Zhang Yang remained unaware that the hospital had already been in an uproar moments before his arrival. When Sister Zhou was brought in, several renowned gynecologists happened to be present, including a famous professor from the obstetrics and gynecology department. These doctors had converged to consult on the patient Zhang Yang had saved earlier that morning.

Since Zhang Yang was not a staff physician, despite having resolved the immediate crisis, no one dared to place their full hope on his intervention. Under the personal supervision of the hospital director, the chief and associate chief physicians of gynecology re-examined the girl on the gurney. After a full day of various tests, they preliminarily concluded that the patient’s condition was now very stable. The girl's diagnosis was revised to Pubertal Metrorrhagia, overturning the previous misdiagnosis of a blood mass. Consequently, the duty doctor received a formal warning and a three-month bonus deduction.

It was Zhang Yang’s bad luck that Sister Zhou was admitted unconscious due to the tocolytic injection he administered. The consulting doctors were present, and seeing the expectant mother unconscious, they responsibly insisted on a thorough examination. Among these doctors was the old Chinese medicine practitioner, Wu Youdao, from that morning. Wu Youdao immediately cried out when he spotted that both of Sister Zhou’s Hegu acupoints had been needled. The other doctors grew instantly tense. The Hegu point is located in the web between the thumb and index finger; pressing hard there can relieve pain, and acupuncturists sometimes insert needles there for analgesia. However, this point is strictly forbidden for pregnant women, especially those nearing labor.

Wu Youdao fiercely berated Boss Zhou on the spot, and even the nurse who fetched Sister Zhou did not escape his wrath. Several other doctors muttered their concerns toward Boss Zhou. Although these physicians specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, they certainly understood the principle that the Hegu point must not be stimulated during pregnancy. Ultimately, they performed another battery of tests on Sister Zhou before daring to send her to the delivery room. Needling the Hegu point before delivery meant they could not shoulder the responsibility should any complications arise during labor—a pregnant woman’s delivery involves two lives. Fortunately, the results were excellent; both Sister Zhou and the baby were healthy. Sister Zhou was merely asleep due to a specific condition and only needed to be woken up, which would not impede the delivery. Even so, Wu Youdao and the obstetricians complained for quite some time.

The group then interrogated Boss Zhou for an extended period. Upon learning that a student had needled the Hegu point with an embroidery needle before her arrival, several doctors succeeded in talking Boss Zhou to tears. By the end, Boss Zhou himself regretted ever listening to Zhang Yang.

When Zhang Yang and his five companions arrived at the hospital, Boss Zhou was outside, squatting against a wall, being scolded. Mi Xue and the two other girls walked ahead, and seeing Boss Zhou’s posture, their hearts immediately began to race. Boss Zhou was sobbing where he squatted, making it impossible for him not to be misunderstood. His posture was incredibly easy to misinterpret; even Zhang Yang worried for Sister Zhou, fearing some problem had arisen with the mother and child.

“Brother Zhou, how is Sister-in-law? How is the baby?” Mi Xue, being the tallest, ran forward first, calling out before she even reached him. Tears were gathering in her anxious eyes. They were all juniors in their third year and had eaten at Sister Zhou’s noodle stall countless times over the past three years, forming a deep bond. If Sister Zhou or the baby had met with misfortune, they would undoubtedly be devastated. Her cry was loud. Boss Zhou was squatting outside the door of the doctors’ office, and an obstetrician emerged, casting them a look of annoyance but saying nothing.

“Mi Xue, why are you here?” Boss Zhou wiped his tears; his eyes were still red, which made Mi Xue and the others even more worried. Even Zhang Yang, trailing behind, froze. Could something really have gone wrong? That shouldn't be the case; his tocolytic injection had been successful, and the hospital wouldn't recklessly endanger lives; there shouldn't be any accidents. This was just childbirth, not major surgery, where the chances of accident were relatively low.

Hu Xin stood to the side, clenching his fists, and shouted angrily, “Brother Zhou, rest assured, whatever happens to Sister Zhou, I will avenge you! I won’t spare that bastard Zhou Yichen!”

Boss Zhou looked at his friends, his gaze finally landing on Zhang Yang, and choked out, “They, they said, Zhang Yang, the spot you needled just now was wrong, it was very dangerous!” Sister Zhou was still in the delivery room, and Boss Zhou had no clear idea what was happening; he only remembered what the doctors had just told him, and the words tumbled out involuntarily. His statement immediately drew the attention of the doctor who had stepped out toward Zhang Yang.

“What?” Zhang Yang exclaimed, and Mi Xue, Hu Xin, and the others turned back to stare at Zhang Yang in astonishment. Boss Zhou’s answer was completely unexpected. It was Zhang Yang’s needling that had caused the problem.

“Impossible! Zhang Yang’s needling skill is exquisite; I saw it myself!” Gu Cheng was the first to retort as they spoke. Their words made the exiting doctor glance at Zhang Yang again. This doctor was one of the associate chief physicians who had consulted on the girl from the gurney and had admonished Boss Zhou alongside Wu Youdao earlier that evening. Seeing the ‘culprit’ now, his eyes widened.

“Brother Zhou, where is Sister Zhou now?” Zhang Yang asked urgently, his brow deeply furrowed. His tocolytic injection couldn't possibly be flawed. His greatest fear was that something had gone wrong on the hospital's end, something he wouldn't be able to explain away. After all, he had indeed needled her first. What he wanted most was to observe Sister Zhou’s condition, completely unaware that Boss Zhou hadn't fully explained that she had already been examined and was inside the delivery room.

“Zhou Zhiguo, Zhou Zhiguo, congratulations!” A female doctor hurried over from the adjacent corridor, calling out loudly when she saw Boss Zhou. “At 8:13 PM, a healthy baby boy was delivered naturally, weighing six catties and seven liang [approx. 3.35 kg]. Chubby and fair! Mother and child are safe!” The female doctor walked right up to Boss Zhou and said with a smile. Boss Zhou stood there, completely stunned. Moments ago, he had been consumed by regret and fear, wishing he could run his head into a wall. Now, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Boss Zhou grabbed the doctor’s hand, too choked with emotion to speak, his lips merely trembling.

Zhang Yang also relaxed; as long as mother and child were safe, that was what mattered. He had genuinely feared something had gone wrong. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the good news, but that one doctor remained calm, still scrutinizing Zhang Yang. After observing him for a moment, the doctor suddenly asked, “You were the one who helped the pregnant woman with her pain earlier, needling the Hegu point with an embroidery needle?”

Zhang Yang paused slightly and replied instinctively, “Yes, but I needled the Hegu point not just for pain relief, but also for its function in maintaining the pregnancy!”

………… Thank you to ZuiYueWuFeng for the 1888 Qidian Coin reward, and thanks to KueiGuizi, ChengBaiHeSanZu, and RenErXiaoZi for your rewards. Xiao Yu appreciates all your support!

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