Chapter 69

"Li John, you need to calm down. You've probably been scammed. I already found out—they worked with swindlers before."

Li John said unhappily, "Are you doubting my intelligence? I remember your grades in school were no match for mine."

Qiao Zhinan: "...But some people are very skilled at deception. Who knows if someone tampered with your water dispenser?"

Hearing this, Li John was even more incredulous. He hadn't left his office since returning from the Medical Clinic.

Seeing that Qiao Zhinan was not convinced, he said very unhappily, "Anyway, I won't help you anymore. I suggest you don't provoke her either. With Doctor Su's abilities, she'll surely rise among the powerful. And I heard that these Daoists in China all have master-disciple lineages. Who knows if she has an even more formidable teacher? Alright, that's it. I'm not helping you."

With that, he hung up.

Qiao Zhinan angrily slammed down the phone, furious.

He felt that this Li John was really useless. Back then, he had said he would rely on Li John's protection, so after opening the clinic here, he gave Li John some shares so they could make money together. Now that trouble had come, Li John was doing nothing. How shameless!

Qiao Zhinan couldn't swallow this anger, and he also didn't want Li John to be deceived like this. Now that Li John trusted that swindler so much, what if later the swindler got Li John to come after him... someone like Li John would definitely listen.

At this thought, Qiao Zhinan was burning with anxiety. He felt just like the old saying: 'lose both the wife and the army.' He couldn't accept it!

...

Su Fuling ate lunch and, without resting, took her two apprentices to the orphanage.

Yau Ma Tei Orphanage had a long history. It was said to be privately run. To support the orphanage's expenses, the director had no savings left and relied entirely on social donations to get by. So she treasured every donation.

The director was a sixty-year-old woman surnamed Liang.

Upon learning that Su Fuling was a doctor, Director Liang hesitated. Although receiving an outside donation was a good thing, she couldn't let the children here be used as test subjects.

"Doctor Su... are you really a doctor?"

Su Fuling said, "I have a Medical Clinic in Yau Ma Tei, and many people come to see me every day. I would never deceive anyone."

Zhao Facai said, "Oh, Director Liang, my master isn't making money off you. Is there any need to deceive?"

Director Liang was a bit embarrassed. "I just want to be clear. The children are pitiful enough. I can't disregard their health just because it's free."

It wasn't that Director Liang was overthinking. Many people had designs on these children. Some gangs came to adopt children, only to train them as thugs. Some even made the children beg. Now she was afraid these people wanted to use the children as medical test subjects. She thought to herself, there really is no such thing as a free lunch.

Su Fuling didn't explain much. Instead, she directly activated her detection function.

She had already turned on the scan when she arrived, and Director Liang was one of the targets.

Without even taking her pulse, just by looking at Director Liang's complexion, Su Fuling could tell she was ill. And it wasn't a recent illness.

[Patient Name: Liang Yurong Gender: Female

Age: 61

Main Diagnosis: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Patient Symptoms: Thirst, excessive hunger

Predicted Disease Progression: No significant change]

Su Fuling naturally knew this disease.

Seeing Director Liang's gaunt appearance, Su Fuling admired this woman. Despite being ill herself, she still helped so many children. "Director Liang, forgive my presumption, but you need treatment too."

Director Liang looked at Su Fuling, puzzled. She was indeed ill, but she had never told anyone.

She didn't want the children to worry, so she always went to see the doctor secretly.

Respecting patient privacy, Su Fuling took out paper and pen, wrote down Director Liang's condition and symptoms, and handed it to her.

Director Liang took it doubtfully, glanced at it, and looked at Su Fuling in shock and surprise. Because Su Fuling not only knew she was sick, but also knew exactly what disease she had and its specific symptoms.

"You... how did you know?"

Su Fuling said, "In Chinese medicine, there is observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. By observing your complexion, I can roughly tell. But it's not precise. If I could take your pulse and differentiate the pattern, the accuracy would be higher."

Hearing this, Director Liang finally believed that this young woman she had doubted was truly a skilled doctor. And she seemed quite accomplished.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Su. I was overthinking."

Su Fuling smiled. "Director Liang is being thorough for the children's sake. It's only natural to be suspicious of strangers. I actually support your responsible approach."

Director Liang said, "Yes, these children have it hard. Many people have their eyes on them. Thanks to help from kind people like you, we've managed to keep going. Doctor Su, let me take you to see the sick children."

The orphanage wasn't large, with over thirty children in total. That was quite impressive for a private orphanage, considering all the expenses for food, drink, and daily needs.

The buildings were old, but Director Liang had made the place cozy. There was a small yard for the children to play, a dining hall, and a collective dormitory for sleeping.

