Chinese medicine: from rural hospitals to top three hospitals in Kyoto

At the preliminary written test of the "Yangshen Cup" Apricot Competition in Hanping City, Yunzhou Province, Zhuang Qiwen focused his mind and wrote furiously at his desk.

The preliminary written test covered a wide range of topics, including basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine, diagnostics, Chinese materia medica, formulary, internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, acupuncture, and even some modern medical knowledge and classic medical case analysis.

The questions are cleverly designed, not only testing the breadth of knowledge, but also focusing on assessing clinical thinking and the ability to solve practical problems.

It is said that the written test questions were personally set by three national-level masters: Wen Xiuping, Song Luojun, and Chu Yiyun.

The examination room was completely silent, except for the scratching sound of pens slicing across paper.

Many candidates frowned, clearly troubled by some difficult questions.

After finishing the last question, Luo Junchao let out a long breath and subconsciously looked at Zhuang Qiwen next to him, only to find that his old classmate had already stopped writing and was quietly checking the test paper with a calm expression, showing no sign of tension.

"He's finished? So fast?" Luo Junchao was secretly surprised.

He himself is the deputy chief physician of the county hospital and believes he has a solid foundation, yet he barely managed to finish within the allotted time. Meanwhile, Zhuang Qiwen, a village doctor, was faster than him.

As they left the competition venue, Luo Junchao couldn't help but ask, "Qiwen, how did you feel? I found that last question about analyzing medical cases of 'refractory heart failure with edema' really difficult. How did you answer it?"

The question presented a detailed medical history of an elderly patient: palpitations, shortness of breath, generalized edema (especially in the lower limbs), aversion to cold, cold extremities, scanty urination, cyanosis of the lips and nails, pale, swollen tongue with teeth marks and a dark purple tinge, a white, slippery coating, and a deep, thready, and hesitant pulse. The question required an analysis of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment method, and prescription.

Zhuang Qiwen smiled and said calmly, "This condition is due to deficiency of heart and kidney yang, with water retention affecting the heart, accompanied by blood stasis. The diagnosis should be 'palpitation' and 'edema,' indicating a condition of yang deficiency with water overflow and internal obstruction by blood stasis."

"The treatment should focus on warming the yang, promoting diuresis, and invigorating blood circulation to remove blood stasis. The formula is Zhenwu Decoction combined with Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction, with modifications. Aconite, Poria, Atractylodes macrocephala, Paeonia lactiflora, and fresh ginger warm the yang and promote diuresis; peach kernel, safflower, Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Paeonia lactiflora, Bupleurum chinense, and Citrus aurantium invigorate blood circulation to remove blood stasis; astragalus can be added to invigorate qi and promote diuresis, and Lepidium apetalum can be added to purge the lungs and strengthen the heart."

Zhuang Qiwen smiled and said, "I originally thought the preliminary round questions would be quite difficult, but I didn't expect them to be so simple."

Luo Junchao: "..."

Zhuang Qiwen's analysis was clear and logical, his understanding of the pathogenesis was accurate, and his treatment methods and prescriptions were meticulously crafted, leaving Luo Junchao dumbfounded.

He himself answered that it was to warm the yang and promote diuresis, but he only thought of Zhenwu Decoction for prescription, completely ignoring the key pathogenesis of blood stasis, and did not think of combining it with Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction.

To be honest, Luo Junchao thought the question was quite difficult, but he didn't expect Zhuang Qiwen to say it was easy.

"Qiwen, if that's the case, then your advancement this time is a sure thing."

Luo Junchao smiled and said, "If we can get another ranking, then the finals are practically guaranteed."

Although the ranking in the preliminary rounds is not important and there are no rewards, if you can stand out in the preliminary rounds in each district, you will definitely be noticed by the judges.

"Hopefully."

Zhuang Qiwen said, "This preliminary round is not difficult, and I think most people should have good results."

Zhuang Qiwen is not from a professional acting background; he is actually somewhat similar to Chen Yang.

Although Luo Junzhao and Zhuang Qiwen are classmates, they are high school classmates, not college classmates.

After graduating from high school, Zhuang Qiwen attended a vocational college. Later, he learned medicine from an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the town and entered the town's health clinic. After that, he opened his own clinic.

If Luo Junzhao hadn't pulled him along, Zhuang Qiwen wouldn't have even considered signing up for this medical conference.

......

Kyoto International Medical Center.

As Chen Yang came out of the ward, Gao Anliang followed beside him, saying, "Director Chen, David is recovering quite well, and Jack's condition has stabilized. Our center has been empty again for a while now."

Now, David is the only patient left in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department; Lawrence has already been discharged.

With the addition of Jack, who is recovering from surgery, the Traditional Chinese Medicine department currently only has two patients.

He Pengjun and Gao Yingchu had seven or eight patients who were discharged from the hospital between before and after the Lunar New Year.

"What arrangements did you make for the Xinglin Competition, Director Gao?" Chen Yang asked.

"Today is the preliminary round."

Gao Anliang said, "After the preliminary round, five thousand people will enter the semi-finals. The organizing committee has arranged for them to be divided into ten venues, with five hundred people in each venue, and twenty spots for the finals, which means one hundred people will enter the finals."

"At that time, with the help of our Traditional Chinese Medicine department and Professor Mo's team, we will ensure that two judges are assigned to each competition area."

Because of the Apricot Grove Competition, the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine has not received many patients recently. After all, there are too many patients, and Xun Jiahong and others may not have time.

Currently, the Traditional Chinese Medicine department has a total of fifteen people, including Chen Yang. If ten of them are withdrawn, only five people can remain in the inpatient department. We also need to consider the postoperative care in the surgical department.

"The results of the semi-finals will be available the day after tomorrow."

Gao Anliang said, "I will report to you then."

"Ah."

Chen Yang nodded: "Take a look at the people on the list I gave you."

"Ah."

Gao Anliang nodded and asked, "Director Chen, where did you hear about those people?"

"Especially Zhuang Qiwen, who is just a village doctor in Hanping City, how do you know him?" Gao Anliang asked with a smile.

Chen Yang gave Gao Anliang a list of about a dozen people. Gao Anliang had gotten to know all of them recently, since the organizing committee could access everyone's resume after registration.

Among them were some talented young people from top-tier hospitals and a disciple of a famous doctor. Only Zhuang Qiwen had a low level of education, having only graduated from junior college. He first worked in a township hospital and later opened his own clinic.

If Zhuang Qiwen were from Shanzhou Province, it would be understandable that Chen Yang knew about him. But the problem is that Zhuang Qiwen is from Yunzhou Province, which is several provinces away from Shanzhou Province.

"I heard about it from someone when I attended a meeting in Lingnan last year."

Chen Yang said, "I heard that although he is a village doctor, his skills are quite good. I also happened to see his name a few days ago."

"I see." Gao Anliang nodded.

Gao Anliang also attended the conference in Lingnan; he and Chen Yang met in Lingnan.

Last year's Lingnan Medical Conference was a large-scale event, with famous doctors from all over the country. It was quite reasonable for Chen Yang to have heard of Zhuang Qiwen from a traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Yunzhou.

Having known Chen Yang for so long, Gao Anliang not only admired Chen Yang's abilities but also his talent for recognizing people.

Chen Yang has a keen eye for people. The current staff in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department were all handpicked by Chen Yang. They are a group of young people who are not only skilled but also of good character.

People like Li Chengjie and Gu Yingyin have also made rapid progress recently.