Chapter 47: A Mother-in-Law Looking at Her Son-in-Law

Monday.

Lin Shaowen sat in his office, feeling quite idle. Making sure no one was around, he locked the door of the infirmary and stepped into the island space.

"First cast."
"Acquired: *Thirteen Needles of Yama*. Would you like to learn it?"
"Nailed it."

The instant success made Lin Shaowen jump to his feet.

He didn't actually have much passion for medicine, but his greatest virtue was that whatever trade he took up, he loved it.
Tuina massage, pulse diagnosis, coupled with acupuncture...
If anyone dared to doubt his medical skills again, he would smash their head in.

"Second cast."
"Acquired: *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon*. Would you like to learn it?"
"Learn."

Lin Shaowen immediately clicked confirm, even though he had no idea what the *Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon* was.
Yet, as a massive wave of knowledge surged into his mind, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
Methods of dual cultivation, arts of retaining youth, and techniques for strengthening the body.

"Third cast."
"Acquired: *Isolation Array*. Would you like to use it?"
"Note: This is a one-time-use formation. Please use it with caution."
"Do not use."

Lin Shaowen looked at the talisman in his hand and fell into deep thought.
What on earth was this thing good for?
After pondering for a long time without figuring it out, he simply stopped thinking about it. Just as he was about to exit the island space, he suddenly noticed a patch of land had appeared right outside the small cabin, with some plants growing in it... But after staring at them for a long time, he still couldn't figure out what on earth they were.

After exiting the island, he slumped back over his desk to slack off.
Unexpectedly, a crowd of people suddenly rushed in with a clamor.

"Doctor Lin, take a look at him..."

Seven or eight workers were supporting a pale-faced man as they walked over. The injured man was clutching his wrist with one hand, while another coworker was holding his severed palm.

"What's the situation?" Lin Shaowen asked with a solemn expression.
"He was spacing out at work and got caught by the cutting machine," a coworker immediately replied.

Lin Shaowen pulled out several silver needles and drove them into the man's arm. The man's previously pale complexion instantly regained a bit of ruddy color.
After a moment of thought, he drove another needle into the severed palm.

"Notify the vehicle team immediately. No matter whose car it is, have them drive you to Peking Union Medical College Hospital right away. Also... do not touch my silver needles, and tell the doctors at Union to do everything they can to save his hand," Lin Shaowen said rapidly.

It would take an hour to drive from here to Union Hospital, and the *Thirteen Needles of Yama* could only stem the bleeding for an hour and a half.

"Yes, we're going right now!" Someone bolted out the door.
"And... tell them he wasn't spacing out at work; say the machine malfunctioned. No matter who asks you, that's what you must say," Lin Shaowen said in a low voice.

Hearing this, the workers all shuddered.
"Doctor Lin, thank you, thank you!"
Tears streamed down the injured man's face. He knew Lin Shaowen was helping him out.
If they claimed he was spacing out at work, the factory wouldn't provide any compensation. It wasn't really about the money; it was just that the factory refused to take the blame.

"Alright, get going," Lin Shaowen waved his hand.

***

The workers left with profuse expressions of gratitude.
Lin Shaowen planned to wash his hands and change his clothes; right now, his hands and white lab coat were covered in blood.

Clap, clap, clap!

A round of applause rang out, followed by Lou Xiaoe walking in accompanied by Madam Lou.

"Doctor Lin's benevolence and kindness are truly admirable," Madam Lou smiled.
"It's nothing about benevolence and kindness, just a doctor's duty," Lin Shaowen said with a smile as he washed his hands. "What seems to be troubling Madam Lou?"
"Perhaps Doctor Lin would care to diagnose me," Madam Lou smiled.
"I finally understand why Lou Xiaoe has such a quirky and eccentric personality—turns out it's genetic," Lin Shaowen sighed.
"Go on, you're the eccentric one," Lou Xiaoe retorted.
"Silly girl, he's complimenting you," Madam Lou chuckled.
"Was he complimenting me?" Lou Xiaoe tilted her head and thought about it, but failed to figure it out.

"Please..."

After changing into a fresh white lab coat, Lin Shaowen sat down in his chair.
Madam Lou extended her wrist, and he began to take her pulse.
After a long moment.

