Here are some translation versions:
- Translation A:
The headline of Jinghua Daily: Tianhe Hospital issues a challenge to the affiliated hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine University for the third time.
Headline of Medical Evening News: Western medicine challenges traditional Chinese medicine, is it disrespect or hype?
Headline of Huayue Daily: Exclusive news! The affiliated hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine University will continue to hang up the placard of resignation.
Cover story of Life Weekly: The last orthodox traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Jinghua city is facing closure...
Huaxia Dragon Daily: Is the five thousand years of traditional Chinese medicine culture really just a scam?
Bam!
Li Feng slammed several newspapers heavily on the table. His somewhat white hair couldn't hide his sharp gaze.
"There are one hundred and twenty chief physicians, eighty-four professors of traditional Chinese medicine, and thirty-six doctorate tutors in the room. Is there still no one willing to accept the challenge?"
In the conference hall, everyone sat below the stage, not daring to make a sound. Every time they met Li Feng's gaze, they would lower their heads.
"Dean, to compare with machines... is self-defeating, isn't it?" A bespectacled man said softly.
"This type of competition only has one outcome: defeat!"
"Didn't all the orthodox TCM hospitals in Jinghua city close because they lost in the competition?"
"In my opinion, just keep hanging the refusal to fight. Whatever others say, let them say it."
A stone stirred up a thousand waves. Everyone started a heated discussion.
Li Feng's face was pale, his lips trembling. Staring at his right hand, which had lost its sensation, he sighed in his heart. Has Traditional Chinese Medicine really run out of capable people?
- Translation B:
Jinghua Daily top news: Tianhe Hospital challenges University of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Hospital for the third time.
Health Evening News lead story: Western medicine challenges Chinese medicine - Contempt or Publicity Stunt?
Huaye Daily prime headline: Exclusive scoop! Chinese Medicine University’s Hospital to continue refusing combat.
Life Weekly front page: Jinghua city's last authentic Chinese Medicine Hospital on the brink of closure…
Huaxia Dragon Daily: Five millennial Chinese medicine culture - a hoax?
Smack!
Li Feng fiercely threw down several newspapers on the table, his white hair failing to disguise the sharp glint in his eyes.
"There are 120 chief doctors, 84 professors of Chinese medicine, and 36 Ph.D. advisers in attendance. Is there not one among you who dares to accept the challenge?"
In the hall, everyone sat in silence below the stage, unwilling to meet Li Feng's gaze.
"President, isn't it self-defeating to match humans with machines?" A bespectacled man murmured.
"This challenge can only end in defeat!"
"Aren’t the authentic Chinese medicine hospitals in Jinghua city, closed out of despair after defeat in the contest?"
"As I see it, we should keep refusing their challenges, let them say what they want."
A single comment sparked a heated debate, and everyone started airing their views.
Li Feng’s face went pale as he watched his numb right hand, a feeling of loss seeping through his heart. Has there truly been no one left in the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine?
One year ago, there were seven legitimate traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Jinghua city. However, the appearance of a new hospital—one by the name of Tianhe—ruthlessly disrupted the existing pattern. Although this newly invested hospital brandished the concept of integrating Western medicine and Chinese medicine, in actuality, they were exploiting traditional Chinese medicine for publicity. Resorting to ignoble means, they bought out and engulfed traditional Chinese medicine hospitals. If any refused to comply, Tianhe Hospital would issue challenge after challenge, promoting themselves dramatically. A few traditional Chinese medicine hospitals who dared to respond to their challenges ended up completely defeated.
This had led to a chill settling over traditional Chinese medicine in Jinghua City, with six hospitals having been consumed by them. As the last traditional Chinese medicine hospital in the city, Li Feng, oftentimes rejected Tianhe Hospital's acquisition and partnership requests. In the most recent month, they have used the same tactic again, issuing challenges three times, each of which shook the entire medical community and ignited a media frenzy.
Li Feng, struggling to remain calm, would definitely join the battle himself if not for the fact his right hand had become numb. Despite being fifty-five years old, his spirit was as fiery as a young man's. Yet, the young people in front of him...
"Quiet down, everyone. If you have opinions, stand up and voice them. Chen Gang, you go first!" Li Feng's tone slightly softened as he addressed Chen Gang who was also one of his personal students.
Chen Gang, in his thirties and donned glasses, stood up hesitantly before saying after a pause, "Hospital director, I understand how you feel. But if we accept the challenge and lose, our hospital's reputation will be ruined and people will criticize us as quacks. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine requires a gradual and progressive approach and a certain treatment period to show effects, while Western medicine can show instantaneous results. They're just not comparable!"
