"I've been working at the Health Center for twenty years now, already used to this state. It's a bit better now, since vaccines and child check-ups are done here; otherwise, even fewer people would come to the Health Center."
"Some things, given my understanding of the director, she may have already mentioned to you. You should still take the opportunity to move out from the Health Center; you're still young, staying here for too long isn't good."
"Like me, staying at the Health Center for twenty years, I've become useless, lost all ambition, and what I think about most each day is when I can retire and live the life I want."
Although Lu Xuan didn't respond to Wang Youqing's words, he understood in his heart. For young people, the Health Center definitely isn't a place to stay long-term. Over time, getting used to this life would probably erode the initial ambition, living out a life like an uncle.
Of course, it's not to say this kind of life is bad.
Actually, it's quite good—working nine to five, completing tasks at hand, without any worries. Many people dream of such a life.
But Lu Xuan has his own ideas. He wants to promote traditional Chinese medicine in this world.
Clearly, this dream can't be fulfilled by staying at the Health Center.
Night falls.
After having dinner with Wang Youqing, Lu Xuan returned home with a slight buzz from the alcohol, took a shower, and lay in bed, thinking a lot.
From the words and between the lines of Wang Youqing, he knew he can't sit and wait for opportunities; he must take initiative and find a chance to work at a hospital, even a small Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Staying at the Health Center won't bring any development.
That night, Lu Xuan had a dream. He dreamed that years later, he finally realized his dream, became a renowned doctor, expanded and developed traditional Chinese medicine, and even published a book on traditional Chinese medicine, which became a required course in major Chinese medicine universities.
In the morning, when Lu Xuan opened his eyes again, the sun was already shining directly through the window.
Lu Xuan was startled for a moment, quickly got out of bed, checked the time, and seeing it wasn't yet eight, let out a sigh of relief.
However, seeing the missed call displayed on the screen made his heart tighten.
It was at nine last night. At that time, because he had a bit to drink with the uncle, he had gone to bed early.
Lu Xuan called back.
In no time, the call connected.
"Mom."
"Last night I had dinner and some drinks with a colleague, so I went to bed early. Did you need anything?"
Lu Xuan tried to lower his voice as much as possible.
"Oh, I just wanted to ask if you are settling in well at the District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine?"
Lu Xuan fell into silence, struggling for a long time before not telling his mother that he was already kicked out, "I'm used to it. My colleagues are all very nice. I'll come back to see you during the National Day holiday."
"That's good, that's good."
"It doesn't matter if you come back or not, as long as you are doing well, that's enough to make me happy. Be diligent at work there, get in early in the morning, and help everyone with tasks; nobody dislikes people who help out."
"I know, I've always been doing as you said."
"As long as you remember, I heard there are many girls your age at the hospital. Don't just focus on work; try to find a girlfriend sooner rather than later."
This matchmaking nagging made Lu Xuan, who initially wanted to chat more with his mom, respond vaguely and then hung up the phone under her repeated instructions.
After brushing his teeth and washing up, at eight, Lu Xuan bought buns and soybean milk downstairs and went straight to the Health Center.
At the Health Center, the Pediatrics and Immunization departments start work earlier, usually by half-past seven, but they also finish earlier in the afternoon with not much to do then.
For other departments, except for Monday when they need to come in a bit earlier, it's fine to get there before half-past eight.
Just as he arrived at the Health Center, the registration hall was already busy with people lining up, mostly for children's check-ups.
Taking the elevator to the second floor, upon seeing Lu Xuan, Wang Youqing waved from afar, "Lu, I thought you drank too much."
"I didn't drink much yesterday, but you, uncle, drank half a jin. Today it doesn't seem like you drank at all." Lu Xuan expressed admiration.
Half a jin of sorghum liquor, if it were him, though he wouldn't take sick leave, a headache would be inevitable. But to be like Wang Youqing and act as if nothing happened was impossible for him.
"Uncle, I'll go prepare in the consulting room first, let's have lunch together."
"Go ahead, go ahead!"
Wang Youqing waved his hand.
Entering the Traditional Chinese Medicine consulting room, Lu Xuan poured a glass of plain water and then sat seriously at the computer, ready to receive patients at any time.
By ten in the morning, the Traditional Chinese Medicine department remained deserted, while the laboratory department was bustling with kids here for check-ups.
Listening to the busy sounds from the lab and looking at the calm around him, Lu Xuan couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly.
Given this situation, let alone a day, seeing a patient in a month would be miraculous.
Now he understood why the previous doctor in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department sought connections to transfer out; staying here, let alone progress, not regressing would be a blessing.
"Looks like it's going to be another leisurely day." With bitter humor, Lu Xuan became more determined to leave the Health Center.
[What's going on, not a single patient. Are we going to be useless in the future?]
"Hm?"
What voice was that?
The sudden voice at his ear left Lu Xuan with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
What just happened?
Could it be... hearing things because of the drink yesterday?
[This Dr. Lu is too young; no wonder nobody comes to see him. If it were me, I wouldn't see him.]
Damn!
What's going on?
That voice appeared at his ear again.
Lu Xuan looked around helplessly, who is speaking at my ear?
Could someone be at the door?
Lu Xuan instinctively stood up and walked to the door. There wasn't a single person in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, but the lab department had quite a few people waiting for their results.
"There's no one!"
Lu Xuan mumbled, turned back, returned to his consulting room, and sat down with a depressed face, thinking he must have drunk too much, and began hearing things.
He went to the break room at the back of the consulting room, washed his face, and came back to sit down again.
But just as he sat down, the familiar voice sounded once more.
[Forget it, I've given up all hope.]
[This guy's too young, what skill can he possibly have?]
[There used to be a few patients, but now there's not even a shadow.]
[Our 'World's Greatest Formula,' put here, will never see the light of day.]
World's Greatest Formula?
Originally hesitant, when Lu Xuan heard this last line, his gaze instinctively turned to the Chinese medicine specimens his mentor had given him, which included several ingredients known as the World's Greatest Formula, Cinnamon Soup.
Cinnamon, peony, baked licorice, Chinese dates, ginger.
Was it them?
Mad, I must be going mad.
Even Lu Xuan thought he must be insane; how could Chinese medicine talk, it was pure fantasy.
Shaking his head, Lu Xuan decided not to think further.
He must just be hallucinating.
Confucius never spoke of strange powers and chaotic spirits.
As Lu Xuan prepared to remove his gaze from the medicine specimens, unexpectedly, the voice in his ear sounded again.
The tone was extremely disdainful.
[What's this guy looking at us for?]
[If he has the time to look at us, he might as well take a Chinese medicine book and read it—'Cold Pathogenic Disease,' 'Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica,' any book could take him a lifetime to learn.]
Lu Xuan, who had just prepared to withdraw his gaze, immediately held it steady.
He decided to take their advice and casually took out a 'Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases' from the small bookshelf on his right to read.
The 'Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases' contains only 80,000 characters, but to thoroughly understand and apply its knowledge indeed requires a lifetime, and for those without talent in this area, they might not even grasp the essentials.
However, though he had taken out the book, Lu Xuan's attention wasn't on the content; he wanted to know if the voices he heard were really coming from those traditional medicine specimens.
At this moment, Lu Xuan was very nervous, even considering that he might indeed be mad to make such conjectures.
[Yo, really took out the 'Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Miscellaneous Diseases'? Quite a listener.]
Lu Xuan instantly froze.
It's real.