The Martial Doctor-Chapter 98 - 96: Nationally Certified Medical Scholar
"Mr. Sang!"
"Oh, Mr. Lin, it’s been a while since I last saw you. What’s the matter? Are you visiting the Medical Bureau for something today?" Mr. Sang turned his head in surprise, seeing Lin Miao standing by the roadside, cupping his hands in greeting.
"Mr. Sang, please take a look at this." Lin Miao handed over an envelope with a bright smile.
"Oh, is this your application for the ’Independent Consultation’ qualification submitted to the court? What’s this, was it sent back by the Imperial Pharmacy?"
Mr. Sang, having some connections in Li Jing, had heard some news, albeit a bit delayed.
"No, it’s been approved."
"Approved?" Mr. Sang was taken aback. Upon seeing the signature and seal of the Deputy Head of the Imperial Pharmacy on the application document, he was even more shocked, his mouth wide open, unable to speak for a long while.
"Come, let’s talk in the office."
"Yes."
Following Mr. Sang to the office of the Director of the Medical Bureau, Mr. Sang spread the approval document on the table, examining it meticulously over and over again.
It bore his signature and seal too, making forgery impossible. Once the application document was sent to Li Jing, it wouldn’t be returned to the state if refused.
Thus, it must be genuine. No one would dare forge it because the Imperial Pharmacy would also send an official notice to the state, which is a significant affair for both the State Medical Bureau and the state.
Nevertheless, official documents and application paperwork usually arrive at the state around the same time. But now, the application paperwork reached Lin Miao first, while the state’s official document was nowhere to be seen...
There’s only one situation: the application paperwork and the official document sent to the state were dispatched separately, with the paperwork sent ahead.
This situation is rare, but not unheard of.
"I must congratulate Mr. Lin!" Regardless of how the Li Jing Imperial Pharmacy approved it, this accomplishment will bolster Dongshan Prefecture’s reputation.
Producing a talent daring enough to apply for the ’Independent Consultation’ qualification is already an honor for Dongshan Prefecture, and with the approval, it becomes even more significant.
In any case, if the court doesn’t recognize it, they wouldn’t allow a newly qualified ’doctor’ to consult independently.
Because ’human life is at stake.’
"I’d like to set up a consultation point near my home. What do you think?" Lin Miao candidly explained his intention. The qualification was secured, but the consultation location still required the state’s cooperation, especially from the Benefit People Pharmacy.
"That’s not a big issue. Do you have any ideas, Mr. Lin?"
"Right at the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point in Xiuyue Square, it’s close to my home, making it convenient for my consultations. What do you think, Mr. Sang?"
"That can be arranged. I’ll discuss it with Mr. Tian, the head of the Benefit People Pharmacy, and once the official document from Li Jing arrives, we’ll set it up for you." Mr. Sang readily agreed, seeing no reason to refuse such a beneficial arrangement.
From his perspective, Lin Miao’s application being approved by the court must be attributed to either significant backing or sheer luck.
As the Director of the Medical Bureau, he also has political performance evaluations to consider; who would pass up a political achievement handed on a silver platter?
Could it be the prominent Su Family? Lin Miao has a close relationship with Mr. Su of the Su Family, and if they were willing to assist, it’s not impossible to achieve.
However, the Su Family is currently dealing with their troubles, having little energy to bother with such a thankless task.
Anyway, the matter of Lin Miao obtaining the ’Independent Consultation’ qualification swiftly spread throughout Dongshan City’s medical community.
...
The Xu Family.
"Mr. An, he actually passed. How is this possible? Wasn’t it said that only the top candidates from both exams had a chance?" Xu Qixi was greatly astonished.
"I don’t know. Our Da Li Dynasty has 128 states in total. Those topping both exams probably number less than two hands, and each session, only three or four dare to apply for this ’Independent Consultation’ qualification, with rare approvals." Xu An shook his head, unable to fathom it.
The Xu Family’s relationship with Lin Miao is quite delicate. The Patriarch, Xu Zheng, ordered the family not to have too much contact with Lin Miao, not out of fear, but to avoid suspicion.
Especially since the reward of ’Qi Observation Skill’ offered by the Xu Family was rejected on the spot by Lin Miao’s senior apprentice sister, Sun Youwei, leaving the Xu Family feeling disgraced.
