Chapter 8

[Patient Name: Ding Lanhui; Sex: Female; Age: 56. Primary Diagnosis: Intermittent Anxiety Disorder. Symptoms: Headache, insomnia, eye distension and pain. These symptoms have persisted for half a month. Predicted Change: Tomorrow, regret will trigger syncope and shock.]

Su Fuling stared at the information the System had given her, her heart jolting again and again—not because the diagnosis the System offered matched her own assessment, but because of that final line: the prediction.

The System could predict things that hadn't happened yet.

She had assumed the System was extrapolating from the severity of the illness. Skilled doctors could manage that much, after all.

So Su Fuling had always thought the System's 'predicted onset time' meant exactly that.

She hadn't expected the System to know what emotions a person would feel tomorrow.

That wasn't scientific!

But there was no time to dwell on it now—the more powerful the System, the better.

Su Fuling smiled and dragged a stool over to sit near Ding Lanhui.

Zhao Facao immediately understood her choice.

He had been playing the part of the deep sage, silent until now. Now he closed his eyes, pinched his fingers in calculation, and pointed at Ding Lanhui. 'Today, I share a fated bond with this lady.'

The wilted-looking Ding Lanhui could hardly believe it.

She pointed at herself. 'Master, really me?'

For a moment, she felt refreshed. Her luck didn't seem so bad after all—maybe fortune really was about to turn. Then tomorrow's...

Just thinking about it, Ding Lanhui felt her headache ease.

Su Fuling smiled and helped her sit down. 'The Master has spoken, so it must be right.'

The others immediately felt a twinge of indignation.

The middle-aged man at the front spoke up. 'Uncle, why her? We've been neighbors for years, at least.'

Zhao Facao looked at this man—this was Zhang Lei.

Even if he hadn't chosen Ding Lanhui, he wouldn't have chosen Zhang Lei either.

This man was truly ill, and difficult to treat.

'This isn't my decision—it's a bond ordained by heaven.'

'Pah, as if I don't know you...' Zhang Lei was angry, but he couldn't tear down the act now, so he could only stand aside in a huff. 'I'll just stand here and watch you divine for this fated one, see how you do it!'

The other two had been about to leave, but hearing this, they lingered like spectators drawn to a show.

Zhao Facao wasn't the least bit flustered.

If he couldn't handle a scene like this, all his years here would have been for nothing.

But he didn't take the lead now—he looked to Su Fuling instead.

Su Fuling smiled. 'Master Zhao, since today we have a fated one, why don't I take a look first? If I'm off, you can correct me.'

Ding Lanhui's face fell at once. 'What do you mean, you'll speak? You... how old are you?'

Su Fuling smiled. 'Auntie Ah, don't worry—I'll only speak about your condition, nothing else. Isn't Master Zhao here? With the Master present, your trip won't be wasted.'

Zhao Facao stroked his beard and nodded. 'Exactly.'

Ding Lanhui felt a sudden gloom. She'd thought she'd struck it lucky, only to find she was being used as a test subject.

But she'd come anyway, and getting a free Plaster wasn't a bad deal.

Free was free. Lately she needed all the luck she could get.

'Fine, then how do you plan to divine?'

Su Fuling smiled. 'Let me first describe Auntie Ah's situation. Listen, and if I'm wrong, the Master will follow up.'

Ding Lanhui sat up straight at once. 'Then go ahead.'

Su Fuling studied her complexion, recalling the cases she'd seen with her grandfather, the patients she'd treated herself, and the diagnosis the System had just provided. Her mind was made up.

Seeing the patient was the first step—getting them to accept treatment was no easy matter.

She couldn't rush into treatment, couldn't ask too many questions. She had to reveal her hand first—show what she could do.

Su Fuling wouldn't have dared this before, because she genuinely hadn't had the skill to reveal her hand. But now the System had solved that problem for her.

'Auntie Ah, you've been sleeping poorly lately—even insomnia, in fact—and this has gone on for no less than half a month.'

