Qiao Ying: "Would you like something to drink?"
Shangguan Qingmu: "No need to play host, we're all rough people here without too many niceties. If we're thirsty we'll just help ourselves to water."
Seeing it was Qiao Ying, Shangguan Qingmu felt assured inside since he could still shamelessly ask Qin Hanyue for help if need be.
Qiao Ying: "Sit."
As Shangguan Qingmu watched Qiao Ying casually sit down on the sofa, he froze briefly. When he said no need to play host, that was just politeness. He didn't expect this young lady would take it so literally, not even pouring a cup of water. However, her straightforwardness suited his taste, and he also greatly admired Qiao Ying's fearless courage.
Shangguan Qingmu sat down. "Just as I said, anyone able to get along well with Young Master Qin can't be ordinary. I didn't expect Miss Qiao's family to have such accomplishments in medicine."
It's just, if they were that incredible, how come he had never heard of them before?
As he spoke, Shangguan Qingmu glanced upstairs, "Might I ask Miss Qiao to please invite her family member down to take a look at Instructor Hou?"
Seeing that Shangguan Qingmu had misunderstood, Older Ming was about to explain to him.
But Qiao Ying asked Instructor Hou, "Which troop were you with before, Instructor Hou?"
Why was she suddenly asking this?
Shangguan Qingmu and Instructor Hou couldn't help but exchange a glance.
Instructor Hou did not answer. After a moment of awkward silence, Shangguan Qingmu answered for him, "Hellfire Special Forces."
His tone also became more serious.
Instructor Hou's brows furrowed slightly. He wanted to tell Shangguan Qingmu about what happened with Sack earlier in the day. He was very curious about the identity of Sack's boss—that is, Qiao Ying. Now that Qiao Ying was asking about his background, Instructor Hou couldn't guess her intentions and became suspicious, needing to be on guard.
Qiao Ying nodded slightly. "Not bad."
Hua Country's strongest and most ferocious elite troops. Ordinary special forces still couldn't compare. No wonder Sack said that if not for Instructor Hou's old injury, there was no way he could have beaten him.
Shangguan Qingmu: "Oh? Miss Qiao knows about this?"
Qiao Ying laughed. "I know a little."
She reached for the things in Instructor Hou's hands. "Let me take a look."
After thinking about it, Instructor Hou handed over the pile of x-rays and checkup reports he had accumulated to Qiao Ying.
Qiao Ying took the films and looked them over.
Older Ming walked over and explained Instructor Hou's condition to her in detail.
Seeing this, Shangguan Qingmu and Instructor Hou looked at each other again.
It was obvious they still didn't quite understand what was going on.
Just then, Older Ming asked Qiao Ying, "How is it, can you treat it?"
This made the two men even more confused.
Finally, Shangguan Qingmu couldn't hold back. "Miss Qiao, could you please invite your elder down to take a look at Instructor Hou's arm?"
Older Ming finally had a chance to speak. "General Shangguan, Miss Qiao is the doctor I mentioned who is more skilled than I am."
There was silence for a few seconds.
Shangguan Qingmu laughed. "Old Ming you do have quite the sense of humor."
Older Ming: "I'm not joking, and I haven't become muddle-headed from old age either. Everything I said is true. If you don't believe me General, you can go ask Principal Zhang, or ask Young Master Qin."
Since the incident of Elder Qin being poisoned was confidential, Older Ming couldn't tell them about it. It was Qiao Ying who had saved Elder Qin's life.
Another silence descended, cooling for quite some time.
Shangguan Qingmu and Instructor Hou kept exchanging looks, then looking at the petite Qiao Ying, still feeling that Older Ming must be joking.
After seeing Qiao Ying, they had thought she was Qiao Ying's grandfather, or great-grandfather.
It turned out to be Qiao Ying herself?!
A teenage girl who was proficient in both Western medicine and Chinese medicine at the same time. Wouldn't she have had to start learning from the womb to master all that, having started learning it in her last life?!
Even these two veterans who had seen their share of the world were having some trouble digesting this information.
After looking over the films, Qiao Ying casually placed them back on the table.
She said, "It's treatable. The delayed treatment means missing the optimal treatment window. Although a full recovery to pre-injury status isn't possible, restoring 80-90% to let you return to service shouldn't be a problem."
As soon as Qiao Ying spoke, everyone was shocked.
80-90%?
She made it sound too full of confidence. After getting over their astonishment, Shangguan Qingmu and Instructor Hou didn't actually have much faith inside. But Older Ming deeply believed her words.
