As soon as Old Hughes finished speaking, everyone present was in an uproar, whispering among themselves.
"So, she is the young highly skilled doctor favored by Old Hughes and Old Wright?"
"Ah, I remember now. Miss Jones attended Old Wright's birthday banquet. No wonder she looked so familiar."
"Why didn't you mention this earlier? We might have offended her!"
"So what if we offended her? She looks so striking. Who knows what means she used to gain Old Wright and Old Hughes' favor."
"Besides, she's so young. What skills could she possibly have?"
Deanna wasn't surprised by their skepticism. After all, her age was evident, and she was indeed very young. Moreover, she wasn't good with words and had no significant achievements to showcase at the moment. So, she chose to remain silent, planning to prove herself through her actions.
Old Hughes noticed this and nodded approvingly. She was indeed an impressive girl, and could remain calm and composed despite these harsh criticism.
"The main physician for today's free clinic is Dr. Deanna before you. If you have any issues, you can seek her treatment," he announced again to the crowd.
The others exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. Consequently, no one stepped forward for quite a while.
Seeing this, Deanna remained patient, quietly sitting at her desk.
After some time, an elderly man walked out shakily and spoke to Deanna in a hoarse voice, "My back and legs have been injured for many years. Old Hughes said your acupuncture skills are excellent. Can you help me?"
Deanna was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected anyone to trust her enough to seek her treatment. She looked the old man up and down, noting his kind eyes and righteous aura, which made her feel a surge of goodwill. She nodded in agreement.
"I can take a look at you, but I need to understand your condition first. Please come this way."
Deanna invited the old man to sit in front of her.
The old man nodded and sat down opposite her, offering his wrist without being prompted.
Deanna smiled slightly and began to take his pulse. As time passed, her smile gradually faded, her brows furrowed, and her expression became serious. She hadn't expected the old man's injuries to be worse than she had imagined.
"Could you lift your shirt and pant legs? I need to see the injured areas."
"Of course."
The old man lifted his shirt and pant legs, revealing several gruesome scars.
From the shape of these scars, Deanna could tell that the old man must have been a soldier in his youth.
"Sir, you must have been shot when you were younger. That's why every time the weather changes or it gets cold, your joints and muscles ache unbearably. Sometimes it's so severe that you can't get out of bed. Is that correct?"
Deanna summarized her findings and looked at the old man.
Both the old man and his granddaughter were stunned, looking at her in amazement.
Clearly, everything Deanna had said was true.
The young woman exclaimed, "You're right. Every time it rains, my grandfather's spine and knees hurt so much that he can't get out of bed."
The old man also nodded in appreciation.
"Though you're young, your medical skills are indeed extraordinary. No wonder Old Hughes recommended you."
Deanna felt a bit embarrassed by the praise. "Old Hughes values talent and has praised me too much. I still have many areas where I need to learn from my seniors."
The old man nodded and then asked, "Is there hope for my condition?"
He smiled bitterly as he spoke.
"It's not that I'm afraid of pain; it's just that when the pain flares up, it's unbearable. Sometimes I feel like ending it all just to escape the agony!"
"Grandfather, don't say such things!"
The young woman scolded him with a stern face.
Then she looked at Deanna pleadingly and said, "Dr. Deanna, Old Hughes said your medical skills are exceptional. Please help my grandfather. Even if you can't cure him completely, alleviating the pain would be a great relief."
Deanna didn't refuse.
"While I can't guarantee a complete cure, if you trust me, there are treatments available. At the very least, this winter will be more bearable for you."
She directed her last words to the old man.
The old man looked pleased. "With Old Hughes' endorsement, I trust you completely. What do I need to do?"
"You don't need to do anything special; just cooperate with my treatment."
Deanna then explained her preliminary treatment plan in detail.
Finally, she smiled lightly and said, "If you have no objections, we can start the first session today."
"I have no objections."
The old man was eager to begin treatment as soon as possible.
Thus, Deanna started his acupuncture treatment.
Many people on-site remained skeptical but stayed to see the results of the old man's treatment.
About half an hour later, Deanna removed the needles and concluded the session.
The old man's body was covered with dark bruises-blood clots that Deanna had cleared from his system.
At that moment, the old man felt lighter than he had in a long time.