Chapter Forty-Seven: Contentment

“Although your son hasn’t married yet and lost his money, making things hard for you, my child just got married, and it’s not easy for us either.”

“Think about it—a month’s worth of formula, money for the child’s clothes, medical bills, all kinds of baby expenses. Even your family couldn’t afford it.”

This woman, Pan by surname, loved nothing more than subtly and openly mocking others among distant relatives and neighbors.

At this moment, kind-hearted Liu Xiulan had no time to argue with Auntie Pan. Her thoughts were entirely consumed by her own son.

“My son is opening his clinic today. I believe our days will soon improve. We might not become wealthy like those rich families, but sooner or later, he’ll marry, and that will satisfy me.”

Auntie Pan couldn’t help but cover her mouth at Xiulan’s words. “Xiulan, don’t fool yourself. Your college boy can’t even keep a position in the hospital.”

“And he wants to open his own clinic?”

“If he opens a clinic, accidents will happen every other day, and when the village thugs smash the place up, it won’t be good for anyone.”

Xiulan’s eyes dimmed with a hint of inferiority. “Auntie Pan, there’s some truth in what you say…”

She really didn’t know what fate awaited her and her son, nor whether Lu Hao’s clinic would ever truly open.

…

At that moment, Lu Hao was hosting guests at his clinic. Today, those visiting the Azure Dragon Clinic were mostly from prominent families, so he couldn’t afford to be careless.

After all, future business might depend on them.

Zhang Qingfan, dressed in a simple white dress, blinked her large eyes and smiled at Lu Hao.

“This place is wonderful! I didn’t expect your taste to be so good.”

She’d wandered around the courtyard Lu Hao rented and found the layout and furnishings exquisitely arranged—it was obvious only the wealthy lived here.

She didn’t know that Lu Hao had secretly optimized the courtyard’s layout using feng shui techniques learned from the Azure Dragon tradition. He’d enhanced its ability to gather fortune and energy, and he’d placed secret herbal formulas in the center of the pond.

This improved the environment; anyone staying here long-term would find their health gradually improving, with various ailments alleviated.

Lu Hao nodded with a smile. “My clinic is a little different from others. The cases I treat are serious, so the environment needs to be tranquil and refined.”

“And I think this place might not be enough. It may need to be expanded further.”

Zhang Qingfan laughed, looking at Lu Hao. “So I can come often in the future? Teacher, I really want to watch you treat patients in person again.”

The ice-cold beauty, known as the Snow Lotus of the First People’s Hospital, now acted like a child before Lu Hao.

“Of course,” Lu Hao replied. “You’re welcome anytime. But sometimes I might be busy and unable to entertain you—don’t take it amiss.”

Zhang Qingfan shook her head. “Don’t worry, Teacher. I’m here to help, not to cause trouble.”

She glanced at Lu Hao, remembering something. “By the way, Dr. Lu, do you have any unique insight into treating coma patients?”

Lu Hao looked at her. “Why? Do you have such a case now?”

Zhang Qingfan nodded. “Yes, a very tricky one.”

“A young woman was admitted a few days ago. Her family is powerful. She suffered a car accident and injured her brain and spine.”

“Our hospital couldn’t handle it, so her family sent her to the military hospital in the capital. They issued a diagnosis of persistent vegetative state.”

“She was sent back to us, and now we can only treat her conservatively. There’s nothing else we can do. Even the military hospital’s top experts said only time and her own recovery can help her. All possible medications have been prescribed—it’s up to fate now.”

Lu Hao sighed. “A young woman in her twenties, injured in a car accident—what a pity.”

“You said her family is powerful. Did they put pressure on your hospital?” Lu Hao asked.

Zhang Qingfan gave a bitter smile. “Pressure is putting it lightly—they’re nearly driving everyone mad.”

“Her father, apparently named Sun Linhai, is a well-known entrepreneur in our city. He only has this precious daughter. After such a disaster, he can’t accept it.”

“Sun family… Is it the Sun family from our village?” Hearing the surname, Lu Hao instinctively felt a twinge of sensitivity.

Zhang Qingfan shook her head. “I’m not sure. But their background is impressive. They come to the hospital and make trouble every few days. My uncle’s nearly lost his mind.”

“They made a scene at the military hospital and were thrown out, but when they come to us, there’s nothing we can do.”

After she finished, Lu Hao could only smile bitterly, seeing the hope in her eyes.

“To be honest, I don’t know if I can help. I’d have to see the patient first.”

“Alright,” Zhang Qingfan nodded. “We’ll do our best, collect all the data and the patient’s condition.”

Suddenly, a commotion sounded outside.

“Damn it! Is that Lu Hao mutt here? Daring to open a clinic in our territory—doesn’t he care about the law?”

“Last time you came to the Sun house and hit people, you think you’re something! Get out here! What kind of nobody dares open a clinic here?”

Lu Hao’s expression changed, and he quickly stood up to head for the door.

On the very first day of business, someone’s causing trouble?

Bang!

Before he reached the entrance, he heard the crash of the glass door being smashed.

Lu Hao’s brows furrowed deeply.

Someone dared to smash his door! They must have a death wish.

He strode to the entrance and saw, as expected, Sun Wenguo leading the charge, flanked by Erhu and others, a gang standing at his door with weapons, their faces fierce and menacing.

“Damn it, where’s Lu Hao? Get out here!” Sun Wenguo stood at the clinic’s entrance, his face still wrapped in bandages, seething with rage.