495: Chapter 495: Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Exchange Conference 495: Chapter 495: Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Exchange Conference After leaving Bi Yue Pavilion, Rao Yuanzhi also patted Tangyu’s shoulder, gesturing comfort.
“Where to?” Rao Yuanzhi asked.
Glancing at the time, it was only about three-thirty, too early to go home and heading to the office seemed futile as they would soon need to leave again.
This really left Tangyu somewhat undecided, “If you’re free, just take me around, we can talk while we walk.
There’s nothing much to do if we go back anyway.”
“I have time.
Let’s take a drive around Donglin City,” Rao Yuanzhi nodded.
As the two approached the car to get in, a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a gray robe, approached them.
He had a pleasant and kind face, giving off a very approachable vibe.
His attire seemed somewhat out of place in the big city, but given his age, it didn’t seem too conspicuous on him.
Moreover, his wearing of Huaxia’s traditional clothing added a certain dignity, as if enhancing his natural demeanor.
“Ha-ha, Rao Yuanzhi and Mr.
Tang,” the man in the gray robe bowed slightly with a smile as he approached, greeting them as if meeting old friends.
Tangyu furrowed his brows, sizing up the man in the gray robe, whom he did not recognize.
Seeing the newcomer, Rao Yuanzhi’s face immediately turned respectful, and he hurried forward, saying, “President Bi, what a coincidence to encounter you here.”
“Ha-ha, it’s not a coincidence; I was waiting here for the two of you,” President Bi said, his smile broad, creating a warm atmosphere that made it hard to feel any aversion towards him.
Rao Yuanzhi’s expression turned to one of surprise.
He glanced at Tangyu, who looked just as confused and uncertain, not even knowing who this President Bi was, let alone why he was waiting for them.
“President Bi, if there was something you needed, you could have just called me.
We could have come to visit you; there was no need for you to trouble yourself by coming here and waiting for us.
This is really too kind of you,” Rao Yuanzhi said.
Seeing Rao Yuanzhi being so polite, Tangyu realized that this President Bi must be quite influential.
Such a figure waiting here patiently for them indicated a sincerity that could easily earn one’s favor.
“Ha-ha, it’s no trouble at all.
Some matters require my personal attention.
It was indeed sudden of me to come here without calling in advance; I just waited here to intercept you.
If it’s convenient for you now, let’s talk in the car,” President Bi said.
Rao Yuanzhi slightly raised an eyebrow.
Hearing President Bi’s tone, it was clear he had come personally to discuss something important with him and Tangyu.
Rao Yuanzhi immediately gestured politely, “The car is too cramped; perhaps we could find a nearby place instead?”
President Bi waved his hand, “No need, no need, the car will do.
It won’t take long, and there’s no need to waste money and time.
The car is fine.”
“Alright, then please, President Bi,” Rao Yuanzhi opened the car door, gesturing for him to enter.
The three of them got into the car, and Rao Yuanzhi quickly introduced, “Tangyu, let me introduce you.
This is President Bi, the president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association and a Taishan Beidou of our Traditional Chinese Medicine community.
He has made many indelible contributions and is a senior I greatly admire.”
“Oh, my apologies, it turns out to be the president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association.” Tangyu now understood.
Though he had never met President Bi before, he could tell he was likely a benevolent elder.
Moreover, since Rao Yuanzhi spoke so highly of him, he certainly deserved respect.
With regard to President Bi, Tangyu also showed considerable respect.
President Bi waved off the accolade, “Talking about contributions is a bit too much.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is in decline, an irreversible trend, and there’s not much I can do to stem the tide.
I can only watch it slowly deteriorate.
Alas, I’m powerless.
My role as president is rather embarrassing.”
“President Bi, please don’t say that.
Your contributions to Huaxia’s Traditional Chinese Medicine are well recognized.
The policies you proposed to the government have greatly helped our nation’s TCM.
The decline of TCM is a broader trend that no one can reverse.
Your determination to promote Huaxia’s Traditional Chinese Medicine alone is admirable.
This is not something that can be achieved overnight but is a massive undertaking.
You shouldn’t blame yourself; I think you’ve done very well.
Having you as our president is an honor for Huaxia’s Traditional Chinese Medicine,” Rao Yuanzhi said.
President Bi shook his head with a light laugh and a helpless sigh.
Tangyu also studied traditional Chinese medicine and naturally had a special affection for it in Huaxia Country.
He hoped that traditional Chinese medicine could flourish and be praised worldwide.
However, the reality was not optimistic for him, as the proliferation of Western medicine had significantly limited the survival space for traditional Chinese medicine.
Like Rao Yuanzhi and others, who also studied traditional Chinese medicine, they operated Western hospitals to keep traditional Chinese medicine alive.
If one were to purely open a traditional Chinese medicine hospital, its competitive strength would be questionable.
“The vastness and profundity of traditional Chinese medicine is something Western medicine cannot compare with.
The decline of traditional Chinese medicine is merely a decline in the medical community.
Our nation fails to promote its precious heritage and instead worships foreign brands, which is a fundamental flaw of our people.
Without curing this fundamental flaw, we cannot stop the decline of traditional Chinese medicine,” Tangyu said, curling his lip.
