Chapter Fifty-One: The Consulting Physician

Gu Xiujin shook his head, then turned to Xie Qingtang and spoke in earnest, “I plan to establish a Traditional Chinese Medicine department at Gu Hospital and would like to hire you as the chief physician.”

At his words, Xie Qingtang was taken aback; she had considered every possibility, yet never imagined that Gu Xiujin’s purpose for seeking her out would be this.

“You want to open a Traditional Chinese Medicine department in your hospital? Isn’t Gu Hospital notoriously dismissive of TCM, labeling it as fraud? Have the doctors there agreed?” Xie Qingtang still remembered her last visit to Gu Hospital—so many doctors there looked down on TCM.

Gu Xiujin repeated himself, “This matter is mine to decide. As long as you agree, the establishment of a TCM department at Gu Hospital will be set in motion, and you’ll serve as its chief physician—there’s no doubt about it.”

If he couldn’t settle something as minor as this, then he had no business managing Gu Hospital, though he’d previously entrusted its operations to Gu Fang.

Before Xie Qingtang could respond, Zhou Jinfan, standing at the side, suddenly sprang up in protest, “No, I don’t agree! If you, Master, go to Gu Hospital as chief physician, what will happen to Chunshantang? I still need to learn medicine from you. You can’t abandon your apprentice and leave me!”

As he finished, he was so agitated that a tear squeezed from his eye, making Xie Qingtang’s skin crawl. She hadn’t even intended to agree to the proposal.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiujin continued, “As chief physician at Gu Hospital, your monthly salary will be ten thousand yuan higher than the others, and all benefits will be doubled.”

At this, the words of refusal caught in Xie Qingtang’s throat, unable to emerge. She was truly strapped for cash—her grandfather’s health needed constant care.

Though Chunshantang’s business had improved lately, and the online store was thriving, she remained short of funds. Her grandfather’s body had suffered severe depletion over the years, and lingering toxins required precious herbs for treatment—her prescriptions demanded rare ingredients to restore him.

Seeing the gleam of greed flicker across Xie Qingtang’s face, Zhou Jinfan realized his soon-to-be mentor was about to slip away. He stepped in front of Gu Xiujin and said sternly, “Mr. Gu, this is a bit much—poaching my master right in front of me! If you take her away, what will happen to Chunshantang?”

Watching the shadow blocking her view, Xie Qingtang’s mouth twitched. She slapped Zhou Jinfan aside and said, “Don’t block my sight—I still need to discuss things with Gu Xiujin.”

With that, Zhou Jinfan retreated with wounded dignity, silent at last. Xie Qingtang cleared her throat and addressed Gu Xiujin, “Mr. Gu, though my apprentice is somewhat unruly, his words aren’t without reason. I will never abandon Chunshantang.”

At this, Gu Xiujin fell silent, his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze inscrutable as if deeply pondering.

During this pause, Xie Qingtang was nervous herself—she couldn’t bear to lose the generous terms offered by Gu Hospital, yet she couldn’t let go of Chunshantang either.

Her grandfather’s medicine had run out; even the ginseng had been used up. Yet she couldn’t afford to buy another premium ginseng for him.

Money—what she needed most was money.

At this moment, Gu Xiujin seemed to resolve something internally. He looked up and said, “How about this: you’ll serve as Gu Hospital’s special consultant. Only those with appointments can see you. All benefits remain unchanged, but you’ll lend your name to the TCM department.”

“So you mean, if I become Gu Hospital’s special consultant for the TCM department, I’ll be able to manage both Chunshantang and your hospital?” Xie Qingtang’s eyes sparkled—this was the classic case of earning two salaries from one job!

Gu Xiujin nodded. This was his greatest concession; after all, as a businessman, he rarely engaged in ventures without profit.

“Agreed—a special consultant title is nothing. As long as I can preside over Chunshantang, it’s fine. Just don’t set the consultation fees too high; after all, I’m a physician.” Her expression grew more serious as she reminded Gu Xiujin not to price the registration too steeply.

They also agreed that in any given month, Xie Qingtang’s name would appear in the TCM department for only four days, so patients could register accordingly, avoiding an overwhelming influx for her appointments.

Once these terms were settled, Gu Xiujin left Chunshantang, while Xie Qingtang, in high spirits, went to the back courtyard to prepare medicinal dishes for the evening.

But neither anticipated how complicated matters would become. The proposal to establish a TCM department at Gu Hospital was met with staunch opposition—not only from most doctors, but also from shareholders.

Even more unexpectedly, sixty percent of the shareholders opposed opening a TCM department at Gu Hospital, and so Gu Xiujin’s proposal faded into oblivion.

Of all opponents, Second Uncle Gu was the most fervent. Due to Gu Xiujin, Wang Miao’er was not only dismissed from the hospital, but had also been subtly humiliated by Xie Qingtang previously. Naturally, he bore a grudge against both Xie Qingtang and TCM, and resolutely objected to its introduction at Gu Hospital.

Thus, Second Uncle Gu rallied several directors against the proposal, which had to be shelved. Even Gu Xiujin was unable to push it through.

When Xie Qingtang learned of this, her eyes narrowed slightly. She felt no disappointment; instead, she told Gu Xiujin, “Gu Xiujin, you needn’t be too concerned about this. I never truly wished to work at Gu Hospital—I only wanted to earn a bit more to purchase rare herbs for my grandfather’s health.”

At her words, Gu Xiujin paused, then said, “If you need rare herbs, why not come to me?”