Chapter 26 Old Master Huang is coming to treat my legs…
Sun Yun was somewhat dismissive of his friend's words. Hadn't he seen enough "geniuses" over the years? Admittedly, he would think more highly of Shen Qingtang because of her act of self-administering acupuncture, but he wouldn't directly categorize her as a genius.
Seeing this, Li Mingsheng smiled faintly and did not refute.
This year's primary-level TCM physician theory exam was jointly prepared by several senior doctors who were particularly fond of studying ancient medical texts. Therefore, the questions were written in a very formal and literary style, making it significantly more difficult than in previous years. Sun Yun surveyed the exam hall and saw many candidates scratching their heads, their faces flushed, looking as if they had just been steamed. Beads of sweat clung to their foreheads, and they struggled to write anything, their papers completely blank.
He silently lamented for these candidates, then thoughtfully lowered the temperature a few degrees for them using the air conditioner, thinking that the number of people passing this year would probably hit a new low, perhaps not even reaching 20%. But soon his gaze was drawn to Shen Qingtang.
No other reason than that, among a group of anxious candidates who seemed to have ADHD, Shen Qingtang sat upright and calm, her pen never stopping, making a scratching sound, and she finished and turned over in the blink of an eye.
Sun Yun: "..." Most of the questions were multiple choice. Was Shen Qingtang just randomly choosing? The fastest person around her had only managed to finish half of the questions, and that was a junior member of a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners that he knew.
Driven by curiosity, he quietly stepped off the podium and slowly circled around to Shen Qingtang's back.
At first glance, the neat and elegant handwriting on the exam paper looked like a beautiful painting. After seeing so many flamboyant and messy characters, Sun Yun felt his eyes were finally free. He quickly glanced at the questions Shen Qingtang had answered, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes—she had gotten them all right.
The last two questions were original questions from ancient medical books that were difficult to understand! If one didn't have absolutely no background in medicine, they probably wouldn't even be able to understand the questions. Of course, even if one understood the questions, there was a high chance of misunderstanding them; even he fell for it at the beginning.
His gaze shifted slightly, and he noticed that she was already answering the subjective questions. Her arguments were logical and clear, far from the empty rhetoric often found elsewhere. She even cited numerous examples from ancient medical texts to illustrate her points. He considered himself well-read, but he found that Shen Qingtang's knowledge was certainly not lacking. It was clear that she was not someone who merely memorized or applied things mechanically, but rather someone who truly understood and applied knowledge.
He was taken aback. At this moment, he had to admit that his friend Li Mingsheng's description of him as a "genius" was indeed somewhat true.
"Teacher, could you please not stand here? I'm a little nervous." A weak voice came from the back row of students. Sun Yun curled his lips speechlessly, looking at Shen Qingtang's focused expression as she answered the questions, feeling utterly speechless.
The mental fortitude of this year's test takers is really poor. He wasn't affected by the person answering the questions, but the people behind him were.
He grunted angrily and returned to his position in the center of the podium, seemingly supervising the exam diligently, but in reality, his mind was wandering, filled with all sorts of questions.
Shen Qingtang answered so well, she should get a high score, right? She's only in her early twenties, how could she have read so many ancient medical books? I wonder if she has a master, and if not, would she even look at him? I should have known better than to be so stubborn just now.
All sorts of complicated thoughts were finally interrupted by the ringing of the bell signaling the end of the exam. Following the instructions of the announcement, all candidates stood up and waited quietly for the invigilators to collect the papers.
Sun Yun originally wanted to keep Shen Qingtang for a chat, but when he finished collecting the papers and looked up, he found that Shen Qingtang was no longer there, and he couldn't help but sigh.
After collecting all the exam papers from another exam room, Li Mingsheng rushed over excitedly, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Sun Yun, what do you think? Didn't I tell you Shen Qingtang is a genius?"
Sun Yun agreed inwardly, but on the surface he scoffed, "At most he's a theoretical genius, but he's not good at practical things." Although he said that, he was thinking about how to get Shen Qingtang's contact information. He rolled his eyes and said, "Let's go eat, it's on me."
After finishing their meal, the two heard that the first perfect score paper had appeared in the examination room. Sun Yun suddenly became nervous for some reason. He ran over to get the perfect score paper, and the examinee's name could be vaguely made out through the sewn gap.
Shen Qingtang
Sun Yun slapped his thigh hard, ignoring the many teachers present, and excitedly cursed, "Damn it, he really is a genius!" You should know that when the test paper was first released, many people took it and did it, and the highest score was only 95.
Although Li Mingsheng was pleased, he had expected it, so he simply stroked his chin and kept praising his own judgment, saying, "I knew it, she's a genius."
"It would be a loss for patients if someone like her didn't become a traditional Chinese medicine doctor."
