The next morning at ten, the auditorium of the Capital University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was once again filled with TCM practitioners from across the country. However, the ones seated on stage were no longer Sima Wentang, Ma Debao, Feng Yuanliang, or their ilk.
In the center of the front row sat Kong Jingguo, a section chief from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, accompanied by Deputy Section Chief Xia Xinhou. To their sides sat Gu Shiren and Xiao Renliang, followed by Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai, and then Liu Pingyi, Li Tiangui, and Xue Dongshan.
“It seems the rumors from yesterday were true!”
“Yes, with Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai sitting up there, it must be confirmed!”
The TCM practitioners in the hall looked at the lineup on stage and knew that the impromptu meeting at the Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday, which had summoned Wan Yunting, Gu Yuanbai, and Gu Shiren, was to discuss and elect a successor for the chairman of the Chinese Medicine Association.
News had already been circulating yesterday that Kong Jingguo intended to appoint Wan Yunting as the Chairman of the Capital Chinese Medicine Association!
In fact, within the TCM circles of the Capital, ever since Kong Jingguo appeared at the Ouyang family's residence that night and attended the banquet specifically for Wan Yunting, most people could have already predicted this outcome.
“Please, everyone, quiet down.”
Deputy Section Chief Xia Xinhou adjusted the microphone, prompting the assembled TCM practitioners to settle. He continued, “Following an investigation by our Ministry of Health and Welfare, Sima Wentang was found to have engaged in various violations, including abuse of power. Therefore, after deliberation, the Ministry has decided to remove Sima Wentang from his position as Chairman of the Chinese Medicine Association and to elect a new chairman to continue guiding the work of the Hua Xia Chinese Medicine Association.”
“After an emergency meeting convened yesterday afternoon, and with the esteemed opinions of two TCM titans, Elder Gu and Elder Xiao, we have decided to elect Wan Yunting as the new Chairman of the Chinese Medicine Association!”
“Huo, it really is him…”
Immediately, the entire hall erupted in a buzz of discussion and speculation. Some younger and middle-aged TCM practitioners voiced their discontent, arguing, “To have someone so young take over the Capital Chinese Medicine Association, isn’t that too hasty?”
“Exactly, isn’t he just recognized by his family and now associated with the Ouyang family? If we’re talking about medical skills and ability, I’m just as capable!” exclaimed a young man with an arrogant expression.
“Whether his medical skills are as formidable as rumored is still uncertain. After all, he’s only famous in the Lingnan region, and he clearly lacks the ability to take on the chairman position!”
“Precisely. If it were Gu Yuanbai, I might be convinced. But Wan Yunting, he truly isn’t qualified!”
The dissenting voices surged like a tidal wave, but Wan Yunting remained silent, hearing it all.
“That’s not necessarily true!”
An elder chimed in, “Young Master Wan is, after all, a direct disciple of the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor. I, for one, trust his medical skills!”
“Elder Lin, that Ghost Hand Divine Doctor lived in what era? Besides, didn’t he nearly kill the previous patriarch of the Kong family with a mistaken prescription back then? Would anyone dare to trust his disciple, such a quack?” a middle-aged man scoffed dismissively.
“You know nothing.”
The elder TCM practitioner, Elder Lin, glared at him, saying, “How dare you, of this generation, speak so lightly of the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor’s esteemed title? Remember, the Hua Xia Chinese Medicine Association was founded by Mr. Gongsun and other TCM practitioners with the sole purpose of revitalizing and promoting our traditional Chinese medicine culture.”
“Moreover, that incident, any discerning person can infer that someone deliberately framed Mr. Gongsun. You youngsters weren’t there to witness the events, so you naturally don’t understand the full story.”
“Exactly,”
Another TCM practitioner added, “You youngsters are all so defiant. Then why don’t you try writing a paper on treating palmoplantar keratosis?”
These words effectively silenced the displeased young TCM practitioners, leaving them looking embarrassed and at a loss for words.
Gu Yuanbai and Gu Shiren, observing the dissenting voices from the audience, were not surprised by the opposition, as they had anticipated it.
“Please, everyone, quiet down.”
Xia Xinhou spoke, and the TCM practitioners gradually ceased their discussions. Xia Xinhou continued, “I understand that many of you feel Wan Yunting is too young to handle the position of Association Chairman. However, we are facing a generational gap in Chinese medicine. We cannot continue to rely on respected seniors like Elder Gu and Elder Xiao to come out of retirement and handle these matters. Therefore, we must elect a young individual with outstanding capabilities to take over.”
“However, you need not worry that Wan Yunting’s appointment will lead to mismanagement and errors. This is because we have simultaneously elected Gu Yuanbai as the Vice Chairman of the Association. He will assist Wan Yunting with any issues he encounters in his daily work within the Association, as will the Capital’s Four Great National Doctors, including Elder Gu and others.”
“Therefore, I sincerely hope that you will give the younger generation an opportunity. If any young practitioners in the audience feel they are more qualified than Wan Yunting at the same age, you are welcome to step forward and nominate yourselves. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will certainly provide you with opportunities!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the TCM practitioners below exchanged glances and whispered amongst themselves, “If Gu Yuanbai is the Vice Chairman, then we can all rest assured.”
“Indeed, Gu Yuanbai’s capabilities are evident to all. I respect his position as Vice Chairman!”
