hermoses. Seeing that Dr. Xiao was inside, she was momentarily stunned but quickly became overjoyed as she said, "Doctor Xiao, you've come back to work"Xiao Yu nodded and said, "Yes! After resting for...Chapter 252: Grand Opening (Final)
At this moment, the people who came with Fangyuan looked at him with gratitude and a hint of reverence. They never expected that the unassuming Fangyuan would have such influence. It was clear that Chongguoqing had come specifically for this young doctor, and Fangyuan’s ability to arrange for this doctor to act as an usher outside showed their non-trivial relationship.
"The auspicious hour has arrived..."
Just as Xiao Yu and his friends were still chatting, a loud and clear voice suddenly echoed at the clinic door.
Hearing the Call King's shout, Xiao Yu quickly glanced at his watch to find out that it was almost eleven o'clock. He hurriedly walked over and stood under the plaque, holding one end of the red cloth.
As the head of the Xiao family, only Xiao Yu could be the one to unveil the plaque for Wansheng Hall; no one else had the right or qualifications to do so.
"The auspicious hour has arrived. Auspicious opening, everything auspicious, now unveiling..." The Call King loudly announced once again.
As soon as the Call King's voice rang out, Xiao Yu gently pulled down on his side of the red cloth covering the plaque at the entrance, and it fell gracefully to reveal the sign.
All present turned their gaze towards the plaque above the door. Particularly Xiao Jianying and Elder Yue had tears in their eyes as they watched this moment. This marked Wansheng Hall's return to prominence within the medical community, but there was still a long road ahead for its development and prosperity.
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The clinic door erupted with enthusiastic applause at the exact instant when Xiao Yu pulled down the red cloth.
"Today marks the official opening of my family’s Wansheng Hall. The 'Wansheng' in Wansheng Hall signifies 'to save all lives.' Today, I, Xiao Yu, will carry on our ancestors’ legacy and bring glory to the Xiao name!"
Standing under the plaque at his clinic's entrance, Xiao Yu looked around at those gathered and said with a deep yet powerful voice.
A moment later, he continued: "At noon today, I will be hosting a modest dinner in honor of all present at Fuhua Hotel."
Upon finishing his speech, Xiao Yu walked down the steps. The grand opening ceremony was now complete. This simple ceremony adhered to the ancestral rules of the Xiao family, which stipulated that clinics should have simple openings because elaborate ceremonies might give the impression that they were hoping for people to fall ill.
"Mr. Fang and Wei Jun, you are familiar with this place. Please guide everyone over to Yilan Hall; I will be there shortly!
Xiao Yu told Fangyuan and Wei Jun, who were familiar with the local terrain and knew where the Fuhua Hotel was, to help lead people there.
"All leaders, please..."
Fangyuan and Wei Jun gestured forward with their hands and said. After speaking, both of them pushed through the crowd and drove over, parking by the roadside.
Fangyuan's friends, Jin Xianglin's friends, and Zhong Tao followed along. Xiao Yu had forcibly arranged for Zhong Tao and his group to go ahead and assist in welcoming guests.
Finally, only those relatives and acquaintances familiar with Xiao Yu were left behind. After tidying up a little, they all accompanied Xiao Yu to the restaurant.
Fortunately, Xiao Yu had reserved several extra tables; otherwise, there wouldn't have been enough seats for everyone. Although these people crowded into a small hall, none of them complained.
After dinner, most of those who came to congratulate had left, leaving only close relatives and intimate acquaintances. Song Hushan also departed with Zhang Dahai; they went to the Armed Police Brigade, where Song Hushan was waiting for Zhang Dahai's big pot dishes!
In the end, only Xiao's family and his in-laws returned to Xiao Yu’s clinic.
At the clinic, Xiao Yu handed over the lunch box he held to Liu Erxi, who had volunteered to stay behind as a guard. As Liu Erxi took the initiative to ask for it, Xiao Yu ordered two dishes and some dry rations for him at the restaurant.
Xiao Yu brought out two tables from inside and placed them outside.
"Erxi, go get that banner behind the medicine cabinet!" Xiao Yu instructed Liu Erxi after setting up the tables.
“Mm.”
Liu Erxi answered with a humph and ran into the house. Soon enough, he came out holding a red banner. Xiao Yu stretched it out and climbed onto the table to hang it at the entrance together with Liu Erxi. The banner only read one word: 'Free Clinic.'
After hanging up the banner, they moved the tables back inside. Initially, Xiao Yu had planned to conduct free medical consultations outside; however, as winter approached, even in the south, cold gusts would blow.
The old man-in-law and Xiao Hongyang didn't have such robust health as he did. As a Heavenly Master, Xiao Yu was unfazed by the chill, but for Xiao Hongyang and others, it posed quite a burden, especially since the old man-in-law was already over seventy and couldn’t stay out long.
