It wasn't the first old TCM practitioner to seek apprenticeship. Li Se said with some helplessness, "Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner Chen, it's not that I don't accept you as a disciple. As you can see, I just performed Qi-controlled Needling and Qi-flung Needling. If it were solely reliant on ordinary techniques, even the most formidable needling methods would have limited effects. For Chinese medicine to advance further, one can only cultivate Qi Gong, but this requires cultivation from a young age to be effective."
"Indeed... it is so..." Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner Chen's face grew dim. He had long suspected this outcome, but knowing it now still brought a sense of regret.
Li Se pondered for a moment and said, "However, if Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner Chen doesn't mind, I can teach you the Huanyang Needling technique. Though, without the aid of golden needles and Qi Gong, its effectiveness will still be significantly reduced."
"Really? I can truly learn it?" Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner Chen was stunned. Many needling techniques were not to be passed down, especially peerless techniques like the Huanyang Needling, which were the pillars of a family. He never expected this young man to be willing to impart it.
"Of course. What good is a needling technique if it is lost to time? It is only when it is used on patients and can heal them that it is a good technique," Li Se smiled.
Old Chinese Medicine Practitioner Chen sighed with emotion, "You are so right. I only understand this principle now."
The Huanyang Needling technique primarily involved a few incantations. After Li Se imparted the specifics, it was half an hour later when he left Renhe Hospital. It took another half hour to return to his clinic, only to see Huang Shanshan looking preoccupied.
"Shanshan, what's wrong?" Li Se asked, puzzled.
"I just received a call from my parents," Huang Shanshan said, hesitating slightly.
"Your parents?" Li Se was taken aback. To be honest, in the long time he had known Huang Shanshan, he had never heard her mention her parents. Now, she brought them up.
Huang Shanshan explained, "They've been abroad all along. They are also doctors, but Western medicine practitioners. Because they studied Western medicine, my grandfather was very angry. They would argue whenever they met, and eventually, they lost contact. Recently, they learned I came to the capital and will also be coming to the capital in the next couple of days. They asked me to pick them up."
"Mm, that's only right," Li Se nodded slightly.
"It's just..." Huang Shanshan hesitated.
"Just what?" Li Se inquired.
Huang Shanshan frowned slightly, her expression turning cold. "This time, it seems they've come back to arrange my marriage."
"Are they looking to introduce you to someone?" Li Se raised an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Huang Shanshan nodded.
Li Se smiled, taking Huang Shanshan's hand. "There is no man in this world more outstanding than I. Don't worry, no one can snatch you away from me."
"You're so narcissistic!" Huang Shanshan gave Li Se a sidelong glance, her pretty face flushing. Li Se's hand had become a little too intimate, and she quickly slapped it away, chiding, "This is the clinic."
"Fine, I'll have my way when we get home," Li Se chuckled.
Huang Shanshan looked somewhat shy. Just then, several people walked in. They were all dressed in suits, and it was clear they weren't there for a consultation.
"Who is the boss here?" the man in the lead asked indifferently.
"I am. Is there a problem?" Li Se asked them.
"No problem. Since you have joined the Chinese Medicine Association, there are certain rules that must be followed. Let me introduce myself first. I am Lu Xin, the manager of the Chinese Medicine Association's pharmaceutical company." The man in the suit introduced himself.
"Oh, what rules must be followed?" Li Se smiled. This man's surname was Lu, which immediately made him think of Lu Yuan, the vice president of the Chinese Medicine Association. They were likely related, perhaps father and son.
"Since you have joined the Chinese Medicine Association, some of your clinic's medicinal materials must be managed by us. Now, bring out your medicinal materials, and we will inspect them for compliance," Lu Xin said calmly.
"How come I haven't heard of this inspection?" Li Se asked.
"You just joined the association, so it's not surprising you don't know. If your medicinal materials are not compliant, it will tarnish the reputation of the Chinese Medicine Association!" Lu Xin stated, citing valid reasons.
Li Se frowned, but he still produced a batch of medicinal materials for them to inspect.
"Director Lu, look, this batch of medicinal materials is no good!" They quickly found fault with the medicinal materials.
After inspecting them, Lu Xin questioned, "Is this how you tarnish the Chinese Medicine Association? You join the association and use its reputation to open a clinic, and now you're bringing in inferior medicinal materials to cut costs?"
"How could our medicinal materials have problems?" Huang Shanshan was somewhat indignant. She and Li Se personally selected every batch of medicinal materials and had strict quality control. How could there be issues?
"Then what do you make of these medicinal materials?" Lu Xin picked up a batch, and indeed, the medicinal materials had issues.
"Heh, could it be that your people planted them here?" Li Se sneered. He was very confident that his medicinal materials were flawless. The fact that a batch was found to be problematic could only mean one thing: these medicinal materials were planted by these people. After all, he was a Chinese medicine practitioner, and he could tell good from bad medicinal materials at a glance. These medicinal materials were definitely not what he had selected, and the company he chose for his medicinal materials also had quality assurance, and their prices were a bit higher.
"What do you take us for? I am here representing the Chinese Medicine Association to inspect your medicinal materials. Your own medicinal materials have problems, and you dare to slander us. What are your intentions?" Lu Xin roared.
"Exactly. You chose inferior medicinal materials to control costs, and now you're blaming us instead!"
"If there were no problems, they would surely pass the inspection. Do you think we could have made your medicinal materials worse?"
"Young people opening clinics are indeed not honest. I don't understand how the Chinese Medicine Association let such people join; they are clearly tarnishing its reputation!"
"..."
The several people who came with Lu Xin chimed in one after another, scolding him.
Lu Xin waved his hand, signaling them to quiet down, then looked at Li Se and said, "Considering this is your first offense, we will not impose any punishment. However, this batch of medicinal materials will definitely need to be replaced. The Chinese Medicine Association itself operates a pharmaceutical business. Here is my business card. From now on, you will purchase your medicinal materials from here. These have undergone layers of inspection by the Chinese Medicine Association, and the quality of the medicinal materials is absolutely guaranteed. Moreover, Vice President Lu personally oversees it!"
So, they were here to engage in forced sales. However, Li Se wouldn't fall for this regarding medicinal materials. He sneered, "What? Does this Lu Yuan represent the entire Chinese Medicine Association? If he opens a pharmaceutical company, it means the Chinese Medicine Association opened it? Indeed, this is a tumor of the Chinese Medicine Association!"