In the examination room, Yu He and Qi Nan were performing acupuncture on a silicone human model covered in acupoint markings, which lay on the hospital bed. Beside them sat a medical simulator, its screen displaying a human model with data reflecting Li Yehan's physical condition.
After more than a week of research and discussion, Yu He had finally finalized the treatment plan for Li Yehan. This was a simulation experiment before the actual treatment.
Yu He inserted the last acupuncture needle into the Baihui acupoint of the human model. After a moment, the red dots on the key acupoints of the human model on the display screen all turned green.
"Success!" Qi Nan exclaimed joyfully, his heart filled with excitement.
After checking the data on the monitor, Yu He’s lips curved into a smile. "This plan is feasible. We can proceed with the actual treatment next time."
As she spoke, she turned and high-fived Qi Nan.
Granny Yu, who had been observing from the side, also smiled with relief. "Nannan, you're getting better and better."
Just as the three of them were basking in their joy, there was a commotion outside. Shen Yao had returned with Qiao Wei.
Yu He came out into the hall and saw that Qiao Wei was drenched, with bloody bite marks on his arm. She turned to Qi Nan and said, "Qi Nan, it's getting late. You should head back. Thank you for your hard work."
Seeing that they had something to attend to, Qi Nan took his leave.
"How about that? In the crucial moment, you still have to rely on me! I said I'd bring him back, and I brought him back right on time," Shen Yao boasted, patting his chest at Yu He.
"Not bad," Yu He replied, casually rummaging through a cabinet and tossing a small item to him. "A reward for you."
It was rare for Yu He to give him something willingly, so Shen Yao happily accepted it. Upon seeing it, he exclaimed, "999 cold granules."
He exploded, "Holy crap, who are you trying to fool?"
"You got wet in the rain. Be careful not to catch a cold. And stop going to bars so much, go home and sleep early," Yu He said calmly.
Shen Yao then noticed that his left shoulder was wet, though he didn't know when it happened. "I'm perfectly healthy, how could I catch a cold from a little rain... Achoo~"
As soon as he finished speaking, he sneezed.
"..."
Yu He: "If you don't want an injection, go home and take a hot shower."
It was rare for Qin Beiting to be absent. Shen Yao had intended to linger, but the moment he heard the word "injection," he darted out before his backside even touched a chair.
"Wei Zai, did you get into a fight?" Granny Yu, unaware of what had happened, fetched disinfectant and cotton swabs and went to treat the wound on Qiao Wei's arm.
Qiao Wei looked dejected and remained silent.
"Did you see Qiao Qiao?" Yu He went to make a bowl of ginger water and handed him a towel. "Wipe yourself."
"Mmm," Qiao Wei replied, a towel draped over his head and a bowl of ginger water in his hands, his mood low.
Yu He wasn't very good at comforting people. She simply patted his shoulder gently.
"Qiao Qiao is really at the Qi family's and isn't coming back?" Granny Yu, after bandaging Qiao Wei's wound, finally realized that the wound was inflicted by Qiao Qiao.
After drinking the ginger water, Qiao Wei briefly recounted what had happened when he met Qiao Qiao.
With the precedent of Ye Zisu's case, Granny Yu's resilience was much better this time, but she still felt deeply upset. She sighed helplessly.
Yu He, on the other hand, let out a cold laugh. "The Qi family is courting its own destruction."
Using such a foolish method to save the Qi family's stock.
Granny Yu and Qiao Wei remained silent.
"Since this is Qiao Qiao's choice, she must have been prepared to bear the consequences long ago." Yu He glanced at the time. "Don't overthink it. Go back early; you have an early meeting tomorrow."
The next day, at the monthly meeting.
After Xiao Ya reported on her work, she mentioned,
"Yu He, Mr. Wu and Mr. He's families haven't delivered any medicinal herbs this month. We're out of harrier toad and wind-dispelling turtle in stock, and our cuttlefish bone and conch shell are also running low. However, several patients' prescriptions require these herbs recently."
"What's going on?" Yu He asked, yawning.
"I called them, and they said production was poor this month, and with the rain, there was no supply. I also contacted several backup suppliers, but they all said they don't have these four medicinal herbs," Xiao Ya reported truthfully.
Most of the clinic's traditional Chinese medicine herbs were supplied steadily by fixed suppliers. Mr. Wu and Mr. He's families had always provided top-quality herbs, so they were their primary partners.
However, to prevent sudden shortages, they had backup suppliers.
If one source was unavailable, they would find another. But the current situation was clearly unusual. Although these four herbs were relatively rare, they shouldn't be completely unavailable.
"I just asked my former employer, and they don't have these four herbs either," Fang Ziyu said.
She and Su Xiao were the new medicinal cuisine chefs hired after Qiao Qiao left.
"I was browsing the Tianyi Network forum, and there's gossip that the Qi family has bought up all of these four medicinal herbs from all suppliers on the mainland at three times the market price," Su Xiao said.
As soon as she spoke, the conference room fell silent.
Everyone seemed to instantly understand what was happening.
It was Qiao Qiao's doing!
She was previously in charge of medicinal cuisine and was very familiar with the clinic's inventory. Herbs like harrier toad and wind-dispelling turtle were frequently used.
Harrier toad nourishes the lungs and kidneys; it treats deficiency-induced cough.
Wind-dispelling turtle unblocks meridians, dispels wind and dampness, and treats symptoms like rheumatic pain, paralysis from stroke, and polio in children.
The patients who came here suffered from complex and difficult illnesses, especially rheumatic conditions. Therefore, the usage and consumption of these two herbs were high. A shortage would affect patient medication, slow down recovery, and consequently impact the clinic's reputation.
Qiao Wei sat at the edge, his hands clenched under the table, as if trying to suppress his anger.
Granny Yu’s gaze grew heavy. After Qiao Qiao left, she often thought of her. When she heard that she had gone to the Qi family, her heart ached indescribably, as she had watched the child grow up.
Now, to be told that Qiao Qiao had not only gone to the Qi family but was also acting against them, Granny Yu was overcome with anger. Her vision darkened, and she tilted to one side, about to fall.
"Grandma!"
"Grandma Yu!"
Yu He immediately stood up and supported her. Xiao Qing and the others also rushed to help.
Yu He felt Granny Yu's pulse, which was deep, wiry, and slippery. Her brow furrowed. Several people gently helped Granny Yu to lie down in the west wing room.
"Is Grandma Yu okay?" Qiao Wei asked anxiously.
"She was stimulated, and her original high blood pressure also contributed." Yu He pressed Granny Yu's philtrum. "Xiao Qing, get my acupuncture bag."
Qiao Wei pursed his lips and stepped aside.
"Okay." Xiao Qing quickly brought the acupuncture bag.
Yu He inserted a few needles into Granny Yu. She soon woke up. Yu He asked her to lie down and rest and went out to finish the meeting.
"How about I check the nearby Tong Ren Tang for harrier toad and wind-dispelling turtle, and buy some for emergency use? I remember two patients needing these herbs today," Xiao Ya suggested.