Chapter 795: Exchange Meeting

Chapter 795: Chapter 795: Exchange Meeting

Lunch break.

In the cafeteria of the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Li Xu and Song Sisi sat by the window. Due to yesterday’s commotion, the attention Li Xu drew while walking through the hospital was more than tenfold compared to before.

"Look, that’s Dean Li. I heard that at the medical college yesterday, he smashed the podium with one palm... oh wait, no, he spat... no, that’s not it either. He recited the entire ’Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor’ backward with his eyes closed." Two newly hired young nurses at the next table whispered, their eyes sparkling with adoration.

Song Sisi couldn’t help but laugh while nibbling on a spare rib. "Li Xu, your reputation in the hospital and the medical college is almost turning you into a mythological figure. I just heard someone say you diagnosed patients from a distance in class yesterday, and even calculated exactly how much money was in their pockets."

Li Xu’s face darkened with exasperation. "That’s completely ridiculous. If these rumors keep spreading, they’ll probably say I can fly by tomorrow."

As they spoke, several doctors from the Emergency Department’s Orthopedic Trauma division carried their trays and sat down nearby. Ren Hongbo, the deputy director of Orthopedic Trauma, was already sitting there, but at this moment, his face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

"Director Ren, why aren’t you eating? The braised pork tastes pretty good," a familiar doctor asked casually.

Ren Hongbo slammed his chopsticks onto his plate, let out an annoyed snort, and stood up to leave.

Watching Ren Hongbo’s departing figure, the younger doctors exchanged glances and couldn’t help but lower their voices to gossip.

"It’d be a miracle if Director Ren was in a good mood today. A few days ago, he was supposed to take over that diabetic foot patient, but Dean Li stepped in and stopped him. At the time, Director Ren swore the leg had to be amputated. But guess what? That patient was discharged this morning."

"I saw it too! The patient was rolling his own wheelchair, leaving with a huge grin. I heard that the blackened, necrotic toes have already grown healthy new pink flesh. Director Ren’s face has practically been slapped swollen."

"Sigh, that’s the gap in skill. Director Ren climbed the ranks by grinding out his seniority, while Dean Li was practically spoon-fed his talent by the heavens. If I were Director Ren, I’d quickly accept reality and steer clear of him from now on."

"You think you can accept reality? You didn’t go to the medical college yesterday, did you? I heard from my cousin that the whole place went crazy. Dean Li’s aura when he stood on that stage—he wasn’t just giving a lecture; he was like an Immortal descending to the mortal realm to read a holy decree. Is there a single doctoral or master’s student at that school who doesn’t idolize Li Xu now? I heard that early this morning, the number of people reciting the ’Inner Jing’ in the library tripled. They were all trying to see if they could memorize it backward."

Hearing this gossip, Li Xu shook his head helplessly. He hadn’t actually wanted to target Ren Hongbo; he simply wanted to save a patient’s leg. But in the workplace—especially in a highly hierarchical public hospital—your success often meant someone else’s failure.

"Li Xu, don’t worry about what they say," Song Sisi reached out and gently squeezed the back of his hand. "You did the right thing. You saved a living, breathing person. That jealousy and those rumors are nothing but dust on a medal."

Li Xu returned a gentle smile. "Don’t worry, I’m not that fragile."

He turned his head to look at the sunlight in the hospital garden outside the window. To Li Xu, the position of Vice Dean, the title of a master teacher, and even this widespread reverence were merely superficial things. What he enjoyed most was still the feeling of control when facing a complex medical condition—his mind racing at lightning speed, ultimately turning the tide with a single prescription.

Meanwhile, in the Dean’s office at the Feng City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Dean Song had just put down the receiver of his landline. A moment later, he dialed the Internal Medicine ward.

"Hello, Dean Song?" Lin Guorui answered, a bit surprised, having just finished reviewing a ward round record. "Is there something you need?"

"Guorui, it’s like this," Dean Song said slowly, leaning back in his swivel chair. "The Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Renmin Hospital is taking the lead to host a Feng City Young TCM Practitioners Exchange Conference next week. It’s quite a large scale, and all the outstanding young TCM practitioners in the city will be attending. Prepare things on your end and bring a few people to participate."

"Alright, understood." Lin Guorui smiled. Routine academic exchanges like this happened every year and weren’t anything special. "Dean Song, why did you personally call to arrange such a minor matter?"

"There’s one more thing. This is a personal request from Ju Jiahong over at Renmin Hospital. He specifically named Li Xu, hoping he would attend as well." Dean Song paused. "I just called Li Xu’s cell phone, but he must be busy because no one answered. You’re close by, so head over later and tell him in person."

Lin Guorui froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "I never expected this. That Ju Jiahong is the benchmark for the younger generation in our province. He’s always been incredibly arrogant and rarely takes the initiative to organize social exchanges like this. He actually called to invite him personally this time?"

"For all we know, this exchange conference might have been organized specifically for Li Xu." Dean Song chuckled. "Don’t you know what kind of person Ju Jiahong is? He’s the precious darling of the TCM Department at Renmin Hospital. The hospital leadership is grooming him to be a future healthcare expert."

Hearing the words "healthcare expert," Lin Guorui’s expression grew a bit more solemn.

Within the medical system, the pinnacle of professional titles might be a chief physician or professor. But for that tiny handful of geniuses standing at the very peak, becoming an expert at the Healthcare Bureau was the true endgame. That meant not only possessing top-tier medical skills but also wielding an extremely high social status and having connections that reached the highest echelons of power. In the past, that position would be akin to the Chief Imperial Physician in the Imperial Hospital—a reserve force for National-level Imperial Physicians.

And Ju Jiahong was exactly this kind of seeded candidate, regarded on the caliber of a Saint Heir. Having earned the title of full senior professional at just thirty-eight, he was practically a massive mountain pressing down on all the young practitioners in the Feng City TCM community.

"If you put it that way, it’s actually quite possible." Lin Guorui recalled what happened yesterday. "Li Xu’s lecture at Feng City Medical College yesterday was indeed astonishing. I heard that even Dean Ai attended in person and couldn’t stop praising him afterward. Since Ju Jiahong is an outstanding talent cultivated by that very medical college, he definitely couldn’t sit still."

"No wonder. Scholars tend to look down on each other, and doctors are no different," Dean Song said with a smile. "Alright, that’s all. Go find him in a bit."

"Dean Li has been in the Emergency Department all this time," Lin Guorui said.

"Why did he go to the Emergency Department? Isn’t he stationed at the Internal Medicine expert clinic?" Dean Song asked in surprise.

Lin Guorui’s tone grew rather peculiar, laced with a mix of admiration and helplessness. "He was dragged over by Zeng Yunjun to guide their work. Zeng Yunjun said that although Dean Li mainly specializes in TCM, his surgical skills are uncannily good. A few days ago, a patient with a severe spleen rupture was brought in. Dean Li didn’t just participate in drafting the treatment plan; he personally stepped up to the operating table and took part in the total splenectomy. His suturing technique was so incredible that it left Zeng Yunjun completely dumbfounded."