Chapter 103: The First Hospital of West City

Chen Xuebin couldn’t tell if she truly didn’t understand or was just pretending to be clueless; after that, he stopped probing—one probing sentence could leave him gasping like a heart attack, so why bother.

The group arrived at the bus stop, boarded the bus headed for West City First Hospital, and got off at a stop near the hospital.

Principal Xu turned back and said, “Yuxiu, stay by my side later, don’t wander off.”

“Yes, teacher.” She quickened her pace, walking to her teacher’s side, distancing herself from Chen Xuebin.

Principal Xu nodded with satisfaction. Professor Yan shook his head with a smile, “Miss Zhong is already an adult, why do you still treat her like a child?”

“That’s where you don’t understand!” Principal Xu boasted, “This child has such a gentle temperament, she’s easily bullied; as her teacher, I have to look after her a bit more.”

Zhong ‘Gentle Temperament’ Yuxiu: “......”

She had always considered herself not particularly mild-tempered, and suddenly being praised for it made her blush.

Chen Xuebin opened his mouth, words almost spoken but swallowed instead.

Professor Yan glanced at her, smiling, “Miss Zhong does have a tender look, she’s easy to bully.”

“Isn’t she?” Principal Xu was rather pleased with himself.

So what if his previous apprentices were all heartless? Now he had a considerate girl to teach; apprentices are like half-sons, so naturally he regarded Zhong Yuxiu as half a daughter—given time, she would surely become his pride.

Professor Yan turned away, “Let’s hurry, otherwise everyone will be impatient.” He strode toward the hospital.

Principal Xu clicked his tongue, still savoring the moment, called Zhong Yuxiu to walk with him, and cast a sidelong glance at the man ahead, saying to Zhong Yuxiu with smug delight, “See? Jealousy makes people ugly.”

Professor Yan pretended not to hear—what else could he do? He wouldn’t lose his composure in front of students, surely.

Principal Xu laughed even more heartily, while Chen Xuebin silently shook his head at the back, quickening his pace to walk beside Professor Yan.

“Teacher.”

“Stay by my side later, don’t wander off.” Professor Yan waved his hand, but still gave a reminder.

Principal Xu, itching to tease a bit more, was abruptly interrupted as Professor Yan suddenly turned around.

“Once inside the hospital, we’ll split up.” He didn’t want to keep company with a show-off, feeling stifled.

“Splitting up is fine.” Principal Xu had no objections.

West City First Hospital was a public institution, and the largest hospital in West City; it housed Western medicine clinics, traditional Chinese medicine clinics, surgery, inpatient wards, and employed nearly two thousand staff.

Its facilities were comprehensive—perhaps not the most advanced, but certainly better than any other hospital in West City.

Principal Xu headed to the traditional Chinese medicine clinic, Professor Yan to the Western medicine clinic. Both held positions at West City First Hospital; although Professor Yan was acting out of spite, he didn’t actually split up upon arrival. Only after leading their respective apprentices to the second floor did they part ways.

Professor Yan went to the innermost consulting room in the corridor, while Principal Xu’s was the first one at the front.

“Come, I’ll take you to see the director first, then arrange a temporary certificate for you.”

“Thank you, teacher.” Zhong Yuxiu was familiar with hospitals, but this era’s hospital was rather foreign to her; white and green walls, distinctly aged, white wooden doors—she wasn’t sure if the wood was for insulation or something else.

The director’s office was on the third floor, which also housed both Western and traditional Chinese medicine consulting rooms; the entire building belonged to the outpatient department.

“Teacher, what’s the director’s surname?”

“Surname Cheng, just call him Director Cheng; as for his medical skills, he’s about as good as you or me, a kind man with a soft heart.” Principal Xu smiled as he finished, stopping outside a consulting room. Inside, the furnishings were simple, the wooden tables and benches all worn and old; an elderly man with a full head of white hair and glasses was attending to a patient.

Principal Xu knocked on the door, and the old man looked up, recognizing an old acquaintance and smiling, “Old Xu, what brings you here today?”

“The school just finished exams, so the students have a few days off.” Principal Xu spoke as he walked over, “You finish with your patient first, we’ll chat later.”

“Alright, you and this young lady take a seat.”

The elderly doctor lowered his head and continued his consultation, wrote a prescription for the patient, sent them off, and only then had time for Principal Xu.

“Your school isn’t on winter break yet, is this a mid-term exam?”

“That’s right.” Principal Xu nodded, “Let me introduce you: this is my new apprentice, Zhong Yuxiu. Yuxiu, in front of you is the director of West City First Hospital, just call him Director Cheng.”

Director Cheng’s smile was gentle, his gaze clear—not at all like other elderly men whose eyes grew cloudy with age. “Oh, there’s no need for formalities; we’re all old friends here. If Old Xu thinks highly enough to bring you, you must be special. Miss Yuxiu, if you don’t mind, you can call me Uncle Cheng.”

“Uncle Cheng.” Zhong Yuxiu rose and bowed slightly, “It’s our first meeting, but teacher often praises you.”

Director Cheng glanced at his old friend, his smile brimming, “What praise could he possibly give me? Who knows what he says behind my back.”

“You guessed wrong—teacher said you’re highly skilled, kind-hearted, wholly devoted to medicine; a rare and benevolent doctor. It’s the first time I’ve heard him rate someone so highly.” Yuxiu replied with a radiant smile, then turned to Principal Xu, “Isn’t that right, teacher?”

Principal Xu blinked, unfazed, “I never said that.”

Benevolent doctor? He truly hadn’t used those words.

“But you did!” Director Cheng laughed at Principal Xu’s awkward expression, “Never thought you’d speak so highly of me behind my back. Well, for that bit of praise, I’ll issue your apprentice’s certificate.”

“Would you refuse if I didn’t praise you?” Principal Xu teased lightly.

Director Cheng chuckled, “Who knows?”

The two old men bantered, and once Director Cheng finished preparing the certificate, they changed topics.

“Miss Yuxiu, Old Xu often mentions you, says you’re a rare genius with extraordinary talent in medicine. With such gifts, you must work hard. For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine shone brightly, but now it’s fallen into decline. We old folks are already spent, powerless to revive it.” The director’s smile faded into a gentle melancholy, “I hope in your generation, we’ll see new hope.”

Zhong Yuxiu glanced at her teacher, helpless—she only intended to study traditional medicine for pharmaceutical research, after all; she was still a child, why were they telling her all this?

“Director Cheng is right—the current climate is unfavorable for traditional medicine; our youthful ambitions to revive it have turned into nothing but a joke.” The smile vanished from Principal Xu’s face, sorrow deep in his eyes. “If you have the ability, I hope you can bring Chinese medicine to new heights; if not, that’s fine too, just do your best and don’t pressure yourself.”

“To be honest, all of us old-timers have these hopes for talented young people like you.” Always wishing to see traditional medicine rise again.