Chapter 31 – Andrology Hospital
by Salted FishThere were quite a few andrology hospitals in the city, but the most prominent one was undoubtedly the Sunshine Andrology Hospital under the Jiao Yang Group. Its advertisements were plastered all over the streets, from TV screens on buses to daily and evening newspapers, with the slogan “Guardian of Male Vitality” becoming almost a form of visual pollution. Now, this very hospital had come knocking, asking for a feng shui consultation, leaving Sun Muhua both embarrassed and curious.
Sitting in the office, Wei Yang leisurely sipped his tea and asked, “Why would they come to Jieshui Studio?”
Sun Muhua, who had just obsequiously handed a cup of tea to the Little Celestial Master Zhang Xiuqi only to find it untouched, was heartbroken. Hearing Wei Yang’s question, he quickly replied, “The person who came didn’t explain clearly. Apparently, they were recommended by someone. It’s strange, though. Sunshine Andrology’s business is doing well, so why are they coming to us for feng shui? Could it be that they’ve had some medical accidents recently?”
The mention of medical accidents made Sun Muhua feel a deep, phantom pain in his groin. After all, it was an andrology hospital. Could they have botched something for a patient?
Wei Yang chuckled. “Other hospitals might get a headache from accidents, but Sunshine Andrology, being a private hospital, probably isn’t afraid of such things at all.”
If it were someone else, they might not know the inside story of these private hospitals, but Wei Yang was an old hand taught by the head of the Changchun Association. He knew the ins and outs of these shady practices. In China, private hospitals, especially those specializing in sensitive diseases, were often remnants of the old Pi Sect.
The so-called “Pi Sect” referred to itinerant medicine peddlers who either carried their snake oil wares on shoulder poles or set up fixed stalls. They were different from legitimate barefoot doctors in that their focus wasn’t on curing diseases but on blatantly selling medicine for profit. They would advertise cures for all sorts of difficult ailments—eye drops to remove cataracts, powders to cure toothaches, and even surgeries for hemorrhoids without anesthesia. They were particularly adept at treating venereal diseases and providing abortion drugs. These Pi Sect businesses often didn’t kill their patients, but they certainly didn’t cure them. Even if they had some secret remedies that occasionally worked, they were usually just tools to swindle money out of their victims, a far cry from legitimate hospitals.
After the founding of New China, as the medical system expanded into rural areas, the Pi Sect’s business declined for a while, surviving only through “old Chinese medicine” and small ads on lampposts. However, when private capital was allowed into the medical system, the Pi Sect elites made a comeback, rebranding themselves as specialized hospitals. They touted professionalism, privacy, and meticulous service, backed by ubiquitous advertising campaigns that captured the public’s attention. Patients with “embarrassing” conditions or those seeking “professional services” were easily lured in, and many unsuspecting patients fell into their traps, spending large sums of money with results that could only be described as “luck” or “heaven knows.”
Would such private hospitals be afraid of medical accidents? They were essentially walking collections of medical accidents, with the only difference being whether the treatment was mediocre or a complete failure. If they were coming for feng shui because of this, it would be a joke.
After some thought, Wei Yang asked, “Did the person who contacted us say how they found out about Jieshui Studio?”
“They said they were recommended by someone, but they didn’t say who,” Sun Muhua scratched his head. “Should we take the job? They seem pretty urgent, but investigating an andrology hospital doesn’t seem easy…”
As if thinking of something, the otaku Sun showed a slightly shy expression, making Wei Yang’s mouth twitch. “Stop imagining things. I’m definitely not sending you to harass the nurses. I think this might be a bit troublesome…”
Just as Wei Yang understood the workings of the Pi Sect, the Pi Sect elites also knew the tricks of the “Eight Minor Sects.” Those who dared to engage in shady businesses usually didn’t believe in superstitions, so why would they seek out fellow practitioners for help? The most likely explanation was that they had indeed encountered something and wanted a legitimate master who knew “the real stuff” to take a look.
