“Little Ye, how’s the treatment going?”
Li Chunfeng, seeing Ye Qiu pause, asked eagerly.
Ye Qiu replied, “So far, the treatment has gone smoothly. All the shrapnel in Zhu Xiongying’s lungs has been removed, and his life is no longer in danger.”
“As for saving his leg, it depends on the medicinal paste’s effect.”
Hearing this, Zhu Chengyu and Feng Yulian’s faces lit up with joy.
“Doctor Ye, thank you,” Zhu Chengyu said gratefully.
Feng Yulian added, “Director Ye, thank you for treating Xiongying. I don’t know how to thank you enough. Should I kowtow to you?”
She began to kneel.
Ye Qiu quickly stopped her, saying, “Madam Feng, please don’t.”
“Your son is a hero. It’s my honour to treat him.”
“In fact, I’m a warrior too, and I deeply admire your son’s bravery.”
Zhu Chengyu was surprised, asking, “Doctor Ye, you’re a warrior?”
With no outsiders present, Ye Qiu didn’t hide it.
“General Zhu, I serve in the Underworld Palace,” Ye Qiu said.
Zhu Chengyu’s heart jolted. As the general guarding the southwest, he knew what kind of organisation the Underworld Palace was and how extraordinary its warriors were.
His admiration grew.
“Doctor Ye, would you consider coming with me to the southwest?” Zhu Chengyu said, “I can guarantee that within twenty years, you could become a general.”
“Thank you for your kindness, General Zhu,” Ye Qiu politely declined.
He didn’t mention that he was only half a step from becoming a general, a first-class merit holder, and with one more great deed, he could become the youngest general in military history.
Zhu Chengyu pressed on, “Doctor Ye, how about this? If you come with me to the southwest, I’ll find a way to ensure that in thirty years, you’ll reach my rank, a grand general guarding a region…”
“Old Zhu!” Li Chunfeng interrupted, “Stop dreaming.”
“The God of War himself wanted Little Ye to lead the Underworld Palace, and he refused. Do you think he’d go to the backwater southwest with you?”
“Give up your unrealistic fantasies.”
What, the God of War valued Ye Qiu so highly?
Zhu Chengyu was stunned.
If he knew Ye Qiu was Master Ye’s grandson, who knows how shocked he’d be!
Ye Qiu smiled, “Old Li, how did you hear about that?”
Li Chunfeng laughed, “Yesterday, I was checking on Old Tang’s health and overheard him talking to the God of War about it.”
“Little Ye, you were right to refuse the God of War.”
“Throughout history, generals are countless, but few are remembered forever.”
“Focus all your energy on medicine. I believe one day, you’ll become an unparalleled divine physician, your name etched in history, forever immortal.”
Forever immortal?
Why did that sound like a curse?
Ye Qiu knew Li Chunfeng wasn’t cursing him but had high hopes for him.
He nodded slightly.
“That’s my plan,” Ye Qiu said, “I want to be a great doctor and contribute to humanity’s medical advancements.”
Zhu Chengyu immediately apologised, “Sorry, Doctor Ye, I was rash. I just value talent, so…”
“No need to apologise, General Zhu. I understand you’re trying to recruit talent for the nation.”
Ye Qiu continued, “In three hours, we can unwrap Zhu Xiongying’s bandages and check the paste’s effect.”
“Doctor Ye, please sit,” Feng Yulian said, pulling a chair for Ye Qiu and pouring him a glass of water.
“Thank you.”
After sitting, Ye Qiu asked Zhu Chengyu, “General Zhu, I heard your son was injured saving a comrade during a mine-clearing mission. Are there many landmines in the southwest?”
“Yes,” Zhu Chengyu said, “Doctor Ye, you may not know, but during the war years, our country and its neighbours buried millions of landmines along the border.”
“Though most have been cleared, some remain in deep forests and mountains. Many old soldiers forgot where they were placed, leaving them uncleared.”
“These mines are like invisible demons. Farmers gathering firewood or herbs can step on them, losing limbs or lives.”
“There’s a village in the southwest with eighty-seven people, but only fifty-eight legs remain, all due to mines.”
“For the people’s safety, we must send soldiers to clear them.”
Ye Qiu was puzzled, “With today’s advanced technology, why use soldiers for mine clearance?”
Zhu Chengyu sighed, “The southwest border has steep mountains, dense forests, and treacherous terrain. Some areas have no paths. Mine-clearing equipment is useless in many places, and even agile robots can’t navigate steep slopes or forests.”
“Also, the mines buried there are varied and complex.”
“So, we rely on manual clearance.”
Ye Qiu said, “That’s too dangerous.”
“That’s what it means to be a soldier,” Zhu Chengyu replied, “Our duty is to protect the nation.”
Ye Qiu’s heart grew heavy.
Indeed, no matter the danger, soldiers always charge to the front.
Even knowing each mine-clearing mission risks life and death, they press on without hesitation.
That’s duty and responsibility.
They are truly the nation’s brave warriors!
The group sat and chatted.
Time passed quietly.
Soon, three hours were up.
Ye Qiu returned to the bedside, unwrapped Zhu Xiongying’s bandages, and removed the paste.
A shocking sight appeared.
Zhu Xiongying’s right leg was not only intact, with no trace of wounds, but his skin was smooth and fair, like a baby’s.
“This…” Li Chunfeng was speechless. If he hadn’t witnessed Ye Qiu’s treatment, he wouldn’t have believed it.
This wasn’t just a paste; it was a miracle drug!
Zhu Chengyu and his wife were dumbfounded, “Xiongying’s leg…”
“Not only is his leg saved, but his injuries are healed. He’ll wake soon,” Ye Qiu said, relieved. The paste’s recipe came from his Ye ancestor’s teachings. It was his first time making and using it, and the results exceeded his expectations.
Just then, Ye Qiu’s phone pinged.
He opened it to see a WeChat message from Tangtang.
“Are you busy?” Tangtang asked.
“Just finished,” Ye Qiu replied.
Tangtang sent another message, “Come quick, I’m waiting for you at the hotel~”
