Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

Chapter 40 A Masterful Move Determines the Danger; A Verbal Battle Confronts Jia Zhangshi

The middle-aged man and the young woman, who had just entered the living room, were filled with amazement as they looked at the scene before them. Although they were still unsure of the young man's medical skills, his composure and courage in front of such a group of senior experts were already far beyond that of ordinary people, and were truly remarkable.

"Jingyuan, tell me your plan." Li Jingye's expression darkened, and he gestured for Sun Jingyuan to continue.

Sun Jingyuan composed himself and began to analyze the situation clearly: "Old Zhao's physical ailment is mainly due to an excessive accumulation of toxins in his body. These accumulated toxins over the years have blocked the meridians layer by layer, severely affecting the normal functioning of the internal organs, thus causing a false decline in organ function. In fact, his organs have not reached the point of complete failure. As long as the accumulated toxins are expelled, maintaining basic functioning will not be a major problem."

"As long as the medication is precise and strong enough to remove the deep-seated toxins from his body, his body should be able to hold on for another five years without much problem. But no one can guarantee what his condition will be like after five years. Of course, everything I've said is based on the premise that no other unforeseen accidents occur."

When Sun Jingyuan talks about his medical profession, he instantly becomes focused and determined, his eyes are bright, and he exudes the calm aura of a professional doctor.

His composed demeanor made the young woman who had just walked in blush and couldn't help but feel admiration—a young man in his early twenties could speak eloquently and logically in front of a group of highly respected senior figures. This composure and confidence was something that ordinary people his age could hardly achieve in their entire lives.

Moreover, this young man is tall and straight, with clear eyes and a frank and unassuming demeanor, which adds to his youthful spirit.

"Tell me the specific treatment plan, and explain the herbs and proportions clearly," Li Jingye said at the right moment, reminding him to get straight to the point without further preamble.

"The main ingredients are strychnine and arsenic, supplemented with angelica, chuanxiong, salvia miltiorrhiza..."

Sun Jingyuan spoke steadily, enunciating each word clearly, and rattled off the names of more than twenty kinds of medicinal herbs in one breath. Many people present were confused, but the first two herbs alone were enough to make everyone's expression change drastically.

Arsenic and nux vomica are both known to be highly poisonous substances. Ordinary doctors would avoid them their entire lives, fearing that even the slightest contact with them would bring disaster. Yet Sun Jingyuan was going to use them on a seriously ill elderly person. This courage and audacity are truly astonishing.

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Huaide, who was standing to the side, was already drenched in sweat, his back soaked through. He knew all too well that this was undoubtedly a gamble concerning his life and future. If he won, his father-in-law's condition would improve, and his position in the Zhao family and the steel mill would be as secure as Mount Tai; if he lost, all the blame would fall on him, and he would have no chance of recovery.

After listening, Li Jingye frowned and pondered for a moment, then slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly: "Excellent method! Fighting poison with poison, directly targeting the lesion, is precisely the most appropriate solution right now!"

Zhang Shunsui nodded in agreement, his face full of relief: "The risks are indeed extremely high, but it is indeed the only feasible approach at the moment. Conventional tonics and gentle detoxification cannot reach these deep-seated toxins at all, and will only delay the treatment."

Seeing this, Madam Zhao's appreciation for Sun Jingyuan grew even stronger. She admired his medical skills but valued his character even more. She quickly smiled and tried to win him over: "Dr. Sun, I have a niece who is about your age. She comes from a respectable family and has a gentle temperament. I've heard that you are not yet married. Why don't we..."

Before she could finish speaking, Sun Jingyuan calmly raised his hand to interrupt her. His expression was serious, and his tone was steady and resolute, without a trace of personal feelings: "Madam Zhao, please do not try to bribe the doctor. Such actions will only interfere with the doctor's objective judgment and go against the principles of practicing medicine. I am only responsible for treating patients and will not discuss any other personal matters."

Madam Zhao was taken aback at first, then her face flushed red, and she froze on the spot, unsure of how to respond. Sun Jingyuan's words were straightforward and frank, which made her deliberate attempt to win him over seem worldly and impolite.

"Hahaha, you've finally met your match! You've been too nosy!" Zhao Shouzhen laughed loudly, showing no mercy to his wife. As soon as he finished speaking, his wife pinched him hard, forcing him to suppress his laughter and compose himself.

If it weren't for considering Madam Zhao's feelings, Li Jingye and Zhang Shunsui would have applauded on the spot. These official families always liked to use marriage alliances and bribes to win people's hearts, which was really disliked. Sun Jingyuan's straightforward refusal exposed their worldly wisdom and shrewdness, which made the two secretly applaud.

"Dr. Sun, it was my oversight that I offended you. I sincerely apologize. You are a doctor of good character who is dedicated to healing." Madam Zhao was a person who could take things in stride, and she immediately put aside her thoughts and sincerely apologized.

