This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

Du Heng had good intentions, but he clearly underestimated the current situation.

Indeed, everyone was very interested in a famous professor like Lan Changhua. However, they also understood that no matter how powerful Lan Changhua was, he was just a professor from the Capital. Furthermore, there was a considerable gap between his specialty and their own.

So, when Du Heng appeared to take Lan Changhua away to rest, these people did not cling too much and let Lan Changhua leave easily.

However, Du Heng himself was left behind by everyone else.

There were all kinds of people: those trying to build connections, those offering greetings, those flattering him, and those directly stating their intentions.

Although Du Heng was reluctant, he couldn’t leave while looking upset, so he had to force himself to communicate with everyone.

It was only through these interactions that he realized how ridiculous his earlier assumption during the Q&A session had been.

He originally thought that the reason no one asked questions was that everyone understood. However, they now asked many questions, and some were so basic that Du Heng was reluctant to answer them.

Du Heng sighed inwardly; he had overestimated his own lecturing skills and, at the same time, the professional knowledge level of some people present.

Moreover, if these were the types of people who were Directors and Attending Physicians in the local area, one could imagine the level of their traditional Chinese medicine skills.

To put it bluntly, if someone were to say that a Chief Chinese Medicine Doctor in a certain county treated patients with yellow paper burning methods, he would not doubt its truth for a second.

But on second thought, isn’t this a normal situation?

Nowadays, 99% of TCM doctors are college students who enter the field after the college entrance examination.

However, the best students who are willing to study medicine are admitted to medical colleges in the Capital and other places. Those who can’t make it there are then accepted by well-known medical colleges in other regions.

Only when these students are left with no more options would they consider TCM as their backup choice.

And this is already the third batch.

As for those who haven’t been admitted to undergraduate programs and only have vocational or specialized TCM education, they are the backbone of grassroots medical services.

It is precisely these people who form the foundation of the entire TCM system now.

In fact, there is a more intuitive comparison method: looking at the annual enrollment scores of medical students.

However, the gap is too big to even look at.

Du Heng used to be one of those who couldn’t bear to look at the gap either.

The report meeting, starting at 2 p.m., coupled with the time for dinner and chatting, did not end until around 8:30 p.m.

Lan Changhua, having a weak body, left halfway through the meal.

Du Heng feared Lan Changhua might leave without saying goodbye again. So, he directly arranged for Kang Zhirong to accompany him and ensure Lan Changhua stayed.

As for Du Heng himself, he had no choice but to accompany his peers and was unable to escape.

However, this time he overthought it; Lan Changhua had no intention of leaving and was even waiting specifically for Du Heng.

”Very tired?” Lan Changhua asked. He appeared much better after resting for an hour or two.

Du Heng nodded wearily. ”I feel really sorry for making Professor Lan wait so long.”

Lan Changhua gently waved his hand. ”We’re all on the same side, so don’t be so polite. Besides, what you are doing now is for the better development of traditional Chinese medicine. As an Old Man, I don’t mind waiting a bit.”

That was indeed the case, but the whole process had left Du Heng mentally and physically exhausted. He even thought that some parts of it, such as the final dinner, were unnecessary and purely social.

Lan Changhua was old and cunning, and he had attended countless conferences like this one, accumulating a lot of experience over time.

”Hehe, do you feel that after the lecture and the report meeting, everyone should just go home and mind their own business? What kind of communication, what kind of dinner, is it just a waste of time?” Lan Changhua asked Du Heng cheerfully.

Du Heng’s mouth twitched. Although he didn’t say anything, his expression said it all.

Lan Changhua spoke earnestly, ”Xiao Du, remember these two phrases: ’A single tree does not make a forest’ and ’The more kindling, the higher the flame’.”

Du Heng looked puzzled.

Lan Changhua sighed and slowly said, ”Our TCM, like other industries, has a triangular structure, and those at the top are always a minority.

”But reaching the top does not mean you can stay in that position.

”To stand steady on top, both Strength and fame are indispensable.

”Strength is a prerequisite and an undeniable fact, and this depends solely on yourself.

”However, fame comes from patient word-of-mouth as well as the recognition and support of one’s peers—peer recognition being more important than patient word-of-mouth.

”Having fame without Strength will make you a soft target, and you won’t last long. Either you will destroy yourself, or be beaten to death by those who expose the fakes, and then thrown into the chaotic cemetery.

”Having Strength without fame is also problematic. Look at those old Chinese doctors in local communities. They can only remain in their own corners for a lifetime, their reputation limited to their own business.”

Lan Changhua’s eyes grew distant, and his voice became somewhat ethereal. ”Are they content? Of course not.

”Our ancestors had long figured out human nature: In life, all anyone seeks is fame and fortune.

”Especially for those who have genuine skills, when they no longer have to worry about eating and drinking, fame becomes an obsession they cannot abandon.”