Courtyard House: The Thief System of All Realms

Chapter 18: Miraculous Healing Leads to Fierce Competition, Honors Bestowed Upon Him, and He Shocks

Inside the office of the president of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, the hot tea in the enamel thermos was still steaming. President Zhang Shunsui was chatting with his longtime friend Li Jingye about the recent departmental reorganization and patient reception work when the office door was suddenly pushed open without warning.

Zhang Shunli and his daughter-in-law Li Hongmei rushed in, their faces showing signs of urgency and beads of sweat on their foreheads, completely oblivious to the atmosphere inside.

"Second Brother, stop busying yourself with anything else and hurry up and give me a referral and a video." Zhang Shunli walked straight to the desk and got straight to the point, his tone urgent and without any politeness.

"With your reckless nature, how can a grown man like you not even have any sense of propriety? You come in without knocking!" Zhang Shunsui put down his pen, pretended to glare at him with a stern face, but his tone was casual like that of a brother, without a trace of real anger.

"I don't have time for formalities. Get this done for me first." Zhang Shunli waved his hand, not bothering with politeness at all, and reached out to pull Zhang Shunsui up.

"Alright, alright, I give up." Zhang Shunsui stood up helplessly, rubbing his temples. "Tell me exactly what's wrong so I can arrange a targeted examination."

"I can't really pinpoint the exact problem." Zhang Shunli touched his chest, looking somewhat bewildered. "I went to the steel mill clinic with Hongmei earlier and had a back massage. Dr. Sun Jingyuan there specifically told me to come to Peking Union Medical College Hospital immediately and specifically requested a chest X-ray, saying that this matter couldn't be delayed."

After leaving the infirmary, Li Hongmei relayed Sun Jingyuan's words to Zhang Shunli without any concealment. She knew her father-in-law's temperament too well; hiding things would only make him more suspicious and resistant. It was better to tell him the truth so that he would truly take this examination seriously and cooperate with coming to the hospital.

"The doctor from the steel rolling mill? His name is Sun Jingyuan?" Li Jingye, who had been sitting quietly drinking tea to the side, suddenly looked up, his tone slightly surprised, and took the initiative to interject.

"That's right, he's a young man who looks to be in his early twenties. He may not look like much, but he's quite capable." Zhang Shunli nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shunsui and Li Jingye exchanged a glance, both showing understanding on their faces, and exclaimed in unison.

"It was him."

"Do you two know this kid?" Zhang Shunli immediately became interested, leaned forward, and asked curiously.

"He is a student I personally selected and taught without reservation, and he is also my most outstanding student in my life." Li Jingye raised his hand to stroke his beard, his eyebrows curved, and his tone was full of undisguised pride and praise.

"Him? I personally extended an invitation to him, hoping he would come to Peking Union Medical College Hospital to study medicine under my guidance, but the kid declined and insisted on becoming a factory doctor at the steel mill." Zhang Shunsui sighed, his face full of regret. He then stopped talking about other things and said to Zhang Shunli, "Let's not talk about anything else for now. Sit down and put your hand out so I can take your pulse and check your condition."

Zhang Shunli didn't say much, obediently sitting in the chair and placing his hand on the pulse pillow on the edge of the table.

The office fell silent instantly, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall. After a long while, Zhang Shunsui slowly withdrew his hand, his brows furrowing slightly, his face full of confusion.

"Judging from the pulse, there is indeed a slight abnormality in the lungs, but the symptoms are very superficial. Logically speaking, it is far from the point where an X-ray is necessary for a diagnosis. Why is that kid so sure that he wants to check the lungs?" Zhang Shunsui turned to look at Li Jingye, his tone full of doubt.

Li Jingye shrugged indifferently, his expression calm: "This child's medical skills have long been developed in their own way. Since he gave such instructions, he must have his reasons. A check-up will put my mind at ease."

When Sun Jingyuan declined the generous offer from Peking Union Medical College Hospital and insisted on staying at the steel rolling mill's medical clinic, he admired Sun's choice but also felt sorry for him, as the steel rolling mill's medical conditions were limited and it would be difficult for him to make a difference. However, he also knew Sun Jingyuan's personality; once he made up his mind, he would never change it, so he didn't try to persuade him any further.

"Since we're here, let's go to the radiology department for an X-ray, so we can be completely at ease." Zhang Shunsui didn't hesitate any longer, immediately filled out the examination form, got up and led Zhang Shunli to the radiology department, and Li Hongmei quickly followed.

In less than half an hour, the chest X-ray was completely rinsed out. Zhang Shunsui held the X-ray up to the light and examined it carefully. His expression changed instantly, and his fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the X-ray. He turned sharply to look at Li Jingye beside him, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement and urgency.