But should they take the job? If there really was something supernatural… Wei Yang’s legs went a bit weak as he recalled the incident on the 13th floor. He had no interest in dealing with ghosts. But if it wasn’t supernatural, the Pi Sect people were notoriously difficult to deal with, making it a tough business either way. Maybe it was better to just decline. With that thought, he turned to the Little Celestial Master, who was sitting upright and ignoring the tea, and made up his mind. After all, Brother Qi’s wounds hadn’t fully healed yet. There was no need to rush into work. Feeling resolved, he waved his hand at Sun Muhua. “Taking on a job for an andrology hospital would be beneath us. Just turn them down!”
The otaku complained with a hint of disappointment, “Really? I thought it would be interesting to see what’s going on…”
“Go on, is watching the fun really that great?!” Wei Yang waved him off without hesitation.
However, while Wei Yang didn’t want to get involved, the trouble came knocking on its own.
The next day, as soon as Wei Yang settled into his office, Sun Muhua came running in, “Brother Yang, the people from Sunshine are here again, and they specifically asked to see you!”
This was somewhat unexpected for Wei Yang, but after a moment’s thought, he took out a pair of plain glasses from his drawer and put them on, adopting an elite demeanor. “Since they’re here, let’s meet them.”
This time, it wasn’t just any ordinary person who had come. It was General Manager Li of Sunshine Andrology, a key figure in the Jiao Yang Group, who was stationed in the city. The Jiao Yang Group was a comprehensive medical enterprise, with not only Sunshine Andrology and Women’s Health Hospital under its banner but also ventures into dentistry and plastic surgery, making it a giant in the industry. For such a “local magnate” to personally visit was a great honor for Jieshui Studio.
However, when Wei Yang entered the meeting room, he was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t met General Manager Li before, but the man with the neatly parted hair standing next to him was no stranger. The man didn’t recognize Wei Yang, but the icy figure standing behind the young conman was unmistakable. He blinked in confusion, then looked at the “Master Wei” in front of him, and a look of understanding crossed his face, his expression turning somewhat odd.
Wei Yang didn’t care about this. He walked up to General Manager Li with confidence. “I’m surprised that a big company like Sunshine would come to us at Jieshui Studio. It’s quite unexpected.”
General Manager Li, though in his fifties, had a rather impressive appearance, exuding both the elegance of a scholar and the shrewdness of a businessman. He looked like the kind of surgical expert you’d see in medical dramas—graceful yet sharp. Unaware of the undercurrents between Wei Yang and his disciple, General Manager Li was slightly surprised that the so-called “master” was so young. However, the surprise quickly faded, and he nodded politely. “I didn’t expect Master Wei to be so young and accomplished. I was recommended by a friend. Recently, my company has encountered some issues, and I’d like to find a reliable master to take a look.”
If it weren’t for the presence of the man with the parted hair, Wei Yang might have found a way to decline the job. But with this “acquaintance” here, showing any weakness now could lead to all sorts of slander, making it difficult for Jieshui Studio to maintain its reputation. Thus, Wei Yang simply nodded and said calmly, “What exactly is the situation you’re facing, General Manager Li?”
This was a standard “consultation.” Since they had come knocking, it was only right to get a sense of the situation. General Manager Li smiled. “It’s not a big deal, really. Some of the nurses on night shifts have been saying that the hospital feels a bit off, but after several investigations, we haven’t found anything. So I thought…”
Before General Manager Li could finish, Zhang Xiuqi suddenly spoke up, “You are carrying a curse.”
The room fell silent. General Manager Li’s face turned pale. He was a true Pi Sect veteran, skilled in both the art of the “Yingmen Pestle” and the “Ba Huang” techniques, but he had never encountered such a straightforward approach. Wei Yang’s expression also changed. If someone else had said this, it would likely have been a scam, but this was the Little Celestial Master. If he said there was a curse, then there was definitely a problem. Damn it, this was really a troublesome job!
