Chapter 6: Just Because You Can’t Doesn’t Mean I Can’t!

Ye Junyao nodded and looked toward Qin Dong, her eyes red. He hurried to the bedside.

With her help, the old man propped himself against the headboard and studied him. His clothes were ordinary, but his eyes were clear and his back straight. He looked like a fine young man.

Grandpa Ye nodded to himself and smiled. “What’s your name, young man? What do you do?”

“My name is Qin Dong, sir. I’m a farmer’s son. I’m a senior at Nanjiang University, and I sell secondhand properties part-time.”

The room erupted.

“He’s just a salesman?”

“And a country bumpkin!”

“How could someone from the bottom of society be worthy of our Junyao?”

The family exchanged disdainful looks. Even Ye Junyao’s face changed. She glared at him. Was he doing this on purpose? She had told him on the way to pretend to be a wealthy heir, yet he had ignored her.

Qin Dong remained calm. There was nothing shameful about being a farmer’s son. Denying it would be no different from disowning his roots.

To everyone’s surprise, Grandpa Ye smiled and nodded. “Good, good. An honest young man.”

He continued, “You’re a poor boy from the countryside, facing a room full of wealthy, powerful people. Aren’t you afraid?”

Qin Dong met his naturally commanding gaze. “No.”

“Why not?”

“We all have two hands and two feet. We earn our living through our own abilities, and I have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re my elders, so I should respect you. I don’t have to fear you.”

The old man’s eyes lit up. The boy reminded him of his younger self, when he was only a regiment commander yet had dared curse a division commander. The more he looked at Qin Dong, the more he liked him.

“Junyao, you’ve chosen well. Young Qin is ten thousand times better than that Zhao family playboy. I support your relationship.”

Ye Junyao stared. Her grandfather was notoriously hard to please; even few members of the Ye family met his standards. Yet here he was praising Qin Dong.

Ye Jianguo stepped forward in alarm. “Dad, didn’t you arrange Junyao’s engagement to the Zhao boy yourself? Why change your mind now?”

The old man shook his head. “I met him a few years ago. He was frivolous and dishonest. I didn’t like him. For Junyao’s happiness… we should break off the engagement.”

Tears filled Ye Junyao’s eyes. Ye Jianguo, however, was frantic.

“Dad, how can we? This boy is just a lowly farmer. He isn’t worthy of Junyao or the Ye family.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“Shut up!” Grandpa Ye fixed his son with a piercing stare. “What do you mean, a lowly farmer? Not worthy of our family?”

“Have you forgotten that countless farmers’ sons paid in blood for the comfortable lives you lead today? You’ve barely had a few years with enough to eat, and already you look down on people for their class?”

His words rang through the room. Faces flushed, and heads dropped in shame. Qin Dong admired the old man’s straightforward spirit.

Still, Ye Jianguo wasn’t ready to give up. An alliance with the Zhao family would bring enormous benefits.

“Dad, even if you’re right, the Ye family’s future is at stake. We can’t just—”

Before he finished, the old man trembled and spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes closed, and he fell heavily onto the bed, unconscious.

The monitor sounded a shrill alarm. Its readings plunged, and the ECG flattened.

“Grandpa!”

“Dad!”

The room dissolved into chaos. Ye Junyao burst into tears. “Grandpa, please don’t scare me!”

She turned desperately to the elderly doctor in the traditional jacket. “Doctor Cao, please save him!”

Cao Jisheng hurried over and examined the old man. Then he shook his head with a helpless smile.

“Miss Ye, make the funeral arrangements. His time has come; his life has slipped away. Even an immortal couldn’t help him now.”

The words struck the family like a thunderbolt. Ye Junyao’s legs gave way, and she collapsed beside the bed, sobbing.

“Grandpa…”

Then Qin Dong stepped forward and placed a hand on the old man’s chest.

“What are you doing? Get your filthy hands off him!” someone shouted. “Are you going to desecrate his body?”

Qin Dong felt a faint movement beneath his palm. He withdrew his hand. “He can still be saved.”

Everyone froze. Ye Junyao trembled. “W-what did you say?”

“Ms. Ye, I know a little medicine. He still has a trace of life. If you let me treat him, he can live.”

The room broke into jeers.

“Nonsense! You sell secondhand houses. What do you know about medicine?”

“A country bumpkin making grand claims!”

Ye Jianguo pointed at him. “You bastard! My father is like this, and you’re still spouting nonsense? Get out!”

Even Cao Jisheng had heard enough. “Young man, I know you like Miss Ye and want to impress her family. But this is a matter of life and death, not a joke. I’ve practiced medicine for decades. Can’t I tell when a man is dead?”

Qin Dong looked at him without expression. “Just because you can’t save him doesn’t mean I can’t.”

Silence fell. Cao Jisheng was a renowned master of traditional medicine in Nanjiang City. Everyone treated him with respect, yet a young man had publicly told him he wasn’t capable.

Cao stared, then his beard trembled with anger. He laughed bitterly. “What an arrogant young man. I’d like to see how you intend to bring him back.”

Ye Jianguo could bear no more. “Guards! Throw this lunatic out. Don’t let him touch my father again!”

Several burly bodyguards rushed in, ready to seize Qin Dong.

“Stop!”

Ye Junyao stood in front of him, her eyes red. Ye Jianguo shouted, “Have you lost your mind? He wants to desecrate your grandfather’s body!”

She bit her lip and turned to Qin Dong. “Are… are you really sure?”