Chapter 690: Debate and Gratitude (Seeking Subscription)

"No way! ~"

"Dean Chen, this absolutely won't do." Fang Ziye shook his head like a rattle after hearing the 'consultation fee' Chen Xixian mentioned.

Chen Xixian generously countered, "Professor Fang, do you look down on our Chen family's financial power, or do you think my grandpa's life isn't worth money?"

"Actually, what I said is just three melons two dates; occasionally it's not even as much as a car I casually buy."

Chen Xixian's eyebrows were like hanging curtains; at this moment she interpreted the two words 'tsundere' and 'spending money like dirt' to perfection.

Perhaps Chen Xixian wasn't acting at all from the start.

Fang Ziye smiled and replied, "The ancients said, saving a life surpasses building a seven-story pagoda; a life is priceless, whose life isn't extremely valuable."

"But the consultation fee varies with age."

"Even if it's a flying knife fee, it's not given like this; a villa by the river in Han City costs at least seven or eight million."

"According to Old Chen and Boss Chen's renovation, the value is at least fifteen million; such a heavy consultation fee, I dare not take, and cannot take."

"Once an opening is made for some things, it's hard to close the breach later; better not to start this precedent."

"Perhaps this money is not much to you, Dean Chen, be it three melons two dates or a hair from nine oxen, but to me it's an astronomical figure."

"It belongs to improper income, I cannot take it! ~"

"Dean Chen, I hope you take back your previous words; if you really want to give me some compensation, then calculate according to the sanatorium's highest consultation fee, twenty thousand a day, that's seventy thousand total……"

"Of course this is actually quite a lot too."

When Chen Xixian was about to say something more, Chen Song proactively shook his head, and used his slightly trembling hand to tug at Chen Xixian.

"But?" Chen Xixian herself felt it was rather inappropriate.

"Chen Xixian, let it be like this, you go out first, do as Professor Fang said." Chen Song knew Fang Ziye harbored the Great Dao in his heart, and shouldn't use other things to sully the Dao heart Fang Ziye had maintained for so long.

Fang Ziye once told Chen Song not to give him too much money at once, especially consultation fees.

Otherwise, when Fang Ziye encountered similar patients later, his heart would more or less ripple.

Why doesn't he give me this much consultation fee?

Does more money mean I should be more devoted?

This isn't conducive to Fang Ziye's long-term development.

"Clearly not wealthy yourself, yet always so pretentious, dying for face while suffering." Chen Xixian mumbled as she went out; this was her genuine thought.

Fang Ziye smiled apologetically as he saw Chen Xixian off.

Then Chen Song began to chat idly with Fang Ziye, one sentence here, one there.

At first Chen Song talked about his own near-death experience, about what exactly he did during this incident.

Chen Song explained to Fang Ziye that during his trip to the secret room, he did not stimulate his own 'death chain' through acupuncture, but used his master's school's unique needle technique, wanting to protect his one life.

Back then, Chen Song's Person of Gratitude also used this needle method to delay his own vital signs; however, Chen Song's teacher suffered external injuries, and only delayed for three months before passing away.

"Professor Fang, in the future, with this identity as Enshi Yangyuan's Vice Dean, when you go out walking, it will be much more convenient."

"Remember one point: your route is different from most people; no matter who the other party is, you just need to guard your own heart, they cannot sway you."

"Moreover, with the patients you treated at our sanatorium before and the reputation you sent out, you fundamentally don't need to worry about lacking patient sources later, or not standing firm in the Military Region Yangyuan."

"There are still many people with some power and position now who recognize your medical skill, willing to entrust their future life and death to you to handle."

"Accumulated cases are also one of your unique foundations." Chen Song reminded him thus.

Chen Song's physical strength had not dropped significantly; he just spoke very slowly.

His cardiopulmonary function was not disordered; only his hands, feet, and many other movements were no longer as agile as before, so he looked somewhat haggard.

But his momentum was still undiminished.

This temperament of Chen Song made Fang Ziye very certain that not a few celebrities had passed through Chen Song's hands, and some might even be the kind recorded in textbooks.

But Chen Song also gained others' recognition, letting them have no regrets in life and death, living and dying by their own will.

