Chapter 69: Family Ties, Turning from Kin to Foes

Li Chao hurried forward and helped Sun Peng up with all his strength, speaking sincerely, “Sun Peng, we’re brothers—don’t be so formal. I’ll do everything I can to help your father.” He patted his chest firmly. “Don’t worry. Leave this to me. But your father’s illness has dragged on a bit too long; he’ll probably need three rounds of treatment before he can make a full recovery.”

At these words, Sun Peng’s face broke into a radiant smile, and he said excitedly, “Three times? If you can cure my father, I’d go through it thirty times if needed!” But his expression soon turned hesitant and uneasy. In a low voice, he asked, “It’s just… the consultation fee…”

He knew all too well that he couldn’t afford any extra expenses in his current financial state.

Li Chao noticed his concern and smiled gently, his gaze falling softly on the dishes laid out on the table. “This meal is your fee,” he said quietly.

Sun Peng was stunned for a few seconds. Then, his eyes reddened, and this robust man of over six feet was suddenly sobbing, unable to compose himself. Never had he imagined that someone in this world would be willing to help him so selflessly, even offering his own medical skills in exchange for a simple meal. This kindness weighed on him heavier than a mountain, deeper than the sea.

Gripping Li Chao’s hand tightly, he choked out, “Brother, I’ll never forget your kindness for as long as I live. If you ever need anything, I, Sun Peng, would go through hell or high water for you!”

Li Chao laughed, patting him on the back in reassurance. “Enough now, don’t cry. We’re brothers—helping each other is what we should do. What matters now is treating your father and getting him well again as soon as possible.”

The two exchanged a smile, and in that moment, their profound brotherhood found its truest expression.

Li Chao moved swiftly and steadily, purchasing a box of silver needles from a nearby medical supply store before returning to the restaurant, his mind already formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan for the old man. He asked Sun Peng’s father to sit comfortably, then began to prepare for the treatment with complete focus.

Under the anxious gazes of everyone present, Li Chao produced the silver needles, meticulously disinfecting them with alcohol, every step radiating professionalism and confidence. His eyes were sharp and deep, as if they could penetrate the surface and see directly into the heart of the illness.

With a soft but commanding word, he inserted the first needle precisely into the Baihui point atop the old man’s head, executing the movement with breathtaking accuracy. Sun Peng stood by, his heart pounding, eyes following Li Chao’s every move. He knew all too well the risks involved in acupuncture, especially on the head, and could not help but clench his fists in silent anxiety. But then he thought, his father was already suffering so much—how much worse could things get? Since Li Chao was willing to help, he was their only hope.

With a deft flick of his wrist, Li Chao inserted the second, third, and fourth needles into the Qian Ding and other critical acupuncture points, each needle falling with the precision of an artist. In Li Chao’s hands, the silver needles seemed to take on life—not merely tools for healing, but bearers of hope and life itself.

Miraculously, as the needles sank deeper, a faint white mist began to rise from the old man’s crown, and his face flushed red as though he were in a steam bath. This sudden change made everyone present hold their breath, hearts filled with both hope and anxiety.

Li Chao remained as focused and composed as ever, knowing this was only the beginning—the real challenge still lay ahead.

Without hesitation, he extended his palm, fingertips gently pressing against the patient’s spine, steadily moving upward until they reached the nape of the neck. Then, in an instant, he applied a burst of pressure.

A deep, unsettling sound filled the air as Sun Peng’s father suddenly coughed up a mouthful of thick, dark blood—a sight that sent a chill through the room.

Disaster! Witnessing this, Sun Peng’s heart clenched in terror. He rushed to support his father’s swaying body, waves of self-reproach crashing over him. He blamed himself for his impatience, for entrusting his father to Li Chao, never imagining the treatment would be so dramatic, to the point of making his father cough up blood.

He helped his father sit back down and turned to Li Chao, his voice full of resignation and understanding: “Brother, let’s just stop here. You’ve already done your best.”

To Sun Peng, the treatment seemed to have failed. But recalling Li Chao’s good intentions, he couldn’t bring himself to blame him.

