The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 242

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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 242

Yongbongjihoei.

This refers to a gathering of successful rising stars under the Martial Arts Alliance.

Since it was a group with its own history and tradition, when the association was first formed and during certain periods in martial arts history, it had played truly excellent roles.

But during the twenty-odd years I was in the martial arts world… it was nothing more than a gathering place for thugs.

Even children who were decent at home would come back from there having learned strange pretensions, and Master would get angry asking what on earth they were doing there.

‘It’s very difficult to change a group’s identity.’

The direction was already set so that one could only survive and advance by being good at political maneuvering.

The more this was the case, the stronger the inertia became to drag down anyone who stood out.

Those who tried to achieve results and those who tried to help each other would often become the protruding nails.

‘Actually, health is the same way.’

Addiction to alcohol or nicotine is the most severe case.

But metabolic diseases like obesity and chronic inflammation make it very difficult to slowly improve one’s constitution due to the body’s inertia to operate in the direction it has become accustomed to.

– …What, fire all 4 of them?

Chu Miyoung, who heard my words, was shocked a beat late.

Since she was someone with quite a lot of affection, this would be a difficult decision.

– Actually, I also thought that would be best. I recommended handling them one by one because firing them all at once would create a work gap and be difficult.

Im Suchul immediately nodded his head.

Hmm, the latter part made quite a bit of sense.

“That’s true. If possible, it would be good to have a handover period.”

– It will be difficult if you fire Ms. Heo Youngseon first. From what I’ve seen of her behavior, she might incite the other staff members and push hard for everyone to quit together.

Would she really go that far…?

At Im Suchul’s warning, Chu Miyoung clutched her head.

But Seo Inae spoke with certainty.

– It doesn’t matter anyway. Once the atmosphere becomes one of working hard, they’re all people who will leave. With the current workload, I can cover it alone, so don’t worry and hire new people.

– Are you really okay with that?

– Yes. Before Teacher Seol Yuhui came, when patients first started increasing, we had this much at headquarters too.

– Ah, that’s right.

Come to think of it, since Chu Miyoung had introduced Seol Yuhui.

Chu Miyoung had also seen what our Oriental Medicine Clinic looked like when it was just starting to get busy.

Seo Inae alone had dominated both the desk and treatment room, darting here and there.

– I’m receiving more salary than back then, and I’m familiar with the work. Don’t worry about anything.

Since Seo Inae showed such confidence, Im Suchul also agreed.

– If the manager is okay with it, it would be best to clearly state the reasons and proceed with layoffs according to procedure.

Thus the directors’ opinions came together as one.

I expressed gratitude to the directors who had thought it through with me and encouraged Seo Inae.

“It will be tough to teach three or four new people all at once. Fighting!”

– Starting from a blank slate is much better than people who have picked up strange habits and are stubborn.

– Hahaha.

– Hang in there, Manager. Please visit our clinic sometime too!

– Yes.

– I hope the clinic stabilizes quickly, Director Chu.

Everyone cheered on Chu Miyoung and Seo Inae.

Though I didn’t say it tactlessly in front of Chu Miyoung who was having a hard time, gratitude toward the staff members who were doing good work also grew abundantly in my heart.

* * *

Seo Inae frequently conveyed news from the Daegu branch.

The specific methods were decided through discussion with Chu Miyoung, and to me she conveyed something between reports and confirmation requests.

– I can call Teacher Heo Youngseon and notify her myself.

– No, I can’t leave that to you. The more difficult the conversation, the more I should handle it. I need to maintain courtesy for the work she’s done so far anyway.

Chu Miyoung called Heo Youngseon first, explained the reasons, and directly gave her a recommendation to resign.

She said it would be good if she could work just until next month with about a month’s grace period.

– She was really… really hurt. I know it’s something that has to be done, but I don’t feel good about it.

She had a very hard time at first.

Exactly one day.

Im Suchul’s prediction had not missed the mark.

However Heo Youngseon managed it, the next day three staff members simultaneously submitted resignation letters.

Knowing the gap that would be created if everyone quit, they seemed to be attempting some kind of negotiation.

But we had already made up our minds to gradually let all of them go anyway.

– I told them to do that, that they didn’t need to come in starting tomorrow.

Chu Miyoung spoke firmly.

They seemed to have never expected Director Chu Miyeong, who had always acted softly, to come out like this.

Two of the three immediately withdrew their resignation intentions the next day.

But Chu Miyoung didn’t change her mind.

She would give them time to find other jobs, so please resign.

She conveyed that she was grateful for their work so far and sincerely hoped they would do well elsewhere.

– Now it’s finally somewhat settled.

After a month passed with various incidents, the staff turnover was completed.

When the threats didn’t work, Heo Youngseon clung to Chu Miyoung.

She said it would be hard to find work elsewhere at her age, and begged her to reconsider, promising she would really work hard.

But as much as Chu Miyoung was generous with affection, she was also decisive when it came to cutting ties.

Just look at how she left Haneul Clinic immediately.

Of the remaining three staff members, one changed jobs and left right away.

The other two said they would receive unemployment benefits if given recommended resignation, and surprisingly completed their handover period diligently.

– Thanks to Manager Seo writing the job posting well, we had way more applicants than usual! And the interviews… I used to just ask when they could start, but she was more enthusiastic than the interviewees. I really reflected on myself.

Chu Miyoung’s clinic location wasn’t originally a place where hiring was difficult.

But with a clean job posting that just listed conditions without lengthy stories.

