Chapter 17 – Falling into an embrace

Translator: Abo Dammen

Chi Zhao genuinely wanted to help the child named Yuanliang, so he tried his best to find a way. “Can we handle his case as a Three-No‘ individual? Or help him apply for a medical loan? Are there really no other options?”

His tone was too urgent. Even though he couldn’t see, Fu Nan’an could sense this desperation. Chi Zhao unconsciously clutched Fu Nan’an’s arm, his knuckles trembling slightly, his fingertips filled with entreaty. Fu Nan’an’s eyelids lowered and then opened. A moment later, his hand came to rest on top of Chi Zhao’s trembling one. He said, “There is a way.”

Chi Zhao still didn’t believe it. If there was a way, why hadn’t Professor Qian helped Yuanliang earlier? Professor Qian wasn’t that petty. His grip tightened a bit more as he asked anxiously, “Really? What way?”

“Believe me,” Fu Nan’an’s hand rested on the back of his. Fu Nan’an’s palm was dry, a warm temperature transmitting through the skin. “If I say there’s a way, then there is a way.”

If Professor Fu said there was a way, then there was. Chi Zhao absolutely believed him. Fu Nan’an’s palm was broad and warm, the warmth from his fingertips relaxing Chi Zhao’s taut nerves. Chi Zhao nodded and said, “Okay.” Only then did he realize he had been tightly gripping Fu Nan’an’s hand. The overlapping fingers brought a subtle sensation. Chi Zhao abruptly let go, his fingers pinching his own burning earlobe. “I’m sorry, Professor Fu… I was too anxious just now…”

“It’s alright,” Fu Nan’an smiled gently, unobtrusively withdrawing his hand. The thumb of his other hand rubbed the place that had just been touched, his tone still steady. “I understand how you feel. Since you want to help him, then let’s do our best to help him.”

Chi Zhao was still a bit worried. “Will it be very troublesome?”

Fu Nan’an had only three words. “Believe in me.”

Believe in me. This was the promise Fu Nan’an gave Chi Zhao. Helping Yuanliang was by no means easy, otherwise, Professor Qian wouldn’t have refused. Having interned at the hospital for so long, Chi Zhao wasn’t unaware. It was too difficult to admit someone under Yuanliang’s conditions. No health insurance, no stable income, even a medical loan application wouldn’t be approved. But having received Fu Nan’an’s words, Chi Zhao knew Yuanliang was saved. What Professor Fu promised, he would definitely deliver. He had that ability.

Outside the window, the storm continued to rage, cold wind whistling through the gaps.

The room was icy; the rural house had no heating or air conditioning. But at this moment, Chi Zhao felt warmth throughout his body, comfortable, reassured.

The heavy rain continued for two more days, and the outreach team conducted their consultations in the rain for those two days.

The rain in the countryside was torrential. The houses they stayed in were filled with heavy dampness, both cold and humid, without even the condition to bathe. Everyone complained, wishing they could immediately return to the city and stay in air-conditioned rooms. But when it was truly time to depart, they sighed and lamented how time went by so fast.

The week had taught them a lot. Although the Psychology Department wasn’t very popular in the countryside, they had still encountered and helped some patients. Health is entrusted, lives are committed. Regardless of the department, doctors actually all harbor a heart that seeks to treat illness and save people. The moment when a worried patient reveals a long-lost smile was their happiest moment. Even if there were misunderstandings and lack of comprehension along the way, all those emotions would vanish in the face of the most sincere smiles.

On the day of their departure, they returned to Linghe Village. The road here was slightly better, making it convenient for all the teams to assemble. The rain was still drizzling, and water had accumulated on the road, making travel difficult. The psychology team arrived at the assembly point first, while the other departments were still on the road.

“When will they get here?” Chen Kaiji asked after waiting for a long time, his phone was almost out of battery. “Can we still return on time?”

“Probably still quite a while,” the team leader communicated with the various teams by phone, his tone also a bit helpless. “They’re all stuck on the road.”

Chen Kaiji pouted. “So what do we do now?”

“What else can we do?” Professor Qian glanced at him, finding the question rather amusing. “Wait, of course!”

Auntie Zhao had also come. She was here to send Yuanliang off. After that night, Chi Zhao had told her the good news. Auntie Zhao had pulled Chi Zhao, crying and laughing, packed Yuanliang’s things overnight, and sent Yuanliang over early in the morning on the day of the psychology team’s return. Now, with time to kill, Auntie Zhao invited everyone to warm themselves by a fire at the health station.