Sun Jingyuan shook his head slightly, his tone calm and even: "A doctor's duty is to treat patients and save lives, regardless of their social status or who they are. We should treat everyone equally and not get involved in these extra complications."

After speaking, he picked up the paper and pen on the table, his fingers flying across the paper as he quickly wrote down a detailed prescription, noting the contraindications for decoction and dosage control. After finishing, he stood up and looked at everyone, his tone frank: "Professor Li and Dean Zhang are both titans in the medical field. They couldn't possibly not have thought of this method of using poison to fight poison. It's just that they are in positions of power, with too many concerns and too many ties, always seeking stability and avoiding disaster. Only I, a greenhorn with no ties, can reveal this risky move."

"If the medication proves ineffective or unsatisfactory, I hope that Mr. Zhao and his wife will not blame others. I will bear all the risks associated with the treatment. Farewell."

Sun Jingyuan nodded slightly to everyone, then turned and walked away with a composed gait, without any hesitation or desire for credit.

"Dad, I'll go see Dr. Sun off!" Upon seeing this, Li Huaide immediately followed, his heart filled with gratitude and trepidation, repeatedly expressing his thanks along the way.

The living room fell into a deathly silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, as everyone processed what had just been said.

After a long while, Zhao Shouzhen exclaimed sincerely, his eyes full of admiration: "Truly, heroes emerge from among the young! He possesses medical skills, courage, and above all, the integrity of a physician—truly rare!"

"Yes, we old guys have been in the workplace for many years, and in the end we are bound by worldly affairs. We have lost some of the purity of healing and saving lives, and gained too much of the calculation of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune." Li Jingye also laughed at himself, his heart full of sighs and emotions.

In fact, Sun Jingyuan's words just now were also an attempt to save face for him and Zhang Shunsui. This kind of risky treatment method is a major taboo for people in high positions like them. The two of them are no longer just doctors; they have too many interests and positions involved, and they would never dare to take such a big risk. Only a young man like Sun Jingyuan could speak of the solution without any scruples.

"By the way, Lou Bancheng, did you come here today for something else?" Zhao Shouzhen turned to the middle-aged man beside him and changed the subject.

Lou Bancheng felt a slight disappointment. He had hoped to use his visit to Zhao Shouzhen to get a clearer stance from him. The current situation was turbulent, and a slight misstep could mean the end of this hurdle. However, Zhao Shouzhen's words were ultimately too vague and offered no definitive answer.

He suppressed his thoughts, put on a smile, and said, "I heard that Elder Zhao is unwell, so I came to visit him and express my condolences. Here are two old ginseng roots that my father has treasured for many years. They are in decent condition. I hope they can help replenish his qi and blood, and do my bit in this small way."

As he spoke, Lou Bancheng placed the exquisite gift box at his feet on the table. The gift box was made of high-quality materials, and the contents inside were clearly extraordinary.

Li Jingye glanced at them casually, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. These two ginseng roots were as thick as a child's arm, with abundant and complete rootlets and clear veins. They were at least a hundred years old, extremely precious, and practically impossible to find on the market.

"That's so thoughtful, so very thoughtful, going to such lengths to spend money." Zhao Shouzhen nodded with a smile, his gaze then falling on the girl beside Lou Bancheng. His tone softened a bit, "Xiao'e has grown so much, such a beautiful young lady. Is she well-off?"

The girl named Xiao'e blushed instantly, lowered her head shyly, clutched the hem of her clothes with both hands, and remained silent.

"Recently, someone introduced me to a young man. He's a proper working-class man, from three generations of poor farmers. He has impeccable family background and a stable and reliable family situation," Lou Bancheng said slowly, his words carrying a hint of consideration for his family's background.

"Three generations of poor farmers, not bad, very good." Zhao Shouzhen commented lightly, then stopped talking and directly ended the topic, clearly unwilling to discuss family matters any further.

The camera then shifts back to the courtyard houses in Nanluoguxiang.

Madam Jia was sitting at her doorstep with the matchmaker, enthusiastically discussing Jia Dongxu's marriage prospects. When the matchmaker heard that the Jia family was willing to offer a dowry of fifty yuan to find a virgin with a formal job in the city, and would also give an extra five yuan as a referral fee after the match was made, her eyes widened and her face was filled with disbelief.

These days, it's considered generous to give a matchmaker one or two yuan as a referral fee, and five yuan is undoubtedly an astronomical reward, enough for an ordinary family to live on for half a month.

Of course, Jia Dongxu is divorced and has a child, Bang Geng, who is still a teenager. This is an unavoidable disadvantage, making it extremely difficult for him to find a satisfactory girl, but it is not entirely impossible.

