Chapter Fifty-Nine: Honorary Dean

“No, absolutely not,” Liu Fan shook his head vigorously, though inwardly he was calculating: if he took Su Xiaofei as his apprentice, disciplining her would be troublesome. If she threw a tantrum or burst into tears whenever she felt upset, it would drive him crazy—how would he ever have time to enjoy life? The thought alone sent a shiver down his spine.

“Why not? Are you trying to back out?” Su Xiaofei shouted. Her desire to master the art of medicine was sincere; from childhood, she had aspired to become a revered physician like her grandfather. Seeing Liu Fan’s miraculous skills, she had developed the urge to learn from him. His refusal stung her pride and so she reacted with agitation.

“Our sect’s ancestral rules state that the teachings are passed only to men, not women. Even I cannot change that, so I cannot accept you as a disciple,” Liu Fan declared with righteous conviction, though in truth, he had no sect at all—he was simply making it up. Yet he spoke with such authority that it almost sounded believable.

“That’s gender discrimination! What kind of ridiculous rule is that? In this day and age, how can such feudal traditions persist? If everyone clings to their own broom, never sharing their knowledge, how can Chinese medicine ever flourish? No wonder our medical heritage is in decline—it’s because of people like you and your outdated thinking. Just because I’m a woman, must it be so hard to learn true medical skills?” Su Xiaofei’s heart was pierced by his words, and her tone grew increasingly agitated. By the end, her breath was uneven, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her face flushed red with anger.

“Besides, I never said I wanted to be your apprentice,” Su Xiaofei muttered after calming herself.

“But… but… I’m still a student. I have to attend classes; where would I find time to teach you? Why don’t you ask for something else?” Liu Fan touched his nose, embarrassed. He had lied many times before, but deceiving a girl so earnest in her quest for knowledge felt a bit unscrupulous. Guilt gnawed at him, making his words falter.

“You’re just trying to shirk responsibility. I only want to learn medicine from you. Is a man’s word worth nothing? I must have misjudged you!” Seeing Liu Fan’s resolve weakening, Su Xiaofei pressed her advantage, stoking the flames and cornering him with her words.

“I… I’m not…” For once, Liu Fan found himself unable to argue. She was a girl, after all, and at this moment she had the moral high ground. Didn’t Confucius himself say: ‘Women and petty men are difficult to deal with’? If even the sage felt so, how could Liu Fan, though a so-called immortal, cope? He was, at heart, a young man of the twenty-first century, and had never encountered such a persistent woman.

“Ahem, ahem…” At this point, Director Qi, who had been watching the spectacle, coughed twice and, with a smile, said, “I happen to have a solution that might satisfy both sides. Would you care to hear it?”

“What is it, Director Qi? Please, tell us quickly!” Liu Fan’s head was spinning from Su Xiaofei’s persistence. The offer of help felt like a lifeline; he seized it eagerly.

“It’s like this: our hospital offers an ‘Honorary Director’ title. You wouldn’t need to be present all the time, nor see patients regularly. It’s entirely flexible. All you’d need to do is visit occasionally to give guidance, and if we encounter cases beyond our ability, we’d ask for your help. This way, Su can seek your advice, and you needn’t worry about your classes. Isn’t this the perfect solution?” Director Qi’s proposal was somewhat forced—his real aim was to keep Liu Fan around, and he had been considering this since Liu Fan treated Zhang Bocheng with miraculous skill. Now the chance had finally come, he would not let it slip.

“No, that still won’t work. I have no medical license, and I’m just a student, not a doctor. I don’t have the time to come to the hospital. Please, suggest something else.” Liu Fan immediately sensed the hidden agenda in Director Qi’s words and was determined not to agree.

“So nothing will do, then? What do you want? You’re nothing but a selfish, petty person!” Su Xiaofei had expected that the ‘Honorary Director’ position would surely keep Liu Fan, but his instant refusal drove her mad. Renowned for both beauty and intelligence, she now felt utterly frustrated and spoke without restraint.

“Xiao Fan, Chinese medicine is in decline, constantly overshadowed by Western medicine, teetering on the brink of being phased out. I am old now, unsure if I’ll live to see its revival. Now it’s up to young people like you. You possess extraordinary skills. Even if you don’t intend to make medicine your life’s work, you can’t betray those who entrusted you with their knowledge. For the sake of this dying old man, please agree,” Li Zhengtang spoke with deep sorrow and helplessness, his eyes filled with hope and despair as he pleaded with Liu Fan.

