Chapter 51: Who Says Foreign Monks Chant Better Sutras?

The foreigner, seeing the peculiar looks from everyone, didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, he stepped forward and introduced himself in somewhat halting Chinese, “Hello everyone, I’m a doctor from America, my name is John.”

Upon hearing John introduce himself, Su Jin took it upon himself to elaborate, “Dr. John is a renowned physician from America, skilled in both internal and external medicine as well as neurology. He has cured countless patients. Yesterday, after receiving a call from my sister, I immediately sought out Dr. John and invited him to join me on the journey to Yuehu City to treat my brother-in-law.”

Given that the speaker was the mayor’s brother-in-law, few dared to voice any objection. Thus, everyone remained silent.

Su Ping, who had been crying by the side, felt deeply comforted by her brother’s words.

“Good brother, hurry and bring Dr. John to see your brother-in-law.”

“Alright, sister!” Su Jin turned to John and said, “Dr. John, I must trouble you.”

“It’s my duty.” John replied.

He then followed Su Ping and Su Jin upstairs, completely forgetting about Chen Rong and Zhang Shen. At this moment, Zhang Shen appeared indifferent, but Chen Rong’s expression was a kaleidoscope of emotions.

After John went upstairs, Li Tanghuang began searching online for information about Dr. John’s background.

“John, male, Chief Neurosurgeon and Vice President at Huazhou Hospital in America. Specializes in early treatment of acute cerebral infarction and neuroprotection research. Focused on clinical research in arterial thrombolysis and venous sinus thrombosis for acute cerebral infarction.”

Li Tanghuang murmured to himself, secretly admiring the expertise—such a distinguished specialist could only be summoned by someone like Su Jin. With a more capable expert present, Li Tanghuang had already mentally predicted the outcome: John would cure the mayor’s illness, bask in the praise of the crowd, Su Jin would also be lauded, and then everyone would return to their own homes, with neither Chen Rong nor Zhang Shen receiving any attention.

…

John ascended the stairs, and as soon as he pushed open the door, a nauseating stench assaulted his senses. Su Jin, accompanying him, quickly covered his nose and mouth, unable to endure the smell. In contrast, his sister Su Ping seemed accustomed to it, merely instructing the maid to clean up her husband’s vomit.

As a doctor, John would not overlook these details. Just as the maid was preparing to remove the vomit, John said, “Wait a moment, let me take a look.”

The maid frowned, thinking, “Everyone avoids this stuff, but this foreigner actually wants to get involved.”

John approached the pile of vomit, his expression grave. Su Ping, witnessing this, assumed John had discovered the cause of her husband’s illness. What she didn’t know was that John was merely hoping to find some clues, but even he, seasoned as he was, found the odor overwhelming. Still, having been brought here at great expense by Su Jin, he knew he had to play his part convincingly.

After a few seconds, John said, “Take it away.”

Su Ping immediately asked, “Doctor, how is my husband’s condition?”

“Madam Su, please don’t worry. Let me examine him carefully.”

Su Ping realized her concern was making her flustered. “I apologize for my lapse.”

John didn’t respond further, but walked to the bedside, where a slightly overweight middle-aged man lay, his complexion sallow and his body showing signs of mild edema.

John quickly took out his medical instruments, first measuring the mayor’s blood pressure and other basic vital signs, then performing a series of examinations. Su Ping, though not versed in medicine, had seen countless doctors treat her husband over the past days, all employing nearly identical methods.

As Su Ping pondered this, her husband suddenly vomited again, this time so unexpectedly that it sprayed directly onto Dr. John.

Su Ping quickly apologized, “I’m so sorry.”

John’s expression turned grim, but remembering the high fee, he said, “Madam Su, your husband’s indicators are all normal. From what I can see, there doesn’t seem to be…”

Su Ping had heard this phrase more times than she cared to count. Now, she no longer wished to listen to such useless words. Moreover, the odor on John was unbearable, so she instructed the maid to take him downstairs for a bath and to change into clean clothes.

After John left, Su Jin approached and said, “Sister, could this really be fate? How did brother-in-law end up like this?”

Su Ping was overcome with grief once more, her tears flowing even harder. She had no better ideas, and could only silently pray for her husband to wake up soon.

Meanwhile, John descended the stairs and entered the washroom. The smell emanating from him prompted everyone to cover their noses and scatter, as if fleeing from a plague. Even Chen Rong kept his distance. Among the crowd, only Zhang Shen showed a smile, completely unbothered.

With no help forthcoming from those present, Su Ping could only entrust her last hope to heaven. She and her brother went downstairs, preparing to close the doors and bid farewell to the guests.

When Su Ping reached the ground floor, she said, “Thank you all for your efforts these past days. Rest assured, you will be paid in full. For now, we can only leave matters to fate. Please, everyone, go home.”

Hearing Su Ping’s words, the guests didn’t hesitate to leave. They considered that if they couldn’t cure the illness, neither could others—it was nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, even the foreign expert had failed, so what more could be said? And after all, though the patient was the mayor, he was not their own relative; best not to invite trouble.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the crowd, full of confident assurance.

“Madam Su, don’t grieve too much. Why not let me try? What do you think?”

Everyone turned to see Zhang Shen volunteering to treat the mayor, which seemed sheer madness.

“You?”

Su Ping was uncertain whether to let him try. On one hand, she feared this young man would prove no better than the others, offering the same ineffective remedies. On the other, she felt she had just neglected both Chen Rong and this young man.

Unsure of what to do, Su Ping was torn.

“Madam Su, if treatment is delayed any longer, I’m afraid the mayor may not survive past tomorrow.”