Chapter 237
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 237
Chapter Title: Reviving the Neighboring Clinic
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Of course, there were patients who found the flashy interior overwhelming.
They got scared right away, thinking it might lead to recommendations for expensive non-covered treatments.
Some used that as an excuse not to spend on interiors... but still, a good signboard made all the difference.
Jeong Jung-jae's Korean Medicine Clinic looked sorely lacking in visual appeal compared to the one next door.
"It's been a little over ten years. Honestly, even when I first opened, I went cheap and thought it wasn't standing out, but now with competition, the difference is even starker."
Jeong Jung-jae finally realized it and nodded.
When I asked if no one had pointed it out, he said no one except his gaming buddies had visited the clinic.
He lacked that kind of sense himself—said he put effort into his game character's fashion, but still got called bland.
"That can happen. This time, get help from a professional and make it right."
"Yes, yes. Thank you."
He agreed to the first suggestion without any resistance.
And now, the second one.
"The second is, naturally, treatment methods. Your acupuncture skills are excellent, Director, but honestly, acupuncture alone has limits in treatment speed and performance."
Unless you could push in energy to heal instantly, that is.
Even I, who could do that, used every treatment allowed under a Korean medicine license.
Patients liked seeing lesions with ultrasound and other devices, and treatments like herbal injections, moxibustion, and chuna gave immediate, tangible relief.
Of course, machines were pricey and finicky to maintain, but herbal injections were worth trying, right?
"My acupuncture is really that good?"
Jeong Jung-jae's eyes wavered.
"It's excellent. I'm not saying it to make you feel good after coming all this way. You have very few first-time patients, but your return rate is solid. You've more than met the demand for patients who insist on acupuncture only."
The elderly patients paying 1,900 won to stick with acupuncture steadily were locked in—that was the current state.
With first visits this low, if he couldn't even do acupuncture right, even they'd have fled, turning a break-even into a real loss and shutdown.
"I see. Thank you."
This wasn't the time for thanks!
The world didn't run on good acupuncture alone.
Director Seon Na-yeon at the Gwangju branch had fallen behind trends after maternity leave, but sticking in place while working continuously? What then?
If professionals treated it as a lifetime gig like that, they had no way to compete with fresh graduates opening clinics left and right.
"Look, your basic attack power is high."
"Pardon?"
When I suddenly dropped gaming lingo, Jeong Jung-jae's eyes widened.
"But some monsters have specific skill gimmicks, right?"
"Ah..."
Understanding what I meant, his face fell.
"You're really just grinding the basics. You need skills, and above all, an ultimate move."
"Haha... yes... I figured as much."
He gave a wry smack of his lips and scratched his head.
He'd probably suspected acupuncture alone wouldn't cut it.
As I mentioned earlier, he knew it himself. That's why he'd considered adding treatments or buying physio machines.
"In wuxia terms, you're endlessly practicing just the Three Calamity Sword Technique. Can you reach peak mastery like that? Eventually, you hit the point where you need advanced martial arts to grow."
I used a metaphor comfortable for a fellow wuxia game player.
Sure, some protagonists broke clichés without them, but 99% learned advanced arts.
"Got it. Even if it's tricky, I'll add herbal injections and learn chuna. That's better than physio machines?"
"Yes, that's my take. Machines break occasionally, and that's a bigger headache. Patients get mad when you stop mid-treatment but charge similar fees... But what's tricky about injections? Inventory management?"
I admitted chuna was tough.
Being a big guy was usually advantageous, but Jeong Jung-jae looked like he never exercised and just gamed at home.
But herbal injections... weren't they just drawing and injecting?
Sure, ordering without shortages, refrigeration, checking expiration—those steps existed, but not to the point of impossibility.
Was persuasion hard? Charting annoying? Billing confusion?
"Inventory's one thing, and drawing from ampoules with syringes is a hassle. A few years back, I tried briefly, but my old staff hated it. Since we weren't using it much, I ditched it."
"Oh?"
"And it's awkward for me to do it... Well, with this much downtime, it's fine, but..."
"That's core work, so direct them firmly."
"Right, yeah. We'll do it... If patients pick up, I'll hire one more."
Hmm, was this what people found tricky?
Seo In-ae had always kept herbal injections stocked from day one, so I never knew it was a chore staff hated.
