Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1417 Vice Minister Jiang encountered many familiar faces during the ministry's approval process.

"It's all ready, but I need to show it to Director Liao first. I'll bring it over when it's time to start work. Is that alright?" Fang Yan replied to them on the phone.

“Of course, it’s settled then!” Zhao Xiwu replied over the phone.

Next, Fang Yan brought the revised document to Director Liao's house. Director Liao had just gotten up and hadn't had breakfast yet. The friend who had visited him yesterday was also there, clearly having rested there the previous night.

I saw Fang Yan this morning and greeted him.

Fang Yan only then learned that this person's surname was Jiang, and Director Liao told Fang Yan to call him Vice Minister Jiang.

After the reform and opening up, Fang Yan had to deal with them quite often. Through Director Liao's introduction, Fang Yan got to know this Vice Minister Jiang today. However, Fang Yan had no information about him and wondered if it was related to his own butterfly effect.

After examining Director Liao's health, Vice Minister Jiang also spoke to Fang Yan:

"Xiao Fang, could you take a look at me too? For the past six months, I've been feeling a bit of pressure under my right ribs."

Fang Yan looked at Vice Minister Jiang, noticing his tall stature and slightly overweight appearance, and asked him:
"Your medical checkup was fine?"

Vice Minister Jiang said:

"I have fatty liver, which was a workplace injury I sustained when I was in Hong Kong."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Director Liao beside him, who smiled and said:

"Back then, he often accompanied me to parties and banquets. Drinking and eating were unavoidable. He was even fatter then than he is now."

Fang Yan knew that when Director Liao was in Hong Kong, his business was thriving, and he must have had a lot of social engagements. As his deputy or partner, Vice Minister Jiang would certainly have had to take on some tasks. Being able to develop fatty liver was considered a disease of the rich in that era.

Fang Yan said to him:
"Come on, let me take your pulse and look at your tongue."

Upon hearing Fang Yan's words, Vice Minister Jiang immediately stretched out his hand and stuck out his tongue at Fang Yan.

Fang Yan saw a thick layer of white, greasy coating on his tongue, like a layer of fine flour, with faint teeth marks on the edges.

"Do you often feel listless, experience bloating after meals, and sometimes feel tightness in your chest?" Fang Yan asked.

Vice Minister Jiang's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly:

"Yes, yes, yes! Especially after eating, I always feel bloated and have to lean back in a chair for half an hour to feel comfortable. Sometimes in the evening I want to take a walk in the yard, but I get tired after only a few steps."

"You're just getting old," Director Liao said with a smile.

Vice Minister Jiang said:

"I'm younger than you."

Fang Yan felt the pulse and found it to be slow and weak, with only a faint pulsation when pressed down. This was a typical sign of "spleen deficiency with dampness and stagnation of qi".

It's basically confirmed that it's a fatty liver problem, Fang Yan said to him:
“Your fatty liver is called ‘fatty qi’ in traditional Chinese medicine. It’s closely related to your previous diet in Hong Kong. Eating too much oily food can’t be properly digested by your spleen and stomach, so it turns into ‘phlegm and dampness’ accumulating in your body. Drinking too much alcohol can also stagnate the flow of qi. The combination of phlegm and dampness and qi stagnation can ‘wrap’ the liver, which is why you feel a burning sensation under your ribs.”

After speaking in dialect, he was asked to switch to his other hand.

At the same time, she said to him:
"You need to change your eating habits, and you also need to exercise after eating. Take a slow walk for 20 minutes, it doesn't have to be fast, just enough to get your body moving."

Vice Minister Jiang nodded and said:

"That's no problem. I actually take a walk every day after I finish eating."

Director Liao, who was standing to the side, laughed and said:
"Nonsense, I don't think you left at all. If you had left, why would you still have this question?"

Vice Minister Jiang didn't refute it; he muttered to himself:

"Perhaps it wasn't done properly?"

