Chapter 58

Li Zhuo was the first to react. He said anxiously, "Dad, Master Xu hasn't gone far, and Cousin Xiao Yu chased after him. We don't know if she caught up with him yet. Even if she didn't, since he left on foot, he probably hasn't left the municipal compound yet. Should we call the security office and ask the gatekeepers not to let him out?"

Li Shangyuan nodded. "Good! After you call the security office, quickly call Cousin Xiao Yu and tell her to do whatever it takes to keep him there. Once you find him, you must be polite and respectful to Master Xu. If that doesn't work, I'll go and personally invite him!"

The eldest and second sons of the Li family hurriedly went downstairs, and Aunt Wen also rushed to call the security office. Only then did Li Shangyuan turn to Dean Wang and Director Zheng, apologizing, "Old Wang, Doctor Zheng, this concerns the safety of an elder... I apologize for the inconvenience."

Director Zheng was still confused about what was happening, but Dean Wang, who also held the position of Deputy Director of the Municipal Health Bureau, was both a medical expert and a seasoned bureaucrat. He immediately understood the implications of Secretary Li's words and responded, "Actually, as doctors, our hearts are like those of parents. We share the same feelings as Secretary Li. We all hope the patient will get better. As long as the patient can be saved, any method is good!

As the old saying goes, 'Whether it's a white cat or a black cat, a cat that catches mice is a good cat!' There are many things that science can't explain, such as Zhu You, spirit possession, talismans, qigong, acupuncture, and moxibustion. These are important components of traditional Chinese medicine and valuable parts of our cultural heritage. From a Western medical perspective, these traditional methods are incomprehensible, but they are often very effective and can even treat many intractable diseases that Western medicine can't handle. Therefore, it's reasonable to invite some traditional Chinese medicine experts to consult on cases that Western medicine can't solve. There's no need to be overly surprised by this approach.

Secretary Li, you can rest assured. Although Director Wang and I are trained in Western medicine, we have no prejudice against traditional Chinese medicine. We find this completely acceptable. Today's matter, neither Old Zheng nor I will speak about it casually."

Listening to Dean Wang's words, Secretary Li smiled slightly. Dean Wang's assurance that he wouldn't speak out was a standard response, but his inclusion of the so-called "shaman" Xiao Wang as part of traditional Chinese medicine was even more gratifying to Secretary Li. After all, if an elder in the family is ill and Western medicine can't help, inviting a traditional Chinese medicine expert to assist is quite normal. What's wrong with that? The only difference is that this expert is young. Is it really so unreasonable to be young and still be an expert?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While Secretary Li and the medical experts were discussing the condition, Xu Yan was circling around the courtyard of the municipal compound's residential area—not because he was playing hard to get, waiting for the Li family to invite him back, but because he really couldn't find his way out.

When Xu Yan entered, Chen Yaoyu had driven him in. Xu Yan didn't know the way, and after a few turns in the compound, all the villas looked the same. After a couple of rounds, Xu Yan was completely lost, walking between rows of villas, sweating profusely, until he encountered two patrolling security guards.

The two guards, seeing a young stranger wandering around the residential area in broad daylight, became wary. They approached him to check his identity and purpose. Xu Yan only dared to say he was leaving Secretary Li's house, but he didn't dare reveal his real identity or name.

His evasiveness only made the guards more suspicious. Worried that he might be a guest of Secretary Li, they didn't dare offend him. One of the guards called the main office, asking them to contact Secretary Li's house to see if they had such a guest.

Hearing the guard call the main office, Xu Yan knew things were about to go wrong. Sure enough, not long after, a car approached, and he recognized it as Chen Yaoyu's car.

The car stopped beside Xu Yan, and Chen Yaoyu quickly jumped out, followed by Li Zhuo, the eldest son of the Li family. Seeing Xu Yan, both of them breathed a sigh of relief and walked over quickly.

