第八章 讳疾忌医

During the Warring States period, there was a very famous doctor named Bian Que.

One day, Bian Que went to see Duke Huan of Cai. He stood beside him and observed for a while, then said, "A minor illness has just appeared in your body. The illness is still in a very shallow place; if treated promptly, it will be easy to cure."

Duke Huan of Cai did not feel any discomfort.

He replied, "I am in good health and don't need treatment."

After Bian Que left, Duke Huan said to those around him, "Some doctors like to treat people who are not sick. After treating them, they claim it is their own skill."

The people around him nodded in agreement.

Ten days later, Bian Que came to see Duke Huan again.

This time, he said, "Your illness has already gone a bit deeper than last time. If you treat it now, it's still not too late."

Duke Huan was very displeased. He turned away and stopped talking to Bian Que.

Bian Que had no choice but to leave again.

Another ten days passed, and Bian Que came to the palace for the third time.

After observing Duke Huan, he said seriously, "The illness has entered the interior of the body. If it is not treated now, it will cause great trouble later."

Duke Huan still did not believe him.

Although he occasionally felt somewhat fatigued, he thought it was just due to lack of rest. Each time Bian Que came, he described the illness as more serious, which made him even more suspicious that the doctor was deliberately frightening him.

"Don't say any more. I am not sick."

Bian Que did not continue to persuade him.

Ten days later, he came to see Duke Huan for the fourth time.

This time, Bian Que saw Duke Huan from a distance and immediately turned around to leave.

Duke Huan found it strange and immediately sent someone to catch up with him.

"Sir, in previous visits you always said the king was ill. Why don't you say a word today?"

Bian Que replied, "When we first met, the illness was still in a very shallow place and could be treated with simple methods. Later it gradually went deeper, making treatment more difficult each time."

"Now it is too late. No matter what I say, it is useless."

After saying this, Bian Que left the state of Cai.

A few days later, Duke Huan suddenly felt severe pain.

This time, he finally believed that he was truly ill. He immediately sent people to look for Bian Que, hoping that Bian Que would return to treat him.

But Bian Que had already traveled far away.

Duke Huan then called other doctors, but his condition was already beyond control. Soon, he grew more and more ill and eventually lost his life.

He waited until the pain appeared before he believed Bian Que's words.

But not feeling something does not mean it hasn't happened. By the time he felt it, it was already too late.

Later, people used the idiom "huì jí jì yī" (concealing illness and avoiding medical treatment) to mean: having a problem but being unwilling to listen to others' advice, and unwilling to face and solve it.