Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 187: Threat

"Boss, is there something wrong with that patient?"

Song Sisi was curious. 'Isn't he just recovering slowly from appendicitis surgery? Why the need to go to another hospital for a check-up?'

Li Xu shook his head without explaining.

Just then, Xia Lei arrived.

"Doctor Li…"

Perhaps due to the cold, Xia Lei's complexion looked even worse than the day before, devoid of any healthy, ruddy color.

He was clutching a manila envelope with the City First Hospital's logo on it.

Li Xu gestured for Xia Lei to sit. "Tell me about the test results."

Xia Lei pulled a few papers from the envelope. The one on top was the ultrasound report.

"The doctor said everything is normal, that I'm just weak from the surgery. They prescribed some nutritional supplements."

Li Xu took the report, his eyes quickly scanning the line that read, "Both kidneys normal in shape and size." His brow instantly knitted together.

He flipped to the ultrasound image on the following page, where the black-and-white picture clearly showed the outlines of both the left and right kidneys.

'This… How can this be?'

Li Xu's brow furrowed even more deeply.

Xia Lei looked at him, confused. "What is it? Is there a problem with the report?"

Li Xu didn't answer right away. Instead, he held the ultrasound image up to the light to examine it more closely.

'The intel from the system is never wrong,' he thought. 'Xia Lei's left kidney is definitely…'

And yet, the ultrasound image in front of him showed everything was normal.

In that case, there was only one explanation.

'The ultrasound image… is a fake.'

'So City First Hospital is part of the cover-up.'

This meant the situation was even more serious than he had imagined—either both hospitals were in on it together, or a greater power was pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

"Doctor Li?" Xia Lei's voice pulled Li Xu from his thoughts. "Is there something wrong with me?"

Li Xu fell silent.

'It's too soon to tell Xia Lei the truth,' he thought. 'For one, I don't have conclusive proof. For another, it might tip them off and even put Xia Lei in danger.'

"I've noticed some abnormalities with your kidney function," Li Xu said, choosing his words carefully. "Although the ultrasound shows a normal structure, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, your pulse indicates a severe deficiency in kidney qi. I suggest… you go to a larger hospital for a more thorough examination."

Xia Lei grew even more confused. "But City First Hospital is already one of the best hospitals in our city. Where else should I go?"

"You could go to the provincial hospital," Li Xu suggested. "The sooner, the better. It would be best to go this week."

Xia Lei frowned. "Is it that serious? I thought my recovery was just a little slow…"

Li Xu said gravely, "Mr. Xia, kidney problems can affect your future quality of life, and even your lifespan. Believe me, a trip to the provincial capital for a check-up is absolutely necessary."

At these words, the color instantly drained from Xia Lei's face.

He was only in his forties.

He didn't want to end up a 'eunuch' for the rest of his life.

Li Xu took out a piece of paper and wrote down a phone number. "I know a Professor Gao at the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. If you go there, you can ask for him. Just say I sent you."

Xia Lei took the paper.

He had a vague feeling that there was more to Li Xu's words, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Okay… I'll go this Saturday."

Xia Lei got up to leave.

When he reached the door, he suddenly turned. "Doctor Li, is there something you're not telling me?"

The air in the clinic seemed to freeze for a moment.

Li Xu replied, "In some respects, Western medicine has a clear advantage. Sometimes, a medical image is worth a thousand words. You'll have a clearer answer once the results from the provincial hospital come in."

…

When he got home, his wife was in the kitchen preparing dinner.

Hearing the door open, she poked her head out and asked, "How did the check-up go?"

"The doctor said… it's nothing serious," Xia Lei said, shaking his head. "Just that my recovery is slow and I need more rest. But Doctor Li doesn't seem to trust the city hospital's results. He wants me to go to the provincial capital and get checked out."

"Hmm?"

His wife sounded a little panicked. "Is it that serious?"

Xia Lei said glumly, "I don't know. I just have a feeling Doctor Li knows something but can't say it. Oh, well. I might as well go to the provincial hospital this weekend. I'll have more peace of mind after that check-up anyway."

"I'll go with you."

"Alright."

…

As evening fell, Li Xu told Song Sisi she could head home for the day.

He organized the day's consultation records.

Just as he was about to leave, the clinic door was suddenly pushed open.

Li Xu looked up to see a young man in dark blue casual wear standing in the doorway.

The man was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a well-proportioned build and a perfectly harmless smile on his face. He looked like an ordinary office worker.

"Hello. Is something bothering you?"

Li Xu assumed he was a patient.

The young man walked directly in front of Li Xu and sat down. "You're Doctor Li, right? I have a few questions for you."

"Questions? You're not here to see a doctor?"

Li Xu was taken aback.

The young man chuckled softly, casually picking up the Pulse Pillow from the counter and toying with it. "That's right, I'm not a patient. I hear you've been pushing Xia Lei to go to the provincial hospital for a check-up?"

Li Xu's heart suddenly began to race, but his face remained impassive. "As a doctor, it's my duty to be concerned about my patients' health."

"Duty…" The young man repeated the word as if he'd heard a hilarious joke. "City First Hospital and the City Second Hospital both believe Xia Lei is just recovering slowly from his appendectomy. So why do you insist he has a kidney problem?"

"When I took his pulse, I felt his kidney qi was deficient. In this area, Traditional Chinese Medicine is more of an authority, so I suggested he get a more comprehensive examination," Li Xu replied calmly. "Is there a problem with that?"

The young man smiled. "Of course there's no problem. However, I hope this matter ends here. Xia Lei is simply recovering poorly from his appendectomy; there are no other issues. As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, you shouldn't be second-guessing the results of Western medical tests."

As he spoke, the young man suddenly leaned in and whispered, "Doctor Li, you wouldn't want to have a sudden 'accident,' would you? I'm not just talking about you. I'm talking about Xia Lei, too. Stop getting involved. This is for your own good."

After saying this, the young man turned and left.

Leaving Li Xu alone in the dark, his thoughts in turmoil.

'I was just threatened?'

Li Xu felt a surge of panic.

As someone who had graduated from a proper medical school, he was well aware of the powerful forces that often lurked behind the scenes in the medical world.

His small clinic stood no chance against them.

At the same time, Li Xu was also puzzled. How had the other party found out about his diagnosis and advice for Xia Lei so quickly?

'Did Xia Lei tell them?'

'No, that's not right. I only gave Xia Lei the advice this afternoon.'

'Afterward, Xia Lei went home; he didn't go to any hospital.'

'What in the world was going on?'

Li Xu racked his brain but couldn't figure it out.

He also had to consider his next move.

'Should I do what the man said and just drop it?'

No. His conscience wouldn't let him.

He still had a conscience.

'But if I keep getting involved…?'

'They would definitely take action.'

'They might really dare to stage an accident.'

Li Xu thought about it half the night but still couldn't figure out what to do.

'Oh, right, I still have the system,' he suddenly remembered. 'I wonder if tomorrow's intelligence report will offer a solution.'

That night, Li Xu didn't go to bed early.

He kept his eyes glued to the intelligence panel.

[Time remaining until next intelligence refresh: 10 minutes]

[Time remaining until next intelligence refresh: 5 minutes]

…

Just past midnight, the intelligence refreshed.