Chapter 12: About to Be Enshrined!

In that instant, the onlookers, Wilson Zimmerman and his daughter, and even the cops all turned toward the noise. The street seethed with people. Dragon and lion dancers snaked through the crowd, drums thundering, gongs clanging, festive and loud. If not for the plaque carried at the head of the procession, folks would have thought it was some folk festival. The plaque wasn't draped in red. Compared to the one Jonas Quinny had sent, this one looked far more refined and expensive. Four bold characters filled the face: Peerless Divine Doctor. "My god-Peerless Divine Doctor? That's one hell of a title!" "That's a canonization plaque. Who could possibly carry that?" "Is some big shot sending it to Physician Zimmerman?" The crowd broke into chatter. "'Peerless Divine Doctor'-what a kick-ass title. Is this a tribute to me? My enshrinement gift?" Wilson's eyes gleamed gold. He almost shook with excitement. "Shameless. Even if it were for you, would you dare take it? Can you shoulder the word 'Divine'?" Carlos Yale couldn't help himself. "Why wouldn't I dare? I can't shoulder it, but you can? You're a broke nobody without a medical license. Get ready to do time. Don't be jealous when I get enshrined. And judging by this lineup, it really is for me. I even recognize someone-he once came to consult me about Chinese medicine." Wilson threw his head back and laughed. "I'm about to be enshrined!" When he finished laughing, he straightened his clothes. Sure enough, the procession with the plaque turned to face Treasure Hall and began to advance. If not me, who? Delight surged through him. He went to meet them, practically skipping. "Elder Wokey, this morning I said my pharmacy looked like it was glowing. Turns out you personally brought a plaque to honor me. What a blessing, what a blessing!" As he spoke, Wilson had already reached Richard Wokey and seized his hand, babbling on, "You could've just come. No need for such a grand spectacle-and you brought so many doctors from the hospital, too. You really give your younger brother face. I'm overwhelmed, Elder Wokey." "Heh." Even Richard Wokey felt embarrassed for him and could only force out a laugh. To everyone else, that was confirmation enough: the plaque had to be for Wilson. It faced Treasure Pharmacy, after all, and Wilson knew the people delivering it. Who else could it be for? Carlos Yale? Obviously impossible. A divine title in medicine wasn't earned overnight. It took years of recognition and a thunderous reputation before one qualified to be "enshrined." Wilson might not have fit the bill, but if someone insisted on bestowing a divine title, he could still take it. In Jenden, his name still carried weight. Few didn't know him. Convinced the enshrinement plaque was for her father, Arya Zimmerman threw Carlos a smug look. "Unhappy? Choking on it? You think you're better than my dad, so why is he the one being enshrined and you aren't recognized?" "Truth is, Chinese medicine is vast and profound. What we learned in school is a drop in the bucket. Don't think that beating my dad once by luck means you can replace his status in Jenden's Chinese medicine scene. Forget it. Not in ten, twenty years." "Be a good boy and stick out your hands. Let the police take you. Better that than watching my dad's enshrinement ceremony and dying of jealousy." She folded her arms across her chest and turned her head with a haughty little snort. "You two are the most shameless pair I've ever seen in my life. Not even close." Carlos shook his head, utterly done. If he hadn't come to Earth, it would never have occurred to him that in the boundless universe, among countless beings, such brazen shamelessness existed. It was eye-opening, in its way. "Wokey, who is that?" On the other side of the plaque, Hugo Looske glanced at Wilson and asked. "He's Wilson Zimmerman, the owner of the Chinese pharmacy across the street," Richard Wokey answered with an awkward smile. "Oh, so that's Wilson." Hugo Looske nodded in understanding, then waved his hand. The procession kept moving. Wilson frowned. This old man called Wokey "Little Wokey"? What kind of big shot was he? "Elder Wokey, who is that gentleman?" Wilson asked as they walked. "Him? His background is tremendous. He commissioned this plaque," Richard said. Wilson sucked in a breath. "A business tycoon, then? Someone who got cured after taking my prescriptions and came to present a plaque?" "No, no." Richard shook his head. "He's a titan of both Chinese and Western medicine in the Imperial Capital-Elder Hugo Looske." "What?" Wilson blurted, eyes wide. "He's the Imperial Capital's Divine Doctor, Elder Hugo Looske?" "That's right," Richard said, nodding. "Mother of-" Wilson nearly jumped. He hurried around to Hugo's side and bowed. "Elder Looske, your name resounds everywhere. You're a senior; how could you come all the way to Jenden to deliver a plaque to a junior like me? I don't deserve it. I really don't." "I think you can more than take it," Hugo said with a strained smile, helplessness in his voice. Wilson was too giddy to notice the displeasure. He rubbed his few remaining hairs and chuckled. "Then I can only say it's too much honor. Truly too much." As the procession drew close to the crowd, Arya beamed with delight and shouted, "Make way, make way! Clear a path. Don't block my dad welcoming his enshrinement plaque!" The people parted at once, leaving a broad lane. Only Carlos and a few cops stood in the middle. "Officer, haul this piece of trash away. He's in the way," Arya called. "Trash, get lost!" Wilson