Older Ming happily rejoiced for Instructor Hou, "Wonderful! I knew Miss Qiao could certainly treat it."
Even without faith inside, Qiao Ying's words about letting him return to service still made Instructor Hou momentarily lose his composure.
"Are you serious?" His dark complexion flushed red with excitement.
"Of course. But my medical fees are very high," Qiao Ying lightly said.
Shangguan Qingmu came back to his senses. "If you really can treat it, name your price, I'll pay whatever amount."
Yet Qiao Ying said, "I'm not lacking money."
Shangguan Qingmu asked, "Then what do you mean?"
Qiao Ying thought for a bit. "Connections."
Instructor Hou asked, "What does that mean?"
Qiao Ying said, "Give me connections with you two."
Shangguan Qingmu said, "I don't understand."
Qiao Ying explained, "You both have special identities and backgrounds. Connections with you two are more valuable than money. I asked earlier which troop Instructor Hou was with before just to gauge if he had any value."
Qiao Ying spoke too bluntly. Although it didn't sound very nice to hear, the sincerity actually put people at ease.
"I don't do unprofitable deals. Treating an arm in exchange for connections with you two, or for two valuable friends, means I don't lose out."
A Hellfire troop member and an army commander—having them around might prove useful someday.
Qiao Ying didn't like making friends, but occasionally making some useful friends who also weren't clingy didn't feel troublesome.
Shangguan Qingmu fell silent.
The medical fee was reasonable if agreed to, quite easy to provide in fact. But if not agreed to, he really didn't dare rashly consent.
It depended what Qiao Ying wanted.
It had to be said, with this open-ended condition, the possibilities were endless!
Shangguan Qingmu said, "With Young Master Qin's towering presence by Miss Qiao's side, I'd think small trees like us aren't needed."
Qiao Ying replied, "The more trees for shade the better. What forest would think they have too many trees?"
Shangguan Qingmu couldn't help sighing, "Of all the people I've met, Miss Qiao is only the second genius I admire."
The first one was, of course, that disappeared cryptographic genius.
Possessing extraordinarily mature calmness far beyond her peers, whether it was capabilities, courage, or insights, she simply wasn't on the same level as others her age.
Qiao Ying said, "You can investigate my background. Instructor Hou is suspicious and doesn't trust me, he can try trusting Qin Hanyue first."
Qiao Ying saw through what was in Instructor Hou's mind without him realizing.
Shangguan Qingmu said, "Without understanding Miss Qiao's circumstances, I really can't trust you. But I can try trusting Qin Hanyue first. Since that's the case, the medical fee is settled as discussed."
Shangguan Qingmu thought to himself: Befriending a talent like her, who knows who would take advantage of whom later on?
After settling the fee, Qiao Ying began needling treatment on Instructor Hou.
Watching Qiao Ying perform acupuncture was a rare spectacle. Older Ming and his apprentice observed attentively at the side to earnestly learn.
After several needles, Instructor Hou broke out in a full body sweat. He couldn't say whether it was from pain or some other reason causing this reaction.
Older Ming had needled him so many times before but this kind of situation had never happened.
At this time Instructor Hou also knew that Older Ming wasn't exaggerating. Qiao Ying truly was skilled, and his arm might really be saved.
Instructor Hou's internal excitement gradually showed on his face.
After over half an hour, Qiao Ying removed the needles.
Shangguan Qingmu asked, "What's the situation?"
Instructor Hou lifted his arm, rotated his shoulder, then firmly nodded his head. The shoulder that had painful difficulties moving for years markedly alleviated far too much. The effect was instant.
Seeing Instructor Hou's reaction, Shangguan Qingmu's heart involuntarily cried out in surprise. His gaze toward Qiao Ying also changed.
In the end, you still had to witness it with your own eyes before fully believing.
Older Ming didn't stint on his praise either.
Qiao Ying wrote a prescription for Older Ming and scheduled the next needling session, then prepared to see the guests out.
Shangguan Qingmu asked, "Miss Qiao, may I ask how far your relationship with Young Master Qin has developed?"
Qiao Ying gave him a look.
Shangguan Qingmu said in earnest: "It's been half a year already. Shouldn't there be some development by now? If you two have genuine feelings for each other, then I wish you well. But if not, I'd like to plead my son's case."
"Check your schedule and let me know when you have time. I'll bring my son over to meet you."
Qiao Ying: "I don't have time. No need to meet."
