The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim - Chapter 298

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

Chapter 298

“Sanghun said he’s staying at his job for life, right? This director will probably stay too. But even if there were a position available, Roberto opened his shop in Seoul, so how could you come to Busan?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

Hwangseoyeong clapped her hands.

How could she forget that while sitting in none other than the gelato shop?

“Don’t worry about me, Seoyeong. Do what helps your career.”

“No. I can find a job in the metropolitan area too. It’s fine!”

Roberto spoke affectionately, but Hwangseoyeong wouldn’t choose the long-distance Seoul-Busan option.

She’s been singing about wanting to be made vice director ever since I started settling in, and it’s finally come to this.

“Even if there’s no position at the Gangnam branch, couldn’t you get into somewhere in the metropolitan area by creating a position?”

Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital has more than just one or two large hospitals in the metropolitan area alone.

Would it be that difficult to add one more person to a hospital that already has 15 directors, making it a 16-person system?

Going from 2 to 3 people would be quite a big decision, but… well, since I haven’t experienced it myself, I couldn’t speak carelessly about it.

“It’s not as simple as you think. First, the hospitals in my great-uncle’s line wouldn’t welcome me, and I don’t want to go there and suffer under sales pressure.”

“Ah, they said they put up ranking charts on the break room walls, right?”

“Right. They’re crazy bastards, I tell you. But if I go to Yongsan, it’s basically like saying I’m jumping into factional fighting to support Jihun from now on, and if I go to a hospital that’s staying out of this chaos, those places would find my presence burdensome.”

Well, that makes sense.

From the perspective of people who just want to quietly see patients, if the owner family’s granddaughter comes, they might become wary that she’s trying to take control of the hospital and throw support behind one side.

“So you want to get a job somewhere that’s not Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital at all?”

“That’s right.”

Hwangseoyeong crossed her arms and nodded her head.

She said she didn’t really understand how things worked during her school days either.

So she followed her grandfather’s words to do her internship at the Gangnam branch and went through the residency process… but after obtaining her specialist certification, she left saying she’d see about her next move, and now she’s floating around?

Somehow, going round and round, she ended up in a situation no different from an ordinary job seeker.

“Didn’t you say the Emperor director is a control freak? Didn’t he plan out your future path?”

“He seems to want me to go to Yongsan and help my uncle, I mean Jihun and Sanghun’s father. But I have to avoid that at all costs.”

Hwangseoyeong shuddered.

Since her own father had a history of running away, he doesn’t openly force her, but if she goes along with where he’s pushing her, she’ll get caught in a trap.

What would I have done?

Hmm… if I didn’t like the path that was laid out for me, I would have left the family and opened my own practice, right?

Then I would have ended up living not much differently from now.

“Since it’s come to this, how about opening your own practice right away? You learned everything you needed to learn during your training anyway.”

“I’m confident about ward management, but local patient groups are a bit different. Unlike hospitals with all the testing facilities, you have to make blind diagnoses… it feels vague somehow.”

Ah, that would definitely feel awkward.

Korean medicine hospitals employ doctors, clinical pathologists, etc. separately, so treatment is much more flexible, from diagnostics like X-rays to Western medicine, injections, IVs, and manual therapy.

The clinical environment itself is different.

“So you want to try being a vice director at an Oriental medicine clinic first, then open your own practice? Or get a job at a hospital that’s not Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital?”

“Both are fine, but since I got my specialist certification, I think I want to stay at the hospital level…”

“That’s good. If you’re going to keep working as a salaried doctor, hospital-level places pay much higher salaries. If you pursue stability like Sanghun.”

“Huh? That’s not it.”

I was about to say that continuing to work at a hospital is actually better than being at our Oriental medicine clinic.

Hwangseoyeong cut in with her eyes wide open as if asking what I was talking about.

“I’m thinking of establishing a hospital someday. Whether it’s a Korean medicine hospital or a nursing hospital.”