Seeing Li Zhengtang like this, Liu Fan remembered his own grandfather, Old Doctor Liu, who spent his life healing the sick, never accepted extra fees, and would even subsidize medicine for the needy. Wasn’t Li Zhengtang now just like his grandfather? Before leaving his master, Shennong had instructed Liu Fan to enter the world and heal the masses. Thinking of this, Liu Fan felt dazed, his eyes growing moist.

Men rarely shed tears, unless truly moved. Even immortals have emotions, and Liu Fan, an amateur Taoist, was no exception. He wiped his tears and smiled gently, “Forgive me, Elder Li. Your words reminded me of my grandfather, who was also a Chinese physician, though not well-known. Revitalizing our national medicine was their lifelong pursuit. Sadly, he’s gone now, but from this day forth, I shall carry on his legacy.” With his mind changed, Liu Fan’s voice carried no small measure of resolve.

“Ha…ha! Hearing you say this fills me with comfort. You will succeed, and that is my hope. I believe your grandfather would be proud as well,” Li Zhengtang nodded with genuine joy, delighted to see a capable successor among the younger generation.

“So, does this mean the little miracle doctor has agreed? I… I’m overjoyed!” Director Qi Wen Tao was equally delighted. As a hospital director, he knew that with Liu Fan’s presence, his hospital was bound to become famous, and he himself, as the one who recommended Liu Fan, would gain a reputation for discerning talent—promotion would be inevitable. Though his motives were somewhat utilitarian, his intentions were good, and that was enough; nowadays, hospitals chase after profit, and without money, one cannot even afford to be sick.

“Yes, but I have three principles when treating patients. If these cannot be met, then even the King of Heaven couldn’t persuade me to act,” Liu Fan replied. He had agreed, but that didn’t mean he would treat just anyone, so it was necessary to make his stance clear.

“What are they? Tell us—if you’ll stay, three or even thirty conditions are no problem!” Director Qi was so pleased he barely cared about the terms.

Seeing Director Qi readily agree, Liu Fan spoke solemnly, “First, I will not treat those who are unfilial to their parents. Second, I will not treat the rich who lack compassion. Third, I will not treat officials who act unjustly.”

“Bravo!” No sooner had Liu Fan finished than a round of applause broke out. Li Zhengtang was moved by his declaration and led the clapping, saying, “Yes, yes, yes! If we truly come across such unkind, unjust, or unfilial people, we should refuse to treat them even if we have the ability.”

“Indeed, that’s how it should be,” Director Qi echoed.

“Thank you all for your support. These are just my personal principles, nothing remarkable,” Liu Fan, though steadfast, had never faced such a scene before, so he scratched his head bashfully, his cheeks reddening as he spoke modestly.

“Hmph! I always thought your skin was as thick as a city wall, but you can blush after all, haha…” Su Xiaofei seized the opportunity to tease him, laughing heartily.

Liu Fan was mortified, pretending to glare fiercely at Su Xiaofei, who instead pulled a funny face at him. The doctors and nurses watching the scene were utterly stunned, nearly losing their balance. In their hearts, they wondered: Is it us who can’t keep up with the times, or has the world simply changed too quickly? Who would have thought that the icy beauty Su could be so adorable—it was madness.

“Click!” Just as everyone was lost in this moment, the door to the special care ward opened, and the Zhang family emerged. Zhang Bocheng could walk on his own, though not yet freely; his spirits were much improved and his complexion was rosy, making him look more like someone flushed from drinking than a patient recovering from a long illness.

“Thank you, young miracle doctor, for saving my life. If not for you, I wouldn’t be alive now. I heard you wish to revive Chinese medicine—if ever you need me, just say the word. Whether it’s climbing mountains or walking through fire, I won’t hesitate,” Zhang Bocheng declared. After awakening, his family had told him how Liu Fan treated him and what transpired, so his gratitude was sincere. For someone who had returned from the brink of death, nothing was more precious than the gift of life. Liu Fan had also reconciled his wife and second son, so his words came straight from the heart.

A commotion erupted among the crowd. Hearing the name Zhang Bocheng, many recognized him. Previously gaunt and near death, he now stood tall and spoke with vigor, a transformation so dramatic that people could hardly believe it—they began to discuss it animatedly.

“Uncle, your words are too heavy. I’m no miracle doctor. Zhang Yi is my brother, and you are his father, so you are my elder. Please call me Xiao Fan. As for the treatment, it was merely a coincidence,” Liu Fan replied humbly, ignoring the crowd’s debate. Seeing Zhang Yi’s family reunited brought him genuine joy, and he hastened to downplay his own role.

“It’s lunchtime now. Why don’t we go to the cafeteria, eat, and continue our conversation?” Director Qi reminded them at just the right moment. He was in high spirits, and hearing the excited discussions around him, he felt confident that before long, their hospital would be known far and wide.