The junior Chinese medicine practitioner license examination lasts two hours, and Qi Yi arrived twenty minutes early.
He parked in one of the parking spaces marked on either side of the school. Even though he had closed most of the doors and windows, the conversations of the students who had come out early could still be heard clearly.
"Wow, this preliminary theory exam is way too difficult!"
"Oh no, oh no, I'm definitely dead."
"I heard it was compiled by a few old-fashioned people who have a deep understanding of ancient medical books."
"No wonder, I didn't even understand the question."
"Waaaah, I have to prepare for the exam all over again."
"It's such a waste of my registration fee. I could have had a good meal with that 120 yuan."
"Just consider it as experiencing the exam."
......
Seeing the candidates' gloomy and hesitant expressions, Qi Yi's heart skipped a beat, and his face showed some worry.
Was this exam really that difficult? I wonder how Sister Shen did.
Speak of the devil, and he appears. A figure stopped at the car door and knocked twice on the window. Qi Yi looked up and smiled subconsciously. After unlocking the car, she asked anxiously, "Sister Chen, how did you do on your exam this time?"
Sitting in the passenger seat, Shen Qingtang fastened her seatbelt while recalling the exam she had just finished. She replied in a flat tone, "It was alright." She should get a perfect score.
Upon hearing those three indifferent words, Qi Yi's heart sank to the bottom. The conversation between the examinees just now flashed through his mind, and he thought to himself that Sister Chen must not have done well on the exam, otherwise she wouldn't have not even smiled.
But the other person had just undergone gastric lavage surgery, and it was perfectly normal for them to underperform due to poor health. Although he comforted himself with this thought, Qi Yi still felt somewhat listless, like a sunburnt eggplant, when he thought about how hard the other person had worked day and night.
He licked his lips and offered a dry reassurance: "It's alright, Sister Shen, you did very well on the exam. I'll bring you to the exam venue again next time." Shen Qingtang nodded and said "Okay." She had checked in advance and found that the next intermediate-level TCM practitioner's license exam would also be held at this test center. She would really have to trouble Qi Yi then.
Qi Yi, being considerate of Shen Qingtang's bad mood, dared not joke around as usual and only focused on driving. After a whirlwind of speed, the two arrived at the Qin Mansion.
Because Qi Yi tipped them off, Qin Guanlan and the others also learned that Shen Qingtang had not done well on the exam. Yingjie, who came to visit her, did not mention anything about the exam and instead asked about her health.
Seeing Shen Qingtang being treated like a darling of the group, Qin Sumiao became even more dissatisfied. Taking advantage of Shen Qingtang going to the bathroom, she deliberately blocked the doorway, raised her head, crossed her arms, and looked at Shen Qingtang, saying, "Shen Qingtang, stop fooling yourself. You just couldn't stand me coming back to the country, so you went out drinking, right? Now my mom and brother's attention are all on you again. I've seen your little tricks of bullying people before. You can give up on exams that you've studied so hard for so long. You're really vicious."
Shen Qingtang was a little confused, but considering that the other party was Brother Qin's sister, she tried her best to extract the key points in the words and showed a concerned expression: "So someone lied to you? Qin Sumiao, you are Brother Qin's sister, I can help you."
Qin Sumiao: "..." Looking into the other person's clear and sincere eyes, Qin Sumiao felt a surge of anger. She reasonably suspected that the other person was being sarcastic, but unfortunately, she had no evidence.
Suddenly, a joyful scream came from downstairs, followed by her hurried instructions.
"Xiao Qing, Xiao Xia, clean the villa again today, especially the nooks and crannies."
"Guan'er, get a good rest tonight and get up early tomorrow."
"Oh, right, I also need Qingtang to give you acupuncture tonight."
"I heard that Mom seems to have some old acquaintance with Old Huang. Should we invite her over as well?"
......
Seeing their confused looks, Su Rong slapped her forehead and then explained with a smile, "It's all my fault for being so happy that I forgot to tell you."
"Xiao Wan just called me and said that Elder Huang has agreed to come and examine Guan'er. He'll arrive at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. We must treat him well so that Guan'er's legs will have a chance to heal completely." Upon hearing this news, everyone's expressions became more cheerful, and their eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Seeing Shen Qingtang's involuntary smile, Qin Sumiao snorted coldly and emphasized, "Why are you so happy? Do you think you'll be relieved once your brother's leg is healed? You've had a tough time these past few days, haven't you?"
After Qin Sumiao returned home, she specifically asked Xiao Qing and Xiao Xia to find out how Shen Qingtang took care of her older brother every day.
Three meals a day, serving tea and water, massage and acupuncture... my schedule is packed every day, not to mention I have to find time to prepare for exams.
