I Can Talk to the Internal Organs-Chapter 49 - 44: Father and Son Duel

The chicken is indeed good, the meat is tender and fresh.

Even Lu Jiu, who usually doesn’t eat meat in the evenings, is enjoying it heartily tonight.

Meat is relatively difficult to digest, and one’s spleen and stomach functions are weaker at night. Over time, eating it could lead to internal dampness, and prolonged dampness might turn into heat, causing symptoms of stomach heat in many people who eat too much meat.

However, indulging occasionally doesn’t really matter.

Lu Jiu didn’t study Chinese medicine to turn himself into a monk.

The way he understands health, life should be colorful, but colorful doesn’t mean indulgence.

For example, when it comes to eating, we can taste various delicacies and snacks, but we shouldn’t eat them all the time and ignore the importance of staple foods. Otherwise, when your body deteriorates, you won’t be able to enjoy them even if you want to.

Life should be like this, prioritize health as it’s the foundation for living vibrantly. If you indulge in the first few decades, you’ll suffer from illnesses in old age.

Lu Jiu has developed good living habits; occasionally eating like this isn’t taxing on his spleen and stomach.

"The current leaders, seriously, their ideas are all over the place. Just after the eleventh holiday, they want me to draft a plan for Jianghan City’s year-round tourism development. That’s fine, I can just copy something from online and pass it off. But now they’re asking me to summarize Zibo’s success with barbecues and apply it to Jianghan City. Isn’t this ridiculous?"

The two of them chatted while eating, and soon Tian Xuelin started complaining about his work and his bosses.

"Zibo’s barbecue was quite famous in the first half of the year. Although it’s cooled down a bit now, I hear they still get plenty of tourists. Jianghan City could definitely learn something from them," Lu Jiu said, grabbing a chicken neck.

Tian Xuelin spat out a chicken bone, "Nonsense, what can we learn from Zibo’s barbecue? Do you think it’s famous just for the barbecue? It’s famous for treating tourists like human beings, for sticking to a people-first service approach. Besides Zibo, which city in the country has achieved that?"

"None at all, you know that? Getting ripped off when traveling is almost expected. Zibo’s popularity is purely a result of winning people’s hearts, the combined effort of both Zibo’s leaders and locals, just like Xu Chang’s Pang Xilai. Everyone knows how it became popular, but why isn’t a single city willing to replicate it?"

"Because it’s damn hard. This isn’t something a tourism bureau can pull off; you need top-level involvement, coordination across departments, and to straighten the city out for a few years first, so locals feel happiness in their own city. Without that foundation, you can’t replicate it."

"Compared to Zibo, Jianghan City has a huge advantage. We’re known as the Lobster City, isn’t that more renowned than barbecue? Yet it costs 168 for a pot. Dining in Lobster City with a bit of alcohol can easily run five or six people over one or two thousand. Even locals can’t afford it. You want me to invite friends to eat shrimp here? Dream on. If I rely just on my salary, after one visit where they dine and take stuff, I’ll work the whole month for free."

"Jianghan Lobster, enjoyed worldwide, they claim loudly, yet locals cannot enjoy it. Who would want to help build a beautiful city with you? Our county-level price tops those of first-tier cities, and you still want to develop tourism? Keep dreaming."

Lu Jiu remarked, "Indeed, being people-oriented is tough, but I understand it’s about economic benefits."

Just then, Tian Xuelin bit into a peppercorn, "Pfft, I don’t get it. Our prices go up yearly. After New Year, the breakfast stall’s prices go up, but never come down again. The price bureau does nothing. They just let them hike prices. Even for fruits, people from provincial-level cities come to us and complain they can’t afford fruits here. Can you believe that?"

"And then there’s the housing prices..."

Lu Jiu laughed, "Hey, you’re a little rich second generation. Shouldn’t you be worried about these things?"

Tian Xuelin said angrily, "I just can’t stand it."

Lu Jiu chuckled, "There are plenty of things in this world that are hard to tolerate. You, just mind your business and don’t worry so much."

Tian Xuelin frowned, "I noticed since you’ve returned from the hospital, you’ve become more Zen. What’s up? Did you come back because you faced setbacks out there?"

Lu Jiu shook his head, "Like you, I couldn’t stand certain things."

Tian Xuelin nodded, "True, there are plenty of messy things in hospitals too. Let’s not talk about work. It just makes me frustrated. Come on, cheers!"

One had cola, the other plain water, but it felt as if they were drinking alcohol.

"Dong Xiaoxu is getting married next month. Are you going?" Tian Xuelin asked.

"Did she invite you?" asked Lu Jiu.

"Yeah, she knows I’m in Jianghan. Didn’t she invite you?" Tian Xuelin asked.

"No," Lu Jiu replied.

"That shouldn’t be. Back in high school, you two were always discussing studies. The class even gossiped about you two dating. Though I knew that wasn’t true, you should’ve been good friends, right?" Tian Xuelin said.

"No matter how good the friendship, seven or eight years without contact naturally makes it fade. Maybe she just felt embarrassed to take advantage of that connection," replied Lu Jiu.

"No way? You haven’t been in touch for seven or eight years?" Tian Xuelin looked at Lu Jiu in surprise. "Even if we didn’t have anything like a class belle, she still ranked in the top three looks-wise in the class. Why didn’t you pursue her?"

Lu Jiu calmly ate a piece of chicken leg, "Getting involved with someone would interfere with my medical studies."

"Damn you, you damn," Tian Xuelin couldn’t help but curse and laugh, "You’re studying medicine, not joining a monastery!"

"Well, while it’s true many go bald, running a small clinic, you have plenty of time to date," remarked Tian Xuelin.

Lu Jiu chuckled mischievously, "I’m not like you, wanting to pursue beauty at first sight. Now, aside from improving my medical skills, nothing else interests me."

Tian Xuelin gave Lu Jiu a stare, "Do I act like a dog in heat?"

Lu Jiu offered his assessment, "Yes."

Tian Xuelin laughed playfully, "Heh, you really have a keen eye." Then, with a serious face, he asked, "So you’re all about medical skills. Where do you stand now? Can you compare with a chief at a top-tier hospital?"

Lu Jiu smiled, "Even among top-tier hospital chiefs, some have high skills and some low. It’s hard to compare."

Tian Xuelin said, "Just the average level."

Lu Jiu paused, then earnestly replied, "About the same."

Tian Xuelin raised his brows, "Oh, you’re quite boastful. Only two years after graduation, and you’re on par with a top hospital chief? You brag better than me!"

Lu Jiu, having almost finished eating and seeing Tian Xuelin mock him face-to-face, also put down his chopsticks with a smile, "Wanna test it out?"

Tian Xuelin was puzzled, "Test what?"

Lu Jiu laughed, "Let me take your pulse and see what you did yesterday."

Tian Xuelin was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing, "Haha, are you kidding me? Taking my pulse can tell you what I did yesterday? If you get it right, I’ll call you dad."

A cunning glint flashed in Lu Jiu’s eyes, "You said it. I’m not forcing you!"

Tian Xuelin was brimming with confidence, "If you get it wrong, I’ll accept you as my son."

Lu Jiu showed a dubious expression, "That’s not fair..."

Tian Xuelin, feeling extremely confident, teased Lu Jiu, "Afraid?"

Lu Jiu gritted his teeth, "Bring it on, extend your hand."

Tian Xuelin extended his hand triumphantly, as if afraid Lu Jiu might back out.

And so, as Lu Jiu pressed his fingertips on Tian Xuelin’s wrist, the outcome of this father-son match was soon decided...