MMJWQC Chapter 31

Translator: Moonlit

Editor: kiki

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The filming on the second day went smoothly as well. When Chu Ruochun checked his brother’s pulse and took the prescription to the store to buy medicine, it was already attention-grabbing.

Many might think that Chu Ruochun was overestimating himself, but who was Dr. Qi, the owner of the traditional Chinese medicine store? After some investigation by the production team, they discovered that Dr. Qi was a senior doctor who worked at the Beijing Zhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. His approval of Chu Ruochun’s prescription indicated that he recognized Chu Ruochun’s medical skills, which seemed to come from nowhere.

Chu Ruochun now appeared like a hidden treasure, waiting to be discovered by them. Even though the show was meant to be a family-oriented program, it had turned into something resembling a talent competition where participants showcased their skills bit by bit.

Some members of the production team thought this way, while others simply believed that Chu Ruochun was just selling a personal image and that he would likely crash and burn soon. Trying to compete with seasoned traditional Chinese doctors at such a young age seemed absurd.

However, Chu Ruochun himself was indifferent to these opinions. He did what he had to do.

After bringing back the herbs from the traditional Chinese medicine store, he personally brewed the medicine for Chu Ruolin using a sand pot. The aroma of the herbs wafted through the house, and even the camera crew members found it surprisingly pleasant. They had never thought that Chinese herbal medicine could smell so good.

Was this medicine different in each person’s hand?

Recently, Chu Ruolin has been continuously taking Chinese herbal medicine to improve his health. He couldn’t stand the smell anymore, and whenever he tried to hide, his brother always managed to find him. So, as Chu Ruochun brewed the medicine, Chu Ruolin sat on the balcony with the two foxes, grumbling and complaining, surprisingly adorable.

In the end, he couldn’t escape the fate of having to take the medicine. Chu Ruochun was firm about it. No matter how much Chu Ruolin used soft words and sweet talk, it didn’t work. His brother just smiled gently at him. Unable to hold out any longer, Chu Ruolin reluctantly drank the medicine, gulp by gulp.

He drank the entire bowl of medicine in one gulp, which left the cameramen in awe. Even many adults hesitate when it comes to taking medicine, but Chu Ruolin could down it all without any hesitation. He was much more impressive than many children his age.

After finishing the medicine, Chu Ruolin went for a nap. He slept quite deeply, and it wasn’t until a little past four in the afternoon that Chu Ruochun woke him up.

While he was napping, Chu Ruochun did something that shocked everyone. He brought the two foxes into his study and spent the entire afternoon reading scriptures to them.

What was even more astonishing was that the two foxes listened attentively throughout the session. They didn’t leave the study, stayed still, and behaved as if they were two fake foxes purchased online. If it weren’t for the production team confirming that they were real foxes, one might have suspected that Chu Ruochun was directing a scripted performance. It was truly baffling.

At 4:30 in the afternoon, Chu Ruochun decided to take Chu Ruolin out for dinner. Cooking another meal would be too much torture. To ensure that his brother received proper nutrition, he opted for a nice meal outside.

As they were about to leave, Chu Ruochun’s phone rang. It was a call from Old Qi.

“Xiao Chu, do you have a moment?”

“Yes, Old Qi, is this about that child?”

“It seems nothing can escape your notice,” Old Qi replied.

The first time Chu Ruochun visited Old Qí’s traditional Chinese medicine store, Old Qi had offered to check Chu Ruolin’s pulse free of charge. In return, Chu Ruochun had advised him to avoid sources of strong light for a few days.

Old Qi wasn’t a stubborn old man; he was someone who continued learning and adapting even in his old age. He used a smartphone and a computer and was open to new things. He took Chu Ruochun’s advice to heart. The next evening, the glass door in his bathroom shattered. Fortunately, he had followed Chu Ruochun’s advice and had been showering outside for those days, avoiding using the bathroom at home.

This mysterious turn of events had been brought up by his elderly housekeeper, but he hadn’t mentioned it to his son and grandson. Today, after hearing what Chu Ruochun had said, he had determined the young man’s identity. This young man was not ordinary; his eyes radiated wisdom and tolerance, which weren’t traits commonly found in someone in their early twenties.

“I also have many things I don’t know,” Chu Ruochun replied.

“Today, that couple came here to seek answers from us, and I hope you didn’t take offense at my grandson’s disrespect. Please come and help,” Old Qi requested.

“Old Qi, you’re too polite. I’ll do what I can,” Chu Ruochun replied.

After hanging up the phone, Chu Ruochun said to Chu Ruolin, “Do you remember that beef hot pot restaurant near Old Qi’s place?”

“I do,” Chu Ruolin replied.

“After I help Dr. Qi with a small favor, we’ll go there for dinner,” Chu Ruochun said.

“Great! I love beef hot pot, especially the beef balls that bounce like ping-pong balls.”

“With those teeth of yours, you still need to be careful while eating,” Chu Ruochun commented, glancing at his brother’s teeth.

