The next day.
In the early morning, light from outside the window gently spilled over the bedside through the half-drawn curtains.
Downstairs, there were shouts from the breakfast shop.
Lu Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose, and casually picked up his phone, only to realize he woke up half an hour earlier than usual.
It seems pulling an all-nighter really disrupts the biological clock.
One would expect that staying up late would lead to waking up later, but for Lu Xuan, it resulted in waking up earlier.
However, since he was already awake, Lu Xuan didn't have the habit of going back to sleep.
After getting up and washing up, Lu Xuan went downstairs to the breakfast shop for a meal.
"Boss, a bowl of soy milk, a fried dough stick, and two buns, please."
He found an empty spot to sit down. Before long, he heard the boss shout from inside, "Alright, just a moment, it's coming right up."
Shortly after, the boss came out with the items.
A simple breakfast, yet Lu Xuan ate it with great relish.
This shop has been here for over a decade, with a classic taste that most locals enjoy.
I have to say, the taste is indeed good.
Moreover, cleanliness is key, which Lu Xuan finds particularly commendable.
You know, many shops that have been around for over a decade tend to lose customers eventually.
Why?
The taste remains the same, but the hygiene deteriorates, naturally leading to fewer customers.
With fewer customers, the owner cares even less about this.
In this vicious cycle, closure is only a matter of time.
Yet this Yongwei Breakfast Shop, open for over a decade, has undergone four renovations, and since the owner prefers cleanliness, business has always been good.
After a simple meal, Lu Xuan paid and headed to the nearby bus stop.
The apartment where Lu Xuan lives isn't far from the Health Center—just four stops and only takes about ten minutes to get there.
By the time he arrived at the Health Center, Yuan Na and Lv Huilan were already at their posts in the registration hall, with a long line in front of the window.
Lu Xuan waved to greet them and then went straight to the Chinese medicine department on the second floor.
"Morning, uncle."
"Morning, Lu."
Wang Youqing in the testing department had also arrived early, with all the testing equipment ready to go at a moment's notice.
"By the way, Lu, didn't you add Ms. Wu as a friend yesterday? How is Zhang Song's condition?" Remembering yesterday's patient Zhang Song, Wang Youqing asked curiously.
"Not bad."
Lu Xuan didn't dare make any firm statements; everything still depended on Zhang Song coming back for a follow-up.
Not bad?
So is it good or not?
Unable to make a judgment, Wang Youqing let the matter rest.
In the Chinese medicine department, Lu Xuan routinely powered up the computer, put on a white coat, and poured himself a glass of plain water.
Soon after sitting down, Zhou Liting arrived.
"Lu, the medicine you prescribed a few days ago was amazing. I got rid of hundreds of parasites; oh my, it scared me to death at the time. I thought I had some incurable disease. Luckily, you warned me about it, or I would have gone crazy. Since we still have some time before work, could you check me again?"
After saying this, she placed her hand on the pulse pillow.
Seeing it was Zhou Liting, Lu Xuan first glanced at her complexion, noting that she still had some parasite spots.
Lu Xuan made a note of this and then proceeded with the pulse examination.
"The pulse is thin and soft, slightly different from last week, but not much."
With the previous experience, Lu Xuan was confident in judging Zhou Liting's pulse.
"Tongue."
Zhou Liting stuck out her tongue, and Lu Xuan noticed that compared to last week, the tongue coating was noticeably less yellow and greasy, though the tooth marks remained.
A yellow, thick, greasy coating often indicates spleen and stomach damage. The spleen governs the transformation and transportation of fluids; when its function is impaired, fluids accumulate, and over time, dampness turns into heat, disrupting the middle burner.
A thin, soft pulse and tooth-marked tongue also indicate spleen qi deficiency.
Along with the faint parasite spots on her face, Lu Xuan quickly determined that the previous medication had worked, but there were still residual parasites, necessitating further spleen strengthening and parasite elimination.
