Chapter 3: The Divine Physician Villager, Exposing the True Colors

"Chu Yan, for someone who is the president of the Chu Group, your judgment is surprisingly poor. If word of this gets back to the company, how can anyone trust you to run it?"

"Cousin, it's one thing to turn to anyone in desperation, but you should have at least found an older, reliable doctor! This kid is obviously a fraud. By letting him treat Grandfather, are you trying to kill him?"

The middle-aged woman, Zheng Lijuan, and her daughter, Chu Yuting, threw these mocking accusations at Chu Yan. They painted her as unfit to run the company due to her poor judgment, and accused her of bringing in a charlatan to harm her own grandfather.

Jiang Chen had not expected Chu Yan's relationship with her second uncle's family to be this hostile. It was obvious they envied her position as the president of the Chu Group and wanted to replace her.

"I know Grandfather's condition better than anyone," Chu Yan said. She did not lose her temper. Instead, she radiated a powerful, commanding aura, speaking with sharp rationality. "His master is the old divine physician who saved Grandfather's life years ago, and his medical skills are no weaker than his master's!"

"If my judgment were poor, the Chu Group would have gone under long ago. Have you ever received a single penny less from the company's profits?"

"If older doctors were all reliable, Grandfather would have been cured by now! Anyone in this family might want to harm Grandfather, but not me. Because if Grandfather falls, I will be the next one targeted!"

Hearing Chu Yan's words, the faces of Chu Lihan, Zheng Lijuan, and Chu Yuting turned sour. She made it sound as though they were trying to murder the old man to seize power from her.

Jiang Chen silently admired her. As expected of the Chu Group's president, Chu Yan remained calm and composed even with her grandfather lying on his deathbed.

Chu Yan then turned to Jiang Chen and said, "Apologies for the family drama. Please, you must cure my grandfather!"

"Don't worry, leave it to me," Jiang Chen nodded and walked toward Elder Chu's bed.

"Wait!"

Chu Lihan blocked Jiang Chen's path, demanding coldly, "Chu Yan claims you are the disciple of the divine physician. What proof do you have?"

"What proof do you want?" Jiang Chen asked calmly.

"I remember the old man saying he made a marriage alliance with the old divine physician, promising Chu Yan to his disciple!" Chu Lihan, believing he had found a loophole, held out his hand. "Since you're his disciple, where is the marriage contract?"

Jiang Chen couldn't help but look at Chu Yan. The contract was in her hands; he would let her decide whether to show it.

Chu Yan knew that if she did not prove Jiang Chen's identity, Chu Lihan would keep making excuses.

"The marriage contract is here. You should recognize Grandfather's handwriting," Chu Yan said, handing the letter to Chu Lihan.

Chu Lihan took it and inspected it. Finding it to be genuine, he immediately began to nitpick. "Even if he is the disciple of the divine physician, his medical skills might not be any good. He probably only learned the basics!"

"I have already pulled some strings to invite the divine physician, Li Xuanming, to treat the old man. He should be arriving any minute! Dr. Li's medical skills are famous nationwide, far superior to some so-called old divine physician!"

Chu Yan looked at Chu Lihan in surprise. She knew of Li Xuanming's reputation—he was often called a modern-day Hua Tuo. She had been unable to contact him herself, so she had not expected Chu Lihan to have such connections.

"Li Xuanming? Isn't he from my village?" Jiang Chen murmured, slightly surprised. "He used to ask me for medical advice all the time and wanted to be my apprentice. I only taught him some medical skills, but I never agreed to take him as a disciple."

It seemed Li Xuanming had done quite well for himself after leaving Taoyuan Village.

"Impudent! Who do you think you are?" Chu Lihan barked angrily. "Worthy of teaching Dr. Li? Asking to be your apprentice? If you dare spout such nonsense again, I'll rip your mouth apart!"

He then snapped at Chu Yan, "Chu Yan, if you don't want to offend Dr. Li, call off the engagement and tell this brat to get lost. Otherwise, if Dr. Li gets angry and refuses to treat the old man, you will be the one to blame!"

Chu Yan narrowed her eyes and re-evaluated Jiang Chen. It sounded a bit far-fetched, but she believed in trusting the person she chose to employ. She ignored Chu Lihan's warning.

"Jiang Chen, don't feel pressured. Focus entirely on treating my grandfather. My promise still stands!"

"Chu Yan, do you know what you're saying? Can you bear the consequences of this?" Chu Lihan was furious. Chu Yan actually dared to ignore him.

"I will bear whatever consequences there are. If Grandfather were awake, I believe he would also let the divine physician's disciple treat him!" Chu Yan said resolutely, signaling Jiang Chen to proceed. She would back him up.

Jiang Chen pushed the blocking Chu Lihan aside, stepped to the bedside, and took Elder Chu's pulse. His brow furrowed.

The old man's face was pale, his eyes closed in pain, looking so weak he seemed on the verge of death.

Jiang Chen quickly retrieved his silver needles and, swift as lightning, inserted them into various acupoints on the old man's body.

*Splat!*

Elder Chu suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood. Jiang Chen, quick-witted and fast-handed, caught it all with a nearby towel.

"Grandfather!"

"Father!"

Chu Yan and Chu Lihan cried out in shock.

"You bastard! You quack, are you trying to kill my father?" Chu Lihan roared, throwing a punch at Jiang Chen's face.

Jiang Chen caught Chu Lihan's fist and shoved the blood-stained towel in front of his face. "Open your eyes and look closely. The blood is black and smells foul. Elder Chu has been poisoned!"

Chu Lihan caught a whiff of the intense stench and gagged. He retreated, covering his nose and mouth to keep his distance.

Chu Yan now fully believed in Jiang Chen's medical skills. No wonder so many Western and Chinese doctors couldn't cure her grandfather. It wasn't an illness; it was poison!

"Nonsense! The whole family eats the same food. Why aren't we poisoned?" Chu Lihan questioned again. "My father was fine just now, but as soon as you pricked him with needles, he spat blood. There must be something wrong with your needles... Yes, you poisoned him!"

"Now I understand why the president of the Chu Group is Chu Yan and not you," Jiang Chen shook his head and sighed. "It's because you have no brains. If you were in charge of the company, it would definitely go bankrupt."

"You..." Chu Lihan was so angry he could spit blood. He turned to Chu Yan. "Chu Yan, do you believe him or me?"

"I believe him," Chu Yan replied without hesitation.

"I am your second uncle!" Chu Lihan roared, his face flushed red.

"He is my fiancé," Chu Yan replied matter-of-factly.

Chu Lihan completely broke down on the spot.

Just then, the family guards escorted the divine physician, Li Xuanming, into the room.

Li Xuanming was a white-haired elder, yet his spirit and energy seemed even better than the middle-aged Chu Lihan.

"Dr. Li, you've arrived at the perfect time!" Chu Lihan rushed to greet Li Xuanming respectfully, pointing at Jiang Chen with hatred. "This fraud tried to poison my father. Please, cure my father quickly and expose this charlatan's true colors!"

Li Xuanming looked in the direction Chu Lihan was pointing. His eyes widened in shock and joy.

This was... the Village Chief?!

Li Xuanming never expected that he would meet the chief of Taoyuan Village—the very man who had taught him medicine—here at the Chu residence!