Chapter 202 — Guan Xuewen's Disciple

Of course, exceptions could not be ruled out: in certain emergencies, when no silver acupuncture needles were on hand, some master physicians of national caliber would substitute other kinds of needles to treat and save their patients.

But that demanded rock-solid experience and skill, and a very strict control of the force applied by hand; insert too deep or too shallow, and the treatment might not merely fail to help but produce the opposite side effects.

"Is this some kind of joke? Who did this?" The doctor flew into a rage at once and jabbed a finger at Wei Zhao. "Was it you? Making a mess of things in a hospital — what if something happens to the patient? Who do you think will have to answer for it, if not our hospital? Xiao Wang, call the police!"

The doctor, beside himself with anger, gave the order to the nurse behind him.

"Oh..." The nurse nodded and made to go telephone the police.

Wei Zhao knew people at the police station well enough, but he had no wish to blow the matter up, and besides, judging by Kang Xiaofeng's manner at present, he would likely have a hand in Xiaofen's treatment from now on. So, to settle the matter once and for all, he had no choice but to tell the doctor, "I am not making a mess of things. I am Guan Xuewen's disciple!"

"Who is Guan Xuewen? What — Guan Xuewen, the master of traditional Chinese medicine?" The doctor caught himself at once, and stared at Wei Zhao in disbelief.

He too was a graduate of Songshan Medical University, and of course he knew the name of Guan Xuewen, a figure of the highest rank in the world of Chinese medicine. Back in his school days, no matter whether a student studied Chinese or Western medicine, all took pride in hearing a single lecture from Guan Xuewen.

If the man before him really was Guan Xuewen's disciple, then his use of such a needle for acupuncture was hardly surprising; special circumstances called for special measures.

Wei Zhao nodded. "If you don't believe me, I can give him a call."

Seeing how earnest Wei Zhao looked, and that he did not seem to be lying, and having examined Lan Zhi's condition himself to find nothing seriously wrong — the patient had merely fallen into a deep sleep — the doctor began to half believe him.

"You really are Doctor Guan's disciple?" the doctor asked.

"Let me just make the call." With that, Wei Zhao took out his phone and dialed the number Guan Xuewen had left him. If he was to have a say in Xiaofen's treatment from now on, he had no choice but to invoke the great Guan Xuewen's name first.

Guan Xuewen had just finished needling Liu Zhenhu when the phone on his desk began to ring. He frowned. He had strictly informed his friends of the hours when he could take calls; anyone seeking treatment from him or any colleague in the medical world had been told not to telephone between nine and eleven in the morning, for those hours were his treatment time.

Angry as Guan Xuewen was, the needling here was already finished, so he picked up the receiver all the same.

"Hello? This is Guan Xuewen." His tone was somewhat curt.

"Grandpa Guan, this is Wei Zhao." At the sound of his voice, Wei Zhao was slightly taken aback.

"Ah... Mr. Lin!" Hearing Wei Zhao's voice, Guan Xuewen was instantly stirred. Since Wei Zhao's last visit, Guan Xuewen had benefited greatly; these past days he had been pondering the several prescriptions and case histories Wei Zhao had mentioned, and it had given him the feeling of a sudden clearing of the clouds.

Guan Xuewen had been at a loss as to how to invite Wei Zhao a second time, and now Wei Zhao had called of his own accord, filling him with both surprise and delight.

"Grandpa Guan, I am at the Municipal First People's Hospital. I want to give a patient acupuncture treatment, and I told them I am your disciple, but the doctors here don't believe me... please, would you vouch for me?" Wei Zhao said.

"My disciple?" Guan Xuewen was startled. "That will never do. If anything, I am your disciple!"

Guan Xuewen was not the sort to presume upon his seniority. Wei Zhao was more skilled than he, and that was that, regardless of age; so Guan Xuewen would never dare to call himself Wei Zhao's teacher.

"All right, I'll hand the phone to the doctor here." Wei Zhao did not explain further, trusting that Guan Xuewen could make it clear.

With that, Wei Zhao gave the phone to the doctor in the ward.

The doctor took it hastily, with a show of reverent trepidation, and glanced at the number on the screen. It was indeed Guan Xuewen's home telephone! Guan Xuewen's home number was known to all of them, the students of the medical university; it was no secret at all — it was printed in the school's contact directory.

Certain now that the man really was Guan Xuewen, the doctor said cautiously, "Professor Guan, this is Wang Liguo from the First People's Hospital — Class of 2003. I was your student!"

Whether or not the man remembered him, Wang Liguo figured that having graduated from Songshan Medical College and sat in Guan Xuewen's lectures was an honor worth boasting about — enough to make others envious.

"Ah, Xiao Wang. Wei Zhao's attainments in traditional Chinese medicine are in no way inferior to my own. Whatever suggestions he makes, just follow them." Guan Xuewen was an honest man and had no wish to become Wei Zhao's teacher for nothing, so all he could do was hint at it vaguely.

"Rest assured, Professor Guan!" Wang Liguo was astonished. It seemed Wei Zhao had already mastered his craft, to earn such praise from Guan Xuewen.

After hanging up, Wang Liguo's attitude changed at once. "My apologies, Mr. Lin. I had no idea you were Professor Guan's disciple. I was most rude just now!"

"It's nothing." Wei Zhao waved a hand. "The situation was urgent at the time; I had no other choice. As for the treatment to come, I'll have to leave that in your hands!"

"No problem at all, Mr. Lin. Rest easy — I'll see to it personally." With that connection established, Wang Liguo would naturally take Lan Zhi's condition all the more to heart.

Song Huiping had thought her one careless remark had caused trouble and brought grief down on Wei Zhao, and she had no idea how to explain herself — yet a single phone call from him had turned Doctor Wang's attitude around, and made him all the more respectful besides.

The most astonished of all, of course, was Tang Zhi. She gave Wei Zhao a puzzled look, but with so many people about, she kept her questions to herself.

"Auntie, there's nothing more to be done here. Xiaobo and I will be on our way, and once Xiaofen's condition has steadied, we'll come back to see her." Seeing that there was nothing left for him here, Wei Zhao rose to take his leave.

Kang Xiaofeng was reluctant to hear it, but after a glare from Wei Zhao he obediently made ready to go.

Tang Zhi and Liu Xinlan naturally stayed behind to look after Xiaofen, while Wei Zhao and Kang Xiaofeng left the hospital.

"Boss, you know acupuncture?" Kang Xiaofeng stared at Wei Zhao in disbelief. He had been dying to ask for ages, but had held it in until they were out of the hospital.

Important notice from this site: please use this site's free novel APP — no ads, anti-piracy protection, fast updates, with your bookshelf synced across devices. Follow the WeChat public account gegegengxin (press and hold for three seconds to copy) to download the free reader!!