Kids at the age of losing baby teeth sometimes have gaps when speaking.

Chu Ruolin, who had been cheerful just a moment ago, suddenly froze.

After teasing Chu Ruolin for a bit, they arrived at the traditional Chinese medicine store. Even before entering, they heard sobbing from inside.

Chu Ruochun didn’t want Chu Ruolin to witness such a scene, but seeing that his brother wasn’t averse to it, he let him be. They were still recording the program, after all.

“Doctor, what should I do about my son? You, you quack! Following your advice, my son’s stomach pain has only gotten worse! Are you even capable of curing illnesses? If my son doesn’t make it, I’ll hold you responsible!” The distraught father yelled.

“I recommended that you go to the hospital and consult a doctor for medication. How can you accuse me like this?” Little Qi, his face pale, protested.

“If you hadn’t blindly recommended it, would my son’s stomach hurt even more after taking the medicine?” The man argued.

It was a truly complicated situation.

“Why didn’t you make an appointment with a doctor and get a proper examination?” Little Qi asked.

“It’s all because of your reckless recommendation! You need to take responsibility!” The middle-aged couple clung to their child, who had fainted from stomach pain, crying and wailing.

“Are you trying to blame us?” Little Qi didn’t prescribe any medication; he had simply given them advice.

Old Qi sat to the side, sighing, while Little Qi stood beside him, fearing that the distraught couple might cause harm to his elderly grandfather. He was a dutiful grandson.

When Chu Ruochun entered, Old Qi noticed the light in his eyes.

“Here comes Xiao Chu,” Old Qi said.

“Old Qi,” Chu Ruochun greeted, leading Chu Ruolin forward.

Old Qi looked at Ruolin and asked, “Is Ruolin hungry? We have some food prepared at home. Would you like to go inside and have a bite to eat?”

He knew that Chu Ruochun was protective of his younger brother and didn’t want the child to witness this medical dispute.

Chu Ruochun patted Chu Ruolin’s shoulder and asked, “Do you want to go?”

“Sure,” Chu Ruolin replied, showing his understanding.

Old Qi turned to Little Qi and said, “You go inside with the child to have something to eat. Leave the rest to me and Xiao Chu.”

Little Qi cast another somewhat subtle glance at Chu Ruochun. However, he was quite polite to Chu Ruolin, leading him to the backyard and handing him over to his wife. Afterward, he returned, not wanting to leave the elderly grandfather alone outside.

One of the cameramen followed Chu Ruolin into the backyard, while the other stayed outside.

“After taking the medicine, my son fell into a severe coma! How are you going to fix this?” the middle-aged man exclaimed.

“You need to lay the child flat on the bed. If you delay any longer, he might lose his life,” Chu Ruochun advised.

“The child can’t die! If you can’t cure him, we’ll put up banners saying you’re killing people!” The middle-aged woman was quite aggressive.

Chu Ruochun finally examined this middle-aged couple closely. Their auras didn’t seem harmonious. The woman was overweight, the man was thin, she was confrontational, and he seemed timid. Looking at their frail child, Chu Ruochun realized that if he gained some weight, he would have very attractive features, indicative of a prosperous future.

“I can cure him. Please wait outside for now,” Chu Ruochun said calmly, despite the couple’s hysterics, and he managed to maintain a composed expression.

The middle-aged woman had a sharp tone. “Are you trying to deceive us? You’re so young, what do you know?”

Chu Ruochun fixed his gaze on them. “If you want your child to be fine, you can continue making a scene. It will only delay treatment further, and the child’s life will be at even greater risk.”

Old Qi chimed in, saying, “He knows more than I do.” His support for Chu Ruochun was unwavering; with age comes wisdom and experience.

The couple remained skeptical, but they were here to save their child without incurring medical expenses. As long as their child’s illness was cured and he didn’t die, they were willing to try anything.

Chu Ruochun sensed their hesitation and said, “Please step outside. The child has been affected by gu worms, not ordinary parasites.”

The couple had heard similar words from the young man earlier in the afternoon. However, desperate times called for desperate measures. They couldn’t afford to take the child to the hospital for now. The child’s life must be preserved at all costs.

Little Qi blocked the couple behind the curtain, and when he re-entered, the child’s clothes had already been removed by Chu Ruochun.

Internally, Little Qi held about ninety percent doubt regarding Chu Ruochun’s medical skills. He couldn’t understand why his grandfather had so much trust in him.

Old Qi handed Chu Ruochun a glass of water. From his pocket, Chu Ruochun took out a piece of talisman paper. He held it between his right index and middle fingers and made a swift motion in the air. Surprisingly, the talisman paper ignited with a faint blue flame. The ashes from the talisman paper gradually fell into the glass, merging with the water. The water didn’t change in color significantly, but it was no longer the same as before.

Little Qi was left dumbfounded. He whispered to Old Qi, “Grandpa, is this for real?”

