Chapter 15: Visiting the Yang Family, A Deep-Rooted Ailment

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In the medical office of the steel rolling mill, the newly arrived Dr. Chen displayed miraculous skill, reattaching a severed finger by hand, thus saving a worker’s livelihood.

This news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the entire mill within a single afternoon.

At first, everyone was skeptical.

“Sounds like a tall tale. A finger cut off and still reattached? As if he's some kind of miracle worker.”

“Exactly. Even Section Chief Qian said amputation was inevitable. How could some greenhorn newcomer possibly have that ability?”

But soon, workers and nurses who had witnessed the event came forward to confirm the story with vivid detail.

“It’s true! I saw it with my own eyes! Old Wang’s hand was practically mush, but Dr. Chen just worked a few moves and ‘crack, crack’—it was back on!”

“And Dr. Chen’s acupuncture is incredible! Just a few needles and Old Wang’s nearly blackened finger turned rosy right away!”

“Old Wang’s resting in the ward now. The anesthesia has worn off, and he says it doesn’t hurt at all—just feels warm and comfortable in his palm.”

Word of mouth multiplied, and the facts spoke louder than any skepticism.

The workers’ attitude toward Chen Mo completely changed—from initial disregard to awe and gratitude.

In this era where workplace injuries were common, a doctor who could save their hands and feet was like a living Bodhisattva.

When the afternoon shift ended, Chen Mo stepped out of the infirmary to find several workers waiting at the entrance, clutching cucumbers from their gardens and sweet potatoes dug from the fields, insisting on giving them to him.

“Dr. Chen, thank you for your hard work! These are just simple gifts from us!”

“Yeah, Dr. Chen, from now on, us brothers here are all counting on you!”

Chen Mo tried to refuse but had no choice but to accept. He understood that from today onward, he had firmly established his footing in the rolling mill.

Inside the infirmary, Section Chief Qian’s face was dark enough to drip water.

Sitting in his office, he listened to the workers’ praises of Chen Mo outside, feeling a burning sting on his face as if he had been slapped dozens of times.

Lin Wanqing trailed behind Chen Mo like a loyal shadow, tidying his desk one moment, pouring water the next, her bright eyes filled with unmistakable admiration.

“Dr. Chen, who did you learn your bone-setting technique from? It’s amazing!”

“Dr. Chen, what’s your black ointment made of? Its effects are incredible!”

“Dr. Chen...”

Chen Mo was overwhelmed by her questions and could only give perfunctory answers before quickly hopping on his bike and slipping away.

He didn’t want to linger too long at the factory; a more important matter awaited him today—visiting Director Yang’s home to examine his son’s leg.

That was the true foundation for his livelihood.

Instead of going straight home, Chen Mo first headed to the pigeon market.

Using the vouchers and money compensated by Xu Damao, he expertly sought out the “underground king” of the black market—Zhao Si.

“Brother, good to see you again.” Zhao Si, still unassuming, handed Chen Mo a cigarette.

“Brother Si, I came today to ask about some rare medicinal herbs,” Chen Mo got straight to the point, naming several obscure herbs.

These medicines were crucial for treating Director Yang’s son’s leg injury and couldn’t be bought at regular pharmacies.

Zhao Si frowned after hearing the list. “Brother, these are rare items. I have two here, but the other three must be sourced from out of town, and they won’t come cheap.”

“Money’s no object.”

Chen Mo slapped down twenty yuan.

“Brother Si, consider this a deposit. Please find them as soon as possible.”

“Alright, with that said, you can count on me.”

Zhao Si pocketed the money and nodded.

“Come back in three days. I guarantee I’ll have everything ready by then.”

Having arranged the herbs, Chen Mo rode back to the courtyard house.

Just as he entered the gate, he saw Third Uncle Yan Buguai vigorously sweeping the ground.

His eyes lit up at the cucumbers and sweet potatoes hanging from Chen Mo’s bike handlebar.

“Xiao Chen, off work? Oh wow, cucumbers and sweet potatoes again! Where’d you get those?”

Yan Buguai approached with envy plainly on his face.

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“Colleagues at the factory gave them to me,” Chen Mo replied indifferently.

“Colleagues?”

Yan Buguai’s envy deepened, his mind already scheming.

Chen Mo was now the factory doctor. Surely, gifts and flattery would come his way. If he got on Chen Mo’s good side, maybe he could benefit too.

His smile grew even more ingratiating. “Xiao Chen, those look heavy on your bike. How about Third Uncle helps you carry them home?”

“No need, they’re not heavy,” Chen Mo refused outright, pushing his bike toward the inner courtyard.

At home, Qin Huairu was standing by the door washing clothes.

She had deliberately changed into a clean, patch-free outfit and neatly combed her hair. Seeing Chen Mo return, she immediately stood up, flashing what she thought was her most charming smile.

“Chen Mo, off work? Tired? I’ve warmed some water for you—go wipe your face.”

She picked up the basin of hot water and tried to bring it into Chen Mo’s room.

Her overly eager attitude made Chen Mo feel nauseous.

“No need, I’ll do it myself.”

Chen Mo sidestepped and spoke coldly.

“And don’t wash clothes by my door anymore—the water splashes everywhere, and the floor gets slippery.”

Qin Huairu’s smile froze. Holding the basin, she found herself in an awkward limbo.

Chen Mo ignored her and went straight inside.

After a simple meal, Director Yang’s Volga sedan arrived punctually at the gate.

