Chapter 56: The Hidden Thorn

After seeing Doctor Zhou out, Wen Shu made a special phone call in private.

This was to an informant hidden within the Sifang Association in Harbor City.

These informants rarely contacted gang members, so no one knew they belonged to the Sifang Association.

They were responsible for monitoring public information and secretly gathering intelligence for the Sifang Association.

This hidden network was established to give the Sifang Association an undetected and unbribed set of eyes and ears.

Normally, Wen Shu would have his trusted subordinates handle matters, but now that his trusted subordinate had turned problematic, he had to use these hidden informants for investigations.

He didn't want to wrong anyone.

He had the informant check again with the pharmacy about adding Gansui to the prescription.

After receiving the same answer as Doctor Su, Wen Shu's face darkened completely.

After sitting in silence for twenty minutes, he sent someone to fetch the medicine.

Naturally, he did not add Gansui.

His trusted subordinate Chai Meng, who was handling the medicine, asked, "Wen Shu, didn't Doctor Zhou say to add Gansui?"

Wen Shu replied, "I thought it over and decided not to add it.

A man must keep his word.

I promised the doctor I would take the medicine properly; I can't just swap out her prescription."

Chai Meng nodded and went to prepare the medicine.

The medicine was decocted for a while, then brought to Wen Shu by his trusted subordinate.

But for some reason, the subordinate's steps were slower than usual, each step seeming deliberate.

Wen Shu watched him approach slowly.

Looking at the dark bowl of medicine, Wen Shu smiled and said, "I really don't like drinking Chinese medicine.

It's too bitter, and if the herbs are wrong, it can cause big problems.

It was Ah Shan and Ah Bao who took me to see the doctor.

If something goes wrong, they'll be implicated, and then our Sifang Association will be in chaos."

Chai Meng said, "Master Wen is joking.

Doctor Zhou's prescription can't be wrong."

Wen Shu said, "Yes, Doctor Zhou treated the governor's wife—you told me that.

Of course I trust you.

But Ah Meng, is he really Doctor Zhou?"

Chai Meng's face showed shock, then he looked at Wen Shu.

"Master Wen, what do you mean?"

"Why do I say that?

Because the dregs from the medicine you decocted contain Gansui.

I remember I didn't ask you to add it."

Chai Meng's expression changed instantly.

Wen Shu's sudden accusation caught him off guard, and he couldn't even hide his expression.

"Wen Shu..."

Soon, the door was pushed open, and people rushed in to restrain Chai Meng.

"Master Wen, Master Wen, I only wanted your illness to get better sooner.

I trusted Doctor Zhou's suggestion."

Master Wen said, "Do you think denying it now will help?

You know me well, and I know you well too.

I originally wanted to give you time to explain why you did this, but I didn't expect you to be so eager to kill me.

Ah Meng, I treated you well.

How could you betray me!"

Chai Meng had been his long-cultivated trusted subordinate, managing most of his assets.

Wen Shu rarely suspected those he kept close.

He believed he had never mistreated his people—they all had their own businesses and their families lived comfortably.

He was at retirement age, and these people would retire with him and enjoy their later years.

Why would they want to harm him?

But now Wen Shu realized he had taken things too lightly.

Life is unpredictable; many things are not as they seem.

Hearing Wen Shu's words, Chai Meng's legs gave way, and he stopped struggling.

He sobbed, "Master Wen, I didn't want to betray you, but they took my grandson.

I sent him abroad to study, hoping he would become a respectable person.

He excelled at school—he was the hope of the Chai family.

But he was kidnapped.

Master Wen, I had no choice!"

Wen Shu waved his hand coldly.

He had no sympathy for traitors.

If Chai Meng had come to him for help from the start, he would have used all his power to find his grandson.

But now Chai Meng had tried to kill him; he felt no pity for such a person.

"Tell me everything you know.

That will make things easier for you.

I might also help you find your grandson."

His men took Chai Meng away.

Wen Shu, exhausted, sat in his chair and massaged his temples.

Having been betrayed and nearly poisoned, even a man who had faced life and death couldn't remain calm.

After years of cultivating himself and wanting to retire far from violence, he still couldn't escape it.

Wen Shu thought of Doctor Su.

He was grateful that out of curiosity he had gone to see her, which exposed Chai Meng.

Otherwise, he would have died without knowing how, and even after death, he would have caused chaos in the Sifang Association.

