Chapter 38

Su Fuling had an evening house call, so she closed the shop early.

Zhao Facai naturally wanted to tag along on the house call. When one's master made a house call, how could a disciple not accompany her? Chen Shasha had also caught on to the trick and immediately followed his example, asking to go too.

She had no idea what the old man was scheming, but this shrewd fellow certainly wouldn't get the short end of the stick. "Doctor Su, I can protect you. I'm great at fighting. You're so pretty, it wouldn't be safe to go out alone."

In truth, Su Fuling wasn't particularly worried. The man had asked her to make a house call in front of so many people, and Aunt Ding and the others knew him.

Still, having company would certainly be reassuring.

"Alright then. Uncle Fa, you can come with me." She turned to Chen Shasha. "Shasha, go home early so your brother doesn't worry."

Zhao Facai said, "Exactly. Kids should go home early."

Chen Shasha: "..."

This time, Su Fuling really did come home loaded with bags of all sizes. Though she'd left some at the shop for Zhao Facai and the others to eat, she still had plenty of fruit and pastries. Along the way, acquaintances spotted her and couldn't help gossiping. "How is A'Ming's niece buying so many things for the family?"

"We thought she'd be a burden on A'Ming's household, but they've never once quarreled, and she keeps bringing things home. She's shopped so many times these past days."

"A'Ming really is blessed."

Seeing Su Fuling carrying a pile of things, Zhou Huijuan was astonished. "Why did you buy so much?"

Su Fuling said, "It was all gifts. Aunt, no need to make dinner for me tonight—I'm going out on a house call."

Zhou Huijuan quickly asked, "Where to?"

Su Fuling gave the hospital's name.

Hearing it, Zhou Huijuan was even more surprised—it was one of Gangcheng's major hospitals. Someone already admitted to a big hospital, yet still asking A'Ling to come do a checkup?

"Aunt, I arranged for them to pick me up at Uncle's clinic, so I'll take the food over while I'm at it."

"Oh, alright, I'll go heat it up right away."

Zhou Huijuan hurried briskly into the kitchen, afraid of delaying Su Fuling's work. In her view, earning money was the top priority.

Little cousin Su Shan sat on a mat, eating the fruit Su Fuling had brought back, sipping the juice bit by bit.

When Su Fuling squatted down beside her, she even held out a piece for her.

Su Fuling smiled and shook her head, then patted her little head. She wondered whether, back when she was little, her father had felt this same contentment every time he returned from a house call with wild berries and watched her eat them with relish.

Zhao Facai waited dutifully downstairs. Seeing Su Fuling come down with a lunchbox—that must be the meal his master was delivering. Zhao Facai mused that he had no idea what sort of abilities his master's uncle possessed, to have someone like his master personally deliver his food. He imagined that if he had such power, he'd surely be the center of everyone's attention.

When they arrived at the clinic, Zhao Facai stared at Su Jueming. He'd seen him a few times before, but his mindset had been different then, and he hadn't looked closely, assuming he was an ordinary man.

Looking at him now... he still seemed pretty ordinary.

Meanwhile, Su Fuling was already telling Su Jueming about the house call she was about to make.

Su Jueming said, "Ah, then I'll go with you."

"Uncle Fa is coming with me. He's studying medicine under me now and wants to see a house call."

Su Jueming quickly stood up and thanked Zhao Facai.

"Oh no, I wouldn't dare." Zhao Facai hurriedly waved his hands and stepped back a few paces. Before coming, Su Fuling had warned him not to call her master, so he didn't dare speak carelessly. "Um... I'm the one who should be grateful, to be able to learn the Su family's medicine. In the old days, that would hardly have been easy."

Hearing this, Su Jueming deeply agreed. He felt that Zhao Facai accompanying his niece on a house call really wasn't a loss for him.

"Speaking of which, I heard an amusing story today—someone supposedly using checkups to divine people's fortunes. Your Uncle Tang thought they were talking about you."

Su Fuling: "..."

Zhao Facai pricked up his ears.

Su Fuling said, "Uncle, that was a misunderstanding. I just warned a patient, based on her condition, to stay in bed or she'd easily faint and hurt herself. The patient didn't listen and really did get hurt."

Su Jueming suddenly understood. "So that's how it was. The story must have gotten distorted as it spread. I said it myself—no matter what, our A'Ling would never become a charlatan. Even though I've been away from home for years, the old man doesn't seem like he'd abandon medicine for mysticism either."

Su Fuling smiled politely. "It's all medicine."

Su Jueming nodded. "The old man's medical skill really was excellent. Lately I've been working hard to study the case records he left behind."

Zhao Facai immediately understood: his little master's uncle, having been away from home for years, hadn't learned the family's true teachings.

Ah, what a pity. Such a good opportunity, missed. He suddenly felt rather sorry for Su Jueming.

As they were talking, a car pulled up outside. The time showed 5:50.

