"What? Chen Fei? Who is that? I've never heard of such a person in the Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia. Dean Song, could you tell us which dical Sage's disciple this Doctor Chen Fei is? How could he possibly represent the younger generation of our Traditional dicine Community in the final, most crucial dical exchange with Korean dicine?"
"Exactly, Principal Song. Even I have so renown in this circle after many years, but I've never heard of a young traditional dicine practitioner nad Chen Fei who could represent our Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia in such a vitally important competition."
A silver-haired Grandmaster of traditional dicine stood up, his face unpleasant as he vehently objected. "Principal Song, I strongly object! I propose Doctor Zhou Zhengping. He is the direct disciple of Elder Li Dongshen and a leading figure among the younger generation of our Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia! He's even beco quite well-known in Italy recently." This Grandmaster was an old friend of Li Dongshen, the Vice President of the Traditional dicine Association, and they were very close.
What a joke, Chen Fei? Who is that? Is there really such a person among the younger generation of Huaxia's Traditional dicine Community? Why has he never even heard of him? What gives soone like that the right to represent the younger generation in such an important dical exchange? This is the third and final match; if they lose, who can bear the responsibility? That's why I'm so firmly against it! Zhou Zhengping, the direct disciple of Elder Li Dongshen, is a different matter entirely. He has received Elder Li's true teachings, mastering at least sixty to seventy percent of his dical skills. No matter how monstrous the Korean dicine practitioners are, they're no match for him! Only a leader of Huaxia's younger generation like him is qualified to represent us in such an important battle and lead us to victory! As for so naless nobody he'd never even heard of, what qualifications did they possess? This is just reckless nonsense!
"Chen Fei?"
The face of Elder Li Dongshen, the Vice President of the Traditional dicine Association, was also grim. To hear his na praised throughout the community and even the entire country, he had gone to great lengths, ticulously arranging for his youngest disciple, Zhou Zhengping, to return to the country only last night. The plan was for him to make a dramatic entrance in the final battle, turn the tide, and save the faltering state of the Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia.
But he never would have dread that after what seed like a single phone call, Dean Song Bing from Jingdong University would propose soone he, Li Dongshen, had never even heard of—so Chen Fei—to represent Huaxia's younger generation in the final battle. If this decision was finalized, it would be worse than being slapped in the face; it would be a loud, cracking slap that echoed in his ears! Wouldn't this an all his previous efforts and planning had been for nothing?
"Dean Song, I too believe Zhou Zhengping is more suitable," a dignified and solemn-looking man in his seventies or eighties, wearing glasses, slowly said.
This man was Mu Chengdong, another Vice President of the Traditional dicine Association. Within the Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia, his prestige was on par with Li Dongshen's. Furthermore, he was an academic from Capital University, so even when facing soone like Song Bing—the Vice Principal and Chief Professor of the dical departnt at Jingdong University—his words carried considerable influence and authority.
However, although they were both Vice Presidents of the Traditional dicine Association, Mu Chengdong was not particularly fond of Li Dongshen. He believed the man was obsessed with power and prestige, not a true, venerable Grandmaster of traditional dicine in his eyes. Still, compared to Principal Song's sudden and inexplicable move, he was more inclined to support Zhou Zhengping. After all, he had t Zhou Zhengping a few tis and believed his skill in traditional dicine was no empty boast; the young man already carried the air of a contemporary national master. For soone his age, that level of skill was truly impressive, even comndable.
Once Mu Chengdong spoke, many senior professors imdiately echoed his sentint. This was no trivial matter. They could not afford another loss, so how could they be careless?
Seeing that even Mu Chengdong, that old diehard who was always at odds with him, was speaking in his favor, the tension on Elder Li Dongshen's chubby, wrinkled face finally eased, replaced by a hint of self-satisfaction.
Then, composing himself, he looked at Principal Song and slowly said, "Principal Song, it's not that I want to question this decision, but you must understand that this is the final battle, the last hope for the Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia. As for this Chen Fei, I've never even heard of him. Do you really think he is capable?"
"Elder Mu, Elder Li, it's not about whether I think he's capable or not," Dean Song Bing replied, his expression pained. "It's… you all know of the newly appointed Deputy Minister Xuu Peiyi from the Ministry of Health, right? She personally called and handed down this decision. Do you think I could oppose it? Clearly, this was not my intent."
"What!?"
"Deputy Minister Xuu Peiyi?"
"Wait, isn't she…"
...
