**"He Jiarong, what are you doing?!"** Zhang Xun glared fiercely at Lin Yu.
**"Jiarong!"**
His mother-in-law, Li Suqin, quickly tugged at Lin Yu's sleeve. Even though she held a mid-level position and her husband was a deputy director, they were nowhere near Deng Chengbin's level. Provoking him was out of the question.
**"Ah, Brother He!"**
To everyone's surprise, Deng Chengbin's face lit up with delight when he saw Lin Yu. He hurried over and said, **"What a coincidence running into you here! I was actually planning to visit you in the next few days. The medicine you prescribed last time worked wonders—just two days in, and I already feel like a new man."**
Deng Chengbin grinned and gave Lin Yu a thumbs-up.
Everyone in the private room was stunned, exchanging bewildered glances. Since when had this good-for-nothing He Jiarong befriended the deputy director of the Health Bureau? And they seemed to be on familiar terms.
**"Since Brother He is here, I'll gladly give up this room for him. Please continue your meal. As an apology for my earlier rudeness, I'll punish myself with a drink."** Deng Chengbin poured himself a glass of liquor, raised it to the group, and downed it in one go.
Then he patted Lin Yu on the shoulder and said, **"Brother He, come join us upstairs later. I actually have a favor to ask."**
**"Of course, I'll head over soon."**
Deng Chengbin had shown him great respect, so Lin Yu couldn't refuse.
After Deng Chengbin left, the entire room's attitude toward Lin Yu shifted dramatically.
**"Ah, brother-in-law, so you know our boss? Why didn't you say so earlier?"**
Zhang Xun immediately switched to a fawning tone, raising his glass as he approached. **"I spoke out of turn earlier. Don't take it to heart. I'll punish myself with this drink."**
He tipped his head back and emptied his glass.
**"By the way, our bureau has three 'Advanced Worker' slots this quarter, and Director Deng has the final say. Do you think you could put in a good word for me later?"**
Zhang Xun hunched slightly, his face plastered with an ingratiating smile.
**"A guy like me, without even a college diploma, probably can't help with something so important."** Lin Yu kept his eyes on his food, not even glancing up.
Zhang Xun laughed awkwardly, momentarily at a loss for words.
**"Jiarong, we're all family here. No need for formalities. Your aunt was wrong earlier. If you can help your brother-in-law with this, your aunt, uncle, and sister will be forever grateful."**
Even Jiang Yan's aunt softened her previously sharp tone, adopting a pleading manner.
**"Mom, what do you think? Should I help or not?"** Lin Yu suddenly turned to Li Suqin and asked.
Li Suqin's spirits lifted instantly. She had been feeling stifled throughout the meal, but now she finally had a chance to hold her head high.
Flattered that her son-in-law had deferred to her, she sat up straighter and shot Jiang Yan's aunt a pointed look. **"Well, since we're family, Jiarong, if you can help, you should. It's not like your aunt is the kind of person who'd forget a favor."**
She emphasized the last sentence deliberately, while Jiang Yan's aunt forced a smile and stayed silent.
Lin Yu agreed to the request. As he stood to leave, he glanced at Jiang Yan and noticed her icy expression had softened slightly, though she still looked aloof.
This was the first time in nearly two years of marriage that her useless husband had actually done her proud.
Upstairs, Deng Chengbin personally greeted Lin Yu. The private room was already full. Deng Chengbin first introduced the middle-aged man seated at the center.
**"Brother He, this is Director Wei Gongxun of Qinghai City's Health and Public Security Bureau."**
**"Director Wei."** Lin Yu nodded politely.
**"Director Wei, this is the young miracle doctor I told you about—He Jiarong. If it weren't for him the other day, my niece wouldn't have made it. I think he's more than qualified to take a look at the old master's condition."** Deng Chengbin proudly introduced Lin Yu.
**"He really is young."** Wei Gongxun chuckled and nodded at Lin Yu, though inwardly he felt a pang of disappointment. Deng Chengbin had promised to introduce a highly accomplished miracle doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, but this kid looked barely out of diapers.
**"Director Wei, don't let Brother He's age fool you. He's incredibly skilled."** Deng Chengbin enthusiastically vouched for Lin Yu.
**"Well then, young man, why don't you diagnose me first? See if I have any ailments."** Wei Gongxun extended his wrist, smiling at Lin Yu with a hint of challenge in his eyes.
**"Director Deng flatters me. I've only dabbled in traditional Chinese medicine."** Though Lin Yu spoke modestly, his fingers were already on Wei Gongxun's pulse.
**"Director Wei is in excellent health—no major issues. Just slightly high blood pressure, but it's nothing serious. Just drink in moderation."**
**"Ah, such impressive medical skills! At my age, I'd bet ten out of ten people have high blood pressure."** Wei Gongxun laughed heartily, his sarcasm unmistakable.
**"Hahahaha!"**
The others in the room joined in the laughter.
**"While Director Wei is healthy, your wife must be suffering from frequent dizziness, fatigue, and soreness in her lower back and legs. Even in the height of summer, she wouldn't sweat a drop, even bundled in a winter coat."**
Lin Yu remained unruffled and continued calmly.
**"How did you know?!"** Wei Gongxun's expression shifted abruptly, and the laughter in the room died instantly.
**"Your wife has an extreme cold constitution. After spending so much time with her, you've absorbed some of that energy."**
**"Can you treat it?"** Wei Gongxun's voice trembled slightly.
He and his wife had been deeply in love for thirty years. But for the past three years, her condition had worsened, and despite consulting countless doctors and trying numerous medications, nothing had helped.
