Chapter 4

Cheng Feng the old Taoist and his granddaughter Zhou Ziyuan once gave Zhang Qingyuan a headache. The old man, after being beaten up by Zhang Qingyuan, admired him immensely and almost came to find Zhang Qingyuan every day. The little girl, seeing that her omnipotent and powerful grandfather was no match for Zhang Qingyuan, admired him even more, and almost stuck to him whenever Zhang Qingyuan was in the Taoist temple.

What left Zhang Qingyuan speechless was that if he hadn't refused at the time, the old man would have even wanted to become his disciple. Seeing that this path was blocked, the old man, in a fit of whimsy, wanted to become sworn brothers with Zhang Qingyuan. The older he got, the more naive he became. Under the persistent nagging of this old child, Zhang Qingyuan had no choice but to become sworn brothers with him, so Cheng Feng the old Taoist called him "little brother." Even more amusing was that Zhou Ziyuan called him "big brother" all day long.

This grandfather and granddaughter were simply a pair of top-notch characters, completely messing up the family hierarchy.

"Even your grandfather couldn't do it, how could I have a way?"

Naturally, Zhang Qingyuan did not agree. Although his five elements were balanced, treating ordinary people's illnesses was not a big deal. Traditional Chinese medicine mainly adjusts the five elements of the human body, supplementing what is lacking. However, people fear fame as pigs fear growing fat. Even Cheng Feng the old Taoist, hiding in this remote place, could still be found by people. How much more so if he lived in the city? If he really started, and his reputation spread, he would be bothered to death every day.

"Oh, Brother Qingyuan, you are more capable than my grandfather. If my grandfather can't do it, maybe you can?" Zhou Ziyuan didn't think so. At this innocent age, she was full of love. Being kind, she couldn't bear to see others suffer. Seeing the old man in pain made her cry, so she couldn't understand Zhang Qingyuan's thoughts.

Seeing Zhang Qingyuan shake his head, before he could speak, Zhou Ziyuan hooked her arm around his and swayed it back and forth, almost making Zhang Qingyuan lose his composure. Then she said in a sweet voice, "Brother Qingyuan, how can you stand by and do nothing? You haven't even seen it, how do you know you can't do it? If you have a way and don't go to see, wouldn't the old man die in vain?"

Seeing Zhou Ziyuan's serious expression, Zhang Qingyuan was somewhat at a loss, feeling that not treating people was tantamount to murder.

"Ah, I don't know what to say to you, little girl. Fine, I'll take a look."

Seeing Zhou Ziyuan's persistent attitude, Zhang Qingyuan knew he had to go and take a look. Seeing her still swaying his arm, the softness pressing against his arm, he quickly agreed.

"Hehe, I knew Brother Qingyuan was the best."

Hearing Zhou Ziyuan's cheerful voice, Zhang Qingyuan was speechless, thinking that if it weren't for her almost making him lose control, he wouldn't bother to treat anyone. Of course, just looking didn't mean he had to treat, he would just pretend to look.

"You little devil, let's go, quickly go and see that old man. If we go too late, it won't be good." Zhang Qingyuan said in a bad temper.

"Yes, Brother Qingyuan." Zhou Ziyuan quickly agreed, then pulled Zhang Qingyuan towards a bamboo house in front.

---

At this moment, in a much larger bamboo house, the old man was lying on a bamboo bed, his eyes tightly closed, breathing more out than in. His face, marked with age spots, looked gray and haggard, and his thin, bony arms were still receiving intravenous fluids, which were barely helpful.

The old man's condition was clearly worse than before.

In front of the old man's bed, the middle-aged woman who called him "dad" was squatting by the bed, tears streaming down her face, but she couldn't say a word.

The middle-aged man, with a square face, sat on a bamboo sofa, his brows furrowed, looking gloomy, smoking one cigarette after another. The martial arts experts they brought, except for the middle-aged man "Uncle Daozi" who was sitting on a bamboo chair, the other four stood at the door, always paying attention to the door.

Cheng Feng the old Taoist stood by the window, looking at the lotus flowers in the pond outside, and sighed. As a doctor, seeing a patient suffer but being unable to help was a very unpleasant feeling, especially since he had almost always cured patients with his medicine, no matter how difficult the illness.