Putting herself in Qin Sumiao's shoes, she felt she couldn't do it; the schedule was just too grueling and exhausting.
Shen Qingtang gave Qin Sumiao a deep look and replied calmly, "Taking care of Brother Qin is not hard for me." This was what the original owner should have done.
"And..." she paused, then continued, "I won't feel relieved either; I'll only be happy for Brother Qin." A learned and ambitious person like him shouldn't be confined to a small wheelchair.
Once Brother Qin's legs recover and he can stand up, he won't need her anymore. She should continue to study medicine, manage her clinic well, and try to repair the relationship between the original owner and her family.
For some reason, the thought that she would never see Brother Qin again after leaving the Qin Mansion filled her with a strange sense of loss and frustration.
Upon hearing these words, Qin Sumiao's heart skipped a beat, but her expression quickly changed, and she sneered, "You really know how to sweet-talk." If she hadn't known about the other party's shameful past, she would almost have been swayed by these words.
The next morning, the people in the villa woke up around seven o'clock, all looking excited as they waited for Old Huang to arrive.
After breakfast, Shen Qingtang rolled up Qin Guanlan's loose blue and white striped pajama pants, performed acupuncture, and then placed her fair and slender fingers on the inside of his thigh, feeling the subtle tremors of his nerve endings. A distinct smile appeared on her usually calm face.
"Are you so happy?" Qin Guanlan couldn't help but ask. He had noticed the other person's good mood since morning, as he was radiating a joyful aura.
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "Yes, Brother Qin, your legs will soon be healed by Elder Huang, and you won't have to sit in a wheelchair anymore." Qin Guanlan chuckled and said, "It's a fifty percent probability, not a one hundred percent probability. Whether it can be cured or not is still uncertain."
Qin Guanlan's lips were suddenly covered by Shen Qingtang's palm, and his words came to an abrupt halt. He stared straight at her with a slight movement in his eyes.
The next second, Shen Qingtang said, word by word, "Brother Qin, don't say discouraging things. Old Huang's medical skills are very high, he can definitely cure your legs."
Shen Qingtang spoke slowly but with a heavy tone, her face showing a hint of tension and her eyes full of caution, as if she was afraid that Qin Guanlan's words would come true.
This look of being on high alert only appeared adorable to Qin Guanlan. A slight smile involuntarily appeared on his lips, and his heart began to pound uncontrollably in his chest, the thumping sound echoing in his ears.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he bit his tongue, trying to suppress the brutal urge to devour the other person whole. He feigned nonchalance and probed, "If my legs are healed, what... what do you think of me?"
As he spoke, Qin Guanlan, usually so composed, found his fingers trembling slightly with nervousness. He even deliberately avoided eye contact with Shen Qingtang, unable to look her in the eye any longer. Yet, his ears were perked up, as if afraid of missing a single breath or a single reply from her.
Unfortunately, the naive Shen Qingtang didn't realize the deeper meaning behind it, nor did she know that it was actually a subtle confession. After thinking carefully for a while, she gave her answer: "Once my legs are healed, Brother Qin will definitely be even better, and he will be promoted faster in the company in the future."
The second half of the sentence was deduced from a few casual conversations Yingjie had with her. Although the Qin Group is now in the hands of Qin Yuan and Qin Ming, Old Madam Qin has said more than once that Qin Yuan is too arrogant and Qin Ming is too practical. Neither of them are the type to expand their territory. In her words, she greatly admires Qin Guanlan's style of doing things.
It seems that the Qin family had long intended for Qin Guanlan to be the future president of the Qin Group, the true leader. That's why they allowed Qin Rongyun to cultivate the image of a wealthy young master in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, since Qin Guanlan's car accident that left him crippled, many people have had ulterior motives.
Hearing this, Qin Guanlan chuckled, concealing the disappointment in his eyes, but still agreed, "Qingtang, you're right." Suddenly, his right forearm drooped down, seemingly unintentionally touching the back of Shen Qingtang's right hand. The soft, delicate sensation swept over him like a breeze, stirring ripples in his heart, and his dejected mood was finally replenished. Suddenly, a phrase that Qi Yi often repeated during his time in the army came to mind.
A wife, children, and a warm bed—that's the ultimate goal a man should pursue in his life.
Wife... He blinked, the two words swirling between his lips, his gaze towards Shen Qingtang growing deeper and more affectionate, the atmosphere in the air becoming sticky and intimate.
Shen Qingtang seemed to sense something and turned her head uncomfortably. For some reason, the air here had become somewhat thin, and even the temperature had begun to rise quietly. But today was clearly a cool, cloudy day.
Suddenly, the screeching sound of car tires rubbing against the ground rang out, followed by Qin Sumiao's voice coming from outside the door.
