On this day, the warm sunlight filtered through the mottled window lattice and spilled into Lin Yue's medical hall. Lin Yue, as usual, sat at the consultation desk, her writing brush scratching across the medical records as she attentively analyzed the condition of the patient in front of her and wrote out the prescription.
Suddenly, a chaotic and hasty rush of footsteps, accompanied by a deafening cough, shattered the original tranquility of the medical hall without warning. Everyone turned in stunned, and there, striding in like a gust of wind, was an elderly man wearing an ornate yet slightly ostentatious robe. He stood tall and straight, but his haughty chin held high and the undisguised arrogance on his face were off - putting. He sported a thick, grizzled beard that fluttered wildly with every step, as if proclaiming his superiority. This was Sun He, a renowned physician celebrated among the people, known for his extreme conceit.
Once inside the medical hall, Sun He's eyes, sharp as knives, swept arrogantly around the room, his gaze filled with scrutiny and disdain. When his eyes finally landed on Lin Yue, his mouth curled downward in an exaggerated sneer, and he let out a sharp, piercing snort from deep within his nostrils, a sound that seemed to slice through the air, dripping with provocation.
"Hmph, so you're Lin Yue?" he roared in a grating voice, oozing nauseating arrogance. "A mere young girl like you dares to claim exceptional medical skills? I've been in this profession for decades, weathered countless storms, and I've never seen someone so presumptuous! I've come here today to challenge you. Do you dare to have a medical skills competition with me?"
As he spoke, he thrust his hands behind his back, puffed out his chest, and tilted his chin almost skyward, his face brimming with not convinced. He even disdainfully scanned the people around him out of the corner of his eye, as if to say that everyone present was beneath him.
In an instant, the air in the medical hall seemed to be sucked away, becoming oppressively heavy. The patients and their families, who had been chatting softly, froze in place like they'd been cast with a spell. Their eyes were wide with shock and tension as they nervously shifted their gazes between Sun He and Lin Yue, not daring to make a sound. Outside the window, the previously clear sky had wonder when become overcast with dark clouds. Tree branches swayed violently in the wind, and a bird, startled by the sudden commotion and the worsening weather, took flight, flapping its wings wildly across the sky, adding to the already tense atmosphere. The candles in the medical hall flickered wildly in the gusts, their light dimming and brightening erratically, as if on the verge of going out at any moment. Large raindrops began to pelt the windows with a "crackling" sound, setting a somber prelude to the upcoming showdown.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yue slowly lifted her gaze from the prescription. She moved unhurriedly, gently resting her writing brush on the inkstone with a soft click. A faint, gentle smile still played on her lips, as warm and soothing as spring sunlight, showing no trace of anger at being insulted. She calmly rose to her feet, standing tall and straight like a pine tree, neither servile nor overbearing. Her hands hung naturally by her sides, her fingers relaxed, every detail betraying her inner calm. She tilted her head slightly, meeting Sun He's challenging gaze with a composed and gentle look, her eyes filled with humility and respect, as if the arrogant man before her was nothing more than a naughty child. She wasn't the least bit angered by Sun He's rudeness. But beneath her calm exterior, she knew that this competition was not only about her reputation but also about the dignity of physicians and the trust of patients. She was determined to give it her all.
She took two steady steps forward, each footfall firm and assured, as if the very ground beneath her grew more solid with her every step. She clasped her fists in a salute, raising her arms at just the right angle, showing both courtesy and the competence and poise of a martial artist. She
bowed slightly to Sun He and said in a steady, firm voice, gentle yet unyielding, "Senior Sun, I've long heard of your great reputation. It's truly an honor to be challenged by you today. Since you're interested, I'd be happy to accompany you. But may I ask, how do you wish to conduct this competition?"
Lin Yue's voice was calm and resolute, and her expression was as tranquil as still water, as if this impending challenge was nothing more than an ordinary academic exchange, devoid of any hostility. Seeing Lin Yue's calm and composed demeanor, Sun He's arrogance flared up even more, like a raging fire. His face turned beet - red, almost purple, like a ripe tomato on the verge of bursting. A hint of viciousness flashed in his eyes, and the muscles on his face twitched violently out of anger and unwillingness.
He spun around and began pacing rapidly around the medical hall. The "clatter, clatter" of his leather shoes on the floor was like the rapid beating of war drums, making everyone even more nervous. He thought to himself, this young girl is far too calm. I can't let her get away with it. I must crush her in this competition.
Suddenly, like a beast spotting its prey, he pointed aggressively at a patient who had just been helped into the medical hall by his family. The patient was clutching his stomach, his face pale and covered in cold sweat from the pain. "We'll treat this patient as the basis of our competition!" he roared. "Whoever can diagnose the cause accurately and cure him in the shortest time will be the winner! I'm warning you, don't try any tricks. And don't deny it if you lose!"
