574: Chapter 574: Hard to Decline the Kind Invitation 574: Chapter 574: Hard to Decline the Kind Invitation Tangyu’s refusal indeed caught everyone by surprise, and Ye Mai looked at Tangyu with a face full of strange expressions.
Ye Mai knew some details about this incident: Capital City, the Ministry of Health, and the city government all attached great importance to it, and it was even Huaxia Country’s first pilot site, with daily support funds reaching hundreds of millions.
Donglin First Hospital’s traditional Chinese medicine department was already one of the top in the nation, its scale comparable to that of a Grade-III Class-A hospital.
With plans to expand on this scale, the first phase aimed to double in size.
This grand move, and the Health Ministry’s determination to develop this traditional Chinese medicine hospital, could be seen from this.
The head of the hospital held a position comparable to that of senior officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.
Furthermore, it was directly under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry, with even local governments having no power to interfere.
The privileges granted were indeed very significant.
This position was coveted even by persons of Taishan Beidou status.
Yet Tangyu had refused without a second thought.
If this news were to spread, countless people would probably choke on their envy, likely to be drowned in the spittle of innumerable critics.
Traditional Chinese medicine would undoubtedly make a comeback from its decline due to the tremendous success of this integrative medicine conference, slowly reviving.
Additionally, the nation provided substantial support, with the current level of enthusiasm being quite considerable.
If one were to strike while the iron was hot, it could well be an excellent opportunity for the development and rise of traditional Chinese medicine.
Taking on this role meant leading a trend, leading the development of traditional Chinese medicine.
If one could lift traditional Chinese medicine out of its trough, that contribution would be unprecedented, a great and glorious achievement worthy of being recorded in history, creating a legend for the ages.
Chairwoman Bi had the desire but not the strength.
So when she heard Tangyu’s refusal, her passion fluctuated violently, her face turned red, her body began to tremble, and she was so angry she couldn’t speak for a moment, looking at Tangyu with eyes flashing with unusual light.
Upon seeing this, Bi Wanting immediately went to comfort the chairwoman, “Grandfather, please don’t get worked up.”
Tangyu was also slightly stunned; he hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Chairwoman Bi and felt somewhat remorseful.
However, Tangyu was very clear about his own stance; reviving and glorifying traditional Chinese medicine was an immense task he truly did not want to bind himself to.
The matters of Yin Medical Sect alone were enough to give Tangyu headaches, and even after so long, there wasn’t a single concrete clue.
After resolving the Yin Medical Sect’s issues, Tangyu planned to travel the world with his girlfriend before returning to Ghost Doctor Valley to spend time with his master and live out the rest of his life carefree.
He really did not wish to shoulder this onerous burden.
Although he loved traditional Chinese medicine and defended it, he did not want to dedicate his life selflessly to it.
Truth be told, Tangyu wasn’t that noble; he was just an ordinary person.
Without his master’s mission, he wouldn’t even bother with the Yin Medical Sect.
He had just one principle: don’t bother him, and as long as you don’t, and he didn’t have to see it, he could remain uninvolved—the simple, unadorned philosophy of an ordinary person’s life.
“I’m very sorry, Chairwoman Bi, for disappointing you,” Tangyu said.
“It’s not that, Tangyu, why won’t you agree to such a good opportunity?
You’re the savior of traditional Chinese medicine, the one who proclaimed its invincibility.
You’re now a national idol, the Divine Doctor acknowledged by all.
If you don’t stand up to save and glorify traditional Chinese medicine, wouldn’t that be too much?
I was quite certain that if you called for action, there would be an overwhelming response, especially with the nation’s strong support at this time.
I can almost see the dawn of our traditional Chinese medicine’s rise,” Ye Mai said, lacking the capacity himself; if he did, he would be willing to take on the position.
Tangyu said, “I’ve said traditional Chinese medicine is invincible, but I am not its savior.
Traditional Chinese medicine is not on the brink of extinction; it does not need someone to save it.
I also don’t believe I alone can save traditional Chinese medicine.
It belongs to a civilization, not to an individual or a select few.
I have also said that medical skill has no national boundaries, whether it’s traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine, as long as it can progress, it’s good.
Of course, I hope to see traditional Chinese medicine thrive, but I’m not capable of that.”
“You are, you absolutely have the capability.
Tangyu, I have never admired anyone before, including my grandfather, but now I truly admire you.
You’re the only person I respect completely.
You have the strength and the influence.
You’re a hero, an idol, a national symbol of worship.
Your influence will be unprecedented, even beyond your own imagination.
You alone can inspire countless others, so you definitely can do it, and in fact, you’re the only one who can,” Ye Mai said.
Tangyu pursed his lips; he truly did not want to take on this difficult task.
“Tangyu, could you tell me why you don’t want to take on the position of director of the traditional Chinese medicine hospital?
You should know how prestigious this position is, a position that so many old-timers dream of.
I can now tell you clearly, Ouyang Mulin, Ye Mai’s grandfather, and Ma Qiyu’s grandfather, they all covet this position.
But do you know why the decision was still made to have you fill this position?