Even though it was the first time Old Qí had witnessed this, he had an unexplainable trust in Chu Ruochun. He shot Little Qi a stern look and said, “The cameraman is still here. Can there be fakes?”

Little Qi murmured, “But what if…”

He remembered that this couple had appeared with their child right after the arrival of Chu Ruochun and his brother. However, the child’s illness symptoms were genuine. Maybe he was overthinking it. A television production crew wouldn’t play with someone’s life.

Old Qi and Little Qi spoke rather audibly, and Chu Ruochun didn’t mind. After decades of scientific education, suddenly delving into superstitious beliefs was truly hard to accept.

Under Little Qi’s conflicted gaze, Chu Ruochun fed the transparent talisman water to the child and then requested a set of needles from Old Qi.

As soon as the talisman water was ingested, the child’s body began to tremble.

The child was now completely naked, and Little Qi stood close, his vision not lacking. He could see something moving within the child’s thin veins.

“What is that?” he asked.

“Gu worms,” Chu Ruochun replied. “Do you have raw pork?”

“Yes, there’s fresh pork in the refrigerator, some pork belly.”

“Perfect.”

“Grandpa, you have high blood pressure, didn’t you say you shouldn’t eat pork belly?” Little Qi couldn’t help but speak up.

“I bought it precisely to save a life, don’t nag me,” Old Qi said confidently. “Quick, get the meat!”

“Just a moment,” Chu Ruochun stopped Little Qí. “I might need your help with something, come a bit closer.”

Little Qi approached, and Chu Ruochun leaned in to speak quietly into his ear, away from the prying ears of the cameraman.

After hearing Chu Ruochun’s words, Xiao Qí’s expression turned serious. He nodded, then immediately turned and went into the inner room. When he returned with the pork, he nodded to Chu Ruochun.

“Thank you,” Chu Ruochun said, expressing his gratitude.

“You’re welcome; it’s what I should do,” Little Qi suddenly felt that his profession had become quite meaningful, and his spirit felt different.

Old Qi, on the other hand, was a bit puzzled by their actions. “What riddle are you two playing?”

Little Qi smiled at him.

At this moment, the effects of the talisman water became apparent on the child’s body. Chu Ruochun cut a piece of pork about the size of his thumb, then used a needle to prick it and placed it just under the child’s nose.

In a short while, a white worm, about the size of an embroidery thread, crawled out of the child’s nostril. It burrowed into the pork until its tail fully emerged from the child’s nostril. Chu Ruochun used another needle to pierce the pork, then took out another talisman paper and burned the worm along with the pork, leaving only the dried skin of the worm in the dish. The room was filled with the aroma of cooked pork.

In the past, Old Qi would salivate at the smell of pork belly, but today, the thought of that worm burrowing into the meat killed his appetite.

Little Qi observed his grandfather and couldn’t help but marvel at the situation. He thought, ‘Now, Grandpa will probably think twice before eating pork belly in the future.’

However, for now, Little Qi looked at the plate with only a puddle of oil left and asked, “Is this the gu worm?”

“Yes,” Chu Ruochun answered as he set down the fine needle. He checked the child’s eyelids and added, “This gu worm has been in his body for quite some time.”

The rest of the details didn’t need much explanation. Perhaps it was the enticing aroma of the pork belly, but the child gradually woke up and even moved his nostrils slightly.

He may have not spoken for a long time, or perhaps he was simply overwhelmed by the situation, but he opened his mouth and nothing came out.

Chu Ruochun gently placed his hand on the child’s forehead and reassured, “Little one, don’t be afraid, you’re safe now.” He gestured for the child to keep quiet by placing a finger to his lips.

The stranger’s warm hand and friendly smile were so comforting that the frail child burst into silent tears, his tears flowing uncontrollably.

Outside, the couple was still waiting, unaware that the child had awakened. They were quietly blaming each other for not taking better care of their child.

Suddenly, several plainclothes police officers rushed into the traditional Chinese medicine shop and quickly subdued the couple.

“Police! Don’t move!”

The couple turned pale, and their previous aggressive demeanor was completely subdued by the police.

In the morning, Chu Ruochun hadn’t paid much attention to the couple; he had only glanced at the child’s condition. However, now, after carefully observing the couple, he realized that there were too many suspicious circumstances. The couple, who appeared to be dangerous and desperate, couldn’t possibly have given birth to a child with such a prosperous destiny. Furthermore, their decision to return to the Chinese medicine shop and cause a scene instead of taking the child to the hospital raised many questions. Coupled with the couple’s appearances, Chu Ruochun understood that they were human traffickers.

While Little Qi went to get the pork belly, Chu Ruochun had also asked him to take photos of the couple and report them to the police.

When Chu Ruochun and Old Qi came out with the child, they saw a familiar face, Zhang Dongliang.

Zhang Dongliang was surprised for a moment but quickly regained his composure.

Chu Ruochun smiled and said, “Captain Zhang, long time no see.”

Captain Zhang sighed, “Indeed, it’s been a while.”

In reality, it hadn’t been that long since they last met.

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