At that time, a patient was always accompanied by two bearers and another referrer. Yang's grandmother not only charged quite low fees for the medical service, but also provided meals for all of them.

When Yang turned 18, he chose to learn traditional Chinese medicine to make a living.

Before being apprenticed to a veteran TCM doctor, Yang had to kneel down and answer a series of questions.

For example, would you visit a patient in urgent condition at midnight? Would you go to see a patient living miles away? Would you still make the visit during rainy and snowy days?

Yang said "yes" to all the questions and he never dares to forget them to this day.

There is a blue blackboard hanging on the front door of Yang's house which reads: "Warm Tip: Dear patients, the working time of the clinic will be 8 am-12:30 pm and 1:30-6 pm. Visitors are not accepted at other time. Please understand."

The notice was meant to take effect from Feb 26, 2011.

However, it has never worked at all. Visitors believe that whenever they come, Doctor Yang will be right here waiting for them. Some patients even knock on the door at midnight and wake up the whole family.

Yang's children worry that the work is too tiring and they have urged him to close the clinic many times.

"I never feel tired," he says. "It has become a part of my everyday life after years of practice. Actually, what I have done is simply chat with the patients and some of them are also my old friends.

"Moreover, it is a real pleasure when I can cure their illnesses."

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