"While it's true we didn’t fight the first time, and didn’t fight the second time, if we decline to fight the third time, will our hospital have any reputation left? No matter your reasons, from the patient's point of view, any excuse is just a show of incapability. Sit down!" Li Feng's disappointment was palpable.
After Chen Gang sat down, a man in his sixties stood up, speaking frankly, "With no assurance of winning, no one here can afford to bear the burden of failure, given past experiences. If it comes down to it, Director, you may want to contact those individuals from the Chinese Medicine Association to see if they can provide any assistance."
"Thanks for your suggestion, Professor Wu. However, the people from Chinese Medicine Association are too above themselves, only interested in indulging themselves and won't bother helping us." Li Feng responded politely.
Wang Kun, the deputy director, then stood up. Standing slightly more than one meter seventy, in his forties, with a round pair of glasses perch on his plump face, he gently cleared his throat, "As the deputy director of this hospital, I have a different opinion. Everyone is thinking about how to fight, but what if I say that when two tigers fight, there is sure to be one injury, and the injured one is bound to be us? If that's the case, why not respond to Tianhe Hospital instead? We could agree to construct a combined traditional and Western medicine hospital in partnership with them. Such a collaboration could also greatly benefit the development of our hospital.”
Noticing Li Feng's body trembling slightly, Wang Kun's eyes revealed a wicked smile. But his expression was of faux righteousness as he continued, "Whether it's Western or traditional Chinese medicine, they both save lives. Our aspiration in studying medicine is to cure all diseases under the universe, not to indulge in infighting here."
His words elicited several nods of agreement from those present.
Li Feng didn’t expect Wang Kun to stand on the opponent's side. Holding back his anger, he stated, word by word, "Everyone knows Tianhe Hospital has smeared traditional Chinese medicine, right? They are suppressing and acquiring us, but for what purpose? To save people or just to get famous and make money? Aren’t you aware that Tianhe Hospital is a foreign company? It’s more like collusion to call it a partnership!”
"Can’t everyone here see this? This is a cultural invasion. Jinghua city only has our last traditional Chinese medicine hospital left. If we disappear, it would be a disgrace to the 5,000-year history of our traditional Chinese medicine culture. We won't do our ancestors proud, would we? If Western medicine is so effective, why do we still study traditional Chinese medicine? Have you forgotten your original intentions?”
Li Feng's voice grew louder. He abruptly slammed the table, creating a sudden silence. Wang Kun glanced at him viciously, thinking, "Stubborn old man."
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
The silence inside the meeting room was abruptly broken by the crisp, distinct sound of applause. All heads turned towards the source of the sound and discovered a young man standing at the back of the conference room who had not been there before.
The young man appeared to be in his early twenties with fair skin, red lips, a high and delicate nose, and a pair of captivating eyes that occasionally narrowed into fine slits, as if they were trying to conceal the chill within them. No doubt, the young man was rather good looking, but the outdated three-to-seven comb over somehow undermined his appeal, especially coupled with his antique Tang Dynasty attire that stood out in stark contrast to the present setting.
The young man clapped a few times, drawing everyone's attention. His expression remained unperturbed as he calmly declared, “Our director is right. You have lost all the dignity of our ancestors.” That said, he directed his gaze towards Wang Kun.
Wang Kun trembled with rage. He dared not contend with Li Feng, but he was supposed to be afraid of this young man? He stood up immediately, pointed at the intruder and bellowed, “Who are you?! This is a conference hall, get out!”
“In our modern day integrative healthcare setting which combines Chinese and Western medicine, we are simply paying lip service. Most of the actual work is Western medicine-focused with traditional Chinese medicine merely playing a secondary role. Across this extensive hospital, how many practitioners of traditional medicine can you find? They have relegated you to a tiny office, dealing with a few elderly patients, this is the most charity they will do. Yet, you envision a genuine collaboration?”
“Consider yourself fortunate to be working in such a substantial hospital. The hospital now faces difficulties, rather than considering how to cope, you look forward for handouts. Do you not feel ashamed?"
The young man casually dismissed Wang Kun’s vitriolic response, carrying on with his comments. Although he did not venture out often, he had heard about the state of affairs in the medical field.
Wang Kun was seething with each word that struck him. He bellowed, “Enough of your grandesque speeches. Do we have no security here? Security!”
