The surroundings fell into dead silence. Qingluan was startled by Squire Zhao's sudden thunderous rage, and instinctively turned her gaze toward Lu Li at the medicine cabinet.
Lu Li's hand paused slightly while sorting herbs, her expression remaining as cool and composed as still water.
The middle-aged man, his face contorted with fury, his goatee bristling with anger, pointed an accusing finger at Du Zi'an and spoke with bitter regret: "Du Zi'an, the Huichun Medical Hall represents the foundation your father toiled to establish! Even though the clinic now struggles financially and expenses exceed income, it was built through your father's hard work and dedication. How could you allow it to be so carelessly destroyed?"
"When have I ever wasted it?" Du Zi'an replied with confusion.
"You hired a young girl as your resident physician—this would disturb your father's rest even in the grave!"
"Why shouldn't I employ a young woman as a doctor?" Du Zi'an asked, completely bewildered. "If our clinic had a beautiful resident physician, my father would likely feel proud even in the afterlife. Even if he couldn't rest peacefully in the underworld, he'd be overjoyed."
"You—" Squire Zhao choked with rage, turning his ire directly on Lu Li. "Young girl, you don't know any better, using the pretense of a resident physician to swindle people. Get out of here now! Don't think Du Zi'an is young and naive enough to fall for your tricks." He then turned to Du Zi'an. "I was entrusted by your father's dying wish—I absolutely cannot watch you sink deeper and ruin your future!"
After this muddled tirade, everyone in the room stared at each other in stunned silence.
Lu Li's mind instantly became clear.
So Squire Zhao had mistaken her for an unscrupulous charlatan.
After a moment of silence, Du Zi'an cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uncle, Doctor Lu isn't some swindler—she's a legitimate attending physician."
"You've ever seen a resident physician this young?" Squire Zhao lamented. "Zi'an, if you let her run your clinic, what will people think of you? They'll only say your clinic isn't even sincere enough in its deception—it's gone completely astray! I'm telling you—"
A cup of hot tea was gently set on the table before Squire Zhao.
The squire froze.
Lu Li stood up and looked at him calmly. "You have a swollen oral ulcer, sir, with burning heat and pain. You must avoid agitation and frustration most of all. Even if you're angry, perhaps drink this cup of warm tea first—it will help disperse the toxin and clear your heart to reduce the fire."
Squire Zhao instinctively responded, "Thank you." He lifted the teacup and took a sip, then suddenly came to his senses, glaring at Lu Li. "How do you know I have an oral ulcer?"
Lu Li smiled faintly and offered no reply.
Du Zi'an hastily pushed Xiaofu aside and squeezed forward with a sycophantic smile. "Uncle, I've told you—Doctor Lu is truly skilled in medicine, definitely not some swindler. The nasal congestion remedy you took? That was personally prepared by Doctor Lu. Right, Xiaofu?"
Xiaofu nodded vigorously like a pestle.
Now Squire Zhao was genuinely surprised. He looked Lu Li up