Without waiting for Lin Yue's response, he rushed towards the patient, his steps hasty and unsteady. He almost tripped over the door threshold and fell flat on his face but managed to regain his composure, muttering angrily, "This wretched place. Even the door threshold is against me!"
As soon as he reached the patient, Sun He snapped impatiently, "Hey, hold it together! Stop whining. It's just a stomachache. How bad could it be?" The patient flinched at the sudden outburst, his already pale face turning even whiter, his eyes filled with fear and grievance. The family members looked furious but dared not speak out, instead casting hopeful glances at Lin Yue.
Then, without another word, he roughly bent down and began pressing hard on the patient's abdomen, his movements chaotic and brutal, ignoring the patient's pained groans. As he did so, he loudly proclaimed, "I can see right through this minor ailment. No need to dilly - dally and ask a million questions like some people."
The patient's brows furrowed in pain, and his face contorted with suffering. The family members watched, their eyes filled with distress and anger, but they remained silent, their hearts filled with anxiety, fearing that this arrogant doctor would not only fail to cure their loved one but also make the condition worse. They pinned all their hopes on Lin Yue.
As Lin Yue brought over a stool and was about to patiently question the patient, Sun He, when no one was looking, subtly turned his body and kept stealing glances at Lin Yue, trying to glean clues from her questions.
Just then, an apprentice in the medical hall noticed that there seemed to be something hidden in Sun He's sleeve. Growing suspicious, the apprentice crept closer to take a look. It turned out that Sun He had prepared some diagnosis notes for common ailments in advance, intending to cheat. The apprentice was horrified and was about to expose him when Sun He caught him and shot him a menacing glare, whispering a threat to keep quiet.
Lin Yue caught this out of the corner of her eye. Her heart sank, but she didn't make a scene. Instead, she made a mental note to expose Sun He's dirty deeds at the right moment.
When Lin Yue was asking the patient about his diet before the onset of the illness, Sun He suddenly coughed loudly and sharply, interrupting the patient's reply. Pretending to be innocent, he spread his hands and said, "Sorry, my throat suddenly acting up." The false look on his face made everyone around him frown in disgust.
Later, as Lin Yue was feeling the patient's pulse, Sun He deliberately paced back and forth nearby, stomping heavily and creating a gust of wind in an attempt to disrupt her judgment. He muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with disdain, "What's the point of asking so many questions? Just a waste of time. I bet you're just incompetent, resorting to all these fancy tricks."
Just as Lin Yue was about to diagnose the cause, the patient's condition suddenly worsened, and he fell into a coma, the situation becoming extremely critical. Seeing this, a smug look flashed across Sun He's face. He thought Lin Yue would surely be at a loss now. The family members were beside themselves with worry, their cries and shouts mingling together, making the atmosphere in the medical hall even more tense and oppressive.
Lin Yue remained calm. She quickly recalled the patient's symptoms and the details of her previous examination. Relying on her solid medical skills and rich experience, she boldly diagnosed that the patient had accidentally eaten certain incompatible foods, causing toxins to accumulate in his body. She immediately ordered the apprentices to prepare the corresponding detoxifying herbal medicines and methodically carried out emergency treatment.
At this moment, the temperature in the medical hall seemed to drop due to Sun He's unreasonable behavior and the patient's critical condition. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on every move of the two, afraid to miss a single detail. The patient's family members stood by, their hands clenched tightly together, their knuckles white from the pressure, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. They watched the doctors anxiously, silently praying for their loved one's recovery. The more they looked at Sun He, the more their eyes showed dissatisfaction, and they couldn't help but shoot him looks of disgust. When they looked at Lin Yue, their eyes were filled with hope and trust. The apprentices in the medical hall also held their breath. When they exchanged glances, their eyes were filled with tension and worry, as if the outcome of this competition determined the very survival of the medical hall.
After a tense period of rescue, the patient finally vomited up the food residue in his stomach and slowly regained consciousness, his face gradually regaining its color. The family members wept with joy and expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Lin Yue.
Only then did Lin Yue turn to Sun He and said calmly, "Senior Sun, it seems you've forgotten the essence of being a physician and the fairness of this competition." Then, she exposed Sun He's attempt to cheat.
Sun He's face instantly turned ashen. His lips trembled as he tried to defend himself but found no words. The people around him cast contemptuous glances his way. Sun He's once - overbearing arrogance vanished completely. He hung his head, forced to admit defeat, and at the same time, he couldn't help but admire Lin Yue's medical skills and character.