Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 191: Saving People Comes First

Li Xu set down the medical kit he was carrying and said matter-of-factly, "You flatter me, Elder Li. The Zither Fish Tea can only temporarily alleviate the symptoms. Curing the liver toxicity for good will require a more potent medicine."

Zither Fish Tea is a remarkable tea with excellent detoxification properties.

For an ordinary patient, drinking Zither Fish Tea alone would be enough for a cure.

However, the toxins in Elder Li's liver are deeply rooted. Combined with his advanced age, physical frailty, and insufficient Yang Qi, the Zither Fish Tea alone is not enough to cure his illness.

"Oh?" Elder Li's interest was piqued. "What kind of potent medicine? I've used plenty of precious Chinese herbs over the years—Wild Ginseng, cordyceps, Saffron... their effects have all been limited."

Li Xu didn't answer right away. Instead, he first took Elder Li's pulse.

The pulse beneath his fingertips allowed him to relax slightly—it was relatively stable.

The "pecking sparrow" pulse was faint, almost imperceptible.

It was a sign that the Zither Fish Tea was working, repairing Li Yuan's liver.

Still, if one felt for it carefully, it could still be detected.

Like a bird pecking at food—rapid and erratic, stopping and starting again.

A Western medical diagnosis would likely be late-stage cirrhosis of the liver.

"Elder Li, the herbs you've been taking are indeed precious. But sometimes, it's not about using the most valuable ingredients. It's about treating the specific condition. The toxins have accumulated in your liver, which requires a targeted treatment."

Li Xu took a box from his medical kit. "The medicine I've brought today might just be the cure for your long-standing ailment."

He opened the box, revealing a piece of toad skin.

At first, Li Yuan didn't think much of it.

Toad skin was a medicinal ingredient, and he had seen his fair share.

"Could you please bring me a basin of water?"

Li Xu asked the housekeeper politely.

"One moment, please."

A moment later, the housekeeper returned with a basin of water.

Li Xu placed the toad skin in the water. Soon, fine golden threads began to emerge on its surface.

"This… Is this golden toad skin?" Elder Li's demeanor changed. He was incredibly excited, leaning so far over the basin his face was almost in it. "Real golden threads! This is top-grade golden toad skin!"

Li Xu hadn't expected Elder Li to be so knowledgeable. "You've seen it before?"

"Only once, a specimen at The Palace Museum!" Elder Li carefully cradled the toad skin as he lifted it from the water. "One was unearthed in Yunnan back in the eighties and sold for an astronomical price… Where did you get this?"

"I bought it at a market. The seller didn't know what they had." Li Xu briefly described how he had chanced upon the treasure.

"Haha…"

Li Yuan laughed and gave him a thumbs-up. "Doctor Li, you have a sharp eye. Anyone else could have had this treasure right in front of them and not even known it."

Li Xu continued, "Toad skin can restore the body's immune system, reduce inflammation, and expel toxins. The detoxification effect of golden toad skin is dozens of times more potent than that of ordinary toad skin, and it works wonders on liver damage."

Li Yuan's expression grew complex. "Something this precious… and you're just going to use it on me?"

"When it comes to medicine, saving people comes first," Li Xu said calmly. "No matter how precious an ingredient is, it's useless if it's not used."

Elder Li said with admiration, "Well said! An excellent 'saving people first'! Xiao Li, I owe you for this."

Li Xu's tone then shifted. "Actually, I have a favor to ask of you as well."

Elder Li smiled. "Doctor Li, please, speak freely. I may be old, but I still have some influence in certain matters."

Li Xu didn't elaborate just yet. First, he had to decoct the medicine.

He added the golden toad skin and other herbs to a clay pot according to a specific ratio and sequence, meticulously controlling the heat and time.

Throughout the decoction process, Li Yuan sat nearby and watched, occasionally asking about the properties and meridian tropism of the various herbs. He seemed utterly fascinated.