“Am I exaggerating? Sir, if you are not even aware of the current circumstances, you do not deserve to be a doctor here, much less propose strategies.”
“You… what would a greenhorn know about anything! Are you suggesting that because you wear a Tang costume you are the authority on antiquity and the present? What age are we living in? The world is progressing, changing. Can traditional Chinese medicine compete with the market for Western medicine? Look at our hospital. How many patients come each day? Without government subsidies, we are on the verge of not being able to cover wages. Traditional Chinese medicine is on its way out. If this is the unavoidable trend, why not go along with it? I say all of these from the perspective of our hospital. But what can an outsider like you possibly know?”
Wang Kun vented his frustration. However, his words struck a chord with some people in the room who were in agreement that the market for traditional Chinese medicine was indeed shrinking.
The young man narrowed his gaze, a small smile playing on his lips, "The depth of traditional Chinese medicine is unmatched by Western medicine. If fewer people are seeking traditional treatment, it's not due to external factors, but rather our own lack of skill."
Doctors in the meeting room were all dumbstruck. In their hospital, no one had ever dared to talk back to Wang Kun. While the young man made sense, he was also outrageously pompous.
Some commended his courage, others worried for his safety, and still others merely thought he was bluffing.
"Lack of skill?" Wang Kun was so furious that his hands shook violently. He pointed at the young man and roared, "So, you're saying you are highly skilled? In that case, represent the Traditional Chinese Medicine University's affiliated hospital in this competition, if you dare!"
“Let’s see how you’ll cope with this now,” thought Wang Kun, along with everyone present.
A subtle smile appeared on the young man's face as he said, word for word, "If the Dean consents, I am willing to go."
Boom!
Such calmness, such composure, without the slightest hesitation!
Who would have thought that this young man would respond in such a way? His confidence and arrogance left everyone dumbfounded, even Wang Kun was taken aback.
Li Feng's gaze remained fixed on the young man, piqued by his words. He hadn't intervened so far because he was curious to hear this young man's unusual rhetoric.
When Wang Kun spoke his final words, Li Feng had initially intended to step in and mediate the situation, but unexpectedly, the young man had readily agreed to Wang Kun's demands. Was this confidence or was he showing off? Li Feng was slightly confused. However, he was certain that the young man was making quite an impact.
"Young man, what is your name? Who is your master?" Li Feng finally asked.
The young man walked a couple of steps forward, greeted with a salute, and said, "My name is Bai Shaoyu. My grandfather has sent me here to meet you. He said you needed something."
"Aha! So you are the descendant of the venerable Bai! My apologies for the oversight!" After a moment's hesitation, Li Feng excused himself with a surprised exclamatory note, hurriedly descending from the podium.
Upon reaching Bai Shaoyu, Li Feng lightly patted the young man's shoulder, and excitedly asked, "Did the venerable Bai not accompany you? Did he come here too?"
Bai Shaoyu shook his head, "My grandfather is not well and could not travel far. Whatever you need, you can tell me. Surely, it’s not about this match between traditional Chinese and Western medicine, is it?"
"Of course not! This happened only yesterday. But given that the venerable Bai has sent you, he must trust you implicitly. If you can indeed help our college, I will be deeply grateful." Li Feng was a little disappointed that he didn't meet the venerable Bai, but he was reassured that the Bai family had sent someone.
"There is no need for deep gratitude. I am not here to help you but the entirety of traditional Chinese medicine," Bai Shaoyu said evenly.
Li Feng nodded along, "Unquestionably, you are the worthy descendant of the venerable Bai! A man of mettle!" As he finished his sentence, he led Bai Shaoyu to the podium.
As soon as he got to the podium, Wang Kun started complaining, "Dean, you're not seriously considering letting him represent our College in the competition, are you?"
"Why not?" Li Feng retorted.
"But...but this is just child's play. What can this young kid possibly know? How many years has he studied Chinese medicine? There are so many seniors here who haven't stepped up. When is it his turn?"
"Yeah! Dean, just because nobody else has stepped up to participate doesn't mean we should be desperate enough to let him in."
"The survival of our College hinges on this competition. We can’t possibly rely on a child, can we?"
While some admired Bai Shaoyu's courage, if he were to genuinely represent the Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital in the competition, everyone unanimously disagreed. That's because no one believed that a boy who looked no older than twenty-odd had the capability to win the competition. Besides, most people merely thought Bai Shaoyu's show of ability was a burst of youthful exuberance and nothing more.
PS: New book, seeking fans, tipping, and monthly tickets~~~Oye
