Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him
Chapter 518: Who is Real, Who is Fake

Chapter 518: Chapter 518: Who is Real, Who is Fake

Zhong Yi, standing aside, received Huo Xingzhou’s gaze and sneered coldly without a trace of warmth in his smile.

Beside him, Wan Jiang’s emotions were in turmoil: "Young Master Zhong, what do we do now? The Golden Needle you bought for Miss Lu is..." A counterfeit!

What a coincidence that today’s competition would turn out like this.

Miss Lu and Miss Qiao have brought identical sets of Golden Needles, one real, one fake!

And wouldn’t you know it, Master Huang, the inheritor of the Gold Needle Technique, is present. Isn’t this asking for trouble?

Whoever has the fake will lose face!

Zhong Yi glanced at Wan Jiang and spoke with an even tone: "You’re the one who bought the Golden Needle, not me. My gift was the sentiment; the fact that you bought a fake is your issue. Wan Jiang, it looks like you’ll have to bear this black mark."

Despondent and on the verge of tears, Wan Jiang was like a soul in despair.

It was all over!

At that moment.

Most of the audience held their breath as they focused on the high-definition big screen showing the competition, not daring to miss any details.

Huang Bingyi’s back was slightly hunched, and with his rough hands, he gently stroked the embroidered plump Ginseng on the exterior of the needle pouch. His emotions were extremely contained as he inspected the Golden Needles one by one before setting them down.

He turned to the competently dressed down-to-earth Qiao Xi and asked, "Are you Cheng Han’s apprentice?"

"I am."

Qiao Xi’s voice was steady, and she suppressed the excitement in her heart.

After all, who would remain utterly unfazed upon meeting such a revered figure in the Chinese Medicine Community?

Huang Bingyi’s sharp eyes, piercing and discerning, fixed on her like an eagle’s: "Where did you get this set of Golden Needles?"

Qiao Xi told the truth: "It was a gift from my husband, he said he found it at an auction."

Holding the Golden Needle, Huang Bingyi said, "Your needle is the same as the Lu girl’s. She claims it’s the last set of Golden Needles I made. Do you have anything to say about that? Or did you not expect her to bring out the same as yours?"

His tone was serious, and to those with intentions, it sounded like an accusation.

Lu Bannong appeared to do it on purpose, keeping the microphone close to Huang Bingyi. His questioning voice spread throughout the venue, loud and clear.

"Qiao Xi’s Golden Needle must be a fake!"

"This is going to be bad!"

The corners of Lu Yingxue’s lips turned up slightly, harboring many thoughts of kicking someone while they’re down.

But concerned about her image, she feigned peacemaking: "Master Huang’s Golden Needles are well-known, and there are many counterfeits out there. With the high skill of counterfeiters nowadays, it’s easy to be duped by fakes."

Having laid the groundwork, Xiang Mingzhu couldn’t wait to add: "Miss Qiao, surely you didn’t hear that the judge for the second round was going to be Master Huang and thought to curry favor with him by using his needles, only to have your plan backfire?"

Li Songwen, with a plaster on his right wrist, darkened in facial expression and couldn’t help but snicker: "A National Doctor’s apprentice can’t handle losing; after all, losing would mean being banned from practicing for life. It must be tempting to resort to some trickery, but it wasn’t anticipated that Miss Lu would also bring Golden Needles."

If Lu Yingxue hadn’t explicitly claimed that her Golden Needles were the last set made by Master Huang, many in the audience would not have noticed this detail.

But she did!

And so, the audience formed a bias, and upon seeing the identical Golden Needles before Qiao Xi, suspicions arose.

It seemed the match hadn’t even started, and the National Doctor’s apprentice was already about to make a fool of herself.

Would such a great embarrassment affect her competition mindset?

A losing position, indeed!

Qiao Xi’s fingers, hanging by her side, clenched tightly; her heart was not as calm as it seemed.

Huo Xingzhou’s trust had already surpassed all others.

Since it was chosen by Huo Xingzhou, there must be profound meaning behind it.

Qiao Xi felt no fear in her heart.

