RNP Chapter 4: The Birthday Banquet - Showing Off the Divine Needle
Chapter 4: The Birthday Banquet - Showing Off the Divine Needle
Chapter Four: The Birthday Banquet - Showing Off the Divine Needle
The Su family's birthday celebration was a grand affair, with guests gathering in a lively and festive atmosphere. Chen Shanhe was invited to the banquet to lend his support.
He possesses the miraculous acupuncture skills passed down from his ancestors, and can identify toxins and old ailments. His true medical skills far surpass those of ordinary doctors.
At the birthday banquet, villains came to force him into marriage, pressing him relentlessly. The old man's old ailment suddenly flared up, causing him unbearable pain, which gave the opportunity to let him perform acupuncture in public and show off his power.
First paragraph
The Su family compound was brightly decorated and filled with guests, as it was the 80th birthday of the old man, Su Zhenshan.
The vermilion gate was wide open, red silk hung high, and firecracker debris covered the ground, exuding joy everywhere.
The courtyard was packed with relatives and fellow villagers, former employees of the aquatic products factory, and local celebrities, all of whom came to offer their birthday wishes.
The tables and chairs were packed full, and fruits, tea, and snacks were all available. The place was bustling with activity and lively atmosphere.
Su Wanjing, dressed in a light pink dress, stood beside the old man, her makeup dignified, but her brows were full of tension.
Her fingertips clenched slightly, knowing full well that this birthday banquet was destined to be fraught with turmoil.
Soon, a commotion arose at the entrance, and Wu Yanchou, along with Wu Xinggui and Li Juan, swaggered into the courtyard.
With a forced smile, Wu Yanchou, carrying two small gifts, loudly congratulated, "Uncle Su, wishing you a long and healthy birthday! I, Wu, have come especially to offer my birthday wishes!"
Wu Xinggui followed behind, his gaze lewd, scanning Su Wanjing up and down, making no attempt to hide his lust.
Li Juan, dressed in a flamboyant manner, stood close to Wu Xinggui, her face beaming with pride, deliberately positioning herself in a prominent spot in the crowd.
The three men appeared to be celebrating a birthday, but their aggressive demeanor was obvious to everyone, who began to whisper among themselves.
Su Zhenshan's expression remained indifferent; he merely nodded faintly, showing no enthusiasm whatsoever, and said in a distant tone, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Su Wanjing's heart sank, realizing that the Wu family father and son had come to force a marriage and seize the Su family's assets, and were definitely not there simply to celebrate a birthday.
She glanced at Chen Shanhe not far away. He was dressed simply, but his posture was upright and his aura was undeniable, even standing in the corner.
Overnight, this former country boy became the most reliable support in her heart.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wu Yanqiu got straight to the point, deliberately raising his voice so that everyone could hear: "Uncle Su, Wanjing is of marriageable age, and my Xinggui is deeply in love with her."
"Why not arrange a marriage between the two families? It would strengthen ties and provide support for the Su family's businesses, making it a powerful alliance."
As soon as he finished speaking, the whole room erupted in uproar, and everyone whispered among themselves, knowing that this was Wu Yanchou's scheme to annex the territory.
Second paragraph
Su Zhenshan's face darkened, and he was about to refuse when Su Wanjing stepped forward and took Chen Shanhe's arm.
This action instantly attracted everyone's attention, and the noisy courtyard suddenly fell silent.
Su Wanjing's voice was clear and bright, each word distinct, carrying throughout the room: "Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Wu, but you need not trouble yourself with my marriage."
"This is Chen Shanhe, my boyfriend. This is my private matter, and I will make my own decisions."
The entire room fell silent. All eyes turned to Chen Shanhe, a mixture of surprise, doubt, and disdain in their gazes.
Wu Yanchou's fake smile froze instantly, and anger flashed in his eyes. He hadn't expected Su Wanjing to find a poor boy to humiliate him in public.
Wu Xinggui was the first to explode, pointing at Chen Shanhe and sneer, "Boyfriend? Him? You just picked some country bumpkin to use as a shield? Do you think we're fools?"
Li Juan immediately chimed in with a shrill voice, "This is Chen Shanhe. He was dirt poor when he was with me, just an unwanted bastard. Don't be fooled by him!"
Wu Yanchou pressed forward with a stern face, stepping forward and speaking in a threatening tone: "Chen Shanhe, if you know what's good for you, get out of here. You're not one of us, so don't try to deceive us."
The three men took turns mocking Chen Shanhe, belittling him to the point of worthlessness. The surrounding guests also discussed the matter, feeling that the two men were worlds apart in status.
Chen Shanhe remained calm, stepped forward to shield Su Wanjing behind him, and glanced calmly at the three members of the Wu family.
"Mr. Wu, are you really so eager for a marriage alliance that you think everyone here can't see through your intentions?"
"With Director Su and his daughter suffering one misfortune after another, what are you planning to do by rushing into this marriage? Do I need to spell it out for you?"
