Lin Jie and the An family father and daughter led Mr. Zhou and Zhou Xuehui to the banquet hall's reception area to sit down.

After the guests came to greet them and dispersed, Mr. Zhou didn't waste any time and straightforwardly stated the purpose of his visit: "I have a favor to ask."

Lin Jie responded very politely: "Mr. Zhou, you're too kind, there's no need to use the word 'ask'. The tonic you prescribed for me and my sister after taking our pulse, we've been taking it consistently, and the results are excellent."

He then asked, "Mr. Zhou, did you bring a medical record? Let me take a look and preliminarily understand it!"

Mr. Zhou chuckled lightly and said, "What I'm asking for this time isn't medical advice or prescriptions, but hoping Expert Lin could take on another student."

It wasn't a request for medical consultation, which surprised Lin Jie.

He pondered for a moment and said to Mr. Zhou: "I currently have fourteen students. I spend at least two days a week on them."

"Besides that, I also have to organize my own studies, review the latest published papers and monographs, conduct research, and take on one or two patients..."

Speaking to this point, Lin Jie glanced at An Kexin sitting beside him, held her hand, and said, "Naturally, each week, it's essential to carve out some time to spend with family and friends."

"Therefore, this time..."

He paused slightly and said frankly: "With the current fourteen students, I am somewhat overwhelmed. By next year, when Anlin Hospital begins operations, my time will be even more constrained."

"Mr. Zhou, I'm sorry, I've decided not to take on any new students for the time being."

Mr. Zhou's expression slightly froze, he hadn't expected his request to be declined.

At this moment, Zhou Xuehui spoke: "Lin Jie, you turned down such a student even without understanding their basic circumstances—is it because of me and Tingting?"

Lin Jie glanced at Zhou Xuehui and said calmly: "Aunt Zhou, as I mentioned, with my current students, I'm already struggling to manage."

"The decision not to take students is the same regardless of who it is, not directed at anyone specifically."

Zhou Xuehui wanted to speak but was stopped by Mr. Zhou with his gaze.

"Teaching students requires substantial mental and time investment. Expert Lin's decision not to take many students is responsible for the students. I agree and admire this point."

"Anlin Hospital is about to begin operation next year..."

At this point, Mr. Zhou scanned An Weize and An Kexin, speaking slowly: "Our Zhou family plans to open a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in the Phoenix Mountain District."

"Right now, we're considering whether to open it independently or collaborate with the hospital to establish a Chinese medicine department."

Upon hearing this, An Weize and An Kexin exchanged a glance, knowing that this was the exchange offer from the Zhou family.

Apart from having dedicated Chinese medicine hospitals, comprehensive hospitals in China typically have Chinese medicine departments.

The Zhou family's Jian'an Hall, a traditional Chinese medicine establishment in Binhai, is widely recognized.

Daily, patients flock there for consultations, prescriptions, and health maintenance, with queues often forming.

However, due to the Zhou family's heritage with strict rules of not passing the skills to outsiders and only passing from male to male, only a few doctors sit there, making expansion difficult.

If collaboration with the Zhou family could establish a Chinese medicine clinic within Anlin Hospital, their reputation alone would attract many patients.

Both An Weize and An Kexin were intrigued, yet they knew this decision wasn't theirs to make.

At present, they silently looked at Lin Jie, waiting for his decision.

After a moment of silence, Lin Jie spoke: "Both I and Anlin Hospital would very much welcome the opportunity to establish close cooperation with the renowned Zhou family of traditional Chinese medicine."

"But admitting another student..."

Lin Jie earnestly said: "Mr. Zhou, let me level with you. This cohort of fourteen students is likely the largest I will ever take in simultaneously, and in the future, the number of students will only decrease."

"Ultimately, the number learning by my side should stabilize at about four to five."

"Mr. Zhou, I'm truly sorry."

Disappointment flashed in Mr. Zhou's eyes. After a brief silence, he softly said: "Expert Lin, if I understand correctly, you intend to continue nurturing students long-term?"

Lin Jie nodded, saying: "That's correct, I've been fortunate enough to excel in my studies. Besides treating patients, I also hope to achieve something in medical research, and my greatest aspiration is to cultivate several competent doctors."

"Four to five is the maximum number I can thoroughly nurture while balancing various aspects."

"Now these fourteen students..."

Lin Jie shook his head and said, "In terms of their education, to be honest, I'm not very competent."

"Firstly, I don't have much teaching experience, and secondly, there are just too many of them."

"I can only provide them with a broad-strokes education, get a general understanding of their strengths, weaknesses in knowledge, hobbies, and interests, casually assign a reading list, and have weekly talks for supervision."