Since Xiao Yu hung up the banner for his free clinic, several elderly men and women have been loitering outside his door. These elders were just walking around at the entrance without entering.
Xiao Yu and others watched from inside but did not go out to invite people in. This was also a rule of the Xiao family; if someone wanted medical treatment, they would come on their own accord and should not be forced upon. Besides, if you invited people when they were fine, those with suspicious minds might think that you wished them ill health! Therefore, the Xiao family clinic had never actively invited patients in.
After these elders loitered around for a while, only one elderly person walked in and asked, "Your free clinic doesn’t charge money, right"
"Of course not, sir. How could a charity clinic charge money!" Xiao Yu chuckled lightly as he looked at the elder.
"What about medicine Do you charge for medicine" The elderly person asked again after hearing what Xiao Yu said.
"Medicine... Medicine is charged for..." Xiao Yu thought for a moment and replied. If today's clinic was giving out free medicines, he would run out of supplies no matter how many he had.
"Ah, it’s always like this! They find ways to sell medicine and deceive people!"
The elderly person sighed and said, then started to walk away.
Hearing the elder's words, Xiao Yu was taken aback and asked, "Sir, what exactly is going on How did we deceive you by selling medicine in different ways If you need medicine, I can prescribe it for you. You are free to buy them wherever you wish! No one forces you!"
Although Xiao Yu was puzzled about why the elder thought so, he still explained.
"Oh, do you really mean it"
The elderly person stared at Xiao Yu with disbelief in his eyes after hearing what Xiao Yu said, not blinking as he waited for an answer, as if trying to look into his soul.
Xiao Yu nodded.
Seeing that, the elderly person finally looked away and left Wan Sheng Tang.
The confusion remained on Xiao Yu's face when the elder walked out. Xiao Hongyang seemed to have noticed Xiao Yu’s bewilderment and explained it for him.
Xiao Hongyang had encountered similar situations when he went out for free clinics before. Later, to understand why these elderly people were so distrustful of such activities, Xiao Hongyang learned the truth through various inquiries.
It turned out that some small or shady clinics would exploit the guise of a free clinic and exaggerate patients' conditions many times over.
When prescribing medicine, they claimed to have unique secret recipes available nowhere else and guaranteed cure upon taking their medicines. However, if anything went wrong with medications from elsewhere, these clinics wouldn't take responsibility. Out of helplessness, most elderly people would eventually get medication from such shady clinics, which often cost hundreds or even thousands.
Elderly folks who had lived through hard times in their youth were very thrifty and frugal. Moreover, quite a few among them believed in traditional Chinese medicine.
But when they visited for common colds or fever, the cost of one prescription often reached hundreds to thousands, leaving them financially drained even after recovery.
This was why many elderly people harbored skeptical attitudes toward free clinics offered by current TCM institutions.
Xiao Yu listened thoughtfully as Xiao Hongyang shared his insights and observed those elderly folks outside. He knew that these unscrupulous medical establishments took advantage of the elderly's tendency to be thrifty yet trusting of traditional Chinese medicine, readying sharp knives for them. This explained why these elders lingered around the clinic doors rather than entering.
The old man who had just left approached those elderly folks and pointed at Wan Sheng Tang as if recounting something important.
Soon after, under the old man's guidance, these seniors returned to Xiao Yu’s clinic. Earlier, Xiao Yu had discussed with Professor Ye that today’s free clinic would be handled entirely by Xiao Hongyang. He wanted to gauge his medical skills through this event.
Xiao Yu arranged plenty of chairs for them, so when the elders arrived, they all sat on the chairs and lined up patiently.
The first person in line was that old man. Members of the Xiao family, Professor Ye, and Bai Jing watched beside him; none would offer any advice or comments today regarding Xiao Hongyang’s diagnosis. They wanted to see his true capabilities.
Xiao Hongyang knew that both Xiao Yu and his father were watching him closely. He understood this was a test from his father. Although Professor Ye said Xiao Yu's medical skills were comparable to his, Xiao Hongyang believed it was an intentional exaggeration. He didn't think someone so young could match up with his father.
Traditional Chinese medicine required abundant experience, not just natural talent. Talent merely indicated quick learning ability; without practical experience, everything amounted to nothing more than mirages and reflections in water.
Just like the case of Xiao Yu in the past: He had good innate talent but what use was that His maternal grandfather made him memorize all theories, yet if he hadn't inherited Judge Zhong's medical expertise, he'd still be struggling as a medic in an antiques market clinic.
Even if Xiao Yu started seeing patients from childhood every day, could he surpass Professor Ye who had practiced for over five decades Hence, in Xiao Hongyang’s view, the praise about Xiao Yu having equal medical skills was merely flattery.the black-clad man who had given him the card and paused for a moment. Then, recalling that these people were likely Zhang Dahan’s hired guards to protect him, his heart warmed slightly at the thought...