Chapter Eighteen: An Incident Occurs

“I’m thick-skinned. If Second Uncle or Third Aunt make unreasonable demands, just let them. I’ll refuse—what can they do to me? Say unpleasant things? They go in one ear and out the other. If they dare lay a hand on me, they’ll only bring trouble upon themselves. So next time, don’t feel you have to make such difficult decisions for my sake.”

Hong Chen shrugged, offering no comment on the Lin family. To him, they were always mere passersby, and he never sought a single benefit from them, nor would they ever wring a thing from him. Yet Lin Yuxin, in order to protect herself, had gone so far as to use her beloved younger sister as an excuse to vent her anger, which made him feel a touch of deliberate detachment.

“At last you’re showing some ambition. I have no reason not to support you. Besides, you’re helping me, too.” Lin Yuxin bent to tie her shoelaces, her supple frame forming an elegant arc. Beneath the hazy glow of the neighborhood’s night lights, the quiet surroundings heightened her allure, stirring an urge to draw her into an embrace.

“It’s not that I begrudge Yufei spending money. Wanting to look good and keep face isn’t a problem, but there should be limits. If she spends beyond her means, that becomes vanity. Last time, the misunderstanding with you—though she stubbornly insisted otherwise—I knew what really happened. How is that any different from how Lin Meimei acted today? If I don’t teach her properly now, she’ll be lost once she graduates and enters society.”

Lin Yuxin’s mood seemed light, her words flowing more freely than usual. She sighed gently, “Yufei’s always been quick to anger since she was little, but it passes just as quickly. She’s still a child at heart. Once her temper settles, I’ll sit down and talk to her. It’ll be fine.”

Having tied both sides into exquisite butterfly knots, Lin Yuxin straightened, noticing Hong Chen quietly watching her. Her cheeks flushed inexplicably, and she smoothed her hair before waving him on. “Come, let’s get something to eat. I didn’t have a chance for dinner after Second Uncle and Aunt arrived.”

Hong Chen replied and followed her, feeling oddly unsettled. In their private interactions before, Lin Yuxin had always spoken only when necessary, otherwise remaining silent—like a beautiful statue that only uttered words when required, her emotions shifting like a change in sculptural material. Yet just now, her rambling had, for the first time, made him realize she was flesh and blood like anyone else.

They ate simply at a noodle shop outside the community, then Hong Chen accompanied Lin Yuxin on a stroll. They returned home only at half past ten; the Lin family had left, and the living room lights were off. Lin Yuxin went to Lin Yufei’s room. What the sisters discussed was unknown, but it was nearly midnight before she returned to her own room, by which time Hong Chen was already snoring on his mat on the floor.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Hong Chen woke at half past nine, washed up, and emerged from the room to find only Shen Huifang in the living room watching television.

“Mom.” He greeted her and went to the dining table for breakfast: half a pot of porridge, a few steamed buns, and a bowl of pickles.

Soon, Shen Huifang switched off the TV and came over, sitting heavily beside him. “You’re not entirely to blame for Meimei’s trouble, but you do bear some responsibility. Here’s what you’ll do: speak to that Director Xu and ask him to waive the three hundred thousand compensation. She’s a victim too.”

Her tone was as if issuing an imperial decree. Hong Chen was halfway through a bun and suddenly chewed slower. After swallowing, he said, “Mom, if it were you, would you agree to waive your own three hundred thousand compensation?”

A negative answer nearly escaped her lips, but at the last moment, Shen Huifang caught herself. After a few seconds’ pause, she said irritably, “I won’t beat around the bush. Lin Shujie said if we save that three hundred thousand, our family gets a hundred thousand. You must get this done.”

Hong Chen smiled noncommittally.

“Did you hear me? If you don’t…” Shen Huifang saw his indifference and was about to lose her temper, but then remembered something and shifted topics. “There’s something else. Yuanshan promised that for every million we bring to Huihuang’s decorating company, our family gets fifty thousand. Ten million would be tough, but you should at least…”

Just then, Hong Chen’s phone rang. He listened for a few moments, his expression darkening. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

He hung up, grabbed two buns, and rose to leave. Shen Huifang called after him loudly, “I’m not finished!”