While taking the pulse, Fang Yan said:
“Your spleen deficiency and dampness have been present for more than just a day or two. Even if you walk after meals every day, you probably walk slowly and for short periods, which doesn’t really revitalize the stagnant Qi. So, I’ll add a little something for you.”

"Sneaky tricks?" Vice Minister Jiang looked at Fang Yan curiously.

"When you take a slow walk after dinner, massage your stomach from time to time, rubbing it clockwise 30 times. This helps with digestion and is more effective than just walking," Fang Yan said.

Vice Minister Jiang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Is that so? Then I'll go back and try it as you said. As for diet, besides eating less oily food, what else should I pay attention to? I can't live without meat, so I'm afraid I won't be able to resist giving it all up all at once."

He loves meat and is a carnivore just like Lao Hu.

He said in dialect:

"You don't need to completely abstain from food; you just need to eat smartly."

Even Director Liao looked at Fang Yan with curiosity.

Fang Yan paused and explained:

"For example, if you want to eat meat, choose lean meat or fish. Instead of frying or braising, steam or boil it. For breakfast, you can cook some millet and yam porridge. Yam can strengthen the spleen, and millet nourishes the stomach and intestines. It's better than eating fried dough sticks or steamed buns. If you're hungry, don't eat biscuits or pastries. Get some poria cocos cakes as snacks. They can fill your stomach and remove dampness."

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Jiang showed a look of sudden realization.

Fang Yan said to him:
"You don't need to remember it, I'll write it down for you later."

After he finished speaking, he added:
"By the way, let me prescribe a herbal tea for you: 5 grams each of dried tangerine peel, hawthorn, and lotus leaf. Steep them in boiling water and drink it once a day. Dried tangerine peel regulates qi, hawthorn eliminates food stagnation, and lotus leaf clears damp heat—it's just what you need. Drink it for half a month, then come back and I'll check your pulse. I guarantee the 'bloating' feeling under your ribs will be much better."

Upon hearing the dialect, Vice Minister Jiang smiled and said:

"That's great. I'll be working here a lot, and I'll definitely be dealing with you a lot."

After a while, the diagnosis was completed, confirming that it was a liver problem.

Fortunately, with a slight modification, the formula being promoted this time can treat fatty liver.

This does remind me of the dialect.

This condition is not very common in China, but it is quite prevalent abroad, especially in Western countries. So, instead of five liver diseases, we could actually make it six, and add one more for treating fatty liver!

Soon, the recipe and precautions were also written down in the local dialect.

Vice Minister Jiang looked at the prescription on the paper and the detailed instructions on it, and said:

"Xiao Fang, your treatment method is much more effective than going to the hospital and getting a bunch of Western medicine. Just because of your medical skills, I will definitely help you with your grassroots hepatitis promotion. When I take office at the Ministry of Commerce next month, I will talk to my people and give you priority in coordinating the procurement and transportation of medicinal materials, so that your powder production will not be delayed."

"It's not just about the medicinal herbs. If you need to set up 'Hepatitis Prevention and Control Information Points' in shopping malls and supply and marketing cooperatives for subsequent promotion, so that the public knows about this diagnostic disc and the medicine powder, I can help you connect them," Vice Minister Jiang added, clearly showing his genuine desire to support.

Fang Yan then remembered that the supply and marketing cooperative is still under the Ministry of Commerce.

Just then, Director Liao's personal secretary brought in breakfast: "Breakfast is ready!"

Director Liao gestured for Vice Minister Jiang to sit down: "Old Jiang, let's eat first and talk while we eat."

At the same time, he asked in dialect:

"Have you eaten yet? Do you want to eat some together?"

Fang Yan waved his hand and said:
"Thank you, Director Liao, but I've already eaten."

Director Liao nodded and asked Fang Yan:

"By the way, did you bring your revised plan?"

Fang Yan took the proposal out of his bag and placed it on the table: "I brought it. As you said, I deleted the part about the fund and focused on the application for special funding and the need for support from overseas Chinese businesses. I've also contacted Dean Zhao, and I can get the joint-signature document when I come to work today."

