Chapter 93

The rules here in Harbor City were clearly different from those in her hometown; many things couldn't be resolved with reason or the law. Think about the ordinary people in Kowloon City who were bullied by the gangs—would going to the Harbor City police help? If it would, the situation wouldn't have persisted to this day. Since the police couldn't control the gangs inside, it might be better to use gangs to manage gangs. So Su Fuling felt that if she wanted to help more people, she needed to make good use of this faction. Some of her once-simple beliefs had quietly changed through repeated events that shattered her worldview. Su Fuling realized she had to start adapting to Harbor City's rules. Not to live a glamorous life, but to make the best use of everything—while the System was still with her—to help more people, not just by treating illnesses but also by improving their living environment. However, she hadn't yet figured out exactly how to use this power or how to operate it. This kind of thing couldn't be done recklessly; she didn't want to end up being used as a tool by others or, worse, abetting evil. That would be terrible. Su Fuling glanced at Chen Shan beside her and decided to observe a bit longer.

After a simple meal, the group set off again. They soon arrived at the East Gate of Kowloon City. Su Fuling saw from the car that the venue had already been set up, and there were even more people queuing up than yesterday! Seeing so many mission targets, Su Fuling felt much more at ease. Yesterday, dealing with that Datou had cost her all the Merit Points she had earned in the first half of the day. Today, she could finally replenish them. If she could cure all these patients, she might even be able to level up. Thinking about the one-on-one tutoring she would soon have, Su Fuling's eyes unconsciously sparkled. Seeing Su Fuling so happy, Chen Shan felt reassured. It seemed that Doctor Su was quite satisfied with their actions.

'The miracle doctor is here!' Liu Dahu shouted joyfully, and everyone in line turned to look. Many things had happened last night, but when people woke up, they found that things had indeed changed. The Gray Fox Association in the East Gate area had been driven out, and the Sifang Association had taken over. The Sifang Association announced that grain prices would be halved, wages would double, and wages would be paid in Harbor City dollars! Just that one point made everyone cheer. It meant that the whole family's life could improve, and they could even live like ordinary citizens outside. So when the Sifang Association announced that sick people could line up at the East Gate for treatment, everyone was willing to believe it. Especially since it wasn't just the Sifang Association promoting it; people inside the city were also spreading the word. So today, there were even more people than yesterday.

The first to be treated were those who had fought against the Gray Fox Association the night before. Although their wounds had been dressed yesterday, their families wouldn't rest easy until the miracle doctor had checked them. The first was Dashan, who had been the bravest in the fight. For his mother's sake, he had feared nothing. 'Miracle doctor, the Gray Fox Association can't control this place anymore. We drove them away yesterday.' Su Fuling nodded. 'You were very brave.' 'It's all thanks to the miracle doctor and the Sifang Association for helping us. Miracle doctor, if you ever need anything, just say the word, and I'll go through fire and water! After my mother passes away, I'll come work for you, for the rest of my life!' Zhao Facai coughed. 'Don't even think about it. My master already has disciples. You'd better go start a family.' Did an outsider think he could get such a good deal? Su Fuling said, 'Just start your new lives. Don't carry too much of a burden. Everything you have today was won by your own courage. If you hadn't dared to resist, no one could have helped you. Now, show me your hand. Let me see how badly you're hurt.' Dali quickly cooperated. They were all external injuries, though some had lost a lot of blood. Although Chen Shan had found a doctor to bandage them yesterday, there was nothing to be done about the blood loss. Su Fuling prescribed blood-nourishing pills—pills she had made herself from boiled herbs, easy to swallow—and also gave them ointment to change the dressing daily. Chen Shasha helped change the gauze for everyone. Being cared for so thoroughly for the first time, some people blushed. In the city before, even buying anti-inflammatory medicine was difficult. When injured, they just used some folk remedy. Now, injured, they could be treated by the miracle doctor and get cheap medicine. This time, the medicine was free. They immediately felt that their wounds didn't hurt as much as yesterday. It was all worth it—one injury, and the whole family's life could improve. Those who had participated in driving out the Gray Fox Association would also get higher wages than others in the future.

