Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Fought to a Draw
Jiang Xinghai simply smiled and looked at the first patient before him. "Sir, there’s no need for you to say a word. Observing your dull complexion, lifeless eyes, and gaunt figure, I’d say you’re suffering from a gastrointestinal illness. Am I correct?"
"You’ve got sharp eyes, young man. That’s right, I have enteritis. It’s a chronic condition that just won’t heal." A look of pleasant surprise appeared in the sixty-something-year-old man’s eyes.
’He truly hadn’t expected Jiang Xinghai to be able to name his ailment without him uttering a single word.’
Even Granny Nong looked at Jiang Xinghai with a newfound sense of admiration.
However, this didn’t mean she was ready to acknowledge Jiang Xinghai’s medical skills.
"Sir, here is your prescription."
Jiang Xinghai filled a sheet of paper with flamboyant, cursive script.
Ingredients: a soup spoon, pure sesame oil, ginger, white sugar.
Directions: Heat the sesame oil in the soup spoon. Cut three slices of ginger, dip them in white sugar, and fry them in the sesame oil until golden brown on both sides. Consume the ginger slices and the hot sesame oil. This must be taken on an empty stomach. Do not drink water for thirty minutes before or after consumption. Mild cases will see effects in one week, severe cases in three weeks.
The man looked up with a wry smile. "Is this really going to work?"
"Let me see it."
Xue Zhong reached out and took the prescription. He had always been a firm believer in Jiang Xinghai’s medical skills.
He was just going through the motions now.
But when he saw the prescription, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes. "Ginger is pungent and slightly warm in nature. It promotes diaphoresis, dispels cold, warms the core, and stops vomiting. It can be used to treat many ailments. When fried in sesame oil, its harsh spiciness is removed, and its warming property is enhanced. Consuming too much can lead to excess internal heat, but a small amount will gently warm and nourish the stomach and intestines. Ingenious!"
"HISS..."
Granny Nong rarely heard Xue Zhong give such effusive praise. After mulling over the prescription herself, she couldn’t help but gasp.
’The prescriptions she gave her own patients were folk remedies, but their efficacy was guaranteed!’
’And Jiang Xinghai had prescribed a folk remedy as well!’
’And based on her own analysis, it would indeed be effective for treating gastrointestinal ailments.’
"Old Nong, what do you think?" Xue Zhong turned the question to Nong Cuiru.
"This prescription... is viable." Nong Cuiru could do nothing but nod.
The crowd was stunned.
Granny Nong had actually approved Jiang Xinghai’s prescription!
Next, it was Nong Cuiru’s turn to see patients.
Over the course of an hour, both of them completed consultations for ten patients, wrote out their respective prescriptions, and had them all approved by Xue Zhong.
It was an indisputable fact.
The eyes of the patients fell upon Jiang Xinghai.
His medical skills were so profound for someone so young, it was beyond anyone’s imagination!
The new Medical God?
He wasn’t famous for nothing!
"Old Nong, according to our prior agreement, you’ve fought to a draw..." Xue Zhong said with a light chuckle.
"Then we’ll do as we agreed. A draw counts as his victory." Nong Cuiru’s expression grew darker and darker.
’In front of all these people, she, one of the Ten Saint Hands of the National Medical Hall, had actually fought to a draw with some unknown young man?’
’How would she, Nong Cuiru, be able to hold her head high after this?’
"Auntie, we won! We won!" Feng Lulu was the first to cheer, throwing her arms around Lin Liping.
"We won! We won!" Tears of joy streamed down Lin Liping’s face.
Ma Long, who had been standing awkwardly to the side, was swept up in the joy. He opened his arms wide but didn’t know who to hug.
"Brother Hai, you’re incredible!" Feng Lulu jumped for joy and, hugging Jiang Xinghai, planted a passionate kiss right on his lips.
Jiang Xinghai gave an awkward smile and instinctively glanced over at Lin Liping.
"Xinghai, thank you!" Lin Liping stepped forward and gave Jiang Xinghai a passionate kiss as well.
This scene made Ma Long practically die of envy.
’Weren’t the Shen Lingxue and Shen Lingyin sisters enough for him?’
"However—"
But suddenly, right as everyone was celebrating, Nong Cuiru rose to her feet.
’However... what?’
The expressions of several people, including Xue Zhong, changed in an instant.
Jiang Xinghai, however, seemed to have anticipated this and showed no reaction.
"On the surface, it appears you’ve won today’s assessment. But I cannot sign off on it yet. I must wait until the patients have taken the prescribed remedies and are fully cured. Only then will I sign." Nong Cuiru shot Jiang Xinghai a deliberate look before turning her gaze to the twenty patients who remained at the scene.
Some of the patients had chronic illnesses. The longest treatment course Jiang Xinghai had prescribed was for six months.
’Doesn’t that mean Jishan Hall will have to wait six months before it can join the National Medical Hall?’
"You’re going back on your word!" Feng Lulu was the first to jump up and protest.
An angry expression appeared on Lin Liping’s face as well. ’This is just blatant bullying!’
’A doctor’s duty is complete once they’ve held a consultation and written a correct prescription!’
’But now Nong Cuiru was changing the rules at the last second!’
Xue Zhong’s expression darkened. He whispered, "Old Nong, don’t push this. If you pull a stunt like this, I’ll have every right to go to the Imperial City and report you."
"Old Xue, if you can get that Divine Doctor to come treat my grandson right now, I’ll sign immediately." Her intention was clear: everything depended on Xue Zhong’s next move.
"Master Nong, you’re just saying you won’t sign until my patients are cured, correct?"
Just then, Jiang Xinghai stood up. "Give me half an hour. I can cure them right now—including the ten patients you just treated."
