Chapter 689

"Exhausted in body and spirit" is a very apt idiom.

It's just a pity that Fang Ziye was only drained of strength, not yet reaching the point of utter exhaustion; after getting up he fooled around with Luo Tingzhu for a good while again, groping and nuzzling, before Fang Ziye packed up and headed out once more.

He asked for leave from Master Deng Yong and Yuan Weihong at the first opportunity.

Today was already the last day of the National Day holiday, and now it was evening; Fang Ziye couldn't guarantee that Chen Song's condition had already settled, so he naturally couldn't rush straight to Han City.

The leave message had barely been sent when Deng Yong's call came straight through, his drunken voice complaining: "Ziye, what on earth have you been up to lately?"

"Is it that you don't want to drink your master's wedding wine, or that you don't want to foot the bill for your own celebration banquet?"

"That dog Liu Huanglong has already strutted around the department organizing gatherings four times!"

For someone at Zhongnan Hospital to win the National Natural Science Award is an immense honor; historically, very few people have ever received such distinction.

Compared to his own impending promotion to Orthopedics Administrative Chief Director, the prestige of the Natural Science Award is obviously far greater.

A hospital specialty's Administrative Chief Director is a permanent post; Distinguished Youth and Outstanding Youth Fund winners appear every few years, but to win the National Natural Science Award depends entirely on fortuitous opportunity.

The key is that Deng Yong isn't without people under him who can "stand on equal footing" with Liu Huanglong — it's just that the protagonist Fang Ziye has yet to show his face, leaving this "spring-wind-proud" old horse unable to gallop forth.

Unable to show off himself, yet forced to watch others show off — the feeling is especially unbearable.

"Master, the journey isn't over yet; in two days I'll definitely rush back at the first opportunity."

"I've already explained things to Teacher Yuan; our group's patients' surgeries will all be properly arranged." Fang Ziye replied.

The matter of Chen Song facing death — Chen Song himself wouldn't tell Deng Yong, and Fang Ziye wouldn't volunteer it either.

"The surgery delays are easy to arrange; the problem is Professor Gong Jiahe is joining the department tomorrow!"

"Such a heavyweight Chief Physician joining ceremony, and you, Fang Ziye, are directly absent — word gets out, it never sounds good."

"Those who don't know would think you're arrogant and claiming all the credit." Deng Yong pointed the matter out directly.

Come to think of it, from going to Han City to receive the award, plus the past few days consumed by Chen Song's rescue, Fang Ziye had nearly forgotten about his own award.

Let alone Zhongnan Hospital's internal affairs.

"Master, I'll give Professor Gong a call later to explain in detail; please also put in a few good words for me." Fang Ziye could only flatter and appease.

"I've got something urgent here, so I'm hanging up first; thanks for your trouble, Master."

"Eh..." Deng Yong clearly had more to say, but Fang Ziye had already unilaterally ended the call.

……

At the sanatorium entrance, darkness gathered in waves, mountain breezes blowing gently.

After Fang Ziye went out, he saw Chen Xixian and her mother Zhong Ling at the clinical area entrance of the sanatorium, both chatting and laughing with someone; Chen Xixian had changed into a bright red tailored long skirt.

The two were seeing someone off — presumably Enshi relatives and friends who had come to visit Chen Song.

After the other party drove away, Chen Xixian, who had noticed Fang Ziye long ago, pointed in his direction from afar, standing on tiptoe beside her mother and saying something.

Compared to Chen Xixian, whose equally fine figure carried a hint of baby fat on her face, Zhong Ling's figure and bearing clearly had more mature charm; she moved toward Fang Ziye with measured steps.

As Zhong Ling's features grew clearer, Fang Ziye noticed the age spots left by the years on the middle-aged woman's face beneath her graceful woolen clothes.

"Doctor Fang, you're awake too."

"My father-in-law has also just woken up not long ago; Professor Wang Qishan, Professor Tan and the others previously instructed that they hope Professor Fang, after you wake, can also go take a look at my father-in-law's condition." Zhong Ling's tone was generous and warm, without stiff formality, and she didn't treat Fang Ziye as an outsider.

"Hello, Boss Zhong, Chen Xixian." Fang Ziye nodded to both.

"How is Dean Chen's current condition?"

Chen Xixian hurriedly said: "Grandpa himself says he's fine; my father and Professor Wang Qishan and them took his pulse and said his condition is currently relatively stable, just very weak."

"But Grandpa's speech is a bit slurred, and his legs and feet have suddenly become uncooperative."

