Chapter 372 371: Polite Refusal

A celebratory atmosphere filled the Qiao residence.

Qiao Canhua had prepared a magnificent feast. He gestured politely toward Mu Lin and said, "Mu Lin, I hope you'll do me the honor!"

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "Of course. How could I possibly refuse? That would be terribly rude of me!"

Everyone sat down at the table. After some lively conversation, Li Hong spoke up. "Mu Lin, your skills are so incredible, I'm thoroughly impressed. Have you ever considered working as a doctor at the Third Hospital?"

Qiao Canhua's eyes lit up as well. He had long hoped to convince Mu Lin to stay. Having him remain in Lanyang would be a wonderful thing.

Madam Qiao, who had come to see Mu Lin as one of her own, enthusiastically joined in trying to persuade him to stay.

But Mu Lin replied calmly, "I appreciate everyone's kind intentions, but I don't have a medical license. Not only would the Government come after me for practicing illegally, but I doubt any patients would feel comfortable letting me treat them."

That... was a valid point. The others exchanged glances.

Li Hong said, "I can help you with the license. It's just a matter of pulling a few strings."

"Are you asking me to fake my qualifications?" Mu Lin asked coolly, leaving Li Hong speechless for a moment.

"Ah... that's not what I meant. Your case is a perfect fit for a 'Proven Expertise' license in traditional Chinese medicine. All you need are recommendations from three licensed practitioners, and you can be officially certified."

Mu Lin smiled. "But I've already offended plenty of doctors. Bringing up this 'Proven Expertise' now... I'm not sure who that would be a slap in the face to. Uncle Li, please just let me be a quiet, unassuming local physician."

Li Hong understood. Mu Lin truly had no interest. It was a shame.

If a Divine Doctor like him were to stay in Lanyang, it would be a huge blessing for the city's residents.

But if it couldn't be helped, so be it.

Shaking off his disappointment, he changed the subject. "Old Qiao, your construction projects have been plagued by accidents recently. What's going on? Have you found a solution?"

Qiao Canhua's expression turned grim. "I've already hired several feng shui masters and paid them a small fortune, but the accidents keep happening. It's made no difference..."

Mu Lin's expression suddenly changed. "Uncle Qiao," he asked, "you're having accidents at your construction sites? What kind of situation?"

He was suddenly reminded of the construction site accident he had witnessed.

Qiao Canhua let out a long sigh. "Lately, I don't know if it's just terrible luck or if I'm cursed. My sites here in Lanyang have had one accident after another. Several workers have died, and I've had to pay out a fortune in compensation."

"I was even formally questioned. In fact, it was your Uncle Li who signed the notice. I met with the heads of the Safety Supervision Bureau. We were completely transparent with each other. They know my company has an excellent safety record, but the accidents just keep happening."

"Just before I came to see your aunt today, I was dealing with a case where a worker fell from the scaffolding. I had just finished paying out the compensation."

Li Hong added, "In the past few days, your Uncle Qiao has paid out at least fifty million. Every morning, when I get my daily briefing, news of a death at one of his sites is always one of the top stories... This can't go on..."

Mu Lin finally understood. 'No wonder they're all so worried.'

'This is a genuine crisis.'

Mu Lin said, "These can't be accidents. Someone must be causing them intentionally."

"The Patrol Officers took the bodies to be autopsied, but everything came back normal. No issues were found at all. That just makes the whole thing even stranger."

Mu Lin nodded slowly. "How about you take me to have a look tomorrow?"

Qiao Canhua was taken aback. "The construction site is dangerous. What would you do there? What if there's an accident and you get hurt? What then?"

Mu Lin smiled. "Uncle Qiao, have you forgotten my line of work? Going to construction sites is part of the job, isn't it? It's fine. I just need to be a little careful."

Qiao Canhua had a flash of realization. For Mu Lin, a project manager at a construction company, not visiting a site would be unheard of.

He had been worrying too much. Still, the site was perfectly ordinary; he didn't know what there could possibly be to see.

'Even if he goes to the site, what could he possibly find? It's ridiculous.'

Mu Lin said, "I want to see if there's anything out of the ordinary."

Qiao Canhua wasn't particularly interested in this idea. "Your Uncle Li has already sent Patrol Officers to investigate, and they said everything is normal. Besides, tomorrow a feng shui master I've hired from Di Yang for a great deal of money is coming to survey the site."

