Chapter 808: A Different Realm

Chapter 808: Chapter 808: A Different Realm

In the Xinglin circle of Feng City, nearly all the higher-ups placed great hopes on Ju Jiahong.

He was the maternal grandson of Elder Song, Song Luojun. Born into a prestigious family and endowed with exceptional talent, he was regarded as a future leading figure who could enter the Healthcare Bureau and represent the pinnacle of Feng City’s TCM.

Ju Jiahong looked calm. He didn’t appear gloomy from being defeated in the morning’s debate; instead, he acted very magnanimously. "Dr. Li’s thinking is very active. Over the past few years, I’ve indeed been staying on the clinical frontlines at Renmin Hospital. Most of what I’ve encountered is a mature medical system, so I rarely hear such impactful voices anymore. His words today really gave me a refreshing feeling."

"The fact that you can think this way shows that your perspective hasn’t changed." Hao Xiangchen gave Ju Jiahong an approving look before changing the subject, his tone becoming a bit more profound. "However, Jiahong, have you ever thought about why Li Xu can see things that you ’can’t see’ or ’subconsciously choose to ignore’?"

Ju Jiahong froze slightly, the teacup in his hand pausing in mid-air.

Hao Xiangchen smiled and explained, "The patient demographic you face at Feng City People’s Hospital is rather special. It’s the medical high ground of the entire province. Seeking stability is not just the hospital’s requirement, but a necessity dictated by its ecosystem. Just as you mentioned earlier, TCM is a supplementary treatment there, the icing on the cake, because no one can bear the responsibility if something goes wrong."

As a senior, Hao Xiangchen saw right through Ju Jiahong’s attitude. Ju Jiahong came from a prestigious family and started from a very high vantage point. The moment he entered the industry, he was part of the regular army, the imperial guard. Furthermore, his mentors were all experts at playing it safe. Over time, Ju Jiahong naturally gained an extra layer of caution in his medical practice, while losing a bit of wildness.

Dong Yongnian had always stayed in large hospitals and deeply agreed with this "high-level logic." But Hao Xiangchen was different; he had tested his way up from grassroots clinics step by step. He knew very well that the foundation of Li Xu’s "unconventional methods" was built upon the grassroots environment where one had to risk everything. At the grassroots level, TCM was sometimes the only hope. If one didn’t fight, didn’t scramble, and didn’t use heavy doses of medicine, the patient might truly lose their life. Li Xu’s understanding was the product of the game between life and survival.

Hao Xiangchen actually wanted to subtly remind Ju Jiahong that starting from too high a point could sometimes prevent a person from seeing what the ground truly looked like. But looking at Ju Jiahong’s face, which practically screamed "excellence," he knew this genius might not be willing to listen.

Sure enough, Ju Jiahong pondered for a moment before putting down his teacup. His eyes revealed the rationality of a chief physician. "Secretary-General Hao is right; environment really does affect one’s mindset. The patient demographic at Feng City People’s Hospital is special. As a doctor, stability is the greatest medical ethic.

"Li Xu came up from grassroots clinics. His ’surprise attack’ approach can indeed solve some extreme problems. But in the long run, under a modernized medical management system, advancing steadily and avoiding risks is the right path.

"Li Xu might feel like he’s ’losing ground’ right now, but once he reaches my position, he’ll slowly come to understand this point."

Hao Xiangchen’s smile stiffened slightly upon hearing this. He originally wanted to awaken Ju Jiahong to the fact that his "stability" existed because he was detached from the truest suffering, while Li Xu’s "aggressiveness" existed because he bore the heaviest of entrustments. But he hadn’t expected Ju Jiahong to actually downgrade Li Xu’s level of attainment to a frivolous phase that all young people must go through.

Hao Xiangchen sighed inwardly. He realized that the more of a genius someone was, the more conceited they were. A genius like Ju Jiahong had never lost, so he naturally assumed that the rules he grasped were the only right path. Even if he fell disadvantaged in a debate, he just chalked it up to Li Xu’s eloquence or a "survivorship bias" in low-probability events, rather than a gap in their medical understanding.

In his heart, Ju Jiahong had already slapped a label on Li Xu: an extremely talented "wild genius" with an unorthodox approach, who was slightly reckless due to a lack of grooming by a top-tier hospital.

"It seems Jiahong is quite ’protective’ of Li Xu," Dong Yongnian joked with a laugh. He hadn’t thought about it that deeply.

"I just feel that TCM is currently in a weak position, and it’s not easy to produce a capable young TCM doctor." Ju Jiahong returned to his elegant, commanding demeanor. "For tomorrow’s clinical exchange, I will present a rather typical case. I hope Dr. Li can comprehend the weight of ’stability’ in modern TCM through this specific instance."

When he said this, Ju Jiahong’s tone was no longer that of an equal debate. Instead, it carried a faint sense of superiority—like a senior guiding a junior, or a Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch favoring a rising star.

Later that afternoon.

In the small garden outside the restaurant, Lin Guorui and Li Xu walked side by side.

"Dean Li, the move you pulled today shocked quite a few people," Lin Guorui sighed in amazement. "Especially Liu Haixue and those from the affiliated hospital—the way they look at you has completely changed. Before, everyone thought your skills were just rumors, but with today’s debate, they’ve finally witnessed your level of attainment."

Li Xu shook his head. "It’s not about attainment. Over these years at the grassroots level, I’ve seen too many patients whose conditions dragged on into terminal illnesses simply because they missed out on TCM treatment. I just feel somewhat indignant about it. Director Ju is a pure person; he just hasn’t experienced the helplessness of the grassroots yet."

"True," Lin Guorui nodded. "Ju Jiahong is Song Luojun’s grandson. With his prominent family background, all he sees is the most glamorous side of TCM. But what you see is its truest side."

"However, you really need to be careful during tomorrow’s segment." Lin Guorui’s expression turned serious. "The clinical exchange isn’t just about talking. They will bring out the most difficult and representative real medical cases from their respective hospitals. Renmin Hospital’s TCM department has admitted many strange, difficult, and complicated diseases over the years. Ju Jiahong definitely has quite a few ’trump cards’ up his sleeve."

Li Xu smiled, his gaze turning toward the distant skyline. "It’s an exchange conference, after all. It would be so boring without any difficult problems."

At this moment, Li Xu didn’t have much desire to win or lose. What he truly cared about was whether this opportunity could allow these young elites—who controlled Feng City’s best medical resources—to rediscover the backbone of being a TCM practitioner.

At five-thirty, the afternoon meeting concluded right on time.

As the host, New World Hotel provided deluxe standard rooms for all the attending doctors. After dinner, many doctors weren’t in a hurry to go home and chose to stay at the hotel instead. Some sweated it out in the gym, while others continued small-scale academic discussions in the cafe.

Li Xu, Lin Guorui, and the Liu family brothers gathered in a large suite.

"Hey, I’ve got inside information!" Just as everyone was discussing an afternoon report on the scientific research and transformation of traditional Chinese medicine, the youngest brother of the Liu family, Liu Haofei, pushed the door open, his face covered in mystery.