I am a literary giant in Japan

1998 10 Month 25 Day.

Professor's Office, Department of Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital.

"It is a great honor for our humble home to have you, Mr. Beichuan."

A tall, middle-aged man with a square face and a sweet smile, wearing a white coat, was making tea while speaking to Kitagawa Hide who was sitting on the sofa.

The other side of the sofa.

Standing upright with a somewhat restrained and dissatisfied look, Tang Ze Minxing sometimes looked at Kitagawa Hide, sometimes stole a glance at the middle-aged man who was talking, and seemed to want to say something but stopped himself several times.

"You are too kind. It is my honor to be a guest at the First Surgery Department of the top university in the country."

Kitagawa Hide stood up again and bowed slightly to Professor Higashi Koji of the First Department of Surgery as a sign of respect.

This is not just a humble statement, but Kitagawa Hide's true words.

The level of development of Japanese medicine is world-famous.

When many celebrities and wealthy people are diagnosed with incurable diseases, their first choice of medical treatment is the Los Angeles Hospital, followed by the University of Tokyo Hospital. This shows the reputation and prestige of Japanese medical institutions around the world.

The First Department of Surgery and the First Department of Internal Medicine are the most famous outpatient departments of the Affiliated Hospital of Dongda University. This shows how powerful and well-connected Professor Dong, who is making tea here, is.

Kitagawa Hide doesn't think that he and his relatives and friends will never go to the hospital again, so building good relationships with the senior management of large hospitals is the social activity he is least opposed to.

Who can guarantee that they will never need to see a doctor in their lifetime?

Just like the one next door, seeking medical treatment in Japan depends on whether you have a hospital relationship or not.

For example, for patients with hospital relationships, there are always vacant wards in any hospital. There will never be a situation where the wards are full and you have to lie in the corridor.

On the contrary, if a patient has no hospital connections, he cannot even enter the door of the First Department of Internal Medicine and Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Tokyo University of Technology, let alone think about seeing a doctor or being hospitalized.

This is the bloody real world.

In addition, PY transactions between medical representatives and hospital employees, additional high medical expenses, red envelope fees for medical treatment and visits, nursing issues, medical disputes, etc. are all notorious unspoken rules in modern Japanese hospitals.

If you don't understand the unspoken rules here, you won't even know how you'll die.

This is why, even though corpses like dust keep falling from this huge white tower that reaches the sky, countless people still climb up day after day, year after year.

All these factors intertwined together and broke out in the 1960s and 1970s of the original history, thus giving birth to an epic popular literary work focusing on medical issues - "White Tower".

This medical masterpiece written by Toyoko Yamazaki was first published in 1963 according to the original history.

The novel criticizes Japan's unreasonable medical system, breaks the situation where patients have been at a disadvantage for a long time, and directly criticizes the selfishness and evil side of human nature in the Japanese medical community.

"White Tower" was initially not accepted by the literary and publishing circles due to issues with its subject matter and content.

Yamazaki Toyoko finally wrote a first draft of nearly 50,000 words, but no publishing house was willing to accept it.

After many twists and turns, it was finally accepted by the relatively fearless "Daily Weekly".

"Daily Weekly" is an independent literary magazine under the "Daily News". It probably belongs to the third-rate tier among literary magazines and does not have much social influence.

It is the Daily News that is more worth talking about.

It is backed by the Mainichi Group and is known as one of the five giants of Japan's newspaper industry along with the Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun.

It is precisely because of the strong background of the Daily Group that "White Tower" can be serialized safely in the "Daily Weekly".

Unexpectedly, this novel with a sensitive subject matter and unpopular content became a national hit, was reprinted more than 40 times in ten years, and was constantly adapted into film and television dramas, becoming an insurmountable mountain in the history of Japanese popular literature.

The success of "White Tower" is partly due to the increasingly intense doctor-patient conflicts in Japan.

In this country, teachers, writers and doctors are collectively known as the "Three National Masters" and their social status is above other professions.

Doctors are also closely related to core livelihood issues such as medical care and life expectancy. In Japan, all formal doctors, without exception, start out as middle class and have great hope of entering the upper class.

Power, money, women.
When too many things were entangled with pure medicine, the developed Japanese medical community also fell into various dark sides.

The "bubble economy" in the medical field needs someone who is not afraid of death to burst it.

At this time, the smiling Professor Dong did not know that Kitagawa Hide came to burst this huge "bubble".

In his opinion, an interview with a top writer who is currently popular and whose social influence has spread overseas is his best opportunity to make further progress.

How could he refuse?

"Haha, Mr. Beichuan is joking again. In terms of social status, you are far superior to us. In terms of wealth and influence, we can't even compare to you.

I never dared to dream of being able to communicate with a top writer like you."

Professor Dong came over with a teacup in his hand. Behind him, rows and rows of brand new collections of Kitagawa Hide's novels were carefully placed on the bookshelf.

It doesn’t matter whether you watch it or not.

What’s important is that one of the country’s top surgical professors is willing to collect the complete set of Kitagawa Hide’s books.

