Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 201: Chapter 116: An Unprecedented High-stakes Bet_2 Chapter 201: Chapter 116: An Unprecedented High-stakes Bet_2 “`

“Who are you calling shameless and impudent?” Gu Changsheng cut in decisively, with a sly counterquestion.

“You!”

“Ah, since Chief Jiao admits to being shameless himself, then Changsheng really has nothing more to say. It’s commendable to have such self-awareness, Chief Jiao… You must maintain this virtue…” Gu Changsheng looked at Jiao Fangyi with a face full of pity, his words even less courteous.

Just moments before, Gu Changsheng had relentlessly pressured Hu Yihai with his overwhelming presence, clearly visible to her from just outside the door. Hu Yihai, though stingy and unlikeable, was at least capable of distinguishing between urgencies. Over time, Gu Changsheng had come to reassess him; if nothing else, Hu Yihai represented the Liuzhou Medical Guild, and she, Gu Changsheng, was also set to represent the Liuzhou Medical Guild in the competition. There’s a saying: united we stand. This was extremely important!

Jiao Fangyi was so infuriated by Gu Changsheng’s words that he almost smoked from his seven orifices, his face twitching as if he were on the verge of a stroke.

In contrast, Gu Changsheng was the very picture of composure, his face unchanging and his heart steady, completely ignoring the indignity.

The angrier Jiao Fangyi got, the happier Gu Changsheng became. As the head of the Taizhou Medical Guild, backed by the doctors of Taizhou, if he couldn’t retrieve some dignity today, rumors would spread that a little lady had gotten the better of him in a verbal contest—a little lady from the Liuzhou Medical Guild, no less. He couldn’t afford to lose face or momentum. The Drug Debate hadn’t yet begun, but he had already been placed at a disadvantage, and he couldn’t bear to return to Taizhou in such a state!

“Don’t boast solely with your words, woman. If you really have what it takes, do you dare to bet against me?” Jiao Fangyi’s old face was red with anger but he looked down on Gu Changsheng confident he would win, smirking arrogantly, as long as she dared to accept the bet, because his trump cards were yet to be revealed.

“What’s there to fear?” Gu Changsheng shrugged nonchalantly; she had been waiting for him to bring up the bet. To refuse such an opportunity for gain would be foolish!

“Betting with ten times the price of the medicine; can you even represent the Liuzhou Medical Guild?” As the head of the Taizhou Medical Guild, Jiao Fangyi certainly had the right to look down on Gu Changsheng, and at that moment, he did just that.

“Ten times the price of the medicine…” Gu Changsheng repeated, pretending to ponder as he stroked his chin.

“Lady Changsheng, that’s one million taels of silver—absolutely not!” Hu Yihai urged anxiously, “Our Liuzhou Medical Guild has lost for two consecutive sessions and has been weakening for a decade. We truly cannot afford to lose one million taels!”

Hu Yihai couldn’t be blamed for his reaction; they really couldn’t afford to lose.

“Lady Changsheng, you should listen to my father on this; that’s a million taels…” Hu Tiandong also began sweating profusely at the thought. One million taels! How much silver would that be? It would be a veritable mountain!

Seeing discord within their ranks, Jiao Fangyi watched with a scornful, mocking eye.

The atmosphere in the Yuelai Inn’s main hall became incredibly strange, and even the wealthy pharmacists who had spent lavishly to reserve the inn sent people to inquire about the commotion.

Hearing about the extravagant bet, even the richest pharmacists frowned, but ultimately, it was a matter for the Jiangnan Five Prefectures Medical Guild, and they preferred not to meddle too much.

The tension was palpable: representatives of the other three prefectures’ medical guilds were also visibly anxious.

“This bet must not be placed; it could harm the common people!” The head of the Changzhou Medical Guild, an old doctor with white hair and a kind face, was the first who couldn’t contain his concern and spoke up.

“Indeed, this lady probably doesn’t understand the depth of the Drug Debate; it would be best not to act rashly,” the head of the Huzhou Medical Guild also expressed agreement, shaking his head in pity.

“This is no joking matter, one million taels! I’ve never seen that much silver in my life, not even ten thousand taels. Lady, this is an unprecedented bet, the likes of which have never been seen before. If you truly win, you’ll be recognized as the first person in history to triumph in such a grand bet. But it’s not going to be easy to win against Jiao Fangyi, who has secured two consecutive victories for Taizhou. He’s got some real skills; lady, you must be careful,” Jiang Jushan of the Huaizhou Medical Guild, the youngest among the guild heads, from a family of noble pharmacists, spoke up beside Gu Changsheng with a casual yet wary glance at Jiao Fangyi.

Amid hushed whispers, Jiao Fangyi was the first to lose patience, casting a dismissive glance at Gu Changsheng. “If you’re scared, then kneel before me and knock your head on the ground three times. I’ll consider the matter closed,” he said contemptuously.

Even Hu Yihai and his son, who did not support Gu Changsheng’s bet, frowned at this remark.

“Jiao Fangyi, you’ve gone too far!” Hu Tiandong stepped forward to argue but was pulled back by Gu Changsheng, who grasped his sleeve.

Looking every bit the part of someone pushed to her limits, Gu Changsheng took two steps forward, facing Jiao Fangyi squarely, “I, Gu Changsheng, will take your bet!”

Seeing her appear flustered and exasperated indicated to Jiao Fangyi that his provocation had worked; he let a derisive smile curl his lips. “Words alone carry no weight.”

“Then let’s put it down in writing!” Gu Changsheng was direct in her response.

Ignoring the astonished stares and anxious hand-wringing of everyone present, Gu Changsheng and Jiao Fangyi drew up the betting agreement, with several pharmacists serving as witnesses. Three copies of the agreement were made: one for Gu Changsheng, one for Jiao Fangyi, and one held by the pharmacists.

With the betting agreement set, Hu Yihai turned ashen, and the rest also looked somber.

“Why such panic? I initiated the bet, and if I lose, I, Gu Changsheng, will bear the full burden of the one million taels of silver myself.”

Hu Yihai brightened upon hearing this, “If that’s the case, should Lady Changsheng win, the Liuzhou Medical Guild would not dare to covet the huge winnings of the bet but will leave it all to Lady Changsheng to dispose of.”

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng burst into a bright, spring-flower-like smile, “Heh, heh,” she had been waiting for this. Confident in her ability, how could she possibly lose?

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