In the spacious ward, a foreign man in his fifties lay on a hospital bed. He was Ambassador Will Buggerson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ying, already wearing a respirator and a piCCo monitoring device. His vital signs clearly indicated a dire situation.
Around the bed stood several doctors in white coats, the most authoritative directors from the Cardiology Department of Xiehe Hospital, along with a foreign doctor. They were holding a film, urgently discussing Ambassador Will's heart condition…
Hanks and others were also present, their faces grave as they listened to the doctors’ words. They made calls periodically, reporting Ambassador Will's condition to people back in Ying…
“Gentlemen, what’s the situation?”
Gu Xintang, accompanied by Gu Shiren and Wan Yunting, entered and asked the directors.
The director physicians greeted them one by one. A bald middle-aged director shook his head and said, “It’s not very optimistic!”
The other directors and doctors lowered their heads, appearing helpless, which sent Gu Xintang’s heart sinking to the bottom.
If Ambassador Will were to have an accident in Huaxia, it would cause diplomatic issues between the two countries.
Immediately, Gu Xintang turned to Gu Shiren and said solemnly, “Old Gu, I’m counting on you.”
“Hmm, let me take a look.” After Liu He explained Ambassador Will’s condition, Gu Shiren’s aged face also turned serious.
Beside them, Wan Yunting asked Li Yuxiu about the foreign ambassador’s situation. He learned that Ambassador Will had a sudden heart attack last night. Due to a delayed discovery, he was brought in barely clinging to life.
The hospital had worked through the night to temporarily save his life. However, due to his severe heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia, he remained in a coma and was in critical condition at any moment.
“I’ve given him several acupuncture treatments to his heart, but there’s still not much effect,” Li Yuxiu said, her expression grave as she looked at Ambassador Will on the bed.
Wan Yunting asked in surprise, “You can’t do anything either?”
Li Yuxiu nodded and said, “His heart is very complex, with too many hidden dangers. Even with acupuncture and qi, I can’t stimulate his heart rate to return to normal. Perhaps I haven’t reached that level yet, which is why I asked you to try.”
“I understand.” Wan Yunting nodded. Although he hadn’t felt the foreign ambassador’s pulse yet, judging by his complexion and near-death state, his sudden heart condition was indeed very complicated. No wonder so many doctors in the hospital, as well as renowned doctors from the traditional Chinese medicine circles in the capital, had been invited but were unable to help him.
One could imagine how complicated his sudden heart attack was.
Currently, Ambassador Will was being kept alive by expensive medication and could pass away at any moment.
“Stop!”
Just as Gu Shiren was about to take Ambassador Will’s pulse, Hanks stepped forward to stop him. He spoke to Gu Xintang in English, angrily asking, “Deputy Minister Gu, who is this?”
Gu Xintang replied, “This is Old Gu, a renowned master physician from our capital. I’ve invited him to treat Ambassador Will.”
“Traditional Chinese Medicine!”
Hanks’ eyes were now filled with disdain and contempt at the mention of traditional Chinese medicine. He even said angrily, “Your TCM can’t cure illnesses. I absolutely cannot let him treat Ambassador Will indiscriminately.”
Gu Shiren didn’t understand English and had no idea what the foreigner was saying, but he could feel the anger and contempt in his eyes.
Wan Yunting, Li Yuxiu, Gu Zichen, and Gu Sinuo’s eyebrows were raised when they heard Hanks claim that TCM couldn’t cure illnesses. Even Gu Xintang raised his eyebrows, his face darkening as he gazed sternly at Hanks, saying, “Hanks, please speak with more respect. Our TCM is an art of healing passed down through our Huaxia’s five thousand years of history, and it can be considered much more profound than your Western medicine.”
“Furthermore, this Old Gu is a leading physician in Huaxia’s TCM. He will surely be able to find a way to treat Ambassador Will’s illness.”
“Hmph.”
Hanks indeed had a face full of contempt and disdain. He pointed outside and said to Gu Xintang, “Deputy Minister Gu, if your TCM is so powerful, then why haven’t the people outside come up with a plan to treat Ambassador Will’s illness?”
