Chapter 705: It Turns Out to Be This Situation

Chapter 705: Chapter 705: It Turns Out to Be This Situation

(Chapter Seven)

While Gu Changwei went to call for Old Sir Gu, Wang Tongshan curiously asked Luo Ziling, “Ziling, is this friend of yours also a student of medicine?”

Luo Ziling shook his head, “No. She’s my friend, just idle today, and followed me to see the excitement.”

Having heard the conversation between Luo Ziling and Wang Tongshan, Yang Qingyin just offered a light smile, nodded respectfully to the two teachers, and didn’t say much else.

Yang Qingyin’s voice was too distinctly feminine, so before coming, Luo Ziling had discussed with her to play the role of a reticent nobleman’s son, not speaking casually or even at all, so as not to give themselves away.

After all, if she was going to dress up as a man, they might as well go all the way with it; being found out wouldn’t be fun.

Seeing Yang Qingyin’s continued arrogant demeanor, and after she nodded to them and then busied herself with her tea, Wang Tongshan and Wu Hongwei felt a bit uncomfortable. However, Yanjing was a place with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Besides, given Yang Qingyin’s demeanor, she was clearly not an ordinary person’s child but possibly from some wealthy and noble family. To them, her disdainful attitude seemed rather normal, so they didn’t take offense and simply didn’t wish to interact with her anymore.

While waiting for Old Sir Gu to arrive, Wu Hongwei took the initiative to inquire about Luo Ziling’s family background, eager to know who Luo Ziling’s ancestors were and whether they were renowned doctors of notable fame.

Wu Hongwei’s medical skill wasn’t bad, and he had a reputation in traditional medicine. He knew many healers with a reputation in the field, with some being quite good friends of his. However, he didn’t recognize any famous doctors surnamed Luo, which made him quite curious about Luo Ziling’s background.

Wang Tongshan’s life had been saved by Luo Ziling, and the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Dean Wu Mingyun, as well as the director of the affiliated hospital Li Mingxun, both held Luo Ziling in high regard.

Although Wu Hongwei had not witnessed Luo Ziling’s medical skill, Wang Tongshan was a very good friend of his—they were high school classmates and had a friendship spanning decades, so he was certain Wang wouldn’t deceive him. Moreover, Wu Mingyun and Li Mingxun were authorities in the medical field, and they wouldn’t easily praise a young man. If the young man didn’t have exceptional medical skill, they certainly wouldn’t look at him differently.

Therefore, Wu Hongwei did not think less of Luo Ziling because of his youth but showed him a great deal of respect.

Because Wu Hongwei showed him quite a bit of respect, Luo Ziling also had a favorable impression of this professor from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and thus showed him ample respect in return. But he did not disclose his grandfather’s situation to Wu Hongwei, merely mentioning that his medical skill was entirely inherited from his grandfather, who was not particularly famous and lived in the Northwest instead of Yanjing.

Upon hearing this, Wu Hongwei didn’t completely believe Luo Ziling. He figured Luo Ziling simply did not want to disclose his lineage, or perhaps, Luo Ziling didn’t want to reveal too much before demonstrating his medical skill. Those who practice traditional medicine tend to be rather arrogant; for instance, Gu Jian’an, the owner of Guoying National Medical Hall, always loved to put on airs and act high and mighty.

Unless your medical skill convinced him, he would not bother with you, let alone think highly of you.

Wu Hongwei himself was not much different in temperament, only having respect for those with true ability. He believed in Luo Ziling’s medical skill, especially his acupuncture skill. His willingness to join the hubbub today was sparked by his desire to witness the acupuncture skill that Wang Tongshan had described as almost miraculous.

Soon, footsteps were heard from outside, followed by a white-haired elder appearing at the door, with Gu Changwei following behind.

“If I’m not mistaken, it must be Sir Luo’s descendant who has returned to Yanjing,” Gu Jian’an’s voice came from outside before he even stepped into the room.

Hearing this voice, Luo Ziling immediately frowned.

It seemed that Gu Jian’an knew his grandfather, and they even had a history, the contentious kind?

As the old man walked into the room, Luo Ziling stood up, rushed to the door, and greeted with a nod, “Junior Luo Ziling pays respects to Old Sir Gu.”

“Indeed it is Sir Luo’s descendant,” after taking a good look at Luo Ziling, Gu Jian’an chuckled, “The only person I couldn’t stand back then was Sir Luo. I wanted to challenge him to a test of acupuncture skill several times, but he just wouldn’t give me the satisfaction. Who would have thought that today his grandson has come to challenge me. Have I really gone back in time?”

Hearing Gu Jian’an say this made Luo Ziling shiver inside. However, he just smiled in response, “I had no idea Old Sir Gu knew my grandfather, my apologies. But, I have never heard my grandfather mention you!”

Luo Ziling’s words not only changed the expressions of the others present, but also made Gu Jian’an’s face stiffen.

Everyone could tell that Luo Ziling was striking back against Old Sir Gu’s arrogance, neither servile nor overbearing.

Wasn’t Gu Jian’an saying that back in the day, Luo Ziling’s grandfather wasn’t willing to compare acupuncture skill with him? The implication was that Luo Ziling’s grandfather didn’t consider Gu Jian’an a worthy opponent to match himself against, thus he wasn’t interested in contending with Old Gu, and Old Gu was still holding a grudge about it. Now, Luo Ziling, the grandson, coming to challenge Old Gu was a subtle way of looking down on him, as if the rivalry skipped generations, and was naturally seen as dismissive.

Moreover, Luo Ziling said his grandfather never even mentioned Gu Jian’an, suggesting that in the eyes of Luo Ziling’s grandfather, Gu Jian’an was a person not worthy of his attention, a trivial figure whom Sir Luo didn’t bother mentioning.

The greatest hurt is to be ignored, and everyone understood that.

Therefore, anger started to appear on Gu Jian’an’s face as he stared wide-eyed at Luo Ziling, “Where is Sir Luo now?”

“I don’t know,” Luo Ziling shook his head, “My grandfather isn’t in Yanjing. He has been traveling everywhere treating people and studying medicine, with no time to care for such trifles.”

This caused another pang in Gu Jian’an’s chest and stirred his anger again. The implication of Luo Ziling’s words was that his grandfather was busy treating people and studying medicine, and thus had no time for trivial matters, including competing in medical skill with others.

All the other “listeners,” except for Yang Qingyin, were confused after hearing the conversation between the young and the old man, unable to understand what was going on.

Gu Changwei was also puzzled. He hadn’t expected that his own grandfather knew Luo Ziling’s grandfather and that they seemed to have past grievances. Seeing Luo Ziling’s rather proud demeanor, he felt uncomfortable and grew even more curious.

“I heard that you were just standing at the entrance of the medical hall, pointing and gesturing at the signboard. I know, you’re unhappy with the title ‘Number One Acupuncture Skill in Huaxia,’ thinking your grandfather deserves it instead, right?” asked Gu Jian’an with narrowed eyes, “But your grandfather dares not compete in acupuncture skill with me. I can only assume his skill is inferior to mine, and since I’ve never met any other challengers, this title of ‘Number One Acupuncture Skill in Huaxia’ rightfully belongs to me. Hahaha!”