Chapter 73: Medical Skills Held in Contempt

At this moment, in the Huichun Clinic.

Compared to Chu Tian's previous visit, there were noticeably more patients today, a stark contrast to the last time. The reason was simple: the physician on duty was not Lin Qinghan, but Tang Long, the apprentice of Master Wu Liang, renowned as the Sage of Traditional Medicine.

The added prestige drew in droves of patients; after all, being diagnosed by the apprentice of the Sage of Medicine was an opportunity rarely encountered. Even just mentioning it to others would be a matter of great pride.

Chu Tian, lacking a medical license, could only lend a hand around the clinic—fetching herbs for prescriptions and similar minor tasks. Frankly, any apprentice in the clinic could do this kind of work. For someone of Chu Tian’s extraordinary skill in medicine, it was a waste of his talents. Yet, as long as he could help his Third Senior Sister, he never complained.

The doctor seeing patients today was Tang Long, and all the prescriptions were written by him. While gathering herbs, Chu Tian glanced at Tang Long’s prescriptions and couldn't help but frown. The prescriptions were a jumble of unnecessary ingredients—each containing over twenty types of herbs, many of which were superfluous and could easily be omitted. Still, Tang Long included them all.

Medicine, after all, carries its own risks; consuming excessive amounts of herbal remedies is never wise. A truly skilled physician should cure illness with the simplest means possible. Tang Long’s prescriptions suggested either a lack of medical acumen or a desire to profit by prescribing more herbs. Most patients, after receiving their prescriptions, would buy their medicine directly from the clinic, and Tang Long shared in the monthly earnings. The patients, ignorant of medicine, assumed that the more ingredients in a prescription, the more valuable it was—a logical fallacy they readily fell into.

Of course, these were minor concerns, and Chu Tian did not wish to dwell on them. Besides, the clinic belonged to his Third Senior Sister; more profits meant greater benefit for her, and Chu Tian had no reason to object.

Time passed, yet the line of waiting patients never seemed to shorten.

Soon, a woman in her thirties approached the table and sat before Tang Long. She was graceful, her complexion radiant, exuding a mature allure. Yet, despite the height of summer, she was wrapped tightly, her attire far from the lightness the season warranted.

“Doctor Tang, I’ve been married for many years and still haven’t conceived. Could you check if there’s something wrong with my health?” she asked, rolling up her sleeve and placing her wrist on the pulse pillow.

Tang Long took her pulse, performed a brief examination, and quickly arrived at a conclusion. “Madam, you simply have a common case of uterine cold. I’ll prescribe you a blood-invigorating, warming decoction. Take it diligently for a month, and your constitution will naturally improve.”

He paid her no further attention and began writing the prescription.

“Thank you, Doctor Tang,” she said gratefully as he finished writing. The woman took the prescription and made her way to the medicine counter, handing it to Chu Tian.

“Young man, could you please fetch my medicine?” she asked, her voice full of hope. How she longed to conceive and have a child of her own.

Chu Tian glanced at the prescription, then looked at the woman. Women with uterine cold typically suffered from blood deficiency and pale complexions. Yet this woman’s face was as rosy as a peach blossom, an uncommon sight for such a condition.

“Madam, may I examine you once more?” Chu Tian inquired.

She hesitated, but concern for her health outweighed her doubts. “Alright,” she agreed.

Chu Tian took her pulse, examining her carefully. After several minutes, his expression grew grave.

“Madam, you do not have uterine cold, but rather uterine heat. This blood-invigorating, warming decoction is not suitable for you!” Chu Tian said with firm conviction, confident in his diagnosis.

“Uterine heat?”

“What kind of clinic is this? How can two doctors arrive at completely different diagnoses? Who would dare seek treatment here?” The woman’s face fell, her voice rising in agitation.

Tang Long had diagnosed uterine cold, while Chu Tian insisted it was uterine heat—two utterly opposing conclusions. Whom should she believe?

This was a matter that determined her ability to conceive! She was already in her thirties; if she failed to become pregnant soon, she might never have the chance again. Her husband might even divorce her.

At this, all the waiting patients turned their attention to Chu Tian.

“Who are you to say this lady has uterine heat?”

“Doctor Tang is the apprentice of the Sage of Traditional Medicine. Even he said it was uterine cold. Are you questioning his diagnosis?”

Though the crowd lacked medical knowledge, reputation weighed more heavily for them. Tang Long was the apprentice of a famed master, while Chu Tian was a nameless assistant, only responsible for fetching medicines.

Who deserved their trust was clear.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re the apprentice recommended by Qinghan, aren’t you?”

“A mere apprentice who hasn’t even earned a medical license, and you dare question my diagnosis?” Tang Long sneered, his tone tinged with mockery.

When Chu Tian had asked to re-examine the patient, Tang Long had not intervened—he assumed Chu Tian was merely practicing. Never had he imagined that Chu Tian would overturn his diagnosis in front of so many patients, a grave affront to his dignity.

“You’re just an apprentice, no wonder you got it wrong. How could you arrive at a different diagnosis from Doctor Tang?”

“Young man, it’s not your fault you’re unskilled, but you shouldn’t speak nonsense or make light of a patient’s health!”

“Young people these days are unreliable. If it weren’t for Doctor Tang’s reputation, I’d never come to this clinic.”

The crowd erupted in criticism, all directed at Chu Tian.

“Do you even understand medicine? If I’d known you were just an apprentice, I wouldn’t have let you examine me,” the woman snapped, snatching back her prescription, her face showing clear displeasure.

Like the others, she trusted Tang Long’s word over that of a mere apprentice.

“Have you all said enough?” Chu Tian’s face darkened, unable to bear the commotion any longer.

“If anyone here truly doesn’t understand medicine, it’s all of you. What right do you have to judge who is correct between me and Tang Long?”