Before he finished speaking, a weak but clear call suddenly sounded behind him: “Xiao… Xiao Peng!”

What? Sun Peng started, whirling around. To his astonishment, he saw that his father’s eyes had regained their old clarity, the man himself transformed—full of vitality and energy, a far cry from his previous state.

“Dad, do you… do you still remember me?” Sun Peng’s voice trembled with emotion, the title “Dad” hanging in the air—a word he hadn’t uttered in years since his father’s accident.

Sun Peng’s father nodded slowly. Though the movement was a bit clumsy, this return of awareness was a leap forward compared to his former confusion.

Sun Peng burst out laughing, tears mingling with his joy—a laughter of relief and happiness intertwined. He turned again to Li Chao, eyes shining with disbelief and excitement. “Just a few needles, and the effect is so remarkable! Incredible! Brother, you’re nothing short of a miracle doctor!”

Li Chao smiled as he carefully withdrew the four silver needles, explaining, “I used a unique combination of acupuncture and manual techniques to clear the blocked blood vessels and meridians so that energy could flow again. ‘When there’s flow, there’s no pain; when there’s pain, there’s no flow’—that’s the principle. Still, your father’s illness has built up over time. You’ll need to bring him to me tomorrow and the day after for two more sessions if he’s to make a complete recovery.”

Sun Peng readily agreed, his gratitude overflowing. They finished their meal, the illness was treated, misunderstandings were cleared, and everything seemed to be moving in a brighter direction. The two shared a smile, all past estrangement dissolving, replaced by deep friendship and trust. They exchanged contact information and then walked out together.

Sun Peng’s father, visibly improved, walked steadily, no longer needing support. As they were about to part ways, a sedan quietly pulled up by the roadside and stopped. The doors opened, and a man and woman stepped out, bearing a strong family resemblance to Sun Peng, though the years had left their mark of maturity on their faces.

“Brother!” “Sister!” Sun Peng greeted them warmly—the newcomers were his elder brother Sun Jun and elder sister Sun Fang. Li Chao, standing nearby, raised his brows, having already guessed their identities; Sun Peng had mentioned his family briefly over dinner, and now all was clear.

However, Sun Jun and Sun Fang’s faces were heavy, their responses tinged with forced cheer and urgency. After a few curt exchanges, the three quickly gathered around their father, their concern plain to see. The air was tense, as if some hidden conflict was brewing.

Sun Fang’s eyes fell on her father, and she suddenly cried out, “Oh! There’s blood on Dad’s clothes! It’s still wet—he must have just bled!”

Her voice was full of shock and worry. Sun Jun stepped closer to check, then turned a cold, questioning gaze on Sun Peng. “What’s going on? Did you do something?”

Sun Peng hurriedly waved his hands in protest. “No, no, that’s just the stagnant blood he coughed up during treatment. We haven’t had a chance to change his clothes yet.” He tried to explain the misunderstanding.

But Sun Jun refused to listen, and in a burst of anger slapped Sun Peng hard across the face, cursing, “You bastard! You made Dad cough up blood, and you still have the nerve to talk!” His voice was full of rage and disappointment. “You keep whining about how much you’ve done, but I think you’re just an unfilial son!” He raised his fist as if to strike again.

Li Chao had been about to leave, but this scene made him pause. He stood nearby, expression cold, silently watching the family dispute unfold.

Sun Peng’s father trembled, wanting to intervene, but Sun Peng gently pulled him back protectively. Rubbing his stinging cheek, Sun Peng drew a deep breath and looked steadily at Sun Jun and Sun Fang. “Brother, Sister, since you’re both here today, let’s lay everything out. I admit I may not have done everything perfectly, but I’ve always tried my best to care for Dad.”

“Let’s all search our consciences!”

His words rang out like a hammer blow, echoing through the room and stirring everyone’s hearts. In Sun Peng’s voice was years of pent-up grievance and bitterness; his gaze was fierce, fixed on these two—his siblings in name, but so distant in reality.

“All these years Dad’s been sick, have you ever given a single cent?”

