Chapter 261: Cheerful Qiaoqiao, number 261
No one expected the outcome that just transpired. Not only did Liu Banxia thoroughly defeat Zhou Yang, but he surprisingly turned out to be a doctor, effortlessly popping Zhou Yang's dislocated jaw back into place.
If Liu Banxia happened to be a combat sports enthusiast, that could provide some semblance of an explanation. But judging by his movements, did he even resemble a seasoned fighter? He moved swiftly with agile, nimble footwork, possessing dozens, if not hundreds, of ways he could have knocked Zhou Yang down.
What did he choose to use?
The most strenuous and least successful tactic, much like a common street brawl. Had he truly understood fighting, he would have finished off Zhou Yang much earlier.
"Ha-ha, three rounds and three victories. You scumbag, you're speechless now, aren't you?" At this moment, Qiaoqiao cheerfully yelled.
"Stay humble, stay humble, I'm a doctor," Liu Banxia replied, ruffling Qiaoqiao's hair.
On any other occasion, Qiaoqiao would have been up in arms, spoiling for a fight with Liu Banxia. Today, her focus wasn't on that; she was fully immersed in the joy of victory.
"This round doesn't count. I haven't conceded yet. One party must concede before it can end," Zhou Yang protested.
He genuinely felt aggrieved. If it weren't for his dislocated jaw which temporarily distracted him, he could have easily tackled Liu Banxia.
Even if Liu Banxia's punches were powerful, his own were not light. Moreover, his resilience was undoubtedly stronger than Liu Banxia's. Therefore, victory could only be his.
"Aren't you embarrassed? You were beaten to your knees and you're still talking tough? Do you need your face to be bloody, half your body paralyzed, and unable to take care of yourself before you admit defeat?" Qiaoqiao huffed, hands on hips.
"Isn't Manager Qu stronger than you? Even Manager Qu declared Liu Banxia as the winner. Just accept your defeat and let it go. Done, okay? You can carry on celebrating," she further taunted.
Listening to Qiaoqiao's words, Manager Qu was torn between laughter and exasperation.
Indeed, Yang's behavior was a bit petty. It wasn't a fight to the death. Being trained and losing to a novice like this surely meant defeat.
Not to mention Liu Banxia having to reset your jaw. If this incident got out to the hospital, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing?
However, Manager Qu was a little taken aback by Qiaoqiao's tirade. She is pretty but has quite the sharp tongue. Boxing is much simpler; there's no need for all these women causing a fuss.
"Qiaoqiao is a straightforward person; she can't stand deceit. Don't hold a grudge against her or look for trouble with her," Liu Banxia said to Zhou Yang.
"Boxing is new to me, and this is only my second match. But the third time I fight you, I'll beat you more easily. I'm faster than you, more explosive, and my precision with joint locations is better. You'll still lose," Liu continued.
"Even in terms of bravery, you can't compare to me. What do I face every day? Stomachs, intestines, spleens, kidneys. After surgery, I can eat stir-fried chitterlings, sliced fried beef tripe, deep-fried fatty pork cuts, and stir-fried pork kidney. Can you?"
"Bro, bro, stop talking! If you say any more, we'll have to go vegetarian tonight," Manager Qu said, half-laughing, half-groaning.
He'd just rated Qiaoqiao's mouth as five-star; what about Liu Banxia's? At least six stars! Liu had turned those delicious dishes that go perfectly with drinks into something horrifying by associating them with his surgical experiences.
"You guys are young and hot-blooded. Once your anger is vented in the arena, it's all over. We beat each other up every day. Sometimes we're black and blue after a fight, but afterward, we still drink together," Manager Qu said.
"Miss, if you'll permit an old man like me to say so, I'll call you little sister. We can't keep pushing when we're in the right; we should be merciful. After that tongue-lashing of yours, I was too scared to utter a word."
"Haha, it's mainly because this guy can't handle losing. If he loses, he loses. If he wins, he wins. No need to keep making excuses," Qiaoqiao giggled.
"Young man, your skills are remarkable. Do you have any interest in joining the amateur league? You might even win a few championships," Manager Qu turned to Liu Banxia.
"Absolutely not. My hands are precious; I need to save them for treating patients and saving lives. It's not that I disrespect your hobbies, but these hands are how I make my living, and I'm afraid of injuries," Liu Banxia replied.
"Is bonesetting a specialty of yours?" Manager Qu asked out of curiosity.
"Specialty? It's more than that! He can tell if there's a problem with the bones the moment he touches them. He doesn't even need an X-ray to mend them," Qiaoqiao bragged triumphantly.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. Simple bonesetting is no problem, but for more complicated cases, surgery is still the best option. To outsiders, bonesetting seems magical, but it's just like a magic trick. Once the secret is revealed, it becomes ordinary," Liu Banxia said with a laugh.
"Young man, could you take a look at my shoulder? It's been frequently dislocating for the past two years, and I dare not lift heavy objects," Manager Qu asked.
"Your left one?" Liu Banxia inquired.
Manager Qu was stunned; he nodded rapidly.