Suddenly, I appreciated our team's value anew.
"So, what's the third?"
Jeong Jung-jae asked.
The third suggestion. Maybe the key one.
He had something he was good at.
Not related to treatment, but a field where he could carve a niche.
"Use that."
I pointed to the figures in the waiting room.
"Pardon?"
Jeong Jung-jae blinked, totally lost.
"Post on your blog. Even once or twice a month if no time. Snap the clinic interior, figures, your popup store visits. Not a full daily life blog—mix in professional content appropriately."
"Post... figures...?"
"Just having a blog makes young digital natives feel at ease. They preview the interior, and it signals the director manages it personally."
I hadn't considered it at first.
Seo In-ae and Chu Mi-young suggested it.
Later patients confirmed: they didn't search disease info, but when clinic-hunting, checked maps' blogs and Instas, picking what appealed.
No posts or stale ones made them doubt if it was even operating.
Director-managed felt sincere.
I handled it personally during downtime, despite busyness.
"I see..."
Jeong Jung-jae nodded, intrigued, accepting it for the youth.
"Maybe 3:1 disease explanations to daily stories? I do have time."
Wanting to try, he accepted the last suggestion too.
"Yes, start with common ones like discs, wrist issues. Experiment, then lean into high-search terms. Or gamer pain spots first."
If Jungwon Yeo-po was okay, mention guildmates visiting.
He'd likely agree happily.
"Oh, should I?"
The neighbor, Water Cheek Puffy 365 Clinic, seemed to use agencies for similar posts.
Better than nothing, but occasional director posts could feel friendlier.
"Don't obsess at home—just from the clinic."
"Got it. Besides Yeo-po, other guildies came, so case studies are fine. Our guild has Nangong Chick and..."
"Oh? Right, she was there."
Nangong Chick was a streamer and NewTuber in Jungwon Online.
I skipped streams but recalled strategy vids.
"I asked if she'd promote once, but she declined."
"Mention it next time. Her subs coming here is unlikely, but link on blog—folks with wrist pain from PC might think, 'Even the NewTuber's been here.' Position as musculoskeletal specialist."
"That's convincing! Thank you!"
Jeong Jung-jae clapped gleefully.
All three suggestions accepted.
Even 3-4 more first visits daily would build up.
Raise fees a bit, hit 30 average patients—no big worries.
"My take: not office district, so no night clinic needed. Use blog for first visits, try injections; if still tough... Saturday mornings only. Or Thursday rest/afternoon."
"Thank you. I'll try that. Truly grateful! Oh, I saw your raid guide for the one I couldn't clear."
He bowed repeatedly.
Not that special, I thought.
Gamers sometimes had full gear but no clears without guides... seemed his case.
"Whew, enough blaming the neighbor—I'll work hard. Thanks for coming!"
"Infuriating, but he's investing his capital and risk. See it as motivation not to stagnate."
Hundreds of millions in high-capital opening.
Couldn't block cheap machine offers from his buy.
Bashing changed nothing, so I focused on improvements.
But honestly, he aimed to dominate the area and bankrupt locals—infuriating.
'If he doesn't settle, he'll pay debt for decades.'
Coexistence would be nice.
But I couldn't save everyone.
As gaming acquaintance, I'd root for Jeong Jung-jae.
"Yes. Got too comfy—it's like this everywhere now. I'll hold the fort!"
"Fighting!"
I encouraged the fired-up Jeong Jung-jae.
Hope it works out.
Half lunch gone talking, we rushed our meal.
"Wish I could treat you properly tonight..."
"Haha, great meal. Raid together in the city next time."
Fed, I headed to Busan.
Five hours of fun driving; clock said 7 PM.
Our clinic was still in night hours.
'Vacation till today, but hmm.'
Could go home, but suddenly wanted to peek how it ran without me.
CEO surprise inspection—burdensome?
'Just a quick look.'
I slipped in, fully concealing presence.
"13,800 won. Thank you. Goodbye."
But Seo In-ae's checkout voice sounded off.
'Huh?'
Her complexion was awful too.
I asked worriedly.
"In-ae, you're sweating—okay? Cold or flu?"
"Eek!"
She shrieked.
So weakened she'd startle like this?
"Wh-where'd you come from?"
...My bad.
Should've leaked a bit of presence.