The next morning, Xiulan went to the office of the doctor in charge of her mother to speak with him concerning her surgery.
Twenty minutes later, Xiulan walked out of the doctor’s office looking downcast. The doctor had just told her that her mother’s injury was so serious that she needed surgery as soon as possible.
What hurt Xiulan most, was the next sentence the doctor made. He said that her mother’s pain was too severe to bear any longer, and her system was already immune to the pain relief drugs.
Xiulan came to understand that the possibility of her mother being in pain after taking those drugs last night, was very high. It was also possible that there was little or no effect after she took the drugs.
Xiulan was almost in tears again because of her mother’s situation. She didn’t have the money for the surgery, which was very expensive for her to best the cost, so she spoke with the doctor about it.
She asked if she could pay in a 20% deposit as that was all she could afford for the surgery, but it was rejected. The Doctor said that at least she had to make a 50% deposit of the money.
Their hospital has a rule, of 60% but the doctor pitied her and asked her to pay 50%.
What could poor Xiulan do? She had no choice but to think of ways to get money to make up the one she had in her bank account.
Before leaving the hospital, she first went back to see her mother. She told her that her surgery will be scheduled soon, but she had to go to work to take some days off.
Her mother smiled and asked her to take things easy before she left.
Outside the hospital, tears dropped from her eyes. The more she tried to get rid of them, the more it came falling down her cheeks.
The tears in her eyes, caused her sight to be blurry, and she almost couldn’t see where she was going.
With tears in her eyes, she made her way to the bus station. Now, she couldn’t afford to lose money by taking a cab which was far more expensive than the public bus.
Taking the bus, Xiulan went straight to her workplace. She came to work for a day, and also to see if she can get an advance payment for a few more months, and also take some days off for her mother’s surgery date and to care for her after that.
Xiulan’s colleagues were surprised to see her that day because she still had two more days off from work. After Xiulan explained her situation to them, they felt pity for her and asked if they could chip in small something to help.
Xiulan laughed with tears in her eyes and accepted it. “I have become so pathetic to take money from all of you, but I promise to pay back.”
”There is no need to pay back, this is the help we can afford to give you in a time like this. We don’t want you to owe us.” One of her colleagues said.
Xiulan was a sweet young lady and her colleagues loved her and were willing to help her.
After thanking them, she went to see their restaurant’s manager immediately as suggested since he was around.
A few minutes later, Xiulan came out of his office and went straight to her locker to change into her uniform with disappointment in her eyes.
When she came out to the front desk and her colleagues asked her what the manager said, she told everything to them.
The manager told her that she could not get an advanced salary of more than 2 months because of how long she has worked for them.
Her colleagues comforted her saying that she would get through that phase soon and help would definitely come.
Counting all the money she managed to gather today, She sighed and went