"Let me tell you, practicing medicine without a license plus spreading rumors about a cholera outbreak—I'm calling the police, and you're going to pay dearly for this!" Gou Yuan roared with anger as he looked at Li Tianyang's miserable state.
This Young Master Li was practically his god of wealth!
Tang Yanran hurriedly grabbed Chen Wanli by the arm. "Are you still trying to make things bigger?"
Just then, they saw Shu Yiyan return out of nowhere, followed by a dozen patient family members.
Two burly men among them had a middle-aged, chubby woman sandwiched between them.
Shu Yiyan pointed at the chubby woman and said, "She is the kindergarten director!"
"A new foreign teacher started at their hospital the day before yesterday. He's a Black man who just came over from Africa!"
The chubby woman nodded. "That is true!"
Shu Yiyan continued, "So the source of infection is very likely him..."
Hearing this, Vice President Gou's expression shifted immediately. Blind guessing without evidence was entirely different from this kind of corroborated speculation.
Could it really be Vibrio cholerae?
Everyone looked at Chen Wanli with astonishment.
How on earth had this fellow deduced it was Vibrio cholerae? Could he tell fortunes or something?
Shu Yiyan paused for a moment and added, "These are the patients' family members, and we all appreciate Mr. Chen's help just now. If necessary, we are willing to testify that we begged him to help us, and that he was not practicing medicine illegally!"
"Besides, Mr. Chen does indeed hold a certificate for specialized expertise and an assistant physician certificate. Strictly speaking, with Dr. He Yang present, he cannot be considered to be practicing medicine illegally!"
This time, not only Tang Yanran, but even Chen Wanli was stunned. Where on earth would he get something like that?
Gou Yuan stared at Shu Yiyan in a daze for a long time. "Y-You're Shu, Ms. Shu Yiyan?"
"Well, you recognize me?"
"I had the honor of meeting you at the Municipal Health Commission's charity banquet!" Gou Yuan said, frowning. This grand-aunt was not someone he could afford to provoke.
He Yang leisurely added, "The day of Ms. Song's misdiagnosis, Chen Wanli was the one who discovered it, and he was the one who cured her! Mr. Song also holds him in the highest regard!"
"???" Sweat immediately poured down Gou Yuan's forehead.
He knew about Song Jiaojiao's misdiagnosis, and Hospital Director Zhang Debiao had even gone to prison because of it!
It had circulated around the hospital that the patient discovered by Chen Wanli hadn't died, but he truly had no idea Chen Wanli was the one who treated him.
Gou Yuan now just wanted to bludgeon Li Tianyang to death. He forced a sheepish smile and looked at Chen Wanli. "Brother Chen, look at this mess. I had no idea!"
"It's a misunderstanding, a pure misunderstanding!"
Chen Wanli lifted his eyelids, offering a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "So you're giving my wife a disciplinary mark?"
"No, no, no, how could that be!"
Gou Yuan had completely changed his tune now.
Li Tianyang's face turned green with anger. "Then shouldn't we at least call the police about the physical assault?"
Gou Yuan glared at him. "What assault? Young Master Li just took a tumble by himself a moment ago, everyone saw it!"
"..." Li Tianyang wanted nothing more than to beat this old bastard to death.
Right at that moment, the testing department brought back the report, and it truly was Vibrio cholerae.
"Brother Chen is truly a divine being! Thanks to you this time, I thank you on behalf of all the patients. I'm going to go handle the patients first!" Gou Yuan looked pleadingly at Chen Wanli.
Tang Yanran spoke up, "Urgent matters come first!"
Gou Yuan immediately cast a grateful look her way.
Chen Wanli gave his chin a slight lift. Gou Yuan dragged Li Tianyang away, turning around as he walked and shouting, "Emergency department, pay attention to sterilization and treat them according to Vibrio cholerae protocols!"
Shu Yiyan nodded at Chen Wanli and prepared to lead her people away.
"Ms. Shu, I have some other matters and would like to consult with you! Do you have time later?"
