Chapter 13 – Turned Away by the Miracle Doctor

The doorbell rang twice before the door finally opened.

A middle-aged man dressed in a spotless white Tang-style suit stepped out. His hair was thick and neatly parted in the middle, his complexion ruddy, and a string of Buddhist beads hung around his wrist. He looked refined and genteel, but his voice carried a chill of impatience, as though disturbed, when he asked:

“Who are you looking for?”

Su Rong bowed politely. “Hello, I injured my wrist before. I’d like to ask Doctor Hua to treat me.”

Hua Tuo was known for being elusive and exceptionally low-profile. Rumor had it that once his “Ghost Hand Divine Needle” was employed, even the King of Hell had to yield. But very few had ever truly seen him. Anyone who managed to find this place must have been directed here by someone.

As a miracle doctor, he wasn’t someone just anyone could see, nor did he treat everyone who came.

“There’s no miracle doctor here,” the man said curtly and started to turn back inside.

Su Rong quickly changed her approach. “Sir, could you please pass on a message? Tell him that Qingdai says she knows she was wrong, and she wants to go home.”

The man froze, mouth opening but no words coming out. After several seconds, he turned and went back inside, shutting the door.

“What does that mean? Not saying a word and just leaving us hanging outside?” Liu Xu asked in surprise. “Who is Qingdai?”

Su Rong shook her head. “I don’t know either. When I was in prison, an older woman taught me to say this.”

Li Nan had told her: if Hua Tuo refused to see her, she should give him this message. He never explained who Qingdai was. Qingdai was also the name of a medicinal herb, so it must have had some special connection to Hua Tuo.

About ten minutes later, the same man opened the door again. His name was Zhang Shuo, Hua Tuo’s assistant, who accompanied him most of the time.

Su Rong and Liu Xu looked at him with eager eyes, almost stepping across the threshold.

But Zhang Shuo blocked them. “Mr. Hua won’t be seeing patients for the time being. Please leave.”

Both of them were crestfallen.

Su Rong quickly pleaded, “Since Mr. Hua is at home, I’ll just wait at the door until he’s willing to see me.”

“As you wish. But keep your distance. Mr. Hua doesn’t like to be disturbed,” Zhang Shuo said before turning back.

Su Rong hurriedly stepped forward, raising her wrist to show him. At the very least, the miracle doctor had to know her condition.

“Sir, my wrist was injured two years ago. The meridians were damaged. Because it wasn’t treated properly at the time, it left lasting problems. Please, tell Doctor Hua.”

Zhang Shuo stared at her hand, then asked bluntly, “How did it happen? Where did you get this injury?”

Su Rong’s eyes reddened. “In prison… Someone smashed my hand with a hot iron. They struck the back of my hand and wrist hard. They wanted to ruin my right hand too, but an older inmate stopped them just in time.”

“You’ve been to prison?” Zhang Shuo looked astonished.

“Yes. Three years. For running someone over.”

She wanted to explain she’d been framed, but who would believe her? At least it wasn’t murder—more like an accident.

Zhang Shuo said nothing further and shut the door again.

Liu Xu looked worried. “If you told them that, won’t they hold it against you?”

Su Rong took a deep breath. “I don’t know. But since he asked, I had no choice but to tell the truth.”

“Let’s go wait in the car,” Liu Xu said, feeling tired from standing.

“Drive the car farther away and sit inside. I’ll wait by the roadside,” Su Rong insisted, remembering they’d been told not to disturb the household.

Her wrist throbbed with sharp, needling pain—attacks that came at random times daily, sometimes lasting half an hour. Lately the pain had worsened, making her break out in sweat. Clutching her left wrist firmly, she became even more determined to be cured. Without treatment, she wouldn’t be able to do anything.

Liu Xu came back with two bottles of water and sat beside her. “Can they see us from the house if we sit here? Are we too far?”

Su Rong’s face was drawn with pain. “I already told that man we wouldn’t leave. Beyond that, it’s out of my control.”

“Is your hand hurting again?” Liu Xu gently massaged her wrist. “Should I try knocking again?”

“No. Everyone has their rules. Sitting here is enough,” Su Rong gritted her teeth. “Liu Xu, you don’t need to stay with me. You can go home.”

“I’m not leaving. I said I’d stay with you.” Liu Xu thought back to their meeting with the assistant. “Do you think it’s because we didn’t bring a gift, so he didn’t want to entertain us?”

Su Rong shook her head. Li Nan had told her no gifts were needed. “That shouldn’t be it. Besides, I’m willing to pay medical fees.”

“These reclusive masters are always aloof. We’ll just have to wait and show our sincerity,” Liu Xu comforted her.

By noon, the sky was overcast, threatening rain.

Liu Xu frowned at the villa gate. “But isn’t a doctor’s duty to treat patients? Why shut us out?”

Su Rong smiled faintly. “He never put up a clinic sign. This is his home. He has no obligation to treat anyone.”

Liu Xu grew restless. “So we’re just going to sit here? Don’t you have any more information about him? Something we could do to move him?”

Su Rong shook her head. “No. Other than waiting, I don’t know what else to do.”

“Fine. Then we wait.”

The area was remote—probably no food deliveries reached here. “I’m a little hungry. I’ll go find something to eat.”

“Go ahead,” Su Rong nodded, determined to stay.

Liu Xu returned with two boxed meals, which they ate quietly before cleaning up the containers.

By evening, the rain began to drizzle. Damp weather made Su Rong’s wrist ache like a thousand needles pricking her.

Unable to bear it, Liu Xu ran up and pressed the doorbell again, three times in a row.

When Zhang Shuo opened the door, his face darkened. “Why are you still here?”

Liu Xu bowed repeatedly. “Sir, my friend is in terrible pain. Please, let her see Doctor Hua. I beg you!”

Zhang Shuo glanced at Su Rong in the distance, pale and writhing with pain. But he showed no pity.

“Don’t you understand? Mr. Hua said he’s not seeing patients. Leave at once! And stop ringing the bell!” He slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Liu Xu’s eyes welled with tears. “What kind of miracle doctor is this? No compassion at all! We’ve waited all day and he won’t even show his face. Rongrong, what do we do?”

Su Rong had no answer. Other than waiting, she felt powerless.

“He said he won’t take patients for now. Maybe we should come back another time?” Liu Xu suggested, worried her friend’s health couldn’t endure much longer.

But Su Rong shook her head. Finding this place and confirming Hua Tuo was home was already rare. He was so elusive—if she missed this chance, who knew when the next would come?

“I can’t leave. No matter how long it takes, I must wait. Liu Xu, you’ve already been with me all day. Go home and rest.”

“Don’t be silly. If you won’t go, how can I? Fine then—we wait, until that so-called miracle doctor finally agrees to see you!”

…

Meanwhile, at another place, Sheng Qiye stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching raindrops slide down the glass.

Leng Xiao arrived, finishing his work report before casually mentioning:
“Su Rong didn’t show up at Imperial Palace today.”