The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 276: The prospective son-in-law arrives, and acupuncture opens the door to communication

In the room, Lei Tao looked at Meng Xiaoyu quietly. Meng Xiaoyu was still immersed in the surprise of receiving the gift, gently stroking the two exquisite skirts.

Lei Tao looked at Meng Xiaoyu with tenderness in his eyes, and said half seriously and half jokingly: "I will take you home tomorrow to see if I, your cheap son-in-law, can visit your cheap father-in-law casually?"

When Meng Xiaoyu heard this, her cheeks flushed instantly. She looked at Lei Tao with a slightly reproachful look: "You always tease me, what cheap son-in-law, cheap father-in-law, my father doesn't even know about us." Although she said so, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise, and her eyes were full of sweetness that could not be concealed.

Lei Tao stepped forward and gently held Meng Xiaoyu's hand: "The ugly son-in-law will have to meet his father-in-law sooner or later, and I'm quite nervous. You have to tell me in advance what the old man likes and what taboos he has, so that I can prepare in advance."

Meng Xiaoyu tilted her head, pretending to think seriously. "My dad, he also likes to play with flowers and plants. He's also obsessed with researching difficult and complicated diseases. He often studies various materials for a single symptom, forgetting to eat or sleep. But what he treasures most is his set of golden needles passed down from his ancestors."

"Ancestral golden needles?" Lei Tao frowned slightly, his eyes full of curiosity. Meng Xiaoyu nodded gently, his eyebrows and eyes full of pride. "Yes, that set of golden needles was passed down from an ancestor with outstanding medical skills, and it has been passed down for several generations. Daddy said that these golden needles are made of gold and silver alloy, with a very good texture and very corrosion-resistant. Its needle tip is sharp and the hardness is just right. When acupuncture is performed, the needle is inserted smoothly and the acupuncture points are accurately hit, and the treatment effect is excellent. Daddy has always regarded it as his lifeblood and usually keeps it in a specially made sandalwood box. He will only take it out and use it when encountering extremely difficult diseases."

Lei Tao listened intently, his mind picturing the mysterious set of golden needles. He couldn't help but sigh, "Such a precious treasure, passed down through so many generations, carries the essence of our ancestors' medical skills." He narrowed his eyes slightly and thought seriously. "I once studied acupuncture abroad with a highly skilled overseas Chinese practitioner for several years. I devoted myself to studying during those years, and although I learned the essence of acupuncture, I'm still a little short of mastery. If I could meet an old master who specializes in the use of golden needles, perhaps we could have a lot in common and have a good discussion. Coincidentally, I also have a set of golden needles on hand."

A hint of surprise flashed in Meng Xiaoyu's eyes. She took Lei Tao's hand and said, "Really? Then when you meet my father tomorrow, I'm sure you two will have a great chat. My father would be very happy if he knew you also know acupuncture."

Lei Tao raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a perfect smile, and nodded gently, but his heart was like a restless rabbit, jumping up and down non-stop. Recalling that when he was studying in modern medical school before joining the army, he was forced by his father to learn acupuncture. Under his father's high pressure, he could only concentrate on studying acupuncture techniques, practicing repeatedly on models and patients countless times. With his extraordinary talent and extraordinary diligence, he gradually became familiar with all kinds of acupuncture methods, and mastered them thoroughly, reaching a level of success that others could hardly achieve. With this medical skill, he stood out in the special forces selection after joining the army, and was selected by the secret special forces to join the special forces. If it weren't for that incident where he beat the local tyrant and left him paralyzed, he would probably still be in the special forces now...

Just as he was thinking, Meng Xiaoyu's voice interrupted his thoughts: "Lei Tao, why are you in a daze?" Lei Tao came back to his senses, looked at Meng Xiaoyu's concerned eyes, smiled and said: "It's okay, I just remembered some things in the past."

The day passed quickly, and early the next morning, Lei Tao took Meng Xiaoyu to a nearby bookstore and carefully selected several ancient Chinese medical books as a gift for Meng's father. Afterwards, the two of them came to Meng's house with the gifts.

Meng Xiaoyu knocked on the door, and it was her father who opened it. Seeing his daughter return, he said happily, "It's Yu'er who's back." Seeing Lei Tao standing next to him, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. Meng Xiaoyu blushed and introduced him, "Dad, this is Lei Tao, my... friend."

Lei Tao hurried forward and said respectfully, "Hello, uncle. It's our first meeting. This is a small gift I brought you. I hope you like it."

Father Meng accepted the gift and smiled as he invited them in. After entering, Lei Tao looked around and saw that the bookshelves in the living room were filled with various medical books, and there were several pots of carefully cared-for green plants in the corners.

Father Meng invited them to sit down, and Meng Xiaoyu went to the kitchen to make tea. Lei Tao and Father Meng were the only ones left in the living room, and the atmosphere was a little awkward. Lei Tao summoned his courage and said, "Uncle, Xiaoyu told me you're very knowledgeable about acupuncture. I also studied acupuncture abroad with an elderly Chinese medicine practitioner who is an overseas Chinese. I'm particularly interested in this area. I wonder if I could ask you for some advice?"

Upon hearing this, Father Meng became interested and said, "Oh? You also know acupuncture? That's a coincidence. How long have you been studying acupuncture? What techniques have you used?"

