Doctor goes back to Joseon

Chapter 87: Advisor of Heo Jun [2]

 

The conversation with Heo Jun kept going.

Their chat was mostly about their knowledge of medicine.

Heo Jun was especially interested in hemorrhoids.

“You have cured the disease that plagued Lord Ryu Seongyong for a long time.

“Yes, I did.”

Ganghyuk remembered the days when he first arrived in Hanyang.

When he was invited by Lee Sunshin, he did not expect he would treat someone’s anus.

He did not imagine he would see his anus on the first day when he was introduced to the great hero, Ryu Seongyong.

He met Lee Hangbok there and was involved in a significant incident in history. The revolt of Jeong Yeorip.

‘All started from the anus.’

Ganghyuk laughed.

“Why are you laughing? Did I make any mistake?”

Heo Jun was serious as always.

His face showed his anxiety about making mistakes.

“No, no.”

Ganghyuk shook his head.

He changed the topic thereafter.

“Lord Ryu had bad hemorrhoids.”

“Yes, I heard so. I also heard he had to stay at home for a month because of that disease.”

“Yes, that is true, but now he is completely cured.”

‘If he does sitz bath regularly, he will not have suffered from it as long as it did. I did my best in the operation.’

“May I know what method of treatment you used?”

Ganghyuk nodded his head.

It was not a big trade secret.

He asked Yeoju to draw the treatment procedure in detail for this purpose.

He wanted to teach people.

If the student was Heo Jun, Ganghyuk would be gladdened to teach him.

“Good. I made materials for teaching.”

“Really. Then why don’t you…Well.”

Heo Jun wanted to go to Ganghyuk’s house right away, but he remembered Kyehan.

He was still sleeping.

He looked fine now, but he just barely escaped the threshold of death.

Heo Jun could not leave him alone.

Although he knew there was not much for him to do anyway…

Ganghyuk knew it well.

He was different from Ganghyuk who thought of himself first.

That was the reason why Ganghyuk liked Heo Jun so much.

“Take your time. I do not have anything special to do, so I will visit you frequently for a while.”

“Ah, I have some fellows who think the same way I do. Can we learn together?”

“Learn?”

“Yes.”

Heo Jun looked at the door.

He was cautious not to be heard from outside.

He continued with a softer voice.

“There are a lot of stubborn people here. If the news that you cured Kim Kyehan spreads, they will criticize you.”

“Criticize? Why? I saved his life.”

“You used a different method. They believe we need to keep with our tradition, the old method.”

“Heo”

Ganghyuk could not agree with this way of thinking.

To keep the old method in medicine? It’s an applied science needed to be updated every day.

What he had learned in the school was often proven wrong after a while.

Detailed guidelines might change every passing year.

Heo Jun nodded his head looking at the astounded Ganghyuk.

“Yes, it is nonsense, but this is what the senior doctors so…”

“Eum. Did I put you in trouble then? I’m afraid.”

“Haha. If he died, only then would I be in trouble. He survived, so there will no issues. At the moment, I have the highest position among all the doctors here.”

“Aha, that is good.”

A hierarchy was always important. Joseon was not an exception.

‘Yes, it is the same even in Joseon. No, maybe it is stronger here since Joseon is a strictly hierarchical society.’

Ganghyuk remembered his days as a professor in his world.

When he circulated around, at least two residents would follow him.

One would prepare the patients for his circulation and the other reported special things happening. This all happened while Ganghyuk saw through his outpatients, or if he was in the middle of an operation.

Ganghyuk walked as he listened to their explanation, nodding his head.

‘Well…It is not too bad either.’

He had some worries because of possibly committing treason.

However, most of the time he could do whatever he wanted.

He was quite satisfied with his life in Joseon.

He remembered the strong friends he now had and smiled with satisfaction.

“Now, you are a quite high-ranking official. Haha.”

“It is all because of the grace of the king. I was appointed as Cheomjeong (Grade 4) out of his Majesty’s mercy.”

“You deserve it, you’re a great doctor after all.”

“No, I am flattered. I am not so good at accepting compliments, especially from you.”

Heo Jun blushed as he laughed.

It was good to be respected by a great man from history.

“I will try to teach you well.”

“Yes, please.”

Ganghyuk looked at the fellows who were playing with their teacups, listening to their conversation.

Dolseok and Yeoni had quite an amazing skill considering the time they were together.

However, they were not formally trained, so they did not have basic knowledge.

Ganghyuk felt sorry for that since he wanted to nurture his followers.

‘It may be an excuse…Whenever I tried to teach them, an incident would occur.’

If he came to teach fellows in the Naeeuiwon, he wanted to teach Yeoni and Dolseok together.

“Can I let them learn in the class together?”

“Of course, we can learn at night, as it should be done in secrecy.”

“Night school. That is good, too. I see. Ah, he is waking up.”

Ganghyuk pointed Kyehan who raised his body with a stretch of his arms.

He woke up when they finished talking as if he knew when exactly he should wake up.

‘He became a subject of merit since he was quick-witted like that.’

