Dashing Student

"Elder, please calm down first." Zhou Long's broad palm firmly pressed on Mr. Zhang's shoulder, a reassuring smile on his face. "I can guarantee with my life that Doctor Chen's medical skills are absolutely reliable."

"If you rush in now, it will only harm the old lady."

His gaze was resolutely fixed on the consultation room—Chen Nan's slender fingers were pinching a silver needle, its tip glimmering like stars in the morning light.

"Nonsense!" Mr. Zhang trembled with anger, his withered hand striking his cane onto the ground with a thud, startling the sparrows under the eaves into flight. "If anything happens to my old companion..."

The old man's voice suddenly choked, murky tears rolling down his wrinkled face. "I won't forgive you all even as a ghost!"

Inside the consultation room, Chen Nan turned a deaf ear to the commotion outside.

His fingertips flicked lightly, and nine silver needles flew like flowing light, piercing accurately into the vital points on the old lady's chest.

The needles vibrated gently, emitting a faint buzzing sound.

"Oh my heavens!" Aunt Wang, carrying a vegetable basket, covered her mouth in shock, the eggs within her basket rolling to the ground and breaking.

Beside her, Blacksmith Li's eyes widened like brass bells, his rough hand unconsciously clutching at his jacket.

In that deathly silence, the old lady on the bed suddenly let out a faint hum.

Under the gaze of dozens of eyes, her ashen face visibly regained color—like deadwood encountering spring, dry land suddenly receiving sweet rain.

Her blue-tinged lips gradually turned rosy, and her furrowed brows relaxed.

"Old companion?!" Mr. Zhang's cane clattered to the ground.

The old man staggered to the bedside, his trembling hand touching his wife's cheek, feeling a long-lost warmth.

Even more astonishing, the old lady propped herself up, speaking robustly, "How strange! Just now it felt like a knife twisting inside..."

She patted her chest heavily, frightening the onlookers into gasps. "Now there's absolutely nothing wrong!"

The scene fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone looked at Chen Nan with eyes full of undisguised amazement.

It was clear that nobody had expected this young man to possess such life-saving medical skills.

Even witnessing it with their own eyes, it felt surreal.

Mr. Zhang was the first to recover, his wrinkled face flushed a deep red.

He shakily tidied his faded clothes, bowing deeply to Chen Nan, his graying hair almost touching the floor. "Young doctor, this old fool failed to recognize greatness..."

The old man's voice choked, his withered fingers tightly gripping his garment. "Please... please forgive me..."

"Concern leads to confusion, it's human nature." Chen Nan smiled as he helped the old man up, his fingers lightly supporting the old man's elbow, delivering a warm current through his body.

Chen Nan's wrist turned lightly, and the nine silver needles returned to his palm like homing swallows, not a trace of blood on their tips.

Mr. Zhang nervously rubbed his hands, cautiously asking, "Young doctor, the consultation fee..."

Before the words were out, the onlookers held their breath unconsciously, dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on Chen Nan's lips.

Although Chen Nan had proven his medical skills, the price he set would determine if the onlookers would seek his treatment.

"One dollar per needle." Chen Nan placed the silver needles into the deer skin needle pouch, his tone as casual as discussing the weather.

"What?" Mr. Zhang's face, spotted with age, was filled with confusion. His slack eyelids blinked hard.

The onlookers exchanged glances, some literate ones even counting on their fingers, afraid they had heard wrong.

Chen Nan was amused by their reactions, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his eyes. "Just give me nine dollars!"

"Nine... nine dollars?!" Blacksmith Li's eyes almost popped out.

Aunt Wang's vegetable basket dropped with a clang, all the newly bought eggs breaking.

Gasps rose from the crowd, some elderly even rubbed their eyes, doubting their hearing.

In an era where seeing a doctor for a simple cold could cost hundreds of dollars, a young doctor who just snatched a life from the jaws of death was only charging nine dollars?

"Nine... nine dollars?"

"That's... not even enough for some herbs!"

"Doctor Zhao charges fifty dollars just for a headache..."

The crowd erupted.

"Nine dollars? That can't buy a roast chicken!"

"Isn't this a scam? Charging extra later?"

"Young doctor, didn't you misspeak by a zero?"

Chen Nan smiled without speaking, gently shaking his head.

Mr. Zhang stood dazed, his age-spotted hands trembling as he pulled out a faded handkerchief bundle from his chest.

Carefully, he unwrapped three layers to reveal wrinkled bills—some five dollar and one dollar notes, and a few coppery coins.

"This... how embarrassing..." the old man's voice choked, his withered fingers rummaging through the loose change. "You saved my wife's life, and only charged this little..."

Chen Nan gently took one five-dollar note and four coins from the old man's hand, pushing the rest back. "A deal's a deal—nine dollars."

"Boom—"

The crowd erupted again.

"He really just charged nine dollars!"

"Amazing! A doctor like this in today's age?"

"I'll bring my mom here tomorrow for treatment!"

Clearly, Chen Nan not only proved his medical skill but also won everyone over with his character!

Mr. Zhang supported his wife and, trembling, tried to kneel again, but Chen Nan held him up. "Elder, saving lives is a doctor's duty. No need for this!"

The old man choked, unable to speak, bowing repeatedly.

The old lady lifted her hem to wipe her tears, muttering, "A living Bodhisattva... such a Bodhisattva..."

After this life-saving event, the reputation of the Health Care Hall spread swiftly like spring wind through the old town's streets and alleys.

Over tea and meals, neighbors eagerly discussed the young miracle doctor.

"Did you hear? That young man on East Street, a few needles, and he brought old Mrs. Zhang back from the brink!"

"Absolutely, I saw it myself. His acupuncture skills are extraordinary!"

"The best part is he only charged nine dollars. That is true benevolence!"

Health Care Hall's fame soared.

Chen Nan's patients arrived in unending streams, making him feel stretched thin, but he greatly enjoyed this busy state.

Even though in a day, his consultation fees couldn't match even one medication price from Huichun Hall across the street.

Each furrowed brow he saw relax, each sincere "Thank you, doctor," brought a warmth to his chest, more invigorating than any miraculous pill!

Unbeknownst to him.

This growing popularity successfully incited resentment from other medical halls...