He hoped for the prosperity of traditional Chinese medicine, but he did not possess the ambition to save it.
He lacked such grandeur and the energy to save a culture.
President Bi looked at Tangyu and nodded approvingly, “Exactly as you have said, it is a fundamental flaw of the nation.
Without curing it, we cannot halt the decline of traditional Chinese medicine.
I have made countless efforts over the years, yet there has been no response.
These past few years, I’ve felt quite disheartened.
Alas, sometimes I think the decline of traditional Chinese medicine also isn’t without reason.
It’s too cumbersome to treat illnesses, the effects are too slow, and it mainly cannot be popularized.
Anyway, there are many reasons.
Now it is predominately the era of Western medicine.
What I can do now is probably just ensure that traditional Chinese medicine does not completely disappear.”
“Things are up to man,” Tangyu said.
“The foundation of traditional Chinese medicine might temporarily not be as good as Western medicine, but its vastness and profundity certainly cannot be compared by Western medicine.
It’s just that there are too few masters in traditional Chinese medicine to hold up any presence.
If one day, there are as many masters in traditional Chinese medicine as in Western medicine, then I believe traditional Chinese medicine will definitely triumph over Western medicine.” Tangyu spoke, merely speculating and discussing theoretically.
To cultivate masters in traditional Chinese medicine was extremely difficult; it was not just about having someone to teach, as it required talent.
Just think, if the entire Huaxia Country had tens of thousands or even more masters like Rao Yuanzhi in traditional Chinese medicine, how could it not rise?
The fundamental reason is that there are too few masters in traditional Chinese medicine, so in the competition against Western medicine, it doesn’t have the slightest advantage.
If Huaxia had more people like Rao Yuanzhi and Doctor Xiao, each with significant influence and able to treat patients all the time, Tangyu believed many people would opt for traditional Chinese medicine.
All it would take is slowly changing this concept to address a national ailment fundamentally.
Treating the symptoms but not the root cause is simply absurd.
But this root, as it appears now, still amounts to empty words, even somewhat like a fanciful dream.
If it were really possible to cultivate thousands of masters like Rao Yuanzhi, it would even be possible to build an empire of traditional Chinese medicine.
Regarding the vastness and profundity of traditional Chinese medicine, Tangyu still had great confidence.
Western medicine is actually quite rigid, relying on certain medications and technological methods to treat people, far from the natural and cosmic communication of traditional Chinese medicine, using the most mysterious forces to cure ailments.
What Western medicine considers global chronic diseases can actually be cured by traditional Chinese medicine.
Not to mention others, even Tangyu himself could easily cure many problems that Western medicine could not resolve, including some complicated diseases.
President Bi nodded approvingly and said, “Mr.
Tang has pointed out precisely, the situation is indeed so.
Alas, if only our Huaxia Country had more traditional Chinese medicine talents like Rao Yuanzhi and you, Tangyu, we wouldn’t have to worry about our traditional Chinese medicine not thriving.”
“I am merely theorizing, just casually speaking,” Tangyu said.
“You are quite right,” President Bi laughed, then his expression immediately turned serious again, “Rao Yuanzhi, Tangyu, I have come to you today, actually with a somewhat awkward request.”
“Oh, whatever President Bi commands,” Rao Yuanzhi said.
President Bi glanced at Tangyu, then said, “This is the situation.
In three days, a group of Western medical experts from America will come to Donglin City for a Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine conference, arranged through diplomatic means by America with our Huaxia Country.
So the authorities are taking this very seriously and have issued several orders to ensure this conference is well conducted.
Moreover, there may be ministerial-level dignitaries attending, so I cannot afford any negligence.
However, from what I know, this group of Western medical experts is quite exceptional, each one could be considered a top expert in Western medicine if they were in Huaxia Country.
These people do not come with good intentions.”
Rao Yuanzhi furrowed his brows slightly and said, “You mean to say, President Bi, that these people, under the guise of a traditional Chinese and Western medical exchange, are actually here to promote their Western medicine, wanting Western medicine to overshadow ours, thereby accelerating the decline of our traditional Chinese medicine?”
President Bi nodded and said, “Yes, exactly that.
And that’s not all.
Undermining our traditional Chinese medicine and accelerating its decline is one aspect.
Another aspect is the political strike, since they managed to bring this about through diplomatic means with our Huaxia Country.
So if they manage to greatly demonstrate their superiority over our traditional Chinese medicine, then our Huaxia Country’s reputation will not know where to hide.
The intentions of the American people are not simple.
Hence, I mentioned that I’ve already received several orders, which feel like mountains pressing on my shoulders, causing me considerable headache.
This time, no matter what, we cannot lose face on our own turf.
So, I must prepare thoroughly to ensure those American people do not succeed, otherwise I might as well not continue as president.”
“These American people are indeed despicable.
Their so-called Chinese and Western medical exchange is indeed just a boasting tool for Western medicine.
Western medicine is also being promoted, so as to occupy more market share.
If they can completely suppress traditional Chinese medicine, indeed, much space will open up, and the profits therein are also quite considerable.
Most importantly, the Americans are too confident, too competitive, wanting to be first in everything, and they see Western medicine in the same light.
Despicable, truly despicable,” Rao Yuanzhi also indignantly said.