Merchant and doctor

Chapter 2042 Little Medicine Dog

On the way back, Bian Mu pondered how two important medical treasures had been protected, while so-called "backpackers" who wandered around and idlers who spent their days fishing in the wild were simply turned away. The relevant departments in the county had done a very timely job.

Bian Mu guessed that Nie Yixiong and those well-known experts probably played a significant role in promoting this.

Seeing the increasingly prosperous economy of his hometown county, Bian Mu was so happy that he couldn't help but hum a few lines of a popular online song...

……

Including "Wangyuebai", Bian Mu placed all the medicinal materials into three different medicine cauldrons in a very novel way to "nourish" them. After about 5 days, the medicinal properties would basically reach the optimal level.

……

That evening, after getting off work, Bian Mu invited the forest ranger Lao Liang to his restaurant, "Taibai Yaju," for a small get-together and to cook a few dishes.

Old Liang, the forest ranger, was no ordinary man. He always offered extraordinary advice on important matters, and in retrospect, the course of events proved that his predictions were mostly accurate. When Bian Mu was undecided, he would often chat with Old Liang. Even if he didn't get any substantial advice, at least it could help him sort out his confused thoughts.

Old Liang recently adopted a small, black, unidentified pet dog. Its fur was glossy and looked very clean, and its big eyes blinked like a child's. It wasn't very big, but it was very alert. It was probably a purebred dog. At the moment, it was lying quietly at Old Liang's feet, occasionally glancing at Bian Musao with a somewhat friendly look in its eyes.

"The little guy has a rather imposing name, 'Drunken Lion,' a gift from an old friend. I'll take care of him for a while. Once he's grown big enough, you can take him to the clinic to guard the door," Old Liang explained.

"I don't keep pets."

"Hehe... This is a medicinal dog, extremely rare and priceless. It's a local specialty of Xueqi Ridge. It takes at least 15 years to breed one like this. If we weren't very close, who would be willing to give it away!"

"Really? He seems quite clever."

"It's said that when it grows up a bit more, it will have the intelligence of a 7-year-old human child, able to recognize medicine and people, and it wouldn't trade it for gold!"

"Huh?! So precious, if I spoil you rotten... don't blame me then."

"Silly boy! This thing has another name, 'Famous Doctor Dog.' Every decent famous Chinese medicine doctor, whether it's a cat, a fish, or a dog, keeps one of these creatures. In the last two years, most people keep golden coin turtles. That guy... Lan Bingru loves to keep golden coin turtles, and Zhao Xicheng is used to keeping 'Qihuang fish.' These are special traditions from the old days. You're young and don't know anything about this! If you don't look like a famous doctor, the little guy will definitely look down on you. He'll run away as soon as he sees you, and he might even bite you if he's unhappy!"

"Oh...Is that so! Does that mean it eats whatever I eat?" Bian Mu replied with a smile.

"Pretty much! Just treat it like a human being. Don't let it suffer. These purebred dogs are very intelligent and understanding. You'll be fine. Take it home after get off work and make a home for it on the balcony. Take it with you when you go to work. It can be very helpful if you encounter special patients or special circumstances!"

"Amazing! This junior thanks you!"

"Hahaha... If you treat me to a few more meals, I'll have everything I need!" Old Liang joked. Hahaha...

Amidst laughter and conversation, Bian Mu briefly reported on Sun Zhengting's discussion with him about opening a joint medical clinic.

"That's right! We must make them beg us! Absolutely no voluntary acts of kindness, and don't be soft-hearted at crucial moments! You've now become a key pillar of the local TCM community. How should I put it… you always like to ponder mathematics, right? A three-dimensional coordinate system, for example. Originally, Nie Yixiong was the undisputed origin of the coordinate system; the system was built around him, and the entire framework of the TCM community was naturally constructed around him. Now it's different. He's old, his strength is failing, and his disciples and granddaughters still can't shoulder that responsibility." "This is a mess. Talent, personal effort, absolute cognitive ability... I can't meet the standards in any aspect. In this new era, the old model of natural inheritance between two generations won't work! Right now, you, the outsider, have to step up, set up a pillar, a beam, build a wall... be bold! You are now the new coordinate origin! What are you afraid of?! You'll take the lead! At least that's how it is between us, father and son. When have you ever seen pillars and beams running around with bricks and cement?!" Old Liang said these words meaningfully.