This is business promotion at its best.

"This is the top-grade Longjing tea that was airlifted from next door. Please taste it."

Professor Dong glanced at his disciple Tang Ze Minxing beside him with an unhappy look on his face.

This is the fourth time that Kitagawa Hide and his partner have entered the door.

He was very grateful to Tang Ze Toshiyuki for introducing such important network resources to him.

But since he and Mr. Kitagawa have already come into contact, Toshiyuki Tangze's mission is accomplished.

Why is he still standing there?
Is the work in the First Surgery Department not busy enough?

Tang Ze Minxing lowered his head slightly, pretending not to see it, and continued to stay in the office.

A few days ago, Mr. Kitagawa came to the School of Medicine of the University of Tokyo to visit him, and the two had a very pleasant conversation.

Toshiyuki Karasawa was even happier when he heard that Mr. Kitagawa was going to write a work related to medical themes.

Now "The Villain" and "Asakusa Red Group" are all the rage in Japan. Despite the pressure from the two major consortiums, Mr. Kitagawa still demonstrates his terrifying market appeal and influence.

Kitagawa Hide is an important figure who is worth making friends with even if it will offend the consortium.

This is Tang Ze Toshiyuki's judgment of him.

Moreover, in the past year, Mr. Kitagawa's novels have been moving closer to realistic themes.

Shimamura in "Snow Country", Keiko Koyama in "Tokyo People", Santiago in "The Old Man and the Sea", Masumi Hayashi and Tatsumi Terada in "The Villain", and the Red Falcon Group in "Asakusa Red Group"
Earlier there were the prototype characters in "No Longer Human", "Paradise Lost" and "The Izu Dancing Girl".

As long as Teacher Beichuan writes them down, they will be recognized by the public and remembered by the world.

For a doctor chasing fame and fortune, this is the perfect publicity!
Teacher Beichuan came to me, obviously wanting to find a breakthrough from me.

After a long talk, Kitagawa Hide suggested that he wanted to visit the hospital directly to learn more.

Toshiyuki Karasawa immediately used his authority as an assistant professor of the First Department of Surgery at the Tokyo University Hospital to allow Kitagawa Hide to visit various departments and areas without hindrance.

Unexpectedly, this matter soon reached the ears of Professor Dong.

As a last resort, Tang Ze Toshiyuki had to introduce Mr. Kitagawa to Professor Dong.

Hence the present scene.

Professor Dong wants to pick peaches.

And he did it blatantly and without disguise, right in front of Teacher Kitagawa!
This is too much! "Tang Ze." Professor Dong finally couldn't bear it anymore.

Mr. Kitagawa, who was sitting on the sofa, had already started preparing pen and paper for the interview.

Professor Dong didn't know what questions Teacher Beichuan would ask him next, or whether it might involve some private or sensitive matters, so he didn't want the disciples who already had a grudge against him to be present.

"Professor?" Tang Ze Minxing couldn't continue pretending to be dead, so he had to look up at him in confusion.

"I'll leave the operation of Mr. Kagawa, the governor of Osaka Prefecture, to you."

Professor Dong thought for a moment, put away his dissatisfied expression, looked at Tang Ze Minxing, and spoke word by word.

The current governor of Osaka Prefecture (administrative level equivalent to the neighboring province WSJ) Hayami Kagawa suffers from esophageal cancer and was recently admitted to the inpatient department of the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Because He Chuan Zaojian's esophageal cancer was still in the early stages and was not difficult to treat, as long as he could be operated on, the surgeon would surely gain a wave of political resources and social praise, so several top surgeons from the First Surgery Department wanted to perform the operation.

Originally, Professor Dong was planning to take action himself and take the unexpected fame and fortune.

Now he suddenly made a concession and indicated that he would hand over the operation to Tang Ze Minxing, which stunned the latter.

"What's wrong? Don't you have the confidence to perform this operation well?"

Professor Dong glanced at him and his tone became serious.

Tang Ze Toshiyuki quickly shook his head: "No, I have confidence! It's just..."

"Just what? Why don't you go quickly? Mr. Hechuan is our important patient. Instead of wasting time talking to me here, why don't you go to the ward and ask about his condition?

It's only been a few years since you left college, and you've already forgotten everything I taught you!"

Professor Dong's tone became even more severe. He completely ignored Kitagawa Hide who was sitting next to him, and scolded Tang Ze Toshiyuki harshly like a teacher lecturing a student.

At this point, Tang Ze Toshiyuki had no choice but to nod his head submissively. After saying goodbye to Kitagawa Hide, he left the office reluctantly.

He was not grateful for Professor Dong's initiative to make concessions.

In his eyes, he, whose surgical skills surpassed those of the professor, was the most suitable surgeon for this operation.

It is reasonable and logical that he should be responsible for the operation in the end.

Now Professor Dong is using this "favor" to cover up the fact that I had snatched his interview opportunity away, which makes Tang Ze Toshiyuki even more unhappy.

