Chapter 114: A Thing Subdues Another

“Teacher Hao, your favoritism is a bit too much,” Hao Lei said, looking at Zhang Shen’s reluctant expression. “What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?”

“Of course you did. That item was a gift from Teacher Lu’s father to me. How come when it’s with you, it seems like all the credit goes to Teacher Lu, as if I had nothing to do with it?”

After all, in Zhang Shen’s eyes, he should have been the main player in this dramatic rescue. Yet now, because of Hao Lei’s remark, the roles seemed completely reversed.

Hao Lei couldn’t help but laugh softly at Zhang Shen’s words.

“You did play a part too; that’s enough!”

“Both of you, stop arguing and let Zhang Shen treat Xiaoying’s father,” Chen Rong interjected with authority. Seeing Hao Lei still quibbling over such trivial matters, Chen Rong felt that healing the patient was more important.

At Chen Rong’s words, Hao Lei wisely fell silent and stepped aside.

Zhang Shen carefully took out the Fire Spirit Pill and then asked Wang Ying beside him, “Do you have a small knife? I need to split this pill in half.”

“Split it in half?” Wang Ying clearly didn’t understand.

“One half to be taken orally, the other half to be applied to the wound,” Zhang Shen explained.

Upon hearing this, Wang Ying quickly went to the kitchen and fetched a cleaver used for chopping meat.

When Wang Ying handed the cleaver to Zhang Shen, he couldn’t help but make a strange sound.

“You said a small knife, why are you bringing a cleaver? You clearly don’t do much housework.”

Seeing Zhang Shen preparing to treat her father, Wang Ying wisely held back her complaints, burying her resentment for another time when she could get back at him.

Zhang Shen raised the cleaver and, with one swift chop, split the Fire Spirit Pill into two halves.

“Bring me a bowl of warm water, an empty bowl, and a rolling pin,” he ordered.

At this point, Wang Ying obeyed Zhang Shen’s medical requests without hesitation. Shortly after, the bowl of warm water, empty bowl, and rolling pin were placed before him.

Everyone looked at these three items with confusion, unsure of what trick Zhang Shen was about to perform.

Undeterred by their curious glances, Zhang Shen continued, “Have the warm water and half the pill enter Uncle’s body.”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang hurried to rouse her husband and helped him sit up. Wang Ying placed the half pill into her father’s mouth, and as he chewed, she poured the warm water into his mouth. Though she couldn’t fathom the pill’s taste, she knew that bitter medicine was often good medicine and hoped the warm water would ease the bitterness.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shen busied himself with the remaining half of the pill.

He placed it in the empty bowl and used the rolling pin to crush it thoroughly. With a series of crackling sounds, the half pill quickly turned into a fine powder.

Zhang Shen then took the bowl of powdered medicine and approached Mr. Wang’s side, dabbing a small amount of powder onto the red swollen area on his knee.

Seeing this, Wang Ying anxiously asked her father, “Dad, does it hurt? If it does, please tell me.”

Zhang Shen couldn’t help but smile at her concern.

“This is a miraculous pill, just as Teacher Lu’s father said. It inhibits the growth of toxins. Your uncle should feel cool and soothed, not pain. You’re such a fool.”

Though Zhang Shen’s words were meant to reassure Wang Ying and help her focus, he wasn’t sure why the last remark slipped out. Since it was said, he grinned playfully to show it was a joke.

Wang Ying, still needing Zhang Shen’s expertise, dared not take offense but secretly plotted her revenge for later.

“All done!” Zhang Shen declared after smearing the last of the powder on Mr. Wang’s affected area, feeling the task was complete.

“Done? You mean my father’s illness is cured?” Wang Ying was overly excited.

Grinning widely, Zhang Shen replied, “What else did you think? Do you think I’m lying?”

Though his tone sounded cheeky, it was indeed good news.

Wang Ying carefully touched the area around her father’s knee, still dusted with the pill’s powder.

Mr. Wang gave a soft “Hmm!” in response.

She pressed gently on several points around the wound, and each time her father responded favorably.

“Looks like our miracle doctor really knows his stuff!” Hao Lei praised, watching Mr. Wang’s condition improve.

Zhang Shen understood Hao Lei’s compliment well enough.

“Thank you, Teacher Hao, but I believe the key to curing Uncle’s illness was still that Fire Spirit Pill from Teacher Lu’s family.”

He then carefully placed the Nine-Dragon Cauldron back into the plastic bag and handed it to Lu Ming.

“Teacher Lu, since the Fire Spirit Pill has fulfilled its life-saving purpose, the cauldron should be returned to its rightful owner. Please deliver it back to Director Lu for me.”

Lu Ming hesitated. He knew there was no reason to reclaim something his father had gifted, so he was reluctant to accept.

Seeing Lu Ming’s discomfort, Zhang Shen suggested he call Lu Fuguo so he could explain personally, which made Lu Ming agree.

“Hello, Director Lu, this is Zhang Shen.”

“The miracle doctor? What’s the matter? Did you get into trouble again tomorrow?” Lu Fuguo joked, thinking Zhang Shen and his son were causing problems like last time.

“Director Lu, you misunderstood. I just wanted to tell you that the Fire Spirit Pill you gave me was used today to save a life. Since the Nine-Dragon Cauldron no longer needs to be with me, I want Lu Ming to return it to you.”

Lu Fuguo hadn’t expected such a precious pill to be used for healing so soon. Hearing this news, he felt a twinge of pain in his heart.

“Miracle doctor, who did you treat?”

For Lu Fuguo, the Fire Spirit Pill was still something his father-in-law had crafted, and he was eager to know who had the fortune to benefit from it.

“Actually, it’s quite a coincidence. You know the family—it’s from that dumpling shop, Wang Ying’s father.”

“He? Was he poisoned?” Lu Fuguo was surprised; in his mind, a dumpling vendor seemed unlikely to be poisoned.