"Brother, Old Huang and the others' car has arrived. Let's hurry down and wait for them."
Shen Qingtang quickly agreed, "Okay, we'll come down right away." She breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that she wouldn't have to be alone with Brother Qin anymore.
To show their respect for Mr. Huang, Su Rong's family mobilized all their resources. Apart from Qin Yuan, who was going to the company, everyone else lined up at the entrance of the villa to wait.
Seeing the black Maserati screech to a stop, Su Rong immediately stepped forward, smiling broadly, and said, "Mr. Huang, you've really had a hard day..."
After seeing clearly who was sitting in the car, Su Rong stopped talking, frowned and looked at Shen Ruowan sitting in the passenger seat, and asked with a puzzled look, "Xiao Wan, where is Old Huang? And who is this...?" She paused subtly for a moment, and her smile faded by half.
She had expected to see Old Huang, but instead she saw a young girl.
Shen Ruowan pushed open the door and got out of the car. Although she was smiling, she was also resentful as she looked at Ge Youan, who was slowly getting out of the car in the back. She never expected that after handing over the ancient medical book to Ge Youan, she would be tricked by him. She also overestimated Ge Youan's status in Huang Lao's eyes.
She even suspected that Old Master Huang was unaware that she was going to treat Qin Guanlan's legs. Ge Youan was truly "skilled and daring." She actually came up with the idea of taking Old Master Huang's place in the treatment. However, since the play was already halfway done, she couldn't just shut down the stage, so she could only grit her teeth and continue acting.
Therefore, she licked her lips and spoke the prepared statement, saying, "Mrs. Qin, let me introduce you. This is Ge Youan, the beloved disciple of Master Huang. She is also a senior TCM doctor and has treated many cases of paralysis of both legs under Master Huang's guidance."
Su Rong turned to Ge Youan and extended her hand in a polite greeting, saying, "Dr. Ge is a senior TCM doctor at such a young age, truly with a bright future. I just wonder when Elder Huang will arrive?"
"Was there a delay on the way? If there's a problem, you can let me know, and I can handle it."
Ge Youan gazed intently at the two-story villa with a garden in front of him, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes. In this prime location in Kyoto, the Qin Mansion occupied an area of 6,000 square meters, and even the small villa was decorated so grandly and imposingly. It truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier wealthy family.
However, the thought of her soon-to-open clinic made her suppress her envy. She was destined never to be able to make it in the Qin Mansion, but a clinic operating under her master's name would surely bring in a lot of money, and she could eventually buy a small villa just like the one in front of her.
Thinking of this, she slightly narrowed her eyes and looked at the wealthy and noble Mrs. Qin in front of her, and smiled arrogantly, saying, "Mrs. Qin, my master has been a bit busy lately. He said that he asked me to help with the preliminary examination and treatment of my legs." After speaking, she paused and said, "Please be sure to trust my medical skills. I will definitely take this seriously."
Upon hearing this, Su Rong's smile became somewhat stiff. No matter how diligent her apprentice was, his medical skills were no match for her master's. However, being a dignified person, she neither agreed nor refused, but instead asked again, "Is Elder Huang really not coming today? How about we reschedule for when Elder Huang is available?"
To be honest, her good temper and hospitality today were all for Master Huang, not for one of his apprentices.
Seemingly sensing the distrust in Su Rong's tone, Ge Youan was so angry that her nose almost twisted, but she still suppressed her anger and said, "I already said that Master has something to do today and won't be coming. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? This is just a preliminary examination and treatment. I am a senior TCM doctor, and I am more than capable of handling such a small matter."
Seeing that Ge Youan was about to break up with the conversation in just a few words, Shen Ruowan sighed helplessly and smiled apologetically at Su Rong, saying, "Mrs. Qin, most people with real talent are a bit arrogant, so don't blame Senior Sister Ge. Since Senior Sister Ge is already here today, let her get checked first. Anyway, her test results will be shown to Master, and then Master will definitely choose the treatment plan and the attending physician."
Hearing Shen Ruowan's words of persuasion, Su Rong's expression improved somewhat. She looked at Ge Youan coldly and distantly and said, "Since you're already here, then I'll trouble you to take a look." This time, she didn't even bother to force a smile.
Ge Youan clearly saw the doubts in everyone's eyes. She was holding her breath and wanted to show Su Rong and the others how capable she was. So, she raised her head defiantly and arrogantly ordered Shen Qingtang, "Shen Qingtang, fold up his trouser legs."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Qin Guanlan's eyes. How did the other party know Shen Qingtang's name? And why was he calling her so rudely?
Although Shen Qingtang did as she was told, there was a hint of anger on her face. She pursed her lips and said, "Didn't you say that it was Elder Huang who treated Brother Qin's legs? How did it become you?"
