Deep within the old doctor's memory, scenes began to flash—the voice of his grandfather whispering in his ear when he was just a child. Nine Heavens Acupuncture. It was the pinnacle of Chinese Medicine, a mystical art untouched for hundreds of years.

A National Sage of Medicine!

The old practitioner had never imagined that scenes he thought existed only in stories would now unfold right before his eyes.

"Ping Cui! Ping Cui!" Li Guangyuan's call was filled with endless joy and anticipation.

"Mother, you're awake!" Li Qiaoqiao's emotions surged like a spring.

At that moment, Chen Zheng waved his hand lightly, a mysterious power flowing between his fingers. The nine silver needles, as if endowed with life, blossomed in the air before dissolving into ethereal dust and vanishing completely.

"Simply incredible!" The old practitioner's eyes widened, sparkling like brilliant stars, and they filled with a fervent admiration for Chen Zheng.

"Brother Zheng, thank you!" Li Hao's gratitude was overflowing.

"Don't mention it," Chen Zheng replied with a dismissive wave.

"Grandmaster, please accept this old one's bow!" The old practitioner, as if driven by some unseen force, lost control of his body and moved to kowtow before Chen Zheng.

Chen Zheng was startled and quickly reached out to support him. "Grandpa Zhao, what are you doing? An act like this could shorten my life!"

"Chen Zheng, you are a National Sage of Medicine! You are worthy of this old man's bow!" the practitioner insisted, his voice firm.

"Alright, alright, please get up now, or I'm going to get angry!" Chen Zheng said, exasperated. He felt helpless against these old-fashioned customs.

Although the elderly physician only practiced in the countryside, his medical skill and reputation were known far and wide.

"Sigh... alright, fine." Hearing Chen Zheng threaten to get angry, the old practitioner reluctantly relented.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for making the correct choice. You have received the following reward: one set of top-grade, custom-made silver needles.]

"Ping Cui, we truly owe everything to Chen Zheng this time," Li Guangyuan said emotionally. "If he hadn't stepped in, you might have..."

A frail Zhang Pingcui nodded gently. "I know. I heard everything. Chen Zheng, Auntie thanks you!"

"There's no need for thanks, Auntie. It was nothing," Chen Zheng said with concern. "But I must say, you should try to avoid getting so worked up in the future. Your health is what's most important!"

"Sigh... it's my fault, my fault. But Qiao Qiao gives me such a headache!" Zhang Pingcui lamented.

Chen Zheng saw the root of the problem instantly and spoke bluntly. "Auntie, I take it you don't know what's been going on with Haozi!"

"Heh... Auntie, I know you only act out of love for Qiao Qiao, but Haozi is on the path to success now. He founded a culinary center in the city with an investment of over eight million yuan, and he's the majority shareholder!

"The grand opening is next year, and earning millions will be a breeze!" Chen Zheng said with total confidence. After all, he possessed a complete compendium of culinary knowledge. "Of course, once the culinary center is established, it can expand to cover the entire city. When that happens, money will flow in like a tide. You'll have the pleasure of counting cash until your hands cramp!

"So, what is there to worry about? Qiao Qiao and Haozi are deeply in love, and she'll live a carefree life with him! What's more, they're childhood sweethearts and have long considered themselves promised to one another. Your interference would likely only make them resentful, which would do more harm than good!" Chen Zheng stated, his words sharp and direct.

The expressions on Zhang Pingcui and Li Guangyuan's faces shifted subtly, moving from initial shock to subsequent joy, a true roller coaster of emotions.

"Chen Zheng, you aren't pulling our leg, are you?" Li Guangyuan asked, still skeptical.

Chen Zheng offered a gentle smile, his eyes twinkling with sincerity. "How could I ever deceive you? If you still don't believe me, I'm willing to take you to the city to see it for yourselves."

Zhang Pingcui's smile bloomed like a spring flower. Looking at Chen Zheng gratefully, she said, "You saved my life, Chen Zheng. How could I possibly doubt your word?" She then turned to Li Qiaoqiao and Li Hao. "Haozi, don't take my earlier misunderstanding with Qiao Qiao to heart. Everything I did was for her own good."

Li Hao looked at Chen Zheng, his own heart brimming with joy.

He was going to have a girlfriend.

"Alright, we won't disturb you any longer. My parents are waiting for us for dinner," Chen Zheng said.

Zhang Pingcui quickly agreed, and Li Guangyuan hurried to see them off.

The old practitioner followed Chen Zheng, his face full of anticipation. "Chen Zheng, about that Nine Heavens Acupuncture you performed..."

"Of course, I'll write down the basics for you," Chen Zheng said, glancing at the old man. He knew the physician was desperate to learn the Grandmaster-level technique. However, without the requisite power, the old man could only ever hope to grasp the barest surface of the art. Even so, that surface knowledge alone would be enough to elevate his medical skills to an entirely new level.

"Thank you so much, Chen Zheng!" The old practitioner took the note and scurried away, as gleeful as a child who had just received a precious treasure.

Chen Zheng could only shake his head, a gentle smile on his face as he watched the man's figure disappear.

Liu Qianqian stood to the side, watching everything unfold with a faint smile on her lips. When she looked at Chen Zheng again, however, a peculiar light sparkled in her eyes.

This man was shrouded in a mysterious mist. Every time you thought you had seen through him, you discovered you had only glimpsed a single facet of his profound depths. This sense of mystery only made her fall deeper under his spell.

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the New Year holiday came to an end.」

At the doorway, his mom wore a reluctant expression. "Chen Zheng, remember to bring Qian Qian back to see us often. We'll miss her if we don't see her."

Chen Zheng nodded gently. "I know, Mom."

Over the ten-plus days of the holiday, his mother had treated Liu Qianqian like her own daughter, her maternal affection flowing like a tide.

"Auntie, Uncle, we're leaving now," Liu Qianqian said, her voice as lovely as a lark's song.

"Alright, you two drive safely," the two elders replied with smiles, their eyes full of hope and expectation.

Just then, Li Hao and Li Qiaoqiao arrived. Li Hao waved. "Brother Zheng, I'm heading back to the city first!" Having found his other half, the man radiated a new vitality.

"You two go on ahead. We have a few things to take care of," Chen Zheng said. He then turned to his parents. "Mom, Dad, it's time for us to go, too."

"Okay, be sure to travel safely." The elderly couple watched their retreating figures, wishing them a safe journey.

Their car, Da Niu, pulled out of Mumu Village, turning onto the main road and speeding away. Soon, Liu Qianqian's home came into view. The sunlight illuminated Chen Zheng's broad back.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.