"Old Jing, take a look! Help me figure out if there's any way to recruit this kid to Peking Union Medical College Hospital. I'm willing to send four of our core doctors to take turns working at the steel mill, just to get him to come to Peking Union Medical College Hospital!"

Li Jingye was immediately startled. He quickly stepped forward and took the film. After only a cursory glance, he couldn't help but gasp in shock, his face filled with astonishment.

"Second brother, what's going on? Don't hide it from me!" Zhang Shunli panicked instantly when he saw the unusually solemn expressions on the two men's faces. His palms were instantly covered in cold sweat. Li Hongmei, who was standing next to him, also gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her face pale, and her heart was in her throat.

Zhang Shunsui's face darkened, and without any concealment, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "It's lung cancer. The lesion is in its very early stage and is very small. If we delay even a little longer, we will completely miss the best time for treatment."

These words struck Zhang Shunli and Li Hongmei like a bolt from the blue. Their legs went weak, and they collapsed into the chairs beside them, their bodies limp. Moments later, Li Hongmei's eyes welled with tears, and suppressed sobs echoed down the corridor.

"What's the use of crying? We're not at our wits' end yet!" Zhang Shunsui said sternly, his tone becoming more severe. "Thanks to Dr. Sun's timely reminder, the lesion was discovered early, is under control, and there's a complete possibility of a cure. If it had been a month later, even a god couldn't have saved you!"

"Is...is there really any hope?" Zhang Shunli looked up, his eyes brimming with tears, his voice trembling uncontrollably, his tone filled with disbelief.

"Am I the dean or are you the dean? How could that be a lie?" Zhang Shunsui rolled his eyes at him, too lazy to try to appease him any further. He knew his brother's temperament all too well; if he didn't scare him first, he definitely wouldn't cooperate well with the subsequent treatment.

"Second brother, I know I was wrong, you have to help me!" Zhang Shunli wiped away his tears instantly, grabbed Zhang Shunsui's arm, and said earnestly.

"If you want me to treat you properly, after you are discharged from the hospital, prepare a generous gift and go to thank Dr. Sun Jingyuan immediately." Zhang Shunsui looked at him and said in an extremely serious tone, "Your life was saved because he detected the hidden danger in advance and pulled you back from the brink of death. You must remember this great kindness."

Meanwhile, in the steel rolling mill's medical clinic, Sun Jingyuan had just received the medical inheritance reward from the All-Heavens Thief System: [Thief System Notification: Successfully stole the medical buff from the Ancient Realms of the Heavens; accuracy of observation and pulse diagnosis permanently increased]. He then bent down to treat the wound of an injured workshop worker. The worker's finger had been cut by the machine; the wound wasn't deep and wasn't serious.

"The wound has been disinfected and bandaged. Change the dressing on time every day. Don't let the wound come into contact with tap water. Avoid spicy food and get plenty of rest," Sun Jingyuan said calmly, putting down the tweezers.

"Thank you so much, Dr. Sun. It's all thanks to you. Thank you so much!" The worker said gratefully, thanking him repeatedly before turning to leave the clinic.

Just as Sun Jingyuan finished packing up his medical equipment, a commotion arose outside the clinic. Then, a dense sound of footsteps approached, indicating that many people were heading this way.

"Dr. Sun, our whole family has come to express our gratitude!"

Li Hongmei's voice came first from outside the door, and as soon as she finished speaking, she quickly walked into the infirmary.

Sun Jingyuan looked up, his heart tightening instantly as he sensed something was wrong and instinctively tried to stop him. In this era, making a grand entrance to express gratitude could easily give others ammunition against him. The people in the courtyard were already watching him, and if someone with ulterior motives used this to accuse him of accepting bribes or engaging in speculation, he would inevitably face a lot of trouble.

Before he could speak, Yang Xugang, the steel rolling mill director, walked in beaming. His eyes were full of approval as he looked at Sun Jingyuan, and he said in a cheerful tone, "Dr. Sun, well done! Your superb medical skills have really brought honor to our steel rolling mill!"

Soon, the entrance was crowded with employees who had rushed over after hearing the news. They all squeezed in to watch the excitement, pointing and whispering about what was happening inside.

"Dr. Sun, thanks to you this time, my old life was saved. I will never forget your kindness!" Zhang Shunli held the rolled-up banner in both hands and walked quickly to Sun Jingyuan, his expression full of fear and gratitude.

"Mr. Zhang, there's no need for such extravagance. I was just doing my duty." Sun Jingyuan hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, but Zhang Shunli had already deftly unfurled the banner.

"Noble Medical Ethics, Skillful Hands and Compassionate Heart—A Gift to Dr. Sun Jingyuan of the Steel Rolling Mill," a line of gilded characters was prominently displayed before everyone's eyes. Upon seeing this, the employees at the entrance instantly burst into enthusiastic applause and exclamations of praise.

