TDDDMFM Chapter 31: Are You Willing to Bet with Me?
The estate was built against the mountainside, covering a vast area. The architectural style inside leaned towards traditional Chinese, with a few Western-style buildings serving as accents. Within the estate were pavilions, terraces, rockeries, and various other structures.
Zhang Tao led Zhou Xiaobei directly to the backyard, pointing to the main house and said, "Dr. Zhou, my father is waiting for you inside. I'll take you there, please follow me."
Zhou Xiaobei nodded.
In Mr. Zhang Jihui's bedroom.
A man in his sixties, with a square face and white temples, was currently taking Mr. Zhang's pulse.
The man furrowed his brows, his expression solemn.
After a while, he slowly withdrew his hand, and Mr. Zhang asked, "Dr. Zhang, what illness do I have exactly?"
Dr. Zhang, named Zhang Zhonghai, was the 45th generation descendant of the Zhang family's medical lineage, rumored to be descended from the legendary medical sage Zhang Zhongjing.
The Zhang family was highly respected in Xiangcheng, with generations of imperial physicians in their lineage.
Zhang Zhonghai smiled faintly, patting Mr. Zhang's hand, "Master Zhang, rest assured, it's nothing serious. Although your pulse is slightly floating, it's normal for older individuals. Just like some people develop hypertension or diabetes as they age, it's a normal phenomenon. I'll perform acupuncture for you first, then prescribe some medicine. If taken regularly, you'll gradually improve."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhang breathed a sigh of relief.
Since yesterday, when Zhou Xiaobei mentioned that he was terminally ill and wouldn't live much longer, he felt like a huge stone was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. Now, hearing Zhang Zhonghai's words, he finally felt relieved.
"Thank you, Dr. Zhang!"
Zhang Zhonghai took out a bundle of silver needles from the medical box. After disinfecting them, he was about to perform the family's traditional acupuncture technique on Mr. Zhang. However, at this moment, someone suddenly shouted at the door:
"Stop!"
Zhou Xiaobei strode in, grabbed Zhang Zhonghai's hand, and said, "What are you doing?"
Zhang Zhonghai was startled.
The old man was somewhat angry.
But Zhou Xiaobei ignored him and said coldly, "Who gave you permission to act recklessly? Don't you understand the severity of his condition? Recklessly needling someone—do you want to kill them?"
Zhang Jihui saw Zhou Xiaobei come in and hurriedly explained, "This is Dr. Zhou Xiaobei, Dr. Zhou Xiaobei, this is..."
"I don't care who he is!"
Zhou Xiaobei interrupted Zhang Jihui coldly, staring straight at Zhang Zhonghai and said, "Old man, who allowed you to treat my patient without authorization? If you kill someone, it won't matter, but if it's traced back to me, and if it tarnishes my reputation, can you afford that responsibility?"
Zhang Zhonghai looked at the young man in front of him in shock.
This young man actually accused him of treating patients recklessly?
This young man had quite the nerve!
"Dr. Zhou Xiaobei, there's been a misunderstanding."
Zhang Tao rushed over, sweating profusely. "Dr. Zhou Xiaobei, let me introduce you. This is Zhang Zhonghai, a famous physician in Xiangcheng. I invited him to treat my father..."
Zhou Xiaobei snorted, "Since you've already invited me, why did you also invite this old man? If you don't trust me, I can leave, but I want to remind you, this old man's medical skills aren't that great. If I hadn't intervened just now, with that needle, your father would have met Marx already!"
"... "
Zhang Tao couldn't help but be taken aback.
Zhang Jihui's face also darkened.
Zhang Zhonghai's face turned ashen, his beard trembling with anger, as he looked towards Song Jihui and said, "Master Song, what's going on here? Who is this kid?"
"...He's also a doctor."
Zhang Jihui explained bitterly.
"He's also a doctor? Ridiculous!"
Zhang Jihui stood up, glared at Zhou Xiaobei, and said, "Young man, I didn't want to argue with you due to your young age, but how dare you question my medical skills? This is unacceptable!"
"I've been practicing medicine for decades and have never made a mistake."
The old man was full of pride.
Zhou Xiaobei didn't buy it at all. "Is there still a need to question? With your limited ability, you're only fit to be a village doctor. Old man, step aside and don't delay my treatment."
"I..."
Zhang Zhonghai's beard was trembling with anger.
He started practicing medicine at eighteen, and after decades of experience, he had treated hundreds if not thousands of patients. In Xiangcheng, everyone respected him as a divine physician. He never expected this young man to mock his medical skills... It was too insulting, too much!
Enough is enough!
"I'll challenge you!"
The old man was furious, rolling up his sleeves as if he was about to fight Zhou Xiaobei.
Fortunately, Zhang Tao stopped the old man in time.
Zhang Jihui and Zhang Tao, father and son, were both at a loss. They didn't expect Zhou Xiaobei to be so reckless, not giving Zhang Zhonghai any face at all!
They felt embarrassed to the point of wanting to dig a hole with their toes.
At this moment, Zhang Keke came in and saw Zhou Xiaobei actually in conflict with Zhang Zhonghai. She rushed to Zhou Xiaobei's side and angrily said, "Hey, brat, how dare you speak to Dr. Zhang like that? Do you know who Dr. Zhang is? He's a renowned divine physician in Xiangcheng, the heir of the Zhang medical lineage. Apologize to Dr. Zhang immediately!"
Apologize?
Not a chance.
Zhou Xiaobei disdainfully said, "He's worthy of being called a divine physician? If he's a divine physician, then I'm the Jade Emperor. Also, when men handle affairs, women should mind their own business and stay out of it!"
"You...!"
Zhang Keke was so angry her face turned pale.
This brat was too insolent!
Zhang Jihui frowned and said, "Dr. Zhou Xiaobei, you can't say that. Dr. Zhang Zhonghai comes from the Zhang medical lineage, and his medical skills are indeed outstanding!"
Zhou Xiaobei said, "I don't care how skilled he is. I only know that if he had treated you with acupuncture just now, you would be in serious trouble."
"Nonsense!"
Zhang Zhonghai was almost driven crazy.
Pointing his finger at Zhou Xiaobei, his whole body trembled like he had late-stage Parkinson's disease. "Alright, you said I misdiagnosed and that my medical skills are lacking. Do you dare to make a bet with me?"
"A bet? What kind of bet?"
"Simple. You said I misdiagnosed. If you can cure Master Song's illness, it proves you're right. Then, I'll kneel down and kowtow to you three times and beg you to be my teacher. Otherwise, you must apologize to me by kowtowing."
"Okay, no problem!"
Zhou Xiaobei didn't even think about it and readily agreed.
He sneered at Zhang Zhonghai and said, "Old man, you keep your titanium alloy eyes open and watch how I treat people."