Ge Youan snorted and casually made up a story: "Of course it's because my medical skills are superb, and my master trusts me." Her confidence stemmed from her previous learning from her master, where she had seen him treat several cases of paralysis in both legs. She had mastered the art of rhetoric and assumed that it was not a difficult task.
“People with paralyzed legs often sit in wheelchairs, which can lead to muscle atrophy due to weakness and lack of exercise. Even if I cure you now, your legs will still have problems in the future. It’s like building a skyscraper; you have to lay a solid foundation.” She said smugly, “I specially brought you a set of silver needle acupuncture to nourish your blood. This way, you can enter the next stage of treatment. Then you will…” When Ge Youan’s gaze fell on Qin Guanlan’s legs that had been lifted up, her words stopped abruptly, and she was speechless for a moment.
Contrary to her expectations of legs that were atrophied, excessively pale, and as thin as bamboo poles, Qin Guanlan's legs were clearly well-maintained, with a rosy complexion, strong and powerful, even more normal than those of a normal person.
Qi Yi asked, "Dr. Ge, how is Brother Qin's leg recovery going? Is it time to move on to the next stage of treatment?"
“When…” Ge Youan immediately changed his words, chuckled and said, “Let me check first. What you see with the naked eye may not be accurate.”
She stretched out her finger and poked hard. The dent in her right thigh quickly bounced back, proving it was definitely not some kind of "trick" used for decoration. Ge Youan pursed her lips, a sense of irritation rising within her. Suddenly, she felt something was amiss, realizing for the first time that she had only learned a few basic moves.
She thought she could earn the Qin family's respect and gratitude with her silver needle acupuncture treatment, but now she felt embarrassed. While the manifestations of paralysis may be similar for everyone, the underlying causes differ, thus requiring different treatments.
This step was beyond the scope of her medical skills. Despite feeling guilty, Ge Youan forced a smile and said, "It's alright, it's alright. The Qin family truly lives up to its reputation as a top-tier wealthy family; they were able to massage and treat my legs so well." She was left with no opportunity to use her skills.
Hearing this, Su Rong, who had been on tenterhooks, immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good." After saying that, she smiled at Shen Qingtang and said, "It's all thanks to Qingtang's self-taught acupuncture skills that Guan'er's legs have been kept in such good condition, just like a normal person's."
She was initially worried when she heard that Shen Qingtang had learned acupuncture and was going to give Guan'er acupuncture, but after trying it a few times and finding that it worked well, she didn't stop her.
Upon hearing this, Ge Youan's face twisted in anger, and he felt a surge of resentment. Wasn't this tantamount to praising Shen Qingtang?
Upon hearing this, Qin Sumiao blinked and asked with concern, "Dr. Ge, what should we do next? Does my older brother still have a chance to stand up?"
Upon hearing this, Ge Youan scratched the back of his head, somewhat at a loss, and stammered, "The follow-up... I need to observe the follow-up further."
"How about this, I'll prescribe some medicine to help you regulate your bodies first, and I'll come back in a while."
Prescribing a formula that nourishes qi and blood without killing people has always been Ge Youan's effective way of delaying things, but she never expected that this time she would be exposed so thoroughly.
Qi Yi glanced at the prescription and muttered with a puzzled look, "Ginseng, goji berries, red dates...aren't these all for replenishing qi and blood? They won't do any good, and they won't kill you." Because Shen Qingtang had been preparing for exams at home recently, Qi Yi had also picked up some knowledge from her.
These words immediately aroused suspicion among many people.
"Isn't Dr. Ge's prescription skills really that poor?"
"Is this some kind of charlatan trying to pass off someone as something they're not?"
"Can she really cure the young master's leg?"
...
Upon hearing these doubts, Ge Youan's face turned grim. Unwilling to admit his mediocre medical skills, he immediately said, "This prescription does indeed regulate qi and blood, and it will not harm Young Master Qin's body." Of course, it will also not benefit him.
She paused for a moment, then said confidently, "These past few days I've been focusing on studying the book 'Complete Collection of Huangfu Ancient Prescriptions,' and I've found a treatment method. It introduces a treatment method called the Thirteen Ghost Needles. If I practice it for three years, I'll have a 30% success rate."
Upon hearing this, Su Rong's expression completely changed, and her body trembled as she exclaimed, "What? Only a 30% success rate? And it will take three years?" Her eyes blazed as she turned to look at Shen Ruowan and said, "Didn't you say there was a 50% success rate before?"
Otherwise, she wouldn't have rekindled her hope, or even forced Shen Qingtang to lend out the ancient medical book that rightfully belonged to her.
Qin Guanlan's face darkened further, and he solemnly reminded them, "I said before that the ancient medical book belongs to Qingtang, and you can only borrow it for a month."
