Chen Jun's words turned the rapport between them into awkwardness. He and Ning Tao never really met, but he was too rude to say that. In fact, he was embarra.s.sing Ning Tao in front of Jiang Hao and Liang Keming.

Ning Tao took his hand back.

Getting a little angry, Jiang Hao quipped, "Chief Chen, what do you mean?"

"This boy is too young. If he were in our hospital, he could only be an intern. He simply doesn't have the experience or the qualifications to see patients clinically," stated Chen Jun. "Before I came to Shan City this time, Academician Liang asked me to partic.i.p.ate in Lin Qinghua's diagnosis and treatment as an a.s.sistant to a miracle doctor. Is this boy the miracle doctor?"

That was why he was so unfriendly to Ning Tao when he first met him. As a famous doctor who came from the big city Beidu, the local chief physician of his level in his eyes was inferior to him. How could he be willing to work as an a.s.sistant for Ning Tao who was just a boy?

Before Ning Tao could say something, Chen Jun continued, "Boy, do you have a medical license?"

"Yes, what's up?" Ning Tao shot back.

"Show me your medical license," demanded Chen Jun.

"Why should I show it to you?" responded Ning Tao lightly. "I am neither an intern of your hospital nor your disciple. Why should I listen to your request?"

Chen Jun was more challenging than demanding a look at his medical license. Compet.i.tion among peers was common. After all, everyone wanted to be the best in the business. However, Chen Jun was too arrogant. He looked down on Ning Tao and tried to teach Ning Tao a lesson the first time they met. In that case, Ning Tao didn't think he needed to be polite to him anymore.

"Humph! You don't have a medical license, do you?" Chen Jun gave a cold snort, in a skeptical and contemptuous tone of voice.

The atmosphere in the room turned more awkward and a little tense.

"Doctor Ning, I know it's a little rude, but please show us your medical license to avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding," mediated Liang Keming.

Jiang Hao gave Ning Tao a nudge.

Ning Tao then pulled the new-gotten medical license that Jiang Hao gave him a few minutes ago out of his pants pocket and hands it to Liang Keming. It was not because Liang Keming was more polite than Chen Jun to him, but because he didn't want Jiang Hao to be put on the spot.

Liang Keming took one look at the medical license and then handed it to Chen Jun.

Chen Jun just took a glance at the medical license as well and then roughly tossed it to Ning Tao.

Ning Tao didn't reach for the medical license, letting it fall on his chest before falling to the floor.

Jiang Hao bent over, picked up the medical license, and put it back in Ning Tao's pants pocket. Now she was thoroughly provoked. "Chief Chen, what do you mean by that?"

Without a word of apology, Chen Jun replied haughtily, "I've treated several leaders. I'm a famous and respected doctor in the medical field of Beidu. You want me to be an a.s.sistant to a boy? Are you kidding? No way!"

"I don't need an a.s.sistant like you," announced Ning Tao blandly.

Liang Keming gave a dry cough and intervened again. "Chief Chen, the main purpose of our trip from Beidu is to find out the relations.h.i.+p between Lin Qinghua's illness and his project of ancestor seeking and to cure him. Only when Lin Qinghua is cured will we know the secrets of the drug and the material. The superior takes this matter very seriously, so I beg you two to set aside your prejudices and cooperate."

"I have brought my best disciples here and I'm fully confident of completing the task," Chen Jun popped out. "As I said, I'm not going to be an a.s.sistant to a boy."

Looked at Ning Tao, Liang Keming hesitated for a while and said, "Well, why don't... Doctor Ning, why don't you work for Chief Chen as an a.s.sistant?"

"I'm used to being on my own," replied Ning Tao courtly. "I'm not going to be an a.s.sistant to anyone, and I don't need a self-righteous man to be my a.s.sistant."

"Who do you call self-righteous?" Enraged, Chen Jun raised his hand, pointed at Ning Tao and snapped, "Make it clear! My medical achievements in the medical field of Beidu are beyond what you can achieve in your lifetime. No one has ever dared to say such a thing in front of me!"

"I know you're from Beidu, and you're a famous doctor there. You're a senior and an elder to me so I won't dispute with you," said Ning Tao calmly. "Well, let's not interfere with each other. When you and your disciples diagnose Lin Qinghua, I don't interfere, and you could not get involved in Lin Qinghua's diagnosis when I treat him."

"Humph!" Chen Jun snorted coldly.

Liang Keming smiled and said, "I think that's a good idea. Our goal is the same—to heal Lin Qinghua and find the truth."

In Hua Country, competent people did not always get the corresponding social status. They also needed a certain social ability, which was how to be a person. Liang Keming became a member of the academy of sciences at such a young age, because he not only had high IQ but also high EQ. How could his social ability be poor?

