Xu Chunliang laughed heartily and said, "You’re not a medical professional, so you lack understanding in this field. What do you mean by ’unpresentable’? No matter what part of the body gets sick, it’s essentially the same. Just because the illness is on the face doesn’t mean it’s noble and lofty, while diseases of the anorectal department are shameful. Uncle Zheng originally intended to open an obstetrics hospital, but now several obstetrics hospitals have popped up in Dongzhou all at once. There isn’t a single specialized anorectal hospital yet. Our Xu family has a secret formula for treating anorectal diseases that guarantees a cure. Naturally, I have to choose what I’m good at first."

Xu Chunliang was purely trying to put a good face on the Old Xu Family. Even if Xu Changshan were here, he wouldn’t dare claim that their secret formula could guarantee a cure. The most common anorectal diseases are hemorrhoids, for which mild cases are treated with medication, while severe cases usually still require surgical treatment.

The colorectal surgery department of Changxing Hospital is quite well-known in Dongzhou, but surgery is, after all, an invasive treatment, and the postoperative recovery process is very painful. If there truly is a secret formula that could cure patients without surgery, it would definitely be well received.

Mei Ru Xue was too embarrassed to discuss the details with him and said quietly, "Do you have that much money?" Although the hospital in front of them wasn’t large, it couldn’t be opened without tens of millions in startup funds.

Xu Chunliang said, "If it really doesn’t work, just seek investment."

Mei Ru Xue said, "Why don’t I talk to my brother and ask their company to invest a little for you?"

Xu Chunliang said, "There’s no need for that. I discussed it with Uncle Zheng. We’re taking steady steps. Initially, the investment doesn’t need to be too large. This hospital will need about ten million to start. He can probably contribute two million, and my grandfather promised to put in two million. I’ll find others to invest the rest."

Mei Ru Xue said, "I’ll help you work it out."

Xu Chunliang looked at her. He understood that Mei Ru Xue wanted to do something to help him, and if he refused, it might hurt her feelings. So he nodded and said, "I’ll leave it to you, then."

##

Xu Changshan specifically called Zheng Peian, Li Jia Kuan, and Liu Shanmin to Huichun Hall and announced in front of them that he was going to wind up Huichun Hall affairs, meaning that they would no longer need to come and help with consultations.

Zheng Peian had long known his master’s decision, so he wasn’t surprised. It was the first time Li Jia Kuan and Liu Shanmin heard about it, and they couldn’t suppress their shock.

Li Jia Kuan said, "Sir, Huichun Hall is a prestigious name in Dongzhou’s Traditional Chinese Medicine community. If you end it now, wouldn’t it be a great loss to Dongzhou?"

Liu Shanmin said, "We wanted to continue learning from you." Among everyone, he started the lowest but was the most diligent and hard-working in studying medicine.

Xu Changshan smiled and said, "Ending Huichun Hall doesn’t mean you can’t learn from me anymore. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to come and ask."

Li Jia Kuan and Liu Shanmin exchanged a glance, gathered their courage, and knelt down before Xu Changshan together, "Sir, we have always admired your medical skills and character. Although our talents are dull, our desire to learn has never wavered. We hope you will show mercy and take us under your wing."

Through his observations during this period, Xu Changshan could see that both of them were indeed genuine people.

He had just accepted Zheng Peian as a disciple, originally intending for him to be his last student, but Zheng Peian was not focused on studying medicine. Even if Xu Changshan taught him everything, Zheng Peian couldn’t inherit his knowledge.

It could be said that he accepted Zheng Peian as a disciple mainly for his character, rather than his medical skills. At the same time, Elder Xu had some personal motives, hoping to promote a marriage between his daughter Xu Jiawen and Zheng Peian through this method.

In terms of talent, no one could surpass his beloved grandson Xu Chunliang. Unfortunately, Xu Chunliang’s interests didn’t lie there. He started at least somewhat connected to medicine in Changxing Hospital, but now he’s working at Hu Shan Town Government as a deputy mayor. Xu Changshan felt it would be hard for him to make much progress in medicine.

Therefore, Xu Changshan became more cautious about accepting disciples. He smiled and said, "Actually, accepting a disciple is just a formality. As I just mentioned, if you have any questions in medicine, just come and ask me. If there’s something I don’t understand, we can explore it together."

Li Jia Kuan and Liu Shanmin couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed and looked towards Xu Chunliang, hoping that he could speak on their behalf.

Xu Chunliang said, "My grandfather means you can start by studying and then become disciples. If you truly learn the skills and meet my grandfather’s standards for accepting disciples, naturally, you will be given status. If you fail to achieve anything, even if my grandfather accepts you, you’d feel embarrassed to regard yourselves as his disciples."

Zheng Peian’s old face blushed, feeling like this kid was implying about him. Although he successfully became a disciple, he hadn’t achieved the progress his master expected in his medical skills, and his master often pointed out that he was too distracted and not focused enough on studying medicine.

Li Jia Kuan and Liu Shanmin thought what Xu Chunliang said made sense.

