Chapter 202 — Guan Xuemin's Disciple

Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that in an emergency, when no proper acupuncture needles were at hand, some grandmaster-level TCM luminaries might resort to other kinds of needles to treat a patient.

But that demanded rock-solid experience and skill, as well as extremely strict control over the force in one's hands. Insert too deeply or too shallowly, and not only would there be no therapeutic effect—it could even trigger adverse side effects.

"This is sheer recklessness! Who did it?" The doctor flew into a rage, pointing at Wei Zhao. "Was it you? You can't just mess around in a hospital. What if something happens to the patient? Won't our hospital be held liable? Xiao Wang, call the police!"

Fuming with anger, the doctor ordered the nurse behind him.

"Oh..." The nurse nodded and went to telephone the police.

Wei Zhao did know some people at the police station, but he had no desire to blow the matter out of proportion. Besides, given Kang Xiaobo's current state, Wei Zhao might well have to lend a hand in Xiaofen's treatment down the road. So, to settle things once and for all, he said to the doctor, "I'm not messing around. I'm a disciple of Guan Xuemin!"

"Who is Guan Xuemin? What? The TCM master Guan Xuemin?" It suddenly hit the doctor who Guan Xuemin was, and he gaped at Wei Zhao in astonishment.

As a graduate of Songshan Medical University himself, he naturally knew that Guan Xuemin was a titan of the traditional Chinese medicine world. Back when he was in school, whether they studied TCM or Western medicine, every student considered it an honor just to sit in on one of Guan Xuemin's lectures.

If the man before him truly was Guan Xuemin's disciple, then using that kind of needle for acupuncture wasn't so strange after all—special circumstances called for special measures.

Wei Zhao nodded. "If you don't believe me, I can call him right now."

Seeing Wei Zhao's earnest, confident look—and he didn't appear to be lying—and having already checked Lan Fen's condition, which was in no way critical, merely a deep sleep, the doctor found himself half believing Wei Zhao.

"You're really a disciple of Dr. Guan?" the doctor asked.

"I'll just make the call." With that, Wei Zhao took out his phone and dialed the number Guan Xuemin had left him. To ensure he could still have a hand in Xiaofen's treatment later, Wei Zhao had no choice but to invoke the heavyweight name of Guan Xuemin.

Guan Xuemin had just finished inserting the last needle into Liu Zhenhu when the phone rang on his desk. He frowned. He had made it very clear to his friends—whether they came seeking medical help or were colleagues in the medical field—that they must not call between nine and eleven in the morning, because that was his treatment time.

Annoyed as he was, the needle session was already complete, so he picked up the receiver.

"Hello? This is Guan Xuemin." His tone was a touch cold.

"Grandpa Guan, it's Wei Zhao." Wei Zhao noticed the edge in Guan Xuemin's voice and was briefly taken aback.

"Ah... Mr. Lin!" Guan Xuemin's voice lifted with excitement the moment he recognized Wei Zhao. After Wei Zhao's last visit, Guan Xuemin had reaped tremendous benefits. For days he had been mulling over the prescriptions and case studies Wei Zhao had mentioned, and they had left him with a sense of sudden enlightenment.

Guan Xuemin had been wondering just how to invite Wei Zhao back for a second visit when the call came in on its own—a surprise and a delight.

"Grandpa Guan, I'm at the First People's Hospital. I need to give a patient acupuncture. I told them I'm your disciple, but the doctors here don't believe me... I'm sorry to trouble you—could you vouch for me?" Wei Zhao said.

"Disciple?" Guan Xuemin blinked. "Now that won't do. I should be your disciple instead!"

Guan Xuemin was hardly one to rest on his laurels or his age. If Wei Zhao was more skilled than he, then that was simply the way it was, age notwithstanding. He would never presume to call himself Wei Zhao's teacher.

"All right, I'll put the doctor on the phone." Wei Zhao didn't elaborate, trusting that Guan Xuemin would make things clear.

He handed the phone to the doctor in the ward.

The doctor took it with a mixture of awe and trepidation. Glancing at the number on the screen, he confirmed it was indeed Guan Xuemin's home phone number—one that every student at the medical school knew, since it was printed in the school's contact handbook, hardly a secret.

Assured that the caller really was Guan Xuemin, the doctor said carefully, "Professor Guan, I'm Wang Liguo from the First People's Hospital, class of 2003. I was your student!"

Wang Liguo had no idea whether the professor remembered him or not, but having graduated from Songshan Medical College and attended Guan Xuemin's lectures was an honor that, once spoken aloud, was bound to earn envy.

"Oh, Xiao Wang. Wei Zhao's expertise in traditional Chinese medicine is by no means inferior to mine. Whatever suggestions he offers, just take them." Guan Xuemin was a plainspoken man and had no wish to be called Wei Zhao's teacher without warrant, so he hinted around it deliberately.

"Rest assured, Professor Guan!" Wang Liguo was stunned. It seemed Wei Zhao had truly mastered his craft—to have earned such praise from Guan Xuemin!

After hanging up, Wang Liguo's manner changed instantly. "My apologies, Mr. Lin. I had no idea you were Professor Guan's disciple. I was terribly rude just now!"

"It's fine." Wei Zhao waved a hand. "The situation was urgent, and I had no other choice. I'll be counting on you for the rest of her treatment."

"No problem at all, Mr. Lin. Don't worry—I'll follow up personally." With that connection in place, Wang Liguo would naturally take Lan Fen's case far more seriously.

Song Huiping had thought her careless remark had landed Wei Zhao in trouble and was casting about for how to apologize, when, to her astonishment, a single phone call from Wei Zhao turned Dr. Wang's attitude around completely, filling it with even greater deference.

The most stunned of all, of course, was Tang Yun. She gave Wei Zhao a questioning look, but with so many people present, she swallowed her doubts and said nothing.

"Auntie, nothing more needs to be done here. Xiaobo and I will head back first. Once Xiaofen's condition stabilizes, we'll come see her again." Seeing nothing else to keep him, Wei Zhao rose to take his leave.

Kang Xiaobo felt a tug of reluctance at Wei Zhao's words, but one glare from Wei Zhao was enough to make him obediently get ready to go.

Tang Yun and Liu Xinwen naturally stayed behind to look after Xiaofen, while Wei Zhao and Kang Xiaobo walked out of the hospital.

"Boss, since when do you know acupuncture?" Kang Xiaobo stared at Wei Zhao in disbelief. He had wanted to ask all along but had held his tongue until they were out of the hospital.

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