Chapter 721: Three Themes

Chapter 721: Chapter 721: Three Themes

Just as Li Xu gripped the presentation remote, ready to officially begin his lecture, the double doors at the back of the seminar room were pushed open.

Two people walked in from outside.

Some of the students in the back rows subconsciously glanced back, then gasped and quickly whispered to the classmates next to them.

"Holy shit, why is Dean Ai here?"

"For real? The dean came to a lecture in person?"

Of the two people who entered, the one in the lead was an elderly man in a gray jacket. It was none other than the dean of Feng City Medical College, Ai Rong.

Following behind him was his administrative assistant.

Director Liang noticed them as well. He quickly put down his teacup and hurried over to greet them.

However, since Li Xu was speaking on stage, they didn’t exchange pleasantries so as not to interrupt the flow. They simply nodded briefly, and Dean Ai waved a hand, signaling for Director Liang not to bother with him.

Then, Dean Ai found an empty seat, sat down, and turned his gaze to the large screen with great interest.

Of course, Li Xu, who was standing at the podium, also saw Ai Rong enter.

He was a little surprised as well.

’I can’t believe just coming back to give a talk would stir up the elusive head dean himself.’

But he didn’t feel nervous or get stage fright.

Over the past few years, with the advancement of his medical skills and the confidence that came with his intel, what kind of big shots hadn’t he met?

Billionaire tycoons, powerful leaders, even top experts from the Capital City...

He could speak eloquently and carry himself with poise in front of all of them.

So why would his former dean be any different?

His mindset had long since become immune to such pressures; he even felt a sense of detachment.

Li Xu withdrew his gaze and gently clicked the mouse on his laptop.

The image on the large screen changed accordingly.

The original title, "Why Study Traditional Chinese Medicine?" shrank and moved to the upper-left corner.

In the center of the screen, three parallel sub-topics appeared.

First: To make a living and earn money.

Second: Out of interest and passion.

Third: For responsibility and ideals.

Seeing these three blunt options, a stir went through the students below the stage. Many even lowered their heads in embarrassment.

When Dean Ai saw these three options, he couldn’t help but chuckle. He whispered to Director Liang beside him:

"These three reasons are summarized quite realistically. He hit the nail right on the head."

"The first, to make a living and earn money, is very down-to-earth and hits a sore spot. The second, for interest and passion, is very subjective and the source of motivation. The third, for responsibility and ideals... now that is the mindset of a Great Physician."

Director Liang nodded and replied in a hushed voice, "Yes, Dean. In truth, no matter how much we emphasize medical ethics here at the school, the vast majority of people who apply to medical college are aiming for that first goal."

"Whether they study Chinese or Western medicine, to put it bluntly, they study medicine to get a good job after graduation. A doctor’s salary might not make you rich, but in society, it’s considered a stable and relatively respectable profession that guarantees a steady income. Especially in a third-tier city like ours."

"Exactly." Dean Ai looked at Li Xu on the stage. "These three reasons are like a pyramid. Those who aim for the first reason form the base, the vast majority. Those who can persevere because of the second reason are the backbone. And those who can truly practice medicine to save the world for the third reason... they are as rare as a phoenix feather."

"I’m quite interested to hear how this young man they call a Divine Physician will interpret these three levels."

...

On the big screen, the three sub-topics Li Xu had put forth enlivened the atmosphere in the seminar room.

This straightforward and unpretentious opening broke the dull monotony of previous rigid, academic lectures.

Soon, a young man in the front row wearing black-framed glasses raised his hand.

"Go ahead, junior," Li Xu said politely, making a welcoming gesture.

The young man stood up and said, "Excuse me, Senior Li Xu, since you put ’to make a living and earn money’ first, what was your real reason for choosing to study medicine—and specifically, Chinese medicine—in the first place?"

The question was very direct, even a little sharp.

The students below the stage all perked up their ears.

"Initially, it really was just to earn money, to have a steady job."

Li Xu answered frankly, without any reservation. "My father is a doctor who worked at the community level his entire life. In his eyes, being a doctor is a trade—a stable and respectable way to make a living, with a guaranteed income. So, he always hoped I would get into medical school, inherit his clinic one day, and have the means to build a life for myself."

These honest words made many students from ordinary families in the audience nod in silent agreement.

Who wasn’t just working for a paycheck, after all?

"Senior Li Xu, you emphasized the word ’initially.’ Does that mean your thinking has changed since then?"

The young man didn’t sit down but continued to press the issue.

"I’ll answer that question in a moment."

Li Xu smiled and gestured with a downward press of his hand, indicating for the student to sit down first.

Then, he glanced at the screen behind him and said, "Perhaps in your eyes, these three reasons—’making a living,’ ’passion,’ and ’ideals’—are separate, fragmented, or even in conflict with one another. But in my view, they are actually one and the same, part of a progression. They aren’t isolated."

Hearing this, the student nodded thoughtfully. He didn’t ask any more questions and obediently sat back down.

Li Xu turned to face the entire audience, his voice steady. "Let’s start with the first topic, then—making a living and earning money. To put it bluntly, can you support yourself by studying traditional Chinese medicine? Can you make money?"

"The truth is, since you’re all sitting here, you must have some understanding of the current employment landscape for medical professionals. The number of medical students graduating each year is staggering, and not every one of them can smoothly enter a top-tier hospital and land a glamorous job."

"Even for those who make it through the intense competition and land a hospital job, the income during the initial residency period isn’t actually that high. For anyone studying medicine, this is a long and arduous process of learning and endurance..."

Li Xu had actually spoken on this topic once before during an internal meeting at the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Speaking about it again from the podium of his alma mater, he was on familiar ground.

Of course, his state of mind and his insights were different from the first time he gave the speech. His understanding had deepened.

With the explosive improvement in his clinical skills over the past year, his broadening experience, and even the continuous expansion of his business ventures, Li Xu’s understanding of "TCM and Money" and "TCM and Society" was now worlds apart from that of the greenhorn who had just taken over a dilapidated clinic.

"The passionate, idealistic mindset we had when filling out our college applications is definitely different from the one you have now, sitting here and facing the pressure of graduation."