Upon arrival at the department, the director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, Jin Junshan, was very enthusiastic and took Bai Xiao to the office.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine department was still not a main department, and no Military District Hospital would consider Traditional Chinese Medicine as the main treatment modality.
The conditions here were even more rudimentary, probably because it was located in a remote area.
"Everyone, please pause for a moment. This is our new Acupuncture specialist in the Traditional Chinese Medicine department, Doctor Bai Xiao. Her acupuncture treatment is quite renowned, which I believe you might have already heard about. From now on, Doctor Bai Xiao will work in our Acupuncture department, and she is also a chief physician. Please get acquainted with her. From this point forward, she is our colleague, and we should cooperate with each other and take good care of our new comrade," Jin Junshan introduced her to everyone.
"These two are our Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners, Li Xiangqian and Wang Zhi’an, who are the backbone of our department. We don’t have many people; their skills in acupuncture are weaker. In our hospital, acupuncture is not used as a treatment modality, so they have less experience in this area. However, now that Doctor Bai has joined us, and she is proficient in acupuncture therapy but less experienced in Traditional Chinese Medicine pulse diagnosis, we will complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses from now on and cooperate together to enhance the reputation of our hospital’s Traditional Chinese Medicine department. Let’s welcome Comrade Bai Xiao."
Everyone immediately applauded.
Bai Xiao bowed to everyone, "Hello everyone, thank you! I’m Bai Xiao, and I’ll be in your care from now on. If there are any shortcomings in my work, please point them out. I will do my best to learn from all of you."
Li Xiangqian looked at Bai Xiao and smiled, "Doctor Bai, don’t be modest. We all know about your feats at the front lines, where your acupuncture as a substitute for anesthesia almost became legendary. Now that you’re here, let’s all learn from one another. Doctor Wang and I are, to put it bluntly, completely clueless when it comes to acupuncture. We hope that we can work well together in the future."
He warmly shook hands with Bai Xiao.
Doctor Wang Zhi’an also hurried over to greet Bai Xiao.
"Hello! Doctor Bai, welcome to our hospital. You see, our department is full of guys, and now we finally have a young lady on board. With you joining us, our work will surely be more vigorous. There’s a saying, isn’t there, that men and women working together will be less tired." Doctor Wang, in his forties, looked very amiable and was an outgoing person.
Jin Junshan nodded, "Alright, now that everyone is acquainted, let’s get to work. Bai Xiao, we have limited resources here, so you’ll share a consultation room with Doctor Li. Doctor Wang, you’ll share with me. Oh, and the acupuncture bed is also in your consultation room since there’s a suite inside specifically made into a space for acupuncture for Doctor Bai. Let’s start working."
He clapped his hands, and everyone immediately got to their respective places.
Li Xiangqian said to Bai Xiao, "Doctor Bai, I’ll have a nurse take you to get your work clothes in a bit."
Bai Xiao nodded her head.
She soon received two white coats, and her changing room was also in the acupuncture room.
The first day of work went by quickly.
Because the acupuncture technique had never been introduced in their hospital before, most patients were unaware of it, so Bai Xiao mostly had nothing to do, which reminded her of her time at The Ninth Hospital in the provincial city. It seemed that an overnight success was needed here as well; otherwise, good wine needs no bush.
Lunch was also at the hospital cafeteria, where everyone had meal tickets, and Bai Xiao no longer had any special privileges.
However, the food at the hospital was decent, with two dishes, one soup, and an unlimited amount of staples.
Looking at the busy Li Xiangqian and Wang Zhi’an, Bai Xiao felt her own idleness, but there was nothing she could do; her expertise was in acupuncture, and she knew nothing else.