Chapter 96: The Lesser Witch Encounters the Greater Witch, Little Shrimp Takes on the Dragon's Pearls! (Combined Edition)

Seeing Li Shixin publicly affirm it, the lecturer's heart was filled with glee. He knew exactly what he was selling; the product, to put it bluntly, was cheap trace element supplements bought from the market and repackaged under new labels. It could never achieve the promised promotional effect, but it would cause no harm. Yet why could a five-yuan bottle of cod liver oil and vitamin AD sell for five hundred yuan? It was all in the speaker's mouth!

"Good, good, good! I am deeply grateful for your endorsement, sir. Please take your seat. Now, everyone, we have received our gifts from Songtian Sunshine—the BOAO Extractor. I must remind you all to keep this well. I said we would return gifts to you, but it is not a few eggs. Do you know how much this extractor costs?"

"I don't know!"

The staff in the audience chanted enthusiastically.

The lecturer immediately pumped himself up, flashing the scissors gesture: "Two thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight!"

"Wow!"

"Now it's free! Have you seen our Songtian Sunshine's sincerity? Then, without more words, we begin today's health lecture: Why do those entering old age easily suffer from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases!"

Below the stage, Wu Ming, a doctor who had served in healthcare for half a lifetime, frowned. He watched the lecturer use highly persuasive language and gestures, pairing them with metaphors like "blood vessels are like sewer pipes" and "blood clots are like debris in water"—mismatched yet presented as vivid—while distorting the pathology, he shook his head.

Seeing Li Shixin beside him listening intently, Wu Ming leaned in: "Brother, is it almost time?"

As the time drew near, a group of elderly fans eager to tidy the hall for the performance also showed impatience. Li Shixin chuckled and nodded.

"Ming, you'll support me in a moment."

"Brother, just watch me!"

Perfect!

At that moment, the lecturer on stage was discussing the harms of cardiovascular diseases.

"Is there anyone in the audience who has had a family member suffer from cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease? Raise your hand if so!"

You see how perfectly timed this is!

Li Shixin stood up: "I... have..."

The lecturer's eyes lit up!

"Come, come, please bring this relative up to share his experience! Everyone, give him a round of applause!"

Wow!

Seeing Li Shixin about to take the stage, the drowsy elderly fans perked up instantly.

With the applause so enthusiastic, the lecturer's body shook with excitement—these sheep were of high quality today! With such good emotion, it seemed they were young at heart.

This performance was perfect!

Excited, he personally went down and welcomed Li Shixin.

Standing before the stage steps, looking at the Songtian Sunshine enterprise posters plastered everywhere and the stage piled high with health products, Li Shixin felt a wave of nostalgia.

Memories flowed through his mind like streams.

"Plays are not movies; they don't give you a second chance to redo!"

"In Peking Opera, a good performer needs three minutes on stage and ten years of practice. I told you that a good play actor doesn't need ten years of practice. Why? Because plays have no props to speak of. But let me tell you this: if an actor doesn't practice diligently, not even in a lifetime can he succeed!"

"Every expression, every movement, every line of dialogue will reach the audience's eyes and ears directly. So, when you stand on this stage, remember at all times that you are the role, and the role is you!"

"Your movements must be accurate, your lines clear, your emotions precise. Only by bringing the audience in the back row into the play can you say you have substance!"

In his daze, a loud, serious voice echoed in Li Shixin's ear.

"Relative, what's wrong with you? Don't be shy, come up on stage!"

Just then, the lecturer saw Li Shixin standing on the steps confused and urged him.

Li Shixin took a deep breath, silently remembering the reprimand from his mentor at the Red Flag Drama Troupe from his old memories, and lifted his leg.

When his foot touched the red carpet of the stage, his entire demeanor changed!

After some time of "de-aging," Li Shixin's appearance was vastly different from when he first arrived at the Rong store.

Especially recently, with his acting career flourishing, he felt youthful and spirited. Compared to when he was discharged from the hospital, he appeared ten years younger at least.

This was witnessed by Wu Ming and the group of elderly fans.

But the moment he stepped onto the stage, the old man who had just come from the hospital two months ago, looking frail and weak, spiritless, barely able to walk, returned!

Seeing the old man who had been energetic when entering moments ago suddenly transformed, the lecturer was startled: "O-older gentleman, are you alright?"

Li Shixin, whose face was a bit pale, waved his hand.

"Well, well, okay. Older gentleman, please share your experience with us!"

Slightly hunched, Li Shixin looked at the audience below and began slowly.