Su Fuling noticed that there were indeed many injured people yesterday. Not only from Kowloon City, but also from the gangs. But everyone seemed excited, chatting while waiting in line about going out to have fun later. Because they had won the fight, they had received bonuses. Chen Shasha scolded them on the side, 'When you get money, save it. Why are you always thinking about drinking? You can't drink when you're injured!' 'Sister Shasha, are you a doctor now?' a henchman joked. Chen Shasha said, 'Well, do you listen to the doctor or not? If not, next time you won't be allowed to go fight for territory.' Hearing this, the henchmen dared not argue. What was the point of being in a gang if you couldn't fight for territory? Fighting for territory was how you made money.

Su Fuling prescribed medicine for everyone and asked Chen Shasha, 'Why do they like fighting so much? Aren't they afraid of getting hurt?' To be honest, seeing so many injured people, her previous resolve wavered a little. Thinking that one decision of hers could lead to casualties made her feel she couldn't bear the responsibility. She wasn't cut out to be a general. No wonder there was a saying: 'A kind-hearted person cannot lead troops.' Not everyone could bear such a heavy responsibility. Chen Shasha said, 'When you're a gangster, you're not afraid of fighting. And every time you fight, you get paid. Everyone fights for money-making opportunities. If you make a contribution, you can get promoted later. My brother and the other leaders all started as low-level henchmen. If you can grab more territory, there's one more seat for a leader. Everyone wants to fight for it.' Su Fuling: '...' Well, it seemed she still had a lot to learn about Harbor City.

Because there were so many patients, by noon they hadn't finished even half. Kowloon City had a huge population, and many had been sick for a long time without medical care. Although only a portion had come this time, Su Fuling couldn't treat them all. But it was getting dark, and she really couldn't continue. This approach wasn't working either. She said, 'Let's do this: I'll go back and arrange things. Treat patients with the same condition on the same day. That will be more efficient.' Dali said, 'Doctor Su, leave it to me. I can organize it.' Su Fuling nodded. She thought this person was very capable and worth cultivating. She asked Chen Shan, 'Since you've taken over the territory inside, can we treat people inside? The outdoor environment is inconvenient.' Su Fuling had originally planned to have everyone come to the Medical Clinic, but there were too many people this time. It wasn't realistic to have them all come at once. It was better to treat this batch first, and then let people come to the clinic on a daily basis later. That would be more convenient. Chen Shan looked at Su Fuling. 'The conditions inside are very poor. Even worse than Yau Ma Tei.' Su Fuling said, 'People live there. It's just for treatment. As long as the room is clean and I spray some alcohol for disinfection, it'll be fine. Having everyone wait outside, many in the open, is very inconvenient.' Seeing that Su Fuling was willing to go into Kowloon City, Chen Shan didn't say more. He hadn't suggested it before because many people didn't like going inside; they found it dirty. It seemed he still didn't understand Doctor Su well enough. 'I'll arrange it tomorrow.'

When Dali announced that the doctor would come again tomorrow, those who hadn't been able to get in line finally felt relieved. Dali pulled Liu Dahu aside. 'Brother Dahu, let's work hard tonight and compile the information Doctor Su needs.' Liu Dahu smiled. 'You're really sharp. I thought that since the Sifang Association had arrived, I wouldn't need to do anything.' Dali said, 'We know this place better than the Sifang Association, so of course we should do more.' He looked at Liu Dahu. 'And Brother Dahu, we have a chance to work for someone like Doctor Su. We have to seize it. Look, we only started having a good life after we seized this opportunity. So we have to fight for it.' Liu Dahu thought about the life ahead and nodded with a smile. Then he sighed, 'I wonder why Doctor Su has so much influence. She can get the Sifang Association to help like this.' Dali said, 'I think Doctor Su is definitely not ordinary. Haven't you noticed? The Sifang Association people respect her a lot. Doctor Su is capable and a good person. Working for her is definitely the right choice—more reliable than being in a gang. And if it weren't for Doctor Su, the Sifang Association probably wouldn't have helped us like this. After all these years, why did the Sifang Association only come to Kowloon City yesterday? Because they didn't care before. Now it's because Doctor Su wants to help us that they came.' Dali knew that it was Doctor Su who could bring them a better life.

