Invincible Divine Doctor of the Beautiful Lady-Chapter 668 - 648: Making Traditional Chinese Medicine a Spirit

"Divine Doctor Tang, oh no, Director Tang, this is Director Ouyang’s office." The nurse led Tangyu to Ouyang Mulin’s office door but didn’t knock directly.

"Hmm, thank you. You can go back to work now," Tangyu said, nodding his head.

The female nurse instantly became infatuated, gazing at Tangyu, her heart blooming with joy, the happiness sweet as honey. She stayed put for a good two or three seconds before covering her face and running off. Tangyu shook his head, amused—little girls are cute. After the nurse left, Tangyu knocked on the door and soon a voice with a hint of authority said, "Come in."

Tangyu pushed the door open and went in. He saw Ouyang Mulin intently reading some patient files until he looked up when Tangyu approached. Ouyang Mulin was slightly surprised to see him but then immediately stood up, smiling, "Tangyu, you’re back."

"Yes, I’m back, and it was about time I came over," Tangyu said with a smile.

Ouyang Mulin nodded and said, "It’s great that you’re back. Without you, our Traditional Chinese Medicine department would be like a dragon without a head. These past few days have been quite tough on my old bones. If it weren’t for those guys working overtime every day, I would have had an even harder time. Now that the rightful director is back, this old man can finally take a breather."

"Uh, Senior Ouyang, I’m okay with treating patients, but if you ask me to deal with this stuff, then please, spare me. I’m a high school dropout and illiterate; looking at these things gives me a headache. I’ve already told Chairman Bi that I’m just a nominal director. I’ll only take action if the hospital has patients it can’t cure. Otherwise, I’m just making an appearance. The real leader of the Traditional Chinese Medicine department is still you, Senior Ouyang," Tangyu quickly shook his head, declining the tiresome task. Taking it on would be more trouble than it’s worth.

Ouyang Mulin frowned slightly and shook his head, "In that case, let it be. I, the old man, will just have to work harder. Alas, being old is not very useful. A little bit more workload, and I start feeling uncomfortable all over. But having you as our trump card is still a contribution to our department. Besides, at this critical moment, we really are afraid of getting patients that are too challenging. Without proper backup, that would be indeed worrying."

Tangyu pouted, "What’s there to be afraid of? Even without me, there’s still Rao Yuanzhi. His medical skills are almost as good as mine. With him holding the fort, there shouldn’t be any problems." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"Rao Divine Needle has impressive medical skills, but he doesn’t have your reputation and draw," Ouyang Mulin said.

What Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) needs most now is a strong call to action. And Tangyu, is undeniably a living emblem of TCM. As long as he is around, the TCM hospital’s patient numbers will surely not dwindle. By slowly building up in this way, people will increasingly put their faith in TCM, and more and more people will choose it. With time and steady accumulation, the day of TCM’s prosperity will eventually arrive. It is a long-term goal and a protracted battle. If TCM wants to go further, it must always maintain a certain stature, a level that Western medicine cannot reach, only then will there be hope for its flourishing.

Ouyang Mulin had Tangyu take a seat and poured him a cup of tea.

"Tangyu, ever since the TCM hospital was separated and became independent, the number of patients has skyrocketed. Now, the patient volume at the TCM hospital can almost rival that of Donglin First Hospital. However, our TCM hospital is too limited in personnel and size to accommodate so many patients. I have even transferred Liu Shiyi and Rao Yuanzhen over, but we are still desperately short of medical staff. This is a great opportunity. If we in TCM can seize this chance for development, then we won’t have to worry about TCM not thriving," Ouyang Mulin said with grave earnestness.

Tangyu shook his head and said, "There’s nothing that can be done about this. The decline of TCM is a collective one. Although we have won the exchange conference between TCM and Western medicine and shone brilliantly for TCM, it was only a victory for a few of us—or perhaps, more accurately, it was just my victory alone. For TCM to truly flourish and stand shoulder to shoulder with Western medicine, the journey is still very long. Such a pattern cannot change overnight; it requires an extended period. TCM is the essence of Huaxia’s culture, a national heritage, and even more so, a spirit. By instilling TCM as a spirit, we can get more people to like TCM, to learn it, to master it, and only then can TCM truly prosper. To save TCM.. hmph, I don’t think I have the capability. No matter how impressive I am, I am but one person. The strength of one person often seems insignificant, so small. Yet the strength of millions is powerful and formidable when their small contributions are pooled together. Therefore, the real saviors of TCM are all those around the world who love it; only when they have learned TCM well will it truly become strong."

Tangyu’s words deeply shocked Ouyang Mulin, who stared at him for a good while before coming to his senses and nodding emphatically, "Yes, yes, you are absolutely right, Tangyu. TCM should indeed become a spirit. Yes, I was too impatient, too eager to see TCM grow strong quickly. Your words have truly awakened me from a dream. I had been daydreaming. It is indeed a long-term battle, as it is said, ’Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ The path TCM has to walk is indeed very long. However, I believe that little changes can lead to more changes. Using this opportunity to help patients believe in TCM is also a good start. These small changes, I believe, will gradually lead to bigger changes."