Chen Wanli thought of his second uncle mentioning the Tianyang Collection Company and how they had paid a high price to buy his parents' leftover belongings; he felt there was something fishy about it.
As the new owner of Tianyuan Pavilion, Nanbin City's largest auction house, Shu Yiyan must be thoroughly familiar with the antique collection companies in Nanbin City, so it would be convenient to get some information from her.
"Come find me at the teahouse later." Shu Yiyan nodded in assent and left.
Chen Wanli threw himself back into treating a few severely ill children, while those with milder symptoms received routine treatment from the hospital.
Tang Yanran also finished handling her patients, and the two of them left the hospital dragging exhausted bodies.
On the way home, Tang Yanran recalled the scene of Chen Wanli performing acupuncture and still found it hard to believe:
"Did you practice acupuncture on people in college?"
Chen Wanli thought for a moment and said, "No. Song Jiaojiao was practically the first person I actually operated on! Today makes it the second time!"
"..." Tang Yanran was silent for a long while. "I think you might actually have a talent for medicine. Have you considered going to medical school to study?"
Chen Wanli smiled. What medical school could compare to a supreme medical immortal who had entered the Dao through medicine and traveled across myriad realms?
"No!"
"Reading a few books and relying on sheer coincidence is simply not a long-term path. Since you have a talent for medicine, why not delve deeper?"
Tang Yanran said, looking at him with exasperated high expectations.
Chen Wanli glanced at Tang Yanran and asked, "Would this count as hoping your husband becomes a dragon?"
Tang Yanran's pretty face flushed, and she awkwardly said, "I'm telling you not to waste your talent!"
"..."
After dropping Tang Yanran off at home, Chen Wanli didn't go upstairs. "I'm heading out for a bit!"
"To find Shu Yiyan?" A flash of displeasure crossed Tang Yanran's face.
"Yeah!" Chen Wanli nodded.
"Go on then, as if you needed to tell me!" Tang Yanran stomped off huffily.
Chen Wanli drove all the way toward the teahouse, his mind in a chaotic whirl.
Ever since his return from his second uncle's house, thinking of his parents made his heart unsettled.
Back then, the tragedy that befell his family had been officially classified as an accidental homicide resulting from a home invasion; the two scoundrels who carried out the act had both been sentenced to death and executed.
Yet now, for some reason, Chen Wanli faintly felt that things were not that simple.
There were three main sources for this suspicion.
First, the Tianyang Collection Company had bought his parents' not-so-valuable belongings at ten times their high value.
Second, the sudden rise of his second uncle's family happened precisely after his parents' deaths—far too much of a coincidence!
Third, all of his father's past behaviors, when recalled now, seemed as though he had long been prepared for an accident to befall him.
And then there was the Tang Family—that woman whom he had never met yet who had abandoned her husband and son, why would she make the Tang Family quietly keep an eye on him and rescue him at a critical moment?
It was as if she, too, had long known that one day, their family would meet with misfortune.
All of this left Chen Wanli unable to find peace of mind. Perhaps he was overthinking it, but concerning the death of his parents, if he didn't investigate, he couldn't convince himself otherwise.
Chapter 33: A Temptress, So Intoxicating!
When Chen Wanli arrived at the teahouse, Shu Yiyan was already waiting in the lobby.
She had changed into a long white dress. White was the purest of colors, yet on her, it turned into an allure that was both innocent and deeply seductive.
Those limpid eyes held flowing clarity, with an innate charm mixed into their innocence.
"My little man even refused a meal last time, but now he takes the initiative to look for me. How rare!" Shu Yiyan smiled seductively.
Chen Wanli cut straight to the point. "I want to get some information from you about the Tianyang Collection Company!"
Seeing Chen Wanli's solemn expression, Shu Yiyan also put away her flamboyant look. "Is it important?"
"Very important!"
Shu Yiyan took out her phone and sent out a message. "Wait for the reply, it should be quick!"
"Good!" Chen Wanli sat down opposite Shu Yiyan cleanly and neatly.