His voice was a bit muffled and hoarse, "At the beginning of this year, I was admitted to the hospital due to a cerebral stroke... diagnosed at the First People's Hospital of Tiancheng City with severe thrombosis in the back of my neck... This thrombus has had a tremendous impact on my life..."

Originally, when calling the elderly fans to the lecture, Li Shixin had already told them the image he was portraying—a patient fooled by a health product seller.

But now, seeing Li Shixin's state on stage, even though the elderly fans knew it was acting, they were shaken!

The symptoms Li Shixin described were ordinary, but there was an inexplicable power that made people feel a heart-wrenching empathy.

As he spoke of the daily life after suffering a cerebral thrombosis, many elderly who knew it was acting subconsciously touched the back of their necks.

This cerebral thrombosis was truly shocking!

Several elderly fans clicked their tongues in secret, thinking if there was really someone staging this, they might not have their tickets anymore.

Seeing the reactions of the elderly below, and Li Shixin with tears in his eyes narrating on stage, the lecturer by the side clicked his tongue repeatedly.

Alas...

Pitiful! But he had struck gold!

A living example like this—if this lecture doesn't sell two to three hundred thousand yuan, all his five or six years of health product sales would be in vain!

Perfect!

Today was too smooth!

While the lecturer was thinking this, Li Shixin wiped his tears and had finished his illness story.

In the silence of the entire hall, the lecturer made a face as if his father had died, patting Li Shixin's shoulder heavily.

"The older gentleman speaks well. I think now everyone knows the harm cardiovascular diseases bring to our elderly. But don't fear, relatives! The large-scale lecture hosted by Songtian Sunshine is to help elderly friends completely escape the persecution of cardiovascular diseases!

Originally, this secret was to be revealed at the end of the lecture. But seeing this Li grandfather suffering from cerebral thrombosis, it's so heartbreaking. I couldn't bear it!

Now, allow me to solemnly introduce to you all the product, Songtian Kangxin Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Tonic, cooperated by our Songtian Sunshine Group and the German NBS International Medical Association, awarded the Special Gold Medal by the World Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Medical Association!"

Like injecting two tons of chicken blood, the lecturer took out a box from behind and handed it to Li Shixin.

"Grandpa, don't be afraid. This medicine, even if your cerebral thrombosis is ten times more severe, can bring you back to health!"

"Really?"

"No rip-off!"

"Then, can I try it?"

"Welcome! Come, give Grandpa a cup of water!"

Dripping...

Watching Li Shixin drink the medicine with water, the lecturer thrust the microphone forward: "Grandpa, how is the taste?"

"Good! It has a... um, not sweetened and no sesame oil tea flavor."

"...... So, do you feel now a hot flow surging in the back of your neck?"

"Ah, when you say that, it seems a bit so."

Seeing Li Shixin was on track, the lecturer waved his hand grandly!

"This is the miracle of our Songtian Kangxin Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Tonic! Combined with BOAO deep-sea extract, the body absorbs it rapidly, taking effect in one minute! Targeting the affected area, like a cleaner, it dissolves and decomposes the blood clots blocking your blood vessels, ultimately absorbed and excreted through the kidneys! Returning you to a clear, healthy world! I just heard someone ask, how much does this medicine cost?"

"I'll tell you, this medicine is still in the secret R&D stage. I only took it out after seeing this grandfather in so much pain. According to the company's pre-sale price, one box is fourteen thousand nine hundred and eight!

But now, feeling so many elderly in such pain, my heart aches! I decide, no matter if the company holds me accountable or if my future is affected today, I must let you relatives have a good deal! One box, only one thousand four hundred and ninety-eight!"

"Good!"

The staff below jumped up excitedly—the true master, you damned black!

It wasn't supposed to sell for five hundred, right?

Seeing many elderly below starting to whisper, the lecturer immediately pushed the microphone to Li Shixin: "Grandpa, can you accept this price? Or, compared to your health and quality of life, is this price too high?!"

The lecturer, full of joy preparing to offer gifts next and raise expectations, was overjoyed.

But just then, an accident happened.

The old man who was fine moments ago suddenly clutched his head without warning, his features twisting.

Then, with a clang, he fell onto the stage!

This caught everyone's attention.

"This medicine... no... hurts... hurts..."

In the lecturer's daze, Li Shixin struggled to say these words.

Then, his neck seemed to be twisted by an invisible hand, bending at an angle impossible for humans.

Subsequently, his whole body trembled violently like a bullet with three gears engaged!

