The Traditional Chinese Medicine department was in an old four-story building, just across the east wall.
Wan Yunting was surprised to see the TCM department so deserted, with no one visiting.
But then he thought about it, the whole of Chinese medicine in Huaxia was like a falling dynasty, gradually being phased out.
This situation wasn't because TCM lacked truly skilled physicians, but because in the fast-paced modern society, people relied more on treatments like a few IV drips to cure a common cold!
Of course, this wasn't entirely society's fault. In those turbulent times, TCM itself had suffered a generational gap, or even a complete loss of inheritance!
So, in the entire TCM department of Southern Hospital, there were five TCM practitioners, including the Dean and a Director, three newly graduated young physicians, two elderly pharmacists managing the pharmacy, and six nurses.
Those who came for consultations were mostly elderly ladies and gentlemen from the neighborhood; only that generation still believed in TCM.
"Another boring day..."
On the second floor of the TCM department, three young physicians were playing cards in a consultation room. They were accustomed to this leisurely, time-wasting life.
"Cough!"
A middle-aged man walked in. The three young physicians quickly put away their playing cards. "Director Li, you're here..."
"What kind of behavior is this? Don't you know the Dean will be back soon?"
This man, named Li Chengde, was the director of the TCM department and carried himself with an air of authority.
"Yes, yes, we'll be reading, studying, and waiting for patients..."
The three young physicians nodded obediently, clearly having suffered from Director Li's petty grievances before, which made them so wary of him.
"Director Li, Old Master Fang is here," a more senior nurse entered and announced.
Li Chengde glanced at the head nurse, Sister Yan, who was eating sunflower seeds, and grunted. But upon hearing it was Old Master Fang, he hurried out and ran downstairs.
In the first-floor lobby, an elderly man sat in a wheelchair. He wore a grey Tang suit, his hair was half white, and his complexion was ruddy, making him look quite young, though he was already sixty-eight.
"Master, I can get the medicine myself, why did you have to come along?" said the man pushing the wheelchair, a man in his fifties, the old housekeeper Lin Si.
This Old Master Fang, named Fang Shoushan, patted his leg, which was covered by a small blanket. "I haven't been here in a long time, so I wanted Dean Jiang to take a look at my leg."
Lin Si nodded and sighed. "If it weren't for that car accident back then, Master, your legs..."
Fang Shoushan shook his head and waved his hand. "I've accepted it. Besides, at my age, it's fine to be lame."
Although he said this, Lin Si knew that Fang Shoushan secretly longed to stand up and walk, even run, like a normal person...
"Oh dear, Old Master Fang, why have you come in person?"
Li Chengde, running down from upstairs, greeted him. "You only needed to send someone to inform me, and I would have delivered the medicine to your residence."
Seeing Li Chengde's subservient and fawning demeanor, Fang Shoushan smiled. "I haven't been here in a while, so I took the opportunity to come and have Dean Jiang look at this leg."
Li Chengde nodded and smiled. "Dean Jiang will be back soon. Why don't you go up to my office and sit for a while? I can examine your leg for you."
"Alright."
Fang Shoushan nodded. Li Chengde was pleased and personally helped Lin Si push Fang Shoushan upstairs...
A moment later, Jiang Tongxin entered the TCM department with Wan Yunting. Two young nurses inside were also eating sunflower seeds. Seeing her, they greeted, "Director Jiang is here."
"Has my grandfather arrived yet?" Jiang Tongxin asked.
"Not yet."
"Where's Director Li?"
"He's in his office, seeing that Old Master Fang," said the nurse.
Jiang Tongxin nodded and led Wan Yunting upstairs, turning down a corridor to Li Chengde's office.
Indeed, she saw him squatting down, examining Fang Shoushan's legs, who was sitting in a wheelchair. Then he shook his head and sighed, "Old Master Fang, the muscles in your legs have atrophied further and you've completely lost sensation. To cure it, it's likely..."
"There's no need to be so reserved, I'm used to it."
Fang Shoushan smiled kindly, but his words still pricked at his heart.
Three years ago, Fang Shoushan was participating in a senior marathon when a small car suddenly lost control, knocked him down, and ran over his legs, causing severe injuries.
Although Fang Shoushan's leg bones were repaired and reconnected through surgery, he lost all sensation in his legs thereafter. Many expert doctors had declared him permanently disabled and unable to stand up again.
For Fang Shoushan, who had been a runner in his youth and still loved running, this was a devastating blow that he couldn't accept.
In the past three years, he had seen countless Western and Chinese medicine practitioners, both abroad and domestically, but none could help him stand up again.
Was he, Fang Shoushan, destined to spend the rest of his life confined to this wheelchair!
"Tongxin, why have you come?"
Li Chengde saw Jiang Tongxin at the door, who had brought Wan Yunting in. "I came to find Grandpa. He hasn't arrived yet, so I came to see Director Li."
"Is that so? Then please sit down first. I'll finish examining Old Master Fang's legs." Li Chengde continued to examine Fang Shoushan's legs.
Jiang Tongxin nodded, wanting to have Wan Yunting sit down, but she saw him looking at Fang Shoushan!
Fang Shoushan felt his gaze and looked up at him. To his surprise, Wan Yunting spoke, "Your legs were probably damaged by being run over by a car, weren't they?"
Fang Shoushan's old face was stunned. Li Chengde immediately turned to look at Wan Yunting, seemingly displeased that he had interrupted his examination of Old Master Fang.
"He's the one who treated President Kang's mother," Jiang Tongxin said.
"Oh, so it's you."
The matter of treating the wealthiest man Kang Hongwen's mother had naturally spread to the TCM department.
Li Chengde saw him wearing a cleaner's uniform and sneered, "He really is a cleaner."
But Wan Yunting's attention was already on Fang Shoushan's legs. "The meridians are blocked, muscles atrophied, blood vessels hardened, and you've lost sensation. If this continues for another year, your legs will be completely useless!"
"What do you mean?"
Fang Shoushan didn't know who this person was, but he sensed hope for his legs from Wan Yunting's words!
"If your legs can receive effective treatment in time, you can still stand up," Wan Yunting said casually.
"Really?"
Fang Shoushan's old eyes widened, staring intently at Wan Yunting, his heart filled with excitement, like seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness.
"Such audacious claims!"
Li Chengde stood up, glared at Wan Yunting, and snorted. "Let alone curing Old Master Fang's legs, if you can make his toes move right now, I, Li Chengde, will personally beg Dean Jiang to keep you in the TCM department, and I'll even give you my position as director!"
These words made Fang Shoushan raise an eyebrow. So many doctors had declared his legs permanently disabled, yet in his heart, he had always yearned to stand up again...