Each word ground out through clenched teeth, tinged with blood and tears, his chest heaving with the outpouring of long-suppressed emotion. He remembered the countless nights spent alone by his father’s bedside, feeding him medicine, wiping his body, telling stories—those lonely, helpless times now transformed into a sharp blade aimed at the coldness before him.

“Except for dropping by during the holidays, have you ever spent a single day caring for him?”

His accusations came rapid-fire, giving them no chance to breathe. His eyes blazed with resolve—he was after more than just answers; he was demanding an accounting for past injustices and a fair division of future responsibilities.

“Fine!” He inhaled deeply, as if steeling himself. “If you think I’m not doing a good job, then you take care of him yourselves!”

These words were both a challenge and a release. He wanted to see if, faced with their father’s health, family bonds could overcome selfishness and evasion.

“If you’re unwilling, we can each take a month in turn!”

His proposal was firm, brooking no argument. Sun Peng knew this was the fairest arrangement he could offer for his father and a reckoning for his own years of toil. Once, he had chosen silence, bearing all the hardship in order to protect the blood ties that bound them. But today, everything had changed. His father’s recovery was like a ray of spring sunlight breaking through the gloom, illuminating his resolve and courage.

Faced with his challenge, Sun Jun and Sun Fang’s expressions grew complicated. Sun Fang’s refusal pushed the family conflict to its peak.

“I’m a daughter! It’s up to you two brothers to look after him!” Her voice was shrill, but beneath it was a note of panic. She mentioned her son’s upcoming college entrance exams as an excuse to shirk responsibility, as if this could absolve her and ease her conscience.

Yet in this contest of conscience and duty, no one could remain uninvolved. Sun Peng’s stand was not just for his father, but to awaken the long-forgotten sense of kinship and responsibility in them all. He wanted to prove by his actions that true filial piety wasn’t a brief reunion at the holidays, but the steadfast, daily devotion borne out year after year.

Sun Jun looked to the sky, his tone tinged with helplessness and avoidance. “I’ve been busy at the shop lately!” He tried to use his busy schedule as a shield, but his words were feeble and hollow.

Then, “I’ll be on a business trip in a few days!”—his attempt at evasion plain as day.

Finally, “Don’t bring Dad to me!”—a cold, outright refusal to accept any responsibility for their father, his indifference chilling to the bone.

Sun Peng’s laughter rang out, sharp and bitter—a scornful response to the coldness of family ties and a lament for his own years of effort.

“So you’re not planning to take any responsibility, are you?” His voice was laced with disappointment and anger; the brother and sister before him now seemed like the most familiar strangers.

Sun Fang’s hesitation was brief; she quickly found a self-justifying excuse. “A married daughter is as good as water spilled on the ground!” she said, almost as if comforting herself, as if this could make her escape seem reasonable.

“I have every right not to care!” That sentence was not just a release for herself, but a complete betrayal of family duty.

Sun Jun’s posture grew more arrogant—one hand in his pocket, chin lifted as if he stood on the moral high ground. “You’ve always been the one looking after him, so just keep doing it!” His tone carried a sense of entitlement, as if Sun Peng’s sacrifice was only natural. “You can have the inheritance as payment later!” As if tossing him a bone, reducing the value of kinship to its lowest point.

Sun Peng’s retort was as sharp as a drawn blade. “Do we have any inheritance left besides those IOUs?” He cut through Sun Jun’s pretense, exposing the family’s true state.

Faced with the reality, Sun Jun could only wave his hand awkwardly. “Sort out the IOUs yourself—they’re nothing to do with me!” His evasion was shamelessly blatant.

“And don’t contact me again if there’s any more trouble!” Sun Jun’s words were final and cold, as if severing himself from the family for good. “Just treat him as your father alone!”

That was not only a taunt directed at Sun Peng, but an admission of his own utter abdication of responsibility.

In this contest of kinship, Sun Peng stood as the only one who remained steadfast. He smiled, but his smile was full of bitterness and helplessness. He knew he could not change his siblings’ decisions, but he also knew he could not abandon his own love and duty towards his father.