Chapter 100: Healing, Treating the Illness at Its Root

"Do you think this is just a minor ailment?" the doctor barked sharply, his brow furrowed deeply. "Leave at once! Don’t cause chaos here and hinder the treatment!" His words brimmed with urgency.

But Li Chao shook his head gently, his tone resolute. "This is truly a piece of cake!" He spread his hands and continued, "No drastic measures needed—just a delicate dance of my silver needles, guiding the accumulated blood out from within. It's a matter easily handled in the blink of an eye, barely a moment’s work."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope. She hurriedly urged, "Then please, perform your miraculous healing technique at once!" Over these days, she had come to trust Li Chao’s medical skills unconditionally, nearly worshipping him blindly.

Li Chao smiled and nodded, unhurriedly retrieving the silver needles he had prepared from his bag, ready to proceed.

This scene, however, made the nearby doctor fidget like ants on a hot pan, his anxiety manifesting in restless pacing. "What reckless audacity is this? The condition is so severe, and you haven’t even reviewed the diagnosis, yet you dare to apply acupuncture so rashly—this is playing with life!"

Yu Xin’s father, now nervous, quickly intervened, "Xin, this concerns your mother’s safety; we cannot act recklessly!" His voice carried a mixture of worry and helplessness.

Compared to his initial doubts, Yu Xin’s father now leaned more towards trusting the authority of the hospital’s physicians.

Yet Yu Xin firmly stood by Li Chao’s side. She turned to her father patiently, "Dad, trust me! Li Chao’s medical skills are truly extraordinary. No matter how difficult the illness, he can turn danger into safety. I trust him one hundred percent!"

The doctor, enraged, spat out harsh words, "Does your trust feed anyone?!" He exclaimed heatedly, "Such a condition cannot be cured by acupuncture alone! You’re treating your loved one’s health as a game!"

But Yu Xin’s resolve was unwavering. She fixed her gaze on Li Chao and said with conviction, "Don’t worry; go ahead and do it." Her determination silenced even Chunlian’s father, who found himself at a loss for words.

The doctor, watching this scene—the steadfast protection from Yu Xin and Li Chao’s readiness to proceed—grew solemn, shaking his head with a sigh. "Hopeless stubbornness." He warned gravely, "If you insist on this path, I am powerless to stop you. But I hope you won’t regret this decision later. Also, I must declare, if anything goes wrong, our hospital bears no responsibility!"

With that, he turned and strode briskly outside, evidently intending to gather several medical staff to witness this moment, protecting himself should any mishap occur.

The surrounding patients, drawn by this sudden dispute, cast curious glances and whispered among themselves. "What’s this family thinking? Ignoring the doctor’s advice and insisting on some dubious method." "Could they have some hidden agenda? Trying to stir trouble and extort money in the hospital?" "Who knows? People’s hearts are inscrutable these days." "If that’s true, it’s despicable—even scheming against one’s own mother."

These words sliced through Yu Xin’s father’s already anxious heart like sharp blades, deepening his unease.

At this critical moment, Li Chao’s movements were resolute. With practiced skill, he firmly inserted the silver needle into the patient’s bruised area.

Then, a soft white light shimmered at his fingertips as he gently rotated the needle. The glow seemed almost alive, flowing slowly along the needle into the patient’s body, bringing an indescribable warmth and hope.

Instantly, dark purple bruising began to ooze steadily from the silver needle, a shocking sight.

Without hesitation, Li Chao expertly inserted two more needles into the bruised areas, his technique breathtakingly precise.

Yu Xin’s father’s heart leapt painfully to his throat. Regret was useless now; he could only watch nervously, praying for a miracle.

The onlookers were captivated, holding their breath for the outcome.

As the dark blood discharged continuously, the bruising on Yu Xin’s mother visibly faded at an astonishing rate. Her complexion gradually regained a rosy hue, as if reborn.

Amidst the crowd’s amazement, the attending physician arrived hastily with a group. Seeing Li Chao already performing acupuncture, he loudly declared, "Everyone saw it—he insisted on doing this! If anything goes wrong, it has nothing to do with me or the hospital!"

Behind him, the young Donglai, furious, clenched his fists and charged forward, ready to confront Li Chao.

Yu Xin bravely stepped between them, halting Donglai’s impulse. "Donglai, calm down!" She looked at her enraged brother and explained, "This is for Mom’s sake. I trust Li Chao."

Donglai was incredulous, unable to understand why his sister stubbornly trusted an outsider, especially at such a crucial moment.

"姐, wake up! Who still trusts traditional Chinese medicine these days?" he shouted anxiously, his tone a mix of concern and skepticism.

"If he can really cure Mom with acupuncture, then I’ll walk upside down..."