"Actually, the main factor is still their own consciousness and diligence."

If the professors at Binhai University Medical School heard this, they'd probably want to hit their heads against a wall out of shame.

This education that Lin Jie claims is incompetent has, in the teaching evaluation at the medical college, resulted in the fourteen students he has taught growing at such a pace that they absolutely surpass their peers.

As for Lin Jie's last words, "The main factor is their consciousness and diligence," they can't be said to be wrong.

It's just that diligent and self-aware students can be found at every university.

However, like Lin Jie, to accurately grasp each student's knowledge structure, use one's own comprehensive knowledge reserve to guide students on a towering path of growth, and provide guidance and correction from time to time, is indeed rare.

At this point, An Kexin spoke up, "Old Master Zhou, though Lin Jie is accepting fewer and fewer students under his wing."

"But after Anlin Hospital opens, he will frequently provide comprehensive teaching to doctors of all levels at the hospital through teaching surgeries, case discussions, consultations, and large-class teaching sessions."

"Anyone with a willing heart at Anlin Hospital can receive guidance from Lin Jie from time to time, and this is not much different from the treatment that his students get."

Lin Jie glanced at An Kexin, thinking to himself, how much do you want to establish a cooperative relationship with the Zhou Family, this is clearly a bluff.

But Old Master Zhou nodded slightly, agreeing, "What you said is true, working alongside Expert Lin always imbues one with some inspiration. Moreover, being close to advantage, the opportunity to become Expert Lin's student is much greater."

After saying this, he looked at An Weize and said, "Chairman An, regarding the specifics of outpatient cooperation, in the coming days, I'll let Xiao Wu discuss it with you..."

An Weize was briefly stunned before suppressing his inner delight and expressed, "Being able to further cooperate with the Zhou Family is an honor for Anlin Hospital, rest assured, Old Master, we will approach this cooperation with utmost sincerity."

Old Master Zhou smiled and said, "I am also looking forward to our cooperation being a success."

At that moment, several distinguished guests arrived at the banquet hall.

Old Master Zhou considerately said, "Expert Lin, President An, you go attend to the guests; we will be at leisure."

After Lin Jie and the An father and daughter left to excuse themselves, Zhou Xuehui couldn't help but ask, "Dad, isn't our family inclined to open a Jian'an Hall branch on our own? Besides, Lin Jie hasn't agreed to accept my younger brother as a student, why do we still want to cooperate with Anlin Hospital?"

Old Master Zhou sighed softly and said, "As the Zhou Family has developed to this point, although it appears prosperous, it's already losing its momentum. If we don't make some changes, we will be eventually eliminated by society."

"Ziyan was clever from a young age, and as soon as he began recognizing words, he learned medicine from me."

"When his medical skills were somewhat refined, he chose to attend a medical college to study Western medicine, which at the time I wasn't too supportive of, but now it seems Ziyan's choice was indeed correct."

"Assimilating the strengths of Western medicine to integrate it comprehensively can better improve and promote our Zhou Family's medical skills."

Zhou Xuehui remained puzzled and asked, "Dad, I know somewhat of what you mentioned, but why insist on having Lin Jie as a teacher? In Binhai, and nationwide, there are many highly skilled Western medicine doctors. Why must it be him?"

"You also know about Tingting and his past relationship, Dad."

Old Master Zhou slowly shook his head and said, "Ah Hui, perhaps you haven't realized the level of Lin Jie's medical skills."

"I have inquired with a few old friends who practice Western medicine, and they told me that Lin Jie's proficiency in brain surgery, cardiac surgery, general surgery, ophthalmic surgery, and plastic surgery, if not world-leading, is among the world's top level."

"The most crucial aspect is that Lin Jie is a generalist, with no apparent weaknesses."

"This gives him a significant advantage that other specialist doctors don't have, not just a one plus one greater than two advantage, but even greater than five, greater than ten."

"What Ziyan needs is an outstanding generalist teacher, and from this perspective, Lin Jie is Ziyan's only choice for a teacher."

"I believe, given Ziyan's excellence, Lin Jie will soon recognize it and accept him as a student."

Old Master Zhou took a sip of warm water and continued, "These old friends also said that Lin Jie, in just over half a year, completed a research project and is currently working on another."

"Both of these research projects have significant pioneering significance and application prospects in the medical field. They unanimously believe it's a natural display of Lin Jie's outstanding comprehensive all-around strength."

Old Master Zhou earnestly remarked, "If Western general medicine is combined with traditional Chinese medicine, who knows what achievements might result..."

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