Hearing this, Fang Ziye slightly cupped his hands: "Thank you, Dean Chen, for your support and recognition, willing to provide me with a very good platform."

"The platform is right here, and not just for you alone, but so far, only you have broken out alone."

"The two I'm most optimistic about, Group Leader Wang and Deng Huai, currently haven't reached the step Professor Fang you've reached; this is your personal fortune……"

"Professor Fang, don't look at me; my heart strength is still abundant, energy not diminished, just don't know why, external strength is very weak."

"I can hold on." Chen Song's ability to read expressions was very strong; he very easily read Fang Ziye's expression.

"Dean Chen, I'm just afraid you haven't rested well! ~"

"But fair is fair, I also want to criticize you and Boss Chen Guangbai and the others."

When Fang Ziye spoke here, his face hardened: "Even in the most extreme circumstances, using a living body for any experiment is inhumane."

"You and I are both medical practitioners; we should be even more clear about the lingering harm of this path! ~"

Fang Ziye spoke of how after Chen Song fell unconscious before, Chen Guangbai and the others observed the subtle changes inside Chen Song's body through needling acupoints!

Even if Chen Guangbai explained that animal meridians differ from the human body, verification of meridian theory can only be done on the human body.

But this is also not a reason to conduct experiments on the human body.

Traditional Chinese Medicine is also one of the medical sciences; if it can only develop by relying on living body experiments, then it does not conform to current medical ethics! ~

Even if it is an indispensable treasure of Eastern Han, it should be discarded.

Otherwise, once there are medical madmen, continuing similar things without ordinary people's knowledge or consent, it is a disaster for ordinary people.

Ordinary people wouldn't even know what they are doing.

Chen Song's expression gradually stiffened; the bright white incandescent lamp above his head illuminated all the age spots and wrinkles on Chen Song's face clearly as a diagram:

"Professor Fang, your lesson is correct."

"I'm willing if I'm willing; there will always be someone taking advantage when others aren't paying attention."

"People outside medicine, even Professor Fang you, are still laymen regarding the Traditional Chinese Medicine path."

"The greater the information asymmetry in an industry, the stronger the ethics and framework constraints inevitably need to be."

"I won't bring this up again in the future either."

Chen Song's voice was faint, yet still firm.

At his age, whether he dies or not isn't that important anymore; Chen Song's current regrets either require time to accumulate, and he can't wait that long, or they concern Chen Xixian's marriage, and that can't be forced through "dragging a cow by the head to make it drink water"!

……

Fang Ziye and Chen Song continued chatting idly; when Fang Ziye tentatively asked whether Chen Song had considered the factor of Bai Zhu in Chinese medicine being carcinogenic.

All of Chen Song's previously cultivated composure instantly burst apart; his hands waved in the air: "Impossible~!"

"Bai Zhu is the most common, most frequently used medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine; it's already been used for several thousand years~!"

"Absolutely impossible."

"Who did you hear this from?" Chen Song's gaze was like a knife, scraping across Fang Ziye like an icy edge.

Upon hearing this, Fang Ziye didn't feel surprised at all; his tone remained calm: "Dean Chen, I know it's hearsay, so I just mentioned it casually to you."

"However, I personally do have a different opinion."

"Whether it's modern medicine or Traditional Chinese Medicine, a drug is only a drug at a suitable dosage; at an unsuitable dosage, it's poison."

"Isn't there a saying: discussing effects without considering dosage is just hooliganism."

"In our modern medicine's medical principles, there are countless drugs where, due to different dosages, their efficacy and mechanisms of action are vastly different."

"In the TCM field, similar existences also exist; Aconite, Aristolochia, and so on, all have corresponding issues."

"Medicine and poison have never been separate families; there's only a thin line between them."

"Take the rice we commonly eat — an appropriate amount satisfies hunger, an excessive amount becomes 'toxins'; I even specifically consulted, and in the era you lived in, Dean Chen, the number of people who died from overeating rice was not small."

"Drinking water in moderation quenches thirst; drinking water in excess causes water intoxication."

"Whether it's modern medicine's drugs or Chinese medicine, no matter how long they've been used, can they surpass humans eating five grains? Can they last longer than humans drinking water?"

"If it's inappropriate compatibility or improper dosage, using any substance can be poison, can be harmful~!"