Vice Minister Jiang took a sip of porridge and leaned over to look at the plan: "Although I don't understand medicine, I'm good at promotion and supply. If your plan is approved and you need the cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, just come to me directly, no need to beat around the bush. We're all working for the people, so we have to be efficient."

Director Liao nodded with a smile:

"That's exactly what I meant. Back in Hong Kong, Old Jiang managed my supply chain perfectly, so coordinating medicinal herbs for you now is a piece of cake."

Vice Minister Jiang put down his bowl and said earnestly to Fang Yan, "Your traditional Chinese medicine can solve real problems, unlike some of those empty rhetoric. If your hepatitis treatment can be rolled out at the grassroots level and help people suffer less, it will be worth it for me to make a few more trips and coordinate more."

This leader was very approachable; when he heard that it was about doing practical things for the people, he showed great enthusiasm, and was quite moved by the local dialect.

After Director Liao checked and found no problems, he said to Fang Yan:

"Then go and get the people at the research institute to sign it. Once it's signed, come with me to the Ministry of Health."

Fang Yan heard that Director Liao was so concerned and asked:

"Won't this interfere with your business?"

Director Liao said:
"Nothing else to do today, this is the important matter."

Vice Minister Jiang smiled and said to Fang Yan:

"Mainly because his health condition was found out by his superiors, they now want him to rest a bit, and there are no work arrangements for the time being. That's why he has time today."

Fang Yan finally understood. He was recording Director Liao's health status every day, and if the higher-ups wanted to see the information, they could see it clearly. Director Liao had been working overtime a lot recently, and Fang Yan had written a lot of warnings for him, so the higher-ups must have found out.

Director Liao is now being forced to do less work.

Of course, this is a good thing in some ways; he's less tired, and Fang Yan can worry less.

"I'll go do my ward rounds now, and then I'll go to the research institute to get Dean Zhao and the others to sign off on things. I'll try to get back as soon as possible," Fang Yan said to Director Liao.

Director Liao waved his hand and said:

"It's okay, take your time. I have plenty of time today."

Fang Yan then took his leave with the plan, and the next step was to make rounds at the hospital. He actually had a trump card up his sleeve: Aunt Wang Huiyuan, who was still slowly recovering.

After receiving treatment from Lao Tao, her condition is much better than before.

She can walk normally now and has basically stopped experiencing sudden fainting spells and epileptic seizures, which is a huge improvement. Fang Yan believes that Aunt Wang should be able to recover before the Spring Festival. However, very few people know about this, and it will be big news when it comes out.

When they arrived at the hospital, Yuan Qingshan and Lao Fan had already started performing acupuncture on the patient. Seeing Fang Yan arrive, Lao Fan asked him:
"Taking care of a child must be tough, right? Didn't you sleep well?"

Fang Yan smiled and said after hearing his words:

"I did not sleep well, but today I was delayed because I went to see a doctor for Director Liao's friend."

Old Fan suddenly realized that he had thought Fang Yan was late because of the children's antics.

Yuan Qingshan, standing to the side, said to Fang Yan:

"That's how it is when you have your first child. But when the first child gets a little older and you have your second child, the older child can take care of the younger one!"

Fang Yan couldn't help but laugh when she heard Yuan Qingshan say, "Let the eldest take care of the second one." She said, "My son isn't even a month old yet, and you're already thinking about having a second child. That's a bit too early."

While administering acupuncture to the patient, Lao Fan joked, "Qingshan is hoping you'll have more children so that traditional Chinese medicine can have successors."

After saying that, he reminded the person in the dialect:
"By the way, my uncle is leaving after lunch today, so if you don't have time, don't bother seeing him off!"

Fang Yan was taken aback, remembering that today was indeed the day Master Haiteng was leaving the capital. He said:
"I have time!"

"I'll go with you then."

Old Fan nodded after hearing this.

Speaking of the team that treated Aunt Wang, Master Hai Deng also played a significant role, and his incantation techniques also contributed greatly.