“Your TCM is simply backward medicine, lacking scientific evidence, and cannot cure illnesses at all. So please don’t let him waste any more time. When Professor Holson arrives later, he will cure Ambassador Will with Western medicine.”
“What did he say?”
Gu Shiren, unable to understand, asked his grandson Gu Zichen. Gu Zichen’s face was now dark and annoyed, saying, “Grandpa, this foreigner says our TCM can’t cure illnesses, and that our TCM is inferior to Western medicine, and he’s preventing you from treating him.”
“Hmph, boastful and ignorant.”
Gu Shiren’s aged face instantly darkened. He snorted at Hanks, “Then let your Western medicine treat him. This old man will not accompany you further.”
“Wait, Old Gu…”
Gu Xintang and the others quickly stepped forward to stop Gu Shiren and his party, pleading, “Old Gu, now is not the time to argue about TCM versus Western medicine.”
“If Ambassador Will were to have an accident in Huaxia, it would have a significant impact on our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So, please don’t mind his ignorance and help save Ambassador Will.”
Gu Shiren looked very displeased. Even Wan Yunting, seeing Hanks’ attitude, wanted to leave.
Gu Xintang quickly turned to Hanks and said, “Let Old Gu try again. If it truly doesn’t work, we’ll invite other doctors.”
Seeing Gu Xintang’s firm stance, Hanks was about to relent. Just then, the ward door opened, and Dean Guo Kangyu of Xiehe Hospital entered with two foreigners in suits. They were Professor Holson, an expert in cardiology from Ying, and his assistant, who had just been picked up from a nearby airport.
“Holson, you’ve finally made it.”
Hanks was overjoyed to see Holson. He completely disregarded Gu Xintang, Gu Shiren, and Wan Yunting, grabbing Holson and leading him to the bedside. He pointed to Ambassador Will and said, “Holson, you must save Ambassador Will. Don’t let anything happen to him!”
Professor Holson, in his fifties, was an expert in internal cardiology and a renowned professor in Ying. He had published a paper on heart disease that received widespread attention in The Lancet medical journal.
Holson’s presence in Huaxia this time was due to an invitation from Ouya Hospital in Shanghai City to give a lecture. It was said that the invitation was booked a year in advance, and he was invited at a great expense.
From the moment he entered, Holson ignored Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu.
This was because, upon entering the ward’s reception area, he had seen Liu Pingyi, Li Tiangui, and the group of people gathered outside, and knew they were all doctors of traditional Chinese medicine from Huaxia.
Holson, on the other hand, was someone who extremely distrusted Huaxia’s TCM. He had even publicly declared that Huaxia’s TCM was a backward, ancient medical art, completely lacking scientific basis, and a form of deceptive witchcraft.
His negative remarks about TCM had also gained approval from many people abroad. Li Yuxiu happened to have seen his remarks while abroad, and therefore, from the moment Holson appeared, she no longer showed him any pleasantries.
Holson briefly examined Ambassador Will, who was lying on the hospital bed. After a quick consultation with Dean Guo Kangyu and the directors of the Cardiology Department, he prepared to perform heart surgery on Ambassador Will immediately.
“Alright, I’ll arrange the surgery right away.”
Seeing this, Guo Kangyu wasted no time and went out to make the arrangements.
Gu Xintang frowned and asked, “Are you sure surgery can save Ambassador Will?”
Holson glanced at Gu Xintang. Hanks made the introduction, and Holson nodded confidently, saying, “Don’t worry. If I can’t cure Ambassador Will, then no one else in this world can save him!”
Gu Zichen translated Holson’s words to Gu Shiren. Gu Shiren’s aged face turned grim, and he let out a cold snort. Without saying another word, he went out and called to Liu Pingyi, Xue Dongshan, and the others, “Stop standing around. Everyone, go back!”
This statement left everyone outside bewildered. They watched as Gu Shiren, with a dark expression, left with Gu Zichen and Gu Sinuo supporting him, completely disengaging from the matter.
After all, if people looked down on their TCM, why should they stay and watch?