"If we truly discuss medicine, the surgeon's knife also seeks benefit amidst a hundred harms; so-called foraging seeks grain amidst a hundred poisons; so-called seeking medicine is also nothing more than seeking medicine amidst a hundred poisons."

"So-called diagnosis and treatment is also seeking life amidst a hundred deaths~!" Fang Ziye replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Chen Song's frown eased slightly; his emotions also slowly returned to calm.

He looked quietly at Fang Ziye; a different kind of light flickered in his eyes.

Chen Song still didn't answer; Fang Ziye then temporarily dropped the topic, instead turning to a heart-to-heart talk: "Dean Chen, I haven't been practicing medicine for long."

"But on this path, I have after all walked it; the path I walked myself is my own experience."

"I currently have some shallow views: the essence of medicine has never been a dispute between TCM and so-called Western medicine, nor is it a debate between folk medicine and modern medicine."

"Before, I believed one thing: regardless of black cat or white cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat."

"But recently I feel we shouldn't use modern medicine's theory to violently structure traditional medicine, nor should we use traditional medicine's theory to violently generalize and induct modern medicine~!"

Chen Song then countered: "No explanation, no induction — how can the two produce a connection?"

"Without connection, they will forever only be mutually isolated."

Chen Song very much wanted to connect the two; he valued practicality more. He also trusted practicality.

Fang Ziye said: "Dean Chen, what I mean is not using violent methods to deconstruct and induct."

"It's not that we don't deconstruct, don't induct."

"For example, I also stayed at the sanatorium for a long period; I would discover that on your TCM department side, Dean Chen, after prescribing and performing acupuncture, even subsequent follow-ups were targeted at whether the original disease was resolved, and you wouldn't pay attention to other signs of recurrence."

"This shows that TCM's underlying operational logic believes one thing: Chinese medicine is harmless; Chinese medicine's decoctions, acupuncture, and other treatment forms only treat the corresponding syndrome, and won't produce other sequelae."

"But one thing modern medicine does better is that we use statistical principles to follow up on the subsequent health conditions of almost all patients who have used a certain drug."

"Finally, some conjectures of possible pharmacological actions under big data models are derived."

"For example, endocrinology doctors discovered that the tumor occurrence rate among diabetic patients is far lower than in ordinary adults, due to the effect of Metformin."

Chen Song feigned anger and interrupted: "Professor Fang, you still want to tell me about Chinese medicine possibly being carcinogenic~!"

Fang Ziye then maintained silence.

Eyes calm, watching Chen Song's expression change.

The resentment in Chen Song's expression gradually dissipated; then he shook his head: "Professor Fang, although I don't know what you discovered, I hope you don't delve deeply into this minefield."

"This minefield can't be navigated."

Fang Ziye also knew he fundamentally had no way to conceal it from Chen Song who had become a spirit; unless he simply didn't open this topic.

"Why, Dean Chen?" Fang Ziye asked.

"No why; you're not engaged in our traditional medicine, so you don't need to understand."

"I can only say, once a hat is pinned on you, you'll be in big trouble, and also very passive."

"With your development prospects, there's no need for you to get involved in this fishy mess~!"

"Moreover?"

Chen Song shook his head again.

Seeing Fang Ziye's gaze not move in the slightest, he changed his words: "I knew it; making you this vice dean was not choosing the wrong person~!"

"Don't believe in authority; even the reasons I tell you, you won't fully believe; you only speak evidence."

Fang Ziye bit his lower lip and said firmly: "Dean Chen, so-called newborn calf not fearing the tiger, I might still be a bit young."

"Haven't encountered too many beatings, so I don't know the height of heaven, nor the thickness of earth."

"Since I know, I'll also want to find a way to do something~!"

"Definitely don't have the courage to charge in head broken blood flowing, but in my heart I'll always remember this kind of thing."

Fang Ziye is just this kind of person.

If he doesn't know, fine; once he knows, he'll keep it in mind constantly.

Including the previous combined use of bone tumor and microcirculation instrument.

Although he had refused that mother at Zhongnan Hospital, in actuality, her coming to seek Fang Ziye's diagnosis meant she had appeared in Fang Ziye's life.

