Medical and Martial God

Chapter 408 The Real Doctor

Petty greed is a human flaw, let alone when a huge sum of 100,000 yuan is on the line.

So, in less than two hours, the Mingde Ancient Medical Hall had gathered over a hundred patients, and the number was still increasing. This should have been a cause for celebration for Ye Xiu and Song Yushu.

However, all the doctors at the Ancient Medical Hall refused to see patients.

"Why? Why are you refusing to see patients?" Song Yushu asked angrily in the director’s office.

An elderly doctor of Ancient Medicine spoke up. "Director, you tried this free treatment stunt last year. Not only did it severely damage the reputation of the Mingde Ancient Medical Hall, but it also made us doctors the laughingstock of the industry. The hall is about to close its doors. If we become a laughingstock again, what hospital would dare to hire us?"

The other old doctors also started to clamor.

"Director, look at the patients who’ve come—they’re mostly elderly. At their age, they’re riddled with conditions like rheumatism, arthritis, and high blood pressure. Forget our Mingde Ancient Medical Hall, no one in the world can cure these ailments. Especially rheumatoid arthritis. It’s an incurable but non-fatal affliction. Who could possibly cure it?"

"We practice Ancient Medicine, which means our treatment cycles are long and the effects are slow. On top of that, the people coming in at a time like this mostly have incurable diseases, some even terminal. Are you trying to drag this out so we can’t find new jobs?"

"Free treatment, with a 100,000 yuan compensation if uncured. This event will undoubtedly cause a national sensation. I can just imagine how many seriously ill patients will rush here from all over the country within three days. When we fail to cure a single one, the reputations of the Ancient Medical Hall and all of us will be destroyed. The Song Family and Mingde Pharmaceuticals will also be dragged down, and the Song Family might even go bankrupt! Besides, with so many patients, each owed 100,000 yuan, does the Song Family even have that much cash? And even if they do, if the family pays the patients, what about the compensation your grandfather promised us?"

"Director Song, I hope you cancel this event immediately. At worst, only your reputation and that of the Ancient Medical Hall will be damaged, while ours will be preserved."

What these old doctors cared about was never saving the Ancient Medical Hall. They were concerned that the event Ye Xiu and Song Yushu had concocted would ruin their personal reputations, affecting their prospects of finding new jobs after the hall closed. Furthermore, they worried about the compensation money. Song Yushu’s grandfather had promised them a generous severance package, and they feared the family would go bankrupt from this promotion and be unable to pay them.

"Seniors, please allow me to say something..." Ye Xiu attempted to persuade the group of old doctors.

"Shut up!" a bald doctor scolded. "We are speaking with Director Song. What right do you have to interrupt? Get out!"

Heh, your penchant for getting slapped is quite high... Ye Xiu suppressed the urge to hit him. "Saving the dying and healing the injured is the fundamental duty of a doctor," he said. "Even if the Ancient Medical Hall..."

"Shut up!" the bald doctor cut him off again, looking at him with contempt. "Who do you think you are, lecturing us? We were practicing medicine when your mother was still in diapers. Get out!"

The other old doctors looked at Ye Xiu as if he were a clown, astounded by his audacity to lecture them on a doctor’s duty. He was shameless and utterly clueless.

"Let him speak," Song Yushu said, her face cold.

The bald doctor felt as if Song Yushu had just slapped him across the face. He flushed with shame and anger. "Song Yushu, I only call you ’Director’ out of respect for your grandfather! How dare you disrespect me for an outsider? Believe it or not, I’ll resign right now!"

"Fine. I accept your resignation," Song Yushu said curtly.

The bald doctor instantly deflated. He had an agreement with Song Yushu’s grandfather: if he resigned voluntarily, he would forfeit his compensation package.

"Ye Liangchen, continue," Song Yushu said. Seeing the bald doctor back down, she snorted, exuding the aura of a domineering CEO.

In truth, she had been dissatisfied with these old doctors for over a year. The lazy bunch did nothing but collect their salaries, often skipping work without even asking for leave. If not for her grandfather’s nostalgia, she would have fired these parasites long ago.

"Alright!" Ye Xiu gave Song Yushu an appreciative glance and was about to continue persuading the doctors.

Just then, an elderly man and a middle-aged man walked in.

Why is it so hard to say a complete sentence without being interrupted? Ye Xiu was exasperated.

"Grandfather, Dad, what are you doing here?" Song Yushu asked timidly, her heart pounding with unease.

Ye Xiu recognized the two men from a meeting ten years ago. They were Song Yushu’s grandfather, Song Mingde, and her father, Song Kaiwen.

Seeing the two arrive, the old doctors acted as if their savior had appeared.

The bald doctor was the first to complain. "Old Director, look! Just look at what your granddaughter has done! She’s trying to ruin us and the foundation you worked so hard to build."

"My old friend, we’ve followed you for decades, and now, at the very end, we’re being ruined at the hands of your granddaughter. Tell us, what are we supposed to do?"

"Young people these days just don’t understand the gravity of their actions. Old Director, the fortune you spent a lifetime building is about to be squandered by your granddaughter."

