Chapter 15 – “I like you very much.”

Translator: Abo Dammen

Auntie Zhao had previously seemed quite uninterested in the Psychology Department, so Chi Zhao never expected there to be a patient in need of help right by her side. The dining area was crowded and noisy, so Chi Zhao led her out of the courtyard to an open space outside. “Auntie Zhao, don’t be anxious yet. Who is this Yuanliang, and what’s his situation?”

“Yuanliang is my sister’s child. His full name is Kong Yuanliang. He… he…” Auntie Zhao’s emotions were still agitated, and she stammered for a good while before organizing her words. “My sister died in difficult labor when she was giving birth to him. His father is a drunkard. Every day besides drinking, he just hits and scolds him. But this child never communicates with us, just like Old Liu’s son before… Does… does he also have some psychological problem?”

This nephew of Auntie Zhao’s had always been quiet. Although she found it strange, she hadn’t paid it much mind. It wasn’t until Old Liu described his son’s condition during his illness at the dinner table that she suddenly realized something was wrong. Comparing them point by point, Yuanliang’s state was almost identical to that of the Liu family’s son when he was ill.

Auntie Zhao carefully recalled her nephew’s condition. “He’s in this very indifferent state, like he’s stupid. When we bring him food, he doesn’t make a sound. Sometimes I don’t want to bother with him, but then my heart aches for him, losing his mother so young. It was only after listening to Old Liu just now that I… Please, save him, alright? Save our Yuanliang. He wasn’t like this when he was little.”

Auntie Zhao’s emotions became agitated again. Chi Zhao quickly said, “Auntie Zhao, don’t worry. In a situation like this, we definitely won’t stand by and do nothing.”

“Really?” Auntie Zhao clutched his hand tightly. “Can you really save Yuanliang? Can you have Professor Fu see him?”

“Don’t be anxious yet. We need to see the child himself to confirm the specific situation,” Chi Zhao soothed her. “Can you bring him to see us?”

Auntie Zhao said hurriedly, “I’ll bring him tomorrow! Please, you must have Professor Fu see him!”

Before, she didn’t believe in Fu Nan’an’s ability, but now she insisted on no one but the Professor. Chi Zhao smiled wryly, then suddenly remembered a new issue: they were providing free clinics, staying only one day in each village. They wouldn’t be here tomorrow.

Chi Zhao hesitated as he told Auntie Zhao the situation, still thinking of a solution, when Auntie Zhao immediately responded, “That’s no problem! Wherever you go, I’ll take Yuanliang there!”

This was truly the eagerness of someone desperately seeking help. Chi Zhao could understand Auntie Zhao’s feelings. From her description, the child named Yuanliang did seem to have some psychological issues. If they could successfully help him, it would be a good deed done. Chi Zhao chatted with Auntie Zhao for a while. By the time he returned, dinner had ended, and several interns were about to wash the dishes. Seeing Chi Zhao return, Chen Kaiji asked, “Chi-ge, are you still eating?”

“No,” Chi Zhao looked around and asked him, “Have you seen Professor Fu?”

Chen Kaiji, carrying a stack of bowls and chopsticks towards the sink, said, “Probably went back to his room. Do you need him for something?”

“Thanks, I’ll go check.” Chi Zhao nodded, filled a thermos bottle with hot water, and then took the water to Fu Nan’an’s room.

Fu Nan’an was indeed in his room, sitting at the simple desk “reading” a book. His eyes could only perceive faint light, but he was accustomed to the feeling of light, so he still had the lamp on.

The orange lamplight spilled over him. Fu Nan’an’s back was tall and straight. Chi Zhao’s steps faltered. “Professor Fu…”

“Is that Chi Zhao?” Fu Nan’an placed a bookmark in the book, turned around holding the edge of the desk, his tone relaxed. “Here to help me with the eye compress again?”

The wound on Fu Nan’an’s temple was almost healed. Chi Zhao had stuck to him almost without leaving his side the whole journey, and he hadn’t acquired any new injuries. But it was impossible for Chi Zhao not to seek out Fu Nan’an. Relying on the bit of experience from his rotation in ophthalmology, Chi Zhao had volunteered to help Fu Nan’an with eye compresses.

