Medical Sage

”Ugh, what kind of man are you? Fighting a weak girl like me over a taxi… honestly...”

Even as they were on their way, the taxi heading toward the city outskirts, Chu Yan kept pouting and muttering nonstop, leaving Chen Fei utterly speechless and exasperated.

Logically, shouldn’t a high-quality beauty like her—nearly 1.7 meters tall with long, slender, fair legs and a gorgeous face and figure—be the aloof, goddess type? How did I end up running into such a character today? Snatching my cab was one thing, but she’s a chatterbox too.

”Young man, you don’t look sick. Why are you heading to Northern Mountain City Central Hospital so early?” The driver, finding himself in light traffic, seemed a bit bored and struck up a conversation with Chen Fei beside him. They often relied on their gift of gab to pass the time on the road; otherwise, the monotonous driving would be mind-numbingly dull.

Of course, having such an attractive young lady in the back seat was a nice bonus. He was glad he had been quick-witted enough to come up with that clever solution earlier.

”I’m not going to see a doctor. I’m going for an interview to become one,” Chen Fei replied with a smile.

”What? You’re applying for a doctor position at Northern Mountain City Central Hospital? Kid, I couldn’t tell you had it in you! You’re so young—probably just graduated—and you’re already aiming for a top-tier hospital. That’s really something.” The driver gave Chen Fei a thumbs-up.

For ordinary citizens like them, just landing an interview at the biggest top-tier hospital in all of Northern Mountain City was an enviable feat, regardless of the outcome. At the very least, it was something no one without real ability would dare to attempt. It required profound professional knowledge and an impressive degree.

Could this young man be a top student from a prestigious medical university?

”Oh, please, mister. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Someone like him? How could he possibly pass the interview at the Central Hospital? He’ll definitely be weeded out in the first round. He’s just there to make up the numbers.” Just then, Chu Yan, who had been sulking in the back, chimed in, wrinkling her nose as she aimed a verbal jab at Chen Fei with a look of utter disdain.

From her perspective, she knew exactly how stringent the hiring process for a doctor at a top-tier hospital was. If not a Ph.D. from a top medical school at home or abroad, one would need at least a master’s degree from a key university.

A jerk like him, who dared to fight me for a cab? How could he possibly have such qualifications? Hmph! Absolutely not. He must be just going to make up the numbers.

”None of your damn business!” Chen Fei shot back bluntly, his tone severe. He stopped just short of giving her the middle finger.

”You—you bastard!”

Hearing Chen Fei’s crude words and seeing the undisguised contempt on his face, Chu Yan flushed with anger. She was so furious she could grind her teeth. Pointing at him, she cursed loudly, ”I curse you to fail your interview today! You will fail!”

”You should probably worry more about being late. I hear they dock your pay for that, you know. Hahaha!” Chen Fei teased.

”That’s none of your business! Argh!” Chu Yan was so frustrated she wanted to tear her hair out, her long, fair legs kicking about restlessly. Ah, why did I have to run into such a detestable guy? He’s the absolute worst! Bastard! Bastard!

”You know, young lady, I actually think you two are a pretty good match. A talented man and a beautiful woman,” the driver interjected with a mischievous grin, his motives unclear. ”This young man isn’t so bad. Why not give it some thought?” His comment instantly left both Chu Yan and Chen Fei stunned into silence.

”Who’s a match with him?!”

”Don’t even think about it! Not in a million years!”

Chen Fei’s face was a mask of righteous disgust, but his eyes couldn’t help but drift to the rearview mirror, stealing a glance at Chu Yan in the back. It was only then that he truly registered how breathtakingly beautiful she was, at least on par with the campus belle from his university days. Her long, straight, fair legs looked as if they had been bathed in milk, and her delicate face and full chest were just as striking... Her only flaw is probably her awful temper and the fact that she’s such a chatterbox.

”Who’s a match with him? Uncle, don’t talk nonsense! A guy like him is doomed to be single for ten thousand years! I’d fall for a pig before I’d ever fall for him! Never!” Chu Yan snarled at Chen Fei through gritted teeth, her expression full of loathing.

”Then go ahead and fall for a pig. Maybe you can have a few piglets someday. Hahaha! Driver, I’ll get out here.” Chen Fei, however, paid her no mind. He left the fare, fired off one last jab to annoy her, and stepped out of the taxi, thoroughly satisfied. He left Chu Yan fuming and shouting in the car.

”That guy is an absolute bastard! A bastard! He’s driving this young lady insane!”

”You two really are a match made in heaven. A pair of bickering rivals, hahaha!” The driver roared with laughter. This was just too entertaining.

「…」

Northern Mountain City Central Hospital was originally located in the city center. However, due to constant expansion in recent years, the land became insufficient. As a result, the hospital had been forced to relocate to the High Tech Startup Zone on the outskirts of the city. As one of the top three comprehensive, top-tier hospitals in Northern Mountain City, and even in all of Jiangnan Province, Northern Mountain City Central Hospital was renowned far and wide, attracting countless patients from other regions every year.