Upon hearing this, Ge Youan immediately scoffed and looked at Shen Qingtang with undisguised provocation, saying, "She can't understand that ancient medical book anyway. It's a waste to leave it in her hands. I might as well study it." The implication was that he was not going to return it.
Noticing the displeased expressions on the faces of the others, Shen Ruowan pursed her lips, thinking to herself that it really was true: "It's not the god-like opponents I fear, but the pig-like ones."
She quickly reassured everyone, saying, "It's borrowed, it's borrowed. Senior Sister Ge just cherishes that ancient medical book and wants to study it for a while longer."
"If it's the master, the success rate is definitely over 50%, and it won't take three years."
Hearing this, Su Rong felt reassured.
The moment Ge Youan saw the "Complete Collection of Huangfu Ancient Prescriptions," he had already decided to claim it as his own. Coupled with the fact that his medical skills had just been questioned, and relying on the fact that Qin Guanlan's crippled legs needed treatment, he made an outrageous demand: "The condition for my master and I to treat him is that ancient medical book. If you don't want to give it to me, I'll leave right away."
She deliberately raised her voice: "I am Master's most beloved disciple. If I tell him not to save someone, he definitely won't."
Su Rong frowned, looking troubled, and tried to negotiate, "Dr. Ge, do you really want that medical book? We can offer you more money."
"No." Ge Youan's firm reply immediately made the atmosphere in the room tense.
Qin Guanlan stared intently in thought, then suddenly said, "Then let's not treat it."
“Originally, we asked Shen Ruowan to act as a go-between and invite Elder Huang, not some disciple under Elder Huang. In my opinion, your medical skills are not very good either, probably not even as good as Qingtang's, otherwise you wouldn't be so interested in an ancient medical book.”
Upon hearing this, Ge Youan felt a surge of anger. How could the other party say such a thing about her?
How could she possibly be inferior to Shen Qingtang? In an instant, she felt as if she had returned to the scene in the vegetable market where everyone was criticizing her. She took a deep breath and said fiercely, "Fine, you actually offended me for the sake of Shen Qingtang."
"So what if you, Qin Guanlan, are incredibly capable? You'll be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life."
Ge Youan's words were forceful, but they also intimidated Su Rong. She quickly blocked his path and said, "Dr. Ge, let us discuss this some more." After saying that, she looked at Shen Qingtang with pleading eyes: "Qingtang, it's just a medical book. Aunt Su will buy you more medical books later, okay?" She really didn't want to offend Elder Huang and miss the opportunity to treat Qin Guanlan.
Qi Yi and Qi Er also looked troubled, while Xiao Qian and Xia Xia seemed frightened and shrank back, not daring to utter a sound.
Shen Qingtang took a deep breath and looked at Ge Youan, saying, "Are you telling the truth? That ancient medical book can get Elder Huang to treat Brother Qin's legs. You're not lying to me again, are you?"
Qin Guanlan blinked, keenly catching the word "again," a glint of light flashing in his eyes. Recalling Ge Youan's immediate call of Shen Qingtang's name, he instinctively felt something was amiss. However, mindful of the many people present, he suppressed his doubts, choosing to inquire later.
Ge Youan nodded and said shamelessly, "Of course." But in his heart, he thought he could just make up some excuse later.
Shen Qingtang narrowed her eyes slightly and warned seriously, "If I find out you've lied to me again, I won't let you off easily." This cold tone made Ge Youan feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, and a sense of fear rose in her heart.
Just as Shen Qingtang was about to answer the question, Qin Guanlan grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
A broad, warm palm rested on her slender, fair wrist, fitting her perfectly like Eve finding her third rib. Shen Qingtang suddenly felt a ticklish sensation in her heart, an emotion she had never experienced before.
Fortunately, she remained calm, and no one could tell that she was in turmoil. After catching her breath, she asked, "Brother Qin, what's wrong?"
Qin Guanlan did not answer the question, but looked at Ge Youan with a deep gaze and refused, "I cannot give you that book, 'The Complete Collection of Huangfu Ancient Prescriptions'."
"Why?" Ge Youan asked, puzzled. In fact, she had always believed that this was a conflict between her and Shen Qingtang, and had nothing to do with Qin Guanlan. Moreover, she wanted to leverage the Qin family's influence in Kyoto to attract customers when she opened her clinic, so she came here with the aim of befriending the Qin family.
Qin Guanlan said in a calm tone, "First they borrowed, then they demanded, testing our bottom line time and time again. Our Qin family is not so weak and helpless."
Su Rong opened her mouth to defend herself, but Qin Guanlan shut her down with a single sentence.
"If our Qin family can't even protect a mere medical book, what can we possibly protect?"