Xu Yan stood there, expressionless, but inside, he felt disgusted. Both Chen Yaoyu and Li Zhuo were polite and refined, but the arrogance of high-ranking officials' children was deeply ingrained, like a stain that could emit a foul odor at any moment. Xu Yan was thoroughly disgusted by these entitled young people.

Li Zhuo approached Xu Yan with a smile, shaking his hand and saying warmly, "Master Xu, Master Xu, why did you suddenly leave? My younger brother was disrespectful earlier, and my father has already punished him. I apologize on his behalf. Please don't take it to heart."

Xu Yan smiled faintly. "Mr. Li, you're too kind. Your family has high standards, and Mr. Li Yuan is well-traveled and knows many great people, including those from Hong Kong and Shanghai. It's only natural that he wouldn't look favorably upon a local nobody like me. I wouldn't blame him. I should have known better than to impose myself. Mr. Li, there's no need for you to be so courteous. I'll leave on my own."

Hearing this, Li Zhuo and Chen Yaoyu both felt a sense of dread, realizing that Xu Yan was indeed angry. Li Zhuo, who had seen many things, knew that many people with extraordinary abilities had peculiar temperaments and were very sensitive to disrespect. His brother had committed a grave mistake, and worse, Li Zhuo himself had joined in the taunting, asking Xu Yan to show his skills. No wonder Xu Yan wasn't in a good mood.

In the cold January, Li Zhuo's forehead was sweating. He chuckled nervously, feeling anxious.

"Master Xu, please be magnanimous. My brother was in the wrong, and we will punish him. Please, don't hold a grudge..."

Xu Yan shook his head, interrupting him. "Mr. Li, there's no need for such formality. The matter with your family's young master is none of my concern. He didn't offend me, so there's no need to tell me about any punishment. Mr. Li, there's no need to see me off. I'll leave on my own."

Xu Yan's refusal left Li Zhuo feeling helpless. He glanced at Chen Yaoyu, hoping she would help. As the eldest son of the Li family, he found it difficult to say overly humble words, but Chen Yaoyu, being a woman and having a natural affinity with men, would be better at mediating.

Seeing Li Zhuo's pleading look, Chen Yaoyu wanted to kick him. "This mess was created by your family, and now you want me to clean it up?"

Your family's reputation is important, but is my face just a piece of ass?

Thinking about how her aunt and two cousins had looked at her with suspicion when she vouched for Xu Yan, as if they thought she was in cahoots with him, Chen Yaoyu was furious. Seeing Li Zhuo's pitiful expression, she felt a bit of satisfaction. If it weren't for her grandfather's condition, she would have cheered for Xu Yan and walked away—let the Li family deal with their own mess!

But thinking of her grandfather lying in bed, Chen Yaoyu couldn't afford to be stubborn. Reluctantly, she stepped forward, standing in front of Xu Yan. She wanted to plead with him but couldn't bring herself to speak—why should she have to clean up after those idiots?

Xu Yan looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Miss Chen, do you have something to say?"

Chen Yaoyu gritted her teeth. "Yes—Master Xu, if you come back with us to help my grandfather, I promise no one will dare to be difficult with you again."

Hearing this, Xu Yan wanted to laugh out loud. He suppressed his laughter and said, "Miss Chen, I believe your promise, but the one who is sick is your grandfather, not me. Why should I go back? Give me a reason first."

Chen Yaoyu was taken aback. After a moment, she said, "For my sake..."

Xu Yan interrupted her. "I wouldn't have come even for your sake."

Chen Yaoyu's face turned slightly red. She knew she had overstepped—Xu Yan had come to help because of her, only to be insulted by her relatives. Now, she was asking him to overlook the past and help again?

Seeing the girl's flushed face, Xu Yan sighed. He wanted to say a common phrase he often saw online: "If you don't die, you won't die." Instead, he said calmly, "Still the same question, give me a reason to go back."

