I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Chapter 222 - 100: I Wish I Could Practice at United South

"No way, don't you know how to call someone?"

Ji Xiuwen thought for a moment and nodded: "It's good enough to have your word. Anyway, if I encounter something I don't understand, I'll just ask you."

"Clinical experience isn't something you can just rely on others to guide you through. Sometimes you need to step up, try things, and make judgments yourself. You can't be my assistant forever, right? Otherwise, why did you come over from the County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine? Was it just to be my assistant?" Lu Xuan said, looking at him with a teasing expression.

Ji Xiuwen fell into silence immediately.

Lu Xuan continued, "I have my opportunities, you have yours, and Gu Huahua has Gu Huahua's. But who really seizes those opportunities, that's up to oneself, not others. If you don't work hard, even an opportunity right in front of you would slip away. The same goes for Gu Huahua; he went to the United South Chinese Medicine Association, that's his opportunity.

If he doesn't put in the effort, do you think Dr. Zhang and the others will notice him?

I can't believe you, Ji Xiuwen, don't understand these things. You understand, you just don't want to face it."

Ji Xiuwen raised his head in frustration: "Sometimes I really think, do you have a soul of a fifty or sixty-year-old living in your twenty-something-year-old body? Even my dad wouldn't say such things."

"But I'll remember. Hopefully, just like you said, in a few years, I can really get the chance to practice at United South. If I really get to go there, I'll have my mom set up a shrine for you at home and worship you instead of the Buddha or gods. My dear old classmate."

Lu Xuan rolled his eyes. "Can't be bothered talking to you."

Ji Xiuwen laughed heartily, then was about to close the group chat but found that their graduate class monitor, Cai Huanjin, suddenly tagged everyone in the group: "We, the graduates from Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a small portion stayed in Lingshui due to connections, but the vast majority came to Yong City. Since everyone's here this time, how about we gather this weekend?"

Cai Huanjin was quite popular in the class; during his time as monitor, he helped everyone a lot. His call to arms quickly gathered many responses.

"Sure, it's been more than half a year since graduation, a get-together sounds nice."

"I'll go too, just post the time and place in the group later."

"+1!"

...

Seeing that the number of attendees was considerable, Cai Huanjin spoke again: "Then it's settled, though Gu Huahua just started at United South and might be a bit busy recently, so we might skip him for now. We can gather again later when he's free, by then he'll be familiar with his new environment and can share about United South.

So it's this Saturday, let's meet at Grandma's Bridge, the food there is quite affordable. I'll post the specific time and location in the group shortly. Whoever's coming, sign up, so I can book a place ahead of time."

At this point, Ji Xiuwen looked excited and turned to Lu Xuan: "Lu Xuan, Old Cai said there's a get-together in Yong City this weekend, are you going?"

"What time?" Lu Xuan asked.

Seeing Lu Xuan was a bit interested, Ji Xiuwen quickly said, "This Saturday."

"Saturday?"

On Saturday, Lu Xuan had to practice at United South, so he had no free time. He shook his head and declined, "Forget Saturday, I have things to do, can't go."

"You're not going?"

"Then I... won't go either."

Lu Xuan knew Ji Xiuwen was someone who liked excitement, plus they hadn't seen each other for over half a year, so it was normal for Ji Xiuwen to want to go. Lu Xuan actually wanted to go as well, as friendships between classmates were usually quite pure, even if there were occasional disagreements, they were typically resolved quickly. But Saturday he was genuinely busy, so he couldn't attend.

"You should still go, I really have things to do. Otherwise, I'd definitely go."

"But isn't it odd to suddenly have a get-together even though it's not a holiday? And even if there is a gathering, wouldn't there be only a few people?"

Hearing this, Ji Xiuwen looked interested, "Actually, quite a few people are going. Mostly because Gu Huahua's situation shocked everyone, people started reaching out. You know Old Cai, he was quite popular back then, so when he called, many in Yong City responded. With many people intending to go, those who were hesitating also decided to join, so the group will mostly be complete."

He said this while signing up on his phone, and continued, "I checked, other than you and Gu Huahua, most of those working in Yong City are attending.

Oh, and our class flower, Mi Nannan, is going too. I heard she's still single. With Mi Nannan going, more people will attend. Who wouldn't want to pick the flower of our class?"

