As Zhou Yahhu leaped up, the surrounding onlookers generally understood what was happening, let alone the professional doctors.
Qiao Ling was the first to speak up for Lu Ming.
She pointed at Zhou Chonghu and said, "Deputy Director Zhou, how could you do such a despicable thing? Making your brother feign death to deliberately frame Lu Ming and ruin the reputation of China's Divine Doctor! Is this what the Medical Association should be doing?"
The surrounding crowd joined in with insults and accusations.
Seeing that his scheme was exposed, Zhou Chonghu stopped pretending.
He snorted coldly, took out a cigarette pack from his pocket, lit one, and said disdainfully, "I, Zhou Chonghu, am the Vice President of the Jinling Medical Association, and the President is getting old. In a few years, the presidential seat will be passed to me. In the Jinling medical community, I call the shots! China's Divine Doctor? Heh, how can he climb over my head?"
So, it was jealousy.
Qiao Ling said unhappily, "As a deputy director, your magnanimity is so narrow-minded?"
Zhou Chonghu chuckled coldly.
He continued, "Since things have been clarified, I won't pretend anymore. Now I give you two choices: either pack your things and get out of Jinling; or I will seal up Renzhi Pharmacy and send you to jail! You decide yourselves."
So ruthless?
Qiao Ling's brows furrowed, and she said, "On what grounds can you seal my pharmacy?"
"On what grounds? On the grounds that I am the Vice President of the Medical Association!"
Zhou Chonghu snapped his fingers, and several uniformed staff immediately walked over, holding seals.
He said, "To seal your pharmacy, I just need to give a reason. Poor hygiene, unqualified medicines, I have plenty of excuses!"
He waved his hand, and the staff walked towards the pharmacy with the seals.
Aggressively.
Qiao Ling became anxious, spread her arms to block the staff, and shouted, "Zhou Chonghu, you are shameless! With behavior like yours, are you still fit to be a deputy director? I will expose you!"
"Expose me? Hahahaha." Zhou Chonghu was amused. "The entire medical industry in Jinling, from top to bottom, is my people. I am the emperor of the medical industry! Expose me? Who can deal with me?"
Indeed.
In the medical industry, apart from the director, Zhou Chonghu held the highest position.
The problem was, the director was old and semi-retired, so Zhou Chonghu managed all matters within the Medical Association.
So, who could deal with him?
No one could!
This was the source of Zhou Chonghu's arrogant confidence.
"Seal up Renzhi Pharmacy!" Zhou Chonghu said brazenly, smoking his cigarette.
Qiao Ling was truly anxious and desperately tried to stop the staff from posting the seals.
At this moment.
Lu Ming said unexpectedly, "Zhou Chonghu, do you really think the Jinling medical industry is yours to command? Do you really think there's no one in Jinling who can deal with you?"
"Heh." Zhou Chonghu flicked his ash, saying disdainfully, "Who can deal with me? Tell me and see."
Lu Ming silently took out his phone.
He threatened, "Before I make this call, Zhou Chonghu, I advise you to restrain yourself. After all, we graduated from the same middle school. You're my senior, to some extent. For this small favor, I don't want to bring you down completely, as it wasn't easy for you to reach this position."
Hearing this, Zhou Chonghu was utterly amused.
He said, "Bring me down? Lu Ming, do you still think you are the young master of the Lu family from back then? Wake up, your Lu family was wiped out! You, no matter how skilled your medical art, are just a commoner. What can you do to fight me?"
Power is the most formidable weapon.
No matter how high one's medical skill, how great one's wealth, or how strong one's power, they all appear so fragile in the face of absolute power.
Zhou Chonghu dared to bully Lu Ming and Qiao Ling so unscrupulously precisely because of his high position and authority.
Just as the seals were about to be affixed.
Suddenly.
A car drove over and stopped on the road in front of Renzhi Pharmacy.
The car door opened, and an old man, trembling, stepped out.
Everyone looked up and saw that it was the patriarch of Renzhi Pharmacy, Qiao Ling's grandfather—Qiao Kaicheng!
The old man was nearly eighty and a towering figure in the Jinling medical industry. Although he held no real power, his words carried significant weight.
However, precisely because of his advanced age, he had not managed family affairs in recent years.
Almost all matters had been handed over to Qiao Ling.
It was unexpected for many to see Grandpa Qiao Kaicheng emerge from retirement today.
Especially Zhou Chonghu.
He might not care about a junior like Qiao Ling, who had no achievements and no prestige, but he absolutely could not ignore a senior like Qiao Kaicheng, who was highly respected in the medical industry!
"Stop!" Zhou Chonghu shouted.
All his subordinates stopped their actions, no longer moving randomly, and halted all sealing activities.
Qiao Kaicheng walked over with a faltering gait.
He glanced at Zhou Chonghu and said with displeasure, "Deputy Director Zhou, what great authority you wield. You intend to seal my century-old shop without a word?"
Zhou Chonghu said with a fawning smile, "Old Master Qiao, what are you saying? I am just following procedures."
"Following procedures?" Qiao Kaicheng chuckled and said, "Which procedures are you following? What crime has my Renzhi Pharmacy committed that requires Deputy Director Zhou to close it?"
Zhou Chonghu inwardly sneered.
They were both old foxes; there was no need to play games with each other.
Zhou Chonghu's expression became stern, and he said, "Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding. Today, I will give Old Master Qiao face and let bygones be bygones. However, Old Master Qiao, you must also discipline your granddaughter properly and not associate with disreputable people, or one day she will ruin this century-old Renzhi Pharmacy!"
The meaning was essentially clear.
Zhou Chonghu intended to deal with Lu Ming, but because Qiao Ling kept helping Lu Ming, Zhou Chonghu also targeted Qiao Ling.
As long as Qiao Ling didn't oppose Zhou Chonghu in the future, Zhou Chonghu wouldn't target Renzhi Pharmacy.
After all, the only person Zhou Chonghu wanted to deal with was Lu Ming!
How intelligent Qiao Kaicheng was, and how much experience he had, naturally understood the implied meaning in Zhou Chonghu's words.
He glanced at Lu Ming and said, "This person has no further connection with Renzhi Pharmacy."
To ruin a century-old shop for one person would certainly not be worthwhile.
Qiao Kaicheng's calculations were clear.
He was willing to abandon Lu Ming to save the pharmacy.
After all, he had no acquaintance with Lu Ming and no reason to confront Zhou Chonghu directly for his sake.
Zhou Chonghu smiled; this was the outcome he wanted!
But…
Unexpectedly.
Qiao Ling was the first to step forward, raising her head and saying, "No, I disagree! Lu Ming, I will protect him!"