As things settled at the East Gate, many who had come to gather information went back to report. The other gangs inside Kowloon City finally realized that the earlier news was true: the conflict between the Sifang Association and the Gray Fox Association really was about competing for the medical market. But what was the Sifang Association after? Doubling wages in the workshops and lowering prices—how much profit was left? Some were naturally dissatisfied. 'If they do this, how are we supposed to sell our goods and make money?' 'The Sifang Association is sensible enough. For now, the workshops only employ a small number of workers. As for the goods they sell, their stores only have a limited supply. People who can't buy cheap things elsewhere will still have to buy from us.' 'What if they get greedy and expand their business scale?' 'Then we won't be polite either.' Everyone had a line in their minds. As long as it wasn't crossed, they could 'maintain peace.' If it was crossed, they would have to fight for territory. 'But why did they send a doctor? And such a young Chinese medicine practitioner? Why not find a few more dentists?' Several leaders from different gangs smoked and speculated. They couldn't figure out what the Sifang Association was up to. It didn't look like they were trying to make money. Making such a big move for no apparent reason—what were they after? The more unfathomable it seemed, the more cautious these leaders became, each with their own agenda, unwilling to act rashly.

Su Fuling got home later than usual. Her uncle and aunt were waiting for her, and they had even invited Tang Bo's family and Uncle Li Siping's family to help with the housewarming ceremony. She apologized, 'Sorry, I'm late today.' 'A big doctor is naturally busy. I heard you were on a house call. I told your uncle not to rush,' Tang Bo said with a smile. He meant it. A-Ling was a big doctor; otherwise, how could she have earned enough to buy a house? Now in all of Yau Ma Tei, he only admitted that A-Ling was better at making money than his own A-Jing. Su Fuling smiled. 'Uncle, does your leg still hurt?' 'It's fine, it's been fine for a while. I sleep well now, and I can go up and down stairs without any problem.' Tang Bo patted his leg, delighted. Someone who had suffered from chronic pain for years could truly appreciate the happiness of being healthy. Tang Jing laughed. 'Doctor Su, my dad not only wants to go up and down stairs, he wants to play ball. Help me talk him out of it.' Su Fuling said, 'Better stick to light exercise. Elderly bones are more fragile than young people's; they break easily.' Tang Jing said, 'Dad, see? Even Doctor Su says so.' Tang Bo couldn't argue. 'Alright, I'll listen to the doctor. I'll find something else to do. You won't let me go to work, and I'm bored.' 'Just enjoy retirement at home. Who would hire you at your age?' Li Siping laughed. Su Jieming said, 'Yeah, unless you work for free. Otherwise, come help me greet patients at my clinic.' Tang Bo: '...' Everyone laughed. Zhou Huijuan said, 'Alright, alright, A-Ling is back. Let's start the housewarming ceremony.'

The ceremony was simple: holding sugarcane and grains, stepping over a lantern. Originally, they should have stepped over a fire pan, but regulations were strict now, so they replaced it with an electronic lantern. Stepping over it symbolized that the homeowner would be free from illness and disaster, rise step by step, have a sweet life, and never worry about food or clothing. The two families presented their gifts to Su Fuling. Tang Jing gave a decorative ornament, and Li Siping's family gave rice and oil. All practical things. Su Fuling had never done this before and found it novel. She smiled and said, 'Thank you, everyone!' 'We're all happy for you, A-Ling. Now you have your own house,' Su Jieming said with a smile. Su David and Su Xiaowei asked, 'Can we eat now? We're starving.' Su Fuling laughed and patted their heads. 'Of course. Let's eat!' Now that the family's living conditions had improved, the food was naturally more abundant. In the past, even a roast goose was a big deal. Now the table was filled with all kinds of good dishes, including seafood. Even Li Siping, on his way home after dinner, sighed, 'A-Ming's family life has turned upside down.' Who would have thought that he had once worried that A-Ming's family would be burdened by the arrival of his niece? Instead, things had turned around. A-Ming's family was doing very well thanks to this niece. Fourth Aunt said, 'Maybe it's good karma. A-Ming and A-Juan are honest people, so naturally their lives have improved. Look at how much better A-Juan looks. She smiles so much now. Happiness shows on one's face.' Li Siping laughed. 'Alright, I'll make money too and move into a big house. A Thousand-Square-Foot Mansion!' Fourth Aunt smiled but didn't respond, not wanting to put pressure on the family.