Mentioning Mi Nannan, Ji Xiuwen gave Lu Xuan a knowing look: "If you're free, you should come too."

Lu Xuan didn't pay much attention to this, but Su Kenan, who was eating seriously, suddenly looked up, her eyes full of vigilance as she stared at Ji Xiuwen.

Just with that look, Ji Xiuwen felt a chill down his spine and thought it might be the air conditioning, until he saw Su Kenan's cold gaze. Realizing his mistake, Ji Xiuwen quickly said, "Forget what I said."

However, Su Kenan kept staring at him.

Ji Xiuwen felt his scalp prickling.

Was this still the shy girl?

Fortunately, Lu Xuan's words rescued Ji Xiuwen: "I really have things to do, so I'll skip the gathering. There's not much to talk about at gatherings anyway; it's just people bragging about who's doing what with whom. It's mostly your kind of fun.

If it's a small gathering, then maybe. Talk about the future with close friends.

A big group like that, what's there to discuss?"

Even with his eyes closed, Lu Xuan could guess. It looked like a gathering but could end up being a stage for show-offs for certain people.

That's young people for you. What else do they strive for?

Lu Xuan was definitely not interested in such excitement.

Did Ji Xiuwen not know this?

Lu Xuan didn't believe it. Ji Xiuwen was sharp and knew everything, but he simply liked these lively events, and Lu Xuan didn't want to interfere.

Everyone has their own thoughts, Lu Xuan didn't want to meddle or say much about it.

Ji Xiuwen, looking at Lu Xuan, seemed to have thought of something: "You're not going to the Ninth Hospital, are you?"

"If you are going to perform a flying knife at the Ninth Hospital, then I won't go to the gathering either." Between networking and learning acupuncture skills from Lu Xuan, Ji Xiuwen found the latter much more valuable.

"I'm not."

Ji Xiuwen sighed with relief, "I thought you were going to the Ninth Hospital. If you were, I definitely wouldn't attend the Saturday gathering."

Lu Xuan appreciated this about his old classmate: When it came to significant matters, he had his own thoughts and plans. He wouldn't skip opportunities to learn just for excitement, which was one reason he and Ji Xiuwen got along fine.

Wang Youqing, hearing Lu Xuan might go to the Ninth Hospital for a flying knife, couldn't help but ask: "Lu, did the Ninth Hospital invite you for a flying knife? When did this happen?"

"It was Monday night. The Neurology Department had several stroke patients, and Director Ye invited me to see if traditional Chinese medicine could offer any treatments," Lu Xuan explained with a smile.

This didn't surprise Wang Youqing. Last time, several people from the Ninth Hospital had mentioned wanting to invite Lu Xuan for a flying knife. He just didn't expect it to happen so soon.

But considering it's the Neurology Department, it seemed quite normal.

There are many stroke patients in the Neurology Department, and even if they survive, they often have significant aftereffects like paralysis.

Western medicine sometimes doesn't have good solutions for paralysis, so inviting Lu Xuan made sense.

"How much are they offering for the flying knife fee at the Ninth Hospital?"

"Initially, they said 2000, but I don't know the final amount."

"2000 seems fair, but make sure you don't undervalue yourself. If needed, ask for more. That's your right. If you feel awkward about it, let me know, and I'll negotiate for you," Wang Youqing looked caringly at Lu Xuan.

"I will," Lu Xuan nodded.

Ji Xiuwen quickly replied in the group: "I'll join on Saturday as well."

Mi Nannan tagged Ji Xiuwen: "What about Lu Xuan? Is he not coming?"

Ji Xiuwen replied: "He originally planned to, but he said he has things on Saturday, so he's not coming."

Cai Huanjin tagged Ji Xiuwen: "Try talking to him more. It's rare for everyone to get together; if it's not too important, come along for a meal and sing some karaoke."

Ji Xiuwen: "Okay, I'll try talking to him, but don't get your hopes up. It's likely that Lu Xuan won't have time."

Cai Huanjin: "Alright then."

Cai Huanjin wasn't too bothered; there were plenty of attendees, and missing one Lu Xuan wasn't much of a concern.

"This time the group is quite complete. Next time when Gu Huahua is available, we must get Lu Xuan to join."

"Okay..."