The line of patients waiting to see a doctor at Wen Shen Medical Clinic extended all the way to the newly opened “Sai Huatuo Medical Clinic” run by Wen Qingchen.
Among these people, some had come from other cities. Their conditions had not improved, and they had heard of the famous Wen Shen in Tang City, so they made the special trip. Others were locals with minor ailments, but because Wen Shen’s medical skills were renowned in Tang City, they preferred to wait in line and get their prescriptions from him, even if the wait was long.
The weather was very good that day, and after noon, the sun was scorching. Many patients waiting in line felt increasingly impatient. Seeing the line barely moving, they started looking around to pass the time. To their surprise, they noticed the “Sai Huatuo Medical Clinic” across the street.
“Is this a new clinic? I hadn’t heard of it before.”
“Yes, it seems to be new. It just opened yesterday. I heard that Nangong Yan visited it once.”
“Nangong Yan? You mean the young master of the Nangong family? What illness did he have? Was he cured?”
“Who knows what illness it was. He went in for some time and then came out.”
The crowd was full of speculation, but because they didn’t know the doctor or the quality of the medical skills, they preferred to stand in the sun and wait rather than visit Sai Huatuo Medical Clinic.
At this moment, a middle-aged woman pulled a little girl about seven or eight years old out of the line.
“It’s too hot, Lanlan. Let’s go to that new clinic and see.”
The girl called Lanlan remained silent.
Someone in the line advised, “Aunt Zhang, that clinic is new. We don’t know how good the doctor is, and we don’t know if their medicine is expensive or effective… What if the medicine is expensive and doesn’t work?”
The middle-aged woman insisted, “My little Tian is still waiting at home. We don’t have time.”
Many people knew Aunt Zhang’s family and her other child, Li Tian. Li Tian was mentally challenged, almost twenty-one, and still wetting his pants.
Seeing that, no one said anything more and watched as the mother and daughter entered Sai Huatuo Medical Clinic.
Inside the clinic, Wen Qingchen was dozing off. When Wen Huanzi saw someone come in, he quickly got up to greet them, “Are you here for a consultation?”
Wen Qingchen immediately woke up, “Is there a patient? Where?”
Aunt Zhang pushed her daughter forward and said, “Where is the doctor? My daughter Lanlan has been running a fever since this morning. Can you help her?”
Wen Qingchen took one look at the girl and already knew her condition, but she still pretended to take her pulse. Then she reassured Aunt Zhang, “Don’t worry, Auntie. She must have caught a cold last night. A few doses of medicine will make her better.”
She casually listed a few herbs, and Wen Huanzi quickly prepared and packaged the medicine.
Aunt Zhang looked at Wen Qingchen suspiciously, “Are you the doctor?”
Maybe it was because the young doctor seemed too young to have any medical skills.
Wen Qingchen didn’t mind the skepticism at all, “Yes, Auntie. Here is your medicine. Please take it.”
This was her first patient since opening the clinic. Although it was just a minor cold that didn’t require using her special abilities, Wen Qingchen was still very happy. She not only waived the consultation and medicine fees but also gently patted Lanlan’s head and softly said, “Your name is Lanlan, right? Take your medicine well, and you’ll get better quickly.”
Lanlan looked at Wen Qingchen with her big eyes. Perhaps sensing her kindness, she suddenly reached out and grabbed Wen Qingchen’s finger.
Wen Qingchen then noticed that this little girl was very thin, her small hand was cold, and there was a hint of longing in her eyes as she looked at Wen Qingchen.
Wen Qingchen was startled, feeling as if Lanlan was silently pleading for her help.