After getting out of the taxi, Chen Fei gazed at the impressive, orderly rows of outpatient buildings, inpatient towers, and various other state-of-the-art facilities. A sense of awe washed over him. He took a deep breath and walked toward the outpatient building.

”Excuse me, where can I find Dr. Xu from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department?” Entering the building, Chen Fei stopped a passing nurse to ask. Just last night, Dr. Liu Changshan had called and told him to report directly to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department in the morning and ask for a doctor with the surname Xu. He had already informed Dr. Xu and had even secured a permanent staff physician position for him from the hospital director. Everything was taken care of.

”Dr. Xu? Which Dr. Xu?”

The nurse was initially annoyed at being stopped, but her irritation vanished the moment she heard the name of a major figure in the hospital’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Department. She looked carefully at the young man who had stopped her. Could this kid actually know Dr. Xu?

”Dr. Xu Zhenxing from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department. Dr. Liu Changshan from the Cardiovascular Department sent me,” Chen Fei explained patiently.

Although Northern Mountain City Central Hospital’s Xu Zhenxing wasn’t as formidable or famous as Elder Du from the affiliated traditional medicine hospital, he was still a renowned master in the national Traditional Medicine Community. A nurse at the Central Hospital should surely know who he was.

”You were referred by Dr. Liu Changshan?”

The nurse was stunned. In a comprehensive hospital that focused primarily on Western medicine, an authority like Liu Changshan from the Cardiovascular Department was an absolute VIP, a top-tier figure on par with Dr. Xu.

Who on earth is this kid? He has such powerful connections, knowing two top-tier figures like them.

Thinking this, the nurse quickly stammered, ”If Dr. Xu has arrived, he should be in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, preparing for his clinic hours. The department is on the seventh floor of the outpatient building back there.”

”Got it, thank you.”

After learning the department’s location, Chen Fei headed toward the building.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Department at the Central Hospital occupied the entire fifth, sixth, and seventh floors of the outpatient building. These floors were filled not only with rows of general and specialist consultation rooms but also with pharmacies and treatment rooms for acupuncture, Tui Na massage, and brewing herbal medicines.

The main entrance to the department was on the fifth floor. Just inside, one could see a wall introducing the various attending physicians. Most held the title of at least associate chief physician; some were PhDs from top traditional Chinese medicine universities, while others were prized disciples of national medical masters. In short, anyone qualified enough to have their own clinic at the Central Hospital was an extraordinary individual. They were all exceptionally accomplished, either boasting high academic credentials and professional titles or hailing from esteemed medical families with long, rich histories.

As the department’s nearly undisputed heavyweight, Dr. Xu Zhenxing’s profile was naturally displayed at the very top of the introduction wall. It read: ”Xu Zhenxing, Male, Specialist, Traditional Chinese Medicine Department. Born in 1954. Studied under a famous physician from a young age. Specializes in traditional Chinese surgery and trauma.”

Traditional Chinese surgery covers ailments such as sores, goiters, tumors, cancers, anorectal diseases, male genital disorders, skin and sexually transmitted diseases, traumatic injuries, and peripheral vascular diseases.

Trauma care addresses injuries from knives, bullets, blades, falls, strains, sprains, burns, frostbite, and bites from insects or animals.

Although Chen Fei thought he had arrived quite early, a cold sweat broke out on his forehead when he saw the long lines already snaking outside the specialist clinics. This was Northern Mountain City Central Hospital, after all. Even if this wasn’t the most prominent Cardiovascular Department, the scene was still incredibly impressive.

Just as he took in the sight and began to weave through the crowd towards Dr. Xu’s clinic, a man in a white coat stopped him, his tone sharp and unfriendly. ”Hey, kid, what do you think you’re doing? Get to the back of the line. No cutting.”

”Yeah, where do you think you are? You dare try to cut in line for Dr. Xu? Don’t you know he hates people who cut in line more than anything?” someone else in the queue added.

”Exactly! We’ve been waiting here patiently for ages, and you think you can just waltz in? Young people these days have no manners.”

The crowd began to murmur in agreement, their collective indignation rising.

Seeing the situation escalating, Chen Fei broke out in a sweat and quickly waved his hands, trying to explain. ”It’s a misunderstanding, everyone. I’m not here to see the doctor. I’m here to see Dr. Xu about something.”

”See him about what? What business could a young punk like you possibly have with Dr. Xu? You can’t even come up with a believable lie. Just admit you’re trying to cut in line!”

But the crowd didn’t believe a word he said.

However, the man who had first stopped him seemed to recall something. He frowned slightly as he studied Chen Fei and asked, ”Wait a minute. Are you the person that Dr. Liu Changshan recommended?”

As a resident physician in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, his was the most junior position, but he was still an official member of the hospital staff. He knew that Dr. Liu Changshan from the Cardiovascular Department had recommended someone to their department yesterday. Could it be this kid, who looks like he hasn’t even graduated with a master’s or doctorate yet? But you can’t get into this hospital without at least a master’s or Ph.D. from a prestigious university. And our department has even stricter requirements; sometimes, a degree alone isn’t enough. What is Dr. Liu up to?