Siheyuan: At the beginning, I can integrate everything!

My stomach is growling so loudly, I can't take it anymore!

The old leader, residing in the central compound, raised his hand and rubbed his empty stomach. His voice suddenly rose a few decibels, and the clear sound hit the double-glazed windows of the special care ward, causing the glass to tremble slightly.

"Xiao Song, get on with the arrangements!"

The old leader swiftly threw off the clean medical blanket covering him, and decisively rolled over, landing firmly on the ground.

"Go to the No. 1 canteen of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, and get two bowls of Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste) to go. Plenty of meat sauce and less minced garlic."

The ward fell into a deathly silence.

The leader's wife had red eyes and tear stains still on her cheeks; Lin Zhentian clenched his fists, his heart filled with excitement he had nowhere to vent; the group of in-hospital health experts had just signed the critical condition notice, and everyone was frozen in place, unable to move like statues.

Secretary Song stood frozen in place, clutching her notebook, her eyes wide open, as if she had witnessed something impossible.

Just ten minutes earlier, several renowned doctors in the hospital had diagnosed the elderly man with severe heart failure, multiple organ dysfunction, and sudden cardiac arrest, putting him on the verge of death. A few moments later, the elderly man removed all the monitoring tubes around his body, got out of bed with a rosy complexion, full of energy, and immediately asked for the homemade noodles from the steel mill canteen.

"Old...you're really getting better?" The chief's wife's fingertips trembled as she gently touched the old man's warm cheek, still unable to believe what she was seeing.

"I know my own body best." The old leader laughed heartily, pacing back and forth with light and steady steps, showing no signs of fatigue from his serious illness. "The discomfort of chest tightness and shortness of breath that I used to experience has been swept away. I feel relaxed all over. Now I can walk briskly for several kilometers around the hospital's playground without any problem."

These words struck the hearts of the group of veteran doctors like a heavy blow. Dr. Li, who led the consultation team, had practiced medicine for forty years and was a recognized top expert in the field of traditional Chinese medicine in China. Several key Western medicine doctors were also present. Everyone looked at each other, utterly incredulous. According to the logic of modern medicine, multiple organ failure could not possibly recover spontaneously in a short time; all examination indicators should have continued to deteriorate.

"Please cooperate with us to check your heart rate again. We really can't accept this recovery speed." The slightly overweight Western medicine doctor gripped his stethoscope tightly, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He wanted to step forward to examine the patient, but the elderly man raised his hand to stop him.

"No need for repeated checks, your senses won't lie." The old leader turned his head and looked at Zhang Huaimin, a five-and-a-half-year-old child with his hands tucked in his pocket and a calm expression. His eyes were full of respect and gratitude. He lowered his posture and bowed deeply to the child.

"You absolutely mustn't, Chief!" Lin Zhentian rushed forward to help, but the old man raised his hand to stop him.

"Old Lin, there's no need to stop me. Huaimin's help not only saved my life, but also ensured the stability of future development. This is a great honor for the child."

In the entire compound, there were very few people who could elicit a deep bow of gratitude from this elder. Zhang Huaimin remained calm and composed, showing no sign of unease.

"Grandpa, you don't need to be so polite. You've worked so hard for the country all these years, and everyone wishes you to be safe and healthy. The noodles with soybean paste will take a little while, as Brother He Yuzhu is probably still busy preparing lunch in the cafeteria right now." The child's voice was soft and innocent as he blinked and gently reminded him.

"Thanks for reminding me!" Secretary Song suddenly came to his senses, slapped his thigh, and rushed out of the ward to call the steel mill's office. He specifically instructed He Yuzhu to expedite the preparation of noodles and deliver them to the ward as soon as possible.

Inside the ward, the group of physicians watched the elderly man chatter and laugh, his complexion radiant, their hearts filled with conflicting emotions. Old Li had dedicated his life to medicine, always confident in his expertise. Yet today, he had witnessed a child reverse a critical condition through acupuncture, even having his own long-standing ailment diagnosed with a single needle. Nine needles regulated the meridians, stabilizing the critical vital signs—this level of medical skill far exceeded their comprehension.

"Thump!" A muffled sound broke the silence. Old Li, who was over seventy years old and had been in charge of the health care of senior executives for many years, knelt down on both knees, causing everyone present to gasp in surprise.

"Dr. Li, what are you doing?" the chief's wife asked hurriedly.

