Chapter 251 Celebration Banquet
"Dr. Smith is here!"
As soon as James entered the hotel, someone immediately shouted.
Everyone instantly turned to look at James.
"Dr. Smith, you finally made it! Come, have a seat," one person called out.
"Yes, we've been waiting for you," another chimed in.
Whispers broke out around the room. "So that's Dr. Smith. He's quite impressive. You can tell he's not just anyone."
"Of course, Dr. Smith is an exceptional young man. You should have seen him today, absolutely brilliant. He's our savior! With Dr. Smith leading the way, traditional medicine will flourish!"
James was taken aback by the crowd. He was expecting a small dinner with Dr. Wheeler and a few others, not this. He noticed that most of the people present were traditional medicine practitioners, mostly in their thirties and forties, all unfamiliar faces.
Honestly, he couldn't say he had a favorable impression of them. None of them had bothered to attend the important exchange meeting earlier that day. Now that he had brought honor to their field, they were falling over themselves to bask in the reflected glory.
Despite his reservations, James maintained a polite facade, nodding and offering a faint smile in response to their enthusiastic greetings. They seemed oblivious to his coolness, showering him with compliments and praise. They had expected a degree of arrogance from someone so young and accomplished, but to their surprise, James was remarkably composed and humble, earning him newfound respect from those who had initially been skeptical about his ability.
"James, you made it!" Edwin greeted him warmly, approaching with a sprightliness that belied his nearly ninety years.
James' face finally broke into a genuine smile. He held a deep admiration for Edwin. "I apologize for the delay," he said, "some matters held me up. I'll have to punish myself with a drink for keeping everyone waiting." He grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray and downed it in one go.
"I appreciate your sincerity!" Edwin chuckled, giving James a thumbs-up. He was possibly the happiest person in the room. James had exceeded all expectations, and more importantly, his presence signaled a bright future for traditional medicine, allowing Edwin to finally contemplate retirement with peace of mind.
One by one, the other practitioners approached James, offering apologies for their earlier doubts and criticisms. Even the usually stubborn Dr. Murphy swallowed his pride and offered James a drink in apology.
"Dr. Smith," he said, his wrinkled face etched with sincerity, "I owe you an apology for my harsh words earlier. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive an old man." His age and a slight stoop made him appear much shorter than James, creating a striking image as he bowed slightly, holding his glass out in apology.
James was not one to hold grudges. He understood that their earlier anger stemmed from a deep-seated concern for the reputation of traditional medicine. He was more frustrated by their stubbornness and resistance to new ideas than truly offended. Besides, Dr. Murphy was old enough to be his grandfather. Seeing him humble himself like this made James deeply uncomfortable. He quickly moved to support Dr. Murphy, bowing his head respectfully. "Dr. Murphy, please, you are a respected senior, it is your right to guide me. There's nothing to forgive."
Dr. Murphy, a man who commanded respect and was notoriously proud, had found it incredibly difficult to apologize publicly. He had been worried that James would hold it against him. But James' humility put him at ease. James had shown him respect, a great deal of it. Gratitude and admiration welled up in his heart.
He was impressed by James' skill at such a young age, but even more so by his composure and genuine dedication to traditional medicine. Such a combination was rare. The more he observed James, the more impressed he became. "Dr. Smith," he blurted out, "I have a granddaughter..."
James felt his cheeks flush.
Edwin let out a hearty laugh. "Too late, Dr. Murphy! James has been happily married for a few years now. His wife is a lovely woman, a doctor herself. You missed your chance!"
"Married?" Dr. Murphy's shoulders slumped slightly. "Such a pity, such a pity. Why marry so young?"
James chuckled awkwardly. Why did everyone seem so eager to set him up? It was becoming a recurring theme.
The news of James' marital status was met with a chorus of disappointed sighs. Many had harbored similar thoughts. An alliance with someone as promising as James was a tantalizing prospect.
The celebratory banquet continued, with James as the undeniable guest of honor. In addition to the hundred or so practitioners, several business owners were present, eager to make James' acquaintance. They lined up to toast him, each glass adding to the warmth in his stomach. Thankfully, James had a high tolerance for alcohol. Even so, the constant stream of red wine, coupled with the lingering effects of the snake venom, began to take its toll. Only his robust constitution kept him from keeling over.
Business proposals came thick and fast. Several offered him lucrative positions as a professor, while others, venture capitalists with keen eyes, proposed investments in clinics or endorsement deals.
James politely declined them all.
His firm refusals were met with regret but also understanding. They pressed their business cards into his hand, urging him to reach out if he ever changed his mind, assuring him that everything was negotiable.
While James remained the center of attention, the other practitioners also found themselves fielding a surprising number of offers. Unable to secure James, the business owners turned their attention to the next best thing.
The offers were generous, far exceeding their usual rates. Those who had skipped the meeting earlier that day were green with envy.
Dr. Murphy and the others were overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions. Gratitude and admiration for James filled their hearts. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined that traditional medicine could generate such interest and excitement.
A small smile played on James' lips. As a practitioner himself, he felt a surge of pride. He was happy to have played a part in this unexpected turn of events.
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