Our unanimous decision was also to recommend you for this position because we are very clear that only you are qualified, only you could hold this position, and only with you in this position does our traditional Chinese medicine have hope,” Chairwoman Bi said, his voice sounding much more weathered all of a sudden.
Tangyu said, “Chairwoman Bi, I understand your good intentions.
Perhaps it’s just my personal ambition, but that’s why I feel I’m not suitable for such a high position.
I’ve always lived idly, accustomed to being ordinary.
Suddenly being offered such a high position, I really can’t handle it.
I understand your intentions; it’s not that I don’t want to do something for traditional Chinese medicine.
But, my interest doesn’t lie there, and if I were to take it on, I would be very miserable, unhappy, and naturally I wouldn’t do well.
To be candid and at the risk of seeming laughable, I really have no grand ambitions and can’t engage in such grand deeds.
I also don’t suit the role of hero.
I still think that a simple and ordinary life is truer and more realistic for me.”
Chairwoman Bi shook his head and said, “A man should have aspirations far and wide, should have passionate blood coursing through his veins, should gallop on the battlefield, and should accomplish something great.
With your ability, you shouldn’t live an ordinary life; you should use your skill to honor your life.
Besides, traditional Chinese medicine needs you, and Huaxia Country needs you.
Only with you in this position can we achieve our expected results, only with you can there be the rightful influence.
Without your medical expertise to back it up, it doesn’t matter who sits there, because there won’t be any effect.
But you are different, so you are the only one qualified for this position.”
Tangyu fell silent for a while, facing Chairwoman Bi at this moment, he really didn’t know what to say.
He was conflicted about taking on the role; on one hand, he was reluctant to disappoint Chairman Bi and upset him, but on the other, Tangyu understood the significant impact his taking this position would have on traditional medicine.
However, he truly did not want to step forward; it was not a matter of naivety.
He was well aware of the burdens he would shoulder if he took on this role, which could mean endless contributions, even to the point of sacrificing his medical skills.
That was something Tangyu simply couldn’t do.
Moreover, Tangyu didn’t enjoy treating patients every single day.
All these issues mingled together, creating a real dilemma.
“Tangyu, what exactly are you worried about?
Are you afraid you won’t handle this position well, or is there something else?” Chairman Bi asked.
“It’s not mainly that.
Although I feel I might not handle it well, I’m not really afraid of anything.
Besides, you want me to take this position not really hoping that I can manage a traditional medicine hospital well.
I’m sure there will be people to handle those matters.
What you want is merely for me to sit in this position.
So I know that, in fact, I am pretty much like an empty figurehead, just like a Bodhisattva placed there.” Tangyu said.
“So, what are you worried about?
Since you know this, you have even less to be concerned about.
Right now, your most valuable assets are your influence, your high level of medical skill, and your ability to awe the world.
As for management, you’ll have three deputy directors assisting you, so you can rest easy.” Chairman Bi said.
Tangyu shook his head and replied, “I’m not worried about anything; I just don’t want to face patients all the time, and I don’t want to treat people every day.
Although I studied traditional medicine, I never wanted to be a doctor.
I’ve said before, I don’t have that grand of a heart.”
“You study medicine but don’t like treating patients; what kind of reasoning is that?” Chairman Bi frowned deeply.
“I don’t know either, but it’s always been this way for me, and my master was the same.” Tangyu said.
“You’re really weird,” Bi Wanting muttered.
Ye Mai shook his head too; truly strange, incredibly strange.
Tangyu also curled his lip; perhaps he was indeed a weirdo.
But this wasn’t his fault; it was his master who turned him into this.
Back in the day, he was just a simple, very innocent young boy.
But now, alas, the past was too painful to look back on.
Chairman Bi shook his head and said, “So, you mean that as long as we don’t require you to treat patients, you would take this position?”
“That—” Tangyu wanted to say that’s not what he meant, but seeing the earnest look in Chairman Bi’s eyes, the words at the tip of his tongue couldn’t be spoken.
He just swallowed them back and pursed his lips, “Alright, Chairman Bi, I’ve always had great respect for you.
I can take this position, but I have one condition to clarify beforehand, and if you agree to it, I will accept the role.
However, I can’t guarantee I’ll do well.
If I don’t do well, then you’ll have to be quite tolerant of me,” he said.
Chairman Bi raised an eyebrow, pondered deeply for a moment, and then replied, “Okay, tell me what it is, and I’ll do my best to agree.”
“I’m not sure how much longer I’ll stay in Donglin City.
It could be just one or two months, or it might be one or two years.
However, I think it won’t be too long, at most a year or two, or at the shortest, a month or two.
As soon as the time comes, I’ll probably leave Donglin City.
So, my only request is that if I decide to go, I hope you won’t try to keep me against my will.
My taking this position will definitely be temporary; after all, I still have my own life to live.
To be honest, if it were anyone else asking, I would never agree.
The purpose of me taking this position is quite simple: I think even if I only sit there for a month or two, it will be effective,” Tangyu said.
He couldn’t refuse such a compelling invitation.