The words were stated with certainty, showing confidence in her diagnosis.

'...' Ding Lanhui had only been listening casually, ready to watch the young woman embarrass herself, but that opening line alone startled her.

It was too accurate. Insomnia might be guessed from her complexion, but knowing the exact number of days... that was too much of a coincidence.

Zhao Facao saw Ding Lanhui's reaction and knew Su Fuling had hit the mark. For a moment, he was surprised by the young Su Fuling.

So she really did have some skill.

The gawking Zhang Lei quickly asked, 'Was she right?'

Ding Lanhui said nothing.

Su Fuling smiled and continued. 'Not just insomnia—headaches too, and even pressure and pain in the eyes.'

Ding Lanhui: '...'

If she hadn't truly stumbled upon this place today, happened to see this signboard, she would have suspected the other party had investigated her. She hadn't even told her family about these symptoms, afraid of worrying them. How could this person know?

Zhang Lei asked, 'Is she right?'

Ding Lanhui ignored him and looked at Su Fuling. 'Little sister, please continue.'

Su Fuling's expression grew serious. 'The reason you're like this is that you've recently encountered something you care deeply about. And the results will come in the next two days. Every time you think of it, your headache worsens. To the point of nearly fainting.'

Ding Lanhui's hands trembled. She stood up at once, voice trembling with excitement. 'Master, you've truly read me accurately!'

Zhao Facao was stunned. What was happening—wasn't this just a medical consultation? Could a consultation reveal this much?

And it seemed extremely accurate?

Zhao Facao even suspected the two might be colluding to swindle him out of a Plaster.

A two-dollar Hong Kong Plaster... surely not worth it...

The onlookers were completely baffled.

What was happening? She'd just been accurate? Without asking anything? Fortune-telling usually requires questions first, right?

Zhang Lei was even more incredulous. He hadn't actually come to old Zhao because he believed in Zhao Facao—as a neighbor, Zhao Facao had long lost his mystique for him.

How much skill he really had, Zhang Lei had a rough idea. He'd come purely for the spectacle—free things shouldn't be wasted.

And now he'd actually run into a real expert?

Could Zhao Facao have set this up to drum up business...

The other two who hadn't been chosen watched Ding Lanhui intently, then looked at Su Fuling.

No way. They'd assumed free meant junk—had they actually encountered someone with real skill? Just a coincidence...

No matter what the onlookers suspected, Ding Lanhui, as the person involved, truly believed.

Because she knew this was her first time meeting Su Fuling, yet this little sister... the Master knew her far too clearly.

Ding Lanhui, who had been on edge for days, now felt as if she'd grasped a lifeline. She quickly asked, 'Master, what do you think the outcome will be?'

Su Fuling said, 'That depends on you. But if you listen to me, I can ease your symptoms now, and after that, we'll continue.'

Speak first, then apply treatment, then prescribe medicine... Su Fuling was well-versed in this sequence. She'd used the same approach with patients who didn't trust her before.

Ding Lanhui nodded at once.

Zhao Facao heard this and was distraught. He'd only agreed to a free divination, not to solving the problem!

If they couldn't solve it, wouldn't that ruin his reputation?

And solving problems cost extra.

Zhao Facao decided he'd have to take this over later, before this young Su Fuling smashed his reputation.

With a few words he could send the person away—right or wrong, he'd have an explanation to smooth things over.

Su Fuling and Ding Lanhui didn't think that far ahead.

One was desperate for help, the other eager to treat—and so they hit it off immediately.

Ding Lanhui let Su Fuling begin treatment.

Without medicine on hand, Su Fuling could only use special techniques to massage Ding Lanhui's acupoints for relief. This step was to demonstrate her medical skill, earn the patient's trust, and lead her to accept further treatment from this young Doctor.

She didn't know the System's standards, but it would be best to get this Auntie Ah to accept her full treatment, to secure the Merit Points. And she was confident she could cure this illness.

