Merchant and doctor

Chapter 1938 No one can escape the fate of increasing entropy.
Nie Yawen said she was in a bad mood and didn't have much of an appetite, saying that a simple meal would be fine. She suggested they eat and chat at the same time. Bian Mu had been very busy lately, so she had to be understanding and let them chat during their lunch break.

After thinking it over, Bian Mu decided to go to Sangong Lake and have some local farm-style food.

When Bian Mu arrived, the staff at Sangonghu Lake area were incredibly enthusiastic, and in the end, they all recommended a local farmhouse restaurant called "Renjian Yanhuo" (meaning "Human Touch").

The shop owner was over seventy years old, but he stood up straight and looked very energetic. Hearing that Bian Mu was a famous and popular doctor, his family naturally treated him with great care.

The dishes were all served, and they were alright. Nie Yawen ate to her liking and casually gave the restaurant owners a 200 yuan red envelope. The two declined a little but accepted it.

"My eldest brother has formally proposed retirement, saying he'll go to Jiangnan to recuperate for a while. I think he should have some businesses there. As for whether he'll still be working in the traditional Chinese medicine industry, I'm not sure. My grandfather is a bit weak and plans to choose another apprentice to take charge. After some deliberation, he's selected three to help out, test them, and finally decide on one."

"Huh?! Is this Elder Nie's idea? Or did you make this decision on your own?!" Feeling a bit strange, Bian Mu quickly asked.

"Tch! This is such a big deal, of course it's my grandfather's idea. He said you'd understand what it means as soon as you heard it!" Nie Yawen put down her chopsticks and replied blankly.

Clearly, Nie Yawen was rather dismissive of the matter, and it was unclear whether this attitude was directed at her fellow disciples or at Bian Mu.

Who cares! Let's ask first and see.

"I'm going to set the exam questions?! I have no idea what Elder Nie is thinking, and he didn't contact me beforehand!" Bian Mu asked, puzzled.

"That's right! My grandpa hasn't been in a good mood lately and hasn't been in much contact with the outside world. You can set three test questions: one theoretical question, one clinical diagnosis question, and finally one practical question. You can set them all. Don't worry! It will be kept completely confidential. Including you, only the three of us will know what's going on."

Upon hearing this, Bian Mu felt that the matter might not be as simple as it seemed.

What's Old Nie up to with this?!
"Such a big matter needs some time to think. Did Elder Nie really say that?!"

"How about we call my grandpa now?!" Nie Yawen replied, frowning. "No! I trust you! Is there a deadline?" Bian Mu asked with a smile.

"We have a week to go, and we can't delay any longer. There's some unrest in the clinic and other businesses right now. People are a bit distracted at work. My grandfather said that apart from your clinic, other traditional Chinese medicine clinics in Lijin City are just maintaining the status quo. My grandfather is very disappointed about this... He said that right now, we can only rely on you to improve the industry's atmosphere."

"No! Don't flatter me, I can't bear that responsibility!" Bian Mu blurted out, quickly responding.

"Tch! It's just three test questions, look at how stingy you are! Sigh! You know... how come all these businesses are doing so well, and now they're all declining and not doing so well? Could it be... that this kind of thing is contagious across industries?" Nie Yawen was indeed a little downcast, muttering to herself a few times, appearing somewhat forlorn, which was quite different from her usual demeanor.

"Well, maybe 'entropy increase' would be a reasonable explanation," Bian Mu replied, enjoying his meal of firefish chunks.

"'Entropy increase'?! You mean... even the most perfect medical system will eventually become chaotic and ultimately perish?!"

"It's unlikely to be destroyed. In Lijin, anyone who has managed to build a traditional Chinese medicine clinic has definitely started from small, micro-systems, working diligently day after day, year after year, as if walking on thin ice! Without exception, the only difference is the stage they are at. Now, they have already begun to decline. I'm just repeating their old procedures. In the future, I really have no idea whether my 'digital medicine' system will collapse." Putting down his chopsticks, Bian Mu shared his thoughts with considerable feeling.

"Is it really that absolute? Without exception?!"

"There's no way around it, it's all about iteration! They talk about that spiral upward climb, and on the surface, successful people seem to have endless glamour, but actually... it's a bit like wringing out wet clothes. The tighter you wring, the more water you get out. The pressure of that ever-increasing pressure is something ordinary people can't understand, and I'm no exception. Haven't you noticed? Every day, I have to constantly challenge the old traditional Chinese medicine system, including Old Master Nie's, intentionally or unintentionally negating their previously prized medical skills, experience, and exclusive formulas through my patient cases... Otherwise, what right do I have to show my face on the street?! Over time, I accumulate new technologies, reputation, new medical concepts, connections, and medical experience... (and so on)" At the same time, negative energy is constantly accumulating, such as the desire for novelty, the overall cost, and conflicts of interest. The most terrifying thing about this is that for every slight progress you make, something unpleasant inevitably accumulates on the other side. Buddhist scriptures explain this most thoroughly, down to the smallest detail! Really, sometimes, when faced with special cases, a very ordinary treatment plan would be effective, but I can't help but want to increase the cure rate, insisting on using more sophisticated methods. Over time, the negative energy I accumulate directly drags down the entire medical system. "That's probably what Elder Nie wants..." As they talked, Bian Mu felt herself getting closer and closer to Nie Yixiong.

“Oh…no wonder…Grandpa said that Senior Brother Pang has actually suffered quite a bit over the years. The money he amassed in secret is nothing compared to what he earned. The more you work, the more you earn! Grandpa didn’t blame him at all. In fact, he’s been saying lately that he feels a bit sorry for Senior Brother!”

"Absolutely! Elder Nie is so sensible! The old man probably wants me to lighten the burden on your institution by answering three representative questions, and try to unload some of the negative energy accumulated over the decades. Otherwise, it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black. With Senior Brother Pang gone, your institution might also be facing a shortage of talent! To be honest, I used to look down on Senior Brother Pang's skills, but now that I have to do everything myself, I'm gradually starting to understand. It's not easy for anyone, and these past two years have been tough for everyone!" As he spoke, Bian Mu briefly mentioned the recent lack of cooperation with "Hongyang" Pharmaceutical Company.

"Oh...now that you mention it...it really makes sense! No wonder Grandpa always said that the traditional Chinese medicine clinic could close down any day, it's just a matter of a thin veil, so that's what he meant...it's like that painter, the bigger the fame, the more rigid the technique, and in their old age, they can't paint at all, their hands tremble uncontrollably. I've seen it with my own eyes, many calligraphers are the same, when they get old, what kind of characters do they write! They're simply unreadable. I used to think, how did they manage to get by when they were young! Were they charlatans?! Now that you've said it, I understand everything, that's right! Entropy increases, the closer to the peak, the more complacent the entire system rushes towards collapse! No wonder my grandpa hasn't taken on any difficult cases these past two years, it turns out it's because..." At the end, perhaps feeling a bit disrespectful to her dear grandfather, Nie Yawen quickly stopped talking.

Hearing this, Bian Mu looked at Nie Yawen with new respect. As expected of someone from a prestigious family, her comprehension was indeed quite high; she grasped the concept immediately!