The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 207

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 207

“I heard your application well. However, the decoction room has a separate manager. If you’re okay with going through the formal process including an interview, I’ll contact them.”

Deciding on hiring arbitrarily would be too much. What complaints would I hear from An Juhui?

“Of course I’ll take the interview! I’ll prepare a self-introduction letter too!”

Yang Jimin roughly raised her right hand once again and shouted.

No, there’s no need to go that far.

Anyway, since she said it was okay to have an interview, I immediately told An Juhui about it the next day.

That Seol Yuhui’s friend hoped to work part-time in the decoction room.

“Oh, really? I don’t mind anyone. I hope it’s someone who’ll work for a long time.”

“Don’t say that, let’s meet first and then decide.”

I was careful about hiring.

Isn’t compatibility with the person you’ll work with important?

Last time when hiring a part-timer, she also said ‘anyone’ was fine, but originally that was the most difficult thing.

I put considerable effort into selecting someone who would quietly work like An Juhui. An Juhui was reasonably satisfied.

But this time I was even more cautious since it was Seol Yuhui’s acquaintance.

If they didn’t seem compatible, I shouldn’t hire them in the first place. If the two had conflicts and ended up quitting, it might even cause problems in Seol Yuhui’s friendships.

“Ms. Jimin, could you come this Thursday? The interview isn’t really anything special. I’ll pay you a daily wage, so try working for a day and then we’ll decide. Think of it as both of us interviewing each other, and if you don’t feel compatible with the boss or work, feel free to decline.”

Phew, having gone this far, either of them would speak up if they really didn’t think it would work, right?

– Yes! I’ll see you on Thursday!

Yang Jimin showed up with both a resume and self-introduction letter.

The resume only had high school graduation written on it, but the self-introduction letter was impressively made as if applying to some major corporation.

…Our Oriental Medicine Clinic didn’t even have establishment principles written out in detail on our website, but she seemed to have thoroughly researched even interviews I had done.

* * *

And so the interview combined with one-day work experience began.

I went to check on the two as soon as I had a break from seeing patients.

“Oh, this is motherwort? The name is unique? Is it medicine used for gynecological diseases?”

“That’s right. It’s used for menstrual disorders and treats various diseases during pregnancy. It’s also used to promote childbirth during difficult labor! The stem length is 30 to 60cm with a diameter of 1-5mm, yellowish-green to greenish-brown with short white hairs, and if you look at the broken surface of the stem, you can see this beautiful white…”

Aaaaah! Ms. An Juhui? What are you doing right now?

“Oh, we’re running low on astragalus. Please find some from the box that arrived today. While you’re at it, prepare some ginger and put it in the refrigerator.”

“Yes!”

Both of their hands were moving quickly.

An Juhui was making prescribed medicines at tremendous speed, and Yang Jimin, though not as fast, was diligently doing what An Juhui asked.

“But if there’s both yellowish-green and greenish-brown, is yellowish-green better?”

At Yang Jimin’s question, An Juhui’s glasses sparkled.

‘…?’

It seems like she touched on something otaku-like.

“You can’t determine quality that simply. Feel the fragrance.”

“Sniff!”

“Motherwort is such a beautiful herb. There are even legends about it. Long ago during the Song Dynasty, there was a couple named Liu Gan and Aran who made their living hunting…”

A story came out about how while the wife was struggling with difficult labor, a rabbit brought the husband motherwort to help safely deliver the child, and later that herb was used to save the emperor’s concubine.

“Teacher Juhui, holding onto the interviewee too much…”

“Oh my! So that’s how it got the name motherwort? A name given by the emperor! Could I try tasting just a little bit?”

“…!”

I was trying to stop An Juhui, but maybe there was no need?

“I’ll cut a little for you. Feel this spicy, bitter yet ecstatic taste. Oh, the unprocessed state is also amazing, I’ll get some for you next time.”

Could she possibly be the same kind of herbal medicine otaku? Are there really two such people in this world? Does that make sense?

A few hours later.

After the day experience ended, An Juhui and Yang Jimin came up to the 3rd floor.

“The young student is diligent and nice. Let’s tell her to come starting tomorrow?”

“Wait a moment. Let me have one last talk with her.”

I temporarily sent out An Juhui who was urging to quickly write the employment contract, and confirmed with Yang Jimin if it was really okay.

She might have been forcing herself to match An Juhui.

“She taught me so many things I didn’t know at all. The pharmacist is really knowledgeable! I definitely want to work here!”

“Were you originally interested in herbal medicines?”

“I don’t know much yet, but I’ll study hard and contribute to the Oriental Medicine Clinic!”

It was a typical new employee comment.

Fortunately, there weren’t two people like An Juhui in South Korea.

But she could keep up with that conversation that even I can’t follow well?

‘Honestly, even if Master came, I don’t think he’d know how the motherwort calyx tips are split!’

Anyway, since both said it was good, there was nothing more to worry about.

“Let’s write the contract today.”

“Wow, thank you! It’s the glory of my family! I’ll work hard!”

We confirmed the part-time work hours right there, comparing with the first-year first semester schedule that had come out in advance.

Since the school was close, he could fill in work shifts like Tetris during free periods.

“She’s hired, right?”

An Juhui seemed quite pleased with Yang Jimin, asking once more to confirm that she had been hired.

Ha, I overlooked that even the capital letter I becomes talkative when it comes to fields she likes.

This person would probably be worse than most professors – will she really be okay?

Just this morning I was worried whether An Juhui could handle Yang Jimin, but now it’s the opposite.

“Will Jimin be coming to the clinic from now on too?”

