Chapter 24 Shen Qingtang is in the hospital
"Yeah, Sister Chen, what's going on?"
"Sister Chen, please tell us about it."
"Sister Chen, I want to know too."
...
Upon hearing Su Rong and the others' questions, Zhang Xining finally realized Shen Qingtang's low-key nature, and his opinion of her character improved even more.
She smiled and said to Su Rong, "Aunt Su, Qing Tang saved a little girl who had heatstroke and a cold at the entrance of the vegetable market. The situation was very urgent. Thanks to Qing Tang, she used mugwort to fumigate the little girl's acupoints and she woke up. She even left a prescription and didn't charge her any money."
"Qing Tang is really too low-key. I wouldn't have known about her if I hadn't seen her on a short video."
Shen Qingtang's usually calm tone softened with warmth as she said, "It was nothing, Grandma Chen and the others went to so much trouble. But how could you..." She seemed to know...
Seeing through Shen Qingtang's question, Zhang Xining chuckled and said, "I left a comment saying I knew who you were, and the little girl followed the comment and sent me a private message."
“They didn’t want to bother you, but they wanted to express their gratitude, so I took advantage of the Mid-Autumn Festival to send it over to you.” She raised an eyebrow and teased, “This time I’ve delivered it all the way to your door, so you have to accept it. Last time you didn’t even accept money for your treatment.”
Shen Qingtang gave a slight smile and said, "Okay, I'll accept it this time." With that 200,000 yuan, Grandma Chen's family should be able to live quite well.
Qin Rongyun was very dissatisfied to see Shen Qingtang suddenly become the center of attention. He coughed and said, "She only saved a child with heatstroke. What's so amazing about that? Xiao Wan even used acupuncture to help an old lady in the countryside cure her long-standing migraine on a variety show. Her medical skills are truly amazing."
After saying that, he looked on with satisfaction as everyone's eyes fell on Shen Ruowan, and then raised his voice to ask, "Xiaowan, that old lady must have been grateful to you back then and gave you a lot of things, right?"
Hearing this, Shen Ruowan's smile became even more strained. The old lady had only had a headache from a cold; it wasn't nearly as serious as it seemed. The production team simply loved to exaggerate, making the other person's symptoms appear much worse. It was her first time giving acupuncture, and she had inevitably used a bit too much force. The old lady even called and scolded her the day after the treatment because of her headache.
Of course, Shen Ruowan could not reveal these words. Her gaze swept over the chickens, ducks and fish that Zhang Xining's bodyguard was carrying, and she said vaguely, "I did send them, but they were just chickens, ducks and fish. My grandmother's family is not well-off, so I declined."
Qin Rongyun nodded repeatedly, her eyes full of approval, and said, "Xiao Wan, you are so kind."
After taking a sip of tea, Zhang Xining said, "By the way, did you know? Lin Qianyue's engagement was called off; her marriage to Yan Yan fell through." As a socialite in the world of fame and fortune, she naturally knew a lot of gossip, most of which was true.
"What's going on?" Su Rong asked eagerly, her face beaming with joy.
Zhang Xining said, "I'm not quite sure." Although she said that, her gaze lingered on Shen Qingtang for a moment, her eyes filled with teasing. She paused again and said, "Perhaps her image has been ruined. She's neither gentle nor very good at making desserts."
As she said this, a flash of disdain crossed her eyes. Recently, scandals have been erupting one after another in the high society. No one expected that after Lin Qianyue's engagement was called off, someone would reveal that her persona as a skilled dessert maker was fake; in fact, she always had someone else make her desserts. And yet, she won first prize in a dessert competition using this method. Coincidentally, this angered a fellow contestant from a wealthy family, who investigated thoroughly and released irrefutable evidence of Lin Qianyue's cheating.
Hearing this, Bai Rou frowned slightly, shook her head and sighed, "It seems that Miss Lin's marriage will be difficult in the future." The wealthy circle is a place that values reputation the most. First, she was rejected twice and her image collapsed. In the future, she will either marry a poor family and leave the capital, or she can only marry a divorced wealthy man and become someone else's stepmother.
