Chapter Seventy: Only Acknowledge the Hall of Virtue

After the young male doctor finished speaking, he was immediately echoed by the crowd gathered nearby. They believed that only by isolating the patient with schistosomiasis would everyone be safe. Yun’s mother stood there, unable to hold back her tears, while Xie Qingtang appeared much calmer. She then addressed the young doctor, "Do you think our traditional medicine’s treatment of schistosomiasis is merely stubbornness?"

"Of course," he replied. "Western medicine's research into parasitic diseases is far more advanced than traditional medicine. Your treatments are slow, and for schistosomiasis patients, every minute delayed is another minute of danger."

"For the safety of the patients, I suggest Dr. Xie transfer all schistosomiasis patients from your Benevolence Hall to our Gu Hospital. Otherwise, there will be more cases of infection."

As his words faded, the crowd turned their scrutiny entirely toward Benevolence Hall. This time, Xie Qingtang’s brows finally knit together. Zhou Jinfan, standing beside her, retorted, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying that those infected at Gu Hospital caught it from our patient here at Benevolence Hall?"

"We can't say for sure," replied the young female doctor, relentless. "But ever since Benevolence Hall admitted a schistosomiasis patient, we've seen a string of infections. The cause and effect is obvious, isn't it?" Her words were met with agreement from many in the crowd.

Just then, a fit of coughing broke the heated argument, drawing fearful gazes toward a man emerging from the rear courtyard of Benevolence Hall. This man was none other than Yun’s mother’s elder brother. He forced his frail body forward; the parasitic disease had hollowed him out. Though after a period of treatment his swollen belly had receded, his frame remained gaunt.

His cheekbones were deeply sunken, a bluish tint shadowed his eye sockets, and he looked as if he had one foot in the grave—a sight both frightening and chilling.

"I am the schistosomiasis patient in Benevolence Hall. My little sister knows what I was like before. If not for Dr. Xie's miraculous skills, my life might not have lasted this long." Yun’s mother hurried to support her brother as he defended Benevolence Hall.

When those at the door learned that this skeletal man was the schistosomiasis patient, they recoiled several steps, even the two young doctors from Gu Hospital retreated two or three steps.

"Sir, I know you want to defend Benevolence Hall, but your current condition is partly because of their treatment. You’d be better off coming to Gu Hospital; we’ll provide you with the best care," the young female doctor said, covering her mouth and nose as she spoke.

The man's gaze shifted gently toward her, his tone calm. "I do not need treatment from Gu Hospital. My health has been gradually improving under Benevolence Hall’s care."

"Besides, my sister and I cannot afford treatment at your hospital. I remember when we couldn’t scrape together the money for an examination at Gu Hospital, you threw me out, and at that time, I was already in the mid-stage of schistosomiasis." As his words ended, the people around stared in shock at the two young doctors.

The male doctor responded without hesitation, "Our hospital has to make money too. How could we possibly treat you for free? If you can't even afford a few hundred for a consultation, what do you expect?"

"Yes, I’m poor. Does that mean the poor don’t deserve medical care? Were it not for Dr. Xie who waived my herbal medicine fees, I don’t know if I’d be alive today. You call yourselves a hospital, but you’re beasts who devour money—those with cash enter, those without can only wait for death, is that it?" The man spoke with agitation, then broke into another violent cough.

The male doctor's face paled, momentarily speechless, and the crowd began to murmur. Their previous goodwill toward Gu Hospital vanished, replaced by memories of their own visits and the high fees they had been charged.

"My apologies, it was indeed an oversight on our part. How about this: if you transfer to our hospital, we’ll offer you a twenty percent discount on your treatment. Is that acceptable?" The young female doctor, trying to appease the crowd’s anger, addressed the man.

Yet he shook his head, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at Xie Qingtang. "I no longer trust Gu Hospital. The only person I trust now is Dr. Xie of Benevolence Hall."

"Traditional medicine is a scam—are you really willing to entrust your life to a fraudulent doctor? She can’t cure you; she may even send you to your grave. Only Western medicine can fully heal you," the female doctor insisted, her brows furrowed.

Yun’s mother stood beside her brother, her gaze resolute. "That’s none of your concern. My brother would rather entrust his life to Dr. Xie, who has more medical ethics than you doctors chasing fame and profit."

"My sister is right. I’d rather die than go to Gu Hospital. I only trust Dr. Xie." Though the man could barely stand, his voice was unwavering and direct.

Some in the crowd even cheered, forgetting why they had come to Benevolence Hall in the first place—to question its concealment of a schistosomiasis patient.

"Such ignorance! It will be the death of you," the female doctor exclaimed angrily, stamping her foot before turning to leave. The male doctor didn’t linger either. They had come partly to undermine Benevolence Hall’s reputation, and partly to take the schistosomiasis patient away.

Of course, their parasitology department head had instructed them; he firmly believed only Western medicine could completely cure schistosomiasis, and that traditional medicine had no such expertise.

They had hoped to quietly transfer the patient to Gu Hospital for isolation, but the two young doctors’ impulsiveness ruined those plans.

Once the doctors left, the crowd gradually dispersed as well.