Facing lawyer Zhu Chengxiang's questioning, Ling Tian calmly replied.
"Of course I know your identity, and I am very clear about your mother's condition! Even if I wanted to scam money, even if I wanted to gain fame like some fraudsters, I wouldn't choose a target like you! I do have a way to treat your mother's illness!"
"What way?" Lawyer Zhu looked skeptical.
"Acupuncture treatment, combined with Chinese medicine."
"Heh, what you said is as good as saying nothing! Judging by your age, you probably don't even have a medical license. Kid, do you want me to educate you? Practicing medicine without a license is a crime that can land you in jail!"
"Of course I do!"
As Ling Tian spoke, he reached into his pocket, took out his medical license, and handed it to Lawyer Zhu. Lawyer Zhu took it and was stunned. He knew the document was genuine, but seeing the issue date, he could hardly believe his eyes. Ling Tian's medical license had been issued less than a week ago! For someone like this to approach him claiming he could cure his mother's illness seemed highly unreliable. Furthermore, the unit listed on Ling Tian's medical license was Lanting Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic. Lawyer Zhu knew this place well, as he had once consulted the esteemed Elder Lan Ruoting for his mother's condition, but Elder Lan had been unable to help.
"What is your relationship with Elder Lan Ruoting of Lanting Clinic?"
"Elder Lan is my teacher!"
"Heh, then do you know that your teacher was powerless to treat my mother's illness? Who gave you the nerve to come here and swindle people!"
"To be precise, Elder Lan is my introducer. You should be well aware of the procedures required to obtain a medical license. I learned my craft under his tutelage, and my teacher taught me methods to treat this kind of illness."
Lawyer Zhu stared intently at Ling Tian, trying to discern if the young man was lying with his keen eyes. However, he saw that Ling Tian's gaze was clear and showed no signs of deception. After a long pause, Lawyer Zhu spoke again.
"What is your success rate in curing my mother?"
"Fifty percent!"
"That's too low!"
"Heh, you also know that your mother has mesothelioma, and moreover, the elderly lady doesn't have much time left. Do you have any other options? This type of cancer erupts very aggressively. Every day delayed significantly reduces the chances of a cure!"
"But what if you can't cure her?"
"If I can't cure her, I won't ask for any compensation, and I guarantee that even if I can't cure her illness, it won't worsen."
Lawyer Zhu fell into deep thought. This was not an easy decision, as it involved his mother's safety, even her life. No son, no matter how decisive he usually was, could make such a choice quickly.
Just then, the old lady lying on the bed let out a groan. Although her eyes were closed, the pained expression on her face was evident, clearly indicating she was in pain. The agony of mid to late-stage cancer was indescribable. Imagine a needle constantly piercing your body, and this needle was inside you. Many late-stage cancer patients found it difficult to sleep without medication. The old lady's current symptoms were clear: the anesthetic had worn off. Lawyer Zhu frowned. He wanted to find a doctor to administer more anesthetic, but the doctor had explained that anesthetics could not be used long-term, not only due to the risk of addiction but also because of potential side effects.
At this moment, Ling Tian spoke. "Lawyer Zhu, the elderly lady is in great pain. I can use acupuncture now to alleviate her suffering, and it has no toxic side effects."
Lawyer Zhu looked at Ling Tian. After a long while, he nodded. "Then try it!"
Ling Tian reached into his pocket and took out a needle case. He inserted several silver needles into the old lady and then carefully twirled the ends of the needles. Time ticked by, and Lawyer Zhu Chengxiang clearly saw his mother's furrowed brow gradually relax. After a while longer, the pained expression on the old lady's face disappeared, replaced by one of peace. Ten minutes later, the old lady began to snore, having entered a deep sleep. Lawyer Zhu Chengxiang was truly astonished. He was well aware of his mother's state of living recently. The near-comatose state after receiving anesthetic was completely different from this natural, deep sleep. His mother had not slept so peacefully for months since her condition worsened! Lawyer Zhu realized that this young man before him might not be a fraud; he possessed genuine skill!
Ling Tian removed the needles and turned to smile at Lawyer Zhu. "The elderly lady is asleep, sleeping soundly. If there are no complications, this needle insertion should allow her to sleep for at least seven to eight hours. I suggest you also get some rest. Your current physical condition is very poor, and continuing like this could cause irreversible damage."
Lawyer Zhu Chengxiang remained silent, his eyes fixed on Ling Tian. After a long moment, he slowly spoke. "Can you really cure my mother?"
"As I said, I have a fifty percent chance. This is, after all, an illness. No doctor can confidently claim they can cure all illnesses with one hundred percent certainty!" Ling Tian did not press further, sensing that the other party's attitude had shifted.
"I'm still not at ease. Allow me to think about it further!"
"Please, take your time to think. But I reiterate, time is running out! Every day you delay, your mother's condition will worsen, and the chances of a cure will decrease."
"I... I would like to consult with my mother's attending physician. Would that be alright?"
"Please do. It is your right!" Ling Tian was open-minded and understood.
Lawyer Zhu left the ward and soon returned with a doctor in his forties. This doctor, named Ou Guobiao, was the director of the thoracic surgery department at Xiehe Hospital and a leading figure in the treatment of thoracic tumors in the country. Notably, upon entering the room, Doctor Ou did not acknowledge Ling Tian. Instead, he first went to examine the patient.
"Huh?" Doctor Ou Guobiao was surprised. He carefully reviewed the patient's vital signs data from the instruments by the bedside, including pulse, blood oxygen saturation, and brain waves, all of which were very stable. Due to Lawyer Zhu's influence, Doctor Ou Guobiao had personally overseen the patient's care since her admission and was intimately familiar with her condition. He was astonished that the patient could recover to this extent.