“Yes, the TCM education program that Old Gu initiated, starting from childhood, is a huge benefit for the future of Chinese medicine. Based on this alone, we are convinced!”
“Absolutely. Moreover, Wan Yunting is also the Vice Chairman of the Lingnan Chinese Medicine Association. If the higher authorities hadn’t removed the Sima family, I believe that with the combination of Gu Yuanbai and Wan Yunting, an elder and a youth, they could have successfully replaced the Capital Chinese Medicine Association with the Lingnan Chinese Medicine Association within a few years!”
At this moment, the assembled TCM practitioners nodded in agreement. Those young TCM practitioners who still held arrogant notions were silenced by Xia Xinhou’s final statement and dared not engage in further reckless discussion.
In just a few months since his release from prison, Wan Yunting had gained widespread fame. In terms of his skills and abilities, which young TCM practitioner present could confidently claim to surpass Wan Yunting?
The conference continued, with the main focus being the announcement of Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai taking over the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Medicine Association.
With the Sima family out of power, this year’s so-called achievements of the Capital Chinese Medicine Association would not be introduced or elaborated upon during the conference. Finally, Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai delivered speeches, sharing their visions for the future development of the Chinese Medicine Association.
He then firmly expressed his original intention and stood up, saying, “I hope everyone will give us a little more time. We will surely deliver results. If I, Wan Yunting, am an incapable person, you won’t need to take action; I will resign to the Ministry of Health and Welfare myself.”
“Good…”
Upon hearing his words, everyone was moved and began to applaud, offering the younger generation an opportunity…
After the conference concluded, Wan Yunting followed Gu Yuanbai, and together with the elder TCM practitioners Gu Shiren and Xiao Renliang, they greeted and familiarized themselves with other senior TCM practitioners from different regions.
Finally, the group had lunch. Deputy Section Chief Xia Xinhou personally escorted Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai to the offices of the Capital Chinese Medicine Association to take over.
“Yunting, Elder Gu, you are likely already well aware of the current situation of the Chinese Medicine Association,” Xia Xinhou said as he guided them around the offices, providing a brief introduction before they all sat down in a reception room. “With the Sima family’s downfall, the entire Capital Chinese Medicine Association has collapsed internally. Those who were part of the cronyism, and members associated with the Sima family who engaged in private misconduct, have all been removed!”
“In other words, the Chinese Medicine Association is now an empty shell. It will depend on you two, as Chairman and Vice Chairman, to form your own team and resume the daily operations of the Association. Section Chief Kong has said that if you two wish to bring anyone into the Chinese Medicine Association, our Ministry of Health and Welfare will not interfere. However, there is only one condition from above: do not commit any fundamental errors. Otherwise, everything else is permissible!”
These words caused Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai to exchange glances, a flicker of joy in their eyes. Wan Yunting asked, “Can I bring people from the Huadu City over?”
“Of course,”
Xia Xinhou nodded, looking at them with a smile. “We even considered letting your Lingnan Chinese Medicine Association team take over, but that’s obviously unrealistic. However, everyone understands that the Ministry of Health and Welfare electing the two of you to take charge of the Capital’s Chinese Medicine Association is, in essence, to prove that your Lingnan Chinese Medicine Association has now replaced the Capital Chinese Medicine Association.”
Gu Yuanbai waved his hand, saying, “It can only be said that the Sima family brought this result upon themselves.”
Wan Yunting and Xia Xinhou nodded. Xia Xinhou then stood up with a smile and said, “Alright, the two of you. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will no longer be involved in the Association’s affairs. It’s all up to you two chairmen now.”
Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai stood up and nodded, replying, “Understood, Deputy Section Chief Xia. We will do our best.”
Xia Xinhou stepped forward, patted Wan Yunting’s arm, and said with a friendly smile, “Little Wan, you’ll have to call me Uncle from now on!”
Wan Yunting’s expression instantly turned astonished. He stared blankly at Xia Xinhou. This utterance of “Uncle” immediately revealed that he was a brother to Xia Xiangyun, the younger brother of the Xia family, one of the Capital’s five great families!
“I happened to be out on business that night and couldn’t make it in time,” Xia Xinhou said with a hint of regret but a heart full of joy. He looked at Wan Yunting and smiled, “Little Wan, it’s good that you’re back. Your mother has had a difficult time these past twenty years, especially when you were lost back then; she nearly went mad.”
“Later, a master guided her, and she gradually recovered. After giving birth to your sister, she has been praying and chanting Buddhist scriptures in temples for the past ten years, all to ensure the safety and well-being of you and your sister.”
“It’s normal for you to not be accustomed to things after just returning. My saying this is also so that you can understand your parents better.”
Wan Yunting, finally reacting, nodded, feeling deeply touched. “Yes, I will.”
Xia Xinhou smiled and patted his shoulder again before turning to Gu Yuanbai and saying with a smile, “Then I’ll be going now.”
“Safe travels…”
After Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai saw him off downstairs, they returned upstairs. They looked at the empty Capital Chinese Medicine Association, where all individuals associated with or connected to the Sima family had been removed.
At that moment, they saw a young girl wearing a black coat and glasses, holding a stack of documents, hurrying out of a room. She almost collided with Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai at the staircase, startling her. The young girl looked at them nervously, her gaze timid, as if she wanted to lower her head and quickly leave. But Wan Yunting called out to her, “Wait, who are you?”