I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine

"How’s the Traditional Chinese Medicine department at the health center?" Lin Fangling’s face visibly turned pale.

Lin Yongzhen replied, "In the provincial capital, there aren’t many health centers with a TCM department. In Yong City, there should be quite a few, because TCM develops a bit better there. But even if a TCM department is set up at a health center, I’m afraid not many would want to consult there."

"Why?" Lin Fangling persisted in asking.

Lin Yongzhen looked at Lin Fangling in surprise, feeling that something was a bit different about his aunt today. They had just been discussing the work situation of his cousin Lu Xuan, and suddenly she asked about health centers, particularly TCM departments. However, he didn’t think much of it, suppressing his doubts, he continued:

"Aunt, I thought you might have guessed this already."

"Compared to Western medicine, TCM is generally weaker. When most people fall ill, they think first of visiting a Western doctor, not a TCM doctor, unless there’s no other option. Even in a city like Yong City, where TCM is relatively better developed, it’s the same."

"Back when cousin Lu Xuan was applying for college entrance exams, I advised him not to apply to TCM schools, but he insisted, and there was nothing I could do. But now, the country is paying more attention to TCM, so its future development is promising."

"Moreover, if one truly studies TCM well and becomes skilled, there’ll be no lack of patients. So, Aunt, you don’t need to worry about that."

"But as for the TCM department in a health center, there probably wouldn’t be many people going there unless there’s a famous doctor practicing. Otherwise, patients truly dedicated to TCM would still opt for a TCM hospital. In cities like Yong City, many people would go to TCM clinics."

At this point, Lin Yongzhen curiously asked Lin Fangling, "Aunt, why are you asking about health centers?"

Lin Fangling initially didn’t want to say, but after thinking for a while, sighed, "Your cousin recently went to the street health center to be in charge of its TCM department."

"When did that happen?"

"I heard he was previously an assistant to a TCM doctor in a TCM hospital. Why did he go to the street health center?"

At this moment, Lin Yongzhen suddenly realized why his aunt had been asking him about the health center. It turned out, cousin Lu Xuan had gone to be in charge of the TCM department there.

Even so, Lin Yongzhen was still a bit surprised and even incredulous.

He knew very well how outstanding Lu Xuan was.

From childhood to now, Lu Xuan always had better grades than him, whether in middle school, high school, or graduate entrance exams.

In university, he won scholarships like it was nothing.

In his view, even though TCM is hard to learn and excel in, with Lu Xuan’s abilities, he could at least get into the city TCM hospital, if not the Provincial TCM Hospital, or even become an assistant or student to a national renowned TCM doctor.

Yet now, his aunt told him that Lu Xuan went to a street health center.

Although he’s in charge of the TCM department, that’s still not as good as being a regular doctor at the city TCM hospital, not even as good as an ordinary doctor at the District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Frankly speaking, if it were him, he’d rather choose to be an assistant than be in charge of a TCM department at a health center.

Given the situation at health centers, the TCM department might not even register two or three patients a year, unless one intends to stay there until retirement. Otherwise, it’s too difficult to move on from such a place.

Moreover, Lu Xuan went to the health center not long after graduating, and as the person in charge, it means there was just him in the TCM department.

For someone studying TCM, the first few years after graduation are usually spent being an assistant, following experienced TCM doctors to accumulate clinical experience. Only after becoming an attending TCM doctor and learning enough can one qualify to see patients independently.

But in Lu Xuan’s current situation, let alone accumulating clinical experience, staying at the health center for a decade or so, he might not even know how to take a pulse by then.

"Aunt, this..."

For a moment, Lin Yongzhen didn’t know what to say.

Now, he suddenly regretted painting such a grim picture of the health center.

Seeing Lin Yongzhen’s awkward expression, Lin Fangling restrained her inner helplessness and worry, about to speak when the door suddenly swung open.

Lin Fangling was startled, thinking it was Lu Guoquan who had returned. She took a breath and called out, "Guoquan, why are you back? Isn’t it busy at the clinic?"

"Fangling, it’s Lu who came back." Tao Xiuhua’s cheerful voice echoed from the doorway.

Lin Fangling was momentarily stunned, then quickly stood up and walked to the entrance from the living room. Sure enough, she saw her son standing at the doorway changing his shoes, immediately feeling overjoyed, "Xiaoxuan, why are you back?"

"It’s the Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays overlapping, and there’s not much happening at work, so I took an extra day off to come back. I meant to tell you earlier, but I forgot yesterday. By the time I remembered, I was already on my way, so I figured since I was coming back today, I wouldn’t mention it."

"I thought you wouldn’t be coming back for the holidays this time. You didn’t mention it the past few days. Really, coming back and not letting me know so I could prepare food for you. I’ll call your dad soon and tell him to come back early today and bring some of your favorite braised dishes on the way..."

Lu Xuan finished changing his shoes and tossed a pair to Ji Xiuwen, introducing, "Mom, this is my classmate and colleague, Ji Xiuwen."

Only then did Lin Fangling notice Ji Xiuwen behind Lu Xuan and quickly invited him in to sit.

After Ji Xiuwen changed his shoes, he greeted Lin Fangling with a smile, "Hello, Auntie, I’m Lu Xuan’s colleague, Ji Xiuwen."

"Hello, hello!"

Lin Fangling was all smiles.

Lu Xuan helped take the items Ji Xiuwen was holding and placed them aside, "This guy insisted on buying things even though I told him not to. He said since it’s his first time here, he has to bring something for you and Dad."

"You child, coming over is enough, why spend money?" Lin Fangling took the things Lu Xuan handed over and feigned annoyance.

Ji Xiuwen quickly explained, "Auntie, it’s just some fruits and snacks for you to try, didn’t cost much."

Lin Fangling said no more, inviting Ji Xiuwen to sit in the living room, while Lin Yongzhen, sitting on the sofa before, said somewhat tensely seeing Lu Xuan returned, "Xiaoxuan, I was just telling Aunt that you might not come back for the holiday. Didn’t expect just when I was talking about you, you arrived. Why didn’t you tell Aunt you were coming back?"

As he said this, he was thinking about what he had just discussed with Aunt Lin Fangling, feeling somewhat awkward in his heart.

Lu Xuan laughed, "Brother Yongzhen."

Lu Xuan greeted, explaining, "I decided at the last minute to take an extra day off and come back, so I didn’t say earlier. Brother, why did you come back early too? I heard the Second Provincial Hospital’s cardiothoracic department is very busy, even the interns are always busy there, and you’re close to becoming an attending, you shouldn’t have that much leave."

Lin Yongzhen replied, "It is busy, but with my abilities at the Second Provincial Heart Surgery, it doesn’t matter if I’m there or not. I figured I’d give the new interns some opportunities. After pestering our director relentlessly, he had no choice but to let me come back, though I’ll have to head back midway." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"By the way, how long are you staying this time?"

"About seven or eight days, coming back early, going back early." Lu Xuan said.

The two of them sat down to chat.

Lin Yongzhen came over intending to discuss Lu Xuan’s future career plans, but after learning that Lu Xuan went to a health center, he refrained from bringing it up, instead talking about Lu Xuan’s grandfather, Lu Qinian.

"Xiaoxuan, it’s just as well you’re back, take grandpa for a check-up at the hospital."

"What’s wrong with grandpa?"

Recalling that his aunt mentioned outside that his grandpa’s health wasn’t good, and now with his cousin saying it too, Lu Xuan grew a bit anxious.