“Really…?”

“I became a Korean medicine doctor and even got my specialist certification, so I should try being a hospital director at least once. Would I have suffered through training for nothing?”

What is this talk now? 98% of Korean Traditional Medicine University graduates probably never even think about that.

Even I never dreamed of the ‘H’ in hospital director before experiencing all sorts of things in the martial arts world.

Indeed… regardless of her relationship with Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital, in an environment where relatives are all hospital directors, her aspirations themselves are different.

“I’ve been seeing and hearing things since I was young, so I know the systems pretty well. Even during my residency, I made friends with staff from other departments and observed their work. I’ve been working hard with someday in mind.”

“Hey, then instead of putting it off to someday, how about being a hospital director now?”

Even when I asked the branch directors, none of them seemed suitable.

To think there was talent right in front of me.

“Now? Even Jihun hasn’t inherited anything yet.”

“Inheriting from family isn’t the only way to become a hospital director.”

This time Hwangseoyeong blinked as if asking what I was talking about.

“Then, a new opening? That would be nice, but I don’t have money.”

“What about a hospital that requires almost no initial capital and has systems somewhat in place?”

“Where is such a place?”

“Surprisingly, there is one.”

Maybe this position is meant for Hwangseoyeong?

I told Hwangseoyeong about the hospital story I heard from Yun Heeyoung this afternoon.

“Wow, a hospital with such a story… And if it’s in Goyang, it’s not far either.”

“What do you think?”

Hwangseoyeong couldn’t come up with anything particular to say and just moved her lips.

Although she said she wanted to become a hospital director someday, her current plan was to get a job as a clinical director.

The scale suddenly got too big, I suppose.

“Isn’t it fine? Do you really need to save money to establish a hospital? You can save money after becoming a hospital director first.”

“You’re talking just like my aunt now that you’re in business.”

Aunt? Must be Director Hwang Jeongyeon from the Ilsan branch.

She must have similar thinking to me.

“It’s a wonderful idea, but if they want someone with business performance, wouldn’t I be unqualified? I’m just a kid who barely finished residency.”

“Looking at Director Yun’s proposal for our branch expansion, it seems like even if the hospital director lacks experience, she agreed on the premise that I would help. It’s probably a condition she attached because she doesn’t want someone who would ruin it to take over… You can get help from your relatives too, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.”

“Is, is that so?”

“If you’re interested, I’ll talk to her about it. Want to go take a look? I haven’t seen it in person yet either.”

The final contract decision could be made after touring the hospital anyway and looking at the five years’ worth of books she said she’d show us.

Of course, they might reject us based on age or experience, but that would truly be nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

“W-wait a minute!”

When I picked up my phone and pretended to make a call, Hwangseoyeong quickly stopped me.

“Alright. Think it over and let me know.”

“It’s too sudden!”

She clutched her head and pondered for a moment.

When Roberto returned from serving customers, she discussed this matter with him.

Anyway, seeing that she didn’t immediately say it was impossible, it seems she’s not entirely uninterested.

“Of course I’ll support whatever decision Seoyeong makes. As Yeowon said, an opportunity to achieve your dream has come, so I don’t think there’s any need to postpone it.”

“B-but… if I mess up and go bankrupt…”

“Hmm, it’s a matter that affects the livelihood of several employees, so you should think carefully. If it were just you, I’d take responsibility somehow, but…”

“Roberto…!”

Damn. Why am I stuck between couples like I’m watching some movie?

I turned my head away for a moment.

Crash!

“…”

While turning my head, I just glanced to see if those soldiers that Roberto’s father supposedly sent were doing well.

They came disguised as customers, so why are they acting so suspiciously?

“Anyway, it’s not something to decide right away. It’s such a big undertaking that I’m not sure if it’s something I can handle alone. I’ll discuss it with my parents too. Going to visit the hospital… it might be a bother, so I think it’s better to go after I’ve made up my mind to some extent.”

