Chapter Forty-Seven: Utterly Astonished

He had indeed heard that.

Young Master Zhu turned his head for a glance, and found himself truly embarrassed.

It was certainly inappropriate to discuss such matters in someone else's home.

"Young Master Zhao, I was merely speaking offhand. Those were not the words of a physician, so there is no need to take them to heart," Han Qing said, shaking his head.

At this moment, he had no wish to meddle, especially since the other party had not offered him a price he could not refuse.

"No, it was we who were presumptuous just now. As long as there is the slightest chance, we will spare no effort to try," came the earnest reply, and without waiting for further consent, he was ushered into the room.

But the other uncles of the Zhao family did not agree.

"Chengzhang, how could you be so muddle-headed? How can an outsider be allowed to come in here?"

"Indeed, can you not see your grandfather is gravely ill?"

Several uncles and elders reproached him.

"It's not that—he has a way to save him. Let him try," Chengzhang insisted.

The others looked on with disdain.

How could it be possible?

Seeing this young man, he clearly had no experience in medicine at all. Even those old physicians with decades of practice in renowned hospitals would not dare to make such claims.

What could a young man like him possibly know?

"Don’t make trouble here! Where did you find this charlatan friend of yours?"

The eldest aunt spoke with evident harshness, showing not a trace of courtesy.

"He is not a charlatan. Since there is no more hope, why not trust him just this once?"

Patron Zhao himself did not know whence this confidence sprang, but he simply felt Han Qing had such ability.

Against all objections, he was determined to keep Han Qing.

Disdainful voices continued endlessly.

"Enough—let these physicians think of a way. You two, out, now!" the eldest uncle said coldly.

To let an outsider treat the patient so casually?

Should word of this get out, would the Zhao family not be a laughing stock?

Yet Zhao Chengzhang paid no heed to the elders, caring nothing for their mockery or contempt.

He was determined to try, no matter what.

The assembled physicians all shook their heads. They had already been there for nearly half an hour, but nothing had worked.

No one else held out any hope.

At this moment, Han Qing stepped forward.

"Did you bring silver needles?"

"I did, but what use is that?" one of the physicians asked, his face full of confusion.

It seemed a foregone conclusion.

But Han Qing ignored them.

He took up several silver needles and swiftly inserted them into specific points on the old master’s body.

Not five minutes had passed before they heard coughing.

"Cough, cough…"

A mouthful of congealed blood was spat out.

The old master slowly opened his eyes, and, seeing the physicians beside him, realized he must have fainted.

"Grandfather, you’re awake! Thank goodness, you’re awake!" Zhao Chengzhang cried with excitement, having clung only to the barest hope.

"How can this be? The pulse we felt just now was nearly gone, his face was blackened—there was practically no hope of regaining consciousness!"

One of the physicians spoke in disbelief.

He prided himself on being among the top physicians in North County City, with countless strange and difficult ailments treated in his career.

To be bested by such a young man?

It was truly incredible.

"His pulse was indeed faint, but the cause was likely a long-standing accumulation of congealed blood blocking his system, preventing the expulsion of internal energy…" Han Qing explained calmly.

He had already reviewed the old master’s case and found no chronic illnesses.

There could be only one explanation for such symptoms: a sudden fall earlier had been too much for his body to withstand, causing blood to flow back and block capillaries in his lungs.

After all, with age, bodily functions slow down.

What seemed a minor fall could have grave, hard-to-cure consequences.

Physician Li nodded, half understanding.

He had thought himself well-learned, but now saw there was much more to know in the vast world of medicine.

"Remarkable, truly remarkable—we wrongly blamed you just now," the eldest uncle said, his face full of regret.

He had been adamant about keeping them away from the old master, yet in a matter of minutes, Han Qing had resolved the crisis.

"It’s not our fault—who could have known your medical skills were so advanced?" the eldest aunt chimed in, her tone still somewhat acerbic.

But the three physicians were sincerely impressed.

They felt truly ashamed of their earlier behavior.

Had Han Qing not identified the root cause, would the old master have died at their hands?

"Now that he is awake, we should not intrude further," Han Qing said, preparing to leave.

But to his surprise, an unsteady voice called after him.

"Wait. If not for you today, this old man would not have survived. If there is anything you wish, speak of it."

Old Master Zhao was a man seasoned by hardship, and knew well that a life-saving benefactor must be repaid.

There are times when money alone is not enough.

"There’s no need. I merely dabbled in what little I know—it’s not worth exaggerating," Han Qing replied modestly.

The old master regarded him with deep satisfaction. Since he would not accept a grand reward, then if the Han family ever had need, the Zhao family would do everything in their power to help.

This event quickly spread through their circle.

"Did you hear about that big incident a few days ago?"

"That young man from the Han family saved Old Master Zhao. They summoned all the most famous physicians in the city, and none could cure him—but Han Qing managed it in an instant."

"Is that true?"

"How could it not be? My cousin works there as a servant—he saw it with his own eyes. Everyone present was astonished."

This news swept through North County City, and Han Qing’s reputation soon outshined that of other physicians and clinics.

With that casual rescue, he had solved a major problem for himself.

Han Qing had been worrying that, if he were to open the Han Medical Clinic, he would need to come up with marketing strategies and ways to spread the word.

But now, it seemed there was no need.

He only had to seize the moment and open his clinic while the news was still fresh.

There was no reason for hesitation.

However, when Han’s mother heard the news, she was full of doubt.

She even questioned him in person.

"My son, you were never interested in medical texts or ancient books. How is it that you know these things? Are people outside just making things up?"

"Mother, that was before. Later, after reading a few books, I discovered the wonders of medicine and thought to study more—it can't be a bad thing," Han Qing explained slowly.

True or not, he would muddle through for now.

"But you have no experience in practicing medicine. If you make a mistake, it could ruin a person’s life—and you would have to bear the consequences as well."