Chapter 1993: 1923 Is There Any Way in the World to Have Both

Zheng Ren ate this meal absent‑mindedly.

After injecting lidocaine, the throat pain eased, and Zheng Ren had a sense of it. But after all, without a styloid process lateral view image, he could not yet make a definitive diagnosis.

Wang Daoshi also felt moved; the head of hepatobiliary medicine in the capital, Zheng Lao Ban, with just one phone call, had someone drive straight to a hospital out of town.

Although it's not far, this execution really shows many problems.

While waiting quietly, Wang Daoshi's anxious mood calmed considerably.

After seeing the image, Zheng Ren smiled and said, "The styloid process is a bit long, and the angle also has some issues; a small operation will fix it."

"A small operation?" Wang Daoshi immediately became nervous.

Often, he would tell patients it's a small operation, but in fact the surgery is quite major.

"Under local anesthesia, routinely perform a tonsillectomy. Incise the soft palate and palatopharyngeal arch above the tonsillar fossa, then probe upward to locate the styloid process; the styloid‑tongue ligament is relatively hard, remove part of it, and also remove the styloid process, then suture the incision."

Zheng Ren said offhandedly.

"That simple..." Wang Daoshi stared for a moment.

What he thought and what Zheng Lao Ban thought were completely different things.

However, he had no doubt, after all, the recent lidocaine injection had completely relieved the child's throat pain.

Wang Daoshi is a wise person; he did not lose his composure just because the child was at death's door. Although he also felt panicked, he maintained his basic rationality.

"Zheng Lao Ban, this operation isn't major; can the local hospital do it?" Wang Daoshi asked.

"Oh, I'll get in touch; let's just go to 912. It so happens that tomorrow we'll head back together, and Master Yan wants to see you."

Wang Daoshi felt this world was truly too wonderful.

But what could he say?

Master Yan wants to see me, the child's illness can get the fastest treatment, so I'd better keep quiet.

"Zheng Ren, not bad." Director Pan nodded, giving Zheng Ren an evaluation.

No matter what others said, Zheng Ren treated it as if he hadn't heard. But Director Pan's single "not bad" made Zheng Ren bloom like a flower.

"Hurry up and eat; Xiao Wang hasn't eaten anything tonight." Director Pan said, "You have something on, I can't drink either, so let's meet again later. When we do, we'll really have a good drink—go to my place and drink iron‑capped Maotai!"

"Mm‑hmm." Wang Daoshi nodded repeatedly.

At this moment, with his worries gone, his mood steadied considerably, and his gaze became lively.

"Brother Wang, I heard the director talk about your situation; it's quite good." Zheng Ren looked at Wang Daoshi and smiled.

"Hey, it's just small stuff." Wang Daoshi laughed: "When I was young, I never thought I'd return to inherit the family business. Back then, our little Daoist temple was as broken as a chicken coop, with hardly any incense, just occasional visits from elderly folks in the surrounding villages to offer incense."

Zheng Ren laughed.

"But one day I suddenly realized this was a great undertaking." Wang Daoshi said: "Back then there was no New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme, and all sorts of 'divine doctors' were popping up. I thought, rather than let others swindle people out of their homes and fortunes, I might as well do it myself."

"Haha, you're not cheating." Su Yun laughed: "You're in Cao's camp but your heart is with Han."

"Surely, we graduated from medical college. Back then, there weren't many proper university graduates; a medical college diploma was already considered highly educated." Wang Daoshi laughed: "I also realized that what I actually want to do is be a psychological doctor, to soothe people's hearts."

My ability is limited; for those I can treat, I explain how the surgery is done and also suggest going to a regular hospital in a big city. For those I cannot treat, I act as a psychological therapist, seeing them off.

"People, if it can be treated, treat it; if not, go with peace of mind—pretty good."

"Over these years, we've muddled along, and now the incense offerings are getting stronger and stronger."

"Xiao Wang is a sensible person." Director Pan concluded: "Although called a psychological consultant, compared to a regular doctor, the treatment is vastly different."

Zheng Ren and Su Yun nodded repeatedly; Su Yun also greatly appreciated Wang Daoshi's profession.

This is a new profession he had never even imagined; just hearing about it makes the future look bright.

"In the hospital, patients' families or patients often go online or hear rumors, then think they understand medicine and make all kinds of demands or give nonsensical suggestions. If the doctor doesn't listen, they get scolded, complained about, or even taken straight to the medical dispute committee."

"But on Xiao Wang's side, he doesn't dare go west when told to go east. There's hardly any psychological pressure; when there are patients, he just pushes them over to me, saving effort and worry."

"Director Pan, look at what you're saying." Wang Daoshi laughed heartily: "Many years ago, we had agreed on this."

"I'm not saying you have a problem; rather than struggle desperately down the exhausting, high‑pressure, blame‑ridden path of medicine, it's definitely better than your current broad, smooth road."

"That's right—no emergency room, no night shifts, sleeping soundly each night. The key is I have a clear conscience; I'm not afraid of ghosts knocking at midnight. Director Pan, Zheng Lao Ban, let me be frank: over these years, I've saved at least several hundred lives from the hands of those jianghu swindlers!"

Zheng Ren felt moved inside.

Everyone says, "Is there any way in the world to have both? Not betraying the Buddha, not betraying one's beloved." Wang Daoshi truly is a person of great wisdom; decades ago he already saw things clearly.

This person, truly, is not simple!

"Not bad, do you want a female Daoist?" Chu Yan zhi asked with a giggle.

"That's a nun, right?" Chang Yue said.

"There are female Daoists." Su Yun said disdainfully: "Li Bai's 'Jade True Immortal Lyrics' was written for the daughter of Emperor Ruizong, a princess who took the veil as a female Daoist."

"Tsk tsk, really not bad." Chu Yan zhi just said it, expressing a feeling.

If she were really sent up the mountain, she probably couldn't stand it.

"Xiao Wang, I'm getting old; I don't know how many more years I can keep doing this. From now on, our path..."

Wang Daoshi gave a bitter smile and said: "My son doesn't want to come back either; the big city is great, but the mountain is too austere. Listen, what's the name of my mountain? Old Crow Mountain."

"I hope... in the future... there will be successors on my side!" When Director Pan said "there will be successors," a surge of heroic spirit rose from within, pride bursting outward.

He spread his arms, patting the shoulders of Zheng Ren and Su Yun on either side, and showed off to Wang Daoshi: "My side's fine; yours might drop the chain."

"I'll keep advising my son, this job is great—simple and worry‑free. Once he washes away his finery, who knows when that'll happen."

"Take on an apprentice, huh."

"Ah, Director Pan, you say I should take on an apprentice on my side, but the incense offerings there always attract covetous eyes. If any trouble arises later, it'd be better to wait for my son to have a change of heart."

This matter can't be persuaded.

Zheng Ren isn't interested in these trivial matters; he just thinks that if he also had such a line, he could save how many more lives?