Chapter 202 James's Aura
Everyone turned to James, his commanding presence silencing the room. Even the most agitated family member seemed hesitant to challenge him, his aura radiating unexpected authority.
Jennifer was also taken aback. This forceful side of James was a stark contrast to his usual easygoing demeanor.
The silence stretched for a beat, then two, before a man stepped forward, his face a mask of grief and anger. "You're saying this is our fault? My father-in-law is paralyzed, and you're acting like it's nothing!"
"He was fine until he took your herbal concoctions!" another voice chimed in, the accusation echoing through the room. "Now he can't even move his legs, his face is slack… and you think you can just brush us off?"
Emboldened by the first speaker, other family members joined in, their words a torrent of blame and resentment. While they no longer dared to be as openly hostile, their insinuations stung.
James frowned, his usual gentle nature hardening in the face of their blind accusations. "Who told you the Hall of Benevolent Medicine was to blame?"
The first man, emboldened by the presence of his family, puffed out his chest, regaining some of his bluster. "It was the doctor from the clinic next door, Guadalupe! He said so!"
"And what exactly did he say?" James asked, his voice calm but firm, his hands clasped behind his back.
The man, thrown off balance by James's composure, found himself responding with surprising civility. "He said… he said the herbs you prescribed were all wrong, that they caused my father-in-law's condition. He said traditional medicine is a sham, good for nothing but making you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Like Tai Chi – all fraud, according to him."
As the family members repeated Guadalupe's slanderous words, James felt a surge of anger, not for himself, but for the integrity of traditional medicine. Jennifer and the two interns, their faces flushed with indignation, could barely contain their outrage.
James had become the de facto leader of the Hall of Benevolent Medicine without even realizing it. Jennifer stood slightly behind him, her trust in his judgment absolute. It was a dynamic neither of them could have imagined just a few weeks ago.
Seeing James's calm demeanor, the family members' confidence wavered, and their voices gradually softened.
"Are you quite finished?" James asked, his voice steady. "Now, it's my turn to speak."
He waited until he had their full attention. "So, you're telling me that you believe the Hall of Benevolent Medicine is responsible for this man's paralysis based solely on the word of this… quack? Without a shred of evidence?"
"Well, it's not like traditional medicine is a real solution these days, is it?" one of the family members retorted. "Even the big hospitals are all about modern medicine now!"
James chuckled humorlessly. "You're all grown adults, some of you with children of your own. How can you be so quick to accept whatever you're told without a single thought of your own?"
His words, though measured, struck a nerve. The family members bristled, and their anger reignited.
"What are you implying?" one of them shouted.
"Watch your tone!" another chimed in.
"You're trying to weasel your way out of this, aren't you? Well, it won't work!"
James sighed inwardly. It was disheartening for him to see how easily manipulated they were.
He said, "Did I say anything that wasn't true? Let's look at the facts, shall we? The elderly gentleman came to us last week complaining of feeling unwell. Dr. Johnson examined him and informed you that he was showing signs of a potential stroke."
"He advised a healthy diet, proper exercise, and even speech therapy to mitigate the risk. He also prescribed two doses of mild herbal medicine, nothing that could worsen his condition. We have the prescriptions on file, and you're welcome to have them verified by any reputable doctor."
He continued, his voice calm and steady, cutting through their anger, "When the elderly gentleman felt unwell again, you chose to believe the fear-mongering of a modern doctor instead of seeking follow-up care from us. You went to that clinic, and I'm willing to bet that the doctor there, eager for a quick fix, dismissed his symptoms as something minor and prescribed strong Western medication, assuring you that he'd be right as rain in no time. Am I right?"
The family members stared at him, their faces a mixture of shock and confusion. The first man, his bravado gone, stammered, "H-how did you know?"
James ignored him, pressing his advantage. "The reason the elderly gentleman is paralyzed is that the doctor at that clinic failed to recognize the warning signs of a stroke. He was so focused on alleviating the immediate discomfort that he prescribed powerful medication without considering the potential consequences. On the first day, the elderly gentleman was unusually drowsy, sleeping far more than usual. By the third day, he was paralyzed. Am I right?"
Silence descended upon the room, heavy and absolute. The family members were speechless, their faces pale with dawning realization. Even the elderly man in the wheelchair seemed agitated, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and understanding.
"As I said," James continued, his voice unwavering, "the Hall of Benevolent Medicine has nothing to hide. If you still have any questions, take him to Digital Health Hospital. Have them run tests and compare our prescriptions to the ones from that clinic. The truth will speak for itself."
His words hung in the air, heavy with conviction. The crowd, their anger replaced by uncertainty, began to murmur amongst themselves.
"He has a point. I've never heard of anyone being paralyzed by traditional medicine."
"Yeah, those herbal remedies are usually pretty mild. It's the Western stuff that knocks you on your backside."
"That's right! I went to that clinic once for a cold, and the medicine they gave me knocked me out for two days straight!"
The tide was turning. The crowd, initially hostile and accusatory, now viewed the Western clinic with suspicion.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the murmuring, sharp and indignant. "Lies! This is all lies!"
Three figures pushed their way through the crowd, their faces a mixture of anger and apprehension. It was Guadalupe and his two colleagues. They had been watching from the sidelines, hoping to see the Hall of Benevolent Medicine crumble under the weight of the accusations. But James's unexpected eloquence and the crowd's shifting opinion had forced their hand.
All eyes turned to Guadalupe as he jabbed a finger at James. "Who are you to question my methods? My prescriptions are all FDA-approved and rigorously tested! There's nothing wrong with them!"
James met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "I never said there was anything wrong with your medicine. I said there was something wrong with your prescription. You failed to diagnose your patient properly and prescribed strong medication without considering the risks. That is what led to his paralysis."
"Silence!" Guadalupe roared, his face contorted with rage. "How dare you! Do you think you know more than I do? I graduated from Virtual Medical University, the top medical university! I was the Chief Physician at Virtual Care Hospital! I've treated more patients in a week than you've seen in your entire life! What gives you the right to question my judgment?"
He rattled off his credentials as if they were impenetrable armor, hoping to cow James into submission.
In his eyes, James was just the clinic owner's husband, a nobody with no medical training.
James, however, was unfazed. He knew that engaging in a battle of credentials would be pointless.
"Being a good doctor does not necessarily need titles or degrees," James stated, his voice calm but firm.
Guadalupe sensed an opportunity.
'Eloquent though he might be, he clearly had no formal medical background. That's why he kept deflecting questions about his qualifications,' he thought.
"You've said a lot," Guadalupe sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "But you still haven't told us who you are. Are you even qualified to speak for this clinic? Are you even a real doctor?"
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