“Mom, you can’t outplay the Lin family. Save yourself the trouble. If you really need a hundred thousand, I’ll give it to you in a few days.” With that, Hong Chen strode out, leaving Shen Huifang stamping her feet in indignation and muttering venomously, “If you can give me a hundred thousand, you useless thing, I’ll kneel and call you ancestor!”

...

Hong Chen rushed downstairs, jumped into his old sedan, and sped away.

Twelve or thirteen minutes later, he arrived at the Baojiantang Pharmacy on Zhongning Road. At that moment, a dense crowd had gathered at the entrance, some filming with their phones.

Something had happened!

He got out and pushed through the crowd toward the shop. Finally reaching the front, he was stopped by two young men in employee uniforms.

“Sorry, sir, the shop is temporarily closed.”

“Where’s Qi Gang?”

“You’re looking for Doctor Qi? And you are…?”

“He called me to come.”

They eyed Hong Chen suspiciously. One replied, “Doctor Qi is treating a patient right now. You’ll have to wait.”

Hong Chen could already see inside: a hospital bed stood in the middle, with a patient lying on it, surrounded by five or six angry people. A middle-aged man and woman, both doctors, were sweating as they tried to explain something.

“What’s going on?” Hong Chen pointed. The other young man explained, “There are two patients now—one being treated inside, the other waiting.”

Hong Chen nodded, saying nothing further, nor did he force his way in. He called Qi Gang, and soon Qi Gang slipped out from a side door, hurriedly approaching Hong Chen and speaking in a low, anxious voice, “Teacher, things aren’t good…”

Hong Chen waved his hand to stop him. “Don’t call me teacher. Use my name or call me Chen. Treat the patient first; everything else can wait.”

“Alright, Chen.” Qi Gang nodded, leading the way. Hong Chen followed, glancing at the patient as they passed the bed and frowning slightly.

Inside was a ten-square-meter consulting room. On the bed lay a girl of seventeen or eighteen, her skin dusky, face wan. Beside her stood a middle-aged couple, their faces grim and silent, eyes filled with deep worry—presumably her parents. An older doctor, Qi Gang’s assistant, seemed about to speak but stopped when Qi Gang shook his head.

Qi Gang stepped aside, and Hong Chen joined him at the bedside. Hong Chen scrutinized the girl’s face, then took her hand and checked her pulse for half a minute.

The couple, seeing a new doctor, became impatient. The woman said coldly, “Can you treat her or not? If not, say so. If you keep delaying and my daughter’s condition worsens, I won’t let you off.”

Hong Chen ignored her, leaned in to whisper to Qi Gang, who nodded and began treatment without further comment. Hong Chen moved to the other side of the bed. As Qi Gang inserted needles into the girl’s abdomen, Hong Chen took her wrist, seeming to massage it for relaxation, but in fact monitoring the changes in her condition.

Three minutes later, fifteen silver needles had been placed in her abdomen. Hong Chen suddenly supported her neck, lifting it slightly. Immediately, her face flushed, her mouth opened, and she vomited a large quantity of white foam.

The couple was startled and about to speak, but Hong Chen’s sharp gaze silenced them. He said calmly, “She ate the wrong thing. Once she’s purged, she’ll be fine. The stomach issue is no longer serious. Doctor Qi will write a prescription. If she takes it for a full course, she’ll recover. If you have doubts, you can take her to the hospital for a follow-up.”

“Dad, Mom, I feel much better now.” As soon as Hong Chen finished speaking, the girl smiled in relief. The couple were briefly stunned, then smiled fondly at her and said no more.

After Qi Gang withdrew the needles and wrote the prescription, Hong Chen glanced at it and nodded subtly. Seeing the girl rise from the bed as if nothing were wrong, the couple relaxed and thanked them repeatedly.

Qi Gang had his assistant escort them out, and Hong Chen summed up, “The girl had chronic gastritis, compounded by food poisoning. The combination made it tricky. If it were one case, it might be a coincidence, but the patient outside is similar—gastritis turned to enteritis, also food poisoning. Coincidence upon coincidence is no longer coincidence. Someone is targeting Baojiantang.”