In the front yard, three middle-aged women were sitting sewing shoe soles and chatting. When they heard about the harsh conditions and generous reward proposed by Jia Zhangshi, they were all dumbfounded and muttered to themselves that the Jia family was being delusional. Little did they know that the money was all secretly taken out by Uncle Yi Zhonghai, who was determined to help Jia Dongxu rebuild his family and continue the Jia family line.

Just then, a clear car horn sounded, and a black car slowly pulled up in front of the courtyard. In those days, cars were a rarity; very few people in the entire courtyard had ever ridden one. Jia Zhangshi immediately stopped talking with the matchmaker and looked out the door with curiosity, wondering who had a distinguished guest.

Before long, Sun Jingyuan, carrying large and small bags of gifts, stepped into the courtyard. Instantly, five pairs of eyes fell on him, some curious, some scrutinizing, and some unable to hide their jealousy.

"Dr. Sun, you're back from get off work?" The third aunt greeted him with a smile, her attitude warm and friendly.

"I had some personal matters to attend to today, so I left work early and came back home," Sun Jingyuan replied politely, his tone indifferent and distant, without exchanging many pleasantries.

Seeing this, Jia Zhangshi immediately spoke up sarcastically, her tone full of sour jealousy: "In the end, Dr. Sun is really capable. Being the factory doctor is so carefree. He can leave work whenever he wants. Unlike us ordinary people, we toil away every day to earn work points, not daring to waste even half a day. It's really infuriating to compare ourselves to others!"

Sun Jingyuan didn't tolerate her bad temper and calmly raised his eyes to retort: ​​"You flatter me. I can't compare to some people who are so skilled at throwing tantrums, being unreasonable and making trouble that no one in the entire academy can match them. That can be considered a 'skill'."

"You little beast, stop making veiled accusations! Who are you talking about?!" Jia Zhangshi instantly lost her temper and stood up with her hands on her hips, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse.

"Who I'm talking about, they know in their hearts. There's no need for them to take it personally." Sun Jingyuan said calmly, not taking her anger seriously at all, and didn't even stop walking.

Then, he added with a smile, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone around to hear: "By the way, Jia Zhangshi, you haven't made a scene in the courtyard today yet? Of course, it's okay if you don't, just remember to hide your household registration book well, don't let anyone easily see it."

These words struck a nerve with Jia Zhangshi, bringing up her past widowhood and subtly pointing out the disadvantage of her rural household registration. She immediately broke down, screaming at the top of her lungs, "You little beast, what nonsense are you spouting! I'll tear your mouth apart!"

As he spoke, he bared his teeth and claws and pounced on Sun Jingyuan, looking arrogant and ready to fight.

"Wait." Sun Jingyuan reached out to stop her, and Jia Zhangshi subconsciously stopped in her tracks, thinking that the other party was finally scared and wanted to beg for mercy.

"What? You want to apologize to me? Too late! It's too late for you to beg for mercy now!" Madam Jia became even more arrogant, her face full of smugness.

"No." Sun Jingyuan said seriously, looking at her calmly, his tone slightly mocking, "I just want to ask, Jia Zhangshi, how many people are left on your household registration?"

Before Jia Zhangshi could react, Sun Jingyuan turned around and ran quickly back to the backyard, his steps light and without any hesitation.

"Hahaha!" The three middle-aged women couldn't help but burst out laughing on the spot, their eyes full of mockery as they looked at Jia Zhangshi, finding the scene particularly satisfying.

Sun Jingyuan may be young, but he has a sharp tongue and always finds a way to hit people where it hurts. Every word he says is piercing, leaving Jia Zhangshi speechless and only able to fum in anger.

"You little beast, I'll fight you to the death!"

"You little bastard, if you've got the guts, don't hide in there! Come out!"

"You think I can't do anything to you just because you're hiding? You just wait, I'll burn your front door down!"

Madam Jia was furious and chased after Sun Jingyuan all the way to the backyard, pounding on the copper-clad solid wood gate of his house until her hands ached, all the while cursing under her breath.

"Burn, burn as much as you want." Sun Jingyuan's leisurely voice came from inside the door, his tone calm and indifferent, with a hint of nonchalance. "I spent two hundred yuan to build this door. If you damage even the slightest bit, not to mention the money you have from your blind date, even if you sell your family's dog, you still won't be able to pay for it."

"You...you..." Madam Jia was so angry that her chest felt tight, her face turned red, and she almost vomited blood because she couldn't catch her breath. Her hand, which was raised in mid-air, froze on the spot, and she no longer dared to knock on the door randomly.

The door was worth two hundred yuan, and everyone in the courtyard had seen Sun Jingyuan pay for it; it was no exaggeration or intimidation. Even though Jia Zhangshi was known for her shrewish and unreasonable behavior, she knew she couldn't possibly afford such a huge sum of money. She could only stand outside the door, trembling with anger, muttering curses under her breath, but she dared not make the slightest provocation.