Qin Sumiao bit her lip and said, "Big brother! Don't be like this, these are two different things." This was a hard-won opportunity for treatment, but because of Shen Qingtang... Thinking of this, she glared fiercely at Shen Qingtang, resenting him even more.
She's just a woman who went out drinking one night; the older brother is being far too protective of her.
Ge Youan chuckled coldly, but inwardly he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Ignoring Su Rong's attempts to stop him, he prepared to leave, uttering a heavy sentence: "Then I'll see who else besides Master can heal your legs." Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.
Suddenly, a clear voice rang out.
"Senior Sister Ge, didn't I tell you? Even my father can't cure Young Master Qin's legs."
These slap-in-the-face words came so quickly that Ge Youan felt as if a bomb had been dropped into her brain, leaving her completely dizzy and having no time to react.
Feeling the complex gazes of those around her, some hesitant, some questioning, and some doubtful, she licked her lips and immediately retorted, "Junior Sister, don't talk nonsense. How could someone as powerful as Master not be able to cure Young Master Qin's legs?"
“And…” Her eyelids trembled rapidly, her voice slightly weak: “Shouldn’t you be on a plane to the United States right now?” Huang Linli’s original plan was to fly back to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with his daughter, but because a distinguished guest had to visit at the last minute, he had to ask Huang Minmi to fly back to the United States for the holiday.
This is why she was confident enough to deceive everyone.
Huang Minmi smiled and said, "Yes, I was supposed to be on the plane, but Senior Sister Ge insisted on creating this mess for my dad." The Qin family is a top-tier wealthy family; the other party is simply stupid as a pig, daring to use my father's name to swindle people. They definitely won't get away with it. Huang Minmi received a Western education from a young age, making her independent and decisive. After realizing that Ge Youan seemed to really want her to return to the US, she pretended to leave but actually took a taxi and followed her all the way, only to discover the truth of the matter.
Ge Youan said with a pale face, "Junior Sister, don't be ridiculous. When Young Master Qin's legs were injured, Master was overseas and he never treated Young Master Qin. How can you be so sure that Master can't cure his legs?"
Huang Minmi explained calmly, "Yes, although my dad didn't take on this case, he was good friends with Dr. Aus, the attending physician who handled Qin's case. My dad got the diagnostic report through him. He told me this himself, so it can't be faked."
After speaking, Huang Minmi smiled at the somewhat bewildered crowd and said, "Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Huang Minmi, and I am Huang Linli's daughter."
“I didn’t know that Senior Sister Ge had taken on this matter for my father in private, so I came here specifically to explain.” After saying that, she looked coldly at Ge Youan and said, “I have already talked to my father about this. He said he doesn’t have a disciple like you, so don’t mention my father’s name again.”
The implication of this statement is that the other party has been expelled from the sect and will no longer be Huang Linli's disciple.
Upon realizing this, Ge Youan immediately panicked. The reason her clinic attracted investors was simply because of her master's reputation. Moreover, if she wasn't Huang Linli's disciple, what difference would she make from ordinary Chinese medicine practitioners?
Thinking of this, she felt her heart pound and swallowed hard, saying, "At worst, I'll just return the medical book to Shen Qingtang. Why is Master so heartless?"
After saying that, she defended herself, saying, "I wanted to bring this up with my master, but he's too busy, and I'm not sure if he'd have time." Then she looked at Su Rong and the others and said, "I only stepped in because I was worried that you patients' families would be anxious."
Hearing these unreasonable words, Su Rong, who had been keeping a good face, finally exploded, "Shut up, Ge Youan, get out of the Qin family!" Then she coldly glanced at Shen Ruowan and said, "Shen Ruowan, this is the help you've given me."
Shen Ruowan's face paled, realizing that Su Rong held a grudge against her because of this. She bit her lip and argued, "Mrs. Qin, this is not my fault. I was also deceived by her. I was only eager to cure Brother Qin, which is why I was tricked."
Su Rong regained her senses at this moment and was no longer so easily fooled. She snorted coldly and said, "Then why didn't you tell us when you were deceived in the first place?" Hearing this, Shen Ruowan stammered and couldn't say a word.
When Ge Youan was kicked out by the security guards, he kept saying that he was Huang Lao's apprentice and that if they were so capable, they would never come to see him for treatment. He acted like a complete shrew, which was completely different from his arrogant attitude when they first met.
Huang Minmi said with a look of shame, "I'm sorry, this was our oversight. Ge Youan will no longer be my father's disciple. Because of her character issues, her advanced TCM doctor's license will be revoked. This ancient medical book will be returned to its rightful owner."
After speaking, she handed the "Complete Collection of Huangfu Ancient Prescriptions" to Shen Qingtang. Shen Qingtang didn't take it, but instead asked, "Are you also a traditional Chinese medicine doctor?"