At first, Fu Nan’an certainly didn’t agree, saying it was unnecessary. What was the point of protecting the eyes of a blind man? But Chi Zhao didn’t see it that way. Fu Nan’an’s eyesight wasn’t completely gone. Faint light perception was better than total blindness. Such eyes actually needed the most protection because they were more fragile and more susceptible to injury.

Warm compresses can help relax the muscles around the eyes and promote blood circulation. It is genuinely beneficial for the eyes, even for the visually impaired. Chi Zhao went to find Fu Nan’an several times, his words sincere and moving each time. Fu Nan’an finally half-yielded and agreed.

“If you’re compressing my eyes, I can’t give you any benefits,” Fu Nan’an said, half-jokingly. “If that’s your plan, you’d better forget it early on.”

Chi Zhao shook his head. “I don’t want any benefits from you.”

Some interns, once familiar with their supervising teachers, might receive preferential treatment, like easier exit exams. But Chi Zhao truly didn’t have that intention. He had interned in ophthalmology and knew that Fu Nan’an’s condition actually made it more necessary to protect his eyes. What if medicine really advanced in the future? Good eye condition would be the biggest trump card.

Entering the room, Chi Zhao poured the hot water from the thermos into a basin, then added an appropriate amount of cool water. He soaked the towel in the water until it was nicely warm, then wrung it out and placed it over Fu Nan’an’s eyes. “Is this temperature okay? Is it too hot?”

The warm towel felt comfortable against his skin, bringing a sense of comfort to his heart as well. Fu Nan’an lay half-reclined in the chair, eyes slightly closed, and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Chi Zhao shook his head, found a stool nearby to sit on after arranging the compress, and said, “It’s no trouble.”

“Were you out with Auntie Zhao just now?” Fu Nan’an asked him, eyes still closed. “I didn’t hear either of you during the meal.”

One had to admit Professor Fu’s perception was too sharp, he even noticed such a small detail. Chi Zhao explained, “Yes, we went out. She said she thinks her nephew might have psychological issues and wanted to ask if we could help her.”

Chi Zhao recounted the situation of the child named Yuanliang. “Auntie Zhao specifically asked for you to see him. I told her to bring the child to find us in Linghe Village tomorrow. Is that alright?”

“That’s our duty,” Fu Nan’an paused, then asked, “She specifically asked for me?”

Chi Zhao nodded yes. Then he saw Fu Nan’an smile slightly. “Did she change her impression of me after hearing the stories you told?”

Chi Zhao hadn’t expected Fu Nan’an to bring this up. His face instantly burned. “I… You… I just was…”

Chi Zhao stammered an explanation, terrified that Fu Nan’an would think he was some pervert spying on his life. Fu Nan’an hadn’t expected him to be so nervous. He removed his teasing face and softened his tone. “Don’t overthink it. I don’t mean to blame you.”

Fu Nan’an said, “I wanted to thank you.”

Chi Zhao was taken aback. “Thank me for what?”

Fu Nan’an smiled very gently. “You see, if it weren’t for you, Auntie Zhao wouldn’t have trusted me so quickly, right?”

Professor Fu had always been this kind of gentle person, dissolving Chi Zhao’s embarrassment in just a few words. Actually, Chi Zhao knew Auntie Zhao’s trust in Fu Nan’an was more due to Uncle Liu’s example showing her the results. But Fu Nan’an’s words still made his heart feel sweet. So, I helped the Professor too?

Chatting with the Professor was very comfortable. Chi Zhao’s previously tangled-up, hesitant emotions relaxed. Gazing at Fu Nan’an, he finally said the words he had always wanted to say: “Professor, those were all my sincere feelings. I truly think you are a particularly remarkable person. I like you very much.”

“Thank you,” Fu Nan’an replied. This kind of liking was devoid of sensual desire. It was the admiration and respect a student holds for their teacher. “You are also a very excellent young man.”

The dinner made by Uncle Liu warmed the hearts and stomachs of the Psychology Department’s medical team. The free clinic at Dawang Village also drew to a close. Early the next morning, everyone set off for the next village—Linghe Village.

Linghe Village was close to the county town, the largest and most developed among the villages they had visited. The village had a proper road, and the medical vehicle that had been idle in the county town for a long time finally found its use.

