Chapter 132: Those Years of Forced Pretension

Qin Tian’s blunt remarks left Wu Hairong completely dumbfounded. It took him a long while to process what had happened.

"Did you just call me a scumbag?" Wu Hairong stared at him, his voice filled with disbelief.

He was a professor who had returned from overseas! A full professor at the age of just thirty-three! To reach such a rank by thirty-three was practically unprecedented; throughout history, few could claim such a feat. Consequently, everywhere Wu Hairong went, he was met with awe and flattery. When had he ever been subjected to such humiliation?

"Do you understand now what true humiliation feels like?" Qin Tian shrugged. If someone dared to look down on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), then he would insult them right back—so what?

Qin Tian didn’t expect everyone to affirm TCM; it wasn’t flawless. Compared to Western medicine, its most obvious "drawback" was the slow speed at which results were seen. Another "drawback" was that to truly master TCM, one needed ten to twenty years of accumulation; without that, one was merely scratching the surface. They might handle minor ailments, but for serious illnesses, they would be useless, ultimately relying on Western medicine for surgery.

This was why TCM was "declining" and why fewer people were studying it—the return on investment was too low. One had to make a living, right? Who had the time to spend so many years studying it? Did one not need to make money? This was also why most TCM practitioners today were elderly, leading people to habitually call it "Old TCM." The "old" prefix was a natural reflection of a social phenomenon. Furthermore, people weren't necessarily willing to let a young person treat them, fearing they hadn't learned enough.

Western medicine was different. It was like following a formula: once the theoretical knowledge was mastered, treatment relied entirely on drugs and equipment. Aside from the experience required for surgery, other aspects could essentially be "mass-produced."

"How dare you insult me! Do you know who I am?" Wu Hairong was practically exploding with rage.

"Who are you?" Qin Tian asked with a look of confusion.

"I am Wu Hairong!" he declared loudly.

"What? Wu Hairong?"

"The youngest full professor?"

"The medical genius who became a Level Two professor at only thirty-three?"

The crowd erupted in murmurs, turning their heads to look at Wu Hairong in astonishment. It was clear that his reputation in the medical circle was quite formidable.

"Hello, Dr. Wu. I’m the vice president of XX Hospital. May I ask which domestic hospital you are currently affiliated with?"

"Greetings, Dr. Wu! I’m the chairman of XX Hospital. Would you be interested in holding a nominal position with us?"

"Dr. Wu, I sincerely invite you to come to our hospital for guidance!"

A group of sycophants rushed forward, extending olive branches, hoping to recruit him or invite him to provide guidance. Wu Hairong basked in this treatment and cast a smug glance at Qin Tian.

Qin Tian was somewhat surprised. Was this Wu fellow really that famous? But so what? Sun Simin was his own apprentice; what was this Wu Hairong worth?

"Do you know who I am now?" Wu Hairong said coldly.

"Oh, you're called Wu Hairong, right? I don't know you," Qin Tian shrugged.

Wu Hairong’s face twitched. This wasn't how the script was supposed to go. Shouldn't Qin Tian be staring at him in shock, then humbling himself to apologize and curry favor?

"Do you not grasp my status?" Wu Hairong signaled.

"What status?" Qin Tian feigned ignorance.

"I am a full professor! A Level Two professor! Shouldn't you be..." Wu Hairong raised his eyebrows at him.

"Should be what?" Qin Tian sneered inwardly.

"Shouldn't you pay your respects to me?" Wu Hairong blurted out.

"You want me to pay my respects to a 'sea turtle' (returnee)? Not interested." Qin Tian shrugged helplessly.

"Young man, how can you speak to Dr. Wu like that?" Someone immediately spoke up for Wu, hoping to win his favor. Wu Hairong was the hottest figure in the medical circle right now; building a rapport with him was a sure bet.

"That is truly uncalled for! You must show respect to your seniors!" another chimed in.

"Exactly! Apologize to Dr. Wu immediately! His achievements are beyond your imagination!"

"Your skills don't even compare to a single hair on his head!"

"Apologize! Young people today truly lack a sense of reverence!"

More and more people began to denounce Qin Tian. Watching this group of bootlickers, Qin Tian was speechless.

"He’s a senior?" Qin Tian asked coolly.

"Dr. Wu became a Level Two professor at thirty-three. Even if we don't count his current status, at your age, he had already crossed the threshold of being an associate professor. What have you achieved?"

"Doesn't that make him your senior?"

"When you see a senior, shouldn't you pay your respects?"

"Not paying respects is one thing, but to speak ill of him and insult him? What is your motive?" People continued to attack him with verbal accusations.

"If he hadn't insulted TCM first and then twisted the truth to claim I insulted him, would I have actually insulted him?"

"Besides, I think his comprehension skills are lacking. The 'insult' earlier was just for the sake of giving him an example." Qin Tian shrugged.

"But the fact remains that you insulted him! Apologize! And after apologizing, show Dr. Wu the proper etiquette for a junior!"

Qin Tian pricked up his ears and heard a familiar voice. He curled his lips into a smile. Etiquette, you say? Then I’ll give you all the etiquette you can handle!

"So, when meeting a senior, I must pay my respects? Even if the other person is younger than me?" Qin Tian asked.

"Of course! The capable are the first! Besides, Dr. Wu is older than you, kid!"

"Are you sure I must pay respects?" Qin Tian asked again.

"Of course!"

"Absolutely must pay respects?" Qin Tian asked a third time.

"You kid, why are you jabbering so much nonsense?"

"Then no backing out! Meeting a senior requires paying respects—those are your words! There’s a camera over there that has recorded everything perfectly," Qin Tian said, pointing to the security camera at the entrance.

The doctors who were siding with Wu Hairong suddenly wore strange expressions. They didn't understand why Qin Tian would say that, but they had a vague, unsettling feeling that something was wrong.

"Haha! Master... Qin Tian! I finally found you!" Sun Simin spotted Qin Tian in the crowd and ran over, his eyes lighting up with excitement. The word "Master" almost slipped out, but remembering Qin Tian’s warning not to expose their relationship, he forced it back down.

The surrounding doctors were stunned. Wasn't that the great physician from Jiangzhong, Old Sun, Sun Simin? How did he know this kid?

"Old Sun, no need to hide it. Tell them our relationship out loud!" Qin Tian said, lifting his chin with a touch of arrogance.

Sun Simin hesitated for a moment but then called out, "Master, may I ask what is the matter?"

The surrounding doctors gulped, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. *Master?* This young man was actually Sun Simin’s master? How was that possible?

Qin Tian straightened his back, looked at the doctors, and said coolly, "Alright, pay your respects. I am your senior, after all."

Qin Tian smirked. Who hadn't pulled a power move before?