Chapter 9 Banquet Invitation
Zhou Changping noticed the physician's displeased expression and reminded him, "Physician Li, this young man is highly skilled. Don't hold back."
Physician Li smiled bitterly at Zhou Changping and said, "My apologies, Patriarch Zhou, I truly do not have those spirit herbs."
Zhou Changping nodded and immediately made arrangements to search for the spirit herbs.
Zhou Changping looked at Chen Xuan and extended an invitation, "Chen Xuan, it's already noon. Please stay for a meal."
Su Yunxi smiled and enthusiastically added, "Yes, Chen Xuan, stay for dinner. We have a new chef at home, and their cooking is excellent."
At this moment, Chen Xuan remembered that Song Ping was still in the hospital. He revealed a hint of apology and shook his head, "Thank you for the kind invitation, Patriarch Zhou. My mother is still in the hospital, and I need to take care of her."
Seeing Chen Xuan's firm stance, Zhou Changping said, "Then I won't keep you. We'll have a meal together another day."
Chen Xuan cupped his hands and turned to leave. However, before departing, he said, "Patriarch Zhou, the poison you have is an extremely rare one called Hongchen Zui. If you are interested, you can investigate it."
"If you find any information about Hongchen Zui, I hope you will let me know."
He didn't say anything further, believing that Patriarch Zhou would surely pursue the whereabouts of Hongchen Zui.
Then Chen Xuan turned and left.
Patriarch Zhou nodded imperceptibly and then looked at Physician Li, "Physician Li, you've also gone to great lengths for my illness. Why don't you stay for a meal?"
Li Tiandao found an excuse to politely decline and then eagerly chased after Chen Xuan.
After Li Tiandao left, Zhou Changping sat on the bed, his gaze flickering.
So it was poisoning!
He then summoned a trusted subordinate and said in a low voice, "Someone, go and investigate when a poison called Hongchen Zui ever appeared in Jiangzhou."
As the subordinate turned to leave, Zhou Changping called him back.
"Does the Patriarch have any other instructions?"
"Also, go and investigate this person named Chen Xuan."
"Yes!"
Outside the Zhou family villa.
Li Tiandao was walking quickly, but no matter how fast he walked, the figure in front of him always maintained the same distance.
He was panting, exhausted, and covered in sweat, so he had to beg, "Mr. Chen, please wait!"
Only then did the figure walking ahead stop and turn around.
Chen Xuan frowned and asked, "Physician Li, do you need something from me?"
Li Tiandao quickly stepped forward to Chen Xuan and smiled ingratiatingly, "Tonight, I am hosting a medical gathering at the Grand Hotel. Many famous physicians from Jiangzhou will be present, as well as some wealthy individuals. I would like to invite you, Mr. Chen, to attend."
Chen Xuan waved his hand and decisively said, "Not interested."
He thought to himself: with this time, he might as well wash and clean for his mother.
Li Tiandao seemed unsurprised by Chen Xuan's answer, and then said with a smile, "Mr. Chen, don't refuse so quickly. I heard you are looking for spirit herbs..."
Chen Xuan's eyebrows shot up.
Did this fellow not tell the truth to Patriarch Zhou just now?
He asked, "Do you have those six spirit herbs?"
Li Tiandao smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Each of those six spirit herbs is exceedingly rare. I truly don't have them."
Chen Xuan fell silent.
Li Tiandao continued, "Mr. Chen, don't be disappointed yet. Although I don't have them, I know that at tonight's banquet, there is a 'King of Medicinal Materials' who happens to have a hundred-year-old He Shou Wu. I can try to mediate..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Xuan said without hesitation, "I will attend tonight's banquet!"
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Mr. Chen."
Li Tiandao's face lit up with joy. "Mr. Chen, where are you going? Take my car."
Chen Xuan didn't refuse; it was a villa area and difficult to hail a taxi. He said, "I'm going to Jiangzhou First Hospital."
Upon returning to the hospital, Chen Xuan dismissed the two skilled nannies hired by Su Yunxi. He himself sat by the bedside, wiping Song Ping's forehead.
Although Song Ping was intellectually disabled, she looked at Chen Xuan with doting eyes. As if recalling something, she said in a panicked tone, "Xuanzi, you have to go to school tomorrow. Why have you been out for so long? Have you finished your homework?"
