Chapter 50: True Gold Fears No Fire

“Oh! So he’s your student—no wonder he’s so unruly.” Upon hearing this, Chen Rong immediately realized that this doctor seemed to have had some unpleasant dealings with Zhang Shen. At that moment, Zhang Shen turned and caught sight of the doctor, walking over and saying, “Isn’t this Dr. Li from Tianyuan Hospital? What brings you here as well?”

People of Chen Rong’s age were seasoned and shrewd, and hearing Zhang Shen’s remark only confirmed his suspicion that the conflict between Zhang Shen and Li Tanghuang was considerable. Today, having come to treat the mayor, there was no need to stir up trouble. Chen Rong quietly drew Zhang Shen behind him, intending to shield his student with this silent gesture.

Just then, someone shouted, “Look, the mayor’s wife is coming out!” Chen Rong and Zhang Shen looked up. A woman in her forties descended the stairs, clad in a long dress, dignified and graceful, though her expression was tinged with sorrow. Accompanying her was Su Ping and six or seven doctors in white coats, who neither dared to speak loudly nor gossip privately.

“May I ask which one of you is Principal Chen Rong?” Su Ping, unfamiliar with Chen Rong, could only inquire in this manner. Chen Rong was present because someone had mentioned him by chance. Among them, some believed that while clinical experience was crucial, Chen Rong, devoted to academic study, might offer a unique perspective. Su Ping was out of options; at this point, she could only try anything, so she sent someone to fetch Chen Rong.

Hearing his name called, Chen Rong stepped forward. “Madam Su.” Though Su Ping was younger than Chen Rong, her status was prominent, so he was respectfully deferential. Su Ping regarded Chen Rong’s white hair, thinking he must be a scholar of some renown. With her husband’s illness unresolved, Su Ping was naturally polite.

“Principal Chen, I’ve long heard of your dedication to medicine. I apologize for the abrupt invitation today and hope you won’t take offense.” Chen Rong was humbled by her words. With the mayor gravely ill, merely being asked to help was a great honor; he wouldn’t dare mention offense.

“Madam Su, you flatter me. I am but an old teacher. Yet, since you’ve shown me such favor, let me examine the mayor’s condition first.”

“Thank you, Principal Chen.”

Su Ping prepared to lead Chen Rong upstairs to treat her husband when Li Tanghuang suddenly shouted, “Wait!” The words were piercing in the parlor, and all eyes turned to him, uncertain whether he acted out of recklessness or genuine concern, daring to speak so boldly in such circumstances.

“Doctor, do you have something to say?” Despite Li Tanghuang’s abrupt outburst, Su Ping, ever composed, kept her temper.

“Madam Su, I have a question for you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you inviting Principal Chen to treat the mayor?”

“Yes! Is there a problem?”

“If it’s only Principal Chen, I have no objection. But how can this young man go upstairs? This concerns the mayor’s safety and the happiness of Yuehu’s people!”

Upon hearing her husband’s safety invoked, Su Ping became exceedingly cautious.

“Young man, may I ask who you are?”

Li Tanghuang had anticipated her reaction. He still harbored resentment over the matter with Zheng Ke, and among so many medical professionals, none had a solution. How could a mere youngster possibly have a remedy? If he succeeded, it would be a public humiliation for the experts present, and Zhang Shen’s prospects in Yuehu would be ruined.

Chen Rong turned to glance at Zhang Shen in response to Su Ping’s inquiry, but Zhang Shen seemed unconcerned by the opinions about him. Thus, Chen Rong felt compelled to speak.

“Madam Su, this is my student, Zhang Shen.”

“Zhang Shen? That name sounds familiar. I believe I’ve heard it somewhere.” Chen Rong hadn’t expected Su Ping to know Zhang Shen’s name and wondered if it might be a namesake. Suddenly, Su Ping exclaimed, “Are you that Zhang Shen?”

Though Zhang Shen did not understand her meaning, seeing Su Ping’s surprised expression, he guessed someone had spoken of his past achievements.

“Madam Su, to whom are you referring?”

“The miracle doctor who cured Zheng Tiande’s daughter Zheng Ke and Hu Sihai’s woman Hu Nan?”

Zhang Shen hadn’t expected Su Ping to know his name, let alone through those connections, which piqued his interest. In truth, it was not so complex. As the head of Yuehu’s leading enterprises, the mayor naturally understood the operations and difficulties of local businesses, and through frequent exchanges, he learned about their families and acquaintances. Zhang Shen, having healed their precious daughters, became a topic of conversation among the businessmen, which the mayor then shared with Su Ping at home as idle talk.

What Su Ping hadn’t anticipated was meeting the legendary doctor in person. Yet, upon hearing her call him a “miracle doctor,” several of the medical experts present turned pale, clearly dissatisfied with the young man before them.

Su Ping, however, paid those reactions no mind. As she prepared to formally invite Zhang Shen to treat her husband, her brother Su Jin returned from abroad.

Su Jin entered the room, calling, “Sister, I’m back!” Seeing her beloved brother after so long, Su Ping was delighted. But her husband’s illness remained the pressing concern.

“Brother, take a rest. Your brother-in-law is gravely ill…”

Perhaps it was the exhaustion of recent days and the lack of anyone to confide in, but seeing her brother return, Su Ping collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Su Jin, seeing his sister in such distress, spoke gently: “Sister, don’t worry! I knew about my brother-in-law’s strange illness, so I specifically brought back a medical expert from America. Wherever he practices, no difficult case remains unsolved.”

Everyone followed the direction of Su Jin’s gesture and turned their gaze to the white man standing before them.