Ten minutes later.
A group of people entered the office.
Leading them was, surprisingly, an old acquaintance of Ye Qiu’s, Director Li, who oversaw Jiangzhou’s healthcare system.
Seeing Ye Qiu, Director Li walked over, smiling, “Xiao Ye, what are you doing here?”
“My daughter had a little conflict with a classmate,” Ye Qiu said with a smile.
Cao Chunhua, seeing Director Li knew Ye Qiu, felt a sinking dread and quickly said, “Old Li, you’re finally here.”
“You know this Ye Qiu, right?”
“Let me tell you, he’s too arrogant. Not only did he assault a teacher, but he also beat up the school security, completely disregarding the law. It’s utterly deplorable.”
“I think someone like him doesn’t deserve to be a doctor. You should revoke his medical licence, and…”
Director Li raised an eyebrow, “Old Cao, who’s in charge of Jiangzhou’s healthcare, you or me?”
Cao Chunhua said, “Obviously you.”
“You know that, do you?” Director Li snapped, “If it’s my responsibility, do I need you telling me what to do?”
Cao Chunhua: “…”
Director Li then asked, “You’ve got a problem with Ye Qiu?”
“His daughter hit my son,” Cao Chunhua said.
Director Li glanced at the boy beside Cao Chunhua, “Good for her!”
“Cao Dong’s a naughty, useless brat. Last time I saw him, he was smoking, drinking, and gambling with some delinquents.”
“He’s only a kid, and he’s already doing this. If you don’t discipline him, he’ll grow up to be a menace.”
Cao Chunhua said, “Old Li, let’s not talk about my son. Let’s talk about Ye Qiu.”
“You’re in charge of him, right?”
“He attacked people, so what should be done?”
“What’s there to do? No one died, let it go,” Director Li thought, *Cao Chunhua, I’m doing you a favour here. Don’t be ungrateful.*
But Director Li’s worst fear came true.
“Old Li, what? Let it go? Absolutely not,” Cao Chunhua fumed, “If you can’t even handle a small-time doctor, I’ll call Deputy Mayor Huang.”
Threatening me, are you?
Director Li was furious, “Go ahead, call him!”
Cao Chunhua pulled out his phone and dialled Deputy Mayor Huang.
Wei Liming, watching this, silently mourned for Cao Chunhua.
This fool, picking a fight with anyone but Ye Qiu. Isn’t that asking for death?
After the call, Cao Chunhua pointed at Director Li and Wei Liming, “You two, just wait. Deputy Mayor Huang said he’ll be here soon.”
Wei Liming and Director Li ignored him as if they hadn’t heard.
Soon enough.
Deputy Mayor Huang arrived in a hurry.
As soon as he entered, Cao Chunhua started complaining.
“Deputy Mayor Huang, you wouldn’t believe it. Wei Liming and Director Li are openly protecting a small-time doctor.”
“That doctor assaulted a teacher and security guards. It’s outrageous. He should be arrested and sentenced.”
“And…”
“Wait,” Deputy Mayor Huang cut him off, “The doctor you’re talking about, it’s not Ye Qiu, is it?”
“That’s right, it’s him…”
Slap!
Deputy Mayor Huang slapped Cao Chunhua across the face, shouting, “Nonsense!”
“Ye Qiu, a medical sage of his generation, dedicated to saving lives, would never attack guards or teachers without reason.”
“Be honest, what did you do to provoke him?”
Cao Chunhua: “I didn’t do anything…”
Slap!
Deputy Mayor Huang slapped him again, “Still lying? Apologise to Ye Qiu immediately.”
“What? Apologise to him? Never,” Cao Chunhua, humiliated in public, was livid, “Deputy Mayor Huang, are you shielding him?”
You idiot, I’m shielding you!
Deputy Mayor Huang thought, *I’m only slapping you twice. If Ye Qiu deals with you, you’re finished.*
Cao Chunhua didn’t grasp Deputy Mayor Huang’s intentions, saying, “I get it. You’re not saying anything, which means you’re protecting him, right?”
“Fine, let’s see who can save him today.”
“I refuse to believe I can’t handle a mere doctor.”
Cao Chunhua kept making calls.
Ten minutes later, a group of fully armed soldiers stormed in.
Leading them was a burly middle-aged officer, with two bars and four stars on his shoulder, one step away from general.
“Old Cao, what’s so urgent that you needed me to bring troops?” the officer asked.
“Old classmate, quick, help me deal with this guy,” Cao Chunhua said, pointing at Ye Qiu.
The officer approached Ye Qiu, asking, “You offended Old Cao?”
Ye Qiu didn’t bother with words, pulling out his ID and tossing it at the officer’s face.
The officer, suppressing his anger, opened Ye Qiu’s ID.
The next second, his pupils shrank.
A few key words caught his eye.
“Underworld Palace, First-Class Meritorious…”
Snap!
The officer stood at attention, saluted Ye Qiu crisply, then respectfully handed the ID back with both hands, saying, “Sorry for disturbing you, sir. I’ll leave now.”
With that, he led his soldiers out like a gust of wind.
Cao Chunhua was dumbfounded.
What just happened?
“You can keep calling people,” Ye Qiu said, “But if you run out of contacts, it’s my turn to deal with you.”
Cao Chunhua snapped, “Kid, don’t get cocky. I’ll have you know, I’m from the Cao family in the capital. My uncle is the head of the Cao family.”
“The Cao family from the capital?” Ye Qiu pulled out his phone and made a call.
He put it on speaker.
After a moment.
The call connected.
“Hello, this is Cao Yi,” came a commanding voice from the other end.
Ye Qiu said directly, “I’m dealing with Cao Chunhua. Any objections?”
“Who’s this?”
“Ye Qiu.”
The voice on the phone immediately shifted to a warm, respectful tone, “Master Ye, please don’t misunderstand. Cao Chunhua may be from our family, but I’ve just expelled him.”
“As for you dealing with him, it’s his honour.”
“Do as you please.”
Cao Chunhua, hearing this, panicked, “Uncle, when was I expelled from the family?”
“Just now, I decided.”
The voice continued, “Master Ye, if you’re hesitant to act, I can send someone to drag Cao Chunhua back and punish him to your satisfaction. How’s that?”
“No need,” Ye Qiu hung up, moved in a flash, and snapped both of Cao Chunhua’s arms.
“Ah…” Cao Chunhua screamed in agony.
As for the boy, he fainted on the spot.
Ye Qiu was about to continue when he noticed Xixi seemed scared, so he stopped, saying, “Director Wei, I’m leaving Cao Chunhua and Teacher Xu to you. You know what to do, right?”
“Mr. Ye, rest assured, I know what to do,” Wei Liming said respectfully.
“Thanks,” Ye Qiu said, nodding to Deputy Mayor Huang and Director Li before leaving with Xixi in his arms.
As he stepped out, he heard Wei Liming shout, “Take Cao Chunhua and this teacher away!”
…
After leaving the school, Ye Qiu took Xixi to an amusement park for half the day, then picked up Qin Wan for dinner and a movie, returning home late at night.
Unbeknownst to him, a major event unfolded in the capital that night.
