The fever had subsided, and the digestive system was working normally again.

The elderly lady left with her little granddaughter.

Shen Congyun didn’t charge them a penny, but before they departed, he kept nagging them to speak well of him once they returned. especially if they encountered any officials.

At first, the elderly lady agreed readily, but after Shen Congyun repeated his request over and over, she became flustered and quickly rushed away with her granddaughter in tow.

Shen Congyun was still standing at the door, calling out after them.

Everyone in the clinic looked at him speechlessly.

Gao Yuan glanced at the three doctors, feeling slightly more relaxed. No matter what, his efforts over this period hadn't been in vain. Now, only Zhao Huanzhang remained.

"Dr. Shen, what are you doing at the door?" A voice suddenly came from outside.

"Dr. Zhao, you're back?" Shen Congyun responded, his face showing surprise.

Everyone in the clinic turned their heads to look.

Li Shengli took one glance and immediately turned his head back, his expression darkening.

At the entrance stood a middle-aged man with slightly hunched shoulders and a clean-shaven face. His hair was cut short, and he black-framed glasses, giving him a scholarly look.

This was Zhao Huanzhang, the director of their cooperative clinic.

Zhao Huanzhang entered, nodded at everyone, and asked, "How's everything going?"

Liu Sanquan replied, "Everything's fine; nothing major happened."

Zhao Huanzhang, always polite, said, "Thank you all for your hard work while I was away. I brought some sponge cakes from the county. Please share them. Xiao He, help distribute them."

"Yes!" He Yu happily rushed over.

However, Li Shengli pulled a sour face and muttered, "Fake gestures, just trying to win people over."

Hearing this, Zhao Huanzhang smiled awkwardly and handed the cakes to He Yu, and then turned to Gao-Yuan. "Comrade, are you here for medicine?"

Liu Sanquan quickly intervened, "Oh, Dr. Zhao, I forgot to mention; this is Gao-Yuan. He’s the new doctor in our clinic."

"Huh?" Zhao Huanzhang was taken aback.

As soon as Liu Sanquan said it, he too froze.

Even He Yu, who was in the middle of unwrapping the sponge cakes, stopped.

Over the past few days, everyone had grown used to Gao-Yuan being around and had subconsciously accepted him as one of the clinic’s doctors. But they had all forgotten one important thing—Zhao Huanzhang, the clinic director, wasn’t aware of this development.

Looking bewildered, Zhao Huanzhang glanced at Gao-Yuan, then at the others. "A new doctor? Why didn’t I know?"

Li Shengli, still scowling, said, "Well, now you know. Do you have any objections?"

Zhao Huanzhang quickly waved his hands. "No, no, if everyone agrees, then I agree too. Our clinic is very democratic. We follow the majority’s opinion. My personal thoughts don’t matter. Of course, I completely align with everyone’s decision."

He hurriedly explained himself.

Seeing Zhao Huanzhang's overly cautious demeanor, Gao-Yuan felt somewhat helpless. This was Zhao Huanzhang, a doctor who was overly prudent.

Zhao Huanzhang turned to Gao-Yuan, extended his hand, and said, "Welcome, Dr. Gao... Gao-Yuan."

Gao-Yuan shook his hand.

After finishing the sponge cakes, everyone returned to their work.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A while later, as Liu Sanquan was flipping through some medical cases, he suddenly asked, "Hey, what's the difference in application between Sang Ju Yin, Yin Qiao San, and Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang?"

"Oh..." Zhao Huanzhang stood up, ready to answer.

But before he could, Liu Sanquan quickly followed up. "Dr. Gao, why don’t you explain?"

Zhao Huanzhang, who had half-risen, awkwardly sat back down.

Not long after, Li Shengli asked Gao-Yuan about the differences in feeling between a fine pulse and a weary pulse during diagnosis.

Later, Shen Congyun had some new ideas he wanted to discuss with Gao-Yuan.

Even He Yu, who handled odd jobs around the clinic, went over to Gao-Yuan to ask about the list of herbal supplies for treating colds.

Zhao Huanzhang started to feel out of place. He was supposed to be the director of the clinic. Yet, after only a week away, he now felt like a complete outsider.

After suppressing his frustration for a long time, Zhao Huanzhang walked outside, looked around, and confirmed that he hadn't gone to the wrong place.

As he was pondering this, a voice suddenly sounded beside him: "Dr. Zhao, you're back?"

Zhao Huanzhang turned around to see Zhang Yuancai. "Yes, Comrade Yuancai, you've come by?"

"Yes, I'm here to discuss the issue of the outstanding payment for the herbs. There's a new directive—it needs to be paid off earlier than expected," Zhang Yuancai said.

"What?" Zhao Huanzhang exclaimed.

