Chapter Seventy-Three: Twenty Thousand Pounds

The nurse abandoned the woman kneeling on the ground in tears. She turned and entered the emergency room.

Not long after, the doctor came out from inside. “Are you the patient's family member?” he asked.

The woman scrambled to her feet. “Forget it. Your son's illness, whether treated or not, won’t make a difference. You don’t have the money. Take him away,” the doctor said, glancing back.

A few nurses then wheeled the boy out.

“Doctor, how can this be?” the woman wailed, clutching the doctor’s leg in desperation.

“Let go! What do you think you’re doing?” Annoyed, the doctor glared at her. When she still refused to release him, he shouted, “Call Security!”

A nurse turned and headed back inside.

At this moment, Xu Fei stepped forward. “Doctor, what is the boy’s illness?”

“Pulmonary cyst.”

“Then why do you say he’s beyond saving?”

“They can’t afford the surgery. Without it, the child could suffocate at any moment. You see, they have no money.”

Xu Fei glanced at the woman. “Sister, don’t cry. I’ll lend you the money.”

The woman collapsed to the ground, knocking her head gratefully against the floor before him.

“Get up, Sister, what are you doing?” Xu Fei hurried to pull her up.

“Doctor, please operate now. I’ll go pay the fees.”

The doctor looked at Xu Fei, nodded, and agreed, “All right.”

By this time, the security staff had arrived. “What’s going on?”

The doctor explained briefly. The men shot the woman a stern look. “Don’t make trouble. If you’re here to see a doctor, then behave.”

The woman nodded quickly.

Xu Fei took the payment slip and went to the cashier. He happened to have enough money on him. When he returned, the nurse checked the payment slip, nodded, and said, “You’ve met a benefactor. I’ll notify the doctor right away. The surgery will begin now.”

Watching the nurse enter the emergency room, the woman finally felt a weight lift from her heart. She turned to Xu Fei.

“Benefactor, you are the savior of me and my Maomao. I don’t know how to thank you!” she exclaimed, dropping to her knees again.

“Please, Sister, get up. It was nothing. Don’t worry yourself,” Xu Fei said, helping her up.

Wiping tears from her face, the woman asked, “Benefactor, what is your name? I want to remember you. I want Maomao to remember you. Our whole family will always be grateful.”

Xu Fei waved his hand. “My name is Xu Fei. There’s no need. As long as the child is safe, that’s enough.”

“Xu Fei, my little brother, is it all right if I call you that?”

“Of course, Sister. You are older than me; it’s only natural.”

She nodded. “Little brother, I’m from Yangshugangzi. My name is Yang Liping. My husband—the one who tried to snatch my bag just now—is Zhang Baozhu. We’re from the same village.” She introduced herself and explained her family’s situation.

“Little brother, I know it’s a lot of money, but don’t worry. I’ll pay you back even if I have to sell my house.”

Xu Fei quickly reassured her, “Sister, you’re overthinking it. I lent you the money because I trust you. As for when you can repay me, I’m not in a hurry.”

Du Man came over to comfort Yang Liping, and since Xu Qing still had to go to school, and the surgery was already underway, he advised Yang Liping to come find him at Donghai Sugar Factory if she had any difficulties.

Then the three of them left the hospital.

“Wife, are you jealous?” Xu Fei asked Du Man quietly on the way back.

“Nonsense, who’s jealous?” Du Man replied, slightly embarrassed.

Xu Fei noticed her flushed cheeks and bumped her playfully. “When did my wife become so petty?”

Du Man glared at him. “Xu Fei, if you say one more word, I’ll go get that twelve hundred back.”

“No, no, please don’t.” Xu Fei quickly waved his hands in surrender.

The couple laughed and chatted all the way. After sending Xu Qing to school, Du Man headed home, while Xu Fei went to the factory. He first took a two-day leave from Wang Guoqing, then went to look for Old Third An.

When he got to the cinema, Old Third An hadn’t shown up for work. Xu Fei knew that his friend had drunk a lot the night before—most likely too much.

So he didn’t disturb him but went straight to the grocery store to find Shen Shuming. He had him write a loan slip, then took the security officer to accounting to withdraw four thousand yuan.

This was the principal to buy twenty thousand catties of millet.

This time, he wanted to handle it himself.

By the time he got home, it was already afternoon. Guessing that Old Third An would be awake by now, Xu Fei went to his house. Sure enough, Old Third An had just gotten out of bed.

“Third Brother, did you overdo it last night?”

Old Third An glared at him. “You rascal, if it weren’t for you, would I have drunk so much with Sun Yindi?”

“Haha, thanks, Third Brother. Come on, let me treat you to something to eat, then we’ll head out.”

“Where are we going?” Old Third An asked.

Xu Fei told him about the millet order for the grocery store.

“You need that much this time?”

“That’s right. Once I’m done with this batch of rice, I’ll start working on the television business.”

Xu Fei took Old Third An to a nearby restaurant for a simple meal. Around three in the afternoon, they drove out of the city.

All along the way, Old Third An was groggy.

“Third Brother, do you want me to drive for a while?”

Old Third An looked at Xu Fei in surprise. “You know how to drive?”

Xu Fei chuckled inwardly. Know how to drive? Not only this—he could handle much bigger vehicles with ease.

“Mind if I give it a try?”

Old Third An was feeling unwell anyway. He nodded. Xu Fei had made this trip with him a few times before, and the roads were decent, so Old Third An trusted him with the wheel.

But as soon as Xu Fei started driving, Old Third An was astonished. This wasn’t a beginner’s driving. He was better than Old Third An himself.

“Xu Fei, you’re really something. I’ve never seen someone drive so well on their first try.”

Xu Fei smiled and shook his head. “Third Brother, get some rest. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Old Third An was truly exhausted. He leaned back in the passenger seat and soon fell fast asleep.

About an hour later, they arrived at Xiao Zhang Village. Xu Fei parked, got out, and went to find Village Chief Zhang.

Classes were still in session at the school, so the playground was quiet, with only the distant sound of students reciting lessons drifting from the classrooms.

Old Third An slept soundly in the car.

Xu Fei entered the village office.

“Xu Fei?” Village Chief Zhang was sorting through accounts when he saw him. He greeted him with a broad smile.

“Village Chief Zhang, I’ve come to trouble you again today.”

“Oh, don’t be so polite! In fact, I wish you’d come more often, hahaha…”

They sat down together. Village Chief Zhang poured him a glass of cool boiled water.

Xu Fei had been on the road and was thirsty. He drank more than half the glass before setting it down.

“Village Chief Zhang, how much millet do we have left in the village?”

“Not much. Why, how much do you want this time?”

Xu Fei smiled and held up two fingers. “Twenty thousand catties.”