Mu Lin's eyes narrowed, but he smiled faintly. "So you're saying you don't need my help?"

"No, that's not what I mean. It's just that this whole business is fraught with danger, and it's most likely directed at me. I don't want you getting too deeply involved, my young friend. Besides, feng shui and medicine are two very different fields. Mu Lin, you might not be able to help. It's better to leave this to the professionals."

Li Hong chimed in, "The Patrol Officer captain I assigned is quite famous. He's cracked many major cases. A worksite death like this shouldn't be too much for him."

Mu Lin laughed. "Well, in that case, I'm even more interested in going to watch and learn. Why not bring me along? I promise to go as an observer, to learn. I won't say a word or interfere. How about it?"

Seeing Mu Lin put it that way, Qiao Canhua knew it was useless. Mu Lin was the type of person who, knowing there was a tiger on the mountain, would head for that very mountain. It would be impossible to stop him.

He had no choice but to agree. "If you want to have a look, Mu Lin, then of course you can. Just come by tomorrow."

Mu Lin said, "Great, I'll definitely be there!"

"What's all this talk about coming over? Mu Lin, why don't you just stay the night here?"

Mu Lin gave a wry smile. "I wish I could, that would be wonderful. But I've only finished half of the treatment for Chairman He's mother. He just called to ask if I was bailing on him. Of course I wouldn't do that."

Since he had other obligations, Qiao Canhua couldn't insist. He warmly saw Mu Lin out.

Mu Lin returned to the hospital to complete the treatment for He Zongshan's mother.

After he finished, she slowly began to regain consciousness. But having been unresponsive for so long, her reactions were sluggish.

When He Zongshan saw his mother awaken, he was overcome with emotion. He immediately dropped to his knees and kowtowed to Mu Lin before breaking down in tears.

Mu Lin turned and left the room, only to see Yun Cheng peeking at him from behind a glass partition.

"I never would have guessed He Zongshan was such a devoted son. It just goes to show, you often find true character in the most unexpected people..."

Mu Lin said, "It is quite moving. Have you ever heard the name Elder Deng?"

"Elder Deng?" Yun Cheng pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't think so. I don't believe there's anyone by that name in Lanyang."

Mu Lin frowned slightly. 'This Elder Deng has been mentioned repeatedly by different people. That means he must exist.'

'But if the Military Suppression Bureau hasn't been able to find him yet, it means he's not only powerful but also very good at hiding.'

Seeing Mu Lin's expression, Yun Cheng knew this Elder Deng was important to him. He saw an opportunity to curry favor and immediately asked:

"Mr. Mu, if you'd like to learn more, I can help you investigate. Do you know what he looks like?"

Mu Lin said, "I don't. And don't bother investigating. I was just asking on a whim."

Since Mu Lin said so, Yun Cheng had no choice but to drop the subject.

'What a shame,' he thought. 'I just missed a perfect opportunity to get on his good side. A real shame.'

"Oh, Mr. Mu, there's one more thing I need to tell you. You know that Grandmaster you fought at the hospital today? The one in the white coat who was with Wei Dingguo? He's a wanted fugitive."

Mu Lin froze for a moment, then a smile spread across his face. "Excellent. Evil is repaid in kind. Those who do wrong will always be punished in the end. Heaven's net is vast; its meshes are wide, but nothing escapes."

Yun Cheng nodded in agreement. "It's a good thing you injured him, Mr. Mu. Otherwise, if I had to face him at his peak, the best I could have hoped for was to end up severely wounded and bedridden for six months."

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "It was nothing worth mentioning. By the way, before you came to help me, weren't you pursuing a Grandmaster-level fugitive? Is there any news on him? Don't tell me he got away."

Yun Cheng thought, 'I don't dare bring that up. If I told him the truth, it would be like I was trying to hold him accountable, and that would be an incredibly awkward scene.'

"That's a minor issue. If we didn't catch him, another team will continue the pursuit. It's not a big deal."

Mu Lin nodded slowly. "If that's the case, then that's fine. Still, I feel I owe you for that one. Give me his file. If I happen to run into him, I'll turn him over to you."

Yun Cheng said, "There's no need, really! It's not a big deal at all."