At this time, Xu Qixi dared not go against her father’s wishes, and Xu An, as an elder, had to consider the family’s interests.
"Why wouldn’t they approve it?"
"Do you know this ’Independent Consultation’ qualification has another significant meaning? It’s called ’The Road to Sainthood.’ " Xu An explained, "For us in the medical profession, if we wish to become as esteemed as the Three Sages, the first challenge is passing the test of ’Independent Consultation’ qualification to obtain the state-certified physician decree."
"What is the state-certified physician decree?"
"Xiao Qi, you might not know, but there are two types of physician decrees: one state-certified, the other national-certified. The value of the state-certified physician decree and the national-certified one is different..." Xu An provided Xu Qixi with a detailed explanation of the differences between the two decrees.
In simple terms, state-certified decrees are recognized within a single state; as long as one doesn’t practice outside that state, acknowledgment is guaranteed. Outside one’s particular state, recognition depends on personal capability.
But the national-certified decree is different, it’s valid nationwide.
It’s not regional discrimination per se, but rather a result of some states having too low a standard, yet needing to select ’scholars,’ prompting such a distinction.
...
Shanyuan Square, the Ye Family.
After completing the funeral, Ye Shengyuan felt he aged significantly, as a large portion of his hair turned white, losing the Ye Family’s most outstanding heir.
The blow was substantial.
Although Ye Shengyuan had more than one son, among them, Ye Xizhao, the most talented, was gone just like that.
This was utterly unacceptable to him, resulting in Shengyuan Hall ceasing consultations for half a month, while Ye Xizhao’s mother, Xiao Lianhong, fell ill due to excessive grief.
The Ye Family was shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere due to the death of Ye Xizhao.
"Father, I’ve just received news from the Medical Bureau that Mr. Lin’s application for the ’Independent Diagnosis’ qualification has been approved by the court!" Ye Xiyuan, the eldest son of the Ye Family, came to the door of Ye Shengyuan’s study and reported.
Ye Xiyuan is the eldest son of the Ye Family, but his talent in medicine is mediocre. Ye Shengyuan had to pull a lot of strings to help him pass the physician exam. Later, realizing his limited medical talent, he had him take the pharmacist exam instead.
The purchasing and wholesale business of the Ye Family’s medicinal herbs is mainly managed by this eldest son, Ye Xiyuan.
"What?" Ye Shengyuan gasped upon hearing the news. He had also considered having Ye Xizhao apply for the ’Independent Diagnosis’ qualification. With the resources and support of the Ye Family, it would not have been difficult for Ye Xizhao to pass the ’National Selection’.
But now, his most talented son was gone, dying on a woman’s belly, making him the laughingstock of Dongshan City.
Now an unknown wild boy not only stole the spotlight during the ’physician exam’ interview but also got approved for the ’Independent Diagnosis’ qualification. Why?
All this should have belonged to his son.
Even if my son is dead, no one can take away the glory that belonged to him!
Ye Shengyuan’s mindset instantly became twisted.
"Eldest son, your brother is gone, and the Ye Family will need you to support it in the future." Ye Shengyuan looked at his eldest son outside the door.
He even suspected that Ye Xizhao’s death might be related to this obedient, timid eldest son in front of him.
Ye Xiyuan is his legitimate eldest son, but because of Ye Xizhao’s exceptional medical talent, Ye Shengyuan decided to de-emphasize his primary line in favor of a secondary one, which is taboo in large families. However, Ye Shengyuan did it because, for the Ye Family to become more glorious, an ordinary eldest son would not suffice; a gifted one was necessary. Therefore, he faced opposition and forcefully suppressed dissent within the Ye Family, designating Ye Xizhao as the future heir and even inscribing it into the family register.
But now, this heir is gone, and the biggest beneficiary is the eldest son, Ye Xiyuan.
He is the eldest and the legitimate son. No matter how much Ye Shengyuan disapproved, he could only place him in the heir’s position.
From another perspective, Ye Xiyuan is also the person most motivated to kill Ye Xizhao.
"Father, I have limited abilities and cannot take on such a responsibility. You should select someone more capable," Ye Xiyuan surprisingly refused firmly this time.