**"Yes, and I can cure it completely. But it'll take time."** Lin Yu spoke with confidence.
**"Young man, if you can heal my wife, you'll have my eternal gratitude. Let me toast you!"** Wei Gongxun raised his glass and drained it in one go.
**"See, Director Wei? Didn't I tell you? Brother He is a miracle worker. Let him take a look at the old master's condition."** Deng Chengbin beamed with pride. His recommendations never disappointed.
**"Brother He, are you free tomorrow? I'll send someone—no, I'll come personally to pick you up and take you to examine my father-in-law."** Wei Gongxun now addressed Lin Yu as "Brother He," thoroughly impressed after Lin Yu had accurately diagnosed his wife's condition.
**"What's the old master suffering from?"** Lin Yu inquired.
**"The symptoms are straightforward—migraines. Each episode lasts no more than half an hour, but those thirty minutes are sheer agony. We've consulted countless specialists, but nothing has worked. Not even the slightest relief."**
Wei Gongxun's expression darkened. In his fifty-plus years, he'd never seen migraines this severe.
This was why he'd arranged tonight's dinner with Deng Chengbin—to see if his connections could turn up any specialists. If not, they'd have to seek treatment abroad.
**"I'll examine the old master tomorrow before making any judgments."** Without seeing the patient, Lin Yu didn't dare jump to conclusions.
**"Brother He, you're about to strike it rich. Do you know who Director Wei's father-in-law is? Zheng Jiacheng—the Zheng family patriarch! The old master has offered ten million for a cure!"** Deng Chengbin clapped Lin Yu on the shoulder, barely containing his excitement.
**"Zheng Jiacheng?"**
Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat. Zheng Jiacheng was a titan of Qinghai's business world, an automotive magnate who reportedly owned over half the city's 4S dealerships.
**"If you can cure my father, money won't be an issue."** Wei Gongxun smiled warmly.
Ten million! Lin Yu felt as if the clouds had parted. Finally, he could settle his debt with Huang Mao.
When the dinner ended, Lin Yu mentioned Zhang Xun's situation to Deng Chengbin. Without hesitation, Deng Chengbin pulled Lin Yu downstairs and barked at Zhang Xun, **"You! Submit an Advanced Worker application to my office tomorrow."**
**"Thank you, Director! Thank you!"**
Zhang Xun bowed repeatedly, effusive with gratitude. After seeing Deng Chengbin off, he personally escorted Lin Yu and Jiang Yan's family out. Jiang Yan's aunt, too, wore a smile now, showering Li Suqin and Jiang Jingren with praise for their excellent son-in-law.
Tonight's events had satisfied Li Suqin's vanity immensely. Never had she imagined this useless son-in-law could one day make her so proud.
**"Jiarong, since when do you know the deputy director of the Health Bureau? I had no idea!"** Li Suqin asked eagerly.
**"He came to the clinic for treatment. We only met a few days ago. Jiang Yan was there too. I helped him with a small favor, so he's polite to me now."** Lin Yu deliberately downplayed their connection.
**"Oh."** Li Suqin's enthusiasm waned. She'd hoped her son-in-law had climbed the social ladder, but it seemed their acquaintance was recent and superficial.
The next morning, Wei Gongxun personally picked Lin Yu up. After a half-hour drive, they arrived at Qinghai's most exclusive luxury neighborhood—a collection of sprawling four-story villas surrounded by lush lawns, greenery, and water features, like miniature estates.
Upstairs, Wei Gongxun's brother-in-law, Zheng Shifan, had already arrived—and brought along a young man about Lin Yu's age, carrying a black-gray medical case emblazoned with three characters: **Ji Shi Tang - Hall of Healing the World).**
**"Are you from the Ling'an Song Family's Ji Shi Tang?"**
Seeing the name, Lin Yu was slightly taken aback. His college TCM professor had often spoken of Ji Shi Tang with deep admiration, even calling it **"the backbone of traditional Chinese medicine's revival."**
**"Correct."** The young man's tone was cold. As one of Ji Shi Tang's top talents, he had every right to be aloof.
**"An honor. My name is Lin—er, He Jiarong."** Excited to meet someone from Ji Shi Tang, Lin Yu extended his hand for a handshake.
**"Song Zheng."**
The young man gave Lin Yu a dismissive glance and ignored his outstretched hand. Lin Yu awkwardly withdrew it.
**"Brother-in-law, what brings you here today? And who is this?"** Zheng Shifan asked Wei Gongxun.
**"This is the miracle doctor I invited to examine Father—Dr. He."** Wei Gongxun deliberately elevated Lin Yu's status, unimpressed by Song Zheng's arrogance.
**"Hah, no need for that. With someone from Ji Shi Tang here, there's no call for outsiders."** Zheng Shifan wasn't looking down on Lin Yu—it's just that with Ji Shi Tang's expert present, no one else was necessary.
**"Steward, fetch 100,000 yuan for the young man's trouble. No—since he's my brother-in-law's guest, make it 200,000."** Zheng Shifan instructed the old steward.
**"Shifan, let's not be hasty. Since Brother He is here, let him take a look. What if even your Ji Shi Tang miracle worker is stumped?"** Wei Gongxun's tone carried a hint of displeasure.
Privately, he hoped Lin Yu could cure his father-in-law—it would reflect well on him in front of the entire family.
**"Unnecessary. Send him away. I've already studied Elder Zheng's condition. I'm ninety percent confident I can treat it."** Song Zheng's voice brimmed with self-assurance.