Su Rong scoffed, "Having a mother like her makes things difficult, even if it's not." Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, and her eyes showed even more satisfaction as she looked at Shen Qingtang in front of her.
A woman's intuition is always sharp, and with her increased visits to the villa these past few days, she gradually noticed the subtle feelings between Qin Guanlan and Shen Qingtang. In fact, she was happy to see their relationship develop naturally; after all, who else could take such good care of her Guan'er without Shen Qingtang?
Shen Ruowan gleaned some intentions from Su Rong's eyes, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
Su Rong treated Shen Qingtang like a daughter-in-law.
But she quickly suppressed this thought. It was too absurd. Shen Qingtang was the culprit who caused Qin Guanlan's legs to become paralyzed. She was only here to atone for her sins.
"Sister Chen, I've framed the painting and put it in your room."
"Sister Chen, let's have the fish that your patient's family sent over for lunch. It looks so fresh."
Xiao Qing and Xia Xia suddenly stuck their heads out and called out. Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
However, these two simple sentences made Shen Ruowan feel like she had ants crawling all over her mind, making her feel very upset, and the focus of the conversation had once again shifted to Shen Qingtang.
Upon learning that Shen Qingtang had been diligently studying for the junior traditional Chinese medicine practitioner license exam, she felt even more agitated. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then, with a bright smile, looked at Su Rong and said, "Mrs. Qin, I just received a reply. My master said he is very interested in that ancient medical book and will also take some time to come to our house to diagnose Brother Qin's legs."
"Really?" Su Rong became excited, her cheeks flushed, and her joy was evident in her eyes.
“Not bad.” Shen Qingtang felt a little guilty thinking about the ambiguous reply on her phone, but she quickly calmed down because of the obvious flattering expression on Su Rong’s face.
Su Rong looked at Shen Ruowan as if she were her savior and said, "Xiao Wan, you must stay for lunch. I just bought a lot of top-grade bird's nest, which is good for nourishing the body and improving complexion. Take two boxes with you when you leave."
Qin Rongyun wore a proud expression, glanced at Shen Qingtang triumphantly, and whispered, "So what if your medical skills are amazing? They're no match for Elder Huang, and they can't save my brother's legs."
Shen Qingtang was busy picking fish bones from Qin Guanlan's head and didn't hear clearly. Zhang Xining frowned and retorted, "Second Young Master Qin, what you said is going too far. Qingtang is still young, and her future achievements may surpass Elder Huang's."
She pursed her lips and said, "Your mouth really stinks." It was completely different from her image as a wealthy young master on screen.
The Zhang family is certainly no match for a behemoth like the Qin family, but Zhang Xining is highly intelligent and adept at socializing in high society. Everyone gives her some face, and she also has her own small business, so she is not afraid of someone like Qin Rongyun who has no real power.
Upon hearing this, Qin Rongyun glared fiercely at Shen Qingtang, but did not say anything more.
Shen Qingtang noticed this scene and, recalling what Zhang Xining had just said, said in a steady tone, "Your bad breath is probably related to your spleen and stomach. Judging from how often you get angry, you should have excessive liver fire. You can go to the pharmacy and get a dose of Gentian Liver-Clearing Decoction, which contains gentian, bupleurum, gardenia and other Chinese medicinal herbs that soothe the liver and clear heat."
Seeing Shen Qingtang's serious expression, Qin Rongyun became even angrier and retorted, "I don't have bad breath."
Shen Qingtang gave her a knowing look and said, "It's not a good habit to avoid seeking medical help. If you leave your bad breath untreated, it can cause headaches, irritability, insomnia, and nightmares."
Suddenly noticing Shen Ruowan and Bai Rou silently shifting their seats, Qin Rongyun was speechless.
His face contorted in anger, feeling utterly simmering with rage. He became increasingly certain that Shen Qingtang had done it on purpose! This was the epitome of "if you can't have it, destroy it"—this woman's heart was truly wicked.