Those who knew Manager Qu well were equally stunned. They hadn't expected Liu Banxia to figure it out with just a glance. Was he a divine doctor?
"It's not that magical. I could tell there's some issue with your left shoulder from your stance and stride," Liu Banxia briefly explained before reaching to touch Manager Qu's left shoulder.
"It's not as serious as you think; it won't affect your daily life. But you should stop boxing from now on, or else you might disable your entire arm," Liu Banxia advised after examining his shoulder.
"You've injured this spot before, haven't you? It didn't heal properly back then, which caused some inflammation and resulted in some damage. Simply put, your humerus is normally nestled into the shoulder socket. However, due to that past inflammation or infection, the socket has enlarged."
"In fact, our joints wear out every day; that goes for the knee and shoulder joints as well. Stop pushing it, unless you want to replace it with an artificial joint. Not only would it cost a lot and be painful, but it would only last 10 to 15 years."
"For now, you just need to maintain it properly. The original is best. This also applies to your usual fitness and training. Don't always aim to break or challenge your limits."
"That stuff is mostly from novels and TV shows. It can indeed push the human body to its limits, but it's more likely to lead to rhabdomyolysis. You might not see it often, but take a look in any hospital, and you'll find plenty of cases."
Ding! Diagnosis completed.
Experience gained: 20 points. Proficiency in Diagnostic Studies: 20 points. Proficiency in Orthopedic Techniques: 20 points.
Manager Qu gave a thumbs up. "You're truly amazing. Years ago, I got whacked with a stick in a fight. I didn't think much of it at the time, but it swelled up badly and for a long time."
"A couple of years ago, I went to the hospital, and the orthopedist said the same thing. I thought I could recover with a few years of care, but it seems I can't step back into the ring in this lifetime."
"Even if you guys like to practice free combat, you should be more cautious. Even if your matches aren't as frequent as a professional boxer's, there's still some damage to the head," Liu Banxia said with a laugh.
"Parkinson's is a disease many retired boxers succumb to. In fact, it's not just that; the chance of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is also very high."
"It's better to engage in moderation. A hobby is just a pastime; it's meaningless if it ends up controlling us and taking over our entire lives."
"That makes a lot of sense. You're not like others who say we're just fooling around and don't have proper jobs. Are you free tonight? Shall we eat together? We can't afford fancy restaurants, but the food stalls have more than enough to go around," Manager Qu said with a laugh.
"Not today, unfortunately. I have a dinner appointment tonight; otherwise, I wouldn't have rushed into that match with Zhou Yang. But there will be opportunities in the future. Yanzi's yoga studio is upstairs; if anything comes up, I hope you guys can help look out for her," said Liu Banxia.
"Don't worry, she's like our own little sister now. If anyone dares to bully our little sister, just one call, and we'll rush upstairs—we won't even wait for the elevator!" Manager Qu declared.
"Damn, Yanzi hit the jackpot! If you guys are really free tonight, I'll treat. After all, I still need to take this troublemaker over, so let's all go together," Qiaoqiao cheerfully suggested.
"Absolutely not! There's no way we'd let you treat us on our first meeting. If you need anything, just give us a shout. We're not helping out just for a meal," Manager Qu quickly replied.
If it were anyone else, after such polite exchanges, they would have gone their separate ways, each attending to their own business.
But Qiaoqiao was there today. And what kind of person was Qiaoqiao? She was incredibly forthright and generous. Being so happy today, she was determined to make this dinner happen.
And so, she entered into friendly negotiations with Manager Qu regarding the evening's dinner arrangements. After about fifteen minutes of discussion, they reached a completely successful agreement.
By the end, Manager Qu was genuinely apprehensive. He worried that if he didn't let Qiaoqiao treat them to dinner tonight, she might stubbornly refuse to leave.
"Little Sister Qiaoqiao, that silver tongue of yours... I'm truly impressed," Manager Qu remarked with a sigh.
"That's just how she is. She loves making friends and even stands up for our staff. But you should also be careful in the future. Don't rush over every time she calls; she might just be looking to beat someone up," Liu Banxia said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Am I that bad?" Qiaoqiao retorted indignantly.
"Qiaoqiao, you should charge him a tip! You can't serve him for free, helping him take off his shoes and socks, right?" Wang Xiaoyan teased, nudging Qiaoqiao.
Qiaoqiao startled, only then remembering the prior incident. She then glared menacingly at Liu Banxia.
"Let's discuss this later. We should head to the restaurant first," Liu Banxia hurriedly suggested.
Manager Qu and his group found this all very amusing. In their eyes, Liu Banxia and Qiaoqiao were a perfect couple, a match made in heaven.
As for Zhou Yang? He had already left at some point, and everyone had forgotten about him.
Why would he stick around? The companions who should have been on his side were now new friends with his opponent. Why stay and be further humiliated?
However, he was not at all grateful for Liu Banxia's mercy. On the contrary, he was seething with resentment. So, he was a doctor, not a chef. He had been tricked from the very beginning!
Revenge is a dish best served cold. He would bide his time for now.
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