“Ah, of course. If you’re going to do it, please decide as quickly as possible.”

It’s such an obviously good property that I guess I became impatient.

Although they say they haven’t found a suitable person yet, all four clinic directors and Korean medicine doctors connected to the late Director Ju Sanggil, like Yun Heeyoung, are looking for a successor through their networks.

They won’t wait forever.

Hwangseoyeong also knew she didn’t have much time, so she nodded, saying she’d discuss it as quickly as possible and make a decision.

“By the way, the gelato is really delicious. I’ve never thought lemon was tasty in my life, but this strawberry and lemon… it’s fantastic.”

“Haha, thank you. I’m happy you’re enjoying it.”

“I think the shop will do really well. I’ll always support you.”

“Thanks to your constant concern, we’re doing well. I meet with Alessandro often too.”

Ah, right. Come to think of it, I was the one who introduced them.

Hearing Sandro’s name reminded me that there was another position available besides the hospital.

“If you feel like being a hospital director isn’t right for you, and if you don’t mind a Korean medicine clinic, I could introduce you to Director Kim Chunsik. He said he wants to hire a vice director.”

Kim Chunsik had also mentioned before that he was getting overwhelmed with too many patients.

Even when he took time off to go to Saudi Arabia, he was secretly worried about it.

So I added this belatedly remembered option, but.

“The hospital costs 200 million… I probably can’t do as well as Director Ju Sanggil…”

Unfortunately, her mind seemed to be elsewhere already, so she didn’t seem to hear me.

“This is my favorite pasta place. If you don’t mind spicy food, I recommend the amatriciana.”

“I eat everything well. Thank you.”

Since Hwangseoyeong, who had kindly invited me, was spaced out until we finished dinner, I ended up having a conversation with Roberto throughout the meal.

“See you again soon~”

“It was nice meeting you after so long.”

“Take care… Yeowon…”

“Make sure she doesn’t trip and gets home safely.”

“Haha, don’t worry.”

After saying goodbye to Hwangseoyeong, I came down to Busan to catch my flight.

I was curious about the hospital, but I had to see patients tomorrow.

Still, even though it was a bit late, I turned on a video conference and talked with the branch directors.

“You all saw what I sent earlier, right? Was there anyone interested?”

– Hmm, it’s a good opportunity, but a hospital is quite burdensome. I guess I lack gimai.

– Gimai?

– It means not being bold enough.

– That’s Gyeongsang dialect! I first heard it in Busan too.

Im Suchul seemed the most regretful.

– If I hadn’t opened my clinic yet, I would have considered it…

– What about the bread?

– I’m grateful I opened in Daejeon. I’m eating it right now.

The other directors’ reactions weren’t much different from when we discussed it via messages.

“I think my university coworker might be able to do it. If any of you directors are interested, I’d like to prioritize you, so if you’re thinking about it, please tell me quickly before that friend gives a definite answer.”

– Hmm…

– What do you think?

– I guess there’s no one.

They just looked around at each other in front of the camera, but no one raised their hand.

In that case… it would be nice if things work out with Hwangseoyeong, and aside from her, I don’t think there’s anyone among my acquaintances who could handle it.

– Our coworker? Who?

“Oppa’s cousin”

– Seoyeong?!

After giving Hwang Sanghun a moment to be shocked.

We briefly shared updates on our current situations and wrapped up the video conference.

From the next day on, I returned to my daily routine, focusing on medical treatment as always.

Side work is side work.

When treating patients, I must always give my best to the patient in front of me.

And some time later.

Less than a week had passed when I received contact from Hwangseoyeong.

[Hanyewon, could you contact the hospital for me? I want to transfer ownership. And if they’re okay with it and things go well, I’d like it to be done as Seongsoo Korean Medicine Hospital with absolutely no connection, not even 1%, to Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital.]

What’s this about.

Did she fight with her relatives over the past few days?

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