He's leaving today, so Fang Yan needs to prepare something for him. There's not much to give, just some money and national food coupons. Although the old monk rarely spends money, he's going on a long journey after all, so he should have something to rely on.

Fang Yan then checked the rooms one by one, and then reminded Lao Fan again to come and call him when he was leaving at noon. Only then did Fang Yan leave the hospital and go to the research institute with An Dong.

The research institute was already open for business. When I arrived at Dean Zhao Xiwu's office, several institute directors were there, all waiting for the dialect proposal.

Without wasting any words, Fang Yan took out what he had in his hand, including the dialectical disc he had made himself.

Everyone immediately started reading. In fact, Zhao Xiwu had already told them the general situation. Now, seeing the plan that Fang Yan presented, it was basically modified according to what Zhao Xiwu had said.

Old Cheng was quite interested in the liver disease disc made by Fang Yan.

He tried it, and then praised it in the dialect:
“I think this disc is more intuitive than the diagnosis manual we used before. It directly matches ‘tongue coating, symptoms, and medicine powder number’. Anyone who can read can use it. The problem with grassroots promotion is that it is ‘complex’. This has solved the core problem.”

He said in dialect:

"This was invented last year by Jin Mingyuan, a traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Shanghai. My version is just an improved version specifically for liver disease."

Old Cheng said with a smile:

“His publicity efforts are not as strong as yours. Once your product is released and rolled out nationwide, everyone will know about you first.”

Fang Yan smiled helplessly. That was the truth. This wasn't the internet age anymore. Once it was promoted, everyone would see Fang Yan's version. Others might use it as a starting point to create more diagnostic discs for various ailments. In that case, the original author would really have no say.

But that's not what Fang Yan is concerned about right now; he's here to get everyone's autographs.

Soon everyone had finished reviewing the dialect proposal. Since it had been revised once, there were basically no problems to be found. Dean Zhao Xiwu was the first to sign his name, followed by the other senior professors, who all wrote their names on the proposal.

Although the official statement didn't explicitly say that this was to win the Nobel Prize, Zhao Xiwu had already made it clear to them, so they had to support him no matter what.

Even if it ultimately fails, this nationwide campaign will still help the people solve a major public health problem.

……

After signing the papers here, Fang Yan immediately went to find Director Liao.

Vice Minister Jiang had already left, leaving only Director Liao at home. When Fang Yan arrived, Director Liao was still on the phone. He gestured for Fang Yan to sit down for a while, and then continued his phone conversation.

Judging from the dialect, the phone conversation was likely about overseas Chinese investment. Towards the end of the call, Director Liao suddenly changed the subject, saying:

“You’ve always said you wanted to do something for your hometown, and we happen to have a nationwide health project that we’re currently preparing for.”

"Your hometown is one of the rural areas selected for the pilot program!"

"Our dialect doctor is leading the project! The plan he proposed is for the treatment of liver disease."

"This disease is very serious..."

“The incidence of hepatitis is not low in your hometown. This treatment plan uses a traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic tool and concentrated medicine powder, which is easy for grassroots doctors to learn and makes it more convenient for people to treat their illnesses. If you are willing to support it, no matter what you donate, it will be a great thing for your hometown.”

After hearing what was said on the other end of the phone, Director Liao nodded with a smile.

“Okay, I knew you’d be happy. I’ll have someone coordinate the details with you.”

“Your hometown county happens to be on the specific list of pilot counties.”

"Okay, I'll contact you later."

After hanging up the phone, Director Liao raised an eyebrow at Fang Yan: "I've found you another helper, a very powerful overseas Chinese businessman. He has already agreed to support the project."

Fang Yan quickly thanked him:

"Director Liao, you've really been a great help."

