Chapter 160
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Suspicious Patient Returns
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Morbidly suspicious patient made a follow-up visit just three days later.
Shin Yeojin scoped out the clinic with clear signs of tension.
Half of me suspected she was a spy sent from another network, while the other half felt sorry for her, thinking she might just be a real patient startled by Park Haru.
Either way, I'd thought she wouldn't come back, so I was a bit surprised.
"I'm sorry for suspecting you for no reason. You treated me so sincerely, but because of that team leader's weird nonsense, I misunderstood something ridiculous! Thanks to you, my cough has improved a lot, and the stiffness is much better too! Thank you!"
On top of that, she apologized and expressed gratitude while revealing the content of her misunderstanding.
What? A religious group? That's too much!
Even if I treated her like hurling hidden weapons!
Even if I stuck the meditation breathing script I recorded for Myeong Seonju and Kim Ijin anywhere!
Even if Park Haru suddenly got inspired and started playing right in front of her...! No, this one is definitely suspicious.
"Haha, I understand. Park Haru was doing that the moment you came in."
Yeah, anyone could think that.
I flashed a bright smile and admitted my own misunderstanding honestly.
"You seemed so tense, Yeojin-ssi, I thought you might be scouting from another clinic. We're even since we both misunderstood, right?"
But Shin Yeojin's pupils shook again.
"Director... you're not really into prophecies or mind-reading or anything like that, are you?"
"What are you talking about~!"
Didn't we clear everything up?
Prophecy? I have zero fantasy powers like that.
"Actually, my uncle is a Korean medicine doctor too... He heard about the candy and was amazed... He's curious if you supply outside the network too..."
Shin Yeojin flinched, her shoulders trembling as she spilled even the truth she hadn't been asked about.
"Oh, really?"
This was actually positive information.
"Shall I give you a few samples? Supply isn't confirmed yet, but have your uncle try them, and if he's interested, give me a call!"
"Uh, is that okay?"
"Of course! I'd be grateful!"
It was a good chance to check demand.
For me, expanding production to clinics outside our network would be nothing but beneficial!
It was a project An Juhee had proposed.
She wanted to produce medicines in various forms beyond decoctions.
Her intention to spread the beauty of Korean medicine to many people was good, but I wasn't entirely positive.
I'd thought the same when dissuading the couple at Branch 4 from their cafe idea—the lack of taste was a fatal flaw.
If it's going to taste bad and be medicine anyway, why suck on candy when you could just swallow powder or liquid?
Still, I didn't outright stop her.
It used existing facilities and distribution networks, so investment was low, and success could open new paths.
That way, An Juhee first made candies good for throat issues like Silver Flower Candy, Ophiopogon Candy, and Minor Blue-Green Dragon Candy.
She experimented to enhance taste without interfering with efficacy.
"This is better than I thought? It's actually edible."
A while later.
There was no way around extremely bitter herbs like realgar or coptis, but several candies came out that were decent enough.
They seemed to have a lot of peppermint, giving a refreshing feel, and checking the energy, the other herbs' properties remained intact.
Of course, not just candies—she also made more popular forms like powders and pills.
I tried them too, selected the ones with good efficacy, distributed to branches, and planned to check reactions.
- They've sold quite a bit. Japanese customers bought a lot.
Jeon Minji said over the video conference.
Branch 4 had many foreign patients without time for custom prescriptions, so demand for ready medicines was high.
"How's the feedback? Any good effects?"
- Hard to say... We don't do good follow-ups.
The problem was too many one-time patients, making it hard to track improvements.
"Hm, I prescribed to my acupuncture regulars a few times—3 out of 10 said much better, 4 said okay and requested refills."
- My patients repurchased quite a bit too!
Results from main branch were excellent.
Even discounting Hwang Sanghun's patients who always said great.
- That's really good?
"Only to patients matching the pattern diagnosis. Anyway, effects are solid."
- I think so too. Especially Ophiopogon Candy. Acute colds go to hospitals anyway, but yin deficiency patients with dry mouth, upper heat, dry cough have high satisfaction.
Kim Chunsik agreed with my point on clear effects.
- All good, but 9,000 won is too cheap! Even cutting herb amounts, should be 15,000 won!
Chu Miyeong shook her head, regretting the pricing.
- Isn't 15,000 for ten candies too burdensome?
- But then Director Han won't profit much?
- True, good for us, but worried it'll cannibalize non-covered decoction demand at other branches.
Yu Kyungheon voiced concerns too.
That patients willing to pay for decoctions might settle for candy.
This way, I'd barely profit, just giving An Juhee some incentive.