Wen Shu called Chen Shan.

"Ah Shan, find a good shopfront in Yau Ma Tei and transfer it to Doctor Su."

Chen Shan didn't know what had happened to prompt this.

"Wen Shu, Doctor Su probably won't accept it.

Last time Ah Bao tried to repay her for saving his life, she refused."

"Ah Meng betrayed me," Wen Shu said.

"He added Gansui to my medicine."

Chen Shan, who had accompanied him that morning, immediately understood.

So in that short time, Wen Shu had nearly been poisoned.

"Wen Shu, are you all right?"

"With Doctor Su's warning, of course I'm fine.

I want to thank her, but some things are better left unknown to her.

Ah Shan, we must stay on good terms with someone like her."

"But Doctor Su really doesn't accept gifts."

Chen Shan was genuinely troubled.

If she accepted gifts, they would have prepared generous ones long ago.

Wen Shu said, "You're cautious and smart, but sometimes not so smart.

Have you heard of donations?

Doctor Su's medical skills are superb.

To help more patients receive her treatment, I want to donate a large shopfront to her to support her medical career.

If her Medical Clinic is bigger, patients won't have to queue outside in the sun and rain.

This is a charitable act."

Chen Shan was speechless.

Later that afternoon, Su Fuling had just started working when a familiar face arrived.

Wang Sihua said happily, "Doctor Su, I've processed your bonus.

You just need to sign in person to collect it."

Zhao Facai, standing nearby, lit up at the news.

A bonus!

Three thousand Hong Kong dollars!

And this was just from a small side job his master had done.

Zhao Facai was envious, imagining himself earning Hong Kong dollars with a flick of his fingers like Su Fuling.

Su Fuling was also pleased with the money.

Unlike private gifts, this was a government-issued bonus—money that didn't feel hot in her hands.

"Okay, let me finish seeing these two patients, and I'll go with you."

Wang Sihua nodded.

"I'll wait for you.

Let's go today."

He was afraid that if he didn't get the money into Doctor Su's hands quickly, Ma Sir might suddenly change his mind and stall it, or something might happen to reduce the amount.

His recent experiences had taught him a lot, especially about these bonuses—when he applied, someone had asked him for a kickback.

Wang Sihua wouldn't do that, but he feared others might.

After Su Fuling finished with two patients and the clinic was empty, she took off her white coat, revealing a white dress underneath.

Her aunt had bought it for her because she never had time to shop and always wore the clothes she had brought from the Mainland, which looked out of place here.

So her aunt had bought two simple outfits nearby while holding the baby.

Dressed like this, she suddenly looked younger.

Wang Sihua realized that Doctor Su was really quite young, yet so skilled—it was hard to fathom.

Zhao Facai also wanted to go, to see the world.

This time, Chen Shasha didn't argue with him because she didn't like the police and didn't want to go to the Police Station.

Wang Sihua arrived in a Police Car.

The distance wasn't far, and they soon reached the Police Station.

Su Fuling noticed that the Police Station in Harbor City was very different from those in the Mainland.

She couldn't pinpoint the exact differences, but the atmosphere was distinct.

Wang Sihua was reliable; he had sorted out all the procedures before picking her up.

With his guidance, everything went smoothly.

Collecting the money gave Su Fuling a sense of satisfaction.

Three thousand Hong Kong dollars could buy a lot.

She naturally wanted to deposit it.

When Wang Sihua heard she needed to go to the bank, he said, "I'll drive you there.

I'm heading out to investigate a case anyway.

It's safer to go by car."

Su Fuling said, "That's too much trouble.

I'd be wasting your time."

Wang Sihua replied, "It's on the way.

Besides, I want to thank you.

After solving that case, I also received a reward.

I was thinking of treating you to a meal sometime."

Su Fuling waved her hand.

"You earned that yourself.

I just pointed you in a direction; you believed me and investigated.

No need to thank me.

I got my reward too.

You did your duty as a police officer, and I did mine as a good citizen."

Zhao Facai chimed in, "That's police-citizen cooperation.

But my master is amazing—solving a cold case like that.

Master, can you solve other cases too?"

Su Fuling said, "Don't get any ideas.

I'm not that capable.

It was just luck."

She felt it had been pure luck—she had thought there was a suspect to exploit, but it turned out not to be him.

She almost couldn't help.

