The doctor was a forthright person!
When he got to know that they were police officers from a big city who were here to handle a case, his gossip nature got activated and started to chat with them.
First, he asked what that big explosion at the mountain was about.
When he didn’t get a response from them, he started talking on his own—rambling about by himself without bothering how others would think.
According to him, even though he was a doctor in this remote place, he had great skills as a doctor…
Back then, when he graduated from a well-known medical school in the country, in order to support his hometown and the health of his fellow townsmen, he returned to his hometown.
Otherwise… he would have stayed in a big city and worked in one of the top three hospitals there. Then his wife… would have been someone who lived in the city.
However, he came back to the town and worked in this small hospital there where the pay was low and there was plenty of work to do. The medical equipment was certainly backward compared to those big hospitals and the townsfolk were superstitious. When he had just started working there, the townsfolk would rather make a trip to the mountain and pray to the bodhisattva rather than come to the hospital to seek treatment.
He could be said to one of those in the generation that contributed to society.
They began to respect this doctor after hearing his story.
Xiang Wan was so moved by his experience!
She complimented him, “You’re really great!”
The doctor looked at her and waved his hand. “It was a decision made in a moment of impulse. I might regret it for the rest of my life.”
Xiang Wan was speechless at what she heard. “…”
“I only managed to get married when I’m almost 40 years old,” continued the doctor, “and I have a son now… Otherwise, I would have been so depressed that it’s incurable!”
“…”
What else could she say?
A decision at a point in life could lead to a huge difference in one’s life.
After he finished talking about his life, the doctor finally returned to the main topic after realizing that everyone had kept quiet.
“Young fellow, it’s a miracle you did not lose your arm!”
After he finished the body check-up on Bai Muchuan, he examined the wound on his arm carefully and looked at him in bewilderment.
“May I know how you achieved this? Your wound is in such a terrible state, but it didn’t get infected?”
“I have good body constitution!” Bai Muchuan summed it up.
Without giving any credit to Cheng Zheng…
Cheng Zheng sent a glance at Bai Muchuan’s way while he remained quiet.
The doctor nodded his head in acknowledgment. “Your arm should be fine. However, I’m afraid you’ll get a huge scar around it when it’s fully healed…”
“It’s alright!” The corners of Bai Muchuan’s lips lifted upward. That indolent smile was rather charming. “I have more scars on my body.”
The doctor remained silent after this. “…”
Bai Muchuan turned around and looked at Xiang Wan. His tone was gentler as he spoke, “My wife said that if a man has scars on his body, he will look manlier…”
Well, Xiang Wan did not recall saying that.
However, how could she bring herself to deny his claims after looking at his hopeful eyes?
Like a virtuous woman, she pressed her lips together and returned a gentle smile.
That was her way to show affection.
Cheng Zheng remained silent and looked away.
The doctor, however, was delighted when he heard that. “Aiyo, did you purposely hurt yourself to please your wife?”
“About there!” Little Bai, once again, showed a proud smirk. “If I’m not willing, who can hurt me?”
Xiang Wan heaved a sigh. “…”
He added, “This is a memento to show that I’ve been to Nanmu!”
Everyone looked at him with a blank expression. “…”
Xiang Wan was walking beside him as they came out of the hospital.
When there was no one else around them, Xiang Wan immediately rebutted, “In the future, we shall not go to the hospital so casually again!”
Bai Muchuan raised his head to look at the sky. The snow had gotten heavier now.
He frowned and placed a piece of clothing he just bought over Xiang Wan’s head.
“Why?”
Xiang Wan smiled reluctantly before replying to him. “Wouldn’t that be disastrous if you decide to get a memento wherever you go?”
Bai Muchuan scoffed. “…”
Without saying a word, he put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him.
“Since I bought some clothes for you, at least say that you’re proud of me!”
Geez! Is this an issue about losing face? she thought.
“Mm!” She responded and touched her face which had turned cold due to the falling snow. At that moment, however, she felt very comfortable.
It was a feeling of happiness that could only be felt after surviving an ordeal, a narrow escape from death that permeated into her body and heart.
Hence, under such circumstances, she could not refute Bai Muchuan further.
“Fine, I’ll let you off!”
Her eyes curved into a crescent as she nodded her head. She looked at the bags of clothes he was carrying. “What kind of clothes did you buy?”
Bai Muchuan glanced. “You’ll find out once we get back to the hotel!”
“… You’re leaving me hanging again!”
Xiang Wan snorted and did not press for an answer.
Since he wanted to behave like a tsundere, then so be it.
After all, he was the one who bought new clothing for her.
Xiang Wan raised her arms and looked at all the dirt and stains on her. She sniffed herself as well and shook her head in disgust as though she couldn’t stand the smell.
“Let’s go back now. I need a bath immediately or I’m going to smell bad!”
“You can’t take a bath!” A voice came from the front.
While on the way back to the hotel, Cheng Zheng had been walking ahead of them. The distance between them was a little over ten steps…
While the two of them were chatting, Cheng Zheng did not chime in at all.
His sudden remark came as a surprise which left Xiang Wan speechless. For a moment, she could not say a word.
Chen Zheng looked at her. “Both of you can’t shower. The most you can do is to wipe your body.” Then he turned toward Bai Muchuan. “You especially… you have wounds all over your body. You’re really not afraid of infection?”
Bai Muchuan scoffed. “Why would I be scared? You’re here anyway,”
Cheng Zheng did not know how to respond to this. “…”
Two seconds later, he took a deep breath and strode away in big steps.
Bai Muchuan raised his eyebrows and turned to Xiang Wan. “Don’t worry, I’ve also bought waterproof plaster from the hospital…”
He’s the number one thoughtful boyfriend!
Xiang Wan heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s really wonderful.”
Bai Muchuan lowered his eyebrow as he continued. “Well, you still need to be careful. Don’t let water get to your wound. It will be best if I help you shower…”
An unconcealable smile escaped from his lips when he finished his sentence.
“…” Xiang Wan burst out laughing. “You’re annoying!”
“Are you fine with this?”
What should she do with a boyfriend like him?
Of course… she had to ‘dote’ on him!
“Of course… not!”
…
The hotel was located in a rather remote area.
It was situated behind the only street in the small town, near the entrance to the town, beside a river.
In fact, it did not really fit the word “hotel”.
It was three storeys high, looked old and its facilities seemed shabby.
The building was surrounded by a red brick outer wall, forming a courtyard. The back of the building was also fenced up by the owner. There was a wooden shed the owner used to rear… pigs and goats.
The owner revealed shyly that he had been in this business since many years ago.
At that time, on and off, he would get customers.
Nonetheless, there had been very few visitors in recent years that it was difficult to keep it going. The owner could only rear some pigs and goats as a sideline for their livelihood. He would also do some farming with his wife…
This type of business could only be considered as an agricultural business.
As the hotel hardly gets customers, the rooms there had a strong musty smell.
In addition, as it was snowing out there, if a person went inside the room alone without a heater, the cold air would make one shiver.
Not only that… there was no hot water in the room.
The hotel provided hot water using a boiler.
Since it had been a while since they got customers, the boiler could no longer be used…
