Chapter Ninety-Three: Who Truly Holds Power

But the old woman was unreasonable. After the hospital issued a critical condition notice, she stormed straight to the hospital entrance, causing a scene and accusing the doctors of Gu Family Hospital of killing her daughter-in-law.

Once the crowd understood the full story, everyone agreed the old lady was making trouble without cause, likely just trying to exploit the situation for compensation.

The old woman’s wailing grew even louder after being criticized by the onlookers, though it was all thunder without rain. Pointing at the doctors, she shouted, “You heartless, incompetent quacks! You’re the ones falsely accusing others. My daughter-in-law was conscious when she arrived, but after your treatment, she’s now at death’s door. If it’s not your fault, whose is it?”

“Madam, your words are unreasonable. When your daughter-in-law was brought in, she was hemorrhaging severely, and she was a premature case—already very critical. The hospital did nothing wrong,” the doctor hurriedly explained at the entrance.

After the livestream incident with Zhou Jinfan, the reputation of Gu Family Hospital had already suffered. Now, with this medical disturbance, things could get even worse. It was essential to handle it properly.

“Third Aunt, the situation isn’t settled yet. Please get up from the ground. I’ve found Doctor Xie—her skills are renowned. She’ll certainly be able to save your daughter-in-law,” honest, kind-hearted Aben continued to help the old lady up, extolling Xie Qingtang.

But unexpectedly, his words turned the hospital doctors’ ire toward Xie Qingtang.

“How absurd! Do you mean to say traditional medicine can save acute cases faster than us in Western medicine? You ignorant villagers actually believe in traditional medicine. It’s pure deception. If anything happens because you trust in that, our hospital bears no responsibility,” the doctors declared, resolute.

Their message was clear: if the family insisted on trusting traditional medicine and something happened to the pregnant woman in the operating room, the hospital would not be liable, nor would they receive compensation. The old woman’s eyes darted, immediately grasping the implication.

She shoved off Aben’s hand, glared fiercely, and spat, “Aben, you’re rotten-hearted too. After all these years, the first thing you do on seeing me is to risk my daughter-in-law’s life, bringing in some wild doctor who dares promise to save her.”

Witnessing this, Xie Qingtang’s brow furrowed slightly. She saw through the old woman—her concern wasn’t truly for her daughter-in-law’s survival, but rather to use her life to extract the highest compensation from the hospital.

Just then, a young nurse rushed over, whispered a few words to the lead doctor, who then addressed the old lady, “Madam, your son has already decided to protect the baby.”

The moment these words fell, the old woman nimbly scrambled to her feet, not bothering to dust herself off, cursing, “That wretched son of mine—why save that doomed woman? Of course the precious grandson must be saved!”

With that, she charged into the hospital’s emergency wing, as the doctors turned away. The crowd couldn’t follow inside for the spectacle.

“Doctor Xie, I beg you to see the pregnant woman. She’s my cousin’s wife, nearly eight months along, suddenly hemorrhaging—it’s very dangerous,” Aben pleaded anxiously, his honest face full of worry.

Xie Qingtang looked at him calmly and shook her head, “Aben, she’s a patient of Gu Family Hospital. I can’t intervene at will. Besides, as a traditional medicine practitioner in a Western medicine hospital, I’d likely be thrown out by their security. The family doesn’t seem to want my help, either.”

Aben’s face fell in dismay. Beside him, Ah Xiang gripped his arm gently and said, “Aben, you’ve done all you can. It was pure chance to encounter Third Aunt today.”

“You’re wrong, Ah Xiang. I believe it’s fate. Third Aunt’s daughter-in-law is in grave danger, and we happen to know Doctor Xie. Do you really think this is all coincidence?” Aben’s eyes flashed with resolve, certain it was destiny.

Xie Qingtang simply shook her head and said no more. Meanwhile, the security guards at Gu Family Hospital eyed them warily, clearly unwilling to let them in.

At that moment, Aben did something wholly unexpected—he turned to the guards and said, “I know you won’t let us in easily, but saving a life is more valuable than building a seven-story pagoda. I believe Doctor Xie can save both my cousin’s wife and child. Please, let us in, won’t you?”

Even Xie Qingtang was stunned, not expecting Aben to act so boldly or place such unwavering faith in her. She herself couldn’t promise with absolute certainty the lives of both mother and child, yet Aben trusted her implicitly.

For a moment, Xie Qingtang felt something indescribable bloom in her heart—the sense of being trusted filled her with warmth.

Just then, a black sedan stopped at the hospital entrance. Li Zhao stepped out, took a wheelchair from the trunk, and Gu Xiujin sat calmly as he approached Xie Qingtang.

“Come in with me,” Gu Xiujin said. Xie Qingtang hesitated briefly, but almost instinctively followed him into the hospital, with Aben and his wife trailing behind without hesitation.

Inside, Xie Qingtang wondered why she had so easily followed Gu Xiujin’s invitation, her brow slightly furrowed.

“I’m aware of the situation with the pregnant woman. Let’s check the operating room first. If the doctors are powerless to save both mother and child, Xie Qingtang, then you must intervene,” Gu Xiujin said from his wheelchair.

After a moment’s thought, Xie Qingtang finally nodded.