The atmosphere grew tense for a moment.
Qin Jinhai put down his chopsticks and stood up.
Fu Bing’s heart plummeted.
She walked over to where Qin Jinhai had been sitting, picked up her phone, and left without a backward glance.
Qin Jinhai listened to her retreating footsteps, his hands clenched into fists.
It was right not to get too close to her until everything was clear.
He couldn’t control himself.
Only as Qin Jinhai could he openly look at her, hold her. But he couldn’t protect her overtly.
Even the bravest person wouldn’t willingly hit their head against a wall twice.
When Fu Bing returned to the villa, Ren Zhi personally drove Elder Jiang and Jian Yao over.
Fu Bing went to open the car door for Elder Jiang.
Elder Jiang, beaming, clasped Fu Bing’s hand. "The place you’ve chosen isn’t bad at all. It’s very comfortable here."
"If you like it, you’re welcome to move in."
"Would that be convenient?"
"As long as you don’t find it inconvenient, it’s fine."
"I enjoy a bit of liveliness."
Jian Yao looked exasperated. "Grandfather, that’s a rather shameless move."
Elder Jiang feigned ignorance. "You’re about to take up your post and will undoubtedly be too busy to keep me company. Fu Bing is establishing a Traditional Chinese Medicine platform, so it’s most fitting for me to be here to offer her guidance. Once a few young, promising figures in Chinese medicine arrive, Fu Bing’s platform will truly be established."
The old master spoke earnestly. "Traditional Chinese Medicine is a profound field. If there’s no one to oversee things, the wrong people might be recruited, which could tarnish Fu Bing’s reputation. It wasn’t easy for her to build that reputation, and it shouldn’t be easily ruined."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"You’ve caught my eye, and I cherish talent," Elder Jiang said, walking into the villa while still holding Fu Bing’s hand.
Jian Yao watched in alarm as his father held Fu Bing’s hand. He glanced around warily, afraid Qin Jinhai would suddenly appear and attack his father.
Of all people to take advantage of, he had to choose Fu Bing.
He’s so old, yet he’s holding a young woman’s hand behind his wife’s back.
If Elder Jiang knew what his youngest son was thinking, he would have undoubtedly jabbed him with a needle.
After about thirty seconds, Elder Jiang released Fu Bing’s hand.
This child’s constitution was once severely depleted. Although it has recovered, her underlying foundation is still weak.
"Later, let me see the prescription you’re currently taking. We’ll need to add a few more herbs."
Surprise flickered in Fu Bing’s eyes. "I’d appreciate that, thank you."
"Your dedication to building a legal, compliant, and orderly platform for Traditional Chinese Medicine is a boon for the field and a blessing for countless patients. I am old and perhaps not as useful as I once was, but I can certainly lend you a hand. It would make my years of accumulated experience worthwhile and be a fitting contribution to the field I’ve devoted my life to."
"You’re too modest. Having you here truly gives me confidence," Fu Bing admitted, not hiding her concerns. "Honestly, these past few days, I’ve been very anxious. I’m afraid I’ve bitten off more than I can chew and might lack the ability to see it through, thereby disappointing everyone. Building a film and television platform is relatively straightforward for me because I have deep roots in that industry. I understand its operations, so even when faced with difficulties, I feel capable of handling them."
Elder Jiang responded, "If you encounter problems, we’ll solve them together. The decennial International Traditional and Western Medicine Competition is set to begin in half a month, and this time it will be held in Jiangnan. I hope you can participate."
Fu Bing knew this was a precious opportunity to gain recognition and allow others to acknowledge her medical skills to the fullest extent. Simultaneously, it was the best opportunity for Qin Jinhai and her supporters to smoothly approve the three billion in funding for her. The tactics employed in such competitions were often underhanded. Her medical team wasn’t yet assembled, making it difficult for her to compete effectively.
Elder Jiang understood her concerns. "My disciples and their students will be arriving in Jiangnan in a few days. You should converse with them more then.
"Your medical skills are not an issue; you can treat patients whom many renowned doctors cannot. I’ve observed your acupuncture technique—it’s both bold and meticulous. That is a doctor’s greatest asset. A conservative approach to treatment isn’t wrong; for common ailments, it ensures no harm is done, even if no great progress is made. However, it’s not suitable for severe illnesses. Your approach has, to a large extent, filled this gap.
"I’m not sure how solid your foundational knowledge is. We can discuss this thoroughly over the next few days, identify any issues, and work together to resolve them."
Throughout his life, Elder Jiang had nurtured many excellent doctors. Many possessed talent, but few had profound comprehension. He hadn’t personally witnessed Fu Bing’s treatment methods. Therefore, he couldn’t fully evaluate her, but he could discern that her talent and comprehension were exceptionally strong.
He had examined Ren Ye’s condition. What he had been able to do was prolong Ren Ye’s life, but he couldn’t awaken him at that point. One might say Fu Bing’s arrival was timely. Ren Ye’s bodily functions had been stabilized by Elder Jiang’s prior treatments. Building on that foundation, Fu Bing managed to awaken Ren Ye. It could be attributed to fate, or perhaps, simply luck.
Fu Bing maintained a somewhat reserved demeanor. After asking Xiaomei to serve tea to the old master, she went upstairs. She found Aunt Ning and Uncle He’s room spotless; even their frequently used personal items were gone.
Puzzled, Fu Bing noticed a note on the table by the window.
"Xiaobing, we’ve left ahead of you. We’ll take good care of Han Hu. Don’t worry about us."
The handwriting was hurried and unsteady, clearly written in haste.
Fu Bing pondered for a moment and understood the heart of the matter.
Were Aunt Ning and Uncle He avoiding Elder Jiang, or did they not want to encounter former colleagues?
Fu Bing folded the note, placed it in the shredder, and destroyed it.
Was Aunt Ning hiding from someone?
Elder Jiang? Or Lu Yuan?
She sent a text message to Aunt Ning.
Fu Bing called Yang Ningzheng, asking him to arrange his work schedule and come over to assist her.
Yang Ningzheng caught the last high-speed train of the day. Fu Bing had already arranged a room for him.
Currently, the villa housed her, Xiaomei, Elder Jiang, Yang Ningzheng, and Wu Shi. Wu Shi had left a note the previous night and hadn’t been seen since. His room was temporarily vacant. It was originally intended for Mu He, but Mu He had refused, opting instead for the housekeeper’s room on the first floor. He valued his life too much to dare stay in Jinhai’s room.
Yang Ningzheng had experience organizing similar events. Having always worked in the pharmaceutical industry, he possessed a deep understanding of it, making him the most suitable person to help.
After dinner, Fu Bing asked Yang Ningzheng to stay behind. "Coming to Jiangnan, will this affect your work in Jiangcheng?"
"Thanks to you, Sister Bing, I was recently promoted to President of the group, so my schedule is relatively more flexible. Assisting you in establishing the TCM platform will generate more value than if I remained at the group. The senior executives are all astute; they can do that calculation."
"Are you familiar with the Traditional and Western Medicine Competition?"
"I am. But don’t think of it as a straightforward competition. The competitive content itself isn’t the most crucial aspect; rather, it’s the strategic maneuvering between nations. Each time it’s held, several truly gifted individuals are unfortunately ’broken,’ which is a great loss for the medical field."
"Why are they ’broken’?"
"Before the immense power of national interests, even the most talented and perceptive individuals are but insignificant specks." Yang Ningzheng looked intently at Fu Bing. "This time, you will be the target!"