Lin Fan beckoned, "Everyone, come inside."
He stepped forward and supported Wu Lei, who was about to fall.
"Tha-thank you."
Wu Lei had to say those simple words while gasping for breath.
Lin Fan could only offer a wry smile.
Why go through all this trouble?
Why insist on suffering like this?
Then he looked at Xiao Hao, who had been most severely poisoned but now acted as if nothing had happened.
Wu Lei, on the other hand, was so exhausted he was almost on the verge of collapse, his body sustained solely by his will.
Xia Xue brought out all the food she could find.
The students thanked her, unable to help but steal glances at her.
Xiao Hao was the most energetic and also the most audacious.
While others merely admired her briefly, he stared so intently he wished he could pluck out his eyeballs and roll them towards Xia Xue.
"Make way!"
Seeing his lecherous demeanor, Lin Fan's anger flared. With a "swoosh," he stood directly in front of Xiao Hao.
"Huh?"
Xiao Hao, who had been gazing with undisguised desire, was suddenly blocked from view and became agitated.
He stretched his neck and grudgingly moved aside.
"Move again!"
Lin Fan once again blocked his view.
"What do you mean by this?"
Xiao Hao stood up, ready to fight.
He glared at Lin Fan, his eyes burning with anger, "Are you looking for trouble on purpose?"
The others present hadn't expected a conflict to erupt between the two, so for a moment, no one intervened.
"If you know I'm looking for trouble, don't you also know you're unwelcome here?"
Lin Fan retorted sharply, equally impolite.
Hearing this, Xia Xue immediately stepped forward to mediate, "Xiao Fan, don't be like this."
Although she felt uncomfortable, they were guests, and students invited by the village secretary to help. Thus, she dared not express her anger.
Professor Fu's veins throbbed with anger, "Xiao Hao, sit down. What do you think you're doing?"
Under his scolding, Xiao Hao merely grunted and sat back on the sofa.
Song Yue then arrived with a steaming kettle, "The water is boiled."
She placed seven or eight bowls on the table, filled each one, and then said, "Everyone, have some water."
For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall was incredibly stifling, with everyone watching as if at a movie, with only Song Yue performing.
Xia Xue thought for a moment and then went to help, distributing the hot water to everyone.
Only Xiao Hao received no hot water.
He stretched his neck, waiting and waiting, but when neither Xia Xue nor Song Yue brought him water, he became furious.
As he was too proud to fetch it himself, he could only sit on the sofa, sulking.
Tian Mengyao took a sip of hot water, then stood up and smiled at everyone, "Let me introduce you."
She pointed to Professor Fu and said, "This is Professor Fu Lizhi from the School of Geology at Huake University."
"He is one of the most authoritative experts in the field of geology in our country and has received numerous national honors."
Fu Lizhi smiled kindly, "Xiao Tian, you flatter me. We've already discussed this."
Tian Mengyao then pointed to Lin Fan and introduced, "This is Lin Fan, who runs the clinic in our village. His medical skills are exceptionally exquisite."
Introducing Lin Fan, she felt a surge of pride.
Luofeng Village had little to offer, and facing the teachers and classmates from her former university, Lin Fan was the only bright spot she could boast about.
"Physician Lin's medical skills are indeed remarkable. We have already witnessed them."
Fu Lizhi gave Lin Fan a thumbs-up and praised, "There are indeed hidden talents among the common folk. Thank you for saving our lives. On behalf of my students, I express my gratitude!"
With that, Fu Lizhi straightened his waist and bowed to Lin Fan without hesitation.
Lin Fan immediately moved to help him up, "Please, don't do that. You are an elder!"
This was a genuine university professor, highly respected.
Although Lin Fan looked down on some of the students, especially Xiao Hao's ill intentions, he held genuine respect for Fu Lizhi.
"It is necessary, it is necessary."
One insisted on bowing in gratitude, while the other desperately tried to prevent it, creating an awkward scene for everyone.
Tian Mengyao reacted quickly.
She stepped forward to help Lin Fan support Fu Lizhi and mediated, "Alright, I know you two admire each other, but it's truly inappropriate for an elder to bow to a junior."
Fu Lizhi smiled helplessly at Tian Mengyao and praised again, "Xiao Tian, you must cherish such a talent!"
"Don't worry, my dear Professor!"
Tian Mengyao's smile was radiant.
She knew very well that Fu Lizhi was usually a man of few words and treated even school leaders with strict professionalism.
Yet, in front of Lin Fan, Fu Lizhi displayed a humble and courteous attitude.
How could Tian Mengyao not feel honored by this?
Fu Lizhi looked at Lin Fan and asked with concern, "Physician Lin, could you trouble yourself to examine my students again and see if they have any lingering issues?"
Lin Fan waved his hand and smiled, "The toxins in their bodies have been cleared. I will prescribe a few doses of nourishing medicine. They should recover fully after drinking it for ten days to half a month."
Lin Fan had just activated his Purple Extreme Spiritual Eyes and checked their physical condition; they were no longer in danger.
"Oh, then thank you so much..."
As Fu Lizhi was speaking, he suddenly changed the subject, "Physician Lin, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
Lin Fan shook his head and smiled, "No need for 'Sir' and 'Esteemed Physician.' I am the junior. You can call me by my name, or even 'you'."
Professor Fu nodded and asked, "At that peculiar cave, I saw you searching the ground. What did you find? Was it the antidote?"
He stared intently into Lin Fan's eyes and continued, "What poison did my students contract?"
"How did you know the antidote was there?"
Lin Fan's expression was blank, showing no emotion.
He truly hadn't expected Fu Lizhi to be so observant.
But even so, he couldn't tell the truth, as he understood the principle that possessing something valuable invites trouble.
Seeing his silence, as if he had a hidden difficulty, Fu Lizhi apologized, "I apologize. It was merely out of a scholar's curiosity that I asked."
"Since Physician Lin doesn't wish to say, then consider it as if I never asked."
Tian Mengyao stared at the two of them, utterly bewildered.
She suspected that whatever was peculiar about the cave might have some connection to Lin Fan.
Otherwise, why would Lin Fan go there and immediately find the antidote?
"Professor Fu, I'm truly sorry, but this matter involves some personal privacy..."
Before Lin Fan could finish speaking, a sarcastic voice cut in, "Why can't you say?"
Everyone turned their heads simultaneously to look at the source of the voice.
It was Xiao Hao.
Xiao Hao blinked and asked, "Why are you all looking at me?"
In his moment of guilt, he clearly lost his composure and turned his gaze towards Song Yue and Xia Xue.
Xia Xue was, needless to say, the most beautiful woman in the surrounding villages.
Song Yue was also a voluptuous and beautiful woman, her figure especially eye-catching.
But seeing these two beauties looking at Lin Fan with such ambiguous gazes was unbearable for Xiao Hao.
"Teacher, Senior Sister Tian, I believe our poisoning has something to do with Physician Lin."
"Perhaps he hid something shameful in that cave."
Fueled by jealousy, Xiao Hao directly voiced his inner thoughts.
As soon as he spoke, everyone's expression changed drastically.
Xiao Hao's male classmates also harbored similar suspicions.