Just then, Shu Yiyan's phone rang. After answering the call, her delicate eyebrows furrowed. "It seems before I help you with your favor, you'll have to help me with one first!"
"Huh?"
"An elder is gravely ill, and the hospital is completely at their wit's end. Will you go take a look for me?" Shu Yiyan looked at Chen Wanli with a beaming smile!
"Alright!" Chen Wanli readily agreed.
"Rest assured, I won't let you work for nothing. If you cure him, I'll offer myself in marriage to repay you?!"
"I'm married!"
"Then I'll let you do whatever you want, the kind where you don't have to take responsibility?"
"Let's go!"
"Oh, you're in such an eager rush to go—is it so you can do whatever you want after you've seen the patient?" Shu Yiyan blinked playfully. She felt that Chen Wanli possessed a composure mismatched with his age, which made her can't help but want to tease him!
Chen Wanli rolled his eyes. He didn't know if this woman acted this way with all men or if she just liked teasing him!
"Forget it. You're no fun to tease! Ride in my car then." Shu Yiyan pointed at the silver Bentley parked at the teahouse entrance.
Chen Wanli gave an affirmative grunt and followed her into the car.
The driver drove, while Shu Yiyan and Chen Wanli sat in the back.
"The sick old mister is an elder of a friend of mine. His illness is very strange; he fell ill suddenly today and has been unconscious. The doctors say there are signs of poisoning!"
"The doctors tested his blood and carried out detoxification treatments, but the results weren't good."
Chen Wanli frowned upon hearing this. "Was the detoxification protocol incorrect for the condition?"
"No, after detoxification, he would ease up, but then the condition would worsen again afterward!" Shu Yiyan spoke of the illness looking rather worried.
"Oh!"
As the two were talking, the driver suddenly made a sharp turn, steered the car into an alley, slammed on the brakes, and brought the car to a halt.
"I'm sorry, Boss, I have no choice! My wife and kids were grabbed by them!!"
Having dropped these words, the driver bolted and ran toward the mouth of the alley.
Right at that moment, two vans suddenly roared in, blocking both the front and rear exits of the alley.
Following that, the van doors flew open, and a dozen masked thugs armed with clubs leaped out.
The leading fellow was burly and robust, wearing a monkey mask.
"Ms. Shu, my boss wants to see you. Don't make things difficult for us, take a trip with us!"
The monkey-masked man brandished a knife and planted a foot on the hood of the Bentley.
"You've got some nerve, actually daring to hijack my car?"
Shu Yiyan narrowed her eyes without the slightest panic.
"If that group of bodyguards of yours had tagged along, we truly wouldn't have dared to make a move. Unfortunately, all your bodyguards went to guard some old man at the hospital.
Now that you're only bringing along a pretty boy, if we didn't strike quickly, wouldn't we be fools?" The monkey-masked man's tone was extremely smug.
"Mm, to be so clear on my whereabouts means you've been watching me for more than a day or two, and you even bought off my driver. Your boss is no ordinary person," Shu Yiyan said calmly.
"That goes without saying. You don't need to ask too many questions either; come with us, and once you get there, you'll naturally know who my boss is. Get out of the car!" the monkey-masked man urged.
"Get out of the car? If you've got the ability, smash your way in!" Shu Yiyan remained extremely calm.
"Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, don't blame us for being impolite!"
The monkey-masked man waved a hand, and his subordinates hauled a massive sledgehammer specifically meant for smashing car windows out of the van.
Just as he was about to smash the glass, Chen Wanli suddenly pushed the car door open and stepped out.
"Ms. Shu, the pretty boy you keep really is spineless. I haven't even started yet, and he's already trying to run away?" the monkey-masked man sneered.
Shu Yiyan raised an eyebrow as she looked at Chen Wanli's back, remaining silent as she slipped her hand into the gap of the car's back seat.
Chen Wanli impatiently glanced at the group of thugs. "Scram."