No matter how much Fang Ziye used an eraser to wipe his own history, he could not erase this trace; it would make Fang Ziye think of it constantly.

So there came the later combination of bone tumor treatment with the microcirculation instrument and chemotherapy.

This was not guilt, but rather encountering a matter and wanting to find a solution, adapting to each move as it comes — this was also Fang Ziye's own philosophy of conduct.

"You go rest, Professor Fang! ~"

"I believe you will have an era that belongs solely to Fang Ziye." Chen Song gave Fang Ziye the highest evaluation.

Fang Ziye replied: "Dean Chen, the era each person belongs to is their own era."

"There is no right or wrong, no noble or lowly."

……

Fang Ziye left Chen Song's consultation room with a misstep, and at the doorway of the consultation room, Fang Ziye saw Chen Xixian's mother Zhong Ling once again! ~

"Professor Fang, Chen Xixian told me, saying you were unwilling to accept the diagnostic fee we gave you."

"Then how about this, you accept this box; inside are the keys to the courtyard below the mountain."

"It is even more tranquil there, and not far from the sanatorium. If you come to Enshi for work in the future, you can stay there with peace of mind."

"Auntie just won't count your rent."

"More importantly, inside there are some archives and medical books my father-in-law hasn't finished organizing."

"And given his condition, he certainly isn't suitable to continue doing this kind of thing anymore."

"Therefore, after discussing with Guangbai, we decided to hand them over to you."

"Unfinished is unfinished then! ~"

"With you, Professor Fang, as a pretext for residing there, my father-in-law won't keep thinking about going back to past affairs either."

"It's just renting." Zhong Ling said.

It sounded like something was off, but then again seemed to have no fault.

In order to prevent Chen Song from going to the mountain courtyard to shine and contribute again, Zhong Ling and Chen Guangbai directly transferred the usage rights of the courtyard; from now on Fang Ziye would be the tenant, counting as "owned property"!

If Chen Song went again, he'd have to think twice; this severed his intention.

"Then thank you, Boss Zhong." Fang Ziye deliberated a moment, then said.

Zhong Ling said: "In that courtyard, I'll only leave two aunties and two security guards; the guards are responsible for daily safety, the aunties for daily cleaning and cooking."

"They'll also run meals in the courtyard; they're all Enshi locals, if you want to eat anything, just instruct them."

"The courtyard has guest rooms, side rooms, and main rooms, eight or nine rooms total; it should also accommodate Professor Fang's friends and students." Zhong Ling gave another reminder, then handed the box to Fang Ziye.

"Thank you, Boss Zhong! ~"

"May I ask if Boss Chen is resting well?" Fang Ziye asked again.

He actually didn't know how to interact with Chen Guangbai, Zhong Ling and the others now; before the two of them were merchants, but now Chen Guangbai and Zhong Ling had transferred away their original company.

Zhong Ling nodded: "Not bad, still sleeping now."

"Professor Fang must be tired too, go rest a bit more."

"Your sick note at Zhongnan Hospital, Guangbai and I already had Director Song complete the approval process; it won't affect your normal work."

"Just hope Professor Fang can stay two more days, wait until my father's condition stabilizes, then you go back to preside over work! ~"

"That works too! ~"

After parting from Zhong Ling, Fang Ziye returned to the villa area, only then opening the rhombus box Zhong Ling had given.

Only, it was only at this moment that Fang Ziye discovered he had been deceived by Zhong Ling; inside were not the keys to the courtyard below at all, but three extremely exquisite silver needles.

Accompanied by a piece of silk paper; unfolded, it read: "Doctor Fang, life-saving grace, nothing can repay."

"Three silver needles, do your utmost."

"Chen Guangbai! ~"

Luo Tingzhu also saw this message, looked at Fang Ziye in astonishment, then giggled, embarrassedly saying: "Senior Brother, this is such an old routine! ~"

Fang Ziye put the lid back on the box: "Old routine it may be, but this is definitely the strongest connections I've accumulated from birth to now!"

"None other."

Fang Ziye had just put the box away when Nie Mingxian's call came through, and Wu Xuanqi's firm voice came from inside: "Fang Ziye, come quick to act bio! ~"

"No, treat, drink, settle the bill! ~"

(Chapter End)