Chapter 2 The Medical Ethics of Being a Doctor

"Where the hell have you been? I told you to send that beggar on his way, and you've been dawdling for so long, are you tired of working here? If you don't want to work, get the hell out now!"

Liang Fei had just returned to the traditional Chinese medicine clinic and found several patients already there. Wu Liang was so busy that he was hopping mad. Seeing Liang Fei come back, he immediately barked at him.

"If I don't want to work, then I don't want to work. Do you think I'm keen on staying here?"

Liang Fei let out a cold laugh. The timidity he used to display was gone, and he talked back directly.

Over the years, as an apprentice in this place, he had endured Wu Liang's scolding many times, but this time, Wu Liang had gone too far. As a doctor, he lacked any medical ethics. Why should he stay here any longer?

Moreover, Liang Fei now possessed the "Shennong Scripture" and knew various medical prescriptions by heart. He could get by anywhere and didn't need to put up with Wu Liang's attitude anymore.

"Oh, look at you getting bold now, boy!"

Wu Liang was giving a patient a foot massage and seeing Liang Fei, who normally took everything lying down, dare to talk back to him, immediately snapped back, "Fine, go pack your things and scram!"

"Fine by me!" Liang Fei had been thinking about leaving anyway and, upon hearing these words, he lifted his foot and walked toward the inner room.

As he packed his bags and was about to leave, he overheard Wu Liang chatting with a patient with the surname Yang.

"Doctor Wu, you say this old foot heel pain of mine keeps acting up, what exactly is the problem? Do you have any way to cure it completely?"

"President Yang, foot heel pain might seem like a minor issue, but it isn't like a cold or fever which are trivial ailments. The foot heel is connected to the kidney meridian, and the kidneys are the source of yin and yang in the human body, they store essence and produce marrow. When kidney qi is deficient, pathogenic cold and dampness will take advantage of the weakness, leading to foot heel pain."

Wu Liang spouted a bunch of traditional Chinese medicine terminologies that the patient didn't understand, then continued, "So you see, foot heel pain is not as simple as it looks on the surface. The key to treating this condition is to nourish the kidneys and promote blood circulation.

I've prescribed you some kidney tonics. Take them according to the treatment course, and I will give you regular massages monthly… This is a chronic condition; it needs to be treated slowly. President Yang, you are a big boss, how could you care about the cost of treatment!"

"I don't care about the money, but this ailment just doesn't seem to get any better!"

Hearing Wu Liang put it this way, President Yang said in a grave voice, "Doctor Wu, I do believe in traditional Chinese medicine, and in you. I've ignored those major hospitals and specifically sought out your small clinic. If you can't cure it, I won't be coming back!"

President Yang was a big name in Binyang's catering industry, extremely wealthy. He had suffered from this foot heel pain for a long time and had visited many major hospitals in the country, but the problem had not been permanently resolved.

After hearing good things about the diagnostics in Wu Liang's clinic from a friend, he decided to come here with a try-and-see attitude and had been undergoing treatment for some time.

For a genuine veteran of traditional Chinese medicine, a small problem like foot heel pain could be cured with just a few remedies.

Although Wu Liang was capable of treating such an ailment, he knew President Yang was wealthy, so he purposely made the condition sound complicated and delayed the treatment to extract more money from him, prescribing ineffective herbs.

Liang Fei had been an apprentice for three to four years and hadn't learned much in the way of medical skills. Previously, he didn't understand this, but now, having cultivated the "Shennong Scripture," he saw through it all. At that moment, he took a step forward, stopping President Yang who was about to leave with a package of herbs.

"XiaoXiao, Doctor Wu is skilled in his practice. It's better for you to just do your work here earnestly," President Yang said

President Yang visited the clinic often and was quite familiar with Liang, whom he liked. He had also seen the quarrel between Liang and Wu Liang just now, so he tried to persuade Liang to stay.

"President Yang, let's not talk about that for now."

Liang Fei gave a nonchalant smile and pointed to President Yang's foot, "I have a folk remedy that can cure your heel pain immediately without taking any medication."

"What did you say?"

President Yang obviously hadn't understood what Liang Fei meant and looked at him in shock.

"You brat, why haven't you scrammed yet? What nonsense are you spouting here?"

Wu Liang was inwardly thrilled to have swindled another sum of money from President Yang today. Suddenly hearing Liang Fei say such things, he couldn't sit still any longer. Like an enraged lion, he charged out, reaching his hand to push Liang Fei.

Although Wu Liang's character was deplorable, his medical skills did have some foundation. Of course, he knew there was a definitive cure for heel pain, but if he really treated it, how would he make any money?

As for Liang Fei's background, Wu Liang was naturally well aware.

The reason why he had only taught Liang Fei some rudimentary medical skills over the years was exactly because he feared that after Liang Fei completed his apprenticeship, he might steal his livelihood. Though he didn't believe Liang Fei could cure President Yang's heel pain, having his own tricks exposed by Liang Fei annoyed him greatly.

After practicing the "Shennong Scripture," Liang Fei was no longer a pushover. Even though he had just scratched the surface of the Ancient Martial Arts Technique, his skills were already extraordinary.

The moment Wu Liang's hand touched his shoulder, Liang Fei let out a cold laugh, lightly caught Wu Liang's wrist, and Wu Liang stepped back in pain.

Rubbing his tingling wrist, Wu Liang truly hadn't expected that this frail-looking young man had become so powerful.

Liang Fei didn't even glance at Wu Liang. He spoke earnestly to President Yang, "Elder Yang, when you get home, shave some white radish skin, boil it until it's tender, wrap it with gauze while it's hot and apply it to your heel for thirty minutes at a time, once a day, for half a month. You won't need to take any medication. If your heel pain isn't better by then, come and find me!"

"Really? I really don't need to take medication?"

President Yang became somewhat excited upon hearing this but was also skeptical. After all, in his eyes, Liang Fei was just an apprentice who hadn't completed his training. Could his words be reliable?

"President Yang, don't listen to this kid's nonsense; what does he know? Just go home and take the prescription I gave you on time," said Wu Liang.

Wu Liang had thought that Liang Fei was just deliberately causing trouble for him, but when he heard Liang Fei recount the remedy, he became visibly nervous and quickly went up to see President Yang out.

"President Yang, after all, my remedy doesn't cost any money. Whether it's effective or not, you'll know once you try it when you get back. It's certainly better than being deceived by some unscrupulous people!"

Seeing that President Yang still looked doubtful as he reached the door, Liang Fei let out a cold laugh and said slowly and deliberately.

"Where did you get that remedy from?" After sending President Yang off, Wu Liang glared at Liang Fei and demanded viciously.

"Where did I get the remedy? Hmph!"

Liang Fei looked at Wu Liang with disdain and said, "Wu Liang, after all, I've been working here for three or four years. Before I leave, I must advise you: As a doctor, there is nothing wrong with making money, but you must adhere to medical ethics. Deceiving people the way you do will lead to regret sooner or later. You better watch yourself!"

After saying that, Liang Fei didn't care about Wu Liang's expression, which was about to twist with anger, and strode away with a sneer.