Leo continued, “Just now, from this gentleman’s pulse, I already knew that he has been taking medication recently. If I’m not mistaken, the medicine he’s been taking recently is the same as the prescription you gave him.”
The middle-aged man carefully examined the prescription Nick had given him and said, “Yes, the prescription I got from Benevolence Clinic is indeed identical to this one. I followed the instructions for seven days, but the effects were weak. Today, I heard that Healnature Clinic was offering discounts, so I came here to buy medicine.”
Nick’s expression, which had been filled with confidence, instantly faded as he heard this. His eyes showed disbelief. He had believed that his master’s teachings were impeccable, and if Benevolence Clinic prescribed the same medicine, it should have been effective. Could there be something wrong with the medicine at Benevolence Clinic?
The onlookers, who had previously criticized Leo, were now feeling somewhat embarrassed. They had misconstrued the young doctor’s abilities.
“Doctor, I apologize for my misunderstanding earlier,” a straightforward man directly apologized to Leo.
“I never expected Dr. Rudolph’s top disciple to have this level of skill. It truly impacts Healnature Clinic’s reputation,” another person remarked.
“I always thought he was too eager to prove himself, having only superficial knowledge of medicine, yet he tried to compete with others. He doesn’t seem to realize his own limitations.”
The spectators were adept at changing their stance according to the situation. Now, they were mocking Nick.
Nick had never received such taunts since he started practicing medicine under Dr. Rudolph, and his expression was now visibly grim.
Leo handed the prescription to the middle-aged man and said, “You should get your medicine based on the prescription I’ve given you. After three days, your abdominal pain should improve.”
As he looked at the displeased expression on Nick’s face, Leo spoke frankly, “The way of Chinese medicine requires every step of observing, smelling, asking, and feeling the pulse. Relying solely on pulse diagnosis can be too hasty. It’s best to inquire more about the patient’s specific condition, which can make your diagnosis and treatment more effective.”
Leo’s words weren’t meant to undermine Nick. After their recent diagnosis and treatment, Leo recognized that Nick indeed had genuine skills in Chinese medicine. However, he also saw that Nick had a tendency to be a bit arrogant.
Nick interpreted Leo’s words as taunts and responded with a cold snort, clearly not taking Leo’s advice to heart.
The middle-aged man received the prescription with some lingering doubts about the potential side effects of the ephedra, but when he sought Dr. Rudolph’s opinion, he received assurance. Dr. Rudolph nodded, saying, “This prescription is perfectly fine. You can go ahead and prepare the medicine as instructed; your abdominal pain will improve.”
With a newfound sense of relief, the middle-aged man, clutching his stomach, pushed through the crowd to get his medicine.
The competition between the two young practitioners was keenly observed by Dr. Rudolph, who sighed softly as he recognized the talents of both. He then gestured for Nick to step aside.
“Master, I still want to compete with him!” Nick couldn’t accept defeat.
Dr. Rudolph gave him a stern look. “What’s there to compete about? Don’t embarrass yourself. Go to the back room and study medical books.”
Nick, unable to argue with his master, stood aside, bowing his head and staying quiet.
Seeing his own disciple falling short of the competition, Dr. Rudolph, as a mentor, couldn’t help but feel a dent in his pride. Especially on a day when so many people had gathered, he couldn’t afford to let the reputation of Healnature Clinic suffer any harm. Therefore, he made the decision to step into the fray personally.
The young and the old continued to diagnose patients. With an experienced senior doctor involved, patients were eager to consult.
As the saying goes, experience is the best teacher, and Dr. Rudolph’s diagnoses were impeccable. He prescribed medicines that were appropriate for each patient’s condition. Surprisingly, Leo’s prescriptions were almost identical to Dr. Rudolph’s, with very few variations. Even when there were slight differences, Leo’s choice of herbs often appeared superior to Dr. Rudolph’s, subtly giving Leo the upper hand.
Dr. Rudolph had found his match today, and his competitive spirit had been stirred. Both doctors were treating patients effectively and shared knowing glances whenever their prescriptions matched.
Time passed quickly, and as Leo’s formidable skills in traditional Chinese medicine became evident, Dr. Rudolph’s initial bias and underestimation of him vanished. He now held genuine respect for Leo.
Finally, all the patients who had come for consultations were seen by Leo and Dr. Rudolph. Such an exciting medical duel, quite rare in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, had the onlookers applauding enthusiastically. They couldn’t help but think that their visit to Healnature Clinic today had been truly worthwhile.
In their eyes, the outcome of this competition had become less important. What mattered more was that they now had an exciting topic of discussion to share during their tea and meal times.
Just as Leo was about to call Bob to prepare the herbal medicines and leave, a middle-aged couple rushed in. They squeezed through the crowd and anxiously asked, “Is Dr. Rudolph here?”
Dr. Rudolph stood up from his chair, adjusted his beard, and replied, “I am Dr. Rudolph.”
The woman turned to Dr. Rudolph with a trembling voice, tears in her eyes. “Dr. Rudolph, please save my husband.”
Everyone’s attention shifted to the pale-faced man, who was trembling and clearly in distress.
Dr. Rudolph gestured for them to sit down. “Please, have a seat.”
The woman helped her husband into a chair.
“Dr. Rudolph, about half a month ago, I suddenly developed a problem. My chest felt extremely hot, like there was a burning flame inside. Additionally, my lower abdomen felt intensely cold, like it was submerged in icy water during winter. And, um…” The man’s face displayed an embarrassed expression, and he lowered his voice, “I’ve been experiencing bedwetting at night, uncontrollably.”
“Dr. Rudolph, I’ve taken my husband to various hospitals in Langstel, and he’s undergone numerous tests and treatments, but nothing has worked. We heard that Healnature Clinic’s Dr. Rudolph possesses miraculous healing abilities, so we came here seeking help. Please, Dr. Rudolph, you must save my husband.” The woman pleaded with Dr. Rudolph in a desperate tone.
As the man described his symptoms, the crowd looked on in astonishment. His condition was indeed peculiar-burning sensations in the upper body and extreme cold in the lower body, coupled with nocturnal enuresis. It was an unusual combination of symptoms.
Dr. Rudolph briefly examined the man’s complexion and then motioned for him to open his mouth.