"??? Are you fucking kidding me? Acting all badass all by yourself! Is playing the hero saving the beauty something a piece of trash like you can pull off?"
The moment those words fell.
Only a crisp "crack" was heard as Chen Wanli landed a fierce punch squarely on the monkey-masked man's mask. The mask instantly shattered into pieces, revealing a face with muscles twitching in raw agony.
The immense force sent him spinning around twice on the spot, unable to even steady his footing.
"Dog bastard, you actually dare to throw the first punch!"
The dozen hooligans paused briefly before grabbing their clubs and charging forward.
Chen Wanli frowned, neither retreating nor dodging, and charged straight to meet them.
His movements were eerie and swift, plunging into the crowd like a tiger among sheep.
With every person he approached, he delivered a punch straight to the bridge of the nose.
"Thud, thud, thud..."
Dull impacts rang out continuously.
In barely a minute or two, the group of thick-limbed thugs had all been knocked flat to the ground by Chen Wanli's iron fists.
One punch per person, and several of their masks were driven straight into the flesh of their faces, bleeding profusely.
For a time, cries of pain and wailing filled the alley.
The monkey-masked man was left utterly dumbfounded.
They were guys who licked blood off their knife blades for a living, and street fighting was a daily routine for them, but Chen Wanli's combat skills were beyond anything he could have possibly imagined.
Over a dozen men, and they hadn't even managed to brush the hem of Chen Wanli's clothes.
"My little man really is a treasure of a boy!"
Shu Yiyan put the pistol she had just drawn back into the gap in the rear seat, a hint of a smile showing in her lovely eyes.
She had originally thought Chen Wanli was acting rashly—moreover, a good fighter could still be overwhelmed by sheer numbers, and she had even cocked her pistol.
She hadn't expected Chen Wanli to be so incredibly capable.
Such combat skills, let alone compared to her bodyguards, were not the least bit inferior to some of the elite military kings she had seen.
He could appraise treasures, understood art, and excelled in medicine—was there anything this little man couldn't do?
"Y-You, what do you want?"
Seeing Chen Wanli step closer step by step, the monkey-masked man panicked instantly. "I'm telling you, my boss is no ordinary person; he's not someone you can afford to provoke!"
Chen Wanli directly delivered a kick to the monkey-masked man's abdomen, causing him to instantly double over like a shrimp in pain.
"Ms. Shu, what do you think we should do?" Chen Wanli thought for a moment and asked.
"Alright!"
Shu Yiyan agreed, stepped out of the car, and walked forward.
She simply looked coldly at the monkey-masked man. "Who on earth is your boss?"
"This..."
The monkey-masked man stammered somewhat.
"Not talking?"
Shu Yiyan smiled, picked up a knife, laid it across his neck, and said calmly, "Then I'll chop your head off and feed it to the dogs!"
With that, she raised the knife, making as if she really meant to hack him down.
"Spare me, spare me! I'll talk... It's Brother Bao! Brother Bao of the Tianbao Group!" The monkey-masked man lost his nerve.
Betraying Brother Bao wouldn't bring any good results, but this woman Shu Yiyan was even less someone to trifle with.
"As expected, it's him."
Shu Yiyan smiled coldly. "Go back and tell Li Baofeng, for today's matter, I expect him to give me an explanation! If there's no explanation, I'll pay a personal visit to greet his whole family!"
"Okay, okay..." The monkey-masked man nodded frantically in terror.
"Scram!"
The group hurriedly helped each other up and fled in panic.
Chen Wanli watched Shu Yiyan with keen interest. Though he had long guessed she was no ordinary woman, her performance still somewhat exceeded his expectations.
"The person you care about first mysteriously got poisoned, your bodyguards were left behind at the hospital, and then you were ambushed. Could these two things be related?"
"Indeed, that possibility cannot be ruled out! Let's go cure the illness first! If they really did this, I'll let them experience the might of Shu Yiyan!" Shu Yiyan narrowed her eyes.
"Mm." Chen Wanli nodded.
