Physician’s Odyssey

Chapter 785 - TCM City Concep

As the sky started to drizzle, the weather had also gone into autumn mode, a season where diseases and illnesses start to appear. Hence, the Three Flavour Hall had an endless flow of customers. Even with the current number of physicians, it’s still impossible to handle all the patients. The Old Street was protected by the government, and it’s impossible to enlarge based on the foundation. Hence, Su Tao had to consider setting up another branch in Hanzhou City in another location.

However, setting up the second location won’t be easy as there will be strict application requirements. Firstly, there aren’t many locations open for businesses, and most of the available locations are in flourishing zones, and it won’t be cheap. Secondly, the government has their own plan for the Three Flavour Hall. Hence, if Su Tao wants to set up the second branch in Hanzhou City, he will have to work together with the government’s plan. Thus, Su Tao spent quite a lot of time on this matter.

Entering Zhang Ping’s office, his secretary served up tea with a smile. The secretary knew about Su Tao, a National Healer that even his superior had to show respect.

On the other hand, Zhang Ping was flipping through the document that Su Tao had given him twice.

After his secretary left the office, Zhang Ping stood up from his seat, taking his purple cup and sat before Su Tao.

“Vice-President Su, I have already gone through your application, and the city is quite packed, so I’m not able to give you an answer anytime soon. How about this, I promise you that I’ll submit the application for you next year and provide you an excellent location, what do you think about that?” Zhang Ping replied mildly.

Su Tao is also the Vice-President of Jianghuai Hospital, which Zhang Ping used this form of address since it was more appropriate. Otherwise, if he were to start calling Physician Su or Specialist Su, it would sound weird. Hence, since Su Tao had a position in the healthcare system, it sounded more appropriate for Zhang Ping to address Su Tao according to his title in Jianghuai Hospital, not to mention that it can also close up their relationship.

“I can wait, but I’m afraid that Three Flavour Hall’s patients won’t be able to wait.” Su Tao smiled bitterly.

Nodding his head, Zhang Ping sighed, “I have been researching on the Three Flavour Hall privately, and the current flow of patients in the Three Flavour Hall isn’t any inferior compared to Jianghuai Hospital.”

Holding onto this chin, Zhang Ping pondered for a long time before he returned to his desk and gave a call to his secretary.

When his secretary came in, Zhang Ping spoke in a heavy tone, “Try and communicate with the City Land Bureau, and try and resolve the issue with setting up another branch for the Three Flavour Hall by this week. List this issue as one of the topics for this week’s meeting for the Municipal Committee’s Supervision Office to coordinate with.”

Although Su Tao has no idea about the exact structure of the government, he knows that the Supervision Office is a department with huge authority. For Zhang Ping to rise this matter to a high level shows his sincerity in handling this matter.

Zhang Ping is a high official in Hanchou City, and for him to give out this instruction before Su Tao spoke about his support for the latter.

After the secretary left Zhang Ping’s office, Zhang Ping smiled as he changed the topic, “I heard that the Three Flavour International received a good evaluation during Milan’s fashion week this year.”

“It’s mainly because China is gradually growing more powerful as a country, so our culture has been spread to other countries in forms of products. Hence, they’re not unfamiliar with our culture, nor are they so against it compared to the past. Since ancient times, China’s culture has proven to be able to assimilate.” Su Tao smiled humbly.

Nodding his head at Su Tao, Zhang Ping praised, “The country is lacking entrepreneurs like you with strong pride and confidence for your own nation, willing to bring our culture beyond the country.”

Listening to all the praises, Su Tao started to feel a little embarrassed as he smiled bitterly, “This is only the first step of a long journey, and there are many things waiting for us.”

Patting on his chest, Zhang Ping guaranteed, “You don’t have to worry about it. Hanzhou City is currently developing in the direction of TCM, so I will definitely give my support for the Three Flavour International and Qihuang Charity Funds’ development. Not only can this benefit the citizens, but it can also increase the competitiveness of the city compared to others.”

Su Tao never expected such honesty from Zhang Ping. The more they talk, the more he realised that both of their positions have changed. In the past when he first met Zhang Ping, the latter was high up beyond his reach, but right now, Zhang Ping has placed down his posture and speaks with him on equal levels.

Zhang Ping is younger than average compared to other officials in his position, and if it goes smoothly, Zhang Ping will definitely be promoted in two to three years, ascending to a high stage.

It’s not easy talking to someone like Zhang Ping as the latter had a faint prestige permeating out from him due to his position.

However, Su Tao did not show any abnormality as he casually talked with Zhang Ping.

Without him realising, Su Tao had already reached a whole new level.

With a smile, Zhang Ping continued, “As for the proposal that you submitted to the Municipal Committee previously regarding the TCM Youth Classes, I’ve gone through it and I find it pretty interesting. I have already handed it over to a few friends of mine, and they seem to be drafting the corresponding notice to pick a few elementary schools to test the idea.”