Zhao Facai said, "Director Liang is really capable, securing such a place to raise the children."

"It's rented," Director Liang smiled. "The land belongs to the Jiang Family. The rent is very low, only three Hong Kong dollars a year. So this orphanage isn't supported by me alone; many people have helped."

Zhao Facai was shocked.

Su Fuling was also surprised. This place, though not large, must be very valuable. After all, this was Harbor City.

Zhao Facai said, "Such low rent?"

Director Liang said, "The Jiang Family in Harbor City has always supported orphan charities. Many orphanages in Harbor City rent land from the Jiang Family. But the review is strict; the children must be well treated."

Su Fuling remarked, "That's true charity."

Director Liang said, "Yes, it gives many children a home. It is said that..." She suddenly stopped and didn't continue.

Su Fuling noticed that Director Liang seemed to have more to say, probably involving the Jiang Family's privacy, so she didn't press.

She wasn't very curious about others' private affairs.

But Chen Shasha was curious. "Director Liang, it is said what?"

Director Liang smiled and shook her head. "Nothing. We're here. This is where the sick children live."

Director Liang was very meticulous. She had the sick children live together to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and also to protect them from being bullied by other children.

Su Fuling's heart ached at the sight of these children. Though she was used to life and death, seeing these young lives so weak and disabled still pained her.

Director Liang didn't expect Su Fuling to treat children born with deformities or genetic diseases. She only wanted Su Fuling to help treat the recently ill children.

Although they had taken medicine, the children hadn't recovered.

Su Fuling quickly put on her white coat and began working.

She first treated the children with minor illnesses, taking their pulses and diagnosing.

Treating children was harder than treating adults because children couldn't describe their symptoms. Su Fuling not only had to take pulses but also observe carefully and coax the children to talk.

Su Fuling had a lot of experience with children's illnesses.

Back in the countryside, children would always come to her family for treatment.

Director Liang sighed, "This child has been coughing constantly. We've tried many medicines, but nothing works."

Su Fuling said, "It's Whooping Cough. No problem. I'll prescribe some medicine, and it'll be fine in a few days. I've treated this before. It's not a big issue. The medicine is bitter, so feeding it might be difficult."

Hearing this, Director Liang breathed a sigh of relief. "Doctor Su, if it can be treated, that's great. As for feeding medicine... the children here are very understanding. They know it's for treatment, so they'll drink it even if it's bitter."

Su Fuling looked at the children lying obediently, not running around. She used to think her own fate was unfortunate, but compared to these children, she was already lucky and happy.

After treating several more children, Zhao Facai had recorded several prescriptions.

Su Fuling gained 22 Merit Points in one go.

Since these were minor illnesses, she was satisfied with this amount. In the past, she wouldn't have earned this much even after a whole afternoon.

After finishing, Su Fuling examined the children with congenital conditions. One was said to have a congenital heart problem, and another had Pediatric Epilepsy.

Director Liang said softly, "Doctor Su, these diseases are hard to treat."

Su Fuling said, "Let me take a look first and record the conditions. Maybe there's a way. We shouldn't give up."

Director Liang felt guilty. She had given up from the start.

Previously, hospital doctors had said these were hard to treat, especially the congenital heart disease. Major hospitals said it would cost a lot of money, which she couldn't afford.

Now, seeing Su Fuling's persistence, she suddenly felt hope. If they didn't give up, could there really be hope?

Su Fuling carefully took pulses and recorded the conditions. She planned to study them further at home.

But there was no immediate solution for the heart disease. However, the Pediatric Epilepsy could be treated.

Su Fuling had read about this condition in books. She tried to prescribe a formula for the child.

After adjusting the data a few times, she heard the System notification: 'Merit Points +20'.

"Take this prescription first. I'll adjust it later based on the child's condition."

Holding the prescription, Director Liang exclaimed, "Doctor Su, are you saying it can be treated?"

"Yes, but to be honest, it will be slow."

"As long as it can be treated!" Director Liang's eyes suddenly reddened.

"She has seizures several times a month. When they happen, she foams at the mouth and loses consciousness... If this isn't treated, the child will have no future."

Su Fuling said, "Director Liang, rest assured. She will get better. I will do my best."

"Thank you. On behalf of the child, thank you!" Director Liang grasped Su Fuling's hand, her heart full of emotion.

She hadn't had high hopes for today's consultation. If she could get some minor ailments treated and save on medicine costs, that would have been enough. She never expected to meet such a good doctor.

Maybe accumulating good karma really worked.

She had heard that the Jiang Family supported many orphanages to accumulate merit for a lost child.

And if she accumulated merit, it could also bring good fortune to the children of this orphanage.