When all was said and done, he had only mentioned it in passing; he had no interest in meddling in other people's affairs.
"Little man, this counts as saving my life, right?" Shu Yiyan batted her pretty eyes.
"Just a flick of the wrist, nothing much."
"No way, such a huge favor must be repaid!"
At this point, Shu Yiyan smiled seductively. "To show my sincerity, how about... I offer myself in marriage?"
"There she goes again..."
Chen Wanli rolled his eyes all the way to the heavens!
To be honest, Shu Yiyan was a great beauty on par with Tang Yanran, yet she differed from Tang Yanran's intellectual and cold demeanor.
Instead, she possessed a kind of amorous, thousandfold alluring beauty.
She was an absolute temptress!
"Just a moment ago I thought my little man was interesting, but so soon he's no fun to tease again!"
Shu Yiyan laughed, causing the twin peaks on her chest to heave up and down.
Chen Wanli averted his gaze.
This woman was far too much of a temptress; the more he looked, the more intoxicating she became.
Chapter 34: The Little Divine Doctor is Here, I'm Redundant!
Shu Yiyan got into the driver's seat and drove Chen Wanli straight to a private hospital.
After getting out of the car, the two headed directly to the hospital's VIP ward.
On the hospital bed lay an emaciated elderly man.
At this moment, his complexion was ashen, his lips were purple, his breathing was faint, and he was in mortal danger.
"Yiyan, why are you here!"
The middle-aged man sitting beside the hospital bed stood up when he saw Shu Yiyan enter.
"Has Yanbin not hurried back yet?" Shu Yiyan asked.
"No. I reckon the old man isn't going to make it! That damned scoundrel Yanbin isn't rushing back even at a time like this; it looks like he won't even make it to see the old man's final face!"
"You're Yanbin's eldest uncle, Grandpa Yan's eldest son. Instead of thinking of ways to find a famous doctor, you're actually saying things like this!"
Shu Yiyan held quite a bit of dissatisfaction toward Yan Changhai, the eldest son of the Yan Family.
Yanbin was her good friend, and Old Master Yan even treated her like family; Yan Changhai's words stirred an anonymous fire within her.
Yan Changhai said unhappily, "Is it that I'm not trying to find a way? The doctors here have taken turns coming forward, and every method that can be thought of has been tried!"
"Stomach pumping, even hemoperfusion—every method imaginable has been tried!"
"And we've also invited two famous doctors who are already on their way. Aren't I just trying to guard against any eventuality?"
As he spoke, the two chief physicians standing guard here nodded along.
Both of them were top chief physicians at this private hospital, experts ranked near the top nationwide.
One of the doctors pushed up his glasses and sighed helplessly, "Ms. Shu, to not hide it from you, I've practiced medicine for thirty years and can be considered one of the leading doctors in our field, yet I've never encountered such a bizarre situation!"
"How should I put it? I can confirm we accurately tested the toxin and prescribed the right medicine for the condition, yet every time the illness eases, it suddenly worsens again!"
"In my view, inviting any more famous doctors at this point is probably futile!"
Shu Yiyan's delicate eyebrows furrowed. "Since you lot aren't up to it, let Dr. Chen take a look at the old master!"
With that, she said to Chen Wanli, "I'm counting on you!"
Chen Wanli sized up Old Master Shu, a vague judgment forming in his mind.
Meanwhile, the gazes of the others swept over Chen Wanli as well.
"Yiyan, you're not joking, are you? You're letting him treat the old man?" Yan Changhai asked with a frown.
Though the two doctors didn't speak, their expressions were filled with doubt.
Chen Wanli looked at most like a newly graduated medical student, while the two of them were both pillars of the industry and doctoral supervisors.
To put it another way, Chen Wanli's age was at most adequate to be their student.
"Just let him have a look at the situation first, it won't affect anything!" Shu Yiyan said.
Actually, Shu Yiyan wasn't saying she had total confidence in Chen Wanli either; after all, so many famous doctors were helpless against the old master's condition.