Chapter 376: Chapter 376: Can We Not Do an Interview?

Wang Xiufang returned home with her son. Without a moment’s delay, she skillfully washed the herbs for the second prescription and placed them in a clay pot.

She turned on the gas stove. As the herbs tumbled in the boiling pot, a rich, bitter aroma soon filled the entire house.

While the medicine was brewing,

her phone rang. The caller ID showed "Dr. Dong."

"Hello, Professor Dong."

Wang Xiufang’s voice was filled with joy.

"Ms. Wang, how is your son doing? Did Dr. Li give you another new prescription?"

Dong Chen asked, getting straight to the point.

"Yes, yes. Dr. Li’s medical skills are truly brilliant! My son’s pleural effusion is completely gone, his shortness of breath has eased a lot, and his spirits are much better."

Wang Xiufang gushed, pouring out every detail of Ai Shenbing’s improvement.

"This is truly great news. Dr. Li really is a Divine Physician."

Dong Chen offered repeated compliments over the phone, but inwardly, he sneered.

He knew this was just the expected "symptom-treating" effect. ’Now let’s see how Li Xu plans to "treat the root cause."’

"What’s in the new prescription Dr. Li gave you? Would you mind telling me? I’d like to learn from it."

Wang Xiufang didn’t think much of it.

She believed Professor Dong was genuinely concerned about Ai Shenbing’s condition, so she relayed the second prescription Li Xu had written to Dong Chen without reservation, not leaving out a single ingredient.

After listening, Dong Chen pressed, "Did Dr. Li say what the new prescription is for? Or did he mention any other precautions?"

Wang Xiufang tried her best to recall Li Xu’s words.

Although she had listened attentively at the time, the technical terms were too obscure for her, and she couldn’t remember the specific pharmacology.

She only remembered Li Xu saying that the previous treatment was for the symptoms, but now they were treating the root cause.

"Dr. Li said... the previous treatment was for the symptoms. Now, we’re starting to treat the root cause."

Wang Xiufang answered, stammering.

"Treat the root cause?" Hearing this, Dong Chen sneered even more derisively in his heart.

’A patient with terminal lung cancer, someone I’d already declared a lost cause, could be "cured at the root" with just a few Chinese herbs?’

’It was completely delusional.’

Outwardly, however, he smiled and congratulated Wang Xiufang, reassuring her that Dr. Li would surely be able to cure Ai Shenbing’s illness.

After hanging up, Dong Chen immediately forwarded the prescription Wang Xiufang had dictated, verbatim, to Zhang Lin.

"Old Zhang, take a look at this. It’s the new prescription from Li Xu. This time, he says he’s going to ’treat the root cause.’"

Dong Chen’s tone was laced with sarcasm.

Zhang Lin received the prescription and immediately began to study it carefully. Astragalus Root, Ginseng, Fried Atractylodes, Poria Cocos, licorice, Danggui, Chuan Xiong, Rehmannia Glutinosa, raw white peony, cinnamon, ginger, Large Dates, fried hawthorn, fried medicated leaven, fried malt, fried millet sprout, Knotweed, Mountain Yam, Agrimonia Pilosa, raw chicken gallstone...

This time, Zhang Lin’s expression wasn’t as certain as before. His brow was tightly furrowed, a hint of confusion in his eyes. This prescription... it actually had some substance. It was a modified Ten-Complete Great Replenishing Soup, combined with the "Fried Five Immortals" to strengthen the spleen and stomach, Knotweed to guide the medicinal effect upward, Agrimonia Pilosa to replenish deficiencies and stop bleeding, and especially that ingredient, "raw chicken gallstone"...

"So? Old Zhang? Is this prescription effective or not?" Dong Chen couldn’t wait and pressed him.

Zhang Lin stared intently at the prescription, not answering right away.

This prescription was a bit difficult for him to figure out.

"Old Dong, when prescribing medicine in TCM, the most important principle is treatment based on pattern differentiation."

Zhang Lin explained, "Every patient’s condition is different, even if they have the same disease. Their constitution, symptoms, and the stage of their illness can all vary. Therefore, a doctor tailors the prescription to the patient’s specific situation. The same illness in different people might require different medicines. With this prescription, it looks to me like Li Xu intends to replenish qi and blood while also starting to attack the tumor. But as for whether it will work... I can’t say for sure."

"Can’t say for sure?"

Hearing this, Dong Chen felt relieved.

’As long as Zhang Lin doesn’t definitively say it’ll be effective, it’s the same as being ineffective.’

"I knew it! Terminal cancer isn’t that easy to cure. This ’treating the root cause’ business is just smoke and mirrors."

Dong Chen chuckled.

’He’s probably just being cautious with his words. Deep down, I’m sure Zhang Lin, just like me, doesn’t believe TCM can cure terminal cancer.’

...

「Meanwhile.」

Reporter Li Yang had also been closely following the progress of Ai Shenbing’s condition.

When she received another call from Dong Chen and learned that Ai Shenbing’s condition had improved even further—the fluid buildup completely gone and even his coughing, gasping, and palpitations significantly eased—she was shocked.

’Could a few doses of Chinese medicine really cure cancer?’

’This... it’s just too incredible.’

To gather more material for her story, she personally went to the clinic to interview Li Xu.

"Dr. Li, has Ai Shenbing’s condition really improved?"

Li Yang asked eagerly the moment she saw Li Xu.

"Yes."

Li Xu nodded.

"That’s wonderful."

Li Yang was very happy.

Then she took out her voice recorder. "Could you tell me about the specific details? I’m planning to write another report for the next issue."

However, Li Xu hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Reporter Li, could we stop the reports?"

Li Yang was taken aback. "Why? Didn’t you just say his condition has improved? Or... do you think this improvement is only temporary and he can’t be cured in the end?"

Li Xu shook his head. "No, that’s not it. There is indeed a very good chance that Ai Shenbing can be cured."

"Then isn’t that perfect? It would be even greater proof of the value of Chinese medicine."

Li Yang was confused.

Li Xu sighed. "Reporter Li, you may not understand. The turning point in Ai Shenbing’s case is not only due to the wonders of Chinese medicine, but also a great deal of luck.

The right treatment plan, the right herbs—these are things you can only hope to stumble upon, not things you can actively seek out.

If this gets reported, more tumor patients will come seeking treatment, especially terminal patients like Ai Shenbing.

At that point, I’m just one person with limited energy. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to find the same ’luck’ as I did with Ai Shenbing every time, or find the most suitable treatment plan and herbs.

Rather than have more patients come full of hope only to leave in disappointment, it’s better to stop the reports now."

In reality,

’The main reason is that if patients flock to me, I only receive one piece of intel per day.

I wouldn’t be able to handle them all.

Rather than delay their treatment, it’s better not to give them any hope in the first place.’

Li Yang didn’t know the real reason.

She was stunned.

’I’ve never imagined that a doctor on the verge of a "medical miracle" would proactively ask to stop the media coverage.

This was a world of difference from the doctors I usually deal with, who scramble for fame and fortune through media exposure.’

She was at a bit of a loss for words, and her respect for Li Xu deepened even more.

She said tactfully, "Dr. Li, the reports on Ai Shenbing are no longer just simple follow-ups; they’ve become a special feature. I’m personally willing to listen to you, of course, but my editor-in-chief... I’m afraid he won’t agree to stop them."

Hearing this, Li Xu sighed.

’Once something like this starts, it’s hard to stop.’

"If that’s the case, then just let it be."

Li Xu shook his head.

’We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’