Donglai’s words were cut short by an unbelievable miracle: their mother lying in bed let out a faint cough and slowly opened her eyes.

This sudden change stunned everyone present, as if time had frozen at that instant.

"She’s awake?!" The crowd exchanged incredulous looks.

After just a few needles, the patient once declared critically ill had miraculously regained consciousness?

The attending doctor’s eyes widened as if witnessing the impossible. His mind churned with disbelief.

He clearly remembered that, according to the patient’s data, even with a successful surgery, regaining consciousness would take at least three or four days.

Yet now, everything defied logic and seemed utterly surreal.

"Last flicker of life?" The thought briefly crossed the doctor’s mind but was immediately dismissed.

The monitoring equipment clearly showed the patient’s vital signs rapidly returning to normal—this was no mere illusion.

Donglai’s anger shifted to astonishment and then joy.

Looking at his mother’s awakened face, his worries and wrath vanished instantly.

Yu Xin’s father was so moved he nearly wept, gripping his wife’s hand tightly with a trembling voice: "Wife, you’re finally awake! You scared me to death!"

The attending doctor, still filled with doubt and shock, along with several nurses, approached the bedside, checking the patient’s condition while murmuring, "Impossible... absolutely impossible..."

His eyes reflected both adherence to medical knowledge and profound amazement at the miracle before him.

Li Chao calmly withdrew the three silver needles, his voice imbued with pride and confidence in traditional Chinese medicine. "Nothing is impossible. The profound depth of Chinese medical culture is something you Western-trained doctors find hard to fully comprehend."

His words were calm and resolute, as if stating an unquestionable truth.

Then he turned to Donglai and instructed simply, "Go handle the discharge procedures. Your mother’s condition is stable; after some rest, she can go home."

Though still harboring doubts, Donglai accepted the undeniable fact of his mother’s awakening.

He half-believed, half-questioned, and took his mother for a thorough series of tests at the hospital again.

When the results came back, not only he but all medical staff present were stunned— the patient’s internal bruising had vanished entirely; all physiological indicators had returned to normal, fully meeting discharge criteria.

This scene was both shocking and incredible to Donglai.

Standing beside his mother, his eyes were vacant with disbelief.

During the wait for the report, the mother’s mental state steadily improved, her steps increasingly steady. She could now walk freely.

The surrounding people cast admiring glances, murmuring about the miraculous efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine.

After this sudden upheaval, Donglai gained a renewed respect and awe for Chinese medical culture.

He looked at Li Chao with eyes full of gratitude and admiration.

Upon learning the truth, Donglai’s respect for Li Chao surged. He felt as if caught in a dream, unable to believe what had just happened.

Only hours before, the hospital was urging them to prepare for an expensive surgery and had issued a critical condition notice.

Now, all that was effortlessly resolved by Li Chao’s three needles, without spending a single cent. This stark contrast left Donglai both shocked and exhilarated.

As they left the ward, Yu Xin’s family drew the curious gazes of nearby patients.

Through the glass, Li Chao noticed the attending doctor still seated at his computer, staring blankly at a desk cluttered with test reports, evidently shaken deeply by the day’s events, perhaps even questioning his long-held medical beliefs.

Outside the ward building, the family’s mood lightened considerably as they began discussing transportation home.

Donglai suggested taking a minibus, but Yu Xin confidently asserted that Li Chao had a car, which gave her words added weight.

When Li Chao went alone to the parking lot to retrieve his vehicle, Donglai curiously asked Yu Xin about its brand.

Blushing slightly, Yu Xin corrected him on how to address Li Chao and confirmed he had a car but couldn’t recall the exact brand.

This disappointed Chunsheng, who had hoped to see a luxury brand like BMW or Mercedes.

But on second thought, even a domestic car was impressive, considering Li Chao’s youth and ability to own a vehicle.

In contrast, Donglai felt somewhat inferior, relying solely on his motorcycle to get around.

Yet, he was not discouraged; rather, he felt more determined to work hard and improve his life.

He was also deeply grateful and respectful toward Li Chao for saving his mother at a critical moment.

When Li Chao’s car, hazard lights blinking, slowly pulled up before them, the entire family’s attention was instantly captured.

The windows rolled down, and Li Chao smiled invitingly, his poise and confidence reinforcing Donglai’s suspicion—this was no ordinary vehicle.

Inside the car, Donglai’s parents, though unfamiliar with car brands, could sense the luxury and comfort.

Donglai, however, was utterly stunned, sitting in the front passenger seat, unable to recover from the shock.

The exquisite interior, high-tech features, and the unmistakable Porsche emblem all confirmed that this was far beyond what he had imagined as "just okay."

