Chapter 139: Three Birds with One Stone

After packing the pan-fried dumplings into a food bag, Hong Chen hurried out, jumped into his GTR, and drove to a nearby medical supply store. He bought a medical cap, a surgical mask, and a white lab coat. He then stopped at the optical shop next door to purchase a pair of non-prescription black-rimmed glasses.

After finding a secluded spot to change into his full disguise, Hong Chen left the GTR behind and hailed a taxi.

Ten minutes later, the taxi stopped at a crosswalk due to a red light. Looking through the window, Hong Chen saw sixty or seventy people crowded in front of the Baojiantang Clinic’s first branch, not including the pedestrians who had stopped to watch from the periphery.

After a moment of thought, Hong Chen called Qi Gang. As the light turned green, the taxi crossed the road and pulled over. Hong Chen stepped out and walked quickly to the back door of the clinic. He knocked three times, and as the door opened, he slipped inside.

"Young Master Chen, we're in big trouble this time." Qi Gang was sweating profusely, his face twisted in distress. Hong Chen gestured for him to calm down, tossed him a cigarette, and lit one for himself. He took a slow, steady drag before saying, "Tell me the situation slowly. The sky hasn't fallen yet."

Looking at Hong Chen’s composed expression, Qi Gang couldn't help but admire his calm. It took more than just a stout heart to maintain such composure; it required a deep well of confidence.

Influenced by Hong Chen, Qi Gang took a few puffs of his cigarette to steady his nerves. "It started because Dr. Wang acted improperly at the Medical Saint Competition. It was perfectly reasonable for the Luo family to hold Zhongbaotang accountable afterward, and no one could argue with that. But Zhongbaotang took things too far. They made the Luo family pay ten million to settle the matter, then turned around and forced that debt onto Dr. Wang. If he can't pay, they’ll sue him. They likely have some incriminating evidence on him. If he’s sentenced to prison, he’s bound to implicate others."

"Dr. Wang’s mentor, Elder Lu, is a director of the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Association. He originally had nothing to do with Zhongbaotang, but now, because of Dr. Wang, he’s essentially been kidnapped by them."

"Elder Lu came to challenge us today. It’s the same as someone showing up to smash a martial arts school. Before you arrived, he declared that if we didn't accept the challenge, he and his students would set up stalls in front of our door every day. He’s charging one hundred thousand to see a patient, his students ten thousand, and his grand-students two thousand, until they collect ten million. If we let him carry on like this for a week or two, Baojiantang’s reputation will be ruined. Plus, we’ve recently hired many students from the medical university; this will surely shake their resolve."

"But accepting the challenge is also troublesome. The ten million in stakes is minor, but the key is that if you win, Young Master Chen, you’ll offend a group of old practitioners in the Provincial TCM Association who are close to Elder Lu. Along with their followers, you’d be offending at least half of the province's TCM community."

Hong Chen listened silently, digesting the information before frowning. "Offending people doesn't matter; everyone is just scrambling for their own interests. What I care about is this: if Elder Lu comes today, Elder Mao comes tomorrow, and Elder Chi the day after, do I have to handle all of them? Do I have any room to live my own life?"

Qi Gang paused, then gave a sheepish laugh. "Young Master Chen, you don't need to worry about that. Challenges always involve stakes, and they aren't decided by the other side alone. If Elder Lu wants ten million, we can raise the stakes—to one hundred million, for instance. If he doesn't dare accept, he can get lost. If he does accept, he can't just expect a free ride. We are cooperating with the Jiang family now; it won't be a problem to invite a reliable mediator."

As he spoke, his sheepish smile turned into a bitter one. "But the problem is, Elder Lu is here as a proxy. He’s not just protecting Dr. Wang, but others who might be implicated. This news came from the Jiang family. They say it’s up to you whether to accept the challenge, but it’s best not to play games with the stakes, or it will be seen as intentional provocation. After all, Elder Lu is a director of the Provincial TCM Association, and Baojiantang needs to deal with the association if it wants to expand throughout the province."

Hong Chen nodded. He understood and agreed with the Jiang family's advice. After a moment of silence, he said, "In the end, this is just another tactic by Zhongbaotang. If I accept Elder Lu's challenge, I’ll become their pawn, hurting both others and myself. I have a method, but it requires the Jiang family's cooperation and your grandfather's help..."