Being from a neighboring village, Auntie Zhao was familiar with the Linghe Village health station. Chen Kaiji, bored, had even been squatting on the ground playing with mud for a while. Hearing her offer, his eyes lit up. “Is that okay?”

Auntie Zhao smiled and quickly got busy. “Why wouldn’t it be? Right, teachers?”

Fu Nan’an never opposed the students having some fun. Only Professor Qian was usually stricter, not allowing too much contact with the villagers they were assisting. Now, with everyone’s expectant gaze fixed on him, Professor Qian could only shake his head helplessly and say, “If you want to warm up, then go ahead.”

The interns were naturally willing. The temperature in the countryside was low so being able to warm up by a fire in the freezing cold was obviously comfortable. They went to fetch several bundles of firewood and placed them in a large iron basin. The firewood was lit, and blazing flames burned, dyeing the entire courtyard orange. Everyone sat around the central fire, chatting idly. Someone even managed to get vegetables and meat, skewering them on bamboo sticks to make barbecue.

The firelight made the courtyard feel warm and cozy. Their bodies were warm, and their hearts were warm too. Auntie Zhao moved closer to Chi Zhao and cautiously confirmed once more, “Doctor Xiao Chi, can Yuanliang really go to the provincial capital for treatment? And you won’t charge us?”

“It’s not that we won’t charge,” after that night, Chi Zhao had also fully looked into the hospital’s policy. Fu Nan’an was handling Yuanliang’s admission as a ‘Three-No’ individual. “It means we will advance the payment for you. If you have the ability to repay in the future, the money will still need to be repaid.”

“Of course, of course!” Auntie Zhao nodded repeatedly. “You are Yuanliang’s great benefactors. After he gets better, we’ll work together to earn money and pay you back!”

Auntie Zhao sincerely wished Yuanliang well, even originally planning to sell her house for his treatment. Ever since hearing the news that Yuanliang could be treated, she hadn’t been able to stop smiling. Compared to that good-for-nothing father, having such a relative could be considered Yuanliang’s blessing.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, the topic unconsciously turning to the future. The black cloth shrouding Yuanliang’s path forward was finally about to be lifted, the light before dawn was almost visible. Then, the sound of cursing and yelling arose outside the gate. Auntie Zhao’s expression suddenly changed. “That noise… it sounds like Yuanliang’s father!”

Auntie Zhao stood up and walked towards the gate. Before she had taken two steps, a man holding a liquor bottle charged in. “Yuanliang! Where’s my son?!”

His eyes were dazed, his face flushed a deep red, thoroughly drunk. The smell of alcohol could be detected from far away. Several interns sitting near the entrance were terrified, standing up and retreating inside. Fu Nan’an frowned slightly and asked the person beside him, “Who is over there?”

“A tall, stout man, in his forties or fifties, seems drunk. Don’t know who he is,” Chen Kaiji described to him from the side. Before his words faded, they heard the man speak up, “I’m Kong Yuanliang’s father! The one squatting in the yard is my son! I heard you want to take my son away. Did you ask for my permission?”

Yuanliang had originally been squatting near Auntie Zhao. Hearing this voice, he flinched, his whole body shrinking into the corner, trembling, not even daring to run. He didn’t dare resist, but just kept repeating, “Don’t come over… don’t hit me… don’t come over…”

The man saw him and strode towards him with the liquor bottle. “You little brat, you still dare to run? Come home with me!”

“Kong Zhiyong, have you had enough?” Auntie Zhao was infuriated by his attitude. She stepped forward, blocking the path between him and Yuanliang, and shoved his chest with her hand. “Look what you’ve done to your son? You even sold him off to work for others! Are you fit to be a father?”

“How am I not fit?” Kong Zhiyong tilted his face up, his alcoholic breath spraying onto Auntie Zhao’s face. “I provided him with food and clothes! He’s my child, anyway. What’s wrong with him earning me some money?”

“You—!” Auntie Zhao wanted to say more, but Kong Zhiyong had already pushed her aside forcefully. His strength was great.. Auntie Zhao staggered back several steps and landed directly on the ground.

Chi Zhao hurried over to help her. “Are you okay, Auntie Zhao?”

“I’m… I’m fine,” Auntie Zhao shook her head, struggling to stand up. But she had just been pushed to the ground, her entire lower body felt numb. She could only tremble and grab Chi Zhao’s arm, pleading, “Child, don’t mind me. Go check on Yuanliang, go to Yuanliang! You can’t let him take Yuanliang away!”