Despite his internal cursing, Wei Yang didn’t want to back down in front of the client. He smiled faintly. “It seems General Manager Li hasn’t been entirely forthcoming. Feng shui is like treating a disease. Without understanding the full picture, how can we apply the remedy?”
Never having encountered such an unorthodox feng shui master, General Manager Li’s expression shifted slightly, but he eventually smiled. “Since the two of you don’t believe what I’ve said, why not come to the hospital and see for yourselves? As they say, seeing is believing.”
There were two layers to this statement: one was to provoke Wei Yang into taking the job, and the other was that General Manager Li had started to doubt Jieshui Studio’s reputation and wanted to test the duo’s abilities. Wei Yang had countless ways to handle such “baits,” but before he could speak, Zhang Xiuqi stood up.
Wei Yang: “…”
Zhang Xiuqi turned his head, his cold eyes conveying a single message: What are we waiting for?
Damn it, where did Brother Qi pick up this bad habit of rushing headlong into supernatural trouble as soon as it appeared! Wei Yang’s heart bled, but he had no choice but to stand up and smile at General Manager Li. “Of course, we’ll take a look. But please give us a moment to gather our equipment.”
Without waiting for the client’s reaction, Wei Yang took Zhang Xiuqi’s arm and quickly walked out of the meeting room.
The ease with which things had progressed was almost unbelievable. General Manager Li stared at the departing figures, unsure whether the two youngsters were playing tricks or truly had some skills. The man with the parted hair leaned in and whispered, “Master, I ran into these two at the Ghost Market a couple of days ago.”
“You’ve met them, Xiao Jian?” General Manager Li frowned slightly. “What was the situation then?”
“It was just a street stall. I was picking out a Buddha statue for my wife when I bumped into them,” Jian Ning explained briefly, omitting many details. “That guy looked completely different from how he does now. Could he be a fraud?”
Adapting to the situation was a feng shui master’s forte. After hearing Jian Ning’s account, General Manager Li gave a noncommittal hum. It seemed that regardless of Master Wei’s actual skills, he was already adept at deception. But the Pi Sect wasn’t easy to fool. General Manager Li smiled faintly. “Since it was Master Bai who recommended them, we’ll have to test their true abilities first. Xiao Jian, keep a close eye on them. Don’t let them pull any tricks.”
Jian Ning nodded, his eyes glinting with malice. Seeing Wei Yang’s completely transformed appearance now, he felt something was off. Though he hadn’t fully graduated, he knew a bit about the ways of the world. How could a deep and calculating feng shui master have acted so out of character at the Ghost Market? Was it all an act to score a bargain? If that was the case, he had been played for a fool! He cursed himself for not staying longer that day to see if Wei Yang had actually bought anything. If he had… Jian Ning sneered, his otherwise proper face showing a hint of cruelty. If he dared to make a fool out of me, he’d have to pay the price!
Pulling the Little Celestial Master out of the room, Wei Yang sighed. “Brother Qi, is there really some kind of yin curse on General Manager Li?”
Zhang Xiuqi nodded with certainty. “There is, and it’s spreading.”
So, the andrology hospital really had a ghost problem? Wei Yang glanced at the serious expression on Zhang Xiuqi’s face and resignedly nodded. “If you want to go, then we’ll go. But we’ll have to bring all our gear. If something goes wrong, we’ll get out of there fast. Brother Qi, your wounds aren’t fully healed yet. Don’t push yourself!”
Whether Zhang Xiuqi understood or not, Wei Yang dragged him upstairs with a sense of foreboding. Fortunately, they had acquired some new equipment in the past few days. He just hoped it would all come in handy.
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Author’s Note:
Water and Fire Baits (水火簧): These are techniques used by con artists to gauge a client’s wealth. Poor clients are “water,” dismissed with a few words, while wealthy clients are “fire,” subjected to prolonged exploitation. Each of the “Eight Minor Sects” has its own water and fire baits, with numerous variations designed to easily deceive people.
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