It was only by chance that she met the victim's son and noticed something.

So she didn't dare to overestimate her abilities in solving cases.

Wang Sihua smiled.

"Even if you don't need my thanks, at least let me give you a ride."

Su Fuling didn't refuse.

"Thank you, then."

In the car, Wang Sihua wanted to tell her about a new case he was investigating, but after thinking it over, he decided to investigate further himself.

As a police officer, if he only relied on others without putting in his own effort, he would feel useless.

What if one day Doctor Su left Harbor City or Yau Ma Tei?

Would he stop solving cases?

So he said nothing during the ride.

After dropping Su Fuling at the bank, he drove away.

Zhao Facai remarked, "That police officer is pretty decent."

Following his master had prospects—did this mean he could talk to both sides of the law?

Su Fuling said, "Come on, let's deposit the money quickly before the bank closes."

She had deposited money before, so she knew the drill.

But there was a long queue.

She checked the time—there wasn't much left in the afternoon.

She could go home after this.

Luckily, there weren't many patients in the afternoon.

That evening, she would discuss the renovation plan for the Sweet Soup Shop with her uncle and aunt.

Then they could start work.

The place was small, so it would be ready soon, and they could open for business and start earning money...

The future looked bright.

Suddenly, a shout rang out inside the bank: "Freeze!

Nobody move!"

Zhao Facai, who had been reading a medical book, was so startled he dropped it.

"Master, it's a robbery!"

Screams followed, and the entire bank descended into chaos.

Su Fuling had never experienced this before.

It took her two seconds to realize what was happening.

A robbery in broad daylight in a busy bank?

She thought these robbers must be incredibly bold.

Zhao Facai, trembling, pulled Su Fuling down to crouch.

"Master, what do we do?

What if they take hostages?"

Su Fuling asked the System, "System, I won't be cannon fodder, will I?"

The Merit System replied, "Don't worry.

As long as your lifespan hasn't run out, I won't let you die."

Su Fuling couldn't be reassured.

She had come to deposit money and ended up in a robbery.

She could see anyone's health but not her own.

"You have to keep your word.

We've just started this Merit Points career and built a foundation.

You don't want to lose everything, do you?

If you lose me, where will you find another host as hardworking as me?

I don't play tricks on you; I'm solely focused on earning Merit Points.

What if you end up with a host like your companion?"

The Merit System glitched for a second, then said firmly, "Impossible.

I would never switch to such a host.

Rest assured, host.

I have defensive functions that will protect you from all harm."

Even with the System's assurance, Su Fuling wasn't completely at ease.

She tried to make herself inconspicuous.

She didn't think of being a hero—she was just a small doctor.

She couldn't stop the robbers.

She only wanted to survive the chaos.

Seeing his master shrink back, Zhao Facai shrank even more.

It seemed his master could only save others, not herself.

He covered his mouth tightly, afraid his breathing would attract the robbers' attention.

The robbers were already at work, efficiently forcing bank employees to fill bags with money.

But soon, sirens sounded outside.

Hearing this, the people inside became even more terrified, because the robbers would take hostages to escape.

And indeed, they started grabbing hostages.

They first grabbed a child, intending to use him as a shield.

The child's mother panicked.

"Ah Feng, let go of my child!

Ah Feng!"

Su Fuling saw a little girl of about five or six being held by the robbers.

The mother tried to snatch her child but was hit on the head with a rifle butt, blood streaming down.

She seemed dazed but still reached out determinedly.

"Ah Feng, Ah Feng, let her go.

She has a bad heart."

The child, terrified, turned pale and cried, "Mommy, Mommy..."

The robbers realized the child was too weak to handle this, so they threw her aside.

The mother crawled over, helplessly looking at her child.

"Ah Feng, Ah Feng."

Su Fuling's eyes grew hot.

She had seen life and death many times, but she still couldn't bear it—especially unexpected separations like this.

"I'm a doctor.

Can I check on her?"

Su Fuling raised her hand.

Her white dress immediately caught the robbers' attention.

Seeing she was a young woman, they marked her as hostage number two.

Su Fuling said, "Let me check on her, and then I'll go with you.

I promise I won't resist.

I'll cooperate fully, but only if you let me see her."

In her mind, she told the System, "System, I'm risking this for Merit Points.

You have to protect me.

I'm doing it all for Merit Points."

The Merit System replied, "Don't worry."