Su Tao has been wanting to use Qihuang Charity Funds to establish TCM Youth Classes, but he never expected that Zhang Ping would be so supportive to implement them in elementary schools that left him somewhat surprised.

“Medicine has to be learnt from a young age, and a senior brother of mine has written a set of TCM education materials, to which I have already gone through it and made several amendments. If the city is going to implement TCM classes in elementary schools, you can use them as reference.” Su Tao smiled.

“I have similar thoughts as well. If we’re going to start the TCM Youth Classes in elementary schools, we will need teaching materials along with teachers, and I will need your help in this matter.” Zhang Ping replied happily.

Su Tao never expected that Zhang Ping would be so firm in his TCM City Concept. Hence, he will definitely not shirk the responsibility. If the government is willing to support TCM, it will be more effective than doing everything by himself.

“Mr. Zhang, I will get professionals to join up with you. Before they take up any posts, I will ensure that they will all be trained.” Su Tao smiled.

Pressing his hand down in the air, Zhang Ping nodded his head and smiled, “TCM is a treasure of China’s culture. Now that the nation is paying attention to this field, I believe that TCM will slowly replace western medicine in a few years as the common diagnosis and treatment method. To ensure that the city will always be a step ahead, this is the reason why I decided to forge Hanzhou City into a TCM City. In the future when anyone thinks of TCM, they will think of Hanzhou City. Then again, I will require your assistance in this matter. The Three Flavour Hall is an outstanding platform, and no matter how you develop, please remember not to forget your initial aspirations with public healthcare as priority.”

Seeing that Zhang Ping was talking about it so seriously, Su Tao’s expression had also changed as he nodded his head seriously, “Thank you for your suggestion, Mr. Zhang!”

As Su Tao and Zhang Ping conversed many things about TCM, Zhang Ping gained a lot of things in the process as he never expected that Su Tao would have such a grand blueprint in his mind.

Su Tao had a huge appetite with international visions, wanting to change everyone’s lifestyle with TCM.

“Japan’s Kyoto is the first step, next will be Russia’s Moscow, Italy’s Milan. Lastly, I plan to establish Three Flavour Hall’s international branches in South America and Europe, which I plan to complete in three years.” Su Tao smiled as he shared his concept about Three Flavour Hall’s future plans.

“It won’t be easy. You will need personnel, culture, and politics.” Zhang Ping knitted his brows upon hearing Su Tao’s plan before his tone eased out and continued, “Then again, since you have such thoughts, you must have a complete plan in mind.”

“I will need your help in this matter. Hanzhou City might have a TCM-related institution, but it’s still lacking compared to my plan. So I would like to suggest to you to use the government’s name to invite renowned TCM-related institutions all over the country to set up a few branches in Hanzhou City. This way, the TCM ambiance in the city will increase. Furthermore, I can provide platforms for a portion of those students in my pharmacy.” Su Tao smiled.

If setting up classes in elementary schools are the foundation, such as nurturing athletes from a young age, then inviting famous institutions would be a higher level of arrangement.

It won’t be easy to implement this plan as Hanzhou City is only a third-tiered city. Hence, it’s extremely difficult for them to attract the attention of those renowned institutions. But it can be done with the government’s help.

Nodding his head heavily, Zhang Ping replied, “You’re right. Since we want to forge Hanzhou City into a TCM City, then not only will we need renowned pharmacies, but we also need to have outstanding institutions. I’ll get a group to research on how to attract the attention to those renowned institutions tomorrow as it will be extremely crucial to Hanzhou City’s development.”

Zhang Ping suddenly felt enlightened. Although he feels that TCM can be excavated, he’s still a layman, and he does not have much knowledge about TCM. Hence, his conversation with Su Tao gave him an enlightenment.

“This isn’t too big of an issue. The TCM Alliance we established last year has many members who were in the management posts in many institutions. As long as Hanzhou City is determined to get it done, it won’t be difficult to bring them in.” Su Tao smiled.

Although the current influx of human resources can still cope with Three Flavour Hall’s development, they will need more new blood for a long term reliable plan.

Su Tao had already communicated with He Deqiu, and they’ve planned that for the next four years, graduates from Qiongjin Medical University will be added into the Three Flavour Hall branching development plan for Cai Yan, but the reserves are still insufficient.

Most importantly, with more international branches opening up, Su Tao will require more talents who are versed with foreign languages. In the current TCM Alliance, almost everyone knows nothing about foreign languages, and if TCM wants to step beyond the country, they will require more talents who can speak foreign languages.

Today, Su Tao’s conversation with Zhang Ping was important as he could tell the latter’s determination to forge Hanzhou City into a TCM City. Many officials did things on a moment of passion such as industrial parks or electronic commercial parks.

Su Tao was worried that Zhang Ping only formulated this plan for his own performance.

But through this chat with Zhang Ping, he was more assured that this official had bet everything on TCM.

Perhaps Zhang Ping might be doing it for his performance, but his strategic eyesight is way better than other officials.