The next morning, at 1101 Changhong Road, the city's premier residence.
Lu Ming stepped out of the taxi. Yang Jitong, who had been waiting for him, immediately walked over, took Lu Ming's hand, and said earnestly, "Little Ming, the path is paved for you. Whether you can seize this opportunity depends on you. If you cure the city's leader, you'll be like a freed serf. Go for it."
Lu Ming nodded. "Let's go."
After a body search by the security personnel, the two arrived at the villa entrance. A young man stood on the steps, his expression troubled.
Yang Jitong whispered, "This is Xu Jun, the son of the city leader."
As they approached, Yang Jitong introduced Lu Ming to Xu Jun. "Mr. Xu, this is the Dr. Lu Ming I recommended to you. His medical skills are superb, far surpassing mine. He is certainly capable of curing your father's strange illness."
Xu Jun sized up Lu Ming, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
He said, "Isn't Dr. Lu a bit too young?"
Yang Jitong explained with a smile, "Specialization knows no age, and wisdom comes with experience. Age doesn't necessarily equate to superior medical skill. Dr. Lu is very capable, please trust him."
Despite the explanation, Xu Jun remained skeptical.
He said to Lu Ming, "Dr. Lu, my father's illness is very peculiar. If you can cure it, do so. If not, don't mess around. Do you understand?"
Lu Ming smiled. "I understand."
"Good. Please, come inside."
The three walked together into the ward of Mayor Xu Zhijian.
Even though it was summer, with an outside temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, inside the ward, Xu Zhijian was covered with thick quilts, with an electric blanket underneath.
Were they trying to 'burn him to death'?
Yang Jitong explained, "Mayor Xu's illness is very unusual. He has a condition called 'cold constitution,' where he constantly feels cold and has a low-grade fever. Even in the middle of summer, even under thick quilts, Mayor Xu is still cold. As you can see, he hasn't broken a single drop of sweat."
Lu Ming walked closer to examine him. It was indeed as Yang Jitong had said; covered with quilts in the summer heat, yet not a drop of sweat.
On the contrary, Xu Zhijian was shivering with cold.
This type of symptom was indeed rare.
Xu Jun added, "We've consulted many doctors, even brought in top specialists from abroad, but no one could pinpoint the cause. It's very strange."
Lu Ming listened while conducting a comprehensive examination of Xu Zhijian.
Inspection, auscultation, questioning, palpation.
Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
After more than ten minutes, Lu Ming gave a wry smile and said, "It's no wonder other doctors couldn't find the cause. It's simply because Mayor Xu's body is too unique, and his illness is a thousand-year rarity. In the history of China, no more than five people have suffered from this condition."
Yang Jitong and Xu Jun exchanged glances. There was hope!
Xu Jun asked, "Dr. Lu, have you found the cause of the illness?"
Lu Ming nodded. "Mayor Xu does not have a cold constitution, but rather a hot-cold constitution. As early as the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing recorded this peculiar condition in his work 'Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Illnesses.'
He paused and continued, "Hot-cold means the patient doesn't truly have a cold constitution, but rather an excess of 'heat elements' within their body. These are all confined internally, forcing the body's cold energy to the surface, creating a false appearance."
Xu Jun listened, utterly confused.
Yang Jitong, however, immediately understood and said, "So, you mean Mayor Xu isn't cold-constitutioned, but rather hot-constitutioned?"
"Yes," Lu Ming replied. "Therefore, covering Mayor Xu with quilts and an electric blanket will not only fail to alleviate his symptoms but will worsen them. What you are doing is sending Mayor Xu to hell."
Xu Jun was greatly shocked and quickly asked, "Then what is the correct course of action?"
Lu Ming said, "We need to lower the temperature, and then use a special technique to expel the heat toxin from Mayor Xu's body. That will naturally resolve the illness."
Lower the temperature?
Xu Jun hesitated slightly upon hearing this.
Although Lu Ming's explanation sounded plausible, looking at Xu Zhijian shivering and his skin turning purple with cold, under such circumstances, further lowering the temperature could easily be fatal!
Was this treatment method reliable?
Xu Jun sized up Lu Ming again, doubting his medical skills.
While he was contemplating, the butler hurried over and said, "Young Master Xu, Deputy General Qin Tong from General Murong's side is here to visit Mayor Xu."
Xu Jun quickly said, "General Murong? Hurry and invite her in!"
"Yes."
Immediately, the butler brought Qin Tong to the ward.
As soon as Qin Tong entered, she said, "Young Master Xu, it's been a long time."
Xu Jun cupped his hands. "Deputy General Qin, greetings."
Qin Tong opened a gift box, revealing a large ginseng. She said, "General Murong heard that Mayor Xu suffers from a cold constitution and has been ill for a long time, so she specially asked me to bring this thousand-year-old ginseng to visit."
Xu Jun was flattered. "Ah, General Murong is so thoughtful. Thank you, thank you."
As they were speaking, Qin Tong glanced inadvertently at the people nearby. Suddenly, she saw someone she absolutely never expected to be there.
"Lu Ming?!"
Qin Tong exclaimed in surprise. "You… why are you here?"
Xu Jun asked, "Deputy General Qin, do you know Dr. Lu?"
"Dr. Lu?" Qin Tong chuckled. "Young Master Xu, you say he is… a doctor?"
Xu Jun nodded. "This Dr. Lu was recommended by the esteemed Dr. Yang Jitong, who said his medical skills are extraordinary and unparalleled in this era. So, we specifically invited him to treat my father."
"Hahahaha!" Qin Tong burst into laughter.
Everyone looked at each other, utterly bewildered.
After laughing for a while, Qin Tong said, "Young Master Xu, you've been deceived by this scoundrel. He's not a doctor at all. He's just a cemetery caretaker at the Martyrs' Cemetery!"
"What?" Xu Jun almost dropped his jaw. "No way?"
Qin Tong said, "If you don't believe me, ask him yourself."
Xu Jun turned to Lu Ming and questioned him, "Lu Ming, are you a doctor or not? Which medical university did you graduate from, which hospital do you work at, and show me your medical license."
Uh…
Lu Ming shrugged. "I didn't attend medical university, I don't work in a hospital, and I don't have a medical license. I just… know some medical skills."
Upon hearing this, Qin Tong laughed even harder. "Mr. Xu, did you hear that clearly? This guy is a 'three-no product,' a charlatan. You didn't even verify his credentials and let him treat the Mayor. This is truly reckless."
Xu Jun's face turned ashen with anger.
He pointed towards the door and roared, "Get out! Get out!"
Lu Ming frowned slightly and said earnestly, "Given Mayor Xu's current condition, he won't live for more than three days. Please trust my medical skills and allow me to cure the Mayor."
"Hype, keep hyping," Qin Tong sneered. "Are you all in on this scam?"
Xu Jun, unable to contain his anger, roared, "Butler, escort him out!"