"The problem is clear: you need medication and very strong psychological suggestion.
Old Pang, this is a difficult problem.
I'm afraid I can't completely cure you. I need to continue my research on psychological ailments."
Zhao An paused, feigning helplessness. "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry about earlier. I was just diagnosing Old Pang. This drink is my apology."
"Oh, no, no, no.
Teacher, please, if you have any suggestions, please help my husband, Old Pang."
Mrs. Pang was a simple, honest farmer. She had followed her husband through thick and thin, and naturally hoped he would recover.
"Yes, teacher, you're too kind.
I should be thanking you, teacher. Let me offer you a drink."
Old Pang boldly picked up the glass and downed the rice wine in one gulp, without hesitation. That's the simplicity of mountain people.
"Teacher, please go ahead and do it. I'll cooperate with you."
Zhao An smiled, then shook his head. "Old Pang, I'll give you some acupuncture first, then you'll take your medicine on time every day. We'll see after a while.
This kind of illness can only be treated slowly. Once you're feeling better, we'll move on to the next stage."
"Okay, you're the doctor, I'll listen to you.
Teacher, let's have a drink! Do as you please, I'll drink."
Old Pang smiled spiritedly. As long as he could cure the illness, he didn't care about anything else.
The conversation flowed smoothly, and the dark night in the countryside added a touch of tranquility and peace.
Hengdu.
The Huang family was not at peace at this time. Bodyguards had been summoned, and professional black-clad bodyguards were gathered around the mansion, seemingly on high alert.
Every few minutes, men with hunting dogs walked by, raising the level of vigilance to the highest level.
In the courtyard, the old patriarch Huang, once the pillar of the Huang family, was coughing up blood incessantly. His face was ashen, his eyes were becoming cloudy, and even his body was emitting a foul stench.
As a person approaches death, their bodily functions decline, leading to various symptoms.
"Grandpa, you must hold on, Grandpa."
Huang Yu knelt before the bed, his face filled with grief and indignation. As the heir to the Huang family, the old patriarch had always cared for this eldest grandson, more than any of his other grandsons.
Humans aren't plants or trees; they can't be without feelings. Even if he was cold-hearted, he was still an outsider, and he still showed great respect to his elders.
Huang Li and his wife, Zhou Haiming, also stood by the bed, tears welling in their eyes.
Huang Li was in control of everything, having delegated most of the tasks to his eldest son.
He used to take care of his younger son, Huang Meng, but since Huang Meng became a eunuch, his impression of him had plummeted, and he even felt some disdain for him.
Thinking about how this unfilial son hadn't died in the car accident, what was the point of him living!
Such a eunuch son, utterly disgraceful!
Other immediate family members were in the room: the three Huang brothers, two sisters, and nephews and nieces.
Everyone had a solemn expression.
Regardless of whether they were truly sad, they had to at least feign sadness.
However, Huang Meng wasn't in the room; he was the only one missing.
At this moment, Huang Meng was drinking and smoking in the backyard, his expression shifting between laughter, ferocity, a sneer, and a dazed state.
His grandfather was dying, and instead of mourning, he was drinking here, showing no familial affection whatsoever.
Such a person didn't deserve to fight for a share of the spoils; he only deserved to live like a dog.
No one blamed Huang Meng; he had been abandoned.
The resources he previously controlled had been forcibly handed over to his eldest grandson by Old Master Huang, clearly indicating his abandonment.
In exchange, he'd receive a monthly allowance of five thousand yuan; forget about anything else.
For such a useless person.
Whether he's raising an illegitimate child or pursuing other ventures, what trouble can he cause without money?
Therefore, Huang Meng can freely drink and smoke here, and no one cares. What can be expected of a useless person?
Old Master Huang suffered a cardiovascular infarction, the kind that's incurable. He's currently in his final moments, experiencing a brief period of lucidity.
He had always been in good health, but over the past month, his health has slowly deteriorated.
Neither medication nor doctor visits have been very effective.
His initial problems weren't serious.
He only experienced dizziness and fatigue.
Everyone thought it was due to his age, but it was all due to poisoning.
The person who could find an opportunity to poison someone in the Huang family couldn't be an outsider.
So the answer is obvious: one of their own!
You can guard against a thief within your own family day and night, but it's hard to guard against one yourself!
Huang Meng grinned maliciously as he drank. Once the old man was dead, he would incite his uncles to vie for power and profit.
Without the old man's restraint, Huang Yu's assets would definitely be divided up.
He couldn't be a proper patriarch without appeasing the family members.
The poison Huang Meng had given the old man was carefully prepared, even containing some aphrodisiacs.
At his age, if he wasn't careful, his vitality would quickly be depleted.
"Oh no, the old man is gone!"
"Old man!
Waaah!"
"Grandpa, Grandpa!"
"Father, you can't just leave like this!"
Some were genuinely heartfelt, others feigned politeness.
Regardless of their true feelings, everyone wore a sorrowful or solemn expression.
With the old man gone, the network of relationships vanished with him!
The elderly are a stabilizing force, maintaining the network of relationships.
"To be old and not die is to be a thief"—this saying is not just a platitude.