Chapter Sixteen: Raising the Stakes

When Gu Xiujin, seated in his wheelchair, saw Xie Qingtang’s face sporting a sly smile, his heart felt as though something had fiercely stirred it. Indeed, since she was the one who had brought the patient and even claimed Xie Qingtang couldn’t cure him, she could only grit her teeth and nod in agreement, saying, “Fine. If you can’t cure this patient, then from today on, you must close Kindness Hall and never again use the guise of traditional medicine to deceive people.”

As her words faded, the smile on Xie Qingtang’s face diminished, and with a cold snort, she said, “I only asked for your patients for a month, yet you want me to shut down Kindness Hall. This wager seems a little unfair.”

“Oh? Are you afraid to bet now?” Seeing the woman hesitate, Wang Miao’er immediately grew arrogant, raising her chin high and gazing at Xie Qingtang with disdain.

Everyone around held their breath at the scene.

As all eyes remained fixed on her, Xie Qingtang suddenly laughed, shook her head, and raised a finger before Wang Miao’er, saying, “There’s nothing in this world I’m afraid to do. I’m not backing out—I want to raise the stakes.”

“If this patient recovers, I want your patients for a whole year. And every time you meet a patient during that year, the very first thing you must say to them is, ‘Traditional medicine is not a scam.’”

With her words, the crowd couldn’t help but stifle their laughter. The matter had come this far, and Wang Miao’er had no way to back out. She bit her lip and nodded.

This intern from Gu’s Hospital had deliberately brought a man with a strange illness to Kindness Hall, clearly looking for trouble. For those who intentionally came to provoke her, Xie Qingtang showed no mercy. Since Wang Miao’er didn’t believe in traditional medicine and thought it fraudulent, she would let her see for herself whether it was a scam.

The onlookers were all deeply curious as to who would win the bet, while only the patient’s parents clung to each other, weeping as they watched their son lying motionless on the ground.

Having settled the wager, Xie Qingtang clapped her hands and returned to her seat to rest, only to notice Gu Xiujin’s gaze fixed intently on her. That look, laden with unfathomable meaning, made Xie Qingtang feel as though she were being stalked by some wild beast—her skin prickled with goosebumps.

“Although he’s in a wheelchair, my fiancé certainly has no shortage of admirers. Some even come looking for trouble with me. Should I, as the fiancée, take it upon myself to prune these meddling admirers from his side?” Xie Qingtang muttered under her breath as she sat.

But upon second thought, she shook her head. Remembering her master’s advice, she reminded herself that she had come down from the mountains for revenge, not to prune her fiancé’s admirers.

With that, she firmed her resolve. As time ticked by, everyone’s attention remained fixed on the man lying motionless on the ground.

Soon, half an hour passed. Xie Qingtang rose, walked over to the man, and reached out to remove the silver needles from his back.

“What are you doing?” Wang Miao’er, who had been watching closely, stepped forward and spoke coldly.

Xie Qingtang ignored her, silently withdrew the needles, and gently patted the man on the back of his head, saying, “Alright, it’s time to wake up.”

“How ridiculous! Do you think you’re performing magic? Just a little tap and you expect him to wake up?” Wang Miao’er scoffed, her voice dripping with undisguised sarcasm.

But in the very next moment, the man who had lain motionless on the ground actually stirred. He pushed himself up and stood.

“He’s awake! He’s awake! The man has woken up!” The crowd erupted as if witnessing a miracle.

The man’s parents hurried to their son’s side. His mother, hands trembling, cupped his face and asked anxiously, “Son, how do you feel?”

“Mom, where am I? Why am I here?” The man looked around in confusion, evidently nervous.

Seeing the man—who had been raving and uncontrollable at Gu’s Hospital—now fully lucid, Wang Miao’er was stunned, her face flushing with embarrassment and discomfort.

“Thank heavens, son, you’re finally awake!” his mother cried, clutching him tightly, her tears flowing freely. The onlookers were deeply moved by the scene.

Meanwhile, Xie Qingtang quietly packed away her needles. Only after the family’s emotions had calmed did the man’s mother pull her son to his knees before Xie Qingtang.

“What are you doing?” Xie Qingtang rushed forward, trying to help her up.

But the man’s mother insisted on having her son bow in gratitude, her words choked with sobs: “If not for you, my son would never have recovered. Thank you, miracle doctor!”

“I’m no miracle doctor—my master is. Please, get up. Treating illness and saving lives is my duty. If you thank me this way, you’ll only shorten my life,” Xie Qingtang said hurriedly, helping her up. The man stood as well, though he staggered and nearly fell.

Seeing this, Wang Miao’er seized on it as a last hope. Pointing to the man, she declared, “See? You haven’t cured him. Our wager doesn’t count.”

Her words drew incredulous looks from the crowd—after all, they saw with their own eyes the man’s condition upon arriving at Kindness Hall.

A man who had been deranged and mindless had regained consciousness—how could that not be a cure? No one here was blind.

Ignoring Wang Miao’er’s blustering, Xie Qingtang went to the medicine cabinet, swiftly selected several herbs, and placed them into a scented sachet.

She handed it to the man and advised, “I believe you’ve suffered from a peculiar illness. This sachet is calming and will be beneficial for your condition—keep it with you at all times.”

“Thank you, miracle doctor.” The man, still half in doubt, took the sachet, but he knew his recovery was entirely due to this young woman, so he wore it without hesitation.

Wang Miao’er, watching this, sneered, “If illnesses could be cured with sachets, why would anyone go to the hospital? Why not just come here and buy sachets from you?”

“Dr. Wang, a brain is a wonderful thing—you should use yours. And you don’t have to put your foolishness on display for everyone to see. It’s enough if you’re the only one who knows about it.” Xie Qingtang replied without mercy. For those who repeatedly sought to trouble her, she would show no courtesy.