Completely disregarding appearances, Old Li's eyes were red-rimmed, tears streaming down his wrinkles. His tone was earnest and sincere: "Young friend Huaimin, it was my narrow-mindedness that led me to underestimate medical skills, and my words were often inappropriate. Only after practicing medicine for half my life have I realized that there are always those more skilled than myself. Today, I humbly request that you accept me as your apprentice!"

"I am willing to serve you every day, run errands and do odd jobs, just ask that you guide me in meridian acupuncture and teach me the secrets of the Nine Needles Therapy. If I can learn even a little bit of the true teachings in this life, I will have no regrets!" After saying this, Old Li bowed down and kowtowed three times heavily to the ground.

The other experts in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine reacted instantly, and they all knelt down, vying to become his disciples.

"Please, young friend, take us in! We can do all the daily chores, laundry and other cleaning services are no problem!"

The ward suddenly became a place for seeking medical treatment and becoming an apprentice, with a group of white-haired elderly people lowering their status and hoping to receive medical guidance from the child.

Looking at the kneeling elders, Zhang Huaimin took a small step back, his face showing helplessness: "Grandpas, please get up. This acupuncture technique has been passed down through generations in my family, and there are rules that it cannot be taught to outsiders. I usually have to read comic books, eat snacks, and play, so I really can't find the time to teach systematically."

The reason was simple and straightforward, and no one could force it. The group of doctors were disappointed and could only get up regretfully, occasionally coming over to ask for simple health tips.

Half an hour later, the small restaurant attached to the ward was ready.

The old leader sat at the dining table, holding a large bowl of noodles with soybean paste, his forehead beaded with sweat from the heat. He Yuzhu not only brought a generous amount of noodles but also steamed a pot of soft, fluffy white steamed buns. The old man finished two bowls of noodles and then devoured a large steamed bun, finally putting down his chopsticks with satisfaction and letting out a contented burp.

"The taste is truly authentic, and Chef He's culinary skills are impeccable." The old man wiped his mouth clean, looked at Zhang Huaimin sitting opposite him slowly munching on an apple, and spoke earnestly and solemnly.

"Huaimin, you saved my life." The old man leaned forward slightly, his tone earnest. "Currently, the domestic aviation power research and development project is stuck at the Northwest Test Base. The key parameters of the engine have not met expectations for a long time, and the entire research team has been working hard for a long time but has been unable to make a breakthrough. Major research institutes in the country have repeatedly calculated and improved the solution, but have still not found the optimal solution."

"Your medical skills and vision far surpass those of ordinary people, and you often have unique insights into various mechanisms and laws. Could you spare some time to offer your advice and think about the optimization direction of the power unit? You don't need to do the research yourself, just share your views and give the research team another new idea."

Zhang Huaimin took a bite of an apple and pondered for a moment: "Mechanics and the human body's meridians have many similarities; both involve streamlining the flow path. I can slowly figure it out and write down the details I can think of for researchers to refer to. However, the details of aerospace equipment are very complex, and I need several days to sort them out. I can't give a complete solution immediately."

The old man's brows relaxed, and the heavy burden that had weighed on his heart for so long was finally lifted. Domestic power engineering has consumed a lot of manpower and resources, and is stuck in a bottleneck, unable to move forward or backward. If a child's unique thinking can be used to open a breakthrough, the entire heavy industry and aviation fields will usher in a new turning point.

Lin Zhentian silently noted down the conversation, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He had originally thought Zhang Huaimin possessed unparalleled medical skills, but he hadn't expected the child to also have such an extraordinary aptitude for various mechanical principles. In the future, whether it's medical care and rehabilitation or tackling key challenges in industrial construction, this little boy might provide unexpected assistance.

He Yuzhu stood in the corner, having finished packing his lunchbox, listening with utter astonishment. The little prodigy in his own compound was not only skilled at healing and saving lives, but now he could even offer guidance on national-level scientific research problems—he was truly remarkable. He silently resolved to make sure Zhang Huaimin had plenty of food when he got back and to take extra care of him.

A group of health practitioners were still waiting outside the door, peeking in every now and then, hoping to occasionally get a few simple tips on health-preserving acupuncture techniques. The group, who had originally been convinced that modern medicine was unshakeable, had now completely relaxed their mindset, understanding that medical skills were boundless and inclusive of all kinds of ideas, and only hoped to occasionally receive a casual remark from the child to improve their own skills.

After finishing his lunch, the old leader got up and took a slow walk around the house to digest his food. Looking at the green trees in the courtyard outside the window, he felt at peace and content. With his health restored and the opportunity to break through the industrial bottleneck with Zhang Huaimin's ideas, one difficult problem after another took a turn for the better, and his tense mind finally relaxed completely.