However, Lu Xuan didn't rush to prescribe more medication. He waited until the mental noise dissipated before writing in the medical record:
Stir-fried Danggui 9g, Stir-fried White Atractylodes 9g, Fuling 12g, Stir-fried Dioscorea 9g, Areca 9g, Quisqualis 9g, Guan Zhong 9g, Rhizoma Coptidis 4.5g, Costus Root 4.5g, Wu Mei 3g.
Having prepared the prescription, Lu Xuan advised, "Finish the medication from last time, and then use this prescription to consolidate, to prevent recurrence."
Zhou Liting hesitantly asked, "There won't be more parasites, will there?"
"Unexpectedly, there should be some more." Lu Xuan replied seriously.
"However, after two more treatments, it should be completely cured."
"Oh, my impeccable reputation…"
Zhou Liting let out a long sigh, then looked at Lu Xuan, "Lu, please don't tell anyone at the clinic about this, or I'd have nowhere to hide my face."
Even though she's in her thirties with a child, well past the age of shyness, the thought of people knowing about her parasite issue was mortifying.
"Rest assured, I won't say a thing."
"Besides, sis, you're not old."
Lu Xuan assured her, and only then did Zhou Liting leave with the medication, feeling relieved.
...
Jiangyao Garden.
"Shengyu, is your mom feeling any better?"
Wang Shengyu was helping her mother, Li Qinxue, into the car when she heard a greeting from nearby.
"Aunt Lin."
Wang Shengyu greeted her and, when asked about her mother's condition, her expression turned grim as she sighed, "Since the rectal cancer surgery last time, she has been unable to urinate, and catheterization at the hospital didn't help. The doctor told me to wait for two more days at home, but my mom is in so much pain she can't bear it. I'm thinking of going back to the hospital, and if that doesn't work, I'll have to take her to Beijing."
"Has she not urinated for half a month?"
Aunt Lin's mouth opened in astonishment.
Living in the same building and being of similar age, Aunt Lin was quite familiar with Li Qinxue's situation, as they often went to the market together.
Hearing that Li Qinxue hadn't urinated in two weeks after her surgery, Aunt Lin's expression turned to worry: "Shengyu, you really need to be careful, not being able to urinate for so long is undoubtedly taxing on the kidneys."
"That's what I'm thinking too, so I can't wait any longer. I plan to visit the hospital, and if that doesn't help, I'll head to Beijing this afternoon."
After speaking, Wang Shengyu sighed heavily.
It doesn't matter where they go, as long as her mother can be treated. However, her current condition doesn't allow for much travel.
"Going to Beijing is a good idea; the medical conditions there are better than here." Aunt Lin instinctively nodded.
Suddenly, Aunt Lin seemed to recall something and quickly said, "Shengyu, I heard there's a highly skilled Chinese medicine doctor at the Health Center; why not take your mom there first?"
"I've heard about it, but given my mom's situation, can Chinese medicine help?" Wang Shengyu was a bit hesitant.
The name of Dr. Lu at the Health Center had been the subject of much talk among the elderly in the neighborhood lately, so she was aware.
Aunt Lin thought for a moment and replied, "Since the hospital didn't succeed with the catheterization, it wouldn't hurt to try Chinese medicine. Besides, it's nearby, just a few minutes' walk."
Wang Shengyu considered this and then looked at her mother, Li Qinxue, "Mom, what do you think?"
The agony of not urinating for half a month left Li Qinxue with a pained expression. Upon hearing her daughter's question and recalling the hospital's futile efforts, she pondered for a bit and then nodded.
"Alright, let's give it a try."
Wang Shengyu nodded, took out the wheelchair they'd packed, and helped her mother into it.
"Aunt Lin, I'm going to take my mom to the Health Center first."
"Go on, and let me know how it goes."
"Okay."
After saying goodbye to Aunt Lin, Wang Shengyu pushed Li Qinxue toward the Health Center.
Even so, the worry on her face did not fade; in fact, it deepened.
Can Chinese medicine really help?
A big question mark loomed in her mind.