While Chen Yaoyu was racking her brain for a reason, Li Zhuo couldn't hold back any longer. He bowed slightly and said, "Master, this time, we are sincere. If you can help, we will offer you one million RMB—uh, please don't misunderstand. We know you are a noble and unworldly master, and discussing money is vulgar. But as mere mortals, we have no other way to express our gratitude!"

One million RMB?

Hearing this, Xu Yan's heart skipped a beat. Although he came from a middle-class family, he wasn't naive. He knew his father ran a small furniture store back home, and their annual income was only about 200,000 to 300,000 RMB, with a maximum of 400,000 in the best years. This meant that by simply agreeing to go back, he could earn more than twice his father's annual income.

For a moment, Xu Yan was tempted. But he had refused so firmly in front of Chen Yaoyu, and it would look too greedy and petty to change his mind immediately for a million RMB. If he had refused Chen Yaoyu's pleas, but agreed to a stranger's offer of a million RMB, it would make him look too mercenary.

If it were just Li Zhuo, being seen as greedy wouldn't matter, but in front of the beautiful classmate Chen Yaoyu—Xu Yan, being a young man in his early twenties, was most afraid of losing face in front of a girl. So, despite the million RMB, he held back, shaking his head lightly and saying, "Mr. Li, money isn't everything. There are some things money can't buy." In his mind, he was shouting, "Convince me, quickly, just give me a reasonable reason, and I'll agree!"

Unfortunately, neither Chen Yaoyu nor Li Zhuo could read minds. They were both getting anxious and didn't notice Xu Yan's subtle change in attitude. They were determined not to let Xu Yan leave, so they continued to plead and block his way.

Just as they were at an impasse, another car approached, a black Audi. It stopped beside Xu Yan, and the face of Deputy Secretary Li Shangyuan appeared.

Deputy Secretary Li hurried out of the car, walking quickly with a smile on his face. He shook Xu Yan's hand vigorously. "This must be Master Xu? Ah, I've heard so much about you. I am Li Shangyuan, and I have come to apologize for my son's rudeness. I failed to teach him properly, and I am deeply sorry."

It must be said that there is a significant difference between people. As a municipal leader with decades of experience, Deputy Secretary Li's presence was something young people couldn't match. The same words spoken by Li Zhuo and his father carried vastly different weights. The latter's words were very persuasive and hard to refuse.

Refusing the family of a municipal leader was one thing, but refusing the leader himself was another. Xu Yan, a young college student, felt a bit nervous when the big leader he had only seen on TV suddenly appeared in front of him.

Fortunately, Xu Yan had spent some time with Zhu Youxiang and had experienced several violent scenes, which had toughened him up. He didn't show much panic, just shook hands with Li Shangyuan politely. "Secretary Li, hello. You're too kind to come and see me off."

After saying this, Xu Yan tried to pull his hand away, but Li Shangyuan held it tightly. "Master Xu, my son was rude, and I failed to teach him properly. I apologize deeply—don't just stand there, come out and apologize!"

Li Yuan hesitantly got out of the car, head down, eyes on the ground, mumbling an apology, but no one could hear him clearly. The arrogant young man was now a pitiful figure.

Li Shangyuan, furious, slapped Li Yuan's face. The sound was loud. "You insolent brat, you were so talkative earlier. Now, when you need to speak, you can't even say it clearly! Speak up, let everyone hear you!"

Li Yuan looked up, bowing repeatedly to Xu Yan, his face as bitter as a bitter gourd. "I'm sorry, Master Xu. I was blind and spoke rudely. It was my fault. I deserve to be punished. I'm a wretch, an ingrate, a dog biting Lu Dongbin, not recognizing a good deed. I'm not a decent person—whatever you want to do to me, go ahead. If you're still angry, you can beat me. Please, save my grandfather! I'll kneel and beg you, Master Xu, please!"

As he said this, Li Yuan made a move to kneel, but Xu Yan instinctively stepped forward to stop him, sighing inwardly. Although Xu Yan didn't understand much about human relations, he could sense that the other party had gone to great lengths. If he still refused, it would create a deep enmity.

...