Because she had genuinely encountered such a case before.

Back in the village, there had been a sent-down youth preparing for the college entrance exam who had developed the same symptoms a month before the exam.

She'd prescribed a course of medicine and used manual techniques to massage them. In just two days, the symptoms had eased and they'd recovered.

Physical illness caused by anxiety, as long as it hadn't lasted too long, was still treatable.

So she'd deliberately hinted to the patient that she had a way to solve the problem, easing their emotions, and now used special techniques to relieve their stress. The effect would be more pronounced.

Sure enough, the massage relaxed Ding Lanhui's scalp completely.

If they weren't on the street, she would have been ready to lie down on a bed and sleep for hours.

But the thought of tomorrow's matter brought her back to alertness.

She'd truly met a real expert.

Ding Lanhui thought of certain legends—some people are born with spiritual wisdom, born with the heavenly eye.

If not for the heavenly eye, how could this young Master see so clearly?

She hadn't even said a word. The other party had not only seen the problem, but even the timing of when her matter would reach its conclusion—almost exactly. Tomorrow really was within these two days.

After Su Fuling stopped, Ding Lanhui, the person involved, no longer dared to underestimate the seemingly young Master.

'Master, please show me the way!' Before Su Fuling could speak, Ding Lanhui had already pulled out her wallet and placed several hundred Hong Kong dollars on the table.

Zhao Facao's eyes widened. He hadn't expected this—this young sister from the Mainland could swindle even better than him!

Zhang Lei said, 'You two aren't putting on an act, are you?'

Ding Lanhui was far less polite with him. 'Shut up, don't disturb the Master speaking.'

Then she looked at Su Fuling with eager anticipation.

Zhao Facao worked hard to signal Su Fuling with his eyes, hinting they should step aside to talk.

He'd seen it clearly—today this 'fated one' had truly run into trouble, and was getting desperate enough to try anything. This kind of person's money was the easiest to make.

But Su Fuling had no intention of cooperating to swindle Ding Lanhui.

Her goal was only to treat Ding Lanhui.

So she smiled and waved her hand. 'Keep your money. Today we said free, so it's free. Actually, your problem isn't serious—two courses of medicine will fix it.'

Ding Lanhui: '...Aren't I on a run of bad luck lately?'

Zhao Facao quickly added, 'You are on bad luck, and that needs a solution. Otherwise, at best you'll trip while walking, at worst you'll lose money.'

Ding Lanhui's face changed at Zhao Facao's words. What she feared most right now was losing money.

Su Fuling didn't want to damage Zhao Facao's reputation either, so she didn't argue about whether it was scientific or not. She simply sidestepped the question and answered, 'Let's not discuss luck for now. Your problem is mainly physical changes caused by emotions. Auntie Ah, you can feel the changes in your body now. I have extensive experience with this. I'll prescribe two simple courses of medicine for you to take. If you don't dare take medicine, I can teach you some relief methods...'

Ding Lanhui didn't care about her body now. She grabbed Su Fuling's hand. 'Master, let's set aside the body for now. Help me with the bad luck—name your price.'

The watching Zhang Lei and the others: '...'

Su Fuling: '...'

Zhao Facao stroked his beard, thinking the Mainland sister was young and didn't understand the world. Some people believed in this stuff—the more you told them not to, the more they believed.

The more you refused to give them a solution, the more unhappy they became.

He figured this person's problem was related to money—money was about to go wrong, who would care about their body? This Mainland sister just didn't understand.

He reminded her, 'Sister Su, young people should see and learn more. Don't keep this lady waiting. Today's divination, you've already done your part. Let me handle the solution.'

Su Fuling: '...My Merit Points aren't in hand yet, so seeing her doesn't count.'

She had only wanted to use Zhao Facao's setup to find patients willing to let her treat them, then build trust and proceed with treatment to earn Merit Points. She hadn't expected that after accepting her diagnosis, this person wouldn't care about her body at all—she wanted fortune-telling instead.