"In one month, the recommendation period for the next full professor of surgery will begin. After I become a full professor,

Tang Ze Minxing, who was walking away from the door, gritted his teeth and said.

Inside the office.

Without the light bulb of Toshiyuki Karasawa, Professor Dong became more gentle and became closer to Hideya Kitagawa.

Kitagawa Hide, who witnessed this silent war between the full professor and the assistant professor, gained a deeper understanding of the intrigues within the medical system.

Reading a novel is one thing, and seeing it actually happen in front of you is another.

This is one of the deep feelings Kitagawa Hide has gained after three years as a plagiarist.

A writer without any life experience will never be able to write an excellent novel that is popular among the people.

"Haha, sorry to make you laugh. Although I have been away from university for 30 years, I still can't change my bad habit of teaching my students.

I hope these little guys who are exploited by me all day long won’t hate me for this, haha.”

Professor Dong pretended to be relaxed and said,

"But it doesn't matter even if you hate me. When the recommendation list for the new first full professor of surgery comes out next month, an old guy like me will probably fall out of favor."

"Oh?"

Kitagawa Hide knew that the other party was deliberately leaking some "secrets" to him, so he followed the topic and asked,

"You mean you're going to retire?"

"Yeah. You're already old, you can't just sit there doing nothing and not give the young people below you a chance, right?

I'm not like Professor Ukai of the First Internal Medicine Department, who is determined to cling to this position.

Haha, look at me, I'm off topic again."

Professor Dong casually cue Professor Ukai and easily brought the topic back.

He just wanted to vent his emotions and show me the majesty and power of a full professor.
Kitagawa Hide keenly grasped Professor Dong's intention, so he did not continue asking and also changed the subject.

In this way, the old and the young started a discussion and exchange about the Affiliated Hospital of Dongda University.

When Kitagawa Hide left the Tokyo University Hospital, it was completely dark.

Before getting in the car, he looked back at the huge hospital behind him and felt that the medical field was worthy of the title of the white tower.

From top to bottom, most of the staff here can control the life and death of others, but they cannot control their own destiny in this white tower.

Even at Professor Dong's level, he still has countless obsessions and desires.

He didn't want to retire at all, and was thinking of going one step further and becoming the Minister of Medicine, or simply jumping into politics at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

However, no matter which direction he chooses, it will be difficult with his current connections and resources.

Professor Dong tried his best to snatch Kitagawa Hide from Tang Ze Toshiyuki and wanted to monopolize this opportunity. It was also because he wanted to maximize his benefits and use this opportunity to achieve his own goals.

"The questions asked in today's interview were relatively superficial, not enough to be used in a novel. Judging from the situation, I guess I'll have to keep running back and forth between Tokyo University and here for the next month."

Kitagawa Hide increasingly felt that Professor Dong’s sample was not enough.

In order to understand this place more comprehensively and systematically, he must come into contact with more medical staff, and it would be best if he could eat and live with them here.

Unfortunately, judging from Professor Dong’s tone, Japanese hospitals attach great importance to hierarchy and system, and most likely will not allow him to do so.

“If we can’t collect information on site at the Affiliated Hospital of Dongda University, can we consider saving the country through a roundabout way?”

Kitagawa Hide got in the car, started the engine, grabbed the steering wheel, looked at the brightly lit hospital, and fell into deep thought again.

As he was thinking, he suddenly thought of a plot from the Taiwanese version of "White Tower" -

At the end of the Taiwanese version of the story, the heroine Guan Xin's fiancé came from the local hospital to the city center hospital where the hero Su Yihua worked to study.
"The only difference between local hospitals and hospitals in central areas is the size, number of people, and medical conditions. From a macro perspective, a glimpse of the whole picture is a glimpse of the whole picture. I can go to a local hospital to learn about other details."

Kitagawa Hide paused, then quickly took out his cell phone and called his father-in-law, Agatsuma Eikichi, whom he hadn't contacted for a long time.

It’s half past ten at night.

My wife Rongji, who had just returned from a private clinic, saw that it was her son-in-law calling and quickly answered the call.

"Moshi Moshi, is it Ah Xiu?"

"Yes, father, it's me. I came to you to ask you to help me inquire about your local..."

When my wife Rongji saw Kitagawa Hide calling in the middle of the night, she thought that the couple was having a conflict, or that something important had happened.

When my wife Rongji heard that she wanted to ask him to arrange for her to study in the medical unit under his jurisdiction, she felt relieved and agreed without hesitation.

My son-in-law is good in every way except that he always makes me surprised.

Finally, my wife Rongji, who was still a little worried, couldn't help but ask again: "Um, Ah Xiu, Mengzi is at home now, should everything be okay?"

"Yumeko-chan? Ah, of course!" Kitagawa Hide's mind was full of novels. When he heard his father-in-law mention Yumeko, he thought that his father-in-law was dissatisfied with him for only focusing on his career and not paying attention to his family, and was criticizing him. He quickly replied loudly and guiltily. (End of this chapter)