"You think you're so great just because you peeked at a prescription? And you want to diagnose by observing qi? That's utterly laughable! I feel like you're mocking Western medicine as a whole! Diagnosing by observing qi is something even Divine Doctor Duan cannot do," the man in the suit said with a face full of mockery.
Li Se smiled and looked at Elder Qian. "Elder Qian, your heartburn, commonly known as acid reflux by the common folk, is a signal of gastric dysfunction. This signal cannot be ignored. The cause of heartburn is esophageal reflux syndrome, where acidic substances from the stomach flow back into the esophagus. This is why you feel a burning sensation below your sternum, and it can extend upwards to your neck. Your condition is quite severe, accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth or a stinging sensation in your throat. Esophageal discomfort can also cause retrosternal pain, making you feel like food is stuck in your esophagus."
"It's exactly like that!" Elder Qian's expression trembled slightly, as Li Se's words were all accurate. He indeed had all these symptoms. Could it really be diagnosis by observing qi?
"Elder Qian, has he been investigating you for a period of time?" Seeing Elder Qian's certainty, Duan Wei frowned. As the son of a renowned divine doctor, he had never heard of diagnosing by observing qi. Perhaps some traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in the past could do it, but it was absolutely impossible now. Even imperial physicians couldn't achieve this. It was too mystical.
To know a patient's illness with just a glance would make Western medicine's so-called medical equipment a joke!
Elder Qian now believed Li Se and asked excitedly, "Can you treat it?"
"Of course!" Li Se nodded. "Elder Qian, actually, the reason I want to buy this shop is to open a traditional Chinese medicine clinic."
Upon hearing this, Elder Qian immediately understood Li Se's intention and nodded repeatedly. "Alright, as long as you can cure my illness, I'll sell you this shop!"
"Elder Qian, I saw this shop first, and you promised to sell it to me," the man in the suit said, displeased.
Elder Qian snorted, "That's on the condition that the doctor you find can treat my illness. But didn't you hear what this young divine doctor said? Doctor Duan's prescription has no effect on me."
Duan Wei quickly replied, "Elder Qian, that's not necessarily true. We haven't tried my prescription yet, how can we know if it's effective? And he's been saying it has no effect from the beginning. How can you be so sure he can cure it?"
"Yes, Elder Qian, look at his age, he's so young, how can he possibly understand traditional Chinese medicine? I think he knows nothing. He probably investigated you for a while just to buy this shop. And as for this so-called diagnosis by observing qi, honestly, I don't believe it," the man in the suit said with certainty.
Duan Wei nodded, "The path of traditional Chinese medicine does indeed have the concept of diagnosing by observing qi. However, even imperial physicians cannot achieve it. Relying solely on observation to determine an illness is too hasty. Moreover, I am absolutely certain that this young man cannot know traditional Chinese medicine. He is a charlatan, and these tricks are nothing before me!"
He then looked at Li Se and said sarcastically, "Kid, if you're going to pretend to be a charlatan, at least do it convincingly. Diagnosing by observing qi, you say? If you truly had this skill, why aren't you taking the imperial physician exams? Why are you acting like a con artist here? You simply want to trick Elder Qian into selling you this shop. I've seen many young people like you. It's because of charlatans like you in traditional Chinese medicine that many people no longer trust it, thinking it's just quackery and harmful!"
After being spoken to like this by Duan Wei and the man in the suit, Elder Qian began to hesitate. Indeed, as they said, diagnosing by observing qi was a bit too mystical. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine was indeed doubted by many nowadays. If it weren't for Duan Wei's father's reputation, he would never have let a TCM practitioner treat him; his first thought would have been Western medicine.
"Elder Qian, if you distrust me, I can have my father come over," Duan Wei said. He had accepted a significant amount of money from the man in the suit, so he had to ensure Elder Qian's condition was resolved. Honestly, he hadn't discovered any of the symptoms Li Se mentioned. So, he planned to call his father. With his father's abilities, he was sure he could cure it.
"This..." Elder Qian hesitated.
"Elder Qian, that's Divine Doctor Duan! If Divine Doctor Duan takes action, there will definitely be no problem!" the man in the suit said confidently.
"Alright!" Elder Qian finally agreed.
The man in the suit looked at Li Se and frowned. "What are you still doing here? Get lost! A barefoot doctor dares to swindle here. The Duan family has been in medicine for generations. Your swindling methods are like showing off in front of Guan Yu, you fool!"
"How dare you speak like that?" Tang An was displeased.
Li Se waved his hand and didn't pay much attention to the man in the suit's words. The main reason was that he genuinely liked this shop. If he could buy it, it would be very good. That's why he hadn't left directly. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, he wouldn't bother treating those who didn't believe in his medical skills.
After thinking for a moment, Li Se said, "Elder Qian, how about this? When this Divine Doctor Duan arrives, let's see who can treat you better, my method or his. If I cure you, you sell the shop to me, right? Similarly, if Divine Doctor Duan cures you, I'll withdraw, how about that?"
"You think you're worthy of comparing medical skills with my father?" Duan Wei rebuked.
"Truly ignorant! You dare to compare your medical skills with Divine Doctor Duan? Who do you think you are? Are you a divine doctor? What qualifications do you have to compete with Divine Doctor Duan? This is utterly ridiculous!" the man in the suit cursed.
Li Se frowned. "What, is Divine Doctor Duan afraid I might win?"
"Don't be ridiculous, my father can't possibly lose to you! You really know how to flatter yourself. Fine, if my father loses, I'll give you the shop. But if you lose, you have to shout that you are a swindler!" Duan Wei said angrily.
"Agreed!" Li Se squinted and readily accepted. "Then if you lose, you have to apologize!"
"Fine!" Duan Wei snorted, not thinking his father would lose.
"Doctor Duan, quickly call Divine Doctor Duan to come over. This kid is just ungrateful!" the man in the suit scoffed.
Duan Wei didn't hesitate. He called his father and explained the situation. Upon hearing that someone dared to question his medical skills, the Divine Doctor Duan was furious and immediately agreed to come over at once.
After finishing the call, Duan Wei looked at Li Se contemptuously and chuckled, "Kid, you'll regret this!"