Japan’s medical associations are different from China’s. They have a strict hierarchical system, and the association’s decisions can influence the establishment.

However, it must be said that Japan’s Traditional Chinese Medicine industry is more developed than China’s, and the quality of their herbal medicine is better.

But when it comes to medical skill, China’s Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners are far superior to Japan’s. There is no doubt about that.

Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Japan really only began to appear in large numbers after the 1980s.

Around that time, a large amount of Kampo Medicine began to appear on the domestic market in China.

Don’t assume that all the Chinese patent medicines we take are domestically produced. On the contrary, many are developed by Japanese companies.

Kampo Medicine is, in essence, the standardized, assembly-line version of Chinese herbal medicine.

Currently, Japan accounts for 90% of the global market sales for Chinese herbal medicine, yet 90% of the raw materials are imported from China.

Back then, many Japanese people came to China to study.

And at that time, Xinglin Garden readily accepted them, because they brought technological innovations.

At that time, domestic capital in China was just beginning to sprout, while Japan in the ’80s and ’90s was famously said to be wealthy enough to buy the entire United States.

They had money and technology. After arriving at Xinglin Garden, they introduced a point system and placed great importance on talent.

This brought Xinglin Garden into the spotlight at the time.

Their goal was also quite simple: to obtain ancient formulas and rare Traditional Chinese Medicine books left behind in China, using points as the medium of exchange.

They needed to help build factories in China, contributing technology for equity, and then aggressively develop and expand Chinese medicine companies within the country.

They knew very well that the real market for Kampo Medicine was not the rest of the world, but China.

The global market was less than a tenth of the size of the domestic market in China, so they naturally understood where to focus their efforts.

But if you rashly enter the Chinese market, people won’t accept you.

The emergence of Xinglin Garden happened to solve this problem, becoming their bridge into the Chinese market.

From then on, Japan’s Han Medical Association also sent many outstanding Kampo practitioners to study at Xinglin Garden.

Compared to Japan, China still has a long way to go in integrating Chinese herbal medicine into daily life.

According to statistics, there are about 200 Kampo Medicine factories in Japan, producing over 2,000 types of Kampo preparations. Eighty-nine percent of Japanese doctors prescribe Kampo Medicine. Furthermore, nearly 80% of Japanese people believe it is very effective for treating chronic diseases, and 60% believe it can promote health and longevity.

Clearly, the Traditional Chinese Medicine known as Kampo Medicine has become the top choice for Japanese people in their daily combination of health preservation and disease prevention.

Meanwhile, in China, many well-known pharmaceutical companies have Japanese investors behind the scenes.

The largest shareholder of the famous Mouxing Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is a foreign institution, which also has Japanese backing.

Times have changed. One can no longer be confined by national borders; this is a global game that requires a broader perspective and a more open mind.

Professor Yamada’s trip, aside from academic exchange, had a more important purpose: to observe and learn up close, and perhaps even replicate the miracles created by Li Xu.

...

At 9:00 AM, the atmosphere in the conference room of the Feng City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine was both lively and solemn.

Director Zhu from the City Health Commission, his face beaming, stood at the podium delivering a passionate welcoming speech.

Below the stage, the members of the international medical exchange delegation, led by Professor Yamada, sat properly to one side.

Though they came from different countries and had various skin tones, they all wore polite smiles and had simultaneous interpretation devices in their ears.

Dean Song accompanied them, while Li Xu sat slightly off to the side, his expression calm.

He had been through many award ceremonies and met many industry titans.

Faced with such a scene, he had long since learned to remain unfazed.

After the welcoming ceremony, it was time for pleasantries.

Professor Yamada locked onto Li Xu almost immediately.

He walked straight toward Li Xu.

As a professor of Kampo medicine, Professor Yamada’s Chinese was excellent—exceptionally fluent.

After all, without proficiency in Chinese, one’s understanding of classical Chinese medicinal formulas would be inaccurate.

"Dr. Li Xu, I’ve heard so much about you."

"I’ve heard your name even in Japan. The Chinese patent medicines you’ve developed are particularly astonishing—truly a case of working miracles."

Li Xu stood up, shook his hand politely, and smiled. "Professor Yamada, you flatter me. It’s just a few minor tricks, nothing worth mentioning. In fact, there is much we can learn from Japan’s Kampo medicine in the areas of purification and standardization."

"Not at all, not at all. Kampo originates from Traditional Chinese Medicine; we have merely learned the basics."

Although Professor Yamada’s words were humble, a hint of barely perceptible arrogance gleamed in his eyes. "For the next few days, I’ll be in your care, Dr. Li."

"I wouldn’t dare presume to instruct you. Let’s just call it a mutual exchange," Li Xu replied, neither servile nor overbearing.

After the simple pleasantries, the substantive part of the exchange began.

According to the schedule, the delegation was to tour the hospital’s various departments and discuss clinical cases.

To put it bluntly, this kind of "medical exchange" was just joint rounds and consultations.

It was also the most direct and hardcore way for doctors to compete.

As the saying goes, there is no first in scholarship, but there is no second in combat.

A doctor’s skill is proven at the patient’s bedside.

Dean Song had originally arranged to discuss a few classic cases in the conference room, but Professor Yamada took the initiative and proposed, "Dean Song, the true essence of medicine lies in clinical practice. Could we go directly to the wards? It would be best to see some of the more difficult cases. That way, we can get a more direct sense of the prowess of China’s doctors."

His words were somewhat aggressive. If they refused, it would make the Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine look like it lacked confidence.

If they agreed, and then failed to treat the patient, they would lose face in front of their international guests, which would be a terrible embarrassment.

Dean Song hesitated and subconsciously glanced at Li Xu.

Li Xu gave a slight nod, indicating it was fine.

’I’d also like to see what this titan of Japan’s Kampo medicine world is really made of,’ he thought.

And so, the large group proceeded to the intensive care unit.

Most of the patients here were critically ill, some having even been given a "death sentence" by doctors.

As soon as they entered a room, a thick smell of medicine and a distinct, stale odor hit them.

Li Xu’s gaze was immediately drawn to a bed by the window.

He walked toward the old man.

The patient, Zhang Weiyuan, looked to be in his seventies or eighties. Emaciation and pain had made even this man of iron will appear gaunt and worn.

He had been lying in this hospital bed for nearly a year.

According to his case file, the patient’s illness had begun in the spring. By now... he had lost forty-four pounds.

Suddenly, the patient opened his mouth. "Ah... ah..."

"Whe... where..."

"Don’t touch me."

His voice was weak and low, like the grating sound of a worn-out bellows.

His face had a seemingly flushed color. His eyes and jaw were clamped shut, his neck was stiff, and his limbs were rigid and convulsing.

In that state, it was as if his entire body was being squeezed tight by an invisible rope, causing immense pain.