Auntie Zhao was too frantic, her voice cracking. She knew how terrifying Yuanliang’s father could be when he went crazy. Chi Zhao helped her sit down to the side and reassured her in a steady voice, “Auntie Zhao, don’t worry. There are so many of us here. We won’t let him take Yuanliang.”

The others also realized what was happening and started loudly reprimanding Kong Zhiyong. Everyone had heard before that Yuanliang’s father was despicable, but now they were witnessing firsthand how unreasonable and brutish the man was. A sense of justice surged in them all. They came over to protect Yuanliang, adamantly refusing to let Kong Zhiyong take him away. Even Professor Qian spoke up, “He is our patient now. We will not let you take him away.”

“If you want to take him, fine,” Kong Zhiyong wasn’t buying it. He had already calculated his scheme. “Give me money. I’ll sell him to you.”

He grinned, held up a number with his fingers, and suddenly rushed forward, trying to grab Yuanliang by the collar. Chi Zhao was standing closest to Yuanliang and shielded Yuanliang behind him a step ahead of Kong Zhiyong. “Don’t touch him!”

Kong Zhiyong flew into a rage. “Who the hell are you? This is my son!”

He started punching and kicking Chi Zhao, even swinging the liquor bottle. Cowering behind Chi Zhao, Yuanliang trembled and cried out, “Stop hitting… please… I know I was wrong…”

He wasn’t wrong. The fault lay solely with his good-for-nothing father.

Fists and kicks landed on his body, but Chi Zhao never let go. Several people hurried over to break up the fight, but Kong Zhiyong was too strong. ‘Those who have nothing fear nothing’, and everyone soon became entangled in the brawl.

Pain spread across his skin. Chi Zhao’s bones ached with a burning pain. Just as he was about to lose his grip, finally, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the gate.

“What’s going on here! Stop right there! Police!” It was the police from the nearby station.

The police officers quickly pinned Kong Zhiyong to the ground using anti-riot shields and batons. Fu Nan’an, following the sounds, walked over to the leading officer, still holding his phone. “Officer, you’re here.”

“Did you call the police?” The officer looked him over and asked, “What exactly is the situation here?”

“I did. We are doctors from the Fifth Hospital here for a free clinic,” Fu Nan’an concisely explained what had happened. After he revealed their identity, the officer’s attitude towards him noticeably improved. “You’ve had a hard time. We didn’t expect you’d encounter something like this during your outreach. Sorry for the trouble.”

☆

The police were familiar with the Kong Zhiyong family’s situation from the surrounding villages. Although they hadn’t encountered him directly before, they had no good impression of him. This time, he happened to be caught causing a major scene in front of the big-city doctors, making a complete fool of himself, so they naturally found him even more despicable. In a few quick moves, they handcuffed him. “Let’s go. Come with us. You can say whatever you have to say at the station.”

Kong Zhiyong still wanted to struggle, but the police had already escorted him into the police car. Chi Zhao was helped to sit down on a nearby chair. Chen Kaiji breathed a sigh of relief and said, “He probably won’t be out for at least ten days to half a month now. Serves him right.”

He walked over to Chi Zhao to ask how he was feeling. But as he got closer, he saw Chi Zhao sitting on the small stool, silent and unmoving.

“Chi-ge, what’s wrong?” Chen Kaiji reached out to touch Chi Zhao’s shoulder. Before he could make contact, Chi Zhao swatted his hand away. “Don’t touch me!”

Chi Zhao’s voice was hoarse, his eyes red-rimmed. There were several shoe prints on his clothes from where Kong Zhiyong had kicked him. His entire nervous system was stretched taut.

“Don’t touch me,” he repeated hoarsely.

Chi Zhao himself didn’t know what was happening to him. When those fists were raining down earlier, it was as if he had been transported back to those years of being beaten.

He had tried so hard to escape, but he could never get away. No matter where he hid, in the bushes, the wheat fields, under a car, if those two people found him, he would definitely be beaten black and blue. They hit harder than Kong Zhiyong, using shoe soles, leather belts, shovels… anything could become their most handy tool for beating him.

Once. Again.

Chi Zhao struggled to speak. “Don’t… touch… me…”

His vision was blurred and chaotic, yet the pain all over his body was so sharp and clear. Chi Zhao painfully wrapped his arms around his own head. His body felt like it didn’t belong to him anymore. He desperately wanted to flee this place. He couldn’t breathe. And then, a pair of gentle yet strong hands encircled his shoulders, and he fell into a tender embrace.

“It’s alright now. It’s already alright,” Fu Nan’an half-knelt beside him, drawing him into his arms. “It’s alright now, good child.”