"Grandpa, Grandpa, you're awake! Thank goodness you're alright, you really scared me!" the little boy exclaimed joyfully, hugging his grandfather tightly.
"Xiaoshuang, be gentle. If you keep shaking me like this, these old bones of mine might really break," the old man said, patting his grandson on the shoulder. "Who saved me? Did you thank our benefactor? You're so big now, but still don't understand manners."
"Grandpa, I got so excited that I forgot," the boy said, scratching his head adorably.
The old man's eyes scanned the room and settled on the elderly traditional Chinese medicine doctor in a long robe, who was wiping silver needles with an alcohol swab. Gratefully, he said, "Brother, you pulled me back from the gates of hell. Words can't express my gratitude. If it's not too much to ask, let's have tea together sometime."
He assumed the doctor was his savior, partly because of the doctor's age and the gray robe embroidered with the He Sheng Tang insignia on the chest. Also, the doctor was handling the silver needles, so it was natural to assume he had performed the treatment.
The old doctor, with a stern expression, waved his hand and said, "It wasn't me who saved you."
"It wasn't you?" the old man said, slightly taken aback.
"Grandpa, it was this gentleman who saved you. His medical skills are incredible," the boy said, pointing to Ye Qiu.
The old man was even more surprised but didn't show it on his face. He looked at Ye Qiu kindly and said with a smile, "Young man, your medical skills are impressive. Such talent at a young age promises a bright future."
The old man felt awkward because he had already expressed his gratitude to the wrong person. Repeating his thanks now seemed inappropriate, and having already said that words were inadequate, a simple 'thank you' felt insufficient. After a moment's thought, he took off his jade beads bracelet and said, "Young man, I have nothing to repay your great kindness. Please accept this bracelet as a token of my appreciation. I hope you won't find it too modest."
Ye Qiu understood that if he didn't accept, the old man might feel very uncomfortable or find another way to repay him. Seeing that the bracelet was dark green but lacked luster, it probably wasn't worth much. So, he accepted it cheerfully and said, "Thank you, Grandpa. You're fine now. Just avoid strenuous activities. In the future, you should go out more often. Staying at home too long and then going out suddenly can be hard on your body, which is likely why this incident occurred."
"Alright, I'll take your advice. Young friend, do you have time to visit my home?" the old man asked, clearly in good spirits.
"Sorry, Grandpa, I have other matters to attend to," Ye Qiu said, waving his hand. "I'll visit another time if I can."
"Big brother, my name is Han Shuang. Can we be friends?" the little boy asked, holding his grandfather's shoulder.
Ye Qiu knew that people who are filial to their elders usually have good hearts. Moreover, he felt a genuine liking for Han Shuang, so he said, "Of course. My name is Ye Qiu."
Ye Qiu didn't want to act like an entitled benefactor just because he saved someone's life. He saved people if he felt a connection, and whether or not they repaid him didn't matter. If he didn't feel a connection, he could be cold enough to walk away.
Seeing that Ye Qiu had indeed saved the old man, the onlookers grew more interested in him. Those who had criticized him now turned to praise.
"Look at this young man—wonder what kind of upbringing he had. If only my son Ba Dao were so accomplished…"
"Yes, you can't judge a book by its cover. Who would've thought such a young guy would know traditional Chinese medicine? I've heard it's very profound. I wonder who he studied with. I'm tempted to become his apprentice…"
"You can't. You're too old. Do you know how hard it is to learn traditional Chinese medicine? You have to memorize acupoints and formulas from a young age. By the time you learn, you might not even be able to hold a needle. Better let your son learn if you have one."
Amidst the praise, Ye Qiu remained calm. After giving the old man a few more instructions, he took his leave, not even leaving his contact information.
"Hey, young brother—young brother!" the old doctor, who had helped Ye Qiu earlier, called out as he saw him leaving and hurried over.
"Do you need something, Grandpa?" Ye Qiu asked with a smile. He had coordinated well with the old doctor earlier and felt a sense of camaraderie with him.
"My surname is Liang. Just call me Old Liang," the doctor said, waving his hand. "I'm a physician at He Sheng Tang. It was an honor to see your skills today. I've read quite a few medical books, but I've never seen your needle technique before. Who did you learn from?"
Ye Qiu smiled but didn't answer.
"No problem, no problem. I was just excited to see such skill and got a bit ahead of myself," Old Liang apologized. He knew many people didn't like to reveal their mentors. "I'd like to invite you to practice at He Sheng Tang. Would you consider it? We can discuss the salary…"
"I might not have time," Ye Qiu said, shaking his head with a smile.
"Please think about it. Helping the sick and injured is a noble deed, and we could learn from each other," Old Liang said, his face turning red as he saw Ye Qiu's teasing look. He did have a personal interest, hoping to learn a few techniques from Ye Qiu.
People deeply engrossed in traditional Chinese medicine are like martial arts enthusiasts who can't enjoy their meals if they miss the chance to learn from a master.
"I'm sorry, I really don't have time," Ye Qiu said. As Tang Guo's bodyguard, he rarely had personal time, so he couldn't accept Old Liang's invitation.
"Here's my card. You don't have to decide now. Think it over, and if you ever have time, please visit me," Old Liang said, handing Ye Qiu a business card.
Ye Qiu reluctantly accepted the card.
Originally, he had planned to shop at Oriental New World, but everywhere he went, people pointed at him. Some even approached him for medical help.
"Excuse me, are you a doctor?" a flat-chested, plain-looking woman stopped Ye Qiu and asked.
"Kind of," Ye Qiu said, puzzled.
"Can you help me with something?"
"What's the problem?"
The woman glanced around furtively and whispered, "I heard acupuncture can enhance breasts. Can you help me try it?"