"This is the last step."

Li Xu strained the decoction into a white porcelain bowl. He then took the remaining dregs of the golden toad skin, ground them into a fine powder, and divided it into seven small packets. "This is to reinforce the treatment. Take one packet every three days."

Li Yuan accepted the bowl. The dark brown liquid emitted a peculiar, bitter aroma, and faint golden particles could be seen suspended within it.

After letting it cool slightly,

He downed it in one go without a moment's hesitation, then closed his eyes to feel the effects of the medicine.

A moment later, Li Yuan's eyes snapped open. He nodded in satisfaction. "I've heard many famous doctors claim that with the right Chinese medicine, a patient can be cured the instant they finish the dose. I never believed it before, but I do now. In just this short time, I already feel so much better…"

He gently pressed the area over his liver. "The bloating and pain here have lessened considerably!"

"The golden toad skin takes effect quickly, but a complete detoxification will take time," Li Xu advised. "While taking the medicine, avoid spicy and greasy foods, and absolutely no alcohol."

"Don't worry. These old bones of mine would like to hang on for a few more years," Elder Li laughed heartily before his tone shifted. "Now, Doctor Li, tell me. What sort of trouble have you encountered?"

"Well, it's like this…"

It started with taking Xia Lei's pulse and suspecting a problem with his kidney, then telling him to get an examination… but things just kept getting stranger.

Then I had him use a false name to get an ultrasound, which resulted in him being detained…

Li Xu explained the entire situation in detail.

When he finished, he watched Li Yuan's expression intently.

To his surprise,

Li Yuan showed no trace of anger after listening to the story.

To be more precise, his expression didn't change at all.

'His heart skipped a beat. 'Could it be…''

As if reading Li Xu's mind, Li Yuan shook his head and said, "Doctor Li, don't let your imagination run wild. I'm not involved in this."

"Then… you don't seem surprised, sir?"

Li Yuan pursed his lips. "Surprised? About what? As far as I know, countless similar incidents have occurred over the years. They're like weeds—you can never get rid of them all."

He sighed. "Birth, aging, sickness, and death… many people can't come to terms with it. Doctor Li, you can go back. Just keep treating patients as usual. There's no need for you to leave town; no one will bother you."

"And what about my patient?"

"He will also return home, safe and sound."

"Thank you, Elder Li."

Li Xu hadn't expected anything more.

He looked up at the sky.

It was filled with clouds.

Their shadows covered vast swathes of the land.

'You can't expect the sky to be clear and cloudless forever!'

'That's just not realistic.'

'All you can do is clean up your own corner of the world, as much as you're able.'

…

In a holding cell at the West City Police Station, Xia Lei was curled up on a hard plank bed, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees.

The late autumn night wind seeped through the cracks of the barred window, carrying a bone-chilling cold.

After losing a kidney, he had become extremely sensitive to the cold.

At home,

he would have already been under a blanket by this time of night.

But in this holding cell, there wasn't even a sheet.

He shivered all over, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

There was a clock on the wall.

He glanced at it.

The hands pointed to 11:17 PM.

He felt no desire to sleep.

Partly because of the cold, and partly because of worry.

'He'd been locked up for over ten hours now, and he'd had a lot of time to think.'

'He was most worried about his family. Had they been notified?'

'They must be worried sick about me.'

'Then he thought,'

'Now that I'm detained, will I get a criminal record?'

'Will it affect my kids' education and job prospects in the future?'

'And what about that crucial ultrasound report? What would happen to it?'

'Especially the footage from the micro-camera… If I'd known this would happen, I should have made a backup beforehand.'

'Now, the only piece of evidence had been confiscated.'

'I have no way to prove my innocence.'

'It really just looks like I was using someone else's insurance card to get medical treatment.'

'And… what if I end up like one of those people in the movies? What if I suddenly die of a "sudden illness" right here in this cell?'