Seeing Liu Baizhe looking bewildered, Lu Xuan explained again: "This explanation indeed has its discrepancies, I'm not just making things up."

"Dr. Lu, you're kidding; I didn't mean to doubt you."

Liu Baizhe finally came to his senses, shaking his head like a rattle: "It's just that what you said is really too obscure and hard to understand. For those who haven't studied Chinese medicine, I'm afraid their reaction would be similar to mine. Besides, it's hard to make these things up."

However, Lu Xuan still smiled and said, "In 'Standards for Diagnosis and Treatment: Numbness', it says: 'Heat obstruction is due to internal heat shifting to the abdomen, re-encountering external evil, blocking the meridians, stagnating and not flowing, yang encountering yang causing obstruction, numbness manifested in a burning feeling, extreme muscle heat, the body feeling like mice running, lips and mouth chapped, skin color changes.'

"How much can you understand?"

He wasn't just asking Liu Baizhe; he was also asking Su Kenan.

Or rather, mainly asking Su Kenan.

After all, Liu Baizhe isn't trained in Chinese medicine. He might understand the words, but to say he comprehends them would be a bit difficult.

Only Su Kenan, who studied Chinese medicine, could understand some of it.

Sure enough, once Lu Xuan asked, Liu Baizhe responded with a bitter smile: "Dr. Lu, you overestimate me. Not to mention I didn't remember much of what you just said, even if I did, the words would recognize me, but I wouldn't recognize them.

"Frankly, I know the words, but when put together..."

After speaking, he couldn't help but shake his head: "I spoke out of turn, shouldn't have asked, and wasted your time."

"It's okay if you don't understand, just take it as gaining some knowledge."

Under Liu Baizhe's surprised gaze, Lu Xuan turned to look at Su Kenan.

Su Kenan bit her lip lightly and shook her head.

This kind of knowledge isn't taught much in school; it was her first time encountering it. Many things Lu Xuan mentioned were things she heard for the first time, how could she understand?

What puzzled her was how Lu Xuan, only two years older, knew so much and seemed to remember everything from every medical book word for word.

How did he do it?

Is there anything he doesn't know?

Previously, in school, she thought the professors' lectures were outstanding, amazed at how much the mentors knew.

But after meeting Lu Xuan, Su Kenan felt the sky she saw before was too small, like a frog at the bottom of a well.

Seeing Su Kenan not speaking, Lu Xuan thought she might be a bit disheartened, so he comforted her: "If you don't understand, just write it down first, go back and study it carefully. If there's anything you still don't get, ask me."

It was then that Liu Baizhe realized he had misunderstood.

It turned out that what Dr. Lu explained wasn't for him but for his assistant.

Liu Baizhe couldn't help but give a bitter smile, but he still asked: "Dr. Lu, what medicine should I take for my illness? These days have been unbearable, with bouts of chills, high fever, and joint pain that I can hardly stand."

"Clearing heat, unblocking collaterals, activating wind, and resolving dampness to clear the heat and dissolve damp turbidity, allowing the joints and muscles to flow freely, thereby reducing redness, swelling, and pain."

Lu Xuan turned back and continued: "Using gypsum, anemarrhena, raw Rehmannia, and red peony to clear heat, cool blood, and reduce swelling. Coix Seed, apricot seed, Fuling, and Polygonum to dispel and drain dampness. Parthenocissus, Wintergreen Vine, Du Huo, River cow knee, Danggui, and red peony to invigorate blood and collaterals, reduce swelling, and relieve pain."

"But..."

"But what?"

"Your rheumatic heat obstruction is not light, one dose won't be enough to cure it completely. I'll first prescribe three days of medication, come back for a follow-up in three days, and I'll adjust the prescription based on your recovery."

When it came to prescribing medicine, Liu Baizhe suddenly lowered his head, looking a bit embarrassed at Lu Xuan: "Dr. Lu, is this... is this medicine expensive?"

"This month's salary was given to my wife; I only kept a bit for meals."

Lu Xuan asked: "Did you pay your health insurance in Yong City?"

"I did, the company paid for it, but it's at the minimum standard."

Upon saying this, Liu Baizhe became a bit restrained, and his face, tanned to a yellowish-brown, flushed slightly.

Clearly, for Liu Baizhe, who gives most of his salary to his family, even just tens of dollars for medication is something he has to consider carefully.

For him, it might even be a major expense, enough to cover several days of meals in Yong City.

Looking at Liu Baizhe almost burying his head in his chest, Lu Xuan opened his mouth but found he couldn't find any words of comfort.

In a lifetime, only one thing is fair, and that is that everyone dies, an irreversible process of nature.

Yet, this is unfair, as the rich can use money to live better and longer.

While the poor, even for just a small illness, must consider whether spending this money is worth it.

Frankly, for many without savings, the mindset is often to treat minor illnesses and give up on major ones, to avoid leaving a financial burden on the family after passing.

Lu Xuan's family was quite ordinary; as a child, he envied those with money in the village, but now he feels fortunate compared to Liu Baizhe.

At least he doesn't have to worry about medical expenses of tens of dollars.

Even for minor ailments, the expenses can be non-negligible.

For serious illnesses, it's like the last straw for already struggling families.

Nowadays, a major illness can cost thousands just for consultation and examination in Western medicine, long before any medication.

If the prescribed medication includes imported drugs not covered by insurance, a single bottle can cost thousands or more, out of reach for ordinary families.

Even with insurance, the portion paid out-of-pocket is a significant burden for many families.

Many people could live several more years but give up because they can't afford the medicine.

Good medicine isn't like a good product.

Where quick efficacy becomes the love of capital.

It's cruel, but that's the reality.

A reality that cannot be changed.

Capital only cares about its profit, unconcerned with patients' lives, which doesn't relate to them.

Not only in Western medicine, even Chinese medicine prices have risen in recent years.

Why?

As long as channels and resources are controlled by a few, high prices are inevitable.

It's like the online saying: making money must be done with conscience, you can earn more without it.

Often, Lu Xuan doesn't want to ponder these problems, knowing he can't change them.

What he can do is hone his skills to use the least medicine for patients' recovery.

Like Liu Baizhe in front of him, frankly, without insurance, even just three doses are a substantial expense, likely making him forgo treatment.

Eventually, enduring and enduring, one might lose their life.

Perhaps, Lu Xuan could subsidize a bit himself, but with his limited salary, how many could he support?

This world may not be filled with many diseases, just poverty.

Reflecting on this, Lu Xuan sighed inwardly and then smiled to reassure him: "No worries, once you've paid for the insurance. Yong City's insurance reimbursement rates are very high, I only prescribed you three doses, it won't cost much."

In Yong City, apart from personal urban-rural insurance where the reimbursement rate might not be high, company-paid ones, even at minimum contributions, cover about 70% after the balance is depleted, with personal cost not exceeding 30%.

"Is that so..."

"Then I'm relieved."

Liu Baizhe let out a small breath, "But I have to come back a few times, maybe find some part-time work to cover it."

He smiled with his mouth agape.

Lu Xuan was touched.

Despite everything, Liu Baizhe never became cynical.

He maintained a positive outlook.

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