It seemed the vision discussed in interviews resonated well.

‘Vision…’

Isn’t that exactly the kind of thing that signals “run away” when small companies talk about it carelessly?

She said she appropriately shared her story while emphasizing that at Seongsoo Oriental Medicine Clinic, both work scope and incentives had unlimited upward potential.

“I’ll go take a look myself too!”

It would be good to check directly before bringing Seo Inae back, right?

Since everyone was learning their work well and starting to fulfill their roles, I set a date to visit Daegu.

“Hello~! I’m here for back treatment. This is my first time registering. I’m Han Yewon.”

In a situation where just searching my name brings up my face.

Pretending to be an ordinary patient could cause displeasure when discovered later, so I had told Seo Inae to give them a heads up beforehand.

“Ah, you’re Director Han Yewon? I’ll register you. Could you show me your ID please?”

“Yes~.”

You’d think they’d be slightly nervous hearing I’m the headquarters director, but the desk staff smoothly proceeded with registration.

‘Hmm, but… something… there’s strength in her voice?’

She just got hired, so it’s a time when passion would be overflowing.

Especially since Chu Miyoung and Seo Inae said they picked people with their own vision.

But this wasn’t that kind of temporary willpower.

This was, well…

‘…martial artist potential?’

When I slightly opened my ki sense to check, the person’s inherent energy was extraordinary.

She hadn’t cultivated internal energy, but seemed like someone who would grow tremendously once she started.

Now that I noticed, her bone structure was also considerable.

“Manager Seo, wait a moment.”

“Oh, Director, you’re here?”

“What criteria did you use for hiring?”

I found Seo Inae and asked quietly.

“Nursing assistant certification, good communication skills, and I valued development potential over experience. People with that strong look in their eyes that I feel from our headquarters staff and remarkable patients.”

“…”

My goodness.

It wasn’t coincidence.

She had unconsciously become able to recognize martial artist potential!

“Is there some problem?”

“No, not at all. It seems like you hired really well. That’s amazing.”

They say even a dog at a village school can recite poetry after three years!

I once heard a story about an inn in front of Seongsan where a servant who had seen countless Shaolin Temple monks could distinguish martial artists even when they completely hid their power.

He recognized the potential in a beggar child who came asking for food?

The servant informed a Shaolin Disciple of this fact, and the child grew to become an outstanding late-generation successor, making the Beggar Sect pound the ground in regret.

And that servant received visits from many major sects.

‘Not every dog at a village school can recite poetry though…!’

I was amazed by Seo Inae’s ability.

“I’m relieved that you’re pleased with them too, Director. I’ll finish their training well.”

“Yes, ahem. Just finish this month and then you can return.”

At this rate, I could gather the staff and form a sect?

I haven’t specifically taught martial arts, but even if towers sprouted from the ground or gates opened, there’d be no worry, right?

In any case, I was relieved that the Daegu branch seemed likely to settle in without problems.

* * *

While Seo Inae was in Daegu, several meetings with PK were held and I met with Saudi Arabian diplomats multiple times.

The facilities for producing pharmaceuticals were all set up with prototypes completed, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety was proceeding with legal certification procedures.

Rather, Saudi Arabia had quickly given approval and prepared a position, saying they could send Korean medicine doctors anytime.

‘I should start looking around now.’

Once domestic procedures are finished, I can send both medicine and people, right?

I posted a job listing on the community, roughly explaining the current situation and asking if there were any applicants who wanted to work at the royal hospital for high salaries.

And as usual, I saw patients.

Did charting.

And handled various clinic tasks in between.

Knock knock.

“Yes, come in.”

“Clinic Director, a foreign patient has arrived.”

The person who knocked on the door was Jin Minjeong.

Normally, if registration goes smoothly, she leaves a note in the chart saying they’re a foreigner, or tells me via message.

Coming to find me with such a troubled expression means she wants me to come out and help.

“Huh? There’s no one who said they were coming.”

No one from Saudi Arabia has ever visited except the ambassador and prince, and they all gave advance notice.

As for Italians… pianist Park Miseun did send a few fellow musicians.

But they were all either fluent in Korean since they had many Korean friends, or brought interpreters.

Seriously, our Oriental Medicine Clinic is way too global, isn’t it?

‘If we can’t communicate at all, there’s not much I can do either…’

I turned on a translation app on my phone and went out to the front desk.

“I would like to register with Korean Medicine Doctor Hanyewon.”

But very fortunately, the patient spoke in English.

She used simple vocabulary that I could understand, with a very clear American accent.

“She seems to be looking for the clinic director. What should I say?”

“Oh, she just wants to register with me. What’s your name?”

Although I’d forgotten a lot of English, I could at least ask for a name.

‘What should I call a foreigner registration card…’

Using the translator, I confirmed whether she had a foreigner registration card and Korean health insurance, or if she needed to register without insurance.

The answer was without insurance.

The patient very carefully wrote her name and whispered to me.

“Please keep my visit here a secret.”

If there’s no insurance anyway, it won’t be recorded in any system other than our Oriental Medicine Clinic’s charts.

Meaning there’s nothing particularly secret about it to begin with.

I was about to explain that part by looking at my phone when I saw the name the patient had written.

‘Sasha Lian?’

At the familiar combination of first and last name, I unconsciously looked up again.

Hearing the name and seeing her face, I finally recognized her. She really was that American… world-famous pop star.

The very person who got Melon Soda Horizon onto the Billboard charts by mentioning their song.

Why is she here?

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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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