Lei Tao recounted his experiences learning acupuncture and the techniques he had mastered. Father Meng nodded frequently, occasionally asking questions, which Lei Tao answered earnestly. The two became increasingly engaged in their conversation, before they knew it, and the subject of conversation turned to the Meng family's ancestral golden needles.

Father Meng stood up and walked slowly towards the study. After a while, he returned to the living room with an antique sandalwood box in his hands. He placed the box on the table and opened the lid with trembling fingers. In an instant, soft light shone down, and a set of gold needles in the box sparkled with warm light, as if telling the story of the years.

Lei Tao's eyes were attracted by the sudden light, and he moved closer involuntarily. He saw that the needle body of the golden needle was as thin as a silk thread, but tough, and the tip of the needle was sharp. Under the refraction of light, there was a faint cold light flowing. The workmanship of the whole set of golden needles was exquisite and delicate, which was amazing.

Father Meng gently picked up a golden needle, his expression solemn and his eyes filled with pride. "Lei Tao, this set of golden needles is an heirloom of the Meng family. It has been passed down through generations and has saved countless people. It's made of a special material, painstakingly found by our ancestors. Not only is it tough and durable, but it also better conducts Qi and blood during acupuncture. Combined with the Meng family's unique acupuncture techniques, it often achieves twice the result with half the effort."

As Father Meng spoke, he slowly demonstrated the acupuncture technique. His movements were gentle and steady, each gesture imbued with boundless power. Lei Tao watched intently, never blinking, afraid to miss a single detail. After Father Meng finished, Lei Tao eagerly offered his own insights and questions. The two of them exchanged pleasantries, immersed in the wondrous world of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. Father Meng's admiration grew as he observed Lei Tao's understanding and unique perspectives on acupuncture.

At this moment, Lei Tao seemed to remember something. He bowed slightly and said sincerely, "Uncle, I also have a set of gold needles. I would like to ask you to help me take a look." As he spoke, he reached into his bag (actually from the mysterious Bagua gyroscope space) and took out an equally exquisite ebony box.

Father Meng was slightly startled, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. He took the box and slowly opened it. The golden needles inside were equally finely crafted, their blades emitting a faint luster, seemingly bearing an unusual origin. Father Meng picked up a needle and examined it carefully, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "This golden needle..." He raised his head and looked at Lei Tao, his eyes full of inquiry.

Seeing this, Lei Tao's expression became a little solemn, and he said slowly: "Uncle, this set of gold needles was given to me by an old senior Chinese medicine practitioner when I was studying abroad. He had extraordinary medical skills and noble medical ethics, and he taught me everything he knew without reservation. But on the day he handed me this set of gold needles, a sudden gunfight broke out and broke the peace. In the chaos, the old senior was unfortunately hit by a stray bullet in order to protect me..." Lei Tao's voice gradually became low, and his eyes revealed grief and regret.

He gently picked up the box and pointed at the strange symbols engraved on it. "Look, these symbols on the box! I've asked around, but no one can understand them. But I've always felt that this golden needle is something extraordinary, so I've always kept it with me, never daring to slack off."

A flicker of emotion crossed Father Meng's eyes. He returned his gaze to the needles, gently stroking them, feeling their texture and warmth. "The material of these needles seems even more special than mine. They're warm to the touch. I believe they'll stimulate the flow of Qi and blood during acupuncture," Father Meng said, picking up one of his own needles and comparing them to Lei Tao's.

Lei Tao came closer and carefully observed the two golden needles. He couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, do you think there is a big difference in the application of this acupuncture technique?"

Father Meng put down the needles in his hand, sat back in his chair, and said seriously, "Although acupuncture techniques have similarities, needles made of different materials have different characteristics, so the force, angle, and speed of acupuncture need to be adjusted accordingly. For example," Father Meng picked up Lei Tao's needle, "it has a more flexible texture. When inserting it into the acupuncture point, you need to use skillful force and advance slowly to accurately find the optimal stimulation point."

Lei Tao, lost in thought, picked up one of his own needles and imitated Father Meng's previous movements, demonstrating the insertion posture in the air. Father Meng patiently instructed him, "Yes, that's it. Keep your wrist steady, apply even pressure, and always feel the feedback from the acupuncture point."

The two of them discussed the characteristics and usage of the two sets of golden needles for a long time, and before they knew it, it was getting late. Meng's mother had prepared the meal and walked into the living room to greet them: "You've been talking for so long, let's eat first, the food is getting cold."

Father Meng finally came to his senses and said to Lei Tao with a smile, "We were so busy talking about golden needles that we forgot the time. Let's go, eat first, and then we can continue the conversation after dinner."

At the dinner table, Meng's father was in high spirits. While eating, he chatted with Lei Tao about interesting anecdotes and stories from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Lei Tao listened with rapt interest, frequently asking questions, which Meng's father patiently answered. Seeing the two of them enjoying their conversation, Meng's mother also smiled with satisfaction.

After dinner, Father Meng and Lei Tao returned to the living room to continue studying the two sets of golden needles. Father Meng imparted his years of acupuncture experience to Lei Tao without reservation, and Lei Tao listened attentively, memorizing every key point. The two were so immersed in the wonders of traditional Chinese medicine that they were completely unaware of the late night.