"I'll take Doctor Fang with me to have a look." Chen Xixian said, already moving to lead Fang Ziye inside.

"Doctor Fang hasn't had dinner yet." Zhong Ling interjected, "Your grandpa's condition is stable for now, your dad and them haven't called over; let Doctor Fang eat properly first, then go."

Eastern Han's traditional customs emphasize eating as the paramount matter; one cannot die a starvation ghost even in death — only in special emergencies does one make an exception.

"Mom, then I'll take Doctor Fang to the canteen first."

"Third Uncle and them will come over later; just trouble yourself to wait here a bit longer..." Chen Xixian volunteered.

"Fine, you go." Zhong Ling nodded.

Although Chen Song's change hadn't alarmed other friends, the local Enshi relatives and friends held this "Old Dragon" of the Chen family's direct lineage in utmost reverence.

They'd come visiting every few days!

As the saying goes, "the poor lament a hundred things, the rich have distant kin"; though the Chen branch is now three generations of only sons, their influence within the clan is not low, and those who come to visit and "want to fulfill filial duty" are not few.

This kind of social exchange — as long as clansmen don't go overboard, it's hard to cut off, and cannot be cut off.

……

"Doctor Fang, I knew calling you back would be of some help to my grandpa's rescue."

"Before, my father and them still said, if not necessary, don't disturb you, Doctor Fang." Chen Xixian chattered away as she walked toward the canteen with Fang Ziye.

She was obviously much more enthusiastic toward Fang Ziye than at their previous meetings.

"In this rescue of Dean Chen, there were numerous professors, experts aplenty; even without my return, Dean Chen would have been safe and sound."

"I'll go eat first; Chen Xixian, are you eating too?" Fang Ziye replied just as naturally and affably.

Fang Ziye and Chen Xixian weren't close; in Fang Ziye's view, the former Chen Xixian was high-cold and unapproachable, elegant without extravagance, not affected, not pretentious.

Even during this rescue, Chen Xixian had great self-awareness, very clear on her positioning — just a canary eating and waiting to die, coaxing the old man happy.

She was merely Chen Song's granddaughter, Chen Guangbai's daughter, an insignificant little shrimp in the rescue process...

Someone with such self-awareness lives relatively transparently, with their own philosophy of conduct, proving Chen Guangbai and the others' upbringing of her was very good.

"I've already eaten!"

Chen Xixian shook her head, then began listing: "I admit the professors my father and grandpa invited this time are all the nation's top absolute experts, but Doctor Fang, your level is absolutely not inferior to theirs."

"Most, most, most importantly, the age gap between me and them is too large; even if I wanted to chat or ask some questions, they wouldn't tell me the real situation."

"And to find someone in the sanatorium who can deeply understand my grandpa's basic condition, chat freely, and is close in age — only you, Doctor Fang, remain."

"Besides, you're still Sister Tingzhu's husband, so I'm naturally even more willing for you to take part in the rescue."

Chen Xixian accompanied Fang Ziye to get food the whole way, without any restraint throughout, her gaze calm, with no shy evasion: "Doctor Fang, will Grandpa Chen's condition still fluctuate afterward?"

Fang Ziye held his tray and picked a few dishes, then shook his head again: "Chen Xixian, you asking me these things — you've really found the wrong person."

"From the start, I said, according to our modern medicine's perspective, everything Director Chen recently encountered is an accident."

"But from the angle of traditional Chinese medicine, all of this was within expectations, so regarding the prognosis afterward, you should go ask your father."

"I'll say more after I see Director Chen in a bit."

"You really don't plan to eat a little? You're just going to watch me eat?" Fang Ziye countered.

Chen Xixian only then felt watching someone eat was impolite; when Fang Ziye turned to find a seat, she took the chance to leave: "Then I'll go check on my grandpa first, tell my dad and them you're coming over right away."

Chen Xixian's greatest strength is having no bad habits; beyond that, she seems to have no particularly outstanding strengths either.

But having no bad habits is itself the greatest strength.

With the family background Chen Song and Chen Guangbai gave Chen Xixian, even if she squandered it recklessly, she'd never have to worry about financial hardship in this lifetime.

Watching Chen Xixian leave, Fang Ziye's heart was also very calm, without any of those 'what if I married her' floating thoughts and wild imaginings.

This stems from Fang Ziye's current financial foundation and corresponding professional achievements; these achievements destine that Fang Ziye won't be constrained by worldly financial hardship in the future either.

……

"Fang... Fang Zi... ye." Chen Song's tongue root trembled slightly.