After a long moment, Donglai finally mustered courage, turning to Yu Xin with trembling lips. "Sis, do you have some misunderstanding about what ‘just okay’ means?"

His tone mixed astonishment and envy, clearly overwhelmed by the Porsche.

"Just okay?" he pressed, eyes sparkling with disbelief, "This is insanely awesome! Porsche! My God! I never imagined in my life I’d get to ride in a Porsche!"

Seeing her son’s outburst, Yu Xin’s father felt embarrassed and hastily scolded, "Look at you, so useless! What’s so different about a car?"

Though he said this, he knew in his heart that for a family of modest means, sitting in a luxury car like a Porsche was truly thrilling.

Before Li Chao, he wished his son to maintain basic manners and decorum, so as not to be looked down upon.

Li Chao was not only a superb doctor but also young and accomplished, with an extraordinary background and strength reflected in his ride.

Donglai’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he explained, "Dad, you know how much this car’s worth? One or two million yuan!"

This figure shocked Yu Xin’s father, who gasped sharply, his blood pressure soaring, nearly fainting.

He finally understood why his son had lost his composure—this was not just a car but a moving treasure.

Feeling somewhat awkward, Yu Xin’s father worried whether his behavior was appropriate, fearing he might leave a poor impression on Li Chao.

Yu Xin was equally surprised; she knew Li Chao’s car wasn’t cheap but never imagined it so expensive.

She looked at Li Chao with admiration and gratitude.

Li Chao, however, was calm, as if all this was perfectly natural.

He gently patted Chunlian’s shoulder and said warmly, "A car, no matter how good, is just a means of transportation. You haven’t got your driver’s license yet, right? You can take this car to an empty road to practice driving and get your license soon."

To Donglai, this sounded like a subtle show of confidence, leaving him completely dumbfounded.

He had never met anyone so low-key yet confident, possessing such wealth but treating it as a matter of course.

At that moment, Donglai’s admiration for Li Chao peaked.

He silently vowed to learn from him and strive to become a capable and responsible person.

"Practice driving with a Porsche?" That phrase echoed in Chunsheng’s mind, deepening his impression of Li Chao’s lavishness.

Yet he was happy for his sister Chunlian to have such a generous and considerate fiancé—it was rare indeed.

Yu Xin’s mother held her daughter’s hand, her eyes moist with emotion, full of feeling.

Her words betrayed past regrets and future hopes, overflowing with maternal love.

Yu Xin listened, her heart a tangle of emotions, but she chose to let go of past grievances and respond to her mother’s care with a smile.

"It’s all in the past," she said softly, as if telling her mother—and herself—to learn to let go and cherish the happiness before them.

Yu Xin’s mother wiped away tears and shifted to happier memories, recalling childhood stories and the fortune teller’s prophecy.

Now, it seemed the prophecy had truly come true—Yu Xin had found an exceptional partner, bringing her mother great comfort.

Yu Xin’s father and brother Chunsheng also joined in praising Chen Shan, their admiration for Li Chao clear.

This warm and harmonious scene made Yu Xin feel the long-lost warmth of family affection.

Seeing their smiling faces, a smile naturally curved Yu Xin’s lips.

She understood that no matter the storms of the past, the love and support of family were her strongest pillar.

Now, she had found her own happiness and rediscovered the warmth of family, filling her with immense satisfaction and joy.

Though money played a role in their lives, Yu Xin knew material support could never fully replace the emotional bonds between family.

She treasured mutual understanding, support, and care—these were the foundation of her happy life.

As the car slowly entered Xiawa Village, the worsening road conditions let the passengers feel the rustic, unspoiled nature of the countryside.

Finally, the car stopped at the village entrance, where Yu Xin returned with her family and Li Chao to the place where she grew up.

At this moment, Xiawa Village was gently bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun; the villagers’ pace of life seemed leisurely and peaceful.

At the village entrance, several villagers sat together, bowls in hand, chatting about local gossip.

Their conversations ranged from neighborhood disputes to village anecdotes, each revealing the authentic simplicity of rural life.

"I heard the Li brothers from Li Mazi’s family got pretty rough, beating Huang Laozhu’s wife so badly she had to be taken to the county hospital. Wonder how she’s doing?" one villager broke the quiet, drawing attention and murmurs.

"Probably badly hurt," another sighed with sympathy.

"Poor old Zhu, he must swallow it all no matter what," a third lamented, full of empathy and helplessness.

As the villagers immersed themselves in their talk, a car suddenly approached from afar, breaking the village’s tranquility.

They all looked up curiously as a luxury car slowly rolled in, stirring their surprise and awe.

For this relatively poor village, such a sight was undoubtedly a striking spectacle.