Not too early—it wouldn't disturb the master's rest—and not too late, which would seem insincere. Sun Zhonghao had timed it perfectly, and he came in carrying a fruit basket.

Sun Zhonghao said, "Doctor Su, you're here as expected. Is this also your family's clinic?"

Su Fuling smiled. "It's my uncle's clinic."

Like Zhao Facai, Sun Zhonghao assumed this elder of Doctor Su's must possess formidable abilities, and he immediately grew reverent. "So this is the great Doctor Su."

Su Jueming had never been treated this way before. And the man looked quite wealthy, which made him a bit embarrassed. "You're too kind, too kind. I'm no great doctor—I just run a small clinic for the neighborhood's convenience."

"The great Doctor Su is too modest," Sun Zhonghao said. "This is clearly a blessing to the whole area. Your medical ethics are truly noble."

Su Jueming: "..." Do rich people all talk this sweetly nowadays?

Su Fuling didn't want Sun Zhonghao saying anything more foolish, and urged, "It's six o'clock. Let's go. I need to get home early."

Sun Zhonghao immediately said, "My apologies for being rude. Great Doctor Su, let me treat you to a meal next time." He took out a business card. "My surname is Sun. If anything comes up, great Doctor Su, you can call me."

Then he courteously ushered Su Fuling out. "Thank you for making this trip, Doctor Su."

Watching this scene, Su Jueming felt his worldview shift a little. Was his A'Ling really this impressive now?

It was Su Fuling's first time riding in such a luxurious car—far more comfortable than Uncle Siping's taxi.

Zhao Facai felt he had followed the right person. Even as a mere attendant, he got to ride in a rich man's luxury car.

Sun Zhonghao didn't have the driver drive; he drove himself. As he drove, he chatted with Su Fuling, bringing up the current Gangcheng stock market.

He naturally had his own motives. His wife had lost a great deal of money, and it had become a sore spot for her. Sun Zhonghao himself pained over that sum too, so he wanted to earn it back.

Before, he'd given up hope. Now it was different—a master had appeared at his side.

Unfortunately, discussing the stock market with Su Fuling was like playing music to a cow. Su Fuling understood nothing about stocks. Only Zhao Facai could chime in a few words, since he bought stocks himself—just not many.

Listening in, Su Fuling did gain some understanding of the stock market. So a great many people in Gangcheng traded stocks. Some got rich overnight, some went bankrupt overnight, yet many still threw themselves into it. Gangcheng could truly be called a place where every local traded stocks.

Su Fuling decided she definitely could not get involved.

Wasn't that rather like gambling?

So she closed her eyes to rest.

"..." Glancing at this in the rearview mirror, Sun Zhonghao said no more, privately guessing: had Doctor Su seen through his little scheme and simply chosen to ignore him?

Indeed, one couldn't play petty tricks before a master. He'd have to be more sincere from now on.

Someone who could see through the future—how could she not see through the human heart?

Arriving at the hospital, Su Fuling finally perked up.

This hospital was huge!

There must be so many patients inside.

Su Fuling thought that if she ever had the chance, it would be wonderful to take pulses in every department. Then she could write a book of medical cases like her grandfather had.

Just thinking about it excited her. But soon she faced reality again. This was Gangcheng! Not her hometown.

Even back home, since her grandfather's passing, she'd had no way to go to the county hospital to learn by taking pulses.

Once inside the hospital, one scan confirmed it—so many patients.

Su Fuling felt like a rat that had fallen into a rice vat... but couldn't eat the rice.

Reaching the hospital room, Su Fuling found that the rich really did stay in nice rooms—a private ward.

Seeing Su Fuling, An Hui immediately apologized, somewhat guiltily. "Doctor Su, I was rude yesterday." An Hui might be strong-willed and proud, but she wasn't stupid. She could read the situation clearly and understood what was at stake.

Before a master like Su Fuling, she knew to admit her error promptly, so as not to leave a bad impression.

Never mind whether the woman might cast some spell of revenge—even just being refused a fortune reading was more than she could accept.

Su Fuling smiled. "I can understand a patient questioning a doctor's skill. I'm here today for your follow-up, Ms. An. Let me take your pulse first."

An Hui quickly held out her hand.

Zhao Facai briskly took the pulse pillow from the medicine case and placed it on the bedside cabinet for An Hui to rest her hand on.

Only then did Su Fuling carefully take her pulse.

An Hui's pulse was naturally weaker than yesterday. She'd just undergone a second surgery—no small ordeal. Beyond the pain, it took a great toll on the body.

Su Fuling withdrew her hand. "Yesterday's prescription doesn't need changing, but I'll add some dietary tonic recipes to shore up your foundation. First we replenish what your body has spent—that will help your injury heal."

This time An Hui had no complaints whatsoever and nodded quickly.

Then she asked quietly, "Doctor Su, should I... get another checkup?"

