Chapter 19: He Won't Survive Today

Kang Dawei was normally calm and composed. His sudden excitement was such a contrast that Kang Lili stood frozen in bewilderment.

Even she could tell Lin Feng had touched on something real.

Did her grandfather truly have an old injury?

Before she could think further, Lin Feng asked, “Do you trust me?”

Kang Dawei nodded emphatically without hesitation.

“You saved my life, Doctor. Then one look told you about the injury that’s tormented me for years. How could I not trust you?”

“Then get me some paper and a pen. I’ll write the prescription. All you have to do is get the herbs and take the medicine.”

“Here.”

Knowing her grandfather really was injured, and that Lin Feng could treat him, Kang Lili immediately softened. She even fetched the writing materials herself.

Lin Feng took them. His pen flew across the paper, each character bold and vigorous. His calligraphy was the equal of any established master.

After studying the prescription for a while, Kang Dawei spoke earnestly.

“An old friend of mine recently became seriously ill. We’ve consulted countless famous doctors, to no avail. Could you examine him? If you can cure him, your fee will be no issue.”

Lin Feng wasn’t someone who treated just anyone. Helping Kang Dawei today had been an accident. He was about to refuse when Kang Lili spoke first.

“Grandpa Zhao is Jiangcheng’s city chief. If he can cure him, that’s fine. But if he can’t, I’m afraid some people in the Zhao family will use it against us.”

She voiced her concerns, but Kang Dawei was untroubled.

“Zhao and I have been friends for years. They can’t cure him, so now they won’t let me find someone else to try?”

“At my age, I’m not even afraid of death. Why would I fear people looking for an excuse to make trouble?”

Hearing that the patient was Jiangcheng’s city chief changed Lin Feng’s mind.

His Fifth Master had once told him that his followers were spread across the world. The city chief was one of them.

He couldn’t stand by and let one of his master’s followers die.

“I’ll help.”

A rare smile appeared on Kang Dawei’s face.

He had intended to accompany Lin Feng to the City Chief’s Residence, but having just recovered, he shouldn’t travel about. He sent Kang Lili with him instead.

Their car soon reached the center of power in Jiangcheng, the City Chief’s Residence. Armed guards stood outside, their hawklike eyes sweeping the surroundings.

A fair-skinned woman with a weary face forced a smile when she saw Kang Lili.

“Grandpa Kang called and said he’d found a brilliant doctor who could cure my grandfather. Where is he?”

She gripped Kang Lili’s arm, visibly anxious.

Kang Lili looked at Lin Feng. “This is the doctor Grandpa mentioned, Shuting. Lin Feng.”

Zhao Shuting was taken aback. One glance filled her eyes with disbelief.

He was simply too young, about her own age. She would sooner believe he was a student than some extraordinary physician.

She looked incredulously at Kang Lili, who nodded solemnly to confirm it.

Zhao Shuting knew the Kangs well. Their families were old friends. They would never joke about something like this.

At this point, they could only try whatever hope remained.

She addressed Lin Feng earnestly. “Cure my grandfather, and you’ll be a benefactor to the Zhao family.”

“Whatever you ask for in Jiangcheng, we’ll do everything you wish.”

The normally tranquil residence had descended into chaos over city chief Zhao Zhenguo’s critical illness.

If anything happened to him, the family’s power and standing would vanish.

Zhao Zhenguo lay in bed, his face paper-white and his breathing faint. Life was gradually slipping away from him.

“He caught a chill during an inspection visit a little while ago. At first, he didn’t take it seriously. After he came home, he grew worse.”

“Many doctors examined him. They all diagnosed a cold brought on by wind and chill and prescribed medicine for that.”

“But instead of improving, he just kept getting worse. Now he won’t wake up at all.”

Grief filled Zhao Shuting’s face as she explained the illness from the beginning.

One look told Lin Feng this was no cold. Zhao Zhenguo was showing clear signs of poisoning.

The treatment hadn’t matched the condition. Naturally, it had continued to worsen unchecked.

At this rate, he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow’s sun.

“Can you tell what’s wrong?” Kang Lili asked quietly.

Given the family’s standing, they must have consulted plenty of famous doctors. If all those doctors were helpless, what could Lin Feng do?

“City chief Zhao doesn’t have a cold. He’s been poisoned.”

Lin Feng hadn’t spoken loudly, but several people heard every word.

A middle-aged man’s face turned ugly.

“Who are you, spouting nonsense here?” he demanded angrily. “More than a dozen doctors reached the same diagnosis about my adoptive father’s illness.”

“You just open your mouth and claim my father was poisoned? What are you trying to do?”

This was Zhao Liang, Zhao Zhenguo’s adopted son.

After marrying, Zhao Zhenguo and his wife had remained childless for some time and adopted a boy. Not long afterward, they had a biological son of their own: Zhao Shuting’s father.

Zhao Liang had accompanied Zhao Zhenguo on the inspection trip. After they returned, Zhao Zhenguo had fallen bedridden, while Zhao Liang remained perfectly well.

“Uncle, Grandpa Kang recommended him. He’s here to examine Grandpa,” Zhao Shuting hurriedly explained.

“His medical skills are very good, Uncle Zhao,” Kang Lili added. “He saved my grandfather.”

Zhao Liang snorted. “I’m afraid your grandfather’s been deceived. What could a boy this young know about medicine?”

“Jiangcheng’s finest doctors have all seen my father and couldn’t help. What could this brat possibly do?”

“Since Father became ill, plenty of frauds have posed as doctors and claimed they could cure him. Every one of them was a swindler.”

To Zhao Liang, a boy barely old enough to grow a beard pretending to practice medicine could only be a fraud.

“Exactly. Any nobody dares pose as a doctor these days. They should take a good look at themselves first.”

“Get out! Swindlers aren’t welcome here.”

A few words from Zhao Liang had stirred the family into hurling insults at Lin Feng.

Even Zhao Shuting began to waver. Had she been too hasty, failing to consider whether he really possessed the necessary skill?

Humbling oneself wouldn’t earn respect. Since they had spoken so plainly, Lin Feng couldn’t be bothered staying.

He turned to leave, offering one final remark.

“The poison has reached his heart vessels. Without timely treatment, he won’t survive today.”