After a busy day, Su Fuling felt tired, but her mind was still a bit excited. To prevent herself from falling asleep, she entered the System as soon as she got into bed. Only in the System could her body fall into deep sleep while her mind remained awake. Checking today's Merit Points, Su Fuling's heart raced. The few hundred left from before, plus the three hundred-plus she had earned today, finally added up to a thousand! She subconsciously rubbed her hands together. 'System, I want to upgrade the learning function.' The advanced learning function allowed one-on-one teaching! As she spoke, a border appeared in front of her with the option to upgrade. Su Fuling selected 'Yes.' Then the Merit Points were deducted, leaving only a few. Su Fuling's heart ached. She would have to start from scratch again. But since it was an upgrade to the advanced learning function, the System put on a show—music and flashing lights for a full thirty seconds—before the upgrade succeeded. Su Fuling wasn't interested in all that flashy stuff. She went straight to the learning module and saw that the advanced learning option was now lit. She clicked in and found a list of teachers to choose from. The one-on-one teachers weren't all for profound knowledge; there were also ordinary teaching modes that only taught basic content. Su Fuling thought the System was quite considerate. If someone chose not to buy the previous courses and upgraded directly, they could still learn well from the advanced level because there were basic teachers available. However, the fees were different. Videos and books were very cheap, but the basic teachers' courses were very expensive. Indeed, self-study and formal schooling were different. The System was really... thorough! Although Su Fuling had a solid foundation in basic knowledge, she still looked through each teacher's introduction to make sure she hadn't missed anything. The earlier ones were fine, but the further she went, the more excited she became. Besides basic knowledge, the later teachers each had their own specialties. Even pediatrics had different teachers for different subjects. Very comprehensive! And these teachers all seemed very impressive—decades of experience, countless cases of similar illnesses treated... Su Fuling's hands trembled a little. If she could learn all this, she wouldn't need the System's help to prescribe the right medicine anymore. She could do it with her eyes closed. There was even a teacher specializing in pulse diagnosis, who could even perform the legendary 'silk-thread pulse diagnosis'! Wasn't that just a legend? Did someone actually know how to do it? Su Fuling's head spun. She had completely lost the composure she showed in front of others during the day. She felt like a mouse that had fallen into a rice jar—she wanted everything! She couldn't help clicking on a course, but of course, it didn't open. She didn't have enough Merit Points. The legendary pulse-diagnosis doctor's course was very, very expensive... one thousand Merit Points per lesson. The thousand Merit Points she had painstakingly saved up were just the entry fee. The real deal came after entering. No wonder these courses were placed in the advanced module. Even if they were in the basic module, she couldn't afford them. She would only feel frustrated. Placing them in the advanced module at least proved that she had the potential to buy them. At least she had a goal to strive for. Su Fuling looked at all the courses she couldn't afford and couldn't sleep at all. She no longer blamed the System for being a miser; she only blamed herself for not working hard enough. After all, such excellent courses deserved any price! This kind of knowledge was priceless! Su Fuling was too excited to study. She asked curiously, 'System, I've never heard of these teachers. With such impressive resumes, I should know them.' As a medical enthusiast, Su Fuling always paid attention to industry leaders. But she had never heard of any of these people. The Merit System said, 'The teaching teachers selected by this System naturally do not come from this world. Otherwise, wouldn't they expose the System? These teachers all come from other novel worlds.' Su Fuling: '...!!!'