When Fang Ziye entered the consultation room courtyard where Chen Song was, most of the machines on Chen Song had already been removed, leaving only the cardiac monitor and oxygen apparatus.

There were also instruments for assisting functional exercise, but all the instruments were on standby inside the consultation room, ready to be started at any time.

"Director Chen, you just woke up, speak less, rest more."

"Now is not the time for you to do functional exercise." Fang Ziye hurried forward and grasped Chen Song's outstretched hands.

In the four-hand clasp, Fang Ziye could distinctly feel Chen Song's muscles suddenly relax, as if losing their original muscle tone, becoming limp and flaccid.

Chen Guangbai had also rested; his red eyes were gone, though dark circles hadn't fully dissipated: "Doctor Fang, Professor Wang, Professor Deng, and them have all taken my father's pulse; currently the pulse image only shows liver-kidney yin deficiency, the previous death pulse has already disappeared."

"Also, Professor Tan from Anesthesiology, Professor Zou from Cardiology, Professor Yang Fenggen, and Professor Bi Weiqing from Neurosurgery all say my father's indicators are currently all stable."

"Wonder if Professor Fang has any other views?"

Saving Chen Song's life was truly full of twists and turns, setback upon setback.

Therefore, now that hope of survival appeared, Chen Guangbai still hoped to be even more cautious, not hesitating to ask Fang Ziye to come reassess the first time he saw him.

Since they'd already troubled Fang Ziye anyway, they didn't stand on excessive ceremony.

Fang Ziye didn't reply, but instead meticulously reviewed all of Chen Song's examination results once more.

A full twenty-plus minutes passed, and Fang Ziye's brows furrowed tightly: "It really is neurological functional degeneration of unknown cause, a state of muscle weakness; muscle tone and muscle contractility have both decreased very obviously."

"Even nerve conduction velocity has dropped to one-third of before."

"MRI shows no obvious focal lesions; estimate biopsy won't detect any special issues either."

"That's just strange."

"In our modern medicine, this is called acquired muscle weakness, cause unknown! ~"

Regarding this symptom, Professor Du Shang, who was temporarily invited and had once worked in the ICU, said: "Professor Fang, indeed, in the ICU, there are also quite a few similar cases."

"But these patients' pathogenesis differs slightly from Director Chen's; these patients' disease course is mostly prolonged, but Director Chen's onset was only about four days! ~"

"Modern medicine's understanding of acquired muscle weakness is not exact enough."

"There's one more thing: currently, Director Chen's pancreatic islet function is damaged for no reason; after various examinations from morning to now, he was actually suddenly diagnosed with diabetes! ~"

Professor Du Shang comes from Zhongnan Hospital; Zhongnan Hospital's ICU comprehensive strength ranks exceptionally high nationwide, belonging to the top professors of critical care.

Having such strength proves his grasp of critical patients' disease evolution and mechanistic principles is very thorough.

But now, Chen Song simultaneously acquired "muscle weakness" and "diabetes" two chronic diseases in a short period yet the cause couldn't be traced.

Fang Ziye also shook his head, mouth corner bitter: "Professor Du, this problem, I also cannot answer."

"The best handling method currently is still symptomatic treatment, taking it step by step! ~"

"Doctor Chen and Professor Wang, what do you think?" Fang Ziye asked.

Muscle weakness and diabetes themselves aren't fatal; just afraid of the sequelae and complications of the two diseases acting up.

But that's all for later; recuperation is a matter for the rest of his life.

And according to Director Chen's current physical age, his remaining life certainly won't be too long, so it's not a point everyone is especially worried about.

Medicine has too many unsolved mysteries and oddities!

Oddities beneficial to humans are called miracles; oddities harmful to humans can only be slowly unraveled.

……

A group of people once again confirmed from both modern medicine and traditional Chinese medicine that Director Chen's vital signs are currently stable! ~

Chen Guangbai then saw off Professor Tan Mengbai and the other externally invited professors to go rest.

In the room, only Yang Fenggen, Li Yongjun, Qu Tangwei, Fang Ziye and other doctors from the sanatorium itself remained.

Chen Song's speech was unclear, hands and feet also inconvenient, so before Fang Ziye came, he had already made corresponding preparations, dictating to Chen Guangbai to note down some administrative arrangements.

Director Song Libo and Chen Song looked at each other, then Chen Song nodded, and Director Song Libo took out a notebook and said: "The persons in charge of each specialty group in our hospital have basically all arrived."

"Below I'll announce Director Chen's division of subsequent responsibilities and tasks for the sanatorium's clinical area."