Xu Changshan took out two books and gave them to Li Jia Kuan and Liu Shanmin respectively. Li Jia Kuan’s book focused on gastrointestinal diseases, while Liu Shanmin’s book was primarily about trauma and orthopedic injuries. The secret recipes contained were traditionally not passed on to outsiders. Now that Elder Xu was willing to share them, it broke tradition, enough to prove that he regarded them as students, lacking nothing but a formal title.

Xu Changshan said, "From now on, you can each focus on your studies. If you encounter something you don’t understand, just come to me. According to Chunliang’s suggestion, let’s set a period of three years to see how much progress you can make."

Li Jia Kuan and Liu Shanmin exchanged glances, as Xu Changshan said, "If you thoroughly master its mysteries, you can exchange knowledge with each other without needing to consult me specifically. I only have one condition: most of these secret recipes are the Xu family’s legacy, so try not to spread them outside."

Zheng Peian felt increasingly ashamed; the master didn’t mention him.

Xu Changshan said, "You guys keep chatting, I’m going out for a walk."

After the elderly man left, Li Jia Kuan said, "Chunliang, does the gentleman mean we shouldn’t come to Huichun Hall for consultations in the future?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Although Huichun Hall is closed, Uncle Zheng and I have considered investing in a new project."

Liu Shanmin said, "Find a new location to reopen Huichun Hall?"

Xu Chunliang smiled and let Zheng Peian speak.

Zheng Peian talked about opening a specialized anorectal hospital. Li Jia Kuan, who himself was the director of the Anorectal Department at Gusu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, was already semi-retired. He knew this business had great money-making prospects, so he immediately expressed willingness to join and said investing one million wouldn’t be a problem.

Liu Shanmin said, "What did the gentleman say?"

Xu Chunliang said, "My grandfather intends to invest two million, but beyond that, he will not be involved in any hospital operations and won’t allow us to use the Huichun Hall name."

Li Jia Kuan said, "If we don’t use the Huichun Hall name, how can we easily open up the market?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Uncle Li, don’t forget we have Xu Family’s ancestral secret recipes. Though the old man doesn’t want to let us use the Huichun Hall label, we’re free to use Xu Family’s secret recipes."

Liu Shanmin said, "Then why close Huichun Hall to start afresh? Isn’t it the same to practice medicine at Huichun Hall?"

Xu Chunliang knew he had been practicing medicine on Weishan Island for many years, with limited contact with the outside world, and his thoughts were somewhat outdated. He explained, "Actually, my grandfather has gradually withdrawn from Huichun Hall for a while. Thanks to you three sitting in consultations, Huichun Hall has just managed to sustain itself. Continuing is possible, but Huichun Hall’s current income is barely enough to maintain expenses. If the storefront were rented, I’m afraid we’d soon be unable to sustain it."

Li Jia Kuan blamed himself, saying, "It’s all because our medical skills are not refined, and we couldn’t retain patients."

Liu Shanmin also had a face full of shame.

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s not related to you; Huichun Hall indeed has a good reputation, but most of the regular patients visited because of my grandfather. If he didn’t personally see them, they thought visiting other hospitals was no different, resulting in many regulars no longer coming to Huichun Hall."

Liu Shanmin said, "If our medical skills were superior, we could maintain Huichun Hall’s reputation; we have affected Huichun Hall’s business."

Zheng Peian said, "Come on, Old Liu, don’t be busy blaming yourself; let Chunliang finish his words."

Xu Chunliang said, "From the perspective of modern business, if one person’s influence in a company’s operation is too prominent, it’s not a good thing. Huichun Hall’s business model is extremely traditional; my grandfather’s personal image is deeply tied to the Huichun Hall brand. In the eyes of regular patients, his attraction greatly exceeds Huichun Hall itself. That’s why they specifically choose to visit when my grandfather is there. Changing to anyone else for consultations at Huichun Hall doesn’t work. It’s the same even if we invite a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner better than my grandfather; they still don’t recognize him."

The three understood it; what Xu Chunliang said was indeed true.

Zheng Peian said, "I actually noticed it too, but couldn’t explain it. Now, after you said it, I understand. Chunliang, attending Europe Business School was worth it."

Xu Chunliang said, "My grandfather probably realized this situation too. He intended to consult once a week, but the consultation on that day was more exhausting than three normal days combined. He’s old; his physical and mental stamina couldn’t keep up, so he could only choose to completely close Huichun Hall."

Xu Chunliang calculated that if they closed Huichun Hall and rented out the existing premises, they could collect thirty thousand in rent annually. Continuing as it is, annual total income might not exceed ten thousand, and could possibly incur losses.

Liu Shanmin said, "While true, earning a bit less still lets us treat and save people."

Xu Chunliang said, "Treating and saving people doesn’t have to mean earning less. Look at all the non-profit hospitals; which one earns less?"

Zheng Peian said, "Who wouldn’t want more money? Working should yield rewards."

Li Jia Kuan said, "Now I understand; you two mean to build your own hospital using modern management methods to run the hospital."