For nearly the entire morning, fewer than ten people entered the traditional Chinese medicine clinic.
Most of them, upon entering, asked if Dr. Zhang was present. Dr. Zhang was the clinic's previous owner.
When they heard Du Fei say that Dr. Zhang had quit and he would be the one seeing patients, they turned around and left.
Du Fei didn't blame them for their actions.
Because Du Fei understood very well that in most people's minds, Chinese medicine required a great deal of experience to accumulate. Those under forty were almost never trusted.
And today was his first day seeing patients. To gain everyone's trust immediately was simply impossible.
However, time would prove everything, and Du Fei was very confident in himself.
With no one coming in to see a doctor, Du Fei didn't just sit around. He decided to use this time to identify all the medicinal herbs in the clinic.
As the saying goes, "sharpening the axe does not delay the woodcutting." Although Du Fei possessed medical skills that even Wang Qiyang admired, dispensing herbs was also a very important fundamental skill, and Du Fei naturally had to learn it.
"Du Fei, I think it's better for people to be down-to-earth."
After watching for a whole morning, Wang Zhongling finally couldn't hold back.
Du Fei had clearly said he didn't recognize the various herbs earlier, then he took a comprehensive book on Chinese medicinal herbs and flipped through it, comparing it with the clinic's stock.
However, he spent only a few seconds on each page before quickly flipping to the next.
Those few seconds were likely only enough to read the names of the herbs. The descriptions of their properties and contraindications below could not possibly be fully read. What was the point of such perfunctory identification of medicinal materials?
As a result, Wang Zhongling's impression of Du Fei instantly plummeted.
She even wondered if Du Fei's acupuncture on the little girl earlier was just a fluke, and perhaps her grandfather had misjudged his technique.
In short, given that Du Fei didn't even recognize the medicinal herbs and was now acting so perfunctorily, Wang Zhongling felt that he could never be the genius who would revitalize Chinese medicine as her grandfather had said.
"What did I do?"
Du Fei looked up, feeling a bit bewildered.
He was diligently identifying medicinal herbs when Wang Zhongling suddenly said something about being down-to-earth. Had he done something that displeased her again?
Wang Zhongling asked, "You said earlier that you didn't know the medicinal herbs, right?"
"Yes, so I'm learning them now."
Du Fei nodded.
Wang Zhongling had been surprised by Du Fei's lack of knowledge about herbs earlier, but someone came in just then, interrupting them.
Perhaps she had suddenly remembered it again and wanted to complain about him?
It was understandable that Wang Zhongling wanted to complain. Since he had opened a Chinese medicine clinic, yet didn't even recognize the herbs, it would be a joke if patients knew about it.
So Du Fei decided to redouble his efforts and strive to recognize all the medicinal herbs in the clinic by the end of the day.
"Du Fei, is this how you identify herbs? You glance at a page and flip past it. Do you think you have a photographic memory? Take E zhu (莪术), for example. It can be used internally or externally, and has contraindications for pregnant women. You need to read it several times and memorize it!"
Wang Zhongling was somewhat frustrated, as if she hated that iron could not be turned into steel. As she spoke, she pointed with her finger to a page Du Fei had just flipped to.
Although Wang Zhongling studied Western medicine, due to her relationship with Wang Qiyang, she had a deep understanding of Chinese medicine and was very clear about the properties of various herbs.
Without even looking at the detailed explanations below, she could clearly state its various uses and contraindications.
"E zhu, also known as Peng e mao, Peng yao, Peng e zhu, Guang mao, Peng shu, has the effects of promoting qi circulation, breaking blood stasis, resolving accumulations, and relieving pain. It is often used for heart pain due to blood stagnation, indigestion, abdominal distention and pain, amenorrhea due to blood stagnation, dysmenorrhea, masses and lumps, and injuries from falls and blows. It has a pungent and bitter taste, and a warm nature. It enters the liver and spleen meridians."
"Miss Wang, did I miss anything?"
By the time Du Fei finished speaking, Wang Zhongling's eyes were wide as saucers, her mouth agape, and she looked utterly incredulous.
Because as Du Fei spoke, she had glanced down at the comprehensive book of Chinese medicinal herbs on the table, and what Du Fei had said was exactly the same as what was written there.
How had this guy managed to do it? He had only glanced at it once, and he had memorized the entire passage?
Did this guy really have a photographic memory?
Thinking about how she had just loudly criticized Du Fei, Wang Zhongling suddenly felt her face flush and couldn't bear to look at him.
"However, Miss Wang, your reminder is valid. I will definitely read it a few more times and memorize the properties and characteristics of all the medicinal herbs. This is the most responsible approach to patients."
Du Fei's tone was calm, and he wasn't angry with Wang Zhongling.
Wang Zhongling hesitated for a long time, then softly said, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you earlier."
Du Fei smiled and said nothing.
Just then, a loud shout was heard from outside.
"Someone's jumping off the building!"
"Someone's jumping off the building!"
Hearing the shouts, Du Fei's first reaction was to stand up and rush outside.
When he got outside, he saw several rings of people gathered around.
"How is it, is the person who jumped off the building alive?"
"Who jumped off? Are they from this street?"
"Alas, life is not easy these days, but one shouldn't be so desperate as to jump off a building."
There were always many people who enjoyed a spectacle, and as they watched, they couldn't help but make comments.
As Du Fei squeezed through the crowd, he saw a man around fifty years old lying on his side with his head tilted, a pool of blood beneath him, and blood constantly oozing from the corner of his mouth.
Seeing the situation, Du Fei was about to step forward.
"Stop!"
As Du Fei took two steps forward, he was stopped by someone.
The person who blocked Du Fei was wearing a tank top and had a buzz cut, clearly looking like a hoodlum.
"He's severely injured. If he's not treated quickly, he might be in mortal danger."
Although Du Fei hadn't diagnosed the man on the ground yet, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking. He saw that less than two meters away from where the man lay, a second-floor awning had been torn, suggesting the man had first fallen onto the awning before hitting the ground.
However, even if he wasn't dead yet, prolonged excessive bleeding would still pose a life-threatening risk.
"None of your business. This guy owes Third Master over a hundred thousand yuan in usurious loans. He deserves to die. You want to save him? Pay up! Otherwise, get lost and stay out of the way!"
The man with the buzz cut yelled at Du Fei.
As he spoke, Du Fei noticed that the people standing close by involuntarily took a few steps back. They seemed to be ordinary people who didn't want to provoke such a character by watching a spectacle.
"You still dare to come closer? Looks like I have to teach you a lesson... Mmph."
The buzz-cut guy saw that Du Fei not only didn't retreat as he was told but even took a step forward. He raised his hand, intending to slap Du Fei.
Who knew, the moment he raised his hand, he clutched his stomach and fell to the ground.