Under the envious, jealous, and resentful gazes of the whole courtyard, Chen Mo climbed into the car, which headed toward Director Yang’s home.

Yang’s family lived in a detached villa with a yard—paradise compared to a courtyard house.

“Dr. Chen, you’ve arrived!” Director Yang greeted him at the door with even greater warmth than before at the courtyard.

“Director Yang, you’re too kind.”

Inside, Chen Mo met Yang Kai, Director Yang’s son.

Yang Kai was about twenty-five or twenty-six, refined-looking and wearing glasses, but his complexion was pale, his brow shadowed by persistent gloom.

He sat stiffly on the sofa, one leg extended rigidly, unwilling to bend.

“Dr. Chen,” Yang Kai greeted politely but with eyes full of doubt and mistrust.

Over the past two years, he had encountered many so-called “experts” and heard countless hopeful promises, all ending in repeated disappointment. He had grown numb to it.

Chen Mo merely nodded and ignored the attitude, squatting down to press on the injured leg.

“Ah!” Yang Kai’s body jolted, gasping sharply.

Chen Mo’s fingers pressed lightly, but Yang Kai felt as though struck by an electric shock—a piercing pain radiated from his knee.

“Don’t move,” Chen Mo said firmly.

His fingers followed the kneecap, pressing and kneading.

“The accident two years ago damaged your knee, causing patellar dislocation and meniscus tear.

The surgeon at the time only repositioned the bone but did not fundamentally repair the torn meniscus and damaged ligaments, right?”

Chen Mo spoke as he examined.

Yang Kai and Director Yang exchanged a glance, each seeing shock in the other’s eyes.

Chen Mo’s diagnosis matched exactly the conclusion from the German experts’ consultation back then.

“Later, because the repair was incomplete, adhesions formed inside your knee joint, blocking the meridians and impeding blood and qi flow.

That’s why you suffer stabbing pain on rainy days, can’t fully bend your leg, and limp when you walk. Am I right?”

“Yes… yes! Dr. Chen, you’re amazing!” Director Yang said excitedly.

The doubt in Yang Kai’s eyes slowly faded, replaced by a glimmer of hope.

This young doctor seemed truly capable.

“Dr. Chen, is there still hope for my son’s leg?” Director Yang asked anxiously.

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“The root of the problem has reached the bone marrow, and the meridians have atrophied. It’s indeed complicated.”

Chen Mo stood up and deliberately made the situation sound grave.

The father and son’s hearts sank.

“However,”

Chen Mo shifted tone,

“It’s not hopeless. But the treatment will be slow and the process extremely painful.”

“As long as it can be cured, we can endure any hardship!” Director Yang hurriedly assured.

“Good.”

Chen Mo nodded.

“My treatment plan has three steps.

First, acupuncture to promote blood circulation, remove stasis, and clear the meridians.

Second, herbal baths to soften the adhesions and nourish the damaged ligaments and bones.

Third, the most critical step: my unique manual technique to forcibly separate the adhesions and restore joint vitality.”

He looked seriously at Yang Kai.

“Especially the third step—the pain will be as intense as scraping the bone to detoxify. Can you endure it?”

Yang Kai met Chen Mo’s deep eyes, silent for a moment, then nodded firmly.

“As long as it lets me stand again, I can bear any pain!”

“That’s the spirit,” Chen Mo said approvingly. “Then let’s start the first treatment today.”

He instructed Yang Kai to lie face down on the bed and remove his pants, revealing the injured leg, which was noticeably thinner than the healthy one.

Chen Mo took out silver needles, disinfected them, centered his breath, and quickly inserted them into precise acupoints around the knee—Blood Sea, Liangqiu, Duni, and others.

“Ah!” Yang Kai emitted a muffled groan, feeling as if countless fiery needles pierced his bones—aching, numb, swollen, and painful sensations mingled, causing him to break out in a cold sweat instantly.

Chen Mo gently twisted the needle tails, channeling internal energy through the needles into Yang Kai’s blocked meridians.

Yang Kai gritted his teeth, tearing the bedsheet with his hands but endured silently without a sound.

Beside him, Director Yang watched anxiously, palms sweaty.

After half an hour, Chen Mo withdrew the needles.

Yang Kai felt as if pulled from water, drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.

But miraculously, the deep, bone-chilling pain that had tormented him for two years vanished!

In its place was an unprecedented warmth and comfort, as if a gentle current flowed slowly through his stiff knee.

“How do you feel?” Chen Mo asked.

“My leg… it’s warm!” Yang Kai exclaimed, voice trembling.

“For two years! My leg has never felt this warm!”

He tried moving his knee. Though still slightly stiff, the tearing pain had diminished by seventy to eighty percent compared to before.

“Dad! It’s working! It really is!” Yang Kai cried, tears welling.

“That’s wonderful! Wonderful!” Director Yang rubbed his hands excitedly, looking at Chen Mo with gratitude and admiration.

“Dr. Chen, you truly are the lifesaver of the Yang family!”

Chen Mo waved off the praise.

“Director Yang, don’t celebrate too soon. This is only the first step of a long journey.

We’ll do acupuncture once a week, combined with the herbal foot baths I prescribed.

After a month, we’ll begin the second phase.

To fully cure it, at least three months are needed.”

“No problem! We’ll follow your instructions!” Director Yang now obeyed Chen Mo implicitly.

He knew he had truly made the right bet this time.