In a reception hall of the Gu residence at this moment.
"Xiao Wan, according to you, Director Kong is on our side?"
Gu Yuanbai's eyes widened as he looked at Wan Yunting sitting in front of him. Hearing about his experience at the Kong family that morning, he couldn't help but feel joyous.
Wan Yunting had not mentioned that Kong Jingguo had asked him to take over as the chairman of the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association!
"That's great."
Gu Shiren slammed his cane on the floor, his old face filled with excitement, saying, "As long as Director Kong is on our side, the situation at tomorrow's National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference will be stable."
In fact, the outside world had already caught wind of Kong Jingguo's presence at the banquet hosted by Ouyang Zhixin the previous night, and had deduced some things from it, causing a stir in the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine circle.
Of course, yesterday Sima Wentang also revealed the news that Wan Yunting was the sole disciple of the Ghost Hand Medical Saint, which quickly spread throughout the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine circle, and even the entire Chinese Traditional Chinese Medicine community, causing quite a sensation.
The events of that year were thirty to forty years ago, too long ago. The current generation of TCM practitioners hadn't even heard of who the Ghost Hand Medical Saint was.
Only the older generation of TCM doctors clearly remembered that the Ghost Hand Medical Saint was slandered, called a quack, and then disappeared overnight, after which no more news about him was heard.
But yesterday, the news that Wan Yunting was the disciple of the Ghost Hand Medical Saint caused a sensation in the TCM community.
Especially among the TCM practitioners in Huadu City's TCM circle. Although Gongsun Xiuliang was inexplicably branded as a quack back then, the title of Ghost Hand Medical Saint was not given lightly.
After all, Gongsun Xiuliang was a renowned figure in the entire Chinese TCM community. Outside of Beijing, TCM practitioners in other regions had no idea what had actually happened back then, so they blindly believed the rumors that Gongsun Xiuliang had used the wrong medicine when treating a major figure and almost killed him!
This major figure was naturally the former head of the Kong family, Kong Liancheng! However, Wan Yunting's appearance in Huadu City in just a few months, demonstrating his superb medical skills, could be described as miraculous.
He was also the Vice Chairman of the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, and his treatment paper on palmar keratosis published on the TCM forum had propelled Wan Yunting's fame across the national TCM community.
Therefore, the TCM practitioners in Huadu City's TCM circle did not believe that Wan Yunting, with his medical skills, could be taught by a quack!
This meant that the problem still lay with the Ghost Hand Medical Saint!
However, the older TCM doctors in the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine circle clearly remembered Gongsun Xiuliang's status in the Beijing TCM community during that turbulent era, and the subsequent appearance of Sima Boyong, which stirred up a wave of controversy!
As fellow disciples of the same sect, in terms of medical skills, Sima Boyong was inferior to the Ghost Hand Medical Saint, but at that time, he was second only to him!
Moreover, Sima Boyong was warm and sociable, adept at winning people over. At that time, more than half of the TCM practitioners in the Beijing TCM circle stood by him.
In contrast, Gongsun Xiuliang was thrifty, simple, and honest, solely focused on saving more patients. This led to his experience of practicing medicine across most of China, achieving his extraordinary medical skills, and being known by outsiders as the Ghost Hand Medical Saint, who could snatch patients from King Yama!
At that time, Sima Boyong was determined to suppress Gongsun Xiuliang, which everyone could see.
Until Gongsun Xiuliang treated the head of the Kong family, it was rumored that he had used the wrong medicine and almost killed Kong Liancheng, leading to his ruined reputation, being branded a quack, and disappearing overnight without a trace.
If one thought carefully, it was not difficult to understand that with Gongsun Xiuliang's medical skills as the Ghost Hand Medical Saint, he was always cautious with his prescriptions when treating illnesses, and had never made a mistake in dosage.
Therefore, those who understood knew that someone must have set him up back then!
Thus, yesterday, when Sima Wentang deliberately leaked the news of Wan Yunting being the disciple of a quack to the media, it only caused a small ripple in the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine circle.
Instead, it was overshadowed by the news that Wan Yunting was Ouyang Zhixin's son who had been lost for many years, instantly submerged by the larger wave.
It was already four o'clock in the afternoon when they returned to the Ouyang residence. Seeing that only Ouyang Zhixin was at home, they learned that Xia Xiangyun had personally taken his second brother, his sister-in-law, and Wan'er out to play.
They waited until dinner time at seven o'clock when the second brother and the others returned. Seeing Wan'er's happy expression, they knew they had a great time playing outside.
The next morning, Wan Yunting woke up promptly at six o'clock and practiced meditation on the villa's rooftop in the light snow. He finished at eight o'clock and went downstairs to his room, just as Wan'er woke up. The little girl had insisted on sleeping with him last night.
It took him half an hour to help her wash up and change clothes. However, the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference was scheduled to commence at nine-thirty in the auditorium of the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
This year's National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference attracted many attendees, TCM practitioners from all over the country. Those invited to attend this conference were all TCM practitioners who had achieved considerable success in TCM.
However, there were more attendees this year than in previous years. The participation of Gu Yuanbai and Wan Yunting, the chairman and vice-chairman of the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, respectively, had brought about intense controversy and a special nature to this year's National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference!
In the past, the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association had a monopoly, and most of the invited guests were generally on the Sima family's side.
