Xu Chunliang keenly sensed that he was being investigated and said with a smile, "Not worth mentioning!"

He neither confirmed nor denied, leaving Zhang Yiben plenty of room for speculation. However, he didn't lie; in Xu Chunliang's view, a deputy section level wasn't worth mentioning to begin with.

Zhang Yiben said, "I've been working for so many years and I'm still not at the deputy section level."

His deputy section level issue would be resolved this year, thanks to the help of a benefactor. In the system, having no background means having no future, which means that every small step forward requires much more effort than others.

Xu Chunliang said, "Aren't you already a section chief?"

Zhang Yiben said, "My section chief position is about the same as your dean position."

The two of them exchanged a glance and laughed at the same time, both having titles in name only.

Zhang Yiben said, "I've heard you come from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners?"

Xu Chunliang nodded. At least, Huichun Hall in Dongzhou is quite well known.

Zhang Yiben said, "To be blunt, I think traditional Chinese medicine is useless, just some mystical stuff. By the way, have you heard of Doctor Liu from Shiliang Village? He has a small reputation locally. I took my mom to see him recently, and guess what he did? While others diagnose the pulse, he started reading my mom's palm. Do you think he's doing fortune-telling or treating a disease?"

Xu Chunliang somewhat regretted coming to his office. This guy could really ramble, and his words weren't pleasant. Xu Chunliang replied perfunctorily, "What happened then?"

Zhang Yiben said, "He prescribed a few doses of medicine, but I didn't dare let my mom take them. Diagnosing the pulse makes sense, but reading palms for a diagnosis? Anyway, I have no respect for traditional Chinese medicine..." He shook his head to express his disdain for traditional Chinese medicine.

Xu Chunliang said, "Doctor Liu's skills are actually quite good. Diagnosing from palm reading does have a basis. The 'Inner Canon of Tai Su' discusses methods of diagnosing diseases through palm reading."

Zhang Yiben teased, "The 'Inner Canon of Tai Su'? That requires some seasoning added."

Xu Chunliang said, "Tai Su refers to the state before substances form, an intangible state with Qi but no form. People also form from condensed Qi. A truly brilliant doctor can observe changes in a patient's Tai Su through external manifestations."

Zhang Yiben laughed heartily, clearly not agreeing with Xu Chunliang's statement. He thought, fooling me isn't that easy; I graduated from a bona fide 985 university.

Xu Chunliang had the least respect for people like Zhang Yiben, who measure the world by their own knowledge, thinking anything beyond their understanding is unreasonable. To show disdain for traditional Chinese medicine right in front of him was simply rude.

As Xu Chunliang was about to find an excuse to leave, Zhang Yiben extended his left hand: "Then why don't you read my palm and see if there's anything wrong with my health?"

Xu Chunliang knew he wasn't sincerely seeking advice, but rather wanted to see him make a fool of himself. So he took Zhang Yiben's left hand, glanced at it, and then asked him to extend his right hand.

Zhang Yiben thought to himself, even if you're reading palms, you're an amateur. Don't you know it's man left, woman right?

Xu Chunliang grabbed the fingertips of Zhang Yiben's right hand and, observing the palm lines, said, "Section Chief Zhang, you do have some health issues."

"Oh? I'm all ears," Zhang Yiben thought to himself, let's see how you talk nonsense with a straight face.

Xu Chunliang said, "On your right palm, there's a line connecting the Zhen and Li trigrams. In such cases, you tend to have ailments due to disturbances of wind and thunder affecting your spirit. This line contains the Xun position, which, according to the 'Inner Canon of Tai Su', Zhen is associated with liver, wood, and thunder; Xun with spleen, earth door, and wind; Li with heart and fire. The heart governs the spirit, so you're often disturbed in spirit by wind and thunder."

Zhang Yiben said, "Stop making it sound so mystical, simplify it."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Can't understand it? To put it simply, you're prone to neurological issues."

Zhang Yiben frowned. Wasn't this indirectly calling him neurotic? He shook his head, "You must be wrong; I'm very mentally sound and perfectly normal."

"Strange, judging by your palm lines, you should often be troubled by external factors and frequently feel anxious and uneasy inside. Your sleep isn't good, right?"

Zhang Yiben was taken aback. This time, Xu Chunliang hit the mark. He often suffers from insomnia accompanied by feelings of unease, and he even went to see a neurologist. Western medicine said he had autonomic nervous system dysfunction, coinciding with what Xu Chunliang said.

Zhang Yiben nodded, "Work stress is heavy, and my sleep quality isn't high." People like him who aren't successful at work and rack their brains for promotion usually don't sleep well.

Xu Chunliang pointed out that the palm line on his right hand, aligned with the little finger peak and ring finger peak, had circular lines indicating damage to the Shaoyang, Shaoyin, and Taiyang meridians.

The left palm's sharp angles had messy lines, indicating damage to the triple burner and pericardium channels. The tiger's mouth's dull color usually signifies a decline in spleen, stomach, liver, and large intestine function, as these are the projection points for them.

Heart deficiency and excessive fire, combined with the kidney's insufficient yin to restrain the heart fire, often lead to stabbing pain in the heart.

Zhang Yiben initially didn't take it seriously, but the more he listened, the more startled he was. What Xu Chunliang said matched his ailments.

