Li Xu felt refreshed as he left Li Garden.

He had helped regulate Elder Li’s health and thanked him for the gift of a book.

He took a taxi back to the clinic.

However,

As he approached the clinic entrance, Li Xu was taken aback.

A huge crowd, three layers deep, had gathered under the sign for Li’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic. It was bustling with activity, as loud and chaotic as a marketplace.

’A malpractice protest?’

Only when Li Xu got closer did he realize it wasn’t a protest.

A large, dazzlingly red silk banner hung at the entrance. Embroidered upon it in golden thread were two lines of elegant, flamboyant characters: "Miraculous Hands that Restore Life, A Debt of Gratitude for a New Life."

Someone quickly recognized him and shouted, "Doctor Li is here! Everyone, make way!"

The crowd automatically parted to form a path.

Li Xu squeezed through.

When Song Sisi saw him, she rushed over as if she’d just seen her savior.

"Boss, you’re finally back! I was just about to call you."

Song Sisi wore an expression of both excitement and helplessness—the look of someone with a good problem to have.

Li Xu followed her gaze into the clinic. He saw Wang Jianhao and Liu Lanlan standing there, holding a lively and energetic Xiao Momo, their faces filled with excitement.

"Divine Physician Li, you’re back."

The moment Wang Jianhao saw Li Xu, he strode forward, still holding his child. He was about to kneel again, but Li Xu, with his quick reflexes, caught him and held him up.

"What are you doing? Please, get up!"

"Divine Physician Li, we... we just don’t know how to thank you!"

Liu Lanlan’s eyes were red-rimmed. She pointed to the banner at the door and stammered, "We know this banner can’t express even a ten-thousandth of our gratitude. You... you’re our family’s greatest benefactor. It’s like you’ve given our Momo a second chance at life."

Li Xu smiled. He looked at Xiao Momo, who was studying him with curiosity, and asked with concern, "How is the boy? What did the hospital say?"

"He’s all better! Completely healed," Wang Jianhao said joyfully. "This morning, the hospital gave Momo another full check-up. They said his esophagus and stomach have recovered remarkably well and that he could be discharged. But... but the two of us were still worried. We thought we had to bring him for you to see with your own eyes. Only when you say he’s okay can we finally, truly rest easy."

"Alright, let me take a look."

Li Xu first carefully observed the boy’s complexion and tongue coating, then used a stethoscope to listen to his heart, lungs, and bowel sounds.

Finally, he extended his fingers to read the child’s pulse once more.

After a moment, he looked up and said with a smile, "You can relax. The boy’s pulse is steady and strong, and his vitality is flourishing. The harmful qi in his body has been completely purged. He’s fine now. From now on, just be mindful of his diet and let him recuperate properly. He’ll be as strong and healthy as before in no time."

Hearing Li Xu say, "He’s fine now," the last weight was finally lifted from the hearts of Wang Jianhao and his wife.

The couple thanked Li Xu profusely once again.

Meanwhile, outside the clinic, the crowd of neighborhood onlookers began asking what was going on.

"Hey, what’s all this about? What disease did Doctor Li cure?"

"I don’t know. I just got here."

The neighbors in the crowd all turned to Wang Jianhao and his wife for answers.

Wang Jianhao was a down-to-earth man to begin with, and brimming with gratitude for Li Xu, he was more than happy to tell the story.

He vividly recounted the entire story of what had happened at the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine the day before.

He told of how the City First Hospital had been at a complete loss, how the experts at the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine had shirked responsibility, and how Li Xu had gone against everyone’s objections, ultimately using a bowl of miraculous Black Ointment to ensure the nail was passed safely...

He told the story with great animation, making it sound incredibly dramatic.

The neighbors around him were completely spellbound, gasping in endless amazement.

"My God! You can treat someone like that? This Doctor Li is practically Hua Tuo reincarnated!"

"That’s right. I’ve been saying for ages that boy, Xiao Xu, is something special! And now look. He’s more than special, he’s practically an Immortal who’s come down to earth!"

Aunt Li was also in the crowd. Listening to Wang Jianhao’s tale, her face blossomed into a wide smile; she looked even happier than if her own son had achieved something great.

Just as the crowd was buzzing with discussion,

a young woman in professional attire, carrying an intellectual air, squeezed her way through the crowd.

It was Lin Xiaoyu, an editor from *Urban Life* magazine.

"Doctor Li, hello. We meet again," Lin Xiaoyu said, greeting Li Xu with a smile.

"Editor Lin?" Li Xu was a little surprised. "You know about this too?"

"Haha," Lin Xiaoyu chuckled, waving her phone. "Doctor Li, you’re quite the celebrity in Feng City now. Word of the medical miracle you performed at the City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine yesterday has already spread through all sorts of channels. I’m here to do an in-depth follow-up report on it."

She paused, then added, "Besides, a friend of a friend of mine happens to be an ophthalmologist at the City People’s Hospital. So, I might have gotten the news a little earlier than most."

’Gu Xiaoya...’ Li Xu realized.

Since it was a positive story that could help restore the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine, Li Xu didn’t refuse.

He briefly explained his thought process and the principles behind the treatment to Lin Xiaoyu once more.

As time passed, the crowd grew. More people arrived, some drawn by the commotion and others who had heard of his reputation and now sought treatment.

The small clinic was packed to the gills.

Song Sisi was running around, trying to maintain order while also registering patients. She was so busy she was run off her feet.

She still wore that look of someone with a good problem to have.

More patients meant more revenue for the clinic, and her salary and bonuses would rise accordingly.

But it also meant she would be much, much busier than before.

After a particularly frantic rush finally subsided,

Li Xu opened a Word document on his computer and typed out a notice: [Temporarily closed for a study trip, effective immediately. Reopening date to be announced.]

He printed the notice and posted it directly on the clinic’s front door.

"Boss, do you want me to go with you?"

Song Sisi already knew that Li Xu was going to the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

So she wasn’t surprised by the announcement.

"No, you can stay here and keep practicing massage. I’ll teach you acupuncture when I get back."

Li Xu didn’t ask Song Sisi to come with him.

He was going to study,

so it wouldn’t be convenient to bring a nurse along.

The patients and neighbors who saw the notice all looked confused.

Aunt Li asked caringly, "Xiao Xu, business is booming. Where are you off to? It’s a shame to close up now."

"Aunt Li, I’m going to the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine to study under an old professor for a while," Li Xu replied with a smile.

"Oh, I see! Studying is a good thing, a very good thing."

Hearing this, Aunt Li relaxed. "Young people should always be learning. Go learn your craft, then come back and serve everyone even better!"

With everything settled, Li Xu went back inside and began packing for his trip to the provincial capital.

He placed Elder Cheng’s acupuncture handbook and a few changes of clothes into his suitcase.

He was just about to call Professor Gao Guanghui to tell him he would be leaving the next day.

But unexpectedly, Professor Gao’s call came through first.