Village Doctor's Women-Chapter 23 A real person doesn’t show their face.

Just as Wang Jian expected, the first people to come to Doctor Zhao’s small clinic were either suffering from a common cold or were unwilling to spend much money. People want to live, and they need medical care even if they can’t afford it. Therefore, the greatest fear isn’t an incurable disease, but one that is treatable, yet you’re too poor to afford the cure.

Wang Jian first asked for the old man’s basic information to create a file. After carefully taking his pulse, he palpated the man’s right calf and knee.

"Uncle Zhou, there’s nothing seriously wrong with your leg or joints. The humidity has been very high lately, which has caused your rheumatism to flare up. I’ll write you a prescription and prepare a dose of medicine."

Wang Jian then smiled at the old man’s son, Zhou Fang. "You can rest easy as well. Once the pain subsides, bring your father back to me. I’ll apply a medicinal plaster then, and we can also work on managing his rheumatism."

"Ah, well... Doctor Wang, please do as you see fit."

Hearing these words, Zhou Fang felt a weight lift from his heart. They had come to the village clinic out of desperation, but Doctor Wang’s confident demeanor and concise, unambiguous diagnosis were reassuring. Zhou Fang was still mentally comparing Wang Jian with the doctors in town, so when Wang Jian finished speaking, he simply nodded. "My father has had this chronic cold leg for many years. If it can truly get better, I will definitely have a silk banner of appreciation made for you."

Wang Jian didn’t respond to the offer. The first step hadn’t even been taken yet. Rheumatism was a condition that required careful nourishment and gradual adjustment, supplemented with Chinese medicine. It was a very long process.

As soon as Wang Jian’s hand left his calf, he noticed the old man immediately put his hand back to slowly rub the joint. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. The pain was clearly intense and deep, requiring immediate relief.

Wang Jian stood up, retrieved a pack of silver needles from his medical box, and turned to the two men. "Before I write the prescription, I’ll start with the needles. Your pain is severe, Uncle. I’ll use them to relieve it first and also stimulate your blood circulation. That should help a great deal."

After speaking, he gestured for the old man to head toward the back, where there was an examination table suitable for lying down or performing simple procedures.

"Come, Uncle, please lie down here. And roll your pant leg up a bit higher."

In front of the father and son, Wang Jian sterilized the silver needles, then wiped the spots on the old man’s thigh and calf with an alcohol swab.

Zhou Fang and Uncle Zhou exchanged a nervous glance.

After all, Wang Jian looked so young. Even though his procedures seemed professional, his way of handling the needles was different from any other Chinese medicine practitioner they had seen. When he started inserting the needles without seeming to even check the acupoints, their hearts pounded in their chests.

Good grief, this isn’t malpractice, is it?

Zhou Fang started to panic. His fingers twitched; he desperately wanted to stop Wang Jian and rescue his father from the doctor’s clutches.

But before he could move, he witnessed something astonishing.

After inserting the needles, Wang Jian began flicking their ends. He didn’t seem to be using any special technique, yet all the inserted needles began to vibrate in unison.

Zhou Fang blinked several times, afraid his eyes were playing tricks on him, but the scene before him didn’t change.

Struggling to sit up, Uncle Zhou cried out in alarm, "Ah! Doctor, is something wrong? Why does my leg feel so hot! Quick, no... Doctor, I don’t want the needles anymore!"

Before he could finish, Wang Jian gently pressed him back down.

"Uncle, don’t move. Your chronic cold leg is caused by invasive dampness, so feeling heat is a good sign. If you move and displace the needles, I won’t be responsible for what happens."

Seeing the worried look on Zhou Fang’s face, Wang Jian added, "Don’t you two worry. Just relax and feel it for a moment, Uncle. Isn’t the pain much better now?"

Uncle Zhou paused. After the intense heat subsided, a pleasant warmth spread through his leg, and the pain diminished significantly. If not for the faint twinges that remained, he almost would have wondered if a few needles had completely cured his chronic condition.

"Hey... it... it really doesn’t hurt as much."

The deep frown Uncle Zhou had worn since he arrived finally smoothed out. He let out a sigh of relief and grabbed Zhou Fang, who was standing nearby. "Look, look! It’s a miracle! The pain is gone!"

Zhou Fang, pulled along by his father, stared dumbfounded. He looked at the now-still silver needles, the fine sheen of sweat on his father’s leg, and his father’s amazed reaction...

Looking again at Wang Jian’s youthful face, Zhou Fang couldn’t help but marvel. Still waters run deep. This man is a true master.

It seemed there was hope for his father’s chronic cold leg after all. A genuine joy bloomed in Zhou Fang’s heart.