King Seonjo was blamed a lot because he ran away, leaving his people behind.

However, as a servant, Kyehan did his job.

“I will take a look.”

“Please, do so.”

Ganghyuk came to the patient with Heo Jun.

He lied down again after coughing to remove the blood, he looked much better now.

His complexion returned.

“How is his breathing?”

“Eum. Not bad. I feel a bit of pain.”

“We cannot help that, your rib cage was broken after all.”

“I see.”

Kyehan looked at his right chest, frowning.

He could not see his wound because of the bandage, but he could guess the circumstance he’s in seeing his official uniform lying on the floor.

It was bloody and he saw a bit of it were torn too.

Ganghyuk placed the stethoscope on his right lung while Kyehan contemplated his status earlier.

“Heum. His breathing is not bad at all.”

The operation was made suddenly, but his status seemed to be doing well.

If he did not have any infections, he would not die.

‘Mayact will do in this world. It is the king of antibiotics.’

There were no virus that could survive Mayact.

Kyehan watched Ganghyuk using tools he had never seen before while Heo Jun watched Ganghyuk with respect.

“I do not know the name of my savior. I am Kim Kyehan, I am serving for the King as Sangchaek (Grade 4).”

Kim Kyehan opened his mouth as he raised his upper body.

He started coughing again because of the sudden movement he did with his body.

This time, there was no blood and the number of coughs he released lessen.

“Ah. I am Baik Ganghyuk.”

“Baik Ganghyuk? Are you the son of lord Baik Seungmun?

“Do you know my name?”

“Yes, your father treated me well. He was really a good man.”

Kyehan seemed to remember the days with Seungmun.

Ganghyuk did not want to bother him, so he waited without another word.

After some time, Kyehan laughed and held Ganghyuk’s hands.

“How can I repay you for this grace you’ve given me? I have been blessed by your father, and now, I have been blessed by you. Two generations.”

“I don’t think I can accept you calling me a grace. I just did what I have to do.”

“No. No. I will do my best to say good things about you when I have the opportunity to talk to the King.”

“Thank you.”

Ganghyuk shook his head to look humble, but he thought another thing in his mind.

It was lucky of him to treat Kyehan.

Kyehan would always be by the King’s side.

He would have many opportunities to talk about Ganghyuk.

If he were Sangseon (Grade 2), it would be better, but such great luck did not arise every day.

Sangchaek was in a good position as he was responsible for delivering books to the King.

He might be able to see him at least once a day.

‘It sure is a wise idea that I have an office now.’

If he was recommended to work at the Naeeuiwon, he would have a good colleague like Heo Jun.

In the palace, he had Gyehan.

In the government, he had Jeong Cheol, Lee Hangbok, and Ryu Seongyong.

He had many friends from different walks of life.

If he did not make a big mistake to King Seonjo, he would do great.

‘I am not confident that I won’t do strange things to Seonjo. Haha.’

He did not know what would be considered as something ‘not strange’ after all.

Ganghyuk was very satisfied with Kyehan’s response. Ganghyuk thought of him as his insurance.

“I am going. It is too late.”

“Yes, I will call you when I am ready.”

“Okay.”

Heo Jun saw him off, showing his determination to learn.

His determination was very strong indeed, and Ganghyuk had to start teaching the next day.

Ganghyuk looked at the people who filled half of the room.

In the first row stood six people–Heo Jun, Dolseok, Yeoni, Makbong, Yeoju, and an unknown man.

Ganghyuk did not expect more.

Ganghyuk thought Heo Jun and someone else would come.

However, the audience exceeded his expectation.

“More people came than I expected.”

“Yes. Acupuncture therapists want to learn. This one has the biggest passion.”

“Oh, really? What is your name?”

The acupuncture therapist who was just introduced bowed his head.

He was a slave, although he worked in the palace, so there was a big difference in class.

He showed great respect for Ganghyuk.

“I am Heo Im.”

“Heo Im?”

“Yes, right.”

“Heo. You are Heo Im.”

“Yes.”

When Ganghyuk repeated his name a few times, the man’s face darkened.

However, there was no reason for him to do.

Ganghyuk remembered a TV drama he saw in his world.

‘Drama is a drama…’

In that TV series, Kim Namgil (A representative Korean actor famous for his handsome face and tall body. He used to be a model.) was starred as Heo Im. However, in reality, he was short, stout, and an average looking man.

He did not see his acupuncture skills yet, but the figure itself was not comparable.

‘In that drama, Heo Im saved a man with acupuncture.’

However, the TV series did not represent fantasy, so he was quite astounded at the content.

Ganghyuk laughed and tapped his back for encouragement.

As there was a big difference in their bodies, the body of Heo Im was moved quite much.

“You have a good name. Now I will start the lecture.”

With that remark of Ganghyuk, everyone sat down.

He looked around the people and started teaching.

He had a good feeling he had not had for a long time.

‘I feel as if I were back to the life of a professor.’

Ganghyuk smiled and opened the book.

“Today, we will talk about the structure of the anus. Not many of you have seen it before.”