During the turbulent years, he had been imprisoned for smuggling. After his release, with his family’s livelihood hanging in the balance, he needed a career to survive. However, his low education and criminal record meant no official unit would hire him. To make a living, he had no choice but to become a trader. Although the domestic situation had improved, international trading remained difficult and risky. Half a year ago, he was injured during a transaction, forcing his mother to care for him for a month.
She had thought the matter was settled, but her mother had kept the worry in her heart. Knowing she was leaving again, her anxiety triggered her illness.
She felt numb, tears filling her eyes as she looked at her mother. "Mom, I was wrong. I won’t trade anymore. I won’t go out. I’ll stay with you."
"Really?" The old woman opened her eyes. She knew a man’s ambition lay far away, but she truly worried about her son.
"Really. I won’t go. Tomorrow, I’ll look for work at construction sites. I can earn money to support you," the middle-aged man said seriously.
"I’m not forbidding you from working," the old woman said. "You can sell things as an individual business owner. I agree with that. I just don’t want you to be a trader. It’s too dangerous."
"I won’t do it. Tomorrow, I’ll check the wholesale market. If possible, I’ll buy clothes and daily necessities. The income might be less, but I’ll have steady work," the man promised his mother sincerely.
Seeing the knot between mother and son untied and their grievances disappear, Zhu Yanyi smiled faintly. She walked to Yan Aohan’s side. "Let’s go back."
Yan Aohan nodded. He had gained a new understanding of Zhu Yanyi’s medical skills. She could judge conditions through slight changes in the body’s meridians. This level of observation, intuition, deduction, and intelligence was beyond ordinary people.
"Ani, your medical skills have improved greatly. I believe even if Old Man Yao were here, he might not have your ability," Yan Aohan said. He wasn’t flattering her; he truly believed it.
Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "After my internal energy reached the Gang stage, my state of mind elevated. I found myself observing people’s actions more carefully, inferring situations from small details. This is the highest realm of combining 'Observation' and 'Palpation' in the four diagnostic methods. Actually, this was the first time I used this method today. I mainly felt sorry for the old lady."
Yan Aohan held Zhu Yanyi’s hand tightly. "I don’t understand medicine deeply, but I can see the basics. Ani, your skills are truly miraculous."
After Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan left, the middle-aged man, having reconciled with his mother, remembered the little girl. He tried to find her again but couldn’t. Since the locals hadn’t seen Zhu Yanyi, he could only keep his gratitude in his heart.
Back on the fourth floor, Zhu Yanyi began to meditate and rest, preparing for a treatment at midnight.
Yan Aohan did not disturb her. He took a newspaper from the side and read it slowly.
About half an hour passed in silence when Yan Aohan’s phone rang. He went to the door to answer it. A few minutes later, he returned. "Ani, Hai Feng called. Zhu Jinfu from the Zhu family in Zhu City went to Four Towns to persuade Zhu Enfu, offering great profits. Zhu Enfu seems tempted."
Persuade about what? Tempted by what? Zhu Yanyi guessed the situation immediately upon hearing it.
She opened her eyes and sneered. "If the Zhu family in Four Towns wants to merge with the Zhu family in Zhu City, then I’ll create a Zhu family in the Capital." Did they really think she had no countermeasures if Zhu Enfu was tempted? What a joke.
"I agree. And I think this is good. At least with Zhu Jinfu’s actions, we can see clearly who is human and who is a ghost," Yan Aohan nodded. Zhu Enfu was truly confused. Zhu Yanyi’s identity was clear; instead of trying to curry favor, she was tempted by small benefits from the Zhu family. It was like holding a sesame seed and losing a watermelon.
"But this is the worst-case scenario," Zhu Yanyi said calmly. "There are still many reasonable people in the Four Towns Zhu family. The current patriarch is Uncle Chan Yao. Let’s see her reaction. If she can’t persuade Zhu Enfu, we’ll simply replace the patriarch. I think this is the simplest and most effective method."
It was her birthplace, so Zhu Yanyi didn’t want to cause too much trouble. If all else failed, changing the patriarch was acceptable.
Yan Aohan thought for a moment and understood. "Alright. I’ll call Brother Zhang Hai Feng. Let him talk to Zhu Chan Yao and see his reaction."
"En," Zhu Yanyi nodded. "Trouble Xiao Zhang with this. When she returns to the Capital, I’ll treat her to good food."
"He’ll be so happy to hear that," Yan Aohan said with a hint of jealousy. "Just buy him a roast duck. You don’t need to cook personally. I can’t bear to see you in the kitchen."
Zhu Yanyi looked helplessly at Yan Aohan’s jealous expression and laughed.
Yan Aohan went aside to call Zhang Hai Feng. Upon receiving the call, Zhang Hai Feng knew exactly what to do.
She had handed over her current tasks to her brother, Zhang Haitao, so she had time to execute Yan Aohan’s orders.
"Yan Shao wants you to visit the Zhu family again?" Zhang Haitao asked directly, looking at the documents.
"En. The Boss wants me to talk to Zhu Chan Yao. If the father and son can reach an agreement, that’s best. If not, the Boss wants me to observe and see who is suitable to replace the patriarch," Zhang Hai Feng said casually.
"Zhu Enfu is blinded by greed. He doesn’t consider the Little Divine Doctor’s identity. He actually wants to cooperate with the Zhu family in Zhu City. He’ll likely lose more than he gains," Zhang Haitao sighed.
Zhang Hai Feng smiled. "What’s the big deal? Regardless, the Four Towns Zhu family is the Little Sister-in-law’s base. We must protect it well."
Establishing the security company headquarters here was largely to maintain order in Four Towns and prevent information about the Little Divine Doctor from leaking.
"Then talk to Zhu Chan Yao tomorrow. But I don’t think there’s much hope. Usually, Zhu Chan Yao relies on his father to analyze the situation," Zhang Haitao said directly. "I say, replacing the patriarch directly would be much easier."
Zhang Hai Feng laughed heartily. "I think so too. Whether he can remain patriarch depends on tomorrow’s meeting." Zhang Hai Feng grinned, already planning how to approach Zhu Chan Yao the next day.