Chapter Forty-Eight: The Clinic

Sun Wenguo was like a man possessed, nearly driven mad. The scene of Lu Hao slapping him repeatedly across the face still played in his mind, keeping him awake through countless nights. Especially humiliating was when Lu Hao had forced Wang De to repay the money and cancel the house transaction agreement. For Sun Wenguo, a scion of the wealthy Sun family, he had never endured such shame—having someone come to his home, slap him, and force him to return a house.

“Lu Hao! Who gave you the audacity to open a clinic here? Are you courting death?” At that moment, Erhu, standing beside Sun Wenguo, pointed at Lu Hao and shouted.

Lu Hao frowned at his words. “Last time, you came demanding money for Zhou Run and ended up with ten days of diarrhea. Didn’t you have enough? Yet you dare come again—you really have guts.”

At this, a flash of fear crossed Erhu’s eyes. He instinctively took a step back, wary of sudden harm from Lu Hao. The last time, Lu Hao had left him nearly dead with endless diarrhea, only cured after seeking out an old traditional doctor. Had the old physician not been so skilled, Erhu might not have survived. The doctor had explained that someone had pierced his Jumen acupoint with a needle, causing his anus to dilate uncontrollably and leading to repeated evacuation.

Now, Erhu hid behind Sun Wenguo as he spoke, “This time is different. Young Master Sun is here. Don’t think you can open this clinic. This house is already sold to Young Master Sun—it’s not yours anymore. You can’t just open up as you please.”

Sun Wenguo waved his hand, his face twisted with hatred as he glared at Lu Hao.

Immediately, a group of thugs surged in behind Sun Wenguo, forming a circle and hemming Lu Hao in.

Lu Hao furrowed his brow and addressed Sun Wenguo, “Sun Wenguo, today is the grand opening of my clinic. I don’t want any trouble. I advise you to leave while you still can. If this turns ugly, it won’t reflect well on anyone.”

Sun Wenguo laughed mockingly. “Worried about appearances, are you? You came to my home before, beat my Chang Wei to death, and humiliated the Sun family. For decades, the Sun family has never suffered such disgrace in Peach Blossom Village.”

He sneered, “Get him!”

Just as Sun Wenguo issued his order, a stern shout echoed from within the clinic.

“I’d like to see who dares lay a hand on Doctor Lu today!”

Along with this booming male voice, a burly, imposing man strode out. This was Song Xiong, a top security specialist from the Song Group, sent on the personal orders of Miss Song Xueqi. He was accompanied by Song Tianlong, the department head and director of Song Group’s pharmaceutical division, both visiting Lu Hao together. Song Xueqi was currently in Europe for a major business conference and could not attend in person, but to show the importance she attached to Lu Hao’s clinic opening, she dispatched her two most capable and high-ranking subordinates, Song Tianlong and Song Xiong.

They had already exchanged pleasantries with Lu Hao upon arrival, acquainting themselves with one another. Under Song Xueqi’s strict instructions, both men treated Lu Hao with the utmost respect, not daring the slightest negligence—indeed, they regarded him as the most important client of the year for the entire Song Group. After all, the prestige of the Song Group’s diamond-level VIP card was not something just anyone could claim.

“Who are you?” Sun Wenguo eyed the towering, intimidating newcomer, whose very presence betrayed the aura of a martial artist. His own bravado faltered noticeably.

“You don’t need to know who I am,” Song Xiong replied coldly. “I’ll only say this once: have someone fix the glass on Doctor Lu’s clinic door immediately and apologize to him. Otherwise, I’ll make you regret ever causing trouble here.”

A glacial expression settled on Song Xiong’s face as he looked at Sun Wenguo as though he were nothing but an ant. How vast was the Song Group? Even Song Xiong himself dared not imagine. The group’s power within the country was but the visible tip of an iceberg; its true strength lay in its international holdings and influence—so much so that it could sway the fate of entire nations.

Thus, in Song Xiong’s eyes, local bullies like Sun Wenguo amounted to little more than ants.

But Sun Wenguo, blinded by rage, took no heed of Song Xiong at all. “Who do you think you are? Whose turf do you think you’re on? Let me tell you, Peach Blossom Village belongs to the Sun family. Anyone else can get lost. This is none of your business. If you insist on meddling, don’t blame me for what happens to you.”

Emboldened by the size of his entourage, Sun Wenguo’s courage grew, and he showed no fear of Song Xiong, no matter how powerful the man appeared.

Song Xiong’s expression turned frigid. Lu Hao, meanwhile, addressed Sun Wenguo, “Sun Wenguo, everyone here today is my friend. If you have a problem, take it up with me. Don’t spew filth at them. And let me tell you, you break my door today, I won’t let this go.”

Sun Wenguo burst out laughing. “You won’t let it go? Do you see how many of my men are here? They could spit you to death one by one!”

As Sun Wenguo gathered his men and stirred up trouble, the villagers, ever eager for spectacle, crowded over.

“Well, that’s it for Lu Hao. Offending the most notorious thugs in the village—how could he possibly run a clinic now? His whole family might soon be driven out.”

“The Sun family’s been blessed these past years. With Sun Linhai bringing them fortune, the whole family’s risen to wealth and power. It’s their fate. No wonder Sun Wenguo acts so high and mighty.”

“Lu Hao dares go against him? He must have a death wish.”

“Strange, though. I heard that just a few days ago, someone actually slapped Sun Wenguo right at his door. Is that true?”

“Nonsense! That’s impossible. In Peach Blossom Village, who would dare provoke the Sun family at their own home?”

The crowd of onlookers—villagers young and old—buzzed with speculation and gossip. Inside Lu Hao’s clinic, the atmosphere was charged and tense, as though two rival factions were about to come to blows.

Lu Hao’s fury simmered—someone dared cause trouble on his opening day! But he chose restraint, hoping to resolve the situation through negotiation rather than violence.

Elsewhere in the village, Lu Hao’s ex-girlfriend, Xu Juan, was pouring out her grievances to her best friend.

“Wu Rui, you have no idea how distant he’s been with me lately because of Lu Hao. Lu Hao is truly detestable.”

Wu Rui echoed her complaints, “Exactly, Juan. If not for him, I’d still be living comfortably at the hospital. Because of him, I didn’t even get my bonus.”