Chapter 68: Writing a Prescription

The person Director Jacobs arranged for was a senior expert from Central Hospital. He was the face of their traditional Chinese medicine department, had treated countless patients, and his skills were undeniable.

He hoped that by following him, she would be able to learn a great deal. After all, she came with a recommendation from the old headmaster, so he certainly wouldn’t just find some random position to fob her off with.

But the bottom line remained the same: patients always came first. Until her skills were up to par, he would not allow her to treat anyone.

Now, she had been given the opportunity. It was up to her to see how much she could learn from it.

The senior expert’s surname was Lynch. He looked even more stern and old-fashioned than Director Jacobs. Taking off his reading glasses, he sized up Amanda Vance and frowned. "Only two years of study?"

Amanda Vance nodded.

Mr. Lynch’s frown deepened, and a hint of anger crept into his voice. "Young people these days are getting more and more out of line. You read a few books and think you can go around treating people? Medicine is a rigorous discipline, and traditional Chinese medicine even more so! It requires hard work. Have you read *Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold*, *The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon*, and the *Compendium of Materia Medica*?"

"Yes, I have." ’I started reading those basic texts back in middle school.’

Mr. Lynch was taken aback. Looking at her calm expression, he felt this young woman was incredibly arrogant. He detested young people who were all ambition and no substance, and he was growing quite displeased. He decided to knock her down a peg. "Fine. Since you’ve read them, I’ll test you."

Director Jacobs wanted to intervene, but Amanda Vance raised a hand to stop him. He froze for a second, a strange look in his eyes as he stared at her. After a moment, he shook his head. ’Sigh, it looks like the old headmaster misjudged this time. She’s not some capable young person at all. Her supposed ’capability’ is probably just her own boasting.’

’The most important thing in medicine is a steady mind, and one should be humble and prudent. That’s how you avoid making rash, incorrect judgments. Looking at her now... she just doesn’t seem to have what it takes.’

’Perhaps she’s read the books, but the key is whether she actually understood them.’

’Whatever. If she’s asking for it, let her have it. A reality check might do her good, keep her from getting too big for her britches.’

Amanda Vance, unaware of his thoughts, gave a slight nod to Mr. Lynch. "Please, go ahead."

Mr. Lynch looked at her, stroking his beard. "For an external contraction of wind-cold, presenting with aversion to cold, fever, anhidrosis, and a floating, tight pulse, what primary herb should be used for treatment?"

"Ma Huang."

’So she has some basic knowledge. Answering that one correctly is no great feat; the question was simple.’

He continued, "A patient, seven months pregnant, presents with edema, cramping, a persistent dull ache, poor appetite, and pitting edema in both lower limbs. Her tongue is pale with a white, moist coating, and her pulse is wiry and slippery. What formula would you prescribe?"

"Dang Gui, Shao Yao, Chuan Xiong..."

Amanda Vance listed the herbs one by one, including the required dosages.

Mr. Lynch raised his eyes to look at her.

Felix Ford watched her nervously. ’I wonder if Mom can pass. Mom’s so amazing, of course she can!’

When she finished, Mr. Lynch said nothing. He took out a packet of herbs. "Identify the herbs in this mixture."

"Chen Xia, Fu Ling, Bi Yu..."

"What does it treat?"

"It harmonizes the Shaoyang, clears gallbladder heat and drains dampness, harmonizes the stomach, and transforms phlegm. It’s the Hao Qin Qing Dan Decoction."

After she spoke, the expression on Mr. Lynch’s face finally softened. "Alright, you can stay."

Director Jacobs had studied Western medicine and didn’t know much about traditional Chinese medicine. But seeing Mr. Lynch’s expression, he hesitated. "Mr. Lynch, this..."

"Her foundation is solid. A little more practical experience will do her good."

His words were tactful, a form of approval for Amanda Vance, but it only meant he was willing to mentor her.

He still held to his belief: mastery of Chinese medicine wasn’t achieved overnight. There were no shortcuts. If she wanted a successful career, she needed to study and practice much more. Two years was nowhere near enough.

"Did my mom pass the test?" Felix Ford asked, his face lighting up.

As he spoke, both Director Jacobs and Mr. Lynch turned to look at him.

Director Jacobs hadn’t had a chance to ask earlier. Hearing the boy call her "mom," he realized this must be the child Amanda Vance had out of wedlock. ’But why is he here?’

Amanda Vance explained, "He’s been feeling unwell the last few days. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving him at home, so I brought him with me."

Seeing their hesitation, Felix Ford quickly spoke up. "Grandpa, I’ll be really good. I promise I won’t be naughty or cause any trouble. I won’t disturb you. Can I please stay here with my mom?"

As he spoke, he rummaged in his little bag for a while before pulling out a lollipop. He stood on his tiptoes and offered it to Mr. Lynch with both hands. "Grandpa, you eat this. It’s my favorite candy. It’s really yummy."

Mr. Lynch was a stern man, but faced with such an adorable child, he found it hard to keep a straight face. More importantly, looking at the boy, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, though he couldn’t recall where they might have met.

’Sigh, I must be getting old. My memory is failing me.’

He could also see that the boy looked pale, as if he had just recovered from an illness. Seeing the child’s pitiful gaze, his heart softened. It was indeed dangerous to leave a child home alone. He nodded. "Alright then. But you have to be good."

"Okay!" Felix Ford nodded emphatically and gave him a brilliant smile. He placed the lollipop on the desk and pushed it closer. "You eat it, Grandpa. It’s super sweet."

Then, he rummaged in his bag again, pulled out another one, and pressed it into Director Jacobs’s hand. "You have one, too."

After handing out his gifts, he retreated to Amanda Vance’s side, obediently taking her hand. Blinking his big eyes, he looked like a clever little boy.

Director Jacobs held the lollipop, trying to suppress a smile. ’A man my age, eating candy... Still, for a child, this is probably his most prized possession. It’s rare for one to be so willing to share.’

’Setting other things aside, the child really is quite endearing.’

’Oh, well. Let him stay. The traditional medicine department isn’t that busy anyway. It shouldn’t cause any problems.’

After saying a word to Mr. Lynch, he went back to attend to his other duties.

Mr. Lynch was the consulting physician in this office. He had Amanda Vance sit beside him to observe and had someone bring a chair for Felix Ford.

He was so small that his legs dangled high above the floor, but he didn’t cry or fuss, simply watching Amanda Vance the whole time.

Seeing that the boy wasn’t causing any trouble, Mr. Lynch relaxed and said to Amanda Vance, "After I’m done with my examination, you’ll examine the patient as well. Then, you’ll tell me your diagnosis."

"Okay."

’Seeing more patients is a good thing for me,’ Amanda thought. She carefully took the patient’s pulse, then quickly wrote out a prescription on a slip of paper and handed it to Mr. Lynch.

Mr. Lynch was rather surprised after reading it. ’I thought she was just book-smart, with a good memory for a few formulas. I didn’t expect her to have practical experience. The prescription she wrote is flexible and perfectly suited to the patient’s condition.’

After reviewing it, he signed his name directly on the prescription slip, handed it to the patient, and said, "Go get your medicine."

The patient hesitated. He had seen Amanda Vance write this herself. ’Can I trust this?’

With this thought, he voiced his concern, looking at Amanda Vance with suspicion. His gaze toward Mr. Lynch also held a hint of displeasure. "Dr. Lynch, I specifically made an appointment to see *you*. I came here for you. You should be the one examining me."

Mr. Lynch was very patient with him, explaining in a gentle voice, "Rest assured, this prescription is perfectly suited for your condition. I only approved it for you after reviewing it and confirming there were no issues. My signature is on it, so if anything were to go wrong, I would be held responsible. I would not approve it lightly."

After hearing this and thinking it over, the patient finally left.

’That’s true,’ the patient thought. ’Mr. Lynch has been practicing for so many years without any incidents. His character is trustworthy.’