He began to suspect Xu Chunliang was using some kind of psychological suggestion on him, wondering if it was a form of PUA. Fortunately, he was a man; if he were a woman, wouldn't he fall for his schemes both financially and romantically and be willing to do so?

Zhang Yiben suddenly withdrew his hand. Xu Chunliang saw his flustered expression and knew his words had taken effect; this guy's mental state was off balance.

"Section Chief Zhang, I'm not done reading."

Zhang Yiben said, "I have tinnitus." He pressed his ear acupoint trying to alleviate the ringing but wasn't pretending. Whenever he feels anxious, a sharp ringing occurs.

Xu Chunliang said, "That's a typical case of deficiency. You're overworked; pressing on the ear acupoint can reduce the ringing, but once you stop, the ringing continues."

Zhang Yiben widened his eyes, having not detailed his symptoms to Xu Chunliang, yet Xu Chunliang described them clearly. Could this kid really be a divination master with extraordinary insight?

Zhang Yiben nodded, "Indeed, it used to happen occasionally, but now it occurs almost daily and is very severe. Sometimes, it suddenly rings in my ear in the middle of the night while I'm asleep."

Xu Chunliang leaned in to look at his complexion: "Are you married?"

Zhang Yiben shook his head.

Xu Chunliang continued, "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Nope!"

"Do you often feel backache and tiredness?"

Zhang Yiben nodded repeatedly, "For those of us working at a desk all day, that's inevitable." He started to feel a bit apprehensive about Xu Chunliang; his approach was deep, yet unconsciously, he'd revealed his own health condition.

Xu Chunliang chuckled, "Section Chief Zhang, I suppose it's not just desk work, is it? Please open your mouth and let me see your tongue."

Zhang Yiben opened his mouth wide and stuck out his tongue. His tongue was reddish, with purplish sides and a thin yellow coating.

Xu Chunliang then offered to check his pulse. Zhang Yiben hesitated for a moment but extended his hand. His pulse was submerged and wiry.

Xu Chunliang said, "Liver stagnation turning to fire, congestion in the meridians, kidney meridian dysfunction."

Zhang Yiben looked puzzled; he didn't understand but now felt Xu Chunliang might not be a trickster after all: "Dean Xu, can you put that in layman's terms?"

Xu Chunliang glanced around and lowered his voice, "You're suffering from kidney deficiency!"

Zhang Yiben blushed furiously, "Stop joking, haha..."

Xu Chunliang said, "You're neither married nor have a girlfriend, yet you have symptoms of kidney deficiency. Excluding the cause of excessive sexual activity, the remaining possibility is frequent nocturnal emissions."

"I don't have that!" Zhang Yiben protested.

Xu Chunliang smiled at his hands, "If it's not weak seminal control, then it must be that these hands are too busy."

Zhang Yiben was so embarrassed he wished he could crawl under his desk. This guy wasn't a Divination Master; he was downright devilish. He should never have let him read his palm!

Zhang Yiben was extremely perplexed. How could that be? Can this even be deduced? I don't have any calluses on my hands!

Actually, Xu Chunliang used a process of elimination, mainly facilitated by Zhang Yiben's cooperation, and ruled out other possibilities. The only remaining correct answer was that he preferred the "manual transmission" method.

Fortunately, just then Mei Ru Xue called Xu Chunliang to come over. Xu Chunliang stood up, "Section Chief Zhang, if you want to adjust your health, you can always come to me. I can prescribe some remedies for you."

Zhang Yiben, with a flushed face, stubbornly said, "There's nothing wrong with my health."

Xu Chunliang smiled; this guy isn't any better himself and should wash his hands first.

##

Mei Ru Xue made Xu Chunliang a cup of tea and brought it to him personally.

Xu Chunliang smiled, "I'm a bit overwhelmed by the attention."

Mei Ru Xue said, "Sorry to keep you waiting so long."

Xu Chunliang said, "Oh, come on, we're not strangers." He took a sip of tea and found the leaves weren't as good as Zhang Yiben's.

Mei Ru Xue knew he'd just been to Zhang Yiben's office and deliberately said, "You seem pretty familiar with Zhang Yiben?"

Xu Chunliang shook his head, "We've only met twice."

"What have you been talking about for so long?" Mei Ru Xue seemed casual but was actually curious about their conversation because Zhang Yiben was the spy her older brother had placed by her side.

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Men's topics, not suitable to share with you."

Mei Ru Xue glared at him, "What do you need from me?"

Xu Chunliang handed her a shopping card since a holiday was approaching; it was the intention of the hospital leadership.

Mei Ru Xue asked him to take it back. She didn't like this kind of gesture, as it was too common during holidays. Though departments had issued orders prohibiting officials from accepting gifts or invitations, the practice persisted. Just moments ago, Tong Guangsheng had offered her a crab gift card, which she also refused.

Xu Chunliang didn't insist and told Mei Ru Xue he was just following orders. Anyway, he offered, and she declined, so he was covered when reporting back to the hospital leadership.

Mei Ru Xue reminded him not to pocket anything for himself, to return things where they came from, as she wouldn't fall for such tricks.

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Do I appear that greedy to you?"

Mei Ru Xue said, "For someone like you, vigilance is essential. You don't learn the good stuff, only the bad with no help needed."

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