To put it bluntly, those who liked the Sima family liked them intensely, and those who disliked them disliked them intensely.
But this year was different. Gu Yuanbai had taken the lead in establishing the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, rapidly gaining control of Lingnan Province and neighboring provinces like Jiang Province and Gui Province. Most TCM practitioners in the southern provinces had chosen to stand with the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association.
However, most people remained in a state of observation. Especially this year's National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference, upon learning that the Sima family had invited Gu Yuanbai and Wan Yunting to attend, attracted many TCM practitioners who disliked the Sima family to come and participate.
Among them was an old TCM practitioner known as the "Divine Doctor of the Central Plains," Xiao Renliang. He hailed from the Xiao family, a TCM lineage, and was the foremost figure in the TCM community of the entire Central Plains region. His Xiao family had a motto: "Willing not to be a good minister, but willing to be a good doctor."
This demonstrated the benevolent medical ethics and moral character of the Xiao family's TCM practitioners in saving all living beings.
"Old Xiao, I didn't expect you to be here too!"
At this moment, the entrance of the auditorium of the Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was crowded with TCM practitioners from all over the country gathered to await the opening of the conference. Xiao Renliang, supported by his son and grandson, was wearing a thick black cotton coat and a black overcoat to ward off the day's cold.
Despite his white hair, white eyebrows, and white beard, the ninety-nine-year-old Xiao Renliang had a ruddy complexion, was full of vigor, and his eyes were sharp and bright. His posture was as upright as a pine tree, and he could walk swiftly without a cane, indicating that the old gentleman's health was extremely robust.
TCM was inseparable from martial arts because TCM emphasized the concept of "qi" in the human body, and martial arts practiced the word "qi"!
It was evident that Xiao Renliang was not only a TCM practitioner but also a martial arts expert. His slightly graying eyebrows were raised, and his righteous demeanor exuded a powerful aura that deterred the TCM practitioners present, making them dare not meet his sharp gaze. They all bowed respectfully and saluted him.
Xiao Renliang appeared very dignified and stern, giving a perfunctory nod to the juniors who came to flatter him. Only when he encountered older TCM doctors did he show a gentler demeanor and nod in greeting.
Xiao Renliang had been absent from the national TCM community for ten years. His appearance this year was enough to cause surprise and speculation among the TCM practitioners present.
It seemed he had come for the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association!
"Old Xiao, I didn't expect you to come either."
At this moment, Gu Shiren, Gu Yuanbai, Liu Pingyi, Li Tiangui, and Xue Dongshan, three National Medical Masters, appeared. Behind them followed a group of middle-aged and young TCM practitioners, all of whom naturally stood with Gu Shiren and Gu Yuanbai.
"Brother Gu, I hope you are well."
Xiao Renliang, accompanied by his son and grandson, turned to greet Gu Shiren and the others with cupped fists. Gu Yuanbai, Liu Pingyi, Xue Dongshan, and Li Tiangui, their old faces showing respectful expressions, bowed to Xiao Renliang, this elder TCM practitioner.
After all, Xiao Renliang was of Gu Shiren's generation, while Gu Yuanbai and Liu Pingyi were a generation younger. And Shen Tonghe and Zhang Fenglin of the middle-aged generation were three generations apart from Xiao Renliang. The younger ones were four generations apart. They all had to call Xiao Renliang and Gu Shiren their ancestors.
"Heh heh, I can still live a few more years." Gu Shiren was a few years older than Xiao Renliang.
Xiao Renliang smiled and said, "However many years I can live, I can live. But before I close my eyes, I still want to see our TCM revive and flourish. Otherwise, I will die with regrets."
Gu Shiren smiled and nodded, saying, "Don't worry. At this National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference, with your and my joint efforts, we will definitely overthrow the Sima family and completely change the corrupt and degenerate situation of our TCM."
Xiao Renliang nodded. Before coming, he had already received a call from Gu Shiren. At the same time, he understood the original intention of the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, which was why he attended this year's National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference.
"You must be Gu Yuanbai."
Xiao Renliang looked at Gu Yuanbai beside Gu Shiren. After all, he had retired for more than ten years, and Gu Yuanbai had always been in the Lingnan region. They had never met before.
"Yes, Old Xiao."
Gu Yuanbai slightly bowed and cupped his fists in greeting.
Xiao Renliang waved his hand, dismissing the formality. "I greatly admire you for stepping forward. This is something I have wanted to do for the past ten years but couldn't. So Yuanbai, I have high hopes for you and that young man named Wan Yunting. Um, isn't he here today?"
Gu Yuanbai said, "Xiao Wan is on his way and will be here soon."
Xiao Renliang nodded and said, "At this National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference, we must join forces to bring down the Sima family. We absolutely cannot let them continue to lead our TCM down a dark path towards extinction."
"Old Xiao is right..."
A group of middle-aged and young TCM practitioners around them nodded in agreement.
However, nearby, a group of people had gathered, deliberately forming two factions separate from Xiao Renliang and Gu Shiren's group. Clearly, they were supporters of the Sima family.
Among them were Ye Hongzhang of the Ye family in Lingnan Zhongshi, along with his son Ye Linkai and grandson Ye Zhaohui, as well as the chairman of the Jiang Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, Wei Xiuqi, and representatives from the chairmen of Traditional Chinese Medicine Associations from other provinces. They were all strong supporters of the Sima family.