"Early repayment?" A voice suddenly interrupted from the entrance. Gao-Yuan walked over and asked, "Did you say the payment needs to be made early?"

"Yes," Zhang Yuancai nodded.

Gao-Yuan was taken aback, remembering that in his previous life, Zhang Yuancai had also come to collect the payment. He had thought it was because of the death of Zhang’s mother, but it turned out that it was actually an official requirement.

"Does it need to be paid now?" Gao-Yuan frowned deeply.

The situation quickly drew the attention of the entire clinic.

The farmers who came for treatment only paid 20% of the herb costs, which barely covered the clinic’s daily expenses. The remaining 80% was supposed to be settled with communal funds from the cooperative society, but that money wouldn’t be available until after the wheat and autumn harvests, when the farmers had income.

Gao-Yuan understood that if the payment had to be made now, things would go downhill just like in his previous life—everyone would have to rely on their elderly parents or their wives for support again.

The other doctors in the clinic were all well aware of the situation. They all looked anxiously at Zhao Huanzhang. But Zhao, with his hunched shoulders and timid demeanor, only made them feel more disheartened.

"Sigh..." Liu Sanquan sighed, knowing that Zhao was not someone they could rely on.

"The coming days won’t be easy," Shen Congyun added.

Even Li Shengli and He Yu looked visibly worried.

Suddenly, Gao-Yuan asked, "Where is your director, Qi? Dongsheng, now?"

Zhang Yuancai was puzzled but answered, "He should still be at the office."

Gao-Yuan nodded. "In that case, please take us to him. I'll speak with him about this."

Everyone froze.

"You want to discuss this with our director?" Zhang Yuancai asked.

"Not just this issue," Gao-Yuan replied. "There’s something else very important that I need to talk to him about. about."

Zhang Yuancai looked confused.

"Could you introduce us?" Gao-Yuan requested.

After hesitating for a moment, thinking of how Gao-Yuan had saved his mother’s life, Zhang Yuancai sighed and said, "Alright."

Gao-Yuan nodded, then turned to Zhao Huanzhang. "Pack up. We need to go."

Zhao looked stunned. "I’m going too?"

Gao-Yuan replied, exasperated, "You’re the director. If not you, then who?"

Without even taking a sip of water, Zhao Huanzhang was dragged away by Gao-Yuan.

Watching Gao-Yuan’s bold and decisive demeanor, He Yu’s eyes gleamed as she muttered, "He's so brave!"

...

By evening, the group had arrived at the county office.

Zhang Yuancai pointed upstairs. "Director Qi is up there."

"Alright," the group headed up.

Gao-Yuan and Zhao Huanzhang waited outside the office.

Before long, Zhang Yuancai came out and said, "Director Qi isn’t feeling well, so if you have something to discuss, make it quick."

Gao-Yuan asked, "He’s not feeling well? Well, that’s convenient. We’re doctors."

"Huh?" Zhang Yuancai was surprised, realizing that was indeed the case.

Director Qi Dongsheng was a man in his sixties with a lean face and neatly combed graying hair. When the group entered the office, he set down the pen in his hand and said, "Hello, please have a seat. Xiao Zhang, pour them some... uh... water."

Gao-Yuan and Zhao Huanzhang exchanged glances.

Director Qi continued, "I understand you’ve come to discuss... uh... something."

Zhao cautiously observed the director’s complexion, trying to diagnose him from afar.

But Gao-Yuan took the initiative and asked, "Director Qi, are you suffering from hiccups?"

Director Qi nodded. "Yes, I’ve been... uh... hiccupping for several days now."

"Let us take a look at you first." Gao-Yuan offered.

Director Qi waved his hand dismissively. "No need to trouble yourselves. I... uh... already saw a doctor."

"Hiccups that won’t stop can be more uncomfortable than illness itself," Gao-Yuan insisted. "It affects eating, sleeping, and even work."

Director Qi sighed and shook his head, saying, "Yes, it’s been really exhausting these past few days... hic... I’ve already seen the doctors at the county hospital. Even invited Dr. Li Runyu from the Xingsheng Clinic... hic... but no effect.”

At this point, Zhao Huanzhang completely lowered his head. shoulders hunched, remaining silent.

"Li Runyu..." Gao-Yuan muttered softly, glancing out the window. He knew Li Runyu, the head of the Xingsheng Joint Clinic, was currently regarded as the top traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the county. Well, at least for now—Gao-Yuan himself would eventually surpass him.

It was clear what Director Qi meant: if even Li Runyu couldn’t cure it, then no need to waste more time.

Gao-Yuan looked at Director Qi and said earnestly, "Just because Dr. Li couldn’t treat it doesn’t mean we can't."

"Hmm?" Director Qi raised his eyebrows in surprise. This young man certainly had some nerve! What a bold claim! Hadn’t he brushed his teeth in months?