"Dr. Sun, this is what you deserve, please don't refuse!" Zhang Shunli said firmly. "If it weren't for your accurate detection of the potential problem and your urging me to come to the hospital for a checkup, I wouldn't be alive for long!"

Yang Xugang had already found out the whole story. Looking at the scene before him, he immediately turned to the factory leadership team beside him and said, "Dr. Sun's medical skills are superb. He has solved a major problem for the factory and the employees' families. His treatment must be adjusted immediately. We cannot let our good doctor suffer!"

"Factory manager, he hasn't been with the factory for long. According to the factory's rules, it might not be proper to directly raise his salary..." A factory leader hesitated and raised his objection in a low voice.

Before Yang Xugang could speak, Zhang Shunli, standing to the side, immediately darkened his face and retorted sharply, "Rules are rules, but people are flexible! Let me tell you, Dr. Sun is a medical talent. Dean Zhang of Peking Union Medical College Hospital personally offered to send four key doctors to work at the steel rolling mill in rotation, just to replace Dr. Sun! If you don't take this seriously, and your talent is poached, who will be responsible for the medical care of thousands of employees in the entire factory?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the factory leaders present changed drastically, and they instantly fell silent. They had no shortage of medical resources themselves, but the thousands of employees in the factory could not do without a reliable factory doctor. If they let Sun Jingyuan go, it would inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the employees, with unimaginable consequences.

Yang Xugang immediately made the decision, his tone decisive: "Adjust immediately, promote Dr. Sun to Level 6 worker status, and fully pay all medical post subsidies. The personnel department should process the relevant procedures immediately!"

Moments later, the factory's loudspeakers blared throughout the entire factory area, reaching every workshop and every post: "Factory-wide announcement: Dr. Sun Jingyuan of the infirmary, with superb medical skills and high medical ethics, has dedicated himself to serving all factory employees, accurately diagnosing serious health risks and making outstanding contributions. After deliberation by the factory leadership, it has been decided to exceptionally promote Dr. Sun Jingyuan to the rank of Level 6 worker. All employees are urged to emulate Dr. Sun and strive to excel in their respective positions..."

The broadcast clearly reached every corner. In Workshop One, Yi Zhonghai's wrench froze in mid-air. Listening to the broadcast about the benefits of a Level 6 worker, his expression was complicated as he muttered to himself, "A Level 6 worker, this kid has only been in the factory for a short time, and he's already getting such high benefits at such a young age..."

Jia Dongxu, standing nearby, had bloodshot eyes and slammed the workpiece he was holding onto the worktable, his heart burning with almost insane jealousy. He had worked hard in the workshop for four years and was still only a level one worker, earning a monthly salary of just over twenty yuan. Sun Jingyuan, on the other hand, had only been in the factory for a short time and had jumped directly to level six, earning seventy-seven yuan and eighty-five cents a month, more than three times his salary. This disparity had completely thrown him off balance.

Liu Haizhong, who was not far away, trembled violently the moment he heard the broadcast, nearly injuring himself with the file in his hand. His face instantly turned extremely gloomy. He had worked diligently for half his life, only to become a level seven fitter, while Sun Jingyuan, a young man, had caught up in terms of treatment. This filled him with resentment and jealousy.

In the factory kitchen, Sha Zhu listened to the broadcast, his spatula suddenly stopped, and he looked utterly astonished. He had worked hard for a month and his salary was only thirty-seven yuan and fifty cents. The difference between his salary and Sun Jingyuan's was obvious, and he felt a pang of resentment. However, he had to admit that Sun Jingyuan's skills were indeed impressive.

The lively atmosphere in the clinic lasted for quite a while before the onlookers and factory leaders gradually dispersed, leaving only Yang Xugang behind.

"Factory manager, is there anything else?" Sun Jingyuan asked, looking at Yang Xugang who had not left.

"The factory has been very busy lately, and my shoulders have been sore and stiff all day. It's hard to even lift them. I've heard that your massage techniques are unique, so I'd like to trouble you to help me get some treatment." Yang Xugang patted Sun Jingyuan's shoulder with a smile, his tone amiable.

"It's almost time to get off work, so it might not be convenient," Sun Jingyuan said, feigning hesitation.

Yang Xugang smiled knowingly, but didn't expose him. He simply took out a ticket from his pocket and stuffed it into Sun Jingyuan's hand without saying a word: "Of course I won't let you work for nothing. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Sun Jingyuan looked down and saw a rare sewing ticket in his hand. He casually put the ticket in his pocket and pulled over a chair: "Since the factory manager has said so, then I'll help you get it checked."

Yang Xugang smiled and sat down, obediently leaning against the back of the chair. Sun Jingyuan raised his hand and placed it on his shoulder, slowly applying pressure with his fingertips to begin the massage.