I entered a room upstairs and saw a boy about seven or eight years old.
When I entered, the boy was asleep, occasionally muttering some incoherent words.
I approached the bed and took his left hand out from under the blanket, frowning.
The reason was simple: the boy was too thin, almost a whole size smaller than boys his age.
After feeling his pulse, I frowned again.
To ensure accuracy, I held his hand for a full minute before placing it back under the blanket.
During this time, the boy muttered twice more.
"How is my son?"
As soon as I stood up, the woman asked impatiently before I could speak.
Her voice was sharp and piercing due to her anxiety, causing the boy to shiver even in his sleep.
"Let's talk outside!"
I gestured towards the door with my mouth, ignoring the woman, and walked out first.
"So much trouble!" the woman complained.
"How is my son, really?"
Once outside, the woman spoke first again, "It's been like this for a long time. He can't eat, can't sleep, and keeps having fevers!"
"Your son's condition is due to liver qi stagnation, leading to poor circulation of qi and blood, resulting in depression, insomnia, and palpitations," I said calmly.
"Don't give me all that jargon. Just tell me if it can be treated!" the woman asked, her eyes red.
"It can be treated!" I nodded.
"Young man, be careful with your words!" the man spoke slowly at this point.
"It can be treated!"
I looked at the man and said in a deep voice, "First, use the Four Gates formula to soothe the liver and relieve depression; then use the Four Spirits Formula to calm the mind and stabilize the will; finally, apply the Governor Vessel Thirteen Needles to activate the meridians and strengthen the waist and spine!"
I laid out the treatment plan directly.
The man stared at me, seemingly trying to verify if my prescription was correct.
I met his gaze fearlessly. I wasn't lying, so what was there to be afraid of?
"Third Master, Old Liu also said the young master has liver qi stagnation!"
At this moment, the woman who brought me up, known as Mrs. Chen, whispered in the man's ear.
"Call Old Liu and ask him to come over and watch him perform the acupuncture!" the man instructed Mrs. Chen after giving me another look.
"Okay!"
Mrs. Chen nodded and went to the side to call the so-called Old Liu over.
In less than ten minutes, an elderly man with gray hair but a vigorous spirit was invited over.
I had no choice but to repeat my diagnosis and treatment plan in front of Old Liu.
"Four Gates formula, Four Spirits Formula..."
Old Liu muttered, his eyes lighting up as he asked, "Is your surname Feng?"
"Are you Feng Xiangwen?" he asked again.
"My grandfather!" I replied.
"Do you know the Four Methods of Treating the Spirit?" he continued.
"I do!" I nodded.
"What about the Eccentric Three Needles?"
"I do!"
"And the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles?"
"I know those too!"
After a series of rapid questions and answers, Old Liu turned to the man and said, "Old Third, you can entrust your child to him. There's no problem. I won't stay here to get in the way!"
The man looked at me with some surprise, evidently not expecting me to gain Old Liu's approval.
"Old Liu, let me see you out!"
He thought for a moment and personally escorted Old Liu downstairs.
Five minutes later, the man returned, his attitude towards me completely changed, and he introduced himself.
Through this introduction, I learned who he was.
His surname was Hua, and he was the third in line.
Inside and outside the circle, people called him various names: Hua Laosan, Third Master, and Mr. Hua.
As for me, he said I could call him whatever I found convenient.
It was clear that Old Liu knew my grandfather and was aware of my family's background, which he had shared with Hua Third Master.
My grandfather had quite a temper, as evidenced by the way he had once cursed out Ma Shuai.
According to my grandfather, he had spent some time in the capital in his early years, but he didn't get along with some people there, so he moved to the Northeast.
"Then I'll call you Mr. Hua. I'll start the acupuncture on the child now!"
Knowing who was in front of me, I maintained my original mindset, with no emotional fluctuations.
"Alright, alright!"
Hua Third Master nodded quickly, inviting me into the room.
His attitude was worlds apart from before.
After all, people get sick, and when they're sick, they need treatment.
Just like Ma Shuai, although he might give me a hard time, he wouldn't dare force me like he did with Ye Yingzi.
He was also afraid I might do something underhanded during acupuncture.
Once inside the room, I lit some calming incense as usual, waiting for the child to settle before proceeding with the acupuncture.
Half an hour later, the acupuncture was complete. The child hadn't woken up yet, but his sleep was much more peaceful. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
"Mr. Hua, there's something I need to say in advance!"
Coming out of the room, I spoke to Mr. Hua.
"Mr. Feng, feel free to speak!" Hua Third Master said.
"Liver qi stagnation indicates that the child is under significant mental stress. After the acupuncture, I hope we don't put so much pressure on the child; otherwise, the acupuncture will be useless!" I said.
"I understand!"
Hua Third Master's face darkened, and the woman beside him, the child's mother, also looked tense.
Seeing this, I knew that the child's liver qi stagnation likely stemmed from his mother.
This was evident from the woman's earlier loud outbursts, caring only about her own emotions and not considering the child.
Coming downstairs, Mr. Li was still kneeling there.
Li Li was leaning against Mr. Li, like a frightened little animal.
Seeing me come down, she gave me a pleading look.
My heart softened, and I asked, "Mr. Hua, what's going on with Mr. Li?"
"When someone makes a mistake, they get punished!"
Hua Third Master said coldly.
After speaking, he changed his expression to a smile and said to me, "However, merits should also be rewarded. Introducing you to me was a great merit, so his merits and faults cancel each other out..."
At this point, Hua Third Master glanced at Mr. Li and said, "Li Laohu, you can get up now. This time, we'll let it go, but if it happens again, I won't spare you!"
"Thank you, Third Master, for your magnanimity!"
Mr. Li showed no resentment, quickly expressing his gratitude, and then, with Li Li's help, stood up.
"Get out of here!"
Hua Third Master waved his hand, and Mr. Li dared not say anything more, leaving the villa with Li Li after bowing.
Five minutes later, I also left the villa.
Half an hour later, I returned to the shop.
After arriving at the shop, I thought for a moment and took out my phone to call Mr. Li.
Once connected, I said directly, "Mr. Li, I'm back at the shop!"
"Mr. Feng, thank you so much this time. If it weren't for you, I'd be finished, and it wouldn't just be me; I'd drag little Li down with me too!" Mr. Li sighed.
"How did you get on Hua Third Master's bad side?" I asked.
"Sigh!"
Mr. Li sighed again and said, "I was trying to find a backer for Li Li, but I almost got her involved!"
"Hua Third Master didn't accept your allegiance?" I asked.
"No!"
Mr. Li gave a bitter smile and said, "Mr. Feng, there are some things I can't explain over the phone. I'll come to your place now, and we can talk face-to-face. I also want you to check Li Li's pulse!"
I was silent for a moment and said, "Come on over, there's no one at the shop!"