Chapter 119: What Are You Here For?
“What’s going on?” Xu Fei furrowed his brow, a sense of foreboding settling in his heart.
“This kind of cranial surgery can take a long time,” Old An San said, his own worry evident.
Such operations were said to carry a high risk of death.
“Are you hungry? Should I go buy something to eat?” Xu Fei nodded slightly.
Old An San got up and headed toward the hospital entrance. After a short while, he returned carrying steamed buns and pickled vegetables.
“This is all I could get. There’s nothing else available outside, so we’ll have to make do.”
Xu Fei bit into the bun, but his appetite was completely gone.
The two of them waited outside the operating room for a full ten hours.
At dawn the next day—
Ding!
The operating room lights went out.
Xu Fei and Old An San rushed to the door.
A weary-looking male doctor emerged. Xu Fei stepped forward, his face grave.
The doctor rubbed his eyes.
“Good thing you brought him in on time…”
Hearing this, Xu Fei felt his heart lighten just a bit.
The doctor continued, “He’s stable now. As long as we observe him for another twenty-four hours, he’ll be out of danger.”
“Thank you so much!”
Xu Fei and Old An San grasped the doctor’s hands, almost wanting to kneel in gratitude.
“Alright, but you still can’t see him yet. He’s in the ICU for observation. By the way, please see the nurse later to settle the fees,” the doctor said before turning back into the operating room.
Soon after, Zhang Ze was wheeled out, his eyes closed and face pale.
Though they knew he had been pulled back from the brink of death, Xu Fei and Old An San couldn’t help but feel a deep ache in their hearts.
After Zhang Ze was taken into the ICU, Old An San turned to Xu Fei.
“Let’s find a place to stay for now. Once he’s out of the danger period tomorrow, we’ll come back.”
Xu Fei nodded.
They stepped out of the hospital as the sky brightened.
Xu Fei glanced across the street at several breakfast shops.
“Third brother, let’s get something to eat.”
They chose a relatively quiet shop, though it still had a dozen patrons.
Settling into a secluded corner, Xu Fei shook his head, feeling dizzy and exhausted. All he wanted now was a bed to sleep soundly.
At that moment, a girl around seventeen or eighteen approached.
“What would you like to order?”
Xu Fei looked at the menu she handed him.
“Six meat pies, a bowl of mutton soup, and a plate of pickled vegetables.”
“Would you like something to drink?”
He glanced at Old An San.
“No, thanks,” Old An San waved his hand. “I just want a bed right now.”
Xu Fei smiled slightly at this.
“Same here.”
They exchanged a few more words before the meat pies arrived.
Each took one.
Before they finished, the mutton soup was served.
Sipping the soup, Xu Fei felt some strength returning. When the stomach is empty, one has no energy for anything.
He ate another meat pie, finally feeling full.
By his usual appetite, he could have eaten one more.
“Boss, check please!” Xu Fei called to the girl.
He reached into his pocket—and a cold sweat broke out.
His money was gone!
He stood up quickly, scanning around but saw no wallet.
“What’s wrong?” Old An San asked, setting down his soup.
“My money’s missing!”
Old An San was startled.
Before coming to the provincial capital, Xu Fei had brought three thousand yuan. Now, all gone.
And Zhang Ze’s medical bills hadn’t been paid yet.
Without the money, what would happen to Zhang Ze?
Old An San hurriedly pulled Xu Fei toward the door.
“You haven’t paid yet.”
The girl rushed over, grabbing Xu Fei’s arm.
“Miss, listen to me. Our money is missing. Let us go look for it first. Once we find it, we’ll pay you.”
The girl turned and shouted toward the kitchen.
“Dad, someone ate and didn’t pay!”
Xu Fei quickly waved his hands.
“No, no, we’re not refusing to pay. Our money was lost. We’re going to find it.”
Just then—
“Who the hell dares eat here and not pay?” A man in a tank top emerged from the kitchen.
He looked to be in his early forties, with a square face, bulbous nose, and a tough demeanor—not someone easy to reason with.
He strode up and grabbed Xu Fei’s collar.
“You’re the one who didn’t pay?”
“Stop!” Old An San shouted.
The cook glanced at him.
“What are you yelling for? Don’t leave either. Lan, call the police and report someone eating without paying and trying to run.”
The girl released Xu Fei and headed outside.
“Wait!” Xu Fei called after her.
“Sir, there’s been a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? Paying for your meal is just common sense. What, are you trying to argue?”
Xu Fei nodded.
“I know, paying is right. But our money’s gone. We have to find it first. When we do, we’ll pay you.”
“Find it? How? If you two leave, who am I supposed to get the money from?”
Xu Fei glanced at Old An San.
“Third brother, you go look for it. I’ll wait here.”
He turned to the cook.
“Sir, is that okay?”
The cook looked Old An San over.
“When will you be back?”
Old An San shook his head.
“Don’t know, but I promise I’ll come back as soon as possible, whether or not I find it.”
“Alright then.”
The cook released Old An San.
“Go ahead, Third brother.”
“Okay, I’ll wait here,” Xu Fei said.
Old An San turned and left the breakfast shop.
The cook watched him run toward the hospital.
“Where are you guys from?”
“Donghai.”
Xu Fei watched Old An San with concern.
“What?”
The cook looked surprised.
“You’re from Donghai?”
“Yes.”
Xu Fei frowned slightly, puzzled by the cook’s tone.
“You don’t sound like you’re from Donghai.”
The cook looked a little embarrassed.
“I left early. When you’re here mixing with outsiders, having a local accent gets you bullied, so I gradually lost mine.”
“Ah…”
Xu Fei nodded.
“Well, since you’re a fellow townsman, can you trust me this once? I…”
The cook frowned.
“Fellow townsman, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I have trusted before, but every time, I was cheated. So, brother, understand my position.”
Then he called to the girl.
“Lan, make some good tea for this brother.”
“Alright,” she replied.
The cook led Xu Fei inside.
“Don’t worry, have some tea and wait. I’ve got work to do, so I’ll be busy for a bit.”
Xu Fei nodded.
The cook went to the kitchen.
The girl returned with a teapot.
“Sir, here’s your tea.”
By now, the shop had emptied considerably, with only two tables occupied.
She sat opposite Xu Fei.
“Sir, what brings you to the provincial capital?”