"Little brother, you must save my grandpa!" Shang Lele pleaded.
Li Se nodded, then felt Shang Yuan's pulse while saying, "Master Shang Yuan, if I'm not mistaken, you altered the villa's layout with the intention of transferring your luck to your granddaughter?"
"Alas!" Shang Yuan sighed softly, "I learned this from a Feng Shui master by chance, which is why I made the changes."
Shang Zhifeng's expression shifted slightly, "Could it be because of the modified swimming pool?"
"Indeed, that kind of layout was already inauspicious. Even if modified later, it's still a case of one fortune for another, but Feng Shui layouts aren't that easily changed," Li Se shook his head. "Master Shang Yuan, this modification not only served no purpose but also ended up harming yourself. I'll write you a prescription. Take it twice a day, and for the next month, do not touch any antiques."
Shang Yuan was the chief appraisal master at Zhong Bao Ge. Forbidding him from touching antiques was equivalent to making him unemployed. He anxiously said, "I am an appraisal master. If I'm not allowed to touch antiques, then..."
"Master Shang Yuan, is your life more important or are antiques more important?" Li Se asked with a slight frown.
"Alright, I will absolutely ensure the old man does not touch antiques this month," Shang Zhifeng quickly replied.
Li Se immediately took out paper and a pen, and wrote a prescription, saying, "You should be mostly healed after a month. Remember, absolutely do not touch antiques."
"Can you explain why I'm not allowed to touch them?" Shang Yuan asked with frustration.
Li Se smiled and said, "Actually, ordinary antiques are fine, but many calligraphy and paintings incorporate the artist's emotions from their lifetime. If the artist had resentment, their works would carry a malevolent energy. It wouldn't affect ordinary people, but you're not in a normal state right now. Due to the layout, your fortune has greatly diminished. If you were to touch these artworks, it would only worsen your condition. As for other antiques, it's simpler: no one can guarantee they weren't dug up from the ground."
Shang Yuan suddenly understood, and was filled with admiration for Li Se, "I used to think this was all superstition, but now I see it's necessary to believe."
Li Se said, "Belief makes it so, disbelief makes it non-existent. In traditional Chinese medicine terms, these artworks carry a 'qi' that can be harmful to the human body. Some healthy individuals can ignore it, but those with weakened bodies naturally cannot."
"Divine doctor, this is the consultation fee for treating my father," Shang Zhifeng produced a bank card again and handed it to Li Se. "The PIN is six sixes. It has ten million yuan inside!"
A villa and ten million yuan!
Rich people certainly were generous.
Chen Xiulian, standing nearby, trembled. She watched her son take a pulse, say a few words, and earn ten million yuan and a villa. My heavens.
Li Se did not hesitate and accepted the bank card, saying, "Thank you."
As it was already evening, Shang Zhifeng and his family dared not disturb Li Se further and left after the consultation.
Li Se looked at the villa keys and a bank card. After some thought, he gave the bank card to his mother. "Mom, this ten million is for your pocket money. Spend it however you like."
Chen Xiulian raised an eyebrow and playfully smacked Li Se's forehead. "You brat, don't be like a nouveau riche just because you have money. Pocket money? Where did you learn this? Money can't be spent carelessly, and besides, what do I need so much money for? Keep it for yourself."
Li Se felt a mix of amusement and speechlessness. He wondered what his mother's reaction would be if he told her he'd soon have a hundred million in savings.
Chen Xiulian's hands trembled as she held the bank card, feeling it was unreal. She murmured, "How did this money come so quickly? It makes me feel uneasy."
This was not surprising. A few days ago, Li Se's hands had also trembled when holding a ten-million-yuan bank card. Now, he was mostly accustomed to it, as he was about to have a hundred million, so ten million wasn't that significant anymore.
Li Se smiled, "Mom, when your health is fully recovered, let's go take a look at this villa."
"Yes, after we see it, Mom needs to go back. Someone needs to watch the old house," Chen Xiulian was not accustomed to living in the city. She had many companions in her hometown, but in the city, she had no friends and was bored staying in the house watching television every day.
Li Se naturally understood his mother's thoughts and didn't say much. He'd just build a luxurious villa in their hometown later.
The next day, Li Se went to the herbal medicine shop again. He needed to treat Jiang Ranran's father's leg ailment and required some auxiliary materials. Just as Western medicine has its braces, traditional Chinese medicine has its supports, and medicinal herbs were also needed. After all, he wasn't so miraculous that a few needles would have him walking.
"You again!" Huang Shanshan saw Li Se and knitted her brows. She held utter disdain for this person who claimed to be her grandfather's disciple.
Facing Huang Shanshan's attitude, Li Se raised an eyebrow and said, "If you don't believe me, you can call your grandfather. Besides, your grandfather also asked me to treat you."
Upon hearing the word "treat," Huang Shanshan's pretty face changed. "I'm not sick, I don't need treatment."
"As a doctor yourself, you should know that whether one is sick or not can only be determined after an examination," Li Se observed Huang Shanshan intently. Although he hadn't taken her pulse, he could discern some things from her complexion. However, after looking for a while, he couldn't make out anything specific. A more in-depth examination was required.
"Have you looked enough?" Huang Shanshan asked angrily.
Li Se smiled, "It seems you believe me now. Let me take your pulse. Only after taking your pulse can I determine if you are truly sick."
"No need!" Huang Shanshan snorted coldly.
"Young man, don't embarrass yourself," an old man nearby said, shaking his head. "Shanshan here won't let men touch her."
"Oh?" Li Se seemed to discern something from the old man's words. He immediately realized something. Could it be about sexual orientation?
If it was indeed about sexual orientation, it would be a bit troublesome, as it wasn't something that could be resolved through acupuncture or medication.
However, he needed to take her pulse first to know for sure.
After some thought, Li Se said, "Think about it carefully. I can tell from your grandfather's words when he mentions you, that he is filled with sadness and helplessness. Sometimes, you should do things not for yourself, but for your family."
Without saying more, Li Se paid and prepared to leave. His words had indeed touched Huang Shanshan.
"Doctor, doctor, please save my dad."
At this moment, a young man rushed in, supporting an elder.
The elder's eyes were vacant, his expression blank, like an elder without a soul.
"Please sit!" Huang Shanshan helped the elder sit down and then took his pulse. Clearly, as Grandpa Huang's granddaughter, she had also studied traditional Chinese medicine.
Li Se, who was about to leave, frowned upon seeing the elder's condition.