Chapter 193
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Yuhee's Triumphant Return
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Seol Yuhee really showed up for work as usual the day after taking her college entrance exam.
"Director!"
It's always tricky running into someone who's just taken a major exam like that—you're never sure if it's okay to ask how it went.
But Seol Yuhee beamed brightly and spoke up first.
"I don't know my grade yet, but my raw score is the best I've ever gotten!"
"Oh my gosh, congratulations!"
"That's amazing!"
"Incredible, Teacher Yuhee! I knew you'd nail it."
"Great job!"
The early birds at the clinic all congratulated her together.
Gong Nari and Jin Minjeong couldn't hide their awe, and even Hwang Sanghun looked stunned.
"Thank you all so much for being so understanding these past months. It's because of you that I could keep working, studying, and now... heading to university... university...!"
"You're going now, Teacher Yuhee—proof of all your hard work."
Seol Yuhee, overflowing with joy, started tearing up at the mention of university.
She must have dreamed about college life for so long.
"I... I really thought I was the kind of person who could never pull my weight in society before I met you, Director. I'd collapse after just a little work at the hospital, get fired... always dragging my parents down. I thought that's how it'd be... sob!"
Once she brought up her parents, the tears came flooding out.
"Thank you, Director."
I pulled the trembling Seol Yuhee into a hug and patted her back.
How heartbreaking must that severed pulse have been for her?
She cherished the school life others found tedious, but even that simple dream was thwarted by her health.
"You earned it through your hard work, Teacher Yuhee."
The moment her shackles were broken, Seol Yuhee soared.
Not only did she handle multiple roles at the clinic, but anyone would marvel at how diligently she'd studied.
"I'll study hard so I can treat lots of people like you do someday, Director!"
"You do that."
"Teacher Jeong Inseong said yesterday he'd figured it out right away—he thinks I've got a real shot."
Aren't liberal arts Korean medicine programs basically impossible unless you ace everything?
The liberal arts folks from my year had only missed one question on the CSAT, and some seniors even got perfect scores.
I hadn't said a word about how tough it was, worried she'd be discouraged, but she'd pulled it off.
"I only missed two on math. I studied really hard, but catching up in a year was tough. Luckily, the really hard parts tripped everyone up, so the predicted grade cutoff came out low."
So... that means 11111, right...?
"Insane."
Gong Nari broke the stunned silence with a quiet mutter.
"Congratulations!"
"Epic~! Gonna come back as director someday?"
Only then did we erupt in cheers again.
"Let's party after work today!"
"Yes! I'll check if Director Yi and Teacher Inae are free too. This calls for a team dinner!"
Seol Yuhee smiled warmly.
"Teacher, aren't you a little bummed? A perfect score would've gotten you interviews...!"
"Ugh, I hate being on TV!"
Gong Nari and Seol Yuhee bantered playfully as they prepped for clinic hours.
Right—she'd flat-out rejected that Melon Soda Horizon manager's business card last time for the same reason.
A perfect CSAT score would've made waves in the news.
Even without it, her looks alone could've sparked plenty of buzz...
'Pyongyang Naengmyeon? If she doesn't like it, she can just skip it.'
I hope she gets to savor the ordinary school life she's always wanted.
"Director, um..."
With one minute to go before clinic opened, Seol Yuhee—now changed into her work clothes—asked for a quick word.
"I'm applying to the Korean medicine university in Busan for my first tier."
"What? Go for the best one!"
"Korea University seems out of reach anyway. I could try, but it overlaps with my top choice."
Ah, so Korea University and West Busan University are in the same tier?
West Busan would be close to the clinic and her home, plus Jeong Inseong—her tutor—is a senior there, so it'd be comfy all around.
"If I get into either, I'll keep doing nights or weekends! Worst case, if only my third tier pans out..."
"No, don't push yourself! Pre-med isn't that intense—you gotta enjoy it! Join clubs, go on blind dates!"
I never did any of that thanks to work, but isn't that the college dream?
Staying up all night drinking at club events, right?
"I like it best here at the clinic, hehe."
"What're you saying!"
...She's never experienced it yet, that's all.
Once she starts having fun, she'll beg for schedule adjustments.
I should hire more nursing assistants soon and tweak the roster anyway.
"Got it. We'll sort the schedule when the time comes. Change your mind anytime. You did great—really."
Seol Yuhee bowed deeply as she left the exam room.
"Thank you so much... You're my benefactor. Studying was one thing, but even during the exam, thinking of you calmed me right down."
Aw, I didn't do much—now I'm embarrassed!
University starts in March.
I figured I'd adjust her schedule by then.