Hong Chen proceeded to explain his plan. Qi Gang was left dumbfounded, only recovering after a long while. "Young Master Chen, are you serious? This is a double-edged sword."

Hong Chen held up a finger and smiled. "I’ll ask you one thing: if my plan succeeds, won't it make Baojiantang’s reputation shine even brighter, make Zhongbaotang hoist themselves with their own petard, and shouldn't Elder Lu owe me a favor?"

Qi Gang nodded without hesitation. Hong Chen made his decision instantly: "That’s all I need. Three birds with one stone—it’s worth the risk. Contact your grandfather and the Jiang family now."

Seeing Hong Chen’s resolve, Qi Gang pulled out his phone and began making calls.

...

In the main hall, sitting at a guest table, a man over seventy sat with great dignity. Although his hair was gray, his eyes were sharp and full of vitality. Dressed in a white lab coat, he exuded an air of arrogance.

This was Elder Lu. He had begun learning traditional Chinese medicine from his father at age eight and saw his first patient at eighteen. With nearly sixty years of experience, he was a former vice president of the Provincial First Hospital, former director of the TCM department, and current director of the Provincial TCM Association.

Around Elder Lu stood seven or eight middle-aged men and women in lab coats—his students, all of whom were TCM doctors at various hospitals in the province. Beyond them were a dozen young men and women, also in lab coats—his grand-students.

Baojiantang was not at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. Qi Gang had summoned doctors and medical interns from other branches, and they had all arrived.

The two sides formed distinct camps. Before it was even decided whether the "Miracle Doctor Hong" would accept the challenge, a war of words had already broken out between the two factions, filling the hall with tension.

"Hey, you've been blowing this 'Miracle Doctor Hong' up to the heavens. Does he dare to accept the challenge or not? If not, just say so and stop wasting our time."

"Are you in such a rush to reincarnate? I suggest you slow down. If you die without seeing Miracle Doctor Hong, you’ll only have yourself to blame for a wrongful death."

"Bullshit! 'Die without seeing Miracle Doctor Hong'—you'd have lived a hundred years in vain anyway. It's just a top-three finish in the Qing City preliminaries of the Medical Saint Competition. People who don't know might think you won the overall championship. You brag so much; if you have the guts, accept the challenge! Oh wait, forget accepting—he hasn't even shown his face. Is he planning to play the coward?"

"Shut your trap! An old turtle brings a bunch of middle-aged turtles and a swarm of young ones, all sticking their necks out. When Miracle Doctor Hong gets here, you'll all be scurrying with your heads tucked in!"

"What 'Miracle Doctor'? I think it should be 'Miracle Charlatan.' He must have calculated that today my master's master is here in person, and it’s a day for cowardice. Go on, make him stick his neck out and let me see..."

"Enough!" Elder Lu suddenly barked. He glanced at his watch and said in a slow, deep voice, "They said Miracle Doctor Hong would be here in fifteen minutes; it's been nearly half an hour. Five more minutes. If he doesn't show or doesn't accept, set up the consultation desk at the door."

Elder Lu's followers responded in unison, casting provocative looks toward the opposite camp.

"No need to wait any longer. Zhang Qiang, Zhao Xin, Wang Rui, Ma Lan—hurry up and help Elder Lu move the consultation desk to the front door." Just then, the door to the treatment room opened, and a sharp voice echoed out.

Everyone turned their heads. Qi Gang walked out with a grave expression, followed by a man in a white lab coat, wearing a medical cap, black-rimmed glasses, and a surgical mask. Who else could it be but Miracle Doctor Hong?

The Baojiantang staff were instantly stirred. However, Hong Chen’s gaze swept over the room and landed on Elder Lu. He bowed politely, and the words he spoke caused their expressions to freeze in place.

"Elder Lu is a pillar of the TCM community, a name I have long revered. For you to issue a challenge to a junior like me is a great honor, but I am unworthy of such a gesture. Today, I have only one wish: to witness Elder Lu’s superb medical skills with my own eyes. Please, Elder Lu, do not hold back... Elder Lu, please."