Chen Xuan was stunned for a moment and immediately understood that Song Ping was suffering from intellectual disability. A hint of heartache appeared on his face, and he quickly nodded, "Mom, I finished my homework before I went out to play."
Song Ping was relieved to hear this and looked self-reproachful. She reached out and hugged Chen Xuan's neck, "Mom isn't blaming you. If you don't finish your homework, the teacher will make you stand. You hate standing the most. Play only after you've finished your homework in the future."
Chen Xuan's eyes reddened slightly, and he nodded, "Mom, I know."
Song Ping mumbled for a while longer, talking about things that happened when she was young. As she spoke, she soon fell asleep on the bed.
Chen Xuan walked to the balcony and stared at the scenery outside the window. A cool breeze brushed against his face. He glanced back at Song Ping, who was sleeping soundly, and said with determination, "Mom, the six spirit herbs, I will find them as soon as possible!"
"And the person who poisoned you, I will also find them!"
His voice was hoarse and low, yet it was resolute!
In the evening, Song Ping was asleep at the hospital. Chen Xuan tidied his clothes and walked out of the ward, preparing to attend the banquet.
Upon reaching the hospital entrance, Chen Xuan searched for the location of the Grand Hotel and found that it was at least an hour's journey from Jiangzhou First Hospital, so he gave up the idea of taking the subway.
Chen Xuan waved at a taxi parked by the roadside, preparing to pick up passengers.
The taxi driver saw Chen Xuan beckoning and quickly started the engine and drove over. As the taxi arrived beside Chen Xuan and was about to stop...
However, the taxi driver seemed to have seen something terrifying. He stomped on the accelerator, and the engine roared. The taxi let out a beast-like growl, rushing into the distance like a tiger descending the mountain.
"Am I that scary?"
Chen Xuan touched his face, looking helpless.
At this moment, footsteps sounded, and Chen Xuan looked up.
He saw over a dozen burly men wearing black vests and having tattoos on their arms walking towards him.
As they walked, they brandished metal baseball bats, machetes, and various other weapons.
People strolling by the roadside avoided them in terror.
A moment later, the group surrounded Chen Xuan, glaring at him menacingly.
Chen Xuan glanced at the group and calmly asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"
Chen Xuan's lack of panic surprised them slightly.
Just then, a familiar man walked out from the crowd.
It was Chen Xuan's ex-brother-in-law, Li Shan!
Li Shan stared at Chen Xuan with a half-smile, "Useless, my sister told me you divorced her and now want your money back?"
Chen Xuan nodded noncommittally and said coldly, "That's my money. Although my sister and I registered our marriage, we never actually got married. Why can't I take it back?"
At the same time, he roughly understood what was happening. Li Shan, worried about him asking for the money, had deliberately come to cause trouble.
"You little security guard, you want money, don't you?"
Li Shan sneered.
He then took a coin from his pocket, threw it at Chen Xuan's feet, and said dismissively, as if to a beggar, "You want money, don't you? Take this and get lost, you smelly beggar! You're such an eyesore."
A cold glint flashed in Chen Xuan's eyes, and he narrowed them, staring at Li Shan, and said coldly, "Li Shan, for Old Man's sake, if you obediently return the six hundred thousand yuan to me, I won't bother with you."
Li Shan acted as if he had heard the biggest joke and burst into laughter, "Chen Xuan, where do you get the nerve to say that to me?"
"Do you know who is standing beside me? This is the boss of the East District, Brother Er!"
Saying that, Li Shan smiled obsequiously at a burly man beside him with a green dragon tattoo.
Brother Er stepped forward, glanced dismissively at Chen Xuan, and said coldly, "Kneel down now and apologize to Li Shan, and pay ten thousand yuan in compensation. Otherwise, I'll have someone cripple you right now!"
Chen Xuan remained unfazed, scanned the crowd, and said coldly, "If you all kneel down to me now, I can spare your lives."
Brother Er was furious, his eyes red, and he pointed at Chen Xuan, shouting, "What the hell! Cripple this little security guard for me!"
Brother Er's subordinates heard this, rubbed their hands, and were about to make a move, but at this moment, a red Ferrari sports car screeched to a halt beside them.
Following that, Su Yunxi's beautiful figure emerged from the car, staring coldly at Brother Er, and said coldly, "Yang Xiao Er, you dare to cripple my friend? Are you tired of living?"