The Physician of Traditional Medicine Returns from Murim

The evening after returning from the wedding, on Sunday.

‘Finished early for once.’

Hwang Sanghun completed his weekend duty earlier than usual. Perhaps due to sleeping soundly thanks to the medicine Han Yeowon prescribed, his mind was working exceptionally fast.

He finished the tasks his peer had postponed from the previous shift, his own duties, and even prepared for Monday’s conference. With a refreshed feeling, he left work.

‘…Sigh.’

But the moment he opened his front door and checked his mobile phone, Hwang Sanghun’s mood plummeted.

[Sanghun, are you having a good weekend? Thanks to your help last time, the conference went well. Actually…]

Once again, there was a message from the professor pawning off odd jobs.

Should he read it or not?

As Hwang Sanghun debated, closing his eyes tight and tapping the message.

[I heard from Seoyoung. You collapsed?]

Another message that had just arrived opened.

‘Father?’

It was his father, who never contacted him except for family events. He’d never shown concern before, but perhaps the news of his collapse worried him?

Hwang Sanghun chose his words carefully, intending to reply that he was fine.

[How can you neglect your health like this in your 20s? At your age, I was running marathons. You should have kept exercising with your brother.]

[Physical fitness is important for Korean medicine rehabilitation. Pull yourself together and act properly. You’re lucky it happened on a holiday; nothing good can come from appearing weak in front of professors and colleagues.]

But before he could type his reply, messages criticizing him arrived in succession.

While the professor’s request for odd jobs was merely irritating, his father’s words sparked intense displeasure.

‘Exercising with my brother? What ancient history is he talking about?’

It was from his early 20s. After passing the college entrance exam for a provincial Korean medicine university, he wanted to enroll, but his grandfather and father urged him to retake the exam, hoping he’d graduate from Korea University and become a professor.

And his second attempt scored even lower than the first.

To the depressed Hwang Sanghun, his brother said all this happened because he lacked grit. Throughout his third year of studying, he dragged him out for morning runs.

He’d quit as soon as he passed and entered the university his grandfather and father wanted, but they were still bringing it up.

[You must attend your grandparents’ wedding anniversary next month. Prepare accordingly. Grandfather has very high expectations for you.]

Reading the final message, Hwang Sanghun clutched his throbbing head.

Everything felt overwhelming.

‘No, there’s no need to get upset.’

The problem was having the absurd expectation that they would worry about him in the first place. His grandfather and father always wanted to mold Hwang Sanghun into their desired shape, and that would never change.

‘Calm down and take some Gyogamdan.’

– Grandfather, uncle, even Jihun oppa are all control freaks. I won’t live long if I keep listening to such nonsense!

That’s what his cousin, who became his classmate thanks to his third attempt at the exam, had said.

– They act like they own the world and know everything, but what can they really do? Just don’t listen and live however you want~

It was all true. Even if he strayed from their desired path or cut ties, nothing would happen.

Wasn’t it the same when he ended his relationship with Jo Haneul, whom he had reluctantly stayed close to for a long time?

After hearing Han Yeowon’s words the previous day, Hwang Sanghun had already made his decision.

– I actually acquired a clinic with spare consultation rooms in anticipation of hiring assistant directors!

Should he follow his father’s words? Can he defy them? Should he continue his training? Or should he look for a job?

Unlike him, who had only been thinking whether he should or shouldn’t, she had already succeeded in opening her clinic and was discussing expansion.

Though they competed with similar grades during school days, they now stood in completely different positions.

The sincerity and confidence in her prescription and treatment, offered out of concern for someone she could have easily ignored, would undoubtedly be conveyed to patients, backed by her skills.

How could she not succeed?

‘She must have prepared thoroughly.’

She had said it. That she would accept him as an assistant director even if he came tomorrow.

‘She might not be able to hire an assistant director right away… but it should be fine if I say I won’t take a salary.’

Of course, quitting midway now would burden his intern colleagues, but taking a year off after completing the internship should be okay.

There might not be a position to return to at Korea University, but if he’s willing to go to any provincial university, wouldn’t there be places that would accept him? If he becomes confident about opening his own practice, he doesn’t even need to return to the hospital.

Thinking about going to Busan made all his burdens feel lighter.

[I’m too busy to attend.]

Grandparents’ wedding anniversary? What grandson in the world keeps track of such things?

Hwang Sanghun sent just six characters to his father.

[I’m sorry, but I’ll be too busy with work.]

He also flatly refused the professor’s request to take on extra work.

In truth, there was no need to go to great lengths to impress anyone.

‘Whew.’

In an instant, his mind became at ease. His chest, which had felt so constricted, loosened.

Hwang Sanghun switched his phone to airplane mode, set just one alarm, and lay down on his bed.

He fell asleep comfortably just like that. No more unnecessary thoughts crossed his mind.

Both the medicine Han Yeowon prescribed and the path she suggested.

Everything was crystal clear.

◆◇◆◇◆

‘Ah, that was fun! I’m glad I went up for the wedding or whatever it was!’

The holiday in Seoul flew by like the wind. Before I knew it, the weekend had vanished while playing with Hwang Seoyoung, and I returned to the clinic on an early Monday morning flight, just in time for opening hours.

As soon as I got back, I had something to discuss with Seo In-ae.

The issue of whether we should increase staff, given that her workload was tight and patient numbers were continuously growing.

“Nurse, isn’t it very tiring going back and forth between the front desk and treatment room?”

I caught Seo In-ae during a lull and asked.

“Pardon? I’m fine. Was there a complaint due to my mistake?”

