However, what she didn’t expect was that Du Heng’s next words caught her off guard. "I apologize for not explaining more clearly earlier, Professor Ding. I am a second grade teacher of Diagnostic Studies in our school. I am also the Dean of Jinzhou Maternity and Child Care Hospital. So, I have a good understanding of the entire development process of the fetus."

Ding Yuxue swallowed hard, but her throat felt dry, and it was difficult to swallow. Traditional Chinese medicine? Dean of the Municipal Maternal and Child Health Hospital? A Diagnostic Studies teacher at school? What the hell is going on?

Professor Ding Yuxue, however, was quick to react, realizing that she had encountered a formidable challenger. She said, "I teach traditional Chinese medicine and am familiar with its classics and theories. However, I am not very familiar with the development of fetuses in Western medicine. How about I study it in more detail, and then we can discuss the issue later?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

These were already words of concession. Logically, Du Heng should have known when to stop, allowing everyone to save face. However, Du Heng did not have this idea and asked again, "Since Professor Ding is familiar with the classics of traditional Chinese medicine, do you know where the phrase ’kidney opens at the ears’ comes from?"

Ding Yuxue’s face stiffened for a moment. How should she know?

Seeing Ding Yuxue’s expression, Du Heng knew in his heart that this professor probably taught her students using only the textbook "Basic Chinese Medicine," published by the Scientific Publisher. As for other books, did she read them? Du Heng estimated that she might have read some, but not many.

Ding Yuxue coughed a bit, then stuttered, "It’s from several classics, too many to mention in detail. What’s the point?"

Du Heng’s eyelid twitched slightly; it was just as he had expected. She really hadn’t read many books. However, if she had actually read these classics and studied them carefully, even if only online, she would not have come up with such a ridiculous conclusion today. So Du Heng asked again, "Have you read the ’Plain Questions’ and ’Miraculous Pivot,’ Professor Ding?"

Could she say she hadn’t read them? Ding Yuxue hesitated for a moment, pursed her lips unnaturally, and said with a smile, "Of course, I’ve read them. These are the classics of Chinese medicine theory. As a professor of basics of traditional Chinese medicine, how could I have not read them?"

"That’s good," Du Heng smiled. "The idea that ’kidney opens at the ears’ actually comes from limited sources. In the ancient medical texts, you can only find it in the ’Plain Questions - Theory Yin and Yang Brightness,’ where it is mentioned that the kidney ’opens at the ears.’ Later, the ’Miraculous Pivot - Meridian Measurement’ further states, ’Kidney qi connects to the ears; when the kidney is in harmony, the ear can hear the five tones.’ So, when Professor Ding said there were many sources, in fact, there are only two books."

Du Heng took a deep breath and then said solemnly, "I assume Professor Ding didn’t consult the literature and didn’t fully understand what the term ’kidney opens at the ears’ means in our traditional Chinese medicine. Otherwise, with the ’Miraculous Pivot - Meridian Measurement’ already mentioning the concept of kidney qi connecting to the ears, how could Professor Ding still claim that the kidney opens at the ears because they share a common nerve?"

Hearing Du Heng’s straightforward words, Professor Ding’s face immediately darkened as she said coldly, "Are you saying I’m wrong?"

"Aren’t you?" Du Heng sneered. "You tried to explain a traditional Chinese medicine issue with Western medical knowledge, but you applied it rigidly and inappropriately." After a brief pause, not waiting for Professor Ding to speak, Du Heng continued, "Even if you wanted to interpret it using Western medicine, the explanation should be like this: Kidney storeks essence. Essence produces marrow, and marrow produces bone. This is basic theory of Chinese medicine."

After a light laugh, Du Heng continued, "And then the marrow gathers in the brain to form the Marrow Sea, governing the functions of spirit and thinking activities. If the essence is full, the hearing is sensitive. If there is a kidney essence deficiency, the Marrow Sea will lose nourishment, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus, or deafness. This point can also be found in the modern era, in the Qing Dynasty’s ’Correction of Errors in Medical Classics,’ which states, ’Both ears connect to the brain, and the body’s sound goes back to the brain.’ This is consistent with the theory of Western medicine. The best proof of this is that elderly people often experience deafness. Why? It is because when people get old, their kidney function declines, affecting insufficient kidney qi, which in turn causes the kidney essence to fail to nourish the Marrow Sea."

As Du Heng confronted the professor from the Capital to her face, the new students in the venue whispered to each other, discussing who the Teacher was that stood up and how he dared to boldly challenge the expert from the Capital. Most importantly, it seemed like their own Teacher had the upper hand. So, as Du Heng and Professor Ding were ’exchanging’ ideas, the students had begun to look up Du Heng’s information.

But to their surprise, looking up Mr. Du’s information was easier than they had imagined. They had only entered his name and position into their phones, and lots of information appeared on their screens. With their eyes wide open, they read the dazzling array of introductions on their phone screens. From Jinzhou to the Capital, and then to East Hill; from Township Health Center to Capital Good Friend Hospital; from common diseases to Cancer treatment; from hospital Dean to ten million Internet Celebrity Doctor—all of this shocked and reshaped the worldview of these freshmen.

The professor from the Capital was good, but she was not their teacher. But look at this one—a true god of war, and their own Teacher. A sense of honor and pride suddenly erupted among these students when they saw what was happening. No matter how amazing others were, their own Teacher was the best. So, as soon as Du Heng finished his speech, thunderous applause broke out behind him.

But the applause came so suddenly that it startled Du Heng, causing him to shudder and turn around to look at the students behind him, his neck retracted. His actions provoked laughter from the students.

Du Heng glared at the students with annoyance before turning back to the stage to continue speaking to the silent Professor Ding, "I think Professor Ding might not believe what I just said. So, I’ll give you two examples of cases I’ve treated myself, such as tinnitus, which can be caused by non-interaction of the heart and kidney when it’s mild, and non-interaction of the kidney and heart when it’s severe."

Du Heng wanted to continue, but suddenly noticed a bewildered look in Professor Ding’s eyes and unexpectedly asked, "Professor Ding, can you tell the new students what non-interaction of the heart and kidney is, and what non-interaction of the kidney and heart is?"

Umm... With this one question, Du Heng noticed that Professor Ding’s face had changed. Dammit, it turns out she was really just a textbook-based professor.

At this moment, the dean sitting in the front row saw that the situation was almost under control and calmly stood up, pretending to be angry at Du Heng, "Mr. Du, that’s enough. Professor Ding is here to give a lecture today so that our new students can experience the greatness of traditional Chinese medicine and also understand the difficulties of learning it. She’s not here to argue with you. Professor Ding is tired from her journey and exhausted. It’s already impressive that she managed to finish her lecture for everyone. You’ve asked so many questions. Are you trying to exhaust Professor Ding? Professor Ding is a senior and won’t argue with you. You should be more considerate and leave now. Don’t disturb her lecture anymore."