"Eldest son, haven’t you schemed just to get this position?" Ye Shengyuan stared at his eldest son. "Now you’re telling me you don’t want it? Does your brother’s death have anything to do with you?"
"Father, younger brother’s death has nothing to do with me. The position of family head is wearying and laborious. I never intended to pursue it. If you agree, I don’t even want to manage the family’s herbal business anymore." Ye Xiyuan hurriedly knelt and said.
"Eldest son, are you serious?" Ye Shengyuan looked suspiciously at his eldest son and asked.
"I am serious."
Ye Shengyuan stared at Ye Xiyuan for a good ten-plus breaths before saying, "Stand up first and find someone to keep an eye on Mr. Lin’s side. Report anything at any time."
"Yes, father." Ye Xiyuan sighed dejectedly and agreed.
...
At the Benefit People Pharmacy, Xia Yuan, who received this news, barged directly into Chief Tian Yuan’s diagnosis room: "Tian Yuan, Tian Yuan, Mr. Lin’s application has been approved by the court. Now you have no reason to avoid it..."
"Old Xia, I still have a patient here. Bursting in like this, what in the world?"
"Have you finished?" Seeing the prescription already written on the desk, Xia Yuan knew Tian Yuan was just finding excuses to make things difficult for him, and he directly turned to ask the patient.
"Yes, yes, I’m done..." The patient dared not interfere in matters between the two renowned doctors.
"Since you’re done, take the prescription and go get your medicine!"
"Xia Yuan, you’re going too far. This is my diagnosis room. You barge in without knocking. Do you have any manners?" Tian Yuan said angrily.
"The last time I asked your apprentice, he said you were out on a house call, but in fact, you were in the bureau avoiding me on purpose. What’s that supposed to mean, trying to sever ties with me?" Xia Yuan’s temper was originally very straight. He was selected as the deputy seat based on his medical skills, not relationships. His relationship with Tian Yuan was not good, but they used to coexist peacefully.
Because of the ’physician exam’ interview, Xia Yuan almost had an accident due to a misdiagnosis. There was an opportunity to strip him of the deputy seat.
But this seat isn’t something that can just be taken away; Xia Yuan has to resign on his own. Yet after a few days of rest at home, Xia Yuan came back to work and took his consulting sessions as if nothing happened.
This stubbornness made Tian Yuan very unhappy, but there really was nothing he could do if Xia Yuan didn’t resign voluntarily. Although Xia Yuan made a misdiagnosis, two other renowned doctors also didn’t catch it, and it didn’t cause severe consequences.
Although the mistake was not small, such a rare disease, whoever encounters it, is unlucky...
And if Xia Yuan resigned from the deputy seat, who would fill in?
Therefore, Tian Yuan could only endure, but at this moment he finally couldn’t hold it in anymore.
"I just want to draw a clear line with you. So what? Such a big mistake on recommending a misdiagnosed patient during the interview, and you still have the face to continue as the deputy seat of my Benefit People Pharmacy?"
"When it comes down to it, you just want me to resign from the deputy seat. Fine, I agree, but you have to agree to one thing. I’m willing to resign even from consulting at the Benefit People Pharmacy!" Xia Yuan stood his ground.
"What did you say?" Tian Yuan was startled. If Xia Yuan resigned from the deputy seat, it wouldn’t be a big issue, as long as he was still consulting at the Benefit People Pharmacy. However, if he directly quit, it would be troublesome, and Tian Yuan couldn’t bear that responsibility.
After all, Xia Yuan is one of the top ten renowned doctors in Dongshan City. If he left, the Benefit People Pharmacy would suffer a great loss, and Mr. Sang wouldn’t let him off.
"What are your conditions, tell me."
"The court approved Mr. Lin’s qualification for an independent diagnosis. Arrange his diagnostic point at Xiuyue Square," Xia Yuan said. "If you agree, I will immediately write to Mr. Sang and resign as the deputy seat of the Benefit People Pharmacy."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course, a true gentleman’s word is his bond. You prepare the paperwork, and I’ll immediately go find Mr. Sang and!"
"Fine."
Without waiting for Mr. Sang to coordinate, Xia Yuan pushed Tian Yuan to get the matter done.