Liu He sighed at the sight and then noticed that Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu were still in the ward.
“Dr. Li, let’s go too.”
Seeing that the others were so confident, Wan Yunting no longer wanted to stay.
Li Yuxiu’s delicate brows furrowed. She couldn’t help but say to Holson in English, “Even if you perform surgery on him, you won’t be able to save his life, unless you replace his heart!”
Hearing this, Holson turned back. His blue eyes looked at Li Yuxiu, and in his refined English accent, he asked, “Who are you? Are you also a doctor of Huaxia’s TCM?”
Li Yuxiu’s intelligent phoenix eyes gazed at him, and she said calmly, “I’ve read your published remarks about our Huaxia TCM, where you said our TCM is unscientific, backward, and ancient deceptive witchcraft. But I tell you, apart from TCM, no one can save him!”
This statement made Holson laugh. His eyes looked at Li Yuxiu with utter contempt, and he chuckled with Hanks and the others, “I can’t believe Chinese people are so humorous. To say such things, it’s truly hilarious.”
Li Yuxiu’s expression was solemn and calm. She gave Holson a sharp glance with her phoenix eyes and said, “You will regret this!”
After saying that, Li Yuxiu turned and left the ward without looking back.
Wan Yunting glanced at Holson and Hanks, a smile playing on his lips. He then turned and followed Li Yuxiu out of the ward. Passing Liu He and Xue Xialan, he said with a smile, “Vice Chairman Liu, let’s head back.”
Liu He raised an eyebrow, watching Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu leave directly. He turned back to see Holson in the ward preparing to operate on Ambassador Will. Gu Xintang came out with a dark expression. Seeing Liu He and Tian Xiangrong still there, he waved his hand and said, “Thank you all for your hard work today. You may all return now.”
Zhang Shunchang, Wu Shengbai, and others saw this and left one by one.
Liu He sighed and also left with Xue Xialan. After all, the confident Holson claimed he could save Ambassador Will, so there was nothing for them to do here.
“Did Dr. Li drive? How about I give you a ride back?” Wan Yunting asked Li Yuxiu as they walked out of the hospital. She nodded, and they got into his Bentley sedan, leaving the hospital and heading towards Heping Street.
“A wasted trip,” Wan Yunting said with a smile as he drove.
Li Yuxiu’s delicate brows furrowed. “The Western medical system has a huge impact on our TCM!”
Suddenly bringing up this topic, Wan Yunting glanced at her as he drove and nodded, “Yes, it can be said that almost all of Huaxia’s healthcare is based on the Western medical system, with no sign of our TCM system at all.”
“This is a very serious problem. It’s wrong from the root!”
Li Yuxiu nodded and sighed helplessly. This made Wan Yunting look at her with surprise and say with a smile, “It seems you really want to change all of this!”
Li Yuxiu’s phoenix eyes looked out the window at the passing vehicles, her voice filled with helplessness, saying, “How difficult it is to change all of this.”
“It is indeed very difficult,” Wan Yunting agreed. “Unless the roots of Western medicine are dug out and separated from the TCM system, there might be a glimmer of hope!”
Li Yuxiu’s phoenix eyes suddenly lit up, and she said with firm conviction, “If we were to do that, it would probably take ten to twenty years!”
Wan Yunting paused in surprise and looked at her, saying, “It seems your ambition lies here, rather than solely in promoting our TCM overseas!”
Li Yuxiu nodded and turned to Wan Yunting, saying seriously, “I thought that with the downfall of the Sima family, the domestic atmosphere would improve a bit, but upon returning, I found it’s not the case. On the contrary, a rotten atmosphere permeates everywhere. This is very disappointing.”
Wan Yunting smiled and said, “Are you indirectly saying that I, the former chairman, was useless?”
Li Yuxiu shook her head. “It’s not your fault. I’ve learned about the domestic situation during this period and know that certain people are stubborn and unwilling to change.”
These words surprised Wan Yunting and made him look at Li Yuxiu. It seemed she was indeed different from those people. At least, her current behavior showed she was wholeheartedly considering the future development of Huaxia’s TCM…