Gongcheng Bin, seated on the sofa, finally managed to calm his emotions. After all, no one would feel good about being mocked in front of their goddess. However, Catherine was a woman, and she was also a good friend of Luo Wenwen. Before arriving, Luo Wenwen had already warned Gongcheng Bin that Catherine could be a bit blunt with her words. Therefore, even though Gongcheng Bin felt uncomfortable, he could only endure it.
Soon after, he began to worry about Du Fei. Given Catherine's temperament, the upcoming confrontation would likely not be peaceful. Just as Gongcheng Bin was contemplating an excuse to leave early, Catherine spoke up.
"I've seen Chinese doctors in Chinatown, and they're almost all very old men. You're not even thirty, are you? How reliable is your medical skill?" Catherine scrutinized Du Fei with a doubtful gaze.
"Nothing is absolute. Whether medical skill is reliable or not depends on what the patient says. Even if I told you it's reliable, you might not believe me." Du Fei's expression was composed, showing no displeasure at Catherine's words.
At this moment, Luo Wenwen suddenly remembered that Gongcheng Bin and Du Fei had been here for a while, and she hadn't offered them anything to drink. So, she asked them what they would like to have. Gongcheng Bin requested a cup of coffee, while Du Fei opted for a glass of warm water. Luo Wenwen said, "Wait a moment," and then rose to go to the small kitchen in the suite.
Soon, Luo Wenwen returned. Carrying a tea tray, she first handed Gongcheng Bin and Du Fei their drinks. Afterward, she placed a cup of black coffee in front of herself and Catherine.
"Du Fei, right? I'm quite curious. Your people in China always say that traditional Chinese medicine is the essence and heritage of your five thousand years of civilization. But nowadays, why are Western medical hospitals appearing everywhere? Can you explain that to me?" Catherine took a sip of the black coffee Luo Wenwen had brought and then posed her question to Du Fei.
Upon hearing Catherine's words, both Gongcheng Bin and Luo Wenwen couldn't help but look at Du Fei. To be fair, Catherine's question wasn't particularly sharp or intended to deliberately trouble Du Fei. Even Gongcheng Bin had wondered about it himself. Before meeting Du Fei, Gongcheng Bin had practically no contact with traditional Chinese medicine, and many others were like him.
"That's indeed a good question, and it has a lot to do with traditional Chinese medicine itself. Unlike Western medicine, which has precise divisions where each doctor, after learning basic medical knowledge, only needs to specialize in one area, Chinese medicine, from ancient times to the present, has never had such divisions. Chinese medicine emphasizes encompassing everything and integrating various elements. In the past, with masters teaching hands-on and disciples diligently studying, this was naturally fine. But nowadays, people's hearts are increasingly restless. To ask everyone to calm down and dedicate themselves to Chinese medicine day after day, especially when much of what they learn might not be used, has led to Chinese medicine gradually being abandoned by a large portion of the population. In a certain sense, Western medicine is indeed more convenient and faster."
As Du Fei spoke, a look of surprise flashed across Catherine's face. She had initially expected Du Fei to find various excuses to argue. But she hadn't anticipated that he would admit it so directly. In that regard, she considered the man in front of her to be honest.
"Since you admit that traditional Chinese medicine is inferior to Western medicine, then I don't think there's any need for us to compete," Catherine said, her eyes full of disdain, displaying a condescending attitude of a victor. This reminded Gongcheng Bin of the earlier mockery. This woman truly hadn't changed; with just a few words, she was already putting people down. If it were just her sharp tongue, it would be bearable, but Catherine's gaze and gestures could infuriate someone to death.
Gongcheng Bin felt responsible for bringing Du Fei here and couldn't let him be insulted by this woman for no reason. However, just as Gongcheng Bin was about to speak, Du Fei preempted him by placing a hand on his shoulder. Gongcheng Bin looked at Du Fei with confusion, but Du Fei nodded at him, conveying a look that said, "Leave it to me." Trusting and understanding Du Fei, Gongcheng Bin nodded in response.
"Miss Catherine, I wonder if you misheard, or if your comprehension skills are lacking, when did I ever admit that traditional Chinese medicine is inferior to Western medicine?" Du Fei looked at Catherine with feigned surprise.
Huh? Not only Catherine but also Luo Wenwen beside them looked at Du Fei with a complex expression. Catherine, in particular, let out a cold laugh. As expected, Chinese men, just as her father had said, were all incapable of admitting defeat even if they were dying. She had clearly stated something, and now he was denying it. She had even thought he was honest earlier, but now Catherine immediately gave Du Fei a big 'X' in her mind. From now on, she wouldn't be polite; she would make Du Fei so ashamed he wouldn't know where to hide!
"Heh heh, Chinese people have always prided themselves on being honest and reliable. I never expected there to be someone like you, Du Fei, who goes back on his word. You've truly opened my eyes." Catherine made no attempt to conceal her mockery. She was practically about to stand up and point at Du Fei's forehead, calling him a scoundrel. Luo Wenwen, on the side, tugged hard at her arm, trying to prevent the situation from escalating.
"Miss Catherine, while I have a good temper, it doesn't mean I will tolerate your willfulness and rudeness. Please watch your words." Du Fei said earnestly.
Catherine scoffed, "I'm willful and rude? You yourself just said that Western medicine is indeed more convenient and faster in a certain aspect..." She paused slightly here. As Catherine was not Chinese, even though her Mandarin was quite good, her understanding of certain phrases wasn't as thorough as a native speaker's. However, she immediately thought that if Western medicine was more convenient and faster than Chinese medicine, then it was inherently superior, and her understanding wasn't wrong.
"It seems, Miss Catherine, that you've realized something is amiss yourself. I only said that Western medicine is faster and more convenient in a certain aspect. But in reality, Western medicine only treats the symptoms and not the root cause. Moreover, when it comes to curing illnesses and saving lives, Chinese medicine can utterly defeat Western medicine. Therefore, in the final analysis, it's simply that people nowadays are too impatient and unwilling to truly calm down and learn the essence of our ancestors, which is why Western medicine has exploited this loophole." Du Fei's words were powerful and resonant, leaving the few present stunned and speechless for a long time.