After finishing their meal, the group strolled around the small garden. Suddenly, Shen Ruowan called out to Shen Qingtang, looking troubled, "Qingtang, have you offended someone? Old Master Huang refuses to return to China to treat Brother Qin's leg."
Shen Ruowan deliberately lagged behind Shen Qingtang by two steps, unknowingly widening the distance between herself and the main group. In addition, she kept her voice low, so no one else heard her.
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang frowned deeply. Thinking of Su Rong's happy expression and the expectation hidden in Brother Qin's eyes, she took a deep breath and said with a certain tone and a straight look in her eyes, "You should have a way, right?"
Shen Ruowan looked worried and said, "Qingtang, I don't have that kind of power. Otherwise, I could have asked Grandpa to save you, and you wouldn't have to suffer in the Qin family." She blinked and secretly asked, "You must have had a hard time in the Qin family, right? I'm sorry." In her heart, she secretly hoped that the other party would complain.
Shen Qingtang had no interest in indulging the other person's perverse sense of humor, and said indifferently, "Whether it's good or bad is none of your business. You just need to tell me who you've offended." She paused, cutting off Shen Ruowan's coy retort, and said, "If you had no other choice, you wouldn't have told me about this alone."
Shen Ruowan's expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly adjusted her expression and said, "Qingtang understands me best." She sighed softly and said reproachfully, "Qingtang, sometimes you shouldn't be so arrogant. How could you offend Ge Youan?"
“But Huang Lao’s favorite disciple is someone even I can’t compare to. Huang Lao had already promised me that he would come back to treat Brother Qin’s leg. But now, because you offended him, Ge You’an won’t let Huang Lao come back to take on this case.”
Shen Ruowan kept rambling on, expecting to see Shen Qingtang begging for mercy, but instead she saw confusion and bewilderment in her eyes.
Shen Ruowan: "...You haven't even forgotten Ge Youan, have you?" She was truly speechless, raising an eyebrow as she prompted, "When you rescued someone at the market, wasn't there a woman who tried to stop you?"
Shen Qingtang finally remembered her and said calmly, "So she really is Elder Huang's disciple." Because of the other party's reckless prescriptions and slander against her, Shen Qingtang didn't have a very good impression of Ge Youan and directly regarded her as a fraud at the time.
What does she want me to do?
Shen Ruowan twitched her lips, also understanding Shen Qingtang's meaning, and said speechlessly, "Of course she is Elder Huang's disciple. If it weren't for my intervention, she would already hate you." She paused skillfully and said, "However, she said she is willing to forgive and forget and give you a chance to apologize."
Looking at Shen Qingtang's calm and composed expression, Shen Ruowan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She had thought she would see the same way the other person used to make a big fuss.
Before Shen Qingtang could give an answer, she pretended to be a good person and said, "Sister Qingtang, if you don't want to, then forget it. Actually, even if Elder Huang were to treat Brother Qin's legs, they would be difficult to heal."
"In my opinion, she probably just wants to pick a fight with you."
Shen Qingtang shook her head, not responding to that question, and instead asked, "What kind of apology does she want from me?"
She wanted to seize any opportunity that could help treat Brother Qin's legs.
Shen Ruowan shook her head and said, "I don't know either. She said she would call you to let you know."
She said worriedly, "But you humiliated Ge Youan last time, she definitely won't let you off easily. Maybe we should just let it go."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "I will do as you say." As long as she could help Brother Qin stand up, she was willing to try, no matter how slim the chance.
Seeing Shen Ruowan's hesitant expression, she took the initiative to say, "Don't worry, I won't mention this to anyone." Hearing this promise, Shen Ruowan's previously uneasy heart immediately settled, and she said, "Then let's hurry and follow them."
It took Qin Guanlan a while to see Shen Qingtang following him. Thinking of how Shen Ruowan had been inseparable from him just now, he reached out and touched the back of Shen Qingtang's hand, saying, "What did Shen Ruowan say to you just now? You don't look too well."
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "Brother Qin, it's nothing. I'm just a little tired from studying lately."
Qin Guanlan's eyes darkened as he said, "If anything happens, be sure to tell me."