She turned to me, startled, while busily contemplating something as she placed an order for vending machine drinks on the computer.

“Not at all. You’ve always been perfect. But usually when things grow this much, people talk about hiring someone else, and it’s difficult for you to take time off.”

“Ah. If that’s the reason, I think it’s still premature.”

And she flatly rejected my suggestion.

“Isn’t it hard?”

“There’s still some fluctuation by date, so I don’t think it’s appropriate to increase fixed expenses yet. I recommend additional hiring when the average patient count exceeds 25 per day for three months, or when I judge that I can’t handle it alone after exceeding 40 patients in a day three or more times.”

“Oh…?”

Of course, adding one person’s salary would be a burden. Just looking at the numbers, it’s better to endure until maximum capacity but… is that okay from an employee’s perspective?

“If it increases only this month and decreases next month, we’d have to consider staff reduction. I’d rather work a bit harder and continue working with you, Doctor.”

“No, surely I wouldn’t reduce staff just because of a slight drop.”

Of course, once hired, I should take responsibility as much as possible! Moreover, even if I had to consider staff reduction due to months of deficit, there’s no way I’d cut Seo In-ae.

Where would I find such a competent employee?

“Of course you should!”

But Seo In-ae spoke firmly. Unlike me, who had grand goals but managed haphazardly, she was quite sharp.

“Do you know how important it is to cut costs! Increasing revenue isn’t everything. I heard Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic downstairs uses employees for 14 hours a week to avoid paying weekly holiday allowances. You should learn from that.”

“No, we shouldn’t follow such practices.”

“Your strategy of providing a generous base salary and plenty of incentives is good, Doctor. But it’s too idealistic. I work hard because it’s me, but do you know how Gen Z today’s 20-somethings are! If you’re going to do it this way, you should be prepared to cut them immediately when things don’t work out.”

I-is that so?

Even though she’s an employee at our clinic, her business mindset was American-level.

It felt strange for two people in their 20s to be talking about Gen Z.

“Alright. I’ll think more about additional hiring. But you must tell me immediately if it gets too hard.”

“Of course.”

I brought it up only to get thoroughly scolded by my employee.

Hmm, am I pushing too hard? I seem to remember that even hospitals with few patients had at least two nurse’s aides when I visited before. Even right before I took over, when it was on the verge of bankruptcy, they had two.

My memory was hazy since it had been over 20 years since I last visited another hospital.

‘Ah, come to think of it, Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic was right nearby, wasn’t it?’

Just down the hill… no, the slope, Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic’s Busan branch was right in front of the station. Patients complained so much about why the clinic was up in the mountains that even I started calling it a mountain.

They use employees for 14 hours a week? Using nurse’s aides like that would have more drawbacks than benefits; maybe they meant skin care therapists?

Long ago in high school, I once visited the Gangnam main branch wanting to see Director Choi Eunhee in person, but I suddenly became curious about how other franchise branches were operating.

‘Should I go spy?’

I later learned from my senior classmate and Hwang Seoyoung that people usually scout before taking over a practice. Since many clinics reveal the director’s face on their website, they send family or friends.

Since I had boasted about growing the clinic, it might be fun to go benchmarking, even if a bit late. I hadn’t uploaded any photos to my blog anyway, so I shouldn’t be recognized if I go myself.

I browsed Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic’s website and blog during lulls between patients.

With plenty of professional touches, it was filled with photos of quite handsome and beautiful Korean medicine doctors, and the interior design reeked of money.

As Seo In-ae had mentioned, it naturally appeared on the first page for search terms like “Busan diet Korean medicine clinic”.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Since I start early in the morning, Haneul Korean Medicine Clinic’s hours were a bit longer. If I go quickly, I should be able to see it today.

“Nurse~ Do you have sunglasses by any chance?”

“I do, but…?”

“Lend them to me for just one day. I’ll return them tomorrow right away.”

I suppose I need a bit of a disguise for spying, right?

I remembered the sunglasses Seo In-ae often wore when she went out during lunch breaks.

Ever since Kim Yijin recognized her, she had been using sunglasses or masks whenever she went to the school.

“Okay.”

“Oh, are they expensive?”

“No way.”

Hmm, I thought they were 1,000 won from Daiso. As expected, focused on function.

Seo In-ae gave me a slightly dubious look, but I finished preparing to leave.

This should be enough that they won’t remember me even if I upload my face to the blog later, right?

I had finished getting ready early and even turned off all the lights in the clinic, but…

…with 5 minutes left until closing time, a patient arrived.

“My shoulder and arm are killing me.”

“I’m sorry. We stop accepting patients 30 minutes before closing. Please come early tomorrow morning.”

“I said I’m dying of pain! You’re telling me to just go when I can’t sleep?”

“If you had come just a little earlier…”

“I came within your hours! I came straight here as soon as I finished work!”

Moreover, he even yelled at Seo In-ae, who told him registration was closed.

“Please let him in. Since you came late, we can’t do physical therapy, but I’ll quickly apply acupuncture to calm it down.”

I couldn’t turn away someone who said they were dying, so I accepted the patient. Seo In-ae quickly registered him while giving me a look that said not to go over working hours.

“I’m Kim Jinsang.”

Tsk, even his name sounds troublesome.

TN: In Korean, “진상 (Jin-sang)” has a dual meaning. While it can be a normal given name, it’s also a slang term with a negative connotation. Colloquially, “진상” is used to describe someone who is a troublemaker, overly demanding, or behaves in an unreasonable, disruptive manner. For example, a customer who causes a scene in public or is particularly difficult to deal with might be called a “진상.”