The conference room instantly erupted. Everyone exchanged strange looks.
Although Xuu Peiyi was a woman, her title as Deputy Minister of Health was not to be taken lightly. Besides, everyone present was a doctor, and they all fell under her jurisdiction. Furthermore, she had been given full authority over the entire Seventh Traditional dicine Symposium and the subsequent dical exchange with Korean dicine. And that was not even ntioning her surna, Xuu. Who in the Forty-Nine City didn't know that Old Master Xuu, a towering figure in the Republic, had a second daughter nad Xuu Peiyi? Who would dare to defy soone with such a heaven-defying background?
To put it bluntly, the question was no longer whether they were willing, but whether they were even qualified to object. With a single word from Deputy Minister Xuu Peiyi, who among them would dare to defy her?
So, the mont Dean Song finished speaking, the entire room fell silent. Everyone was speechless; not a single person dared to raise another objection. As for Elder Li Dongshen, he looked as if he had just swallowed a fly, his face turning livid and his expression utterly unpleasant.
Didn't they hear Elder Song's explanation? This was a direct order from Deputy Minister Xuu Peiyi herself. Objecting would be tantamount to questioning her judgnt or implying her words carried no weight.
Even he, Li Dongshen, didn't have the courage to say such a thing or make such a move. Obviously, the answer was no. He simply didn't have the gall.
And so, the matter was settled.
A young practitioner of traditional dicine nad Chen Fei would represent the Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia in the third match.
Elder Li Dongshen imdiately left the conference room, his face dark.
BANG!
Not long after, unable to suppress his inner rage, Li Dongshen smashed the stainless steel teacup in his hand against the corridor handrail, hitting it so hard it nearly ricocheted away.
"Deputy Minister Xuu? Chen Fei? What are they trying to do? Do they think a matter concerning the honor and disgrace of our Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia is so kind of child's play? To have so naless nobody from the sticks represent us is a preposterous idea! Do they want foreigners to laugh at our Traditional dicine Community? To let them think we have no worthy practitioners left?" Elder Li Dongshen's face was ashen as he trembled with fury.
What a perfect opportunity this was! A chance for him, Li Dongshen, to gain widespread fa, beco the center of attention, and receive the support and praise of the entire nation. Now, a single phone call had destroyed it all. How could he possibly accept this? How could he not be furious? And fine, so his disciple Zhou Zhengping wasn't chosen. But to replace him with a complete nobody? What did that imply? That the Direct Disciple he, Li Dongshen, a Vice President of the Traditional dicine Association and a Grandmaster, had personally taught was no better than so 'wild pheasant,' a common wandering quack? What a disgrace! It was a monuntal humiliation!
"Indeed, Elder Li. The higher-ups have gone too far this ti," another Grandmaster of traditional dicine, who found the decision equally absurd, said as he sidled up with a grim face. "This final battle is a matter of honor for our entire Traditional dicine Community. How can it be treated so trivially? Elder Li, didn't you say you have a good relationship with Director Ma Yingtian from the Ministry of Health? He's a seasoned and influential official. Why not give him a call, explain our concerns and worries?"
That's right! There was still Director Ma Yingtian! At this, Elder Li Dongshen's eyes suddenly lit up.
Director Ma Yingtian was a veteran official in the Ministry of Health, well-connected and powerful. The Ma Family behind him was also a prominent na in the Forty-Nine City. If he could be persuaded to say a few words to Deputy Minister Xuu, there might still be room to turn this around. Besides, with his status and position, how could he, Li Dongshen, allow his Direct Disciple's spot to be snatched away by so obscure youth? How could he let such a golden opportunity for fa and praise slip through his fingers? He couldn't possibly swallow this affront.
With this thought, he imdiately dialed Director Ma Yingtian's private mobile number.
The call connected quickly.
"Hello, Elder Li? What can I do for you?" Director Ma Yingtian's voice was warm and enthusiastic as he chuckled over the phone.
After all, Li Dongshen was a renowned master. In this day and age, it's best not to offend anyone, especially a doctor.
"Director Ma, I have a situation I'd like to run by you. Rember what I ntioned before? I had proposed that my junior disciple, Zhou Zhengping, represent the Traditional dicine Community of Huaxia in the final battle of the dical exchange with Korean dicine. Well, my proposal was just rejected."
Li Dongshen spoke directly. For one, he was burning with impatience and had no mind for pleasantries. For another, he had known Director Ma Yingtian long enough to know the man disliked bureaucratic talk.
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