Shen Qingtang nodded, avoiding the other person's direct gaze, and said, "I understand, Brother Qin."
*
The day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, at eight o'clock in the morning, was Qin Sumiao's airport pick-up time. The Qin mansion was far away, and before they could even finish breakfast, Su Rong rushed over at six-thirty in the morning, taking Qin Guanlan, Qi Yi, and Qi Er to pick them up.
Since Shen Qingtang's primary Chinese medicine practitioner license exam was in the afternoon, she wasn't asked to go with him.
As Qin Guanlan was leaving, he looked at Xiao Qing and Xia Xia and instructed them, "She has an exam today, so she may have been studying a little late. Let her sleep a little longer. If it's past ten o'clock, knock on the door and wake her up."
Although no one mentioned who "she" was throughout the entire conversation, Xiaoqing and Xiaxia both knew perfectly well that "she" referred to Shen Qingtang.
Xiao Qing patted her chest and said, "Young Master, don't worry, we've already arranged the car for Sister Chen to go to the exam venue in advance."
Qin Guanlan looked at the quiet room next door and felt a little uneasy for some reason. He hesitated for a moment, his fingers resting on the door.
Just then, Qi Yi received a phone call and urged, "Brother Qin, Uncle Wang's car has arrived, and Madam wants us to come down quickly."
Oh well, he'll be back soon anyway.
Qin Guanlan ultimately did not knock on the door, but instead placed his hands on either side of his wheelchair and said, "Let's go."
At 7:30 in the morning, Xiao Qing glanced at Shen Qingtang's door with some confusion.
Xia asked while wiping the vase, "Is Sister Chen still not up? I've already made breakfast."
Xiao Qing was also a little confused. She touched her head and looked down at her watch, saying, "I'm not mistaken, Sister Chen usually gets up at this time."
Xia said, "It's probably the same as what the young master said. Sister Chen studied too late last night. Let's knock on the door again at ten o'clock to ask."
Xiao Qing nodded and said, "Okay."
*
Shuangliu Airport is the largest airport in China, covering an area of approximately 57 square kilometers. It is busy with international and domestic flights, and the flow of people is as dense as a woven cloth. The exits T1-T7 are so numerous that they can make people dizzy.
The scheduled arrival time was 8:00 AM, but due to bad weather, the flight was delayed for a full two hours, and we finally picked up the person at 10:00 AM.
"Mom, brother, I'm back." Qin Sumiao undoubtedly inherited the Qin family's good looks. She had a slender figure, bright eyes, and fluffy chestnut-colored wavy hair that added to her charm. Her eyebrows and eyes were so delicate that she looked like she had stepped out of a painting. She wore a thick woolen coat that was out of place with the people around her, and her straight legs were encased in a pair of brown knee-high boots. With a pair of sunglasses on, she looked like a big star. She pushed her suitcase with one hand, attracting passersby to turn their heads frequently.
She may appear to be a mature and sophisticated woman, but the moment she speaks, that persona crumbles, revealing that she is actually a pampered little princess.
Qi Yi and Qi Er tactfully took the suitcases, while Su Rong stepped forward, hugged Qin Su Miao from behind, and patted her on the back, saying, "Finally back in the country. You must have had a long journey."
"It's not hard work," Qin Sumiao replied, shaking her head as she took off her sunglasses. But the moment she saw Qin Guanlan sitting in the wheelchair, her eyes suddenly turned red, and tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall.
Even though she already knew that her brother was paralyzed in both legs and confined to a wheelchair due to a car accident, she was still emotionally shaken when she witnessed the scene. Recalling the diagnosis from the professional doctor at M University, tears streamed down her face before she could even utter a word.
The tall, dignified older brother she remembered was now confined to a wheelchair. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. She squatted down and hugged Qin Guanlan's leg, crying, "Big brother, waaaah... waaaah, big brother."
Noticing the strange looks from those around him, Qin Guanlan felt his temples throbbing. He frowned and said with a look of disgust, "What are you crying for? Do you become a little crybaby when you're abroad?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Sumiao immediately stopped crying, wiped away her tears with her hand, and shook her head, saying, "I didn't, I'm not a crybaby."