"Let’s hope so," Tangyu nodded.

The two chatted for a while longer, and naturally, they enjoyed themselves with a shared topic.

"Talking with you for a while, I feel I’ve gained a lot, Tangyu. Your perspective is truly admirable. You think about problems from a further and broader view than I do. I must admit it," Ouyang Mulin said.

Tangyu replied, "Ouyang, you flatter me with your words. I am merely strategizing on paper. By the way, Ouyang, I also came to see everyone, to see where they are working. It’s getting late, and I should go see them. I still have something to do tonight."

Ouyang Mulin shook his head, "Everyone is surely very busy at the moment, and with patients around, if you go to find them directly, you may get surrounded by patients. Besides, you don’t intend to see each person, do you? Liu Shiyi and Rao Yuanzhen are together; since they are both new, we placed them in a group. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll call Liu Shiyi over. Oh, and by the way, I also have something to take care of. Just sit here and wait, and I’ll go call Liu Shiyi." With that, Ouyang Mulin got up and left.

"Senior Ouyang, I—" Tangyu did want to clear things up, but Ouyang Mulin had already left the room, not giving Tangyu a chance to explain. Tangyu pursed her lips and shook her head; in truth, the one she most wanted to see was naturally Liu Shiyi. As for the others, it didn’t matter whether she saw them or not; they had only been apart for a few days, after all. What was there to see about a bunch of grown men?

It wasn’t long before Liu Shiyi walked in. Spotting Tangyu, a glimmer of joy flashed in her eyes, but she quickly hid it away. Due to the last incident, their meeting was still somewhat awkward, and Liu Shiyi quietly took a seat opposite Tangyu. The two of them faced each other, neither speaking for a while.

"How has work been for you here? Are you getting used to it?" Tangyu broke the silence.

Liu Shiyi nodded, "It’s quite good. Although I’m not very familiar with many things, I’m in the same group as Rao Yuanzhen, who is much better than me. I should be fine after a few days of getting used to it."

"Oh, that’s good," Tangyu nodded.

The silence fell between them again; an awkward atmosphere that had never happened between them before.

It wasn’t that there was nothing to talk about. Tangyu felt that he had a lot to say, but when he tried to speak, he couldn’t find the words. Tangyu knew that Liu Shiyi was still angry with him over the last incident.

After a silence that lasted a full ten minutes, Liu Shiyi said, "If you have nothing to say to me, then I’m going to get back to work."

"Ah, no, I do have something to say. Don’t go. The thing is—the last time, I was wrong, and I want to apologize to you," Tangyu immediately said.

Liu Shiyi felt a jolt in her heart and bit her lip, "Are you apologizing for what you said to me last time?" In fact, while she spoke, there was an inexplicable pain in her heart.

She didn’t know why, nor dared to be certain, whether she truly had fallen for Tangyu. Maybe she had, or maybe—she hadn’t reached that stage yet. Anyway, whenever she thought about it, her mind became a mess. She didn’t know how to face it, how to choose. Tangyu had a girlfriend; if she accepted his love, then what would she be? A home wrecker? A mistress? She couldn’t accept such a label, so her mind was in turmoil.

Tangyu shook his head, "Of course not. What I told you was sincere, from the bottom of my heart. I’m apologizing because I kissed you forcefully that day. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have been so impulsive. Please, stop being mad at me, okay?"

Liu Shiyi suddenly felt like crying, unsure whether it was because she was touched or because her heart ached.

Those words were sincere; Tangyu really did have feelings for her, but what about her?

She longed to pin down the answer in her heart, but at this moment her thoughts were so scrambled, she had no idea what the answer was.

"Let’s just forget it. It’s all in the past now, let’s not bring it up anymore," Liu Shiyi said.

"I won’t mention it again, but please don’t be unhappy. Seeing you sad makes me sad too. Your unhappiness affects my own emotions," Tangyu said with a look of heartache. He had never been so forward with his confessions to Huangfu Jing, Fang Min, Liu Shanshan, or Song Qingyu, but for Liu Shiyi, he had. Perhaps because she needed protection more, or perhaps it was a momentary impulse.

Liu Shiyi shook her head, nearly bursting into tears, "Okay, stop it. I’m not unhappy. I really have to go back to work; there are a lot of patients waiting for me." With that, Liu Shiyi stood up and turned to leave.

Tangyu didn’t stop her; letting her cool down alone at this point was probably the best approach. His confession had already become a knot in her heart. Emotional wounds need emotional medicine. If she couldn’t overcome the hurdle in her heart by herself, then no one else could help her.