The Psychology Department didn’t perform surgeries, but the environment inside the medical vehicle was much better than outside. It was winter, and outside, the cold wind was biting; no matter how thick your clothes were, the north wind could pierce through. But inside the vehicle, it was different. With the windows closed and the heater on, it was like a small paradise.

The overall education level of Linghe Village’s residents was also higher than that of the previous villages. At the very least, they didn’t avoid the Psychology Department like the plague. The doctors from the Psychology Department finally had a chance to use their skills, solving many of the villagers’ problems, which could be considered as not disgracing the purpose of this rural outreach.

There were quite a few people in the medical vehicle. A line had formed outside. Fu Nan’an was surrounded by a large group of patients, while Chi Zhao was responsible for maintaining order in the line, all the while occasionally gazing into the distance, waiting for Auntie Zhao’s arrival.

During a busy moment, Chen Kaiji came over and patted his shoulder. “Chi-ge, what are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for Auntie Zhao,” Chi Zhao remembered that Chen Kaiji didn’t know about Auntie Zhao’s situation and explained to him, “Auntie Zhao said she wanted to bring her nephew for a consultation.”

“Auntie Zhao?” Chen Kaiji scoffed lightly. “Didn’t she look down on our Psychology Department before?”

Chi Zhao smiled and said, “Mindsets can change.”

“You even sound like Professor Fu now,” Chen Kaiji clicked his tongue, his expression ambiguous as he teased, “What, did you receive his true teachings when you went to his room last night?”

This seemed to be Chen Kaiji’s new hobby. Ever since he caught Chi Zhao praising Fu Nan’an that day, he kept making jokes about the two of them. Before, Chi Zhao would have felt a bit embarrassed, but after talking with Fu Nan’an, he had relaxed. If the Professor himself had said thank you, what did he have to fear? Anyway, Chen Kaiji didn’t know he helped Fu Nan’an with eye compresses, he only knew he went

to his room last night. So Chi Zhao said offhandedly, “That’s right, I learned a lot at Professor Fu’s place last night.”

“Learned what?” Chen Kaiji asked.

Chi Zhao blinked. “It’s a secret.”

His tone was too forthright, leaving Chen Kaiji unable to say more. The two chatted for a few more moments when suddenly a scolding voice came from nearby, seemingly from a professor traveling with them.

“What’s going on over there?”

Chi Zhao and Chen Kaiji hurried over to look. A little boy stood with his head bowed beside the medical vehicle. He was thin and small, a mismatch for the heavy clothes he wore. In his hand, he held two long nails, and the tire beside him was flat, clearly punctured.

A punctured tire wasn’t a huge deal, but catching the person red-handed was inevitably infuriating. Professor Qian, furious, grabbed the little boy’s arm, not letting him leave. “What’s wrong with you, kid? I saw you stabbing our tire with a nail with my own eyes! Don’t think you can weasel out of it!”

The little boy hung his head, allowing himself to be pushed and pulled, not uttering a word. But his eyes were pitch-black and gleaming brightly, as if he held some deep-seated grudge against them.

“Who knows whose child this is? Rotten to the core,” Professor Qian grew even angrier. Seeing Chi Zhao and Chen Kaiji approaching, he turned to them and said, “You two, find out who this child’s family is. We can’t just let this go. We must find his guardian and make them take responsibility!”

The two nodded in agreement. Unfortunately, there were no surveillance cameras nearby, and they were unfamiliar with the area. After searching around, they couldn’t find the boy’s guardian. Professor Qian could only shake his head helplessly and say, “Forget it, forget it.”

The little boy remained silent, not answering any questions. They couldn’t really do anything to him, so they could only lecture him properly and then let him go. Professor Qian said, “Consider this bad luck. We’ll just have to accept our losses.”

It really wasn’t a good thing. Being unfamiliar with the area, even finding a place to patch the tire would be difficult. Professor Qian called the interns over and instructed them to keep a closer watch in the future, making sure that little boy didn’t get near again. No sooner had he finished speaking than Auntie Zhao arrived, leading a boy by the hand.

Auntie Zhao, with a meek and deferential expression, introduced him to the Psychology Department doctors. “Doctors, hello. This is my nephew, Kong Yuanliang.”

She tugged at Yuanliang’s clothes, signaling for him to greet everyone. And the child she called Yuanliang was none other than the little boy who had just punctured their tire.