With intense, irregular tremors throughout his body, his eyes were only whites, saliva in his mouth being whipped into white foam by the high-frequency vibrating tongue and teeth, splattering everywhere along his purple lips.

This massive change left the lecturer stunned!

Seeing this, Wu Ming was truly anxious, forgetting Li Shixin's instructions.

With years of medical experience, she stood up at once, "Oh no! Quick, call 120! This is a stroke! Find something hard to press his tongue!"

Oh no!

Big trouble!

On stage, watching the old man twisted like a pretzel on the ground, the lecturer plopped down sitting on the floor—his legs were scared soft.

God!

What the hell is this?!

The lecture started so fantastically!

How could it turn into this?

A young staff member next to him, hearing Wu Ming's shout, took out a power bank from his pocket to shove it into Li Shixin's mouth.

Seeing his action, the lecturer scrambled up from the ground, "What are you doing?"

"Saving someone! Didn't that auntie just say, find something hard to stuff in his mouth so he doesn't bite his tongue?"

"Are you stupid!? Saving who, hurry up and run! It's going to shit!"

"Ah? Now?"

"Wait for police?!"

"Where's that thing?"

"Forget it! Quick, retreat!"

The lecturer was decisive, measuring in a short time, directly throwing the microphone to the ground, tearing off his work badge around his neck, and about to run out.

But where to run?

A group of elderly fans knew Li Shixin was ill, and seeing the attack, they couldn't tell if it was acting or real—completely forgetting Li Shixin's earlier instructions.

Angry elderly fans and those fooled to the lecture blocked those who wanted to flee.

"You can't leave! Your medicine harmed the person like this, and you want to run?!"

"Yes! Call the police!"

Seeing the angry crowd of elderly, the lecturer's legs gave out.

Plop, he knelt on the ground.

"Grandpa and grandma, our medicine is really fine!"

"Believe your ass! How can the medicine be fine if the person is like this?!"

"Really! True grandparents, what we have is just oil tea noodles and vitamin AD pills!"

"Whom are you fooling! Can oil tea noodles and vitamins make a person like this?!"

"Grandpa and grandma! I swear to the sky, if I lie, I'll be struck by lightning! Ah? Right! My purchase receipt is still here, you see, I bought them at the market and nearby pharmacies!"

Clang.

As the lecturer pulled out the receipts from his bag, he tugged at his neck explaining forcefully to the elderly present, the doors of the hall opening.

Then, a group of police waiting at the door filed in one by one.

Seeing the smiling police, the lecturer shuddered.

Thinking of the convulsing old man on stage barely alive, and the police badge on their hats, his bladder trembled.

Then, a hot stream flowed down his pants.

Finished.

He sat dejectedly on the ground.

Faking goods, selling fakes, harming lives.

Ten years in prison, served.

"Hey! This case today is handled smoothly. We've dealt with many scammers of health products that pit the elderly, and this is the first time we've caught one admitting on the spot to producing and selling fakes, with receipts as evidence."

Several police officers stepped forward and snatched the receipts from the lecturer's hand.

Seeing the evidence listed one by one, they were delighted.

"Okay, put on the handcuffs. Take him back to the station to check his record."

After dealing with each scammer, the lead officer walked to the stage.

Seeing Li Shixin lying on the ground, he smiled: "Grandpa, it's okay now. The evidence is solid. Thank you for reporting, helping us expose the scammers!"

This...

What the hell?

On site, not only the scammers were petrified.

Even the elderly who had been fooled were at a loss.

In their confusion, Li Shixin, who was still alive on stage, stood up.

Looking at the crowd below, he bowed slightly: "Thank you all for your cooperation. Our first round of Yuedong Drama Club performance is over. Thank you."

(Emojis)

Drama?

So they were all acting!

The elderly who had been fooled stared at Li Shixin looking fine on stage.

While the scammers controlled by police saw this, as if their brains had been stirred with a mixer.

Completely chaotic!

(Emojis)

Ding!

Received additional [Shocking] cheer value, 35,711 points!

Oh?

Looking at the system's prompt, Li Shixin nodded satisfactorily.

The first act of this small theater had good gains!

"Grandpa, you're amazing! I fucking admire you! If I get out, wait for me!"

Just then, the lecturer who was being escorted by police at the door roared.

Seeing the scammer leader biting his teeth, Li Shixin raised an eyebrow: "What do you want to do waiting for me?"

"You want me to find you! Let's cooperate, split the money seventy-thirty!"

"Shut up!"

The police behind directly slapped him on the back of the head.