Man Zhang, surprised, exclaimed, “Wow, I’m hearing about such a good thing for the first time.”
After a long wait, it was finally Old Man Zhang’s turn. He stepped into the room and looked up to see not only the familiar Dr. Liu Mingyi but also three other doctors focusing on him. One of them, Dr. Chen Fuqi, Old Man Zhang recognized.
A flash of surprise crossed Old Man Zhang’s eyes, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Dr. Chen, what are you doing here?”
Dr. Chen Fuqi smiled gently and replied, “I am learning here, and I might start seeing patients at the Weimin Medical Hall in the future.”
Seeing that Old Man Zhang and Dr. Chen were acquainted, Dr. Liu Mingyi said, “Old Man Zhang’s back pain is a chronic issue. How about you take a look at him today?” He then gave his seat to Dr. Chen.
Dr. Chen Fuqi stepped forward and began to carefully examine Old Man Zhang. He first observed the old man’s complexion and tongue coating, then softly asked about the details of his condition. After that, Dr. Chen took out a long paper tube, a device similar to a stethoscope invented by Wei Lan, gently placed it on Old Man Zhang’s chest, and listened attentively to his heart and lung sounds. He then pressed on Old Man Zhang’s lower back, checking the painful areas and their intensity, before feeling his pulse. After completing the diagnostic process, Dr. Chen had a general understanding of the problem.
He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly to Old Man Zhang: “Old Man Zhang, your back pain, from what I can tell, is caused by cold and dampness blocking your waist, obstructing the meridians and causing poor circulation of energy and blood, which leads to the pain. In this case, relying only on external treatments might not be effective, and you’ll need internal medicine as well.”
He then wrote a prescription on a piece of paper and handed it to Old Man Zhang, saying, “You should get some medicine according to this prescription to apply to your back, and also take a decoction of Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. This remedy can dispel wind, expel cold, activate blood, and relieve pain, which is very effective for back pain caused by cold and dampness. You should rest more and avoid overexertion.”
Old Man Zhang took the prescription, nodded, and gratefully said, “Dr. Chen, I’ll follow your advice and get the medicine. Thank you.”
Dr. Chen smiled slightly and replied, “You’re welcome. I hope you recover soon.”
In fact, this was an opportunity intentionally given by Dr. Liu Mingyi to test Dr. Chen Fuqi. Dr. Chen’s performance was commendable, and his diagnosis and prescription were appropriate. Dr. Liu quietly observed Dr. Chen’s every move, carefully noting the diagnostic process and the prescription, so that he could later provide detailed analysis and guidance.
Old Man Zhang found the process of seeing a doctor quite novel, and he was about to head out to get the medicine when Bixia informed him that the medicine was now dispensed at the pharmacy across the street.
He asked in confusion, “Wasn’t the medicine dispensed here before?”
Bixia patiently explained, “The pharmacy was moved a few days ago to make space for more consulting rooms. From now on, Weimin Medical Hall will focus solely on patient consultations.”
Holding the prescription, Old Man Zhang stepped out of the medical hall and saw Shunxing coming out of the Weimin Pharmacy across the street.
Old Man Zhang recognized Shunxing and smiled, greeting him, “Shunxing, what are you doing here?”
Shunxing smiled and cupped his hands, saying, “Old Man Zhang, I’m now the manager of the Weimin Pharmacy.”
Old Man Zhang cupped his hands in return, exclaiming, “Shunxing, you’ve been promoted! You’ve become the manager of Weimin Pharmacy. That’s quite impressive!”
Shunxing quickly humbly replied, “Old Man Zhang, you flatter me. Are you here to pick up medicine? If so, would you like me to prepare it for you, or do you want to prepare it yourself?”
Old Man Zhang said, “Thank you, I’ll prepare it myself.”
Shunxing smiled slightly and said, “Old Man Zhang, if you find it troublesome, let me prepare it for you. It’s only ten coins for each prescription.”
Surprised, Old Man Zhang asked, “But at Baoyuantang, they charge 30 coins for each prescription. How can you charge so little?”
Shunxing explained, “We use beehive coal, so it’s naturally cheaper.”
Old Man Zhang fell into thought. He had heard that beehive coal was good and had seen many people use it, but he had never tried it himself. Now, after hearing Shunxing’s explanation, he was curious and thought that he might buy some when he went home. He nodded and said, “Alright, then go ahead and prepare it for me.”
Shunxing led him to the pharmacy, which was across the street from the medical hall. A golden plaque with the words “Weimin Pharmacy” hung above the door.
Once inside, Shunxing called out loudly, “Sanqi, we have a customer here for medicine, and it’s for preparation!”
At the sound of his voice, another clerk quickly rushed out from the back, took the prescription from Old Man Zhang, and immediately began preparing the medicine. The clerk moved quickly, and the herbs were swiftly gathered and neatly placed on the counter. After finishing, the clerk took the prescription to the back to prepare the decoction.
Old Man Zhang looked around and noticed that the Weimin Pharmacy was indeed different from others. The shop was filled with many strange and fascinating items he had never seen before.
Among the items, the most eye-catching was a wheelchair placed at the door. It was made from high-quality wood, crafted ingeniously, with smooth wooden wheels at the bottom. The armrests were intricately carved with patterns, making it both practical and beautiful, and it stopped him in his tracks as he admired the craftsmanship.
Curious, Old Man Zhang asked, “Shunxing, what is this?”
Shunxing’s eyes gleamed with pride as he replied, “This is a wheelchair, created by our boss, Dr. Wei. It’s designed for people with mobility issues. When someone sits in it, it can be pushed easily, making it very convenient.”
Old Man Zhang’s eyes lit up, and he walked around the wheelchair, gently touching the carved armrests. He marveled, “Dr. Wei is truly a talented person, coming up with such a wonderful invention. How much does this chair cost?”
Shunxing smiled and said, “Old Man Zhang, you like it? It’s only one tael of silver, so an ordinary family can afford it.”
Old Man Zhang gasped. One tael of silver was not a small amount to him, but he also felt that the wheelchair was a good product. He tentatively asked, “Shunxing, can you give me a discount? I have an old friend with poor legs, and this chair would be so useful for him.”
Shunxing thought for a moment and said, “Old Man Zhang, since you’re a loyal customer, I’ll give you a special price of eight coins.”
Just then, a wealthy-looking customer entered the pharmacy, holding a folding fan, and began to look around. Shunxing immediately went to greet him, asking, “Sir, are you here to pick up medicine or buy something else?”
The customer pointed to the wheelchair and said, “This chair looks good. I’ll take it. How much?”
Shunxing’s smile deepened as he replied, “You have a good eye, sir. This wheelchair costs one tael of silver. If you buy it now, I can offer you a discount.”
Without haggling, the customer took out the silver and said, “Keep the change. I’ll take the chair.”
Old Man Zhang watched this scene and thought to himself, the Weimin Pharmacy’s business is booming. They even sold a wheelchair at such a high price so easily. Holding the ceramic jar of medicine, he slowly walked out of the pharmacy, still thinking about the wheelchair, and wondering if he might just buy one for his old friend after all.