Upon hearing this, Bian Mu stopped smiling and remained silent.

“In recent years, doctors and teachers with some skills have been raising their standard of living year by year. They panic as soon as there is a slight fluctuation at ‘Huikang’. Right now, they are the ones who need our help. Besides, they can’t even touch your back in their lifetime to achieve your actual status in the field of traditional Chinese medicine! Being realistic is also a virtue!”

"So... the United Hospital is going to be opened like this? Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?"

"I want to emphasize two points. First, it would be best to have Teng Daili take charge of the branch offices. At first, you might not understand, but you'll gradually get the hang of it! Second, from now on, don't take the initiative to organize any of the branch offices. People will keep coming to you for help, and over time, it will only annoy you! Why not calmly select the best from the best? You've read the Tao Te Ching quite a bit, haven't you? Apply it practically! Govern by non-action! In the next 30 years, we dare not boast about other places, but the area around Lijin must be reconstructed with you as the coordinate origin, and there will even be a new system of Chinese herbal medicine. You need to show some courage!"

Bian Mu felt that Old Liang was a bit drunk and was talking nonsense. Respecting the old man as an elder, he didn't dare to say anything for a moment.

Just then, Bian Mu's phone rang.

Su Linwen's phone call.

"How far have we gotten in contacting that female patient with mental health issues?" Despite her kind heart, Su Linwen was still concerned about that matter.

"Old Hou has basically figured out the situation. Right now, she has two guardians. One is her aunt, who owns a supermarket—it's not a big one, but it's been open for quite a few years. The other is her uncle, a section chief at a certain unit, who usually takes good care of her. She usually stays at home tending to her flowers, playing the piano, feeding her cat, and so on. She goes out twice a day, very regularly. In the morning, she goes out to buy some daily necessities, and in the evening, she takes her pet dog for a walk. She doesn't talk to anyone, whether she knows them or not, and she won't answer you if you ask her for directions! It's been almost two years now, and she's hardly had any episodes. You tell me... from another perspective, is it necessary for us to disrupt her life?!" Bian Mu specifically turned on speakerphone to hear Old Liang's advice on this matter.

"That's not how it works. You have the ability to restore her to a normal life, so why not give it a try?! Is she alright as she is now?! To put it bluntly... isn't that like... well, never mind, I won't say anything harsh. If it can be treated, it should be treated. At worst, we can conduct a thorough technical risk assessment beforehand. Although I'm not in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, I still understand some basic principles. I didn't translate those medical materials every day for nothing. She's actually a hurdle in your medical career! If you can overcome it calmly, you'll reach a new level. Otherwise... well, I think it's better to seriously consider it. Of course, this is just my personal intuition. In the end, you see things more deeply than I do. That's all I wanted to say!" On the phone, Su Linwen unexpectedly said some rather profound words.

Hearing this, Bian Mu was momentarily at a loss.

After a moment's hesitation, Bian Mu replied, "Well... in principle, I can take on this case, but... I plan to ask my friends for help to get her two guardians to come to me to talk about this. I can't take the initiative to contact community staff or anything like that!"

"Alright then...we'll do it your way! It's quite tragic for a woman to live to that extent, I feel really bad about it..."

"Don't worry! I avoided it if you didn't know. Since we've run into each other, it's a kind of medical fate. I'll do my best."

"Hey! I knew you wouldn't abandon me. My mom called me, so remember to let me know as soon as you have any definite news!"

"Okay!" Bian Mu said, then hung up the phone.