"Auntie, if I can cure your illness, will you still want to commit suicide?"
Du Fei didn't stop Gong Cixin.
As expected, after hearing Du Fei's words, Gong Cixin already had one foot off the ground.
She turned her head to look at Du Fei, "Du Fei, I know you mean well, but over the years, I've been to many hospitals and seen many experts. This illness is simply incurable."
"Thank you for listening to me talk so much tonight. Auntie knows you're a good child, but you can't help me."
Du Fei looked no older than twenty. Even if he had started studying medicine from birth, it would only be twenty years.
Compared to the esteemed experts in the hospital, what confidence did Du Fei have in being able to cure himself?
Therefore, Gong Cixin interpreted Du Fei's words as pure attempts to comfort her.
Gong Cixin turned around again, preparing to jump into the river.
Du Fei sighed. It seemed that if he didn't show some real skill, Gong Cixin wouldn't give up on suicide.
So, he exerted force with his feet, and his whole body whooshed to Gong Cixin's side.
"Auntie, since you're not afraid of death, why don't you give yourself a chance to try? If I can't cure you, and you commit suicide a few days later, it won't make much of a difference, will it?"
Du Fei stood beside Gong Cixin, his eyes full of confidence.
Gong Cixin looked at Du Fei's confident eyes and was somewhat moved by his words.
Although she knew very well that Du Fei couldn't cure her, Gong Cixin still nodded. It would be like giving herself a sliver of hope, and she could spend a few more days with her daughter.
"Auntie, I've opened a traditional Chinese medicine clinic on Jianghua Street. You can bring your daughter to my place in the next couple of days. Trust me, I can really cure you."
Du Fei saw that Gong Cixin wouldn't commit suicide tonight, so he told her the detailed address of the clinic.
Gong Cixin nodded.
Then Du Fei offered to escort her back, but Gong Cixin shook her head and refused.
Since Gong Cixin was no longer planning to commit suicide, Du Fei didn't insist on taking her back.
…
"Du Fei! I'm telling you, this Sunday we're going to see Wenshan. You must remember what I taught you, and don't say anything wrong. Do you remember?"
Wang Zhongling stared at Du Fei like a school disciplinarian.
Du Fei nodded helplessly, "I remember, I remember. You've told me those things dozens of times. Even if I'm not smart, I'd remember them just by rote memorization. Don't worry."
Hearing Du Fei's firm reply, Wang Zhongling was finally satisfied and left.
"Da Bao, is there something you need?"
Du Fei saw Du Da Bao walking over, looking like he had something to say but hesitated.
Du Da Bao said, "Um, Du Fei, I'd like to pre-pay two months' salary. I know this is an unreasonable request, but my grandfather is still recovering. I want him to stay in Rongcheng so I can take care of him. Don't worry, I'll definitely repay you this money as soon as possible."
Du Fei heard this and immediately gave Du Da Bao twenty thousand yuan without hesitation.
Du Da Bao repeatedly waved his hands, saying he didn't need that much.
"Your grandfather took good care of my sister and me in the past. This money is for me to show my respect to him. Now that you've reformed, I believe your grandfather must be very pleased. Da Bao, don't let your grandfather down."
Du Fei patted Du Da Bao on the shoulder.
As the saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is more precious than gold. It's very rare for Du Da Bao to turn over a new leaf and be so filial to his grandfather.
"Thank you, thank you, Du Fei. Don't worry, I'll work hard. From now on, my life, Du Da Bao's life, belongs to you!"
Du Fei gave him twenty thousand yuan without a second thought, and he had saved his life before. Du Da Bao said excitedly, patting his chest.
Du Fei smiled and told him to go back to work.
"Hello, excuse me..."
"Eh, Wenshan, why are you here?"
A girl walked into the entrance of the TCM clinic. As soon as she spoke, Wang Zhongling, who was playing on her phone behind the counter near the entrance, stood up in surprise and looked at her childhood friend.
"Zhongling, why are you here too?"
Xu Wenshan was also surprised to see Wang Zhongling.
Then, when she saw Du Fei in the TCM clinic, she excitedly pointed at him and said, "So you're the Du Fei my mother mentioned? This, this is too much of a coincidence!"
"Wenshan, what are you talking about? You're confusing me."
Wang Zhongling looked at Du Fei, then at Xu Wenshan.
She understood every word Xu Wenshan said, but when they were put together, she couldn't understand it.
Du Fei was initially confused, but when he heard Xu Wenshan mention her mother, he immediately realized that Xu Wenshan's mother must be Gong Cixin, whom he had saved from jumping into the river earlier.
This was too much of a coincidence. Even Du Fei felt that the world was too small. Gong Cixin was Xu Wenshan's mother.
"Um, I don't know how to explain it. Zhongling, wait for me for a moment. I'll go home first and bring my mother over, then I'll tell you."
Xu Wenshan had initially planned to come to Jianghua Street herself to look for the TCM clinic her mother had mentioned.
She didn't expect to find the clinic and also run into Wang Zhongling and Du Fei.
Since she had found the place, Xu Wenshan decided to go home and pick up her mother.
When Wang Zhongling heard this, she immediately stood up and said, "I'll go with you to pick up Auntie."
Xu Wenshan didn't want to trouble Wang Zhongling, but Wang Zhongling used the excuse that she was bored sitting in the shop and wanted to go for a drive.
Faced with Wang Zhongling's overly obvious excuse, Xu Wenshan could only smile helplessly and agree to let Wang Zhongling accompany her to pick up her mother.
An hour later, Wang Zhongling and Xu Wenshan brought Gong Cixin over.
"I really didn't expect the world to be this small. Wenshan, you actually know them."
On the way there, Xu Wenshan had already told Gong Cixin that she knew Du Fei and that Wang Zhongling was her childhood schoolmate.
Wang Zhongling said, "Auntie, don't worry. Du Fei's other skills might not be great, but when it comes to treating illnesses, he's definitely the best in Rongcheng."
Du Fei's lips twitched.
Was Miss Wang's statement disparaging him or praising him?
Besides, was it really appropriate to say that in front of outsiders?
However, Du Fei was used to Wang Zhongling's way of speaking and chose to ignore it.
"Auntie, since you're here, please come in. I'll give you a thorough full-body examination first and then decide how to treat you."
Du Fei stood up and led Gong Cixin into the treatment room of the TCM clinic.
Gong Cixin nodded.
If, before coming to the TCM clinic, Gong Cixin still felt that Du Fei was just comforting her and that she would treat the next few days as her last days with her daughter, then at this very moment, one coincidence after another, coupled with Wang Zhongling's words, began to make Gong Cixin believe that Du Fei might truly be able to cure her illness.