"First, Professor Wang Qishan of Traditional Chinese Medicine is proposed as Dean; Professor Li Yongjun of Surgery, Director Song Libo of Logistics, Professor Yang Fenggen of Internal Medicine, and Professor Fang Ziye as Vice Deans! ~"

"Respectively in charge of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Logistics, Traditional Chinese Medicine Group, Clinical Research and Interdisciplinary Cross-Fusion."

Fang Ziye was stunned upon hearing this.

He hurriedly raised his head and said: "Director Chen, I'm not even working in the sanatorium right now."

"You assigning me this position, isn't that just occupying a post without doing the work?"

Chen Song shook his head, signaling Song Libo to continue: "Traditional Chinese Medicine will also be reorganized according to different schools; Chen Guangbai heads the Acupuncture Group; Professor Wang Qishan, Professor Deng Huai, and others, each with their specialized schools like Huoshen School, Spleen-Stomach School, will each diagnose according to their own expertise, collaborating with each other."

"Professor Fang Ziye shall serve as the liaison between the Traditional Chinese Medicine Discipline and the Modern Medicine Discipline."

"Strengthen the practice between the Internal Medicine, Surgical Glove, Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Anesthesiology Department, and Laboratory Department within the Yangyuan, establish a new type of MD multidisciplinary joint consultation group, with Surgical Glove Professor Fang Ziye as Group Leader, and each Deputy Dean as Deputy Group Leader! ~"

"The Joint Consultation Group shall, each month and each quarter, conduct joint diagnosis and treatment on the Yangyuan's difficult and complex cases according to the actual situation."

"In addition, Professor Fang Ziye's treatment shall be raised to Chief Physician level, and the monthly subsidy allowance shall be raised to Chief Physician level……"

Director Song rattled off a whole pile of words.

Among them, many provisions were related to Fang Ziye, but most were job arrangements and concrete cost-effective benefits.

Because Chen Song himself stepped down, Chen Guangbai entered the Yangyuan, and others also gained a certain promotion space.

"Regarding this, do the Group Leaders of each group have any objections?" Song Libo looked at everyone.

Everyone shook their heads.

Then they looked at Fang Ziye and burst into applause, both to express congratulations on Fang Ziye's promotion and salary increase, and to express respect for Fang Ziye's outstanding performance during the previous rescue……

"Then let's leave it at that for now, Dean Chen still needs further recuperation."

"Starting tomorrow, each group of the Yangyuan shall continue to carry out work normally, each Group Leader and each group's Person in Charge shall return to arrange group internal affairs."

"Professor Fang, you stay behind and chat with Dean Chen a bit more." After Song Libo finished speaking, he also left Chen Song's room.

The rest of the people all withdrew one after another.

There were still the Professor Group on duty in the Consultation Room, so they could each go back first to handle group internal affairs and the imminent patient cases.

"Dean Chen, how are you feeling? Do you want to rest a bit more?" In the Consultation Room, only Fang Ziye, Chen Xixian, and Chen Song remained.

Chen Song shook his head, and gave Fang Ziye a thumbs up!

Chen Song slowed his speaking rhythm, and was able to express clearly in a slow manner: "Professor Fang, you are very excellent."

"This time I myself experienced life and death, and also count as having comprehended a truth! ~"

"Ultimately, the end of all medicine can perform various medical decomposition on different syndromes."

"For example, Modern Medicine's Internal Medicine and Surgical Glove have actually never split apart, Modern Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, actually can also not split apart."

"It just needs to join forces in a suitable form, a suitable rhythm."

"Ultimately, the future path of Modern Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine are not completely diametrically opposed, only the theoretical systems' root foundations differ, perhaps the landing points ahead have common ground……"

Fang Ziye listened patiently to the end, then nodded and replied: "Dean Chen, these past few days, I also have many feelings."

"If it were the previous me, perhaps I could not completely understand your current words, but I now feel that Modern Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, perhaps really can walk out a new road together."

"However, I personally still feel that we should not use Modern Medicine to violently structure Traditional Chinese Medicine, nor should we use Traditional Chinese Medicine to metaphysically frame Modern Medicine! ~"

"Some of the viewpoints you previously raised to me, after my own experience, I also feel are somewhat off."

"Some of Modern Medicine's treatment methods should not be Traditional Chinese Medicine's component! ~"

Chen Song did not refute this time, merely smiled at Fang Ziye.

Chen Xixian, hearing this, happened to act as the speaker between Fang Ziye and Chen Song, she smiled and said: "Doctor Fang, my Grandpa gave me some words before the Festival, now should also be the time to say them."

"Grandpa, right?"

(Chapter End)