"I... How can this be possible..." Zhao Tian couldn't believe it and rubbed his eyes hard. "Big brother, is this..."
At this moment, Meng Qingdong's face looked exceptionally ugly, staring at the middle-aged man who was slowly getting up from the ground without saying a word.
Having practiced medicine for many years, he knew very well that although this middle-aged man was a bit weak now, he had already been pulled back from the brink of death.
Damn it, what did Zhang Xiaobei use? He actually managed to drag someone on the verge of death back from death's door.
This must have been dumb luck for that kid, it must be!
"Jianjun, you're really awake, thank goodness, you nearly scared me to death." Qi Yaru saw her husband waking up, tears of joy filling her eyes as she pushed through the crowd and flung herself into her husband's arms.
"I'm fine, what did you guys give me, what is this? Why is it so bitter? Who are they?"
The middle-aged man tried to spit it out several times, but the bitterness in his mouth did not alleviate at all.
"I also don't know what this is? This young man here prepared the medicine for you. It's specifically to dispel the miasma in your body. Come, let me introduce you." Seeing her husband come back from the dead, Qi Yaru went from crying to laughing, supporting her husband as she walked towards Zhang Xiaobei. "Young man, this is my husband Li Jianjun."
Through conversation, Zhang Xiaobei learned that the couple in front of him were the owners of Longze Hotel in the county town, and they had entered the mountains in search of a type of traditional Chinese medicine called Purple Wuteng to treat his father's illness.
But due to unfamiliarity with the geographical environment, they ended up afflicted by miasma.
"Young man, thank you so much. If it weren't for running into you, I'm afraid I would have lost my life."
"Mr. Li, don't be so polite, I just happened to be there at the time."
"Young man, I was wrong before, I listened to others' slander, so please forgive some things. Here, this is eight thousand yuan, and these are some jewels, take them, it's a token of our gratitude from both of us."
Looking at the stack of banknotes and the precious jewelry that Qi Yaru handed over, Zhang Xiaobei waved his hands repeatedly.
"Big sister, it was nothing more than a helping hand, I really didn't do much, you should keep your money."
"How can that be? This is our sincere gratitude. If you think it's not enough, name your price, and we'll transfer it to you." Li Jianjun spoke with great generosity, indeed, this money was nothing compared to his life.
"Big brother Li, this is really too much for me, so how about this!" Zhang Xiaobei said, reaching out and pulling out a hundred-yuan bill from Qi Yaru's hand, "Take this hundred yuan as my consultation fee, and keep the rest."
Li Jianjun and his wife greatly admired Zhang Xiaobei's actions. Especially Qi Yaru, who knew of Zhang Xiaobei's situation from the fragments of conversation she picked up from Meng Qingdong and others earlier.
In such impoverished conditions, to still maintain one's principles, such a person deserves respect!
"By the way, Big brother Li, regarding your uncle's condition, I suggest you go back and consult with a doctor again. In his case, using warming medicines might actually backfire."
When Li Jianjun heard Zhang Xiaobei bring up his father's condition, he immediately leaned in. "Young man, if I may be so bold to ask, do you have any good methods, or to what extent are you confident about this illness?"
"Without seeing the patient, I dare not jump to conclusions!" Zhang Xiaobei did not hide anything and was straightforward in his response.
"Young man, how about this? You come with us, and I will pay you double the consultation fee."
As Li Jianjun spoke, his face turned red with embarrassment. If Zhang Xiaobei had been greedy for money, he would have already taken the eight thousand yuan and the jewelry.
"I'm sorry, young man. I didn't mean it that way!"
Zhang Xiaobei smiled faintly, "Big brother Li, it's okay. As for your earlier proposal, I'm afraid it's difficult for me to comply because I have a lot of things to take care of at home, so... sorry!"
"No problem, young man. Let's do this, tomorrow or the day after, I'll bring my father to the village to find you, how about that?"
"Of course, that's fine."
Seeing Zhang Xiaobei agree, Li Jianjun was too excited for words, wishing he could bring his father over right then and there.
Watching Zhang Xiaobei's triumphant demeanor, Meng Qingdong and the others were itching with hatred; they knew that staying here was pointless, only serving to make them the butt of jokes.
Just as they were about to turn and leave, they were stopped by Zhang Xiaobei's words.
"Zhao Tian, you're just going to leave like that? Shouldn't we settle our accounts between us?"
"Zhang Xiaobei, I'm telling you, you better not start trouble here," Zhao Tian stood behind Meng Qingdong, glaring angrily.
"Starting trouble? I think the one who started trouble is you, right? To curry favor with your master, you stirred up trouble multiple times, nearly delaying the treatment's critical window. So, who's really starting trouble?"
Zhang Xiaobei pushed through the crowd and walked step by step towards Zhao Tian.
"Boss, boss..." Zhao Tian had thought Meng Qingdong would stick up for him, but Meng Qingdong stood there, head down, silent, allowing the situation to unfold.
"Kneel down!" Zhang Xiaobei stood in front of Zhao Tian and shouted sternly.
"You... I'll fucking fight you!" Overcome with rage, Zhao Tian picked up a wooden stick from the ground and swung it towards Zhang Xiaobei's head with a roar.
"Irredeemable!" Zhang Xiaobei snorted coldly, dodging Zhao Tian's attack with a swift move, at the same time grabbing Zhao Tian's wrist with his left hand.
The next second, Zhang Xiaobei took the stick from Zhao Tian and struck him hard on the back.
"Ah!" Zhao Tian let out a scream and immediately knelt to the ground.
"Call me grandpa!"
At first, Zhang Xiaobei had intended to let the guy off if he simply said something apologetic, considering the face of being fellow villagers.
But since the kid was overstepping his bounds, he couldn't blame Zhang Xiaobei for being ruthless.
"Zhang Xiaobei, don't push your luck. Don't forget, I'm not someone you can bully in this village," Zhao Tian threatened.
"Oh, is this a threat? It sounds like you're still planning on finding someone to take revenge on me, is that right? Who do you want to find? Him?"
As he spoke, Zhang Xiaobei pointed the stick right at Meng Qingdong's nose.
Zhao Tian was stunned, if it had been before, his boss would have had someone deal with it harshly.
But looking at his boss now, there was no sign of resistance, even some fear when facing Zhang Xiaobei!
What was going on today?
Was this still his boss?
"Grand... grandpa!"