But something came up that forced a rush job.
"Please save us."
Hwang Sanghun's older brother, Hwang Jihun—the director of Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital's Changwon branch—suddenly showed up and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
'This guy's got great body control.'
Bending at a precise right angle takes solid core and leg strength.
He must work out hard.
Not the point, though.
"What's going on?"
I was so caught off guard my mind wandered.
His visits always pack a punch.
Only then did Hwang Jihun straighten up.
This time, at least, he'd gotten Hwang Sanghun's okay first.
I thought it was just a quick courtesy call since his brother was coming by after work.
What on earth...?
Hwang Sanghun leaned against the wall, arms crossed, radiating displeasure.
"Lend me this guy for three months. We're short-staffed."
"Pardon?"
And the request was totally out of left field.
"What do you mean? It's Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital... Aren't there lines for director spots? Oh, ward physician?"
"We've never had a steady ward physician. Can't find a director."
In general clinics, the doctors you see in outpatient are called directors or department heads. University hospitals call them professors, of course.
Ward physicians manage the inpatient wards. In training hospitals with interns and residents, residents from the department handle it.
They live at the ward, pull shifts, and handle patient issues 24/7—which doctors don't love.
"I thought the Changwon branch wasn't that big..."
"It isn't. Small-scale with six Korean medicine directors—no training program."
Some herbal hospitals run with 3-4 doctors, so it's not tiny overall.
But Hwangje branches often take whole buildings, with 10+ directors and 3-4 residents. Fair enough.
Residencies pay little for tons of work, so outside the capital, they're always understaffed.
But plenty of those finished residents want Hwangje director spots.
Back when Grandpa Hwang was expanding, spots were plentiful. Now, no new branches and directors sticking around means backups galore.
That's why hiring nursing supervisors or admin heads is tough, as he mentioned before...
"It's embarrassing, so we don't advertise it, but rumors inside say no one wants Changwon."
...Rumors like that exist?
I tilted my head, confused, and Hwang Jihun rubbed his chin, choosing his words.
"Well..."
"Factions."
Hwang Sanghun spat out the blunt truth.
"Half, including Grandpa, back my brother for next hospital director. The other half supports Director Jeong Suhwan."
"Different family name?"
News to me.
Hwangje Korean Medicine Hospital dominates Korean medicine, with tons of doctors.
Even I hear all the gossip, but this must be hush-hush.
"Uncle by marriage to my aunt. Basically Grandpa's son-in-law. Grandpa wasn't thrilled with his kids, so he picked him and Dad. Now it's too late to fix. At this point, it's not just Grandpa's hospital anymore."
"Ah, so now that he's pushing his grandson late in the game, that guy's sabotaging your work, Director Hwang?"
Hwang Jihun nodded glumly.
"Yes. They pressure me since I won't stick around forever and can't commit. But most directors aren't in either faction—they don't want to piss off a side. Sigh... External hires are..."
"No track record lately."
Ahh.
Now I got it.
I'd assumed top Korean medicine doctors lined up for Hwangje spots.
Posting publicly would shatter that image.
'Kinda childish.'
The uncle's side wants to force that.
"Ridiculous, right? But Grandpa obsesses over stuff like that. If we post a job ad, he'll blow up about how it shows we lack pull."
"It'd be fine if you went?"
"Yeah... They'd figure it's like your last proposal—building a record—and let it slide."
"And after three months?"
"We have a third-year resident from Changwon who's committed to coming as director."
With Hwang Sanghun spilling it all anyway, Hwang Jihun laid out the situation openly.
The two faction guys originally at Changwon quit, doubling his patient load. Workload's up overall, so even neutral directors are griping.
They might jump to other hospitals to avoid the squeeze.
"I see."
It made sense why Hwang Jihun needed Hwang Sanghun.
Me, well...
'Three months? Even doubled, it shouldn't hurt much. This director wants more patients anyway.'
A typical deputy director gone three months would lose patients fast.
But Hwang Sanghun's are super loyal—no big issue.
"So, what do you want to do, Sanghun?"
His choice matters most, right?
"Wanna go help your brother out?"
I'd half-expected that.
If it was a hard no like last time, he wouldn't have brought him.
"Helping my brother... Feels a bit gross the way subject and verb connect."
With his brother there, he muttered the joke unlike when it's just staff.
"You said last time hospital experience would be good for you, and it's not forever..."
"I'll send him right back. Please."
Hwang Jihun bowed ninety degrees again.
"I don't wanna get dragged into faction fights, but I hate that uncle gaining more sway and leaving the hospital like this."
Like this?
...I could guess.