Seol Yuhui was also very pleased.

“Yes, older sister! That’s what happened!”

“Wow, that’s great!”

“Thanks to Yu Hee unni, I got this opportunity. I’m really grateful.”

“No, I just asked for observation.”

The flattery could stop now, but Yang Jimin emphasized several times how much she loved our Oriental Medicine Clinic.

“I’m so happy. I really started dreaming of employment two years ago, you know?”

I shook my head back and forth.

Do I need to get used to that way of speaking too?

“The pharmacist is like an alchemist, and Yu Hee unni is like a saint.”

“Ahaha.”

“A saint?”

“Oh, I like romance fantasy web novels. Saints often appear in them, and they’re holy like Yu Hee unni.”

Wait, a saint?

I can’t just let this part slide.

“Anyone can see it’s the North Sea Ice Palace, right?”

“North Sea Ice Palace? Oh, like a Northern Grand Duke?”

Ugh! We’re not communicating!

“…It’s nothing.”

Why are there only martial arts ignoramuses in our clinic?

“I’ll study up on it!”

No, don’t study it.

Just geek out over herbal medicines with An Juhui.

I… I thought I should go to Yongho Restaurant after a long time and hang out with the owner.

* * *

While Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic was hiring new staff in a harmonious atmosphere.

Hwang Sanghun was fighting alone at Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital.

“Father, please try to get up! Let’s see where you can’t put strength today!”

“Why am I your father!”

“Yes, patient Cheon Gwangseong. Slowly…!”

“How dare a young kid call me by name!”

The same conversation repeated as yesterday.

It couldn’t be helped. Though not severe, he had some dementia and his hearing wasn’t very good either.

This patient’s name was Cheon Gwangseong. 93 years old this year.

The oldest among patients admitted to Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital Changwon Branch.

Due to stroke aftereffects, he hadn’t been able to walk for two years, so he had almost lost hope for treatment.

“What’s the point of treatment? At this age, will getting acupuncture cure me? Just help me turn over!”

“Even if you can’t return to your youthful body, you can get better than your current state.”

Until a few months ago, he was hospitalized in a nursing hospital. He had even filed a request not to receive life-sustaining treatment in case of emergency.

But coincidentally, he developed sores from lying in the same position too long at the previous nursing hospital, and his daughter got angry when she discovered it late and requested a transfer.

“Ah, I won’t get treatment! I don’t want to!”

Of course, his daughter knew too. That hemiplegia from stroke aftereffects couldn’t be completely cured.

The previous attending physician knew, Hwang Sanghun knew, and patient Cheon Gwangseong himself knew.

…In such a situation, it was natural for him to act so cranky.

Hwang Sanghun just calmly proceeded with the treatment.

The previous attending physician who had quit taking staff with him wasn’t very enthusiastic about Cheon Gwangseong’s treatment.

Since he couldn’t avoid acupuncture treatment, he just put exactly 2 needles at Baihui and Hegu. He was really doing only the minimum treatment.

Since his children couldn’t take care of him at home anyway, he seemed to think of it as staying until he passed away.

‘Still, I should try everything I can.’

But Hwang Sanghun didn’t do that.

There were quite a few stroke aftereffect patients at the university-affiliated Traditional Korean Medicine Hospital, and he had met guardians who said such things openly when he was an intern.

But working with Hanyewon at Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic, he had seen several times how the lives of patients who seemed unlikely to recover could change.

By taking medicine while consistently receiving acupuncture treatment and attending rehabilitation, arms that barely moved could lift nearly 90 degrees, and walking gradually improved bit by bit.

They said cooking again with their own hands and seeing improvement was a small happiness.

“Please bear with it a little! I’ll insert them as quickly as possible without pain!”

So Hwang Sanghun didn’t give up.

Baihui, Zusanli, Quchi, Fengshi, Xuanzhong, Dazhui, Fengchi, Jianjing.

Not only the acupoints known since ancient times as the seven stroke treatment points, but he also searched for muscles that weren’t moving to help even a little.

He additionally studied neurology and inserted needles in places likely to have an effect.

“Ugh! What useless nonsense! Instead of an old man like me, go cure some young son!”

Severe patients were definitely on a different level of difficulty.

Cheon Gwangseong threw tantrums like this every time, and sometimes Hwang Sanghun despaired at the patient’s condition that wouldn’t improve.

But he persistently continued the treatment.

When told he couldn’t hear well, he spoke louder; when the patient got angry, he let it go in one ear and out the other, while continuously searching for things he didn’t know.

“Thank you so much, Clinic Director. My father seems very happy since his attending physician changed.”

“Cheon Gwangseong does…?”

“Yes. For a while he only talked about wanting to die quickly, but lately he keeps talking about whatever conversations he had with Dr. Hwang. This time he even asked about his grandson’s well-being.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Listening to the daughter who came to visit every week, it seemed fortunately that Cheon Gwangseong didn’t entirely dislike Hwang Sanghun.

“Can’t you put the needles in my toes today? It’s too cold here!”

He had stopped throwing tantrums about not wanting acupuncture and was now making requests like this.

‘I hope to see even a little change.’

Now there was just over a month left until his scheduled resignation.

Since the new clinic director his older brother had promised would start in March, he had to begin the handover process before then.

Of course, there might be no change at all during that time, but whatever the outcome, Hwang Sanghun was determined to do his best throughout his period as the patient’s attending physician.

“Dr. Hwang! Patient Cheon Gwangseong is…!”

Then one day.

An urgent call came looking for Hwang Sanghun at dawn.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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