"Well, which of you is going to see the patient first?" Liang Keming started making arrangements immediately.

"I'll go first," Chen Jun said, not wanting to give Ning Tao a chance.

Ning Tao smiled faintly and replied, "All right, I'll see Lin Qinghua when there's nothing you and your disciples can do."

"You!" Chen Jun felt offended again.

"But we need a time limit," suggested Ning Tao. "I don't want to waste my time waiting for you and your disciples. Well, I'll wait for you for three days from now on. Three days later, if you haven't found the cause or decided a feasible treatment plan, I'll start treating Lin Qinghua."

Chen Jun laughed angrily. "Academician Liang, you see, how conceited this boy is! I really don't understand why he was asked to do something so important."

"This is the decision made by the superior based on Miss Jiang's report. I don't know what the superior thinks," echoed Liang Keming.

This understatement put the blame on Jiang Hao, and he also wanted Jiang Hao to explain.

Jiang Hao had been holding back her anger, but now she couldn't take it anymore. "I did recommend Doctor Ning. What's the matter? Do you have a problem with that? You're here because Doctor Ning found Lin Qinghua's drug and material."

"Hehe." Liang Keming smiled lightly. "Don't get mad, Miss Jiang. Let's just make it three days. If Chief Chen and his disciples can't treat Lin Qinghua, Doctor Ning starts seeing Lin Qinghua, and the term is also three days. If Doctor Ning fails either, we'll have to think about other options."

"If my team and I can't solve a problem in three days, he can't solve it even in three years," Chen Jun commented while twirling the antique walnut in his hand.

Ning Tao let out a laugh and said, "Three days? No, I only need three hours."

"Three hours?" cried Chen Jun, as if he had been trampled on. "Stop boasting. You have no knowledge! You can't even do a routine exam in three hours, let alone find the cause and give the patient the right medicine. I even wonder if you are a doctor, given your stupid remarks!"

"In three days you will know if I am a doctor. See you," Ning Tao said and then turned to leave.

"Wait for me." Jiang Hao chased him.

Liang Keming looked at Ning Tao's back with a meaningful smile on his lips.

"What is it, Academician Liang?" shouted Chen Jun disapprovingly. "Asking me to work with an intern who has no common sense? It's like hitting me in the face!"

Liang Keming answered airily, "Chief Chen, Jiang Hao is from the National Bureau of Special Affairs. She has a very high authority. Her report carries a lot of weight. Ning Tao was recommended by her, and the higher-ups asked you to be his a.s.sistant. Although I am in charge of this trip to Shan City, I can't defy the order above, right? I've just done my best to give you and your team the chance to act on your own. You'd better lead your disciples to solve the problem immediately. As soon as you guys get this straightened out, will Ning Tao have a chance?"

"You're right," Chen Jun agreed. "I'll make that boy understand there is always someone bigger than him!"

The smile on Liang Keming's face widened.

In the hallway, Jiang Hao caught up with Ning Tao and apologetically stated, "I'm sorry, I didn't expect they'd be so rude to you."

"It's none of your business. You don't have to apologize to me," Ning Tao responded with a smile.

"It's my fault, I didn't get things done in advance," Jiang Hao said.

"It's not your fault," Ning Tao comforted her. "Even if you had done everything ahead of time, Chen Jun and Liang Keming would not have changed their att.i.tude. They are used to standing on top. They've never looked up to ordinary people like me, much less asked them to be my a.s.sistants. And it involves the attribution of credit after the matter is solved. It's normal for them to push me aside, so don't take it to your heart."

Jiang Hao was relieved and a rare smile appeared on her lips. "I understand after hearing what you said. No wonder after you said you only needed three hours, Liang Keming still asked Chen Jun and his disciples to treat Lin Qinghua first. He obviously doesn't want you to take credit. And me, I'm the one who recommended you."

Ning Tao smiled and said, "Looks like you aren't stupid. You understood immediately from my a.n.a.lysis."

"How dare you laugh at me?" Jiang Hao exclaimed and suddenly punched Ning Tao on the shoulder.

Although it didn't hurt, Ning Tao pretended to be in pain, and cried, "Ouch, ouch..."

"Your acting is terrible." Jiang Hao was amused by him.

The door of a ward at the end of the hallway suddenly opened, and Lin Qingyu appeared at the door and silently looked at Ning Tao and Jiang Hao.

Ning Tao stopped crying.

Jiang Hao stopped smiling.

The next second, Jiang Hao mumbled in a voice that only she could hear, "d.a.m.n, why am I embarra.s.sed? Who is she?"