Chapter 102: To Watch Death and Do Nothing?

Xie Qingtang looked at the eliminated man with great seriousness and said, “Even medicine has its poison. By placing patients who did not need medication into the category of those who do, you make them believe they must take it. In time, the toxins accumulating within their bodies will turn them into patients even if they were not sick to begin with.”

“As a traditional physician, the most important thing is medical ethics. You cannot harm another person’s health for what you see as your own profit.”

As soon as her words fell, the man’s expression stiffened. Then he let out a cold snort and said with contempt, “All piety on the surface, and nothing underneath.”

With that, he left the Hall of Benevolence at once. Xie Qingtang did not need anyone else’s approval for what she did; it was enough that she did not go against her own conscience.

The new apprentice who was留下 to stay was named Song Qing, a third-year student at the College of Traditional Medicine. His face was bright with excitement. Xie Qingtang smiled and asked, “There shouldn’t be any problem with starting work at eight tomorrow morning, should there?”

“Of course not. I’ll head back now,” Song Qing said, nodding before leaving the Hall of Benevolence.

For some reason, Zhou Jinfan suddenly came up to Xie Qingtang and asked a very strange question: “Boss, now that you have a new apprentice, does that mean I’m no longer your favorite?”

“When were you ever my favorite? Also, there’s still an hour before dinner. Just right—I’ll teach you to identify a few acupoints.”

Xie Qingtang said this indifferently. Ever since Zhou Jinfan had said he wanted to undergo her trial last time, she had unconsciously quickened the pace of teaching him acupoints. He had wanted to refuse, but then he remembered that in the future there would be more than just him in the Hall of Benevolence, so he gritted his teeth and agreed.

From the room came Zhou Jinfan’s stifled cries of pain, along with his yowls of protest. Zhao Xianglan was already used to it and calmly sorted through the things in her hands. Xie’s grandfather looked at the birdcage hanging from the tree and smiled. “Is Tangtang teaching that little helper to recognize acupoints again?”

“Yes,” Zhao Xianglan said with a smile. “That little helper has been very eager to learn lately. I imagine the young lady would be quite willing to teach him.”

The little bird perched among the branches also chirped in agreement.

An hour later, Zhou Jinfan staggered out of the room, his face pale and his steps unsteady.

“Not bad today. You’ve remembered all the acupoints we reviewed just now. Don’t forget the few new ones either,” Xie Qingtang said, patting him on the back.

At once, Zhou Jinfan winced in pain. The newly learned acupoints he had been taught today were all on his back.

“Boss, I seriously suspect you’re abusing your authority for personal revenge. That hurts like hell,” he said, turning back to look at her.

Xie Qingtang glared at him fiercely. “I’m tailoring the teaching to the student. It’s only because you’re too stupid. If you’re truly going to become my disciple one day, you absolutely cannot bring disgrace to my master’s name.”

A burst of laughter rose from the rear courtyard. Zhou Jinfan nodded miserably and helplessly, while Xie Qingtang stood there like some reclusive master, hands clasped behind her back as she looked at him.

Everyone got along happily. Even the bird hanging on the branch let out cheerful chirps. Xie Qingtang picked up some dried medicinal herbs nearby and fed them to it, then gently stroked the bright orange-red tuft of feathers atop its head.

The next morning, Song Qing arrived very early at the Hall of Benevolence. After helping Zhou Jinfan clean up, he sat down behind the consultation desk that Xie Qingtang had prepared for him in advance.

“If you’re unsure about any condition, you can come ask me, but you must be responsible for every patient’s health,” Xie Qingtang said. She knew that Song Qing was only a third-year student, and although his grades were excellent, mistakes were inevitable. She did not want him to grow too proud.

Song Qing was still very modest and immediately nodded.

As usual, the Hall of Benevolence received many patients. Some of their conditions were not severe, so Xie Qingtang handed all those cases over to Song Qing to handle.

At first, she was still somewhat uneasy about him, so she kept an eye on him from the side. After about half a day, however, she realized that Song Qing worked with great steadiness and caution, and that when he asked about a patient’s food, clothing, lodging, and daily habits, he was meticulous to the last detail.

Unconsciously, Xie Qingtang grew much more at ease with him and went off to take care of her own matters.

“Get out of the way! Where is Dr. Xie? Where is Dr. Xie?”

At that moment, a group of brazen-looking men burst in, shoving aside the patients waiting in line as they carried a stretcher into the clinic.

Seeing this, Xie Qingtang came out from behind the counter, her brow slightly furrowed. The man leading them wore a gold chain around his neck and had a vicious, unpleasant face, with sharp brows and fierce eyes. He looked terrifyingly aggressive, and his gaze instantly landed on Xie Qingtang, standing there elegant and striking.

He strode straight toward her, seized her wrist, and, with a foul stench spilling from his mouth, said loudly, “You’re the doctor here, Xie Qingtang, right? I saw you online. Hurry and take a look at my second brother. He’s been hurt by someone.”

“Let go of me immediately, or you’ll bear the consequences yourself,” Xie Qingtang said coldly.

The man paid no attention to her words and continued pulling her toward the stretcher.

Silver needles appeared in Xie Qingtang’s hand. One flashed into the back of his hand, and in that instant he yanked his hand away, his whole arm going numb and weak.

“Boss, are you all right? You filthy woman, what did you do?” The underlings beside him surged forward at once, raising their hands to strike Xie Qingtang.

Just then, Zhou Jinfan, who had always been timid and inclined to keep out of trouble, actually rushed over with the scissors used for cutting medicinal herbs and pointed them at the group. “Stop right there. This is a traditional medicine clinic, not a place for you to run wild. If you want us to treat an injured person, then don’t make noise and cause trouble here.”

Seeing Zhou Jinfan suddenly stand up for her, Xie Qingtang was also taken aback. Then she gently pushed him aside and said to the elder brother, who was looking at her in astonishment, “Where is the patient? Take me to see him.”

As soon as her words fell, the man said nothing more. He only raised a hand in irritation, and the underlings behind him quickly stepped back, clearing a path for Xie Qingtang.

She walked up to the stretcher and, with one glance, saw that the man lying there had been stabbed in the abdomen. Blood was flowing without stop. She rose and shook her head.