"No need for thanks, it's all for the sake of treating the people." Director Liao stood up, picked up his briefcase, and called to Gao Han: "Let's go to the Ministry of Health. Old Li should be waiting. By the way, when you meet the experts there, emphasize three points: first, the practicality of the diagnostic tray and the medicine powder, so that grassroots doctors can quickly get started; second, the data planning for multi-center clinical trials, with simultaneous progress in Beijing and at the grassroots level, making the data more convincing; and third, the support from overseas Chinese businesses and the Ministry of Commerce, letting them know that this plan is not something you are carrying out alone, but has multiple guarantees."

"Okay! I understand!" Fang Yan knew from this that Director Liao must have already spoken with Vice Minister Li.

Now it's just a matter of going through the procedures.

He kept these three points in mind, and then got into the car with Director Liao.

Anton followed in his car.

On the way, Fang Yan and Director Liao chatted for a while, and soon they arrived at the Xicheng District Health Department.

Upon entering the Ministry of Health building, Fang Yan and Director Liao made their way to the small conference room they had previously visited.

Just a few months ago, Fang Yan was here arguing with Vice Minister Li, Director Liao, Lao Hu, Director Sun, and Vice Minister Qiu about the number of researchers.

Today it's the same place, but the people aren't the same as before.

Upon entering, Vice Minister Li introduced the group to Fang Yan and his group:

"This is Director Ouyang of the Medical Administration Department, who is responsible for the management of medical institutions, training of primary care physicians, and supervision of program implementation."

"This is Director Dong of the Epidemic Prevention Department, who is in charge of infectious disease prevention and control policies."

"This is Director Kong of the Department of Drug Administration, who is in charge of drug approval."

"This is Director Wei of the Department of Primary Health Care, who is responsible for connecting rural pilot projects and promoting them, and coordinating primary health care resources."

"And this is Director Guo, who reviews applications for special grants and budget allocations."

Then he pointed to the other side:
"And members of our Ministry of Health's independent review expert group, Dr. Jiao Shude and Dr. Qin Bowei from the Central Medical and Health Care Group, as well as Dr. Wang Mianzhi."

Upon hearing the dialect, wow!
Director Dong is actually the former president of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Now he is the director in charge of infectious disease prevention and control policies?
Finally, there's the independent judging panel, which consists of one of my mentors and two of my mentors' friends.

These are all old acquaintances of mine.

I knew almost half of the people in the group.

Fang Yan quickly went up to shake hands and greet him.

The old dean smiled and nodded at Fang Yan:

"Long time no see. I didn't expect you to be leading such a large grassroots project now."

"You flatter me!" Fang Yan replied in a low voice.

When he arrived at his master Jiao Shude's place, he reminded Fang Yan:
"When I came here, I thought I misheard. It really was your proposal. You'll have to explain it properly later!"

"Okay!" Fang Yan nodded. He and his master hadn't interacted for a long time since they last saw each other at the People's Hotel. Mainly because it was difficult for Fang Yan to find out about his identity, as he was often in places that Fang Yan couldn't go to at all.

The capital city is so big, and he just happened to be in a place that ordinary people can't go to, so Fang Yan couldn't contact him even if she wanted to.

They only came out now because of this.

That's exactly how it was done by a proper imperial physician from the Imperial Medical Academy.

Therefore, Fang Yan has no desire to join this department.

He would rather go to the Ministry of Health than do that.

At least it's still a bit more free.

Of course, that's just a joke; that place isn't one that anyone can go to whenever they want.

Having good medical skills is just the basics.

After exchanging greetings, Vice Minister Li addressed Fang Yan:

"Alright, now that we know each other, Fang Yan, bring out your proposal and tell us about it!"

Fang Yan nodded, took out the proposal and the dialectical disc from his briefcase, and walked to the long table in the center of the conference room. He first placed the disc on the table, gently rotated it so that all the directors and experts could see its contents, and then began to speak:
"Distinguished leaders and experts, the grassroots liver disease prevention and treatment program I'm presenting today is based on the core of 'diagnosis disc plus concentrated medicine powder,' emphasizing 'simplicity, effectiveness, and ease of promotion.' I will now report on three key points, the first being the practicality of the tools..."

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words has been updated.

(End of this chapter)