A woman wiped away tears, sobbing intermittently as she recounted her family's story.
Her name was Wang Cuifang, and her husband was Liu Erleng. They had come from a city in Northeast China. They had a son named Goudan, who suffered from congenital heart disease.
"See? I told you, it's those two that did something wrong. Congenital!"
Before Wang Cuifang could finish speaking, a woman with a long face rushed forward, as if she had found irrefutable evidence. She continued, "You two are fired. Get out!"
Er Zhu, seeing that the woman dared to speak, pointed at the long-faced woman and the sharp-featured woman and waved his hand impatiently.
"Fired? We haven't even started working, why are you firing us? Do you think farmers are easy to bully?"
The long-faced woman's face grew even longer. She cupped her sleeves, as if ready for a fight, and yelled.
"Yes, what did we do wrong? It's only those two poor souls. My husband ran off with someone else, am I not to be pitied either?"
The sharp-featured woman, seeing that Er Zhu was also going to fire her, spoke up with annoyance.
"What did you do wrong? This is a service industry. With your attitude, who would want to spend money here?"
"What's there to pity? If I had a wife like you, I'd run off too!"
Just as Er Zhu was about to retort, Wang Xiaomei, standing beside him, suddenly stood up and glared fiercely at the two women.
"Exactly! I'd rather be a bachelor than marry a wife like you!"
As the sharp-featured woman was about to retort, a man's voice called out from the crowd.
"Get out! The boss told you to leave, why are you lingering here like a nuisance?"
"A heartless woman like this is indeed unsuitable for the service industry."
...
One person spoke up in defense of fairness, and others chimed in with their thoughts. In an instant, the two women became like rats crossing the street.
"Fine, we'll go. I don't care to stay in your lousy hotel anyway."
Seeing the crowd's indignation, the two malicious women became a little scared. After uttering those words, they slunk away.
"Thank you all. On behalf of my child, I thank you all!"
After the malicious women left, Wang Cuifang clasped her hands together and knelt on the ground, thanking everyone. Liu Erleng also knelt, a grown man crying so hard he nearly fainted.
"You're welcome. With your family's situation, no one can bear to ignore it."
Everyone's eyes were moist. A woman who had just cursed the two malicious women was now shedding tears as if her own son were ill.
The atmosphere instantly turned somber. Everyone lowered their heads in sadness, a heavy stone weighing down each heart.
"Alright, everyone go home. We'll handle this."
Seeing how sad everyone was crying, Wang Xiaomei, holding back her tears, waved to the crowd. Although worried, the sight of the towering skyscraper before them somewhat calmed their spirits.
This illness was a fatal blow to the poor, but to the rich, it was merely a drop in the bucket.
"Thank you, boss, for taking us in. We will work hard to repay you!"
After the crowd dispersed, Wang Cuifang suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned and repeatedly kowtowed to Er Zhu in gratitude.
"Get up and speak. Where is Goudan now? Let me go see him."
Er Zhu's heart trembled at the sound of the loud kowtows. He quickly helped Wang Cuifang and Liu Erleng up, his eyes slightly reddened.
"No need, boss. You must be busy. You don't need to worry so much about Goudan."
Wang Cuifang was taken aback, thinking Er Zhu only wanted to visit her child. She quickly shook her head, embarrassed.
"Yes, Goudan's life is cheap; he's not worth the boss treating him this way."
Liu Erleng, who had been mostly silent, wiped his tears and echoed.
"I'm not just going to visit him, I'm going to examine his condition. I can cure this illness."
Hearing this, Er Zhu realized the couple had misunderstood. He patted Liu Erleng's shoulder and added.
He can cure it?
The couple froze, looking at each other, their eyes filled with shock and confusion. Wang Cuifang opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how.
A hotel owner who could cure illnesses, especially congenital ones? It was unbelievable, no matter how you told it!
"Er Zhu is the most skilled doctor in ten villages, known as the 'Little Divine Doctor'!"
Seeing the doubt in their eyes, Wang Xiaomei seemed to recall something and said with a touch of pride.
"What? Little Divine Doctor?"
Their eyes widened. They looked at Er Zhu, then at Wang Xiaomei, their faces filled with confusion and shock.
How profound must one's medical skills be to be called a divine doctor? Could Goudan truly be saved!
"You don't have any good solutions anyway, do you? Why not let Er Zhu try?"
Knowing Er Zhu disliked explaining things, Wang Xiaomei spoke for him before he could.
"Alright, then let's go see him!"
Wang Cuifang thought for a long time before decisively slapping her thigh. Her eyes were determined.
Goudan had been in the hospital for a year with no improvement. Since that was the case, they might as well take a gamble!
Besides, she had met many bosses, but this one gave her a different feeling!
As they spoke, the group arrived at the Municipal Hospital. Seeing the emaciated Goudan, Wang Xiaomei's eyes welled up again.
He was so pitiful!
She had never imagined that in this day and age, there would be such a thin and feeble person!
"Mom, who are they?"
Goudan blinked his large, clear eyes. A smile appeared on his lips when he saw his parents, but his smile instantly vanished when he saw Er Zhu and Wang Xiaomei. A flicker of panic and fear crossed his eyes.
"They are all good people, benefactors to our family. Goudan, you must remember them well!"
Seeing her son's pitiable state, Wang Cuifang, suppressing her tears, embraced him.
"Boss, please don't mind. The child is young and hasn't seen much of the world, he's a bit shy."
Liu Erleng's eyes also reddened slightly. He cleared his throat and, a little embarrassed, pointed at Goudan.
"Goudan doesn't have congenital heart disease, but heart disease caused by congenital vascular malformation."
Er Zhu shook his head. His eyes flashed, and he pinpointed Goudan's true ailment with remarkable accuracy.
"Who is this young whippersnapper, talking nonsense!"
Before Wang Cuifang's family of three could ask, a man's voice came from behind them.
This person was none other than Goudan's attending physician, Zhang Liang!
A top student from Kyoto Medical University!
A direct disciple of Liu Houzeng, the renowned TCM practitioner in Huadong Province!
A famous cardiac specialist in Huadong Province!