"Does Madam suffer from palpitations, emotional distress, poor sleep at night, and a tendency to be easily startled awake?" Lin Shaowen asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, yes, yes, exactly like that," Madam Lou said excitedly. "I've had this illness for many years..."
"It started around the time you married your honorable husband, didn't it?" Lin Shaowen smiled.
"Yes, Doctor Lin is truly amazing," Madam Lou exclaimed in shock.

Could this medical skill be any more divine?

"I'll write you a prescription, but you must follow it strictly. Make a single mistake, and this illness of yours will never heal," Lin Shaowen said solemnly.
"I shall strictly follow the doctor's orders," Madam Lou nodded.
"The treatment period is five years."

Lin Shaowen took out pen and paper, swiftly scribbling down a few lines.
Madam Lou took it, glanced at it, and instantly froze.

"One hundred silkworms. You must personally pick mulberry leaves to feed them."
"Once the silkworms spin cocoons and pupate, you must tend to them with a tranquil mind. After they lay eggs, hatch them again, repeating the cycle endlessly for a period of five years."
...
"What kind of prescription is this?" Lou Xiaoe pouted.
"Are you doubting my professionalism?" Lin Shaowen looked at her with a half-smile.
"Not at all, not at all."

Madam Lou hurriedly pulled Lou Xiaoe back, wearing a flattering smile all over her face. "Doctor Lin possesses brilliant medical skills, so naturally he wouldn't deceive me."
"Don't be lazy, and don't let anyone else do it for you," Lin Shaowen warned.
"Naturally," Madam Lou smiled and nodded.
"Come to the bed, I'll give you a tuina session..." Lin Shaowen stood up and put on his gloves.
"Sorry to trouble you, Doctor Lin." Madam Lou smiled as she lay down on the bed.

***

Lin Shaowen's tuina techniques had improved further, leaving Madam Lou not only comfortable but secretly astonished. Her family was wealthy, and she had experienced all sorts of masters of massage, but she had truly never seen results as immediate as Lin Shaowen's tuina.

After getting off the bed, Madam Lou felt light all over, as if she could easily run two laps around the steel rolling mill.
"Give me a tuina session too, my neck has been hurting so much lately," Lou Xiaoe said with a blushing face.
"Shameless," Madam Lou whispered.
She knew all too well what kind of little scheme Lou Xiaoe was playing.

Lin Shaowen was silent for a moment before smiling, "Come on up."
"Mm." Lou Xiaoe hurriedly scrambled onto the bed.
"Hiss, so comfortable."
"Aah, Lin Shaowen, you're amazing."
"Yes, yes, yes, right there..."
...
"Stop shouting, it's so embarrassing," Madam Lou couldn't help but scold.

Lin Shaowen kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, completely pretending not to hear.
Ten minutes later.
"Lin Shaowen, you're so awesome," Lou Xiaoe praised.
"Mm."

Lin Shaowen nodded and glanced at Madam Lou, who looked as though she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Madam Lou gave him a sheepish nod of gratitude, placed a bag on the table, and dragged Lou Xiaoe away at lightning speed.
"Mom, I still have things to say to him..."
"You've already thrown away all our face, what more is there to say!"

Without a second word, Madam Lou shoved Lou Xiaoe into the car and sped away.
Lin Shaowen looked at the bag on the table and opened it, instantly dumbfounded.
Two stacks of ration tickets, all for cigarettes and alcohol, and a full five thousand yuan in cash.
"At the end of the day, it really has to be Half-City Lou," Lin Shaowen sighed.

With you acting this lavishly, if the authorities don't come after you, who will?

Lou Residence.
"Mom, it hurts, hurts, hurts..."
Lou Xiaoe was dragged by her ear into the living room by Madam Lou.
"What's going on here?" Lou Half-City asked, instantly amused.
"Don't ask what's going on! Today, this old face of mine was completely disgraced by your daughter," Madam Lou shouted angrily. "If she goes to the steel rolling mill again next time, I'm not going. If you want to go, you go."
"How did you offend your mother?" Lou Half-City asked, looking at Lou Xiaoe.
"I don't even know," Lou Xiaoe protested innocently.
"Aah, so comfortable."
"Aah, Lin Shaowen, you're amazing."
"Aah, Lin Shaowen, you're so awesome."

True mother and daughter indeed; Madam Lou's imitation of Lou Xiaoe was spot on.
"Hey, when did I ever sound like that?" Lou Xiaoe's earlobes turned completely red.