Wu Yanchou's expression changed drastically, and his eyes flashed with panic for a moment. Chen Shanhe then looked at Wu Xinggui and said sarcastically, "You're with someone else's old acquaintance by your side, and you're still thinking about Director Su. Isn't that absurd?"
The entire room erupted in uproar. People recalled Li Juan and Chen Shanhe's past, and their gazes toward the Wu family were filled with disdain and contempt.
Paragraph
Li Juan's face flushed red and then turned pale, overwhelmed with shame and indignation. She wished she could disappear into the ground and lowered her head, unable to meet the gazes of the crowd.
Chen Shanhe looked at Li Juan, his tone calm but every word piercing: "I don't blame you for choosing someone else because you're materialistic, but you don't need to embarrass yourself here."
Su Wanjing stepped forward, her voice sharp and angry, her aura fully unleashed: "You father and son have plotted to seize property from others; your scheme is cunning. Do you really think the Su family is easy to bully?"
"Wu Xinggui is a swindler, a womanizer, and has a long list of bad deeds. How dare he come to propose marriage? Who gave you the audacity?"
These words left the Wu father and son speechless and utterly humiliated, standing there with their faces ashen.
Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a loud announcement came from outside the door: "The renowned doctor from the provincial capital, Dr. Zhou, has arrived—"
Wu Yanchou's eyes lit up as if he had grasped a lifeline, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
The birthday banquet was in full swing. Su Zhenshan sat in the main seat and chatted with the neighbors. Just as the situation was at a stalemate, Su Zhenshan's old back injury suddenly flared up.
His face turned pale, his back stiffened like a board, his body hunched slightly, and cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.
Su Wanjing quickly helped her grandfather up and asked anxiously, "Grandpa, is your back injury acting up again?"
Su Zhenshan gritted his teeth and nodded, his pain so intense he could hardly speak, his lips trembling slightly.
Guests quickly gathered around, creating an instant tension, while the three members of the Wu family wore expressions of schadenfreude, waiting to see the chaos unfold in the Su family.
Everyone offered their opinions, but no one could do anything. The old man was in excruciating pain with any movement, making it impossible to transport him to the hospital.
Chen Shanhe stepped forward slowly, his gaze steady as he looked at Su Zhenshan: "Old man, this is a chronic back injury with blocked meridians. I can relieve the pain immediately with acupuncture and massage."
He glanced at it and immediately realized that this was not a simple old ailment, but rather, like Su Wanjing, a long-term poisoning by Prunella vulgaris. However, it was not advisable to make a fuss about it at the moment, so he should first stabilize the symptoms with acupuncture.
fourth paragraph
Upon hearing this, everyone looked on with suspicion and shook their heads, thinking that Chen Shanhe was just trying to show off and pretending to know what he didn't.
"What medical skills do you know at such a young age? Don't be reckless."
"Dr. Zhou hasn't arrived yet; we mustn't cause serious harm by treating him haphazardly."
Su Wanjing spoke urgently, raising her voice to her grandfather, "Grandpa, his medical skills are superb! Yesterday, I was critically poisoned, and he saved me with a single acupuncture needle. Please trust him this once!"
Looking into Chen Shanhe's clear and determined eyes, Su Zhenshan endured the excruciating pain and slowly nodded in agreement.
The three members of the Wu family immediately stepped forward to stop and mock him. Wu Xinggui shouted, "A mere brat dares to treat a back injury? Don't paralyze the old man; you won't be able to bear the consequences!"
Li Juan echoed sarcastically, saying, "Some people just love to show off; they have no ability but still want to steal the limelight."
Wu Yanchou shouted angrily, reaching out to shove Chen Shanhe: "How dare you! How dare you touch Old Master Su's body!"
Despite the excruciating pain, Su Zhenshan sternly shouted, his voice authoritative: "Enough! This is a matter for the Su family. When did it become anyone's business to interfere?"
"Everyone, step back. I trust this young man. I will bear any consequences myself; it has nothing to do with anyone else."
The three members of the Wu family retreated to the side, their faces full of resentment, but they dared not disobey the old man's orders.
Chen Shanhe took out his ancestral silver needles, twirled them between his fingertips, and said with a glint of silver light, "Don't worry, old man, with me here, I will make sure you can stand up straight today."
He focused his mind and breath, slightly suspending his wrist, and accurately located the acupuncture points to prepare for acupuncture. All the guests held their breath and waited for the result.
Wu Yanchou stared at the silver needles in Chen Shanhe's hand, a sinister glint in his eyes. The famous doctor from the provincial capital that he had specially invited today was his trump card to deal with Chen Shanhe.
He was certain that Chen Shanhe's medical skills were no match for Old Master Zhou's. He only needed to wait for Old Master Zhou to appear so that he could embarrass Chen Shanhe on the spot and completely extinguish his hopes of settling down in the Su family.
Chen Shanhe remained calm and composed, his silver needles in hand, as steady as a mountain, confident and prepared. A fierce medical duel was about to begin at the birthday banquet.