Su Rong handed Qin Su Miao a tissue and said, "Miao, don't cry. There's still hope for your brother's leg." Then, she smiled and said, "I heard that Old Huang recently returned to China. He wants to examine your brother's leg. He's skilled in traditional Chinese medicine, so maybe he can find a solution."
"Really? That's wonderful." Qin Sumiao followed Qin Guanlan and the others into the underground parking lot, got in the car, and asked, "Big brother, how is Shen Qingtang taking care of you?" Her tone was full of resentment: "It's all Shen Qingtang's fault. If it weren't for her, you wouldn't have lost your legs."
She gritted her teeth and said, "When I get back, I'm going to teach her a lesson."
Hearing his sister's words, Qin Guanlan frowned and said, "Shen Qingtang treats me very well."
"Isn't that what she should do?" Sensing her brother's face suddenly darken, Qin Sumiao sensed his protectiveness and asked fearfully, "Brother, what's wrong? She's the culprit who crippled your legs."
Qin Guanlan blinked and said, "If it weren't for the culprit you mentioned, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to be treated by Elder Huang." Although Shen Qingtang said that Shen Ruowan took the original manuscript instead of her annotated version, his mood still worsened whenever he thought about it.
"So what? I hate her to death anyway. I won't touch a drop of rice or water even if she serves me some."
Qin Guanlan: "...The beef jerky you like best is made by her."
"What?" Qin Sumiao screamed, "She actually made the beef jerky?" She looked up in disbelief and said, "Mom, didn't you say that the beef jerky was made by the two new maids? I still remember their names, Xiao Qing and Xiao Xia."
Thanks to the beef jerky, she not only successfully wrote her thesis, but also got her senior to help revise it. Because of the beef jerky, even the professor who was always strict with her relaxed his standards.
To put it bluntly, beef jerky played a crucial role in her successful graduation.
Could such delicious food be made by a pampered young lady from a wealthy family like Shen Qingtang, who never lifts a finger to cook?
Su Rong touched her nose somewhat guiltily and said, "I didn't say anything wrong, did I? Xiao Qing and Xia Xia were helping Qing Tang make beef jerky."
She muttered to herself, "Who told Shen Qingtang to be such a good cook?" She knew that her daughter still resented Shen Qingtang for causing Qin Guanlan's legs to become crippled. If she told her that the beef jerky was made by Shen Qingtang, she would probably end up throwing it in the trash.
The thought of how much she loved beef jerky and how she had texted several times asking for more to be sent made Qin Sumiao look constipated.
There's always this feeling of being obligated to someone who feeds you, or that you're indebted to them.
For a moment, she didn't dare to continue nagging and could only scold Su Rong, saying in a low voice, "Mom, how could you do this?" Su Rong chuckled twice and quickly changed the subject, saying, "How about we have your favorite giant freshwater prawns for lunch?"
Qin Sumiao nodded and said, "Okay." But she quickly added, "However, I won't eat what Shen Qingtang cooks." She pouted and thought stubbornly, so what if Shen Qingtang's cooking is delicious? From now on, she won't eat it.
"Okay, okay." Su Rong hadn't seen her daughter for a long time, so she was naturally willing to meet the other party's conditions. Hearing the other party's stomach growling, she quickly said, "Qi Er, stop by the roadside for a moment. Qi Yi, go down and buy some food to bring back up."
Qin Guanlan suddenly answered a phone call, and after a moment his face darkened as he said, "Qi Er, don't stop the car. Change course and go to the city hospital right now."
His tone was anxious, his eyes seemed to be filled with two balls of anger, and he exuded a terrifying aura that made people afraid to approach him.
Startled by Qin Guanlan's actions, Su Rong asked anxiously, "Guan'er, what's wrong?"
Qin Guanlan pursed his lips and said, word by word, "Qingtang has been admitted to the hospital."
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Author's Note: Thank you to reader "唯我独尊" for the nutrient solution! So much! [laughing]
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