The heat in Uncle Zhou’s calf slowly faded, and the pain returned slightly, but it was nothing compared to before. As the ache set in, however, it was accompanied by an itch. Uncle Zhou moved to scratch it, but Wang Jian quickly stopped him. "Uncle, don’t move. It might get a bit itchy, but you’ll have to bear with it. I’ll remove the needles in ten minutes."

"Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go prepare the medicine."

A doctor’s greatest fear is a patient who doesn’t follow instructions. Wang Jian prepared the medicine quickly. With his skill, he could measure out precise doses by hand. Now, with the advanced equipment provided by the Cai Family, he could even have it dispensed electronically. To keep his skills sharp, Wang Jian chose to measure a dose by hand and weigh it, then had the machine dispense three more identical portions.

In total, there were four packets of medicine, each wrapped in paper and tied with string.

Once everything was ready, Wang Jian went back to the treatment room and handed the medicine to Zhou Fang.

"This medicine is to be taken once every two days. First, bring it to a boil, then let it simmer on low heat for two hours. Drink one bowl after a meal."

"Come back for a follow-up in a week."

"I’ll adjust the prescription then based on his condition."

"Do you have any questions?"

Holding the medicine, Zhou Fang shook his head. The instructions were simple enough to understand, and besides, the method and timing were also written on the prescription label.

After a short wait, Wang Jian removed the needles and asked Uncle Zhou to see how he felt.

Uncle Zhou slowly got off the table, a look of disbelief on his face. He found he could walk on his own with minimal pain. This sight amazed the father and son once again, and they immediately began to praise Wang Jian profusely.

The two followed Wang Jian back to the front consultation area, where Zhou Fang took the initiative. "Doctor Wang, how much is the total for everything?"

"Let me see." Wang Jian glanced at them and asked, "Do you have your medical insurance card with you?"

"Huh? You accept medical insurance here?"

Zhou Fang was taken aback. He had assumed a small clinic wouldn’t accept insurance, so he hadn’t brought the card. "Doctor Wang, I didn’t bring it. How about we just pay with cash for today?"

Seeing his father’s rheumatic pain improve so quickly had put Zhou Fang in a good mood, and he was no longer feeling so frugal.

Wang Jian smiled, understanding his sentiment. However, he hadn’t opened a clinic in the village just to do business. His patients were all neighbors, people he would see regularly. Wang Jian didn’t want to seem petty. "I’ll give you the receipt now," he said. "When you come for the follow-up next week, just remember to bring the insurance card. We can process everything then. With the card, it won’t cost much. Without it, Chinese medicine can be expensive, so there’s no need to insist on paying right now." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

As he spoke, Wang Jian pulled today’s receipt from the printer.

Zhou Fang took the receipt, and he and his father thanked the doctor profusely.

Uncle Zhou even grabbed Wang Jian’s hand, saying emotionally, "Doctor Wang, you are a good man. You’re the most skilled practitioner of Chinese medicine I have ever seen. This chronic cold leg of mine has bothered me for so many years, and you’ve nearly cured it with just a few needles. It’s truly miraculous! Paigou Village is blessed to have you."

"My father’s right. Doctor Wang, your medical skills are superb, and you’re a kind person. I’ll be sure to tell everyone in our village about you when I get back."

"Ah, that’s right," Uncle Zhou chimed in, picking up on his son’s words. "I think that’s a great idea. All the old folks around here have their share of aches and pains."

The old man’s words sparked an idea in Wang Jian’s mind—one that, once it appeared, he couldn’t push down.

"Uncle, what do you think of this?" Wang Jian organized his thoughts and said to the pair, "I’m thinking of holding a free clinic here, specifically for the elderly—say, for anyone over sixty. Do you think that’s a feasible idea?"

"Hah!" Uncle Zhou’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands together. "That’s wonderful! Feasible? Of course, it’s feasible! I bet they’ll all come running the moment they hear about a free clinic."

Wang Jian laughed. The idea had come to him on the spot, but if it worked, it would certainly solve his current lack of patients.

"Since that’s the case," Wang Jian said with a smile, "I’ll waive your fee for today’s visit as well. We can count it as the first case for the free clinic."

"Doctor Wang... that’s not right. Today’s visit is today’s visit. How can you include it in that?" Uncle Zhou immediately objected, waving his hands. "We Zhous may not have a lot of money, but we don’t skip out on paying for medical care. Please don’t do this, Doctor Wang, or I’ll get upset."

"Uncle..."

Wang Jian tried to persuade him, but Zhou Fang also chimed in, "Doctor Wang, my father’s right. We have medical insurance; it’s not like we can’t afford to pay."