The old doctors took turns airing their grievances to Song Mingde.

Ye Xiu quietly observed Song Mingde, wanting to see the attitude of this senior figure in the medical world. He had a good impression of the man from their meeting ten years ago, which was why he had come to Han Jin City to seriously assess the Song Family. If they passed his assessment, he planned to bestow great wealth and fortune upon them.

"My old friends, please listen to me for a moment."

Song Mingde pressed his hands down in a placating gesture. Once the old doctors quieted down, he spoke. "Yushu’s decision was indeed rash, but it wasn’t entirely a misstep."

He looked wistful as he continued, "I have studied medicine since childhood, determined to save the dying and heal the injured. The initial purpose of establishing this Ancient Medical Hall wasn’t to make money, but to relieve more patients from their suffering.

"I’m old now, and the Ancient Medical Hall can’t go on, but my Medical Skills and my original intention to treat and save people haven’t changed. To treat patients for free before the hall closes its doors means my study of medicine will not have been in vain.

"As for the compensation, we’ll pay it. Consider it a way to alleviate the financial pressure on those families tormented by illness."

Now *that* is what a doctor should say. That is the kind of medical ethics a doctor should have. I hadn’t misjudged the man. Song Mingde was worthy of being entrusted with great responsibility. Ye Xiu nodded to himself.

Song Yushu was moved to tears. She had thought her grandfather and father had come to scold her, but they were here to support her instead.

However, the old doctors were not convinced.

"Old Director, times have changed. Society today isn’t like it was when we were young. Without money and fame, you can’t get anywhere. We simply cannot afford to ruin the reputations we’ve spent our entire lives building on this failing establishment."

"My old friend, don’t blame us for being selfish. I want to work a few more years to save more for my son and grandson, so I can’t let my reputation be destroyed."

"I was happy when I came to join you all those years ago, Old Director, and I want to leave happy, not on bad terms. I hope you won’t force my hand."

The old doctors stated their positions one after another. In short, they would not participate in Song Yushu’s plan and would, for the sake of their own reputations, do everything they could to stop her free treatment event.

"I understand how all of you feel, my old friends, and I have no intention of forcing you," Song Mingde said with a sigh. "How about this? You don’t need to get involved. My granddaughter, my son, and I will treat the patients."

His son, Song Kaiwen, added, "Before the Ancient Medical Hall closes, let’s treat as many patients as we can. It’s a matter of conscience!"

Ye Xiu’s eyes lit up. Song Mingde raised a good son.

He then said aloud, "I can help!"

"You?"

Song Yushu, Song Mingde, Song Kaiwen, and all the old doctors turned to look at Ye Xiu.

"Yushu, who is this?" Song Mingde asked.

Song Yushu’s face instantly darkened. "He’s the driver I just hired."

"Nonsense!" the bald doctor roared. "A driver treating patients? What is that supposed to mean? Do you want the whole country to laugh at Mingde Ancient Medical Hall for having no real doctors?"

"How ridiculous! The Wankang Wellness Hall may have defeated us, but the reputations we old men have built over many years still stand! If you treat patients, are you trying to destroy us?"

"A driver treating patients? Are you trying to make outsiders mock us old-timers for being too scared to show our faces, sending a driver out to fool the patients instead?"

The old doctors, as if facing a mortal enemy, furiously tore into Ye Xiu, using him as a roundabout way to vent their dissatisfaction with Song Mingde.

"Young man, do you know anything about Medical Skills?" Song Mingde didn’t look down on him for being a driver. Instead, he sized Ye Xiu up and asked.

"I’ve studied medicine since childhood," Ye Xiu replied. "I originally came here to apply for a doctor’s position, but Song Yushu hired me as her driver instead."

"What?" Song Yushu was dumbfounded. "You came to apply for a position as a doctor?"

"Yes," Ye Xiu nodded.

"Alright, young man, your courage is commendable. Go ahead and give it a try," Song Mingde said with admiration. When he saw the old doctors about to protest, he cut them off. "We must always give the younger generation a chance to practice. Weren’t we all young once, too?"

At his words, the old doctors fell silent.

"Then let’s go, young fellow. Let’s see what you’re made of. No bragging, now," Song Kaiwen said teasingly.

"I won’t disappoint you," Ye Xiu said with confidence.

With that, they left the director’s office and headed to the first floor to treat the patients.

The old doctors exchanged glances but ultimately followed them. It wasn’t because their consciences were pricked into participating, but rather because they wanted to see what kind of joke would unfold when a driver tried to treat patients.

When they arrived on the first floor, Ye Xiu gestured grandly. "Let’s have our first patient!"

PFFT!

The old doctors couldn’t help but laugh. From that one sentence alone, they judged that he didn’t know a thing about medicine. What kind of doctor acted like that? He sounded like a hotel waiter.

Song Yushu rolled her eyes at Ye Xiu, wondering if he was just trying to be a show-off.

Song Mingde and Song Kaiwen, on the other hand, found Ye Xiu quite humorous. Who decreed that doctors must always be grim-faced and serious?