"Teacher, can you take another look? Old Huang has been dedicated to charity for years and even founded a joint charity foundation, helping countless poor families. He is a good person."

Standing next to Cheng Feng the old Taoist was the doctor from before. Looking at the old man lying on the bed, he also sighed. Thinking of such a philanthropist about to die, he couldn't help but feel that fate was unfair. But since all his medical knowledge came from Cheng Feng the old Taoist, and Cheng Feng the old Taoist had already said there was no hope, he naturally believed it. However, believing and accepting were two different things.

"Han Gong, this time Old Huang is basically at the end of his life. If he had been brought here a few months earlier, there would have been a way to improve his condition. But now his lung cancer is in the final stage, and I am truly powerless. I can only use acupuncture and medicine to prolong his life for a few days."

In the Chinese medical community, there was only one person named Han Gong—Jiang Han Gong. As a leading figure in the field of traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, he was also renowned nationwide. Patients he treated, unless they had a terminal illness, were always cured. Others only knew of his superb medical skills and tireless learning, but they didn't know that his medical knowledge came from Cheng Feng the old Taoist.

The woman crying and the man smoking on the bamboo sofa both heard Cheng Feng the old Taoist's words. The woman, upon hearing this, could no longer suppress her sobs and cried out loud.

Then, she suddenly stood up, rushed to the middle-aged man's side, and cried out while shouting:

"Huang Zhiguo! It's all your fault. If it weren't for Dad helping you secure your position, would he have delayed seeing a doctor until now? If Dad... Dad is gone, it's all your fault!!!"

Seeing Huang Zhiguo's head hanging low and silent, the woman, unable to contain her anger, reached out and slapped the cigarette out of his hand, "Smoke, smoke, smoke! Do you want to get lung cancer like Dad too???"

"Huang Zhiguo!" Seeing the woman's uncontrollable state, Huang Zhiguo suddenly raised his head and shouted, but when he looked up and saw his sister in tears, he couldn't say anything more. He hesitated, sighed, and with red-rimmed eyes, picked up the cigarette butt and pressed it into the ashtray.

Reaching out to hold his sister's hand, Huang Zhiguo helped her to the sofa, put his arm around her shoulders, and said in a hoarse voice, "I know it's all my fault. I'm sorry to Dad."

This man, who had once been as imposing as the wind, now had a bitter expression.

Money and power were not as important as family. As long as the family was together, even if they had less money, it didn't matter. This was Huang Zhiguo's most genuine thought at the moment, but it was just a thought. Seeing the old man lying in bed, breathing faintly, his face sunken, and in pain, the man who hadn't shed a tear since adulthood was now silently crying.

This scene moved even the stern "Uncle Daozi," who glanced at the old man lying in bed and sighed. Not to mention Cheng Feng the old Taoist and Jiang Han Gong, who were moved by their medical ethics, even the young nurse who came with them was at a loss, only standing by the bed, watching the drops of liquid fall from the IV, her heart surging.

Just then, a sweet voice suddenly rang out at the door, "Let me in!"

Everyone in the room turned to look, and at that moment, Zhou Ziyuan and Zhang Qingyuan were standing at the door, but were blocked by four of the Huang family's bodyguards.

"Mr. Huang, this is my granddaughter and my brother." Cheng Feng the old Taoist introduced them in a somewhat awkward manner, leaving everyone in the room a bit confused. However, Huang Zhiguo immediately waved to the bodyguards, who stepped aside, and Zhou Ziyuan brought Zhang Qingyuan in.

Is it him?

Looking at Zhang Qingyuan, "Uncle Daozi," who was slowly sipping tea on the bamboo chair, immediately recognized him. He slowly placed the teacup on the table, his face showing a thoughtful expression.

"Grandpa, I brought Brother Qingyuan to see this old man." Zhou Ziyuan's words left everyone in the room stunned, even the usually bold and lively Zhou Ziyuan felt a bit embarrassed and stuck out her tongue.

Cheng Feng the old Taoist, however, looked at Zhang Qingyuan in surprise and asked, "Brother, do you know medicine?"