Huang Minmi nodded and said, "That's right. I learned medicine from my parents since I was a child, but unfortunately I have all the medical skills, but I don't have your courage to treat and save lives." She then recounted the incident at the vegetable market, "Back then, Senior Sister Ge said that a gentleman does not stand under a wall, and told me not to meddle in other people's business. Fortunately, you stepped forward and let me know that not everyone in this world is a hypocrite."
Seeing the admiration in the other person's eyes, Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and said, "In that case, I'll give you this ancient medical book." Amid the puzzled looks of the crowd, she continued, "I have an annotated version, and I've almost completely mastered this ancient medical book. It might be of greater help to you now."
Hearing Shen Qingtang's words, Huang Minmi was deeply moved and couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister Qingtang, you are not only skilled in medicine, but also have excellent character." As a fellow practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, her eyesight was naturally quite sharp. This medical book was extremely valuable, yet the other party gave it to her without batting an eye.
After seeing Huang Minmi off with decorum and politeness, the atmosphere in the villa turned somber. Su Rong and Qin Sumiao exchanged a glance, their eyes reddening, and tears began to fall.
The harsh reality shattered their hopes like a giant hammer.
"Guan'er, your legs..." Huang Rong's hopes were finally dashed. Her voice choked with sobs, her heart utterly broken. Even a highly skilled physician like Huang Lao had admitted that he couldn't cure Guan'er; Guan'er was destined to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Qin Sumiao cried even harder, her voice filled with resentment and indignation: "Brother, I don't believe you can't stand up. I believe there must be a miracle doctor in this world who can heal your legs."
Qin Guanlan comforted him, saying, "It's alright, I'm used to it now."
Hearing the two women crying, Shen Qingtang felt a surge of annoyance. She looked at them coldly and said, "Aunt Su, Little Sister Qin, you two stop crying."
"Why do you call me Qin Xiaomei? Why can't I cry?" Qin Sumiao had a very bad impression of Shen Qingtang and subconsciously retorted.
"Because the saddest person is not you, but Brother Qin. You are crying and sobbing here, but Brother Qin has to comfort you."
Qin Sumiao: "..." She moved her lips, but didn't speak for a long time. Only after Shen Qingtang reminded her did she notice the trace of sadness hidden beneath Qin Guanlan's calm surface.
They were saddened even though they weren't directly involved, let alone her brother who was. In that instant, she belatedly realized why her mother and the others thought Shen Qingtang had taken good care of her brother.
Indeed... that's true. She always considered things from her eldest brother's perspective, prioritizing his feelings, something even they, as family members, couldn't do.
After figuring this out, Qin Sumiao's impression of Shen Qingtang suddenly changed a lot, and in the end she could only bluntly retort, "Don't drink so much in the future."
After this incident, Old Mrs. Qin secretly vented her anger, criticizing Su Rong for being too formal.
If she had been informed beforehand, Ge Youan, that little liar, wouldn't have been fooled so easily. She informed her subordinates, and Ge Youan was blacklisted from the medical field. Once on the blacklist, Ge Youan could no longer work in any medical-related position, not even as an intern. She also inadvertently left Shen Ruowan, who had acted as a gossip and opportunist, with a bad impression of her.
After silently pushing Qin Guanlan back into the house, Shen Qingtang suddenly knelt down in front of him, stretched out her hands and tightly grasped Qin Guanlan's right hand, as if expressing her concern in this way.
Although Shen Qingtang's hands were fair and slender, the fingerprints on her thumb and middle finger had become somewhat rough due to her frequent practice of acupuncture. When she placed them on the back of Qin Guanlan's right hand, they felt particularly real.
Her bright eyes blinked repeatedly, filled with worry. Qin Guanlan remained silent for a moment, then reached out and patted her head to comfort her, saying, "I'm fine." He was already used to this kind of hope being pushed into despair time and time again.
Shen Qingtang understood this implication and said in a muffled voice, "Brother Qin, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have trusted Ge Youan." Otherwise, Brother Qin wouldn't have been so hopeful, and he wouldn't be so sad now.
Qin Guanlan shook his head and said, "I know you're doing this for my own good." He paused for a moment and then said, "Now you can tell me why you ended up in the hospital after drinking, right?"
Shen Qingtang moved her lips, about to speak, when a series of kicking sounds came from outside.
"Shen Qingtang, you offended Ge Youan yourself, causing Old Master Huang to not come to treat my brother's leg. How dare you blame Xiao Wan?"
"Tell me the truth, was it because you didn't drink enough to satisfy Ge Youan last night that she retaliated like this?"
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Author's Note: Comments, nutrient solution, or a bomb (or a comment/throw a bomb)—choose one. I'll try my best to update today! [crying emoji]
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