Qiao Xi’s voice was clear and cold as she responded to Huang Bingyi’s inquiry: "These golden needles have been with me for a long time. That both Miss Lu and I brought the same golden needles today is indeed a coincidence. As for which is real and which is fake, that’s something you can declare with a single statement.

If I had accidentally bought your golden needles, it would be my good fortune. If they’re fake, it would be a valuable lesson for me, a way to pay tribute to my senior, and a reminder to practice medicine without deceit, to use it as motivation."

Her statement was firm and level-headed, neither humble nor arrogant.

Absolutely flawless!

One would think her just a stubborn girl, yet she could also be indirect and tactful.

Laughter brimmed in Huang Bingyi’s eyes: "You are more likable than that old stiff Cheng Han. He’s all bones and tough to chew, and people dislike him!"

Qiao Xi spoke out to defend Cheng Han: "My mentor has a very good temper and has taught me everything he knows. In our village, he is very well-liked."

"Protecting one’s own, very good."

Huang Bingyi looked at her and nodded his head.

He despised those who were obsequious; such people lack reverence for the study of medicine.

Yet a character like Qiao Xi’s could also easily offend people.

Huang Bingyi put down the golden needle in his hand and said indifferently: "There is no problem with the golden needle, next, please."

Lu Yingxue pursed her lips, a flash of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

Xiang Mingzhu could not hold back and questioned: "Old Master Huang, you only said there was no problem with the golden needles. You didn’t say whether Qiao Xi’s needles are real or fake—she has said all the nice words! Such an ambiguous attitude could cause misunderstandings. Everyone might think that you favor her and give her some face, unwilling to expose her!"

Lu Bannong quickly stepped in to mediate: "The younger generation is speaking without thinking, please don’t take offense, Old Master Huang. This is my niece, also learning medicine from me, and she’s spoiled by her family."

Huang Bingyi snorted coldly: "Give face to whom?"

He originally didn’t want to waste time, but observing the thoughts of everyone present, Huang Bingyi decided not to keep it brief. Since some insisted on discerning the authenticity, they couldn’t blame him for being utterly unsympathetic.

Lu Bannong added fuel to the fire: "Old Master Huang, don’t be angry. The main thing is that many spectators surely want to know as well since there are quite a few imitation golden needles in circulation. A clear statement from you would stop the counterfeit traffickers from deceiving others, which would be a good thing."

Huang Bingyi’s eyes swept around coldly as he accepted the microphone from Lu Bannong’s hand.

"Since everyone insists on discerning the real from the fake, then I will give you an answer. I hope you can apply this spirit of seeking truth and reality to your work and studies as well."

Huang Bingyi motioned for the staff to bring over Lu Yingxue’s needle pouch.

Lu Yingxue shook her head and personally picked up her needle pouch, walking gracefully over to his side and respectfully handing it over with both hands.

"Old Master Huang, for you."

Huang Bingyi placed her needle pouch alongside Qiao Xi’s, as the high-definition camera focused on the details of the two pouches. The other competitors also crowded around, wanting to see clearly.

Old Master Huang’s voice was hoarse but booming, broadcasting through the microphone to the speakers around the venue.

Clearly audible to the entire audience.

"These golden needles have been with me for decades; they were specially made to order by a goldsmith master. But when the goldsmith master was crafting the needles, he accidentally flattened the end of the acupuncture needle. Thus, the ends of my acupuncture needles are flat, which requires careful observation to distinguish."

"The exterior of the needle pouch was made by a Suzhou embroidery artist, who made it for me in gratitude after I saved her mother. The leaves of the ginseng are intricately significant, one-year-old ginseng has three leaves, which we in the trade call ’three flowers.’ The leaves of two-year-old ginseng have five leaflets, one compound leaf resembling a palm, known as ’palm hand.’ Four-year-old has three palm-shaped compound leaves, known as ’lampstands.’"

Huang Bingyi seemed to reminisce as he said: "In my hometown, ’old lampstand’ means an old thing. I say that I am an old thing now. So I asked her to embroider three palm compound leaves for me, with a total of 15 leaflets."

Therefore...

Everyone stared intently at the two sets of golden needles, searching for details to compare and authenticate the truth.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.