Chapter 308 - The Depressed Jiangnan Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2/2)

“Okay, it’s a unanimous vote!” Gao Fengwen turned to Qin Haodong and said, “President Qin, from now on, you are in charge of the association and I can officially retire.”

“I… I… ”

Before he knew it, Qin Haodong had joined the association of TCM and become the president.

“Gaolao, this is not right. It’s really not right. You have a high prestige, so the position should remain yours. Don’t embarrass me!”

Gao Fengwen’s smile disappeared. Then, he sighed and said, “Doctor Qin, to tell you the truth, I don’t deserve the title of president.

You are aware of the situation of TCM. In order to revitalize traditional Chinese medicine, old men like us gathered to set up the association so that the treasure passed down by our ancestors wouldn’t die out in our hands.

However, nine years have passed. Although we have worked hard, we have achieved very little. TCM had still been on the decline every day until you gave us hope.

I’m not being modest. I’m just old and have limited energy and a rigid mind. You have excellent medical skills and strong ability, so I think the position of the president could only be yours. Only under your leadership can TCM be revitalized.”

Upon speaking of this, Gao Fengwen stood up and bowed deeply before Qin Haodong. “My family has been engaged in TCM for generations, and TCM is the treasure of our nation. No one here wants to see this heritage destroyed during our generation. That would make us feel ashamed to meet our ancestors after death.

Doctor Qin, I’m begging you, for the sake of the future of traditional Chinese medicine, take this position! ”

After he said that, led by Zhong Sihai and Shen Xiangfu, the whole room of TCM doctors bowed before Qin Haodong and cried, “Doctor Qin, for the sake of Chinese medicine, please take this post!”

As he looked at these gray-haired old people, Qin Haodong’s heart was full of emotion. Although TCM was declining day by day, these people were still working and struggling!

“Since you all trust me so much, I will not refuse anymore,” said Qin Haodong, “I promise you that from this day on, I will do my best to revitalize traditional Chinese medicine. As long as I live, I will fight for the cause of traditional Chinese medicine and never regret it! I will never flinch!”

“Never regret! Never flinch!”

All the old Chinese doctors present, who were excited by his words, exclaimed in unison.

After the new president was elected, everyone sat down again. Then, Gao Fengwen told Qin Haodong, “President, please take the floor.”

“There’s no hurry. Tell me about our Chinese Medicine Association first,” Qin Haodong said, “Mr. Gao, the purpose of establishing the association is to develop traditional Chinese medicine. What have we done for this goal?”

Gao Fengwen said, “Two main activities are carried out by our association. First, we provide free clinic for the common people on a regular basis to expand the influence of traditional Chinese medicine. Second, the association conducts internal exchanges on treatment experiences on miscellaneous difficult diseases.”

Qin Haodong nodded and asked, “That’s all? Nothing else?”

“We have only done this much at present,” said Gao Fengwen, looking slightly embarrassed.

Qin Haodong sighed. No wonder the Chinese Medicine Association had not developed much after so many years. They hadn’t found the direction for development at the root.

It was good to provide free clinic for the common people, yet it was far from revitalizing traditional Chinese medicine.

This was not the place for internal exchange. In the field of TCM, one loved what was his own. It was okay to exchange experiences with each other, but no one was willing to share their unique skills, which eventually led to the gradual loss of some unique skills and secret prescriptions.

“Mr. Gao, how many people are there in our association?” he asked.

“78 in total!”

“How many TCM doctors are there in Jiangnan City?”

“About 300 people have registered at the Sanitary Bureau and obtained the Certificate of Medical Practice,” Gao Fengwen said.

“Oh! Only 78 out of the 300 Chinese doctors have joined in,” Qin said, “The coverage of our association is not high enough.”

Shen Xiangfu said, “Yes, there are not many people in our association. There are several reasons for this.

On one hand, because the purpose of our association is to develop traditional Chinese medicine, we often provide free clinic services, which is unprofitable. Some doctors who only want to make money disagree with us and refuse to join us.

The five most famous clinics in the field of traditional Chinese medicine south of the Yangtze River are the longevity Drugstore of old Gao, the Rejuvenation Drugstore of old Zhong, the Xuanhu Drugstore of Fu Hailong, the Jishi Drugstore of Liu Baikun, and my Herbal Drugstore.

Three of the five clinic heads have come here. The other two are addicted to money. It has never occurred to them how they will make money if traditional Chinese medicine really goes down.”

Shen Xiangfu, who seemed very angry, calmed down and added, “There are also some people who are used to being alone and don’t want to join our organization.

In addition to the people who don’t want to join us, there are some people we don’t want to have. These people are not good enough. Their purpose for joining the association is to get rich and make use of the name of the association to deceive people and make money. Their motives are not pure. We directly reject such people.”

When he was finished, Qin Haodong basically understood the current state of the association.

While looking at the thoughtful Qin Haodong, Gao Fengwen said, “President Qin, you are young and flexible. What do you suggest for the future development of our association?”