barked at Carlos. He hadn't finished when- Hugo Looske and Richard Wokey strode straight up to Carlos Yale, bent low at the waist, and spoke in the most respectful tone of their lives: "Divine Doctor Yale!" In the next heartbeat, the physicians accompanying them and the Chinese medicine practitioners of Jenden followed suit, all bowing deeply as they chorused: "Divine Doctor Yale!" "Divine Doctor Yale!" "Divine Doctor Yale!" The shout rolled like thunder. Wilson and Arya stood as if struck by lightning, faces frozen. The crowd gaped, stunned. Even the officers who had been about to lay hands on Carlos stared at one another, dumbfounded. What in the world was happening? "Mhm." Carlos answered mildly. "At ease." "Thank you, Divine Doctor Yale!" Only then did the titans of medicine dare to straighten. Eyeballs practically hit the pavement. Only now did everyone finally get it: the Peerless Divine Doctor plaque was for Carlos Yale-not for Wilson Zimmerman. "Elder Looske, Elder Wokey… you… you've got to be mistaken… showing that kind of respect to this piece of trash?" Wilson stammered, unable to believe it. Smack! A sharp slap rang out, followed by Hugo's scathing rebuke: "I've tolerated you long enough. And you dare call Divine Doctor Yale trash? Say it again, and I promise your Treasure Hall won't make a single sale!" "I'm sorry, Elder Looske! I'm sorry, Elder Looske!" Wilson trembled. He had no doubt a titan like Hugo Looske could shut him down. "Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Divine Doctor Yale." "O-okay, okay!" Wilson bobbed his head like a pecking chicken, then forced out, "Divine Doctor Yale, I'm sorry." "Get out of my sight," Carlos said, expression sour. "…" Wilson dared not talk back. He slunk aside, face ashen. Arya shoved forward, losing it. "Are you people insane? This trash went to the same college as me-and he's my ex-husband. I know exactly how deep his medical knowledge goes. He can't even pass the licensing exam. You calling him 'Divine Doctor'-are you blind?" "The blind one is you. You took a true dragon for a bug. You'll spend the rest of your life choking on the regret of letting him slip away," Hugo snapped, then lifted a hand. At once, a middle-aged man stepped up and handed a stack of certificates to Carlos. "Mr. Yale, all your certificates have been processed. They're all here." Arya and Wilson stood there, dumbstruck. That was a senior section chief from the Health Bureau. Had this "piece of trash" pulled a reversal? "Thanks," Carlos said, taking the documents and passing them to the officers. The lead cop glanced through them, returned the certificates, and said, "Our apologies, Mr. Yale, for the disturbance." With that, the officers left at once. "Do your faces hurt?" Carlos looked at Arya and Wilson and smiled coldly. Wilson had no words left. Arya snapped, "Who did you cozy up to? Who's propping you up so you could stage this whole play?" She was convinced the entire morning had been a scripted performance, with Carlos as the lead. "Because Divine Doctor Yale's medical arts can pull people back from the brink of death," Hugo said hotly. "We look up to him and honor him-so we helped him slap your ugly faces." What? Raise the dead? A collective gasp ran through the crowd. Jonas Quinny's heart skipped. Maybe I should invite him to see if he can save my grandpa? No. He worked for Angelo. He wouldn't save my grandpa-he might even hurt him. For safety, better not let him near us. What if he kills my grandpa and steals my sister? Then who would feed me for the rest of my life? "How about it? Satisfied with that answer?" Carlos asked. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You think this little stunt can topple the Zimmerman family?" Arya shot back. "You don't get ahead of yourself. Your family will be the ones crying," Carlos said, then glanced at Hugo. Hugo caught the cue, turned to the far side of the street, and shouted, "Raise the doors!" Across the road, two rolling shutters clattered up. Behind them, two storefronts had been knocked through into one. Workers swarmed inside, busy with renovations. Wilson's pupils contracted. A bad feeling wrapped cold fingers around his spine. "How many days to finish to my specifications?" Carlos asked. "Within three days, we'll have the renovations done," Hugo replied. "Good. When it's ready, you'll all come serve as resident physicians at my pharmacy. I'll pass my medical arts to you." "Thank you, Divine Doctor Yale! Thank you, Divine Doctor Yale!" Hugo, Richard Wokey, and the rest were beside themselves with excitement. Forget going back to the hospital or clinging to a specialist title. They had to work for Divine Doctor Yale for free if that's what it took-learn even the tip of his legacy. Pass that down, and their descendants would never want for wealth. Wilson dropped to the ground as if at a funeral. That bastard was opening a pharmacy across from him-and bringing in so many famous doctors as resident physicians. He was coming for his rice bowl, to starve him out! Sure enough, Carlos looked at him and said, "Buddy, we're going to be neighbors. With our shops facing each other, you'd better lower your prices. Otherwise, if your business dries up, don't blame me for taking your customers." He handed the ceremonial banner to Hugo Looske, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled off. Carlos had barely turned the corner when a squad from the Drug Administration Bureau surged into Treasure Hall. Pfft!!! Wilson's anger boiled over. He spewed a mouthful of blood. That bastard's grudge ran deep!!!