Su Fuling said, "No need. In your current state you can only rest in bed—as long as you stay in bed, it's fine." She'd already scanned her: An Hui was no longer a mission target.

Still, Su Fuling was curious about An Hui's case. After all, this was the same injury suffered twice. She'd come to diagnose her, yet the system awarded no additional merit points.

Based on her understanding of the system, it probably worried that "cunning humans" might keep damaging wounds to farm merit points. So for the same injury, no matter how many times it was hurt, no extra merit was given.

Sun Zhonghao still hoped Su Fuling could diagnose further and prescribe more medicine, so An Hui would recover faster.

Su Fuling said, "All medicine is three parts poison. Taking a jumble of remedies would actually harm the body. If you want auxiliary treatment, I do have another method—acupuncture. But my acupuncture isn't very good; you could hire a more skilled doctor."

What need was there to hire anyone more skilled? In An Hui's eyes, Doctor Su was the best there was.

"Doctor Su, why don't you give it a try? I trust you."

Sun Zhonghao had been about to suggest hiring someone else, but hearing this, he held his tongue, lest Doctor Su think they looked down on her skills.

Doctor Su could even see through other people's futures—surely she could see whether she could heal an injury.

Hearing this, Su Fuling said, "Let's wait until after discharge, or at least discuss a plan with the hospital's doctors first, so our two treatment approaches don't conflict."

Hearing this, Sun Zhonghao said, "Then tomorrow I'll show the prescription to the doctor."

Su Fuling nodded, packed up her medicine case, and prepared to head home.

"Mr. Sun, Mrs. Sun, what are you doing?" A white coat pushed open the door and entered.

It turned out a nurse had spotted Zhao Facai carrying the medicine case.

The nurse had reported it to the attending physician.

The doctor of course had to handle this. Some people receiving treatment in the hospital grew impatient with slow results and tried folk remedies on their own; when things went wrong later, they blamed the doctor for failing to cure them. As the attending physician, he certainly couldn't let his patient be swindled. So without even eating dinner, he rushed straight over.

Entering, he indeed saw an old man in a long gown standing there. To a doctor trained abroad, traditional Chinese medicine was nothing but quackery.

"Mr. Sun, forgive the intrusion. Have you brought in an outsider for treatment?"

Sun Zhonghao hadn't expected the doctor to come at this moment and was caught off guard. "Doctor Gao, let me introduce you. This is Doctor Su, here for my wife's follow-up. Doctor Su previously gave my wife an in-person consultation." Meaning it wasn't distrust of the hospital—there had already been a consultation before.

Doctor Gao had been staring at Zhao Facai, only to be introduced to a young woman who looked like she hadn't even graduated university.

"..."

He finally couldn't hold back, his face flushing slightly. "Mr. Sun, I know you're anxious about Mrs. Sun's injury, but such rash behavior does her no good at all, and it shows distrust of us professionals."

"Hmph!" Zhao Facai snorted, thinking this doctor had eyes but failed to recognize greatness.

Su Fuling stood and said, "I haven't administered any direct treatment. I even asked Mr. Sun to have a doctor check whether my prescription conflicts with anything."

Sun Zhonghao explained, "That's right, Doctor Su did make that arrangement."

Then he took out the prescription, intending to consult with Doctor Gao.

Doctor Gao gave the prescription a casual glance—it was indeed full of Chinese herb names.

He couldn't read it himself and didn't intend to. He handed it back to Sun Zhonghao. "Mr. and Mrs. Sun, I'm afraid you've been deceived."

An Hui, lying in bed, already uncomfortable in her leg, immediately grew displeased. "Doctor Gao, please watch your words. I trust Doctor Su completely."

Su Fuling explained, "I have many years of medical experience. Back on the mainland, I was a licensed local physician."

Doctor Gao's face showed sudden understanding. "A Chinese medicine practitioner from the mainland? Mr. and Mrs. Sun, I advise you not to put your faith in this... practitioner."

His tone carried a hint of contempt.

At this, Su Fuling finally grew angry. If this doctor were trying to stop her out of concern for his patient, she could understand—colleagues doubt each other, after all. But she could not tolerate such prejudice. Even if her own skills fell short, the great national physicians were true masters of their art!

Seeing this, Sun Zhonghao and An Hui both panicked. Doctor Gao's careless words were about to offend Doctor Su—and drag the two of them down with him.

Sun Zhonghao said sternly, "Doctor Gao, please mind your language."

An Hui said, "I'm filing a complaint."

Doctor Gao wasn't afraid. Everything he did complied with regulations. Letting an outside quack cause trouble would be the real mistake. Not calling security directly was already showing them considerable courtesy.

Su Fuling said, "Doctor Gao clearly holds deep prejudice. Can you cure every illness yourself? If your own skills haven't reached that level, how can you so casually look down on others? Beyond the sky there is more sky; beyond people there are greater people. A doctor who grows too arrogant—that's no good thing."