"Doctors should control that. Strongly recommend custom decoctions for main treatment when needed."
But no big issue.
An Juhee started half for fun, not demanding big incentives, and I was fine with modest profits.
Providing treatment for patients not needing month-long meds or burdened by costs was good anyway.
"And mass production would be better. Clinics outside our network are interested too?"
Sharing Shin Yeojin's uncle story, directors were thrilled, painting hopeful futures.
Chu Miyeong still pouted about raising prices.
"Haha, thanks for thinking of me. We'll experiment more and adjust supply prices."
Chu Miyeong nodded reluctantly.
Alright, management meeting over. Time for bed.
- Director Han, hold on.
But Kim Chunsik suddenly called me.
- Nothing big. A friend in Busan asked about his daughter case—okay to refer to you?
"Sure."
I send capital area patients to Kim Chunsik if they can't come down.
No need to ask—just send.
- He's a Korean doctor, so thought to check if it'd burden you.
I tilted my head.
Child's dad is a doctor, yet to me?
- My student from professor days. Helped family business, now opened his own—senior in age, junior in experience. Asked my advice since daughter not improving...
Ah, that made sense.
My disciples bring tough cases to me often.
Hwang Sanghun, Lee Areum, Chu Miyeong still consult.
Back in Divine Physician days, even unknown doctors sent patients my way.
- He diagnosed White Tiger Decoction Syndrome. Sounds right to me, should improve with it, but no effect. Didn't check pulse, maybe wrong diagnosis, but I suspect herb quality or dosage. Hospital experience shows gypsum quality varies a lot. Check and judge.
"Got it. No burden—send anytime."
- Thanks, appreciate it.
Soon after, I met Kim Chunsik's referred patient.
"Unnie is super white and pretty! I wanna be white like unnie!"
A very outgoing kid chatted with Seol Yuhee at reception.
"My face is too red. Kids tease me as red radish? But unnie, know what red radish is? Thought it was red daikon, but it's just carrot, right?"
"Haha, you have a lot of heat. Take director's meds well, you'll cool down. Oh, ignore teasers. They tease pale kids as ghosts too. I got Snow Witch when I was Eunyoung's age."
"Eek, unnie's so pretty!"
Seol Yuhee smiled softly, guiding the child to the exam room.
Child's name: Im Eunyoung, 11 years old.
As Seol Yuhee said, heat overflowed at a glance.
No need to focus energy—yang qi overflowed; even insensitive people would see the red face.
Born in South Sea Solar Palace or Southern Barbarian Beast Palace practicing extreme yang arts, she'd be prime talent.
In modern society, few outlets for yang qi.
"Hello. I'm Im Sucheol, running Gijang Sucheol Clinic in Gijang."
Father introduced himself first.
Hm, very straightforward clinic name.
Father had strong yang too, but controlled; daughter had zero control.
"What's most uncomfortable?"
"Main issue is sweating. Sweats through top with minimal activity. Tough for a girl... Embarrassing. Summers, changes clothes after lunch."
"Not self-sweating or night sweats?"
Since guardian's a doctor, I used terms freely.
Self-sweating: cold sweat at rest, qi deficiency sign.
Night sweats: sweat during sleep, yin deficiency.
Self: no grasp on essence; night: kidney water lacks, yin unprotected, leaks.
"Doesn't seem so. Not cold sweat—pours when hot or active. To me, pure excess."
Besides deficiency sweats like those, excess sweats from too much heat for body temp regulation.
Core of pattern diagnosis: cold/heat, deficiency/excess distinction.
Reverse it, wrong prescription, side effects.
"Eats well, drinks lots?"
"Too well. Likes cold even if lukewarm given."
"But cold feels cooling!"
Polydipsia, polyphagia.
"Sleeps well?"
"Yes! About 10 minutes after lying down?"
"Blood sugar okay?"
"Yes. All blood tests normal."
"Height and weight?"
A bit chubby, so asked weight; Im Eunyoung answered cheerfully.
"150cm, 52kg."
Tall and heavy for age.
Hypermetabolism no issue.
"Let me check pulse."
Thump, thump, thump.
Very forceful.
Child pulses faster than adults, but strongest in 6 months.
"Stick out tongue~"
Tongue red, yellow moss.
"Textbook cases like this are rare..."
Modern people, especially clinic visitors, 80% deficiency.
No wonder confusing supplements with tonics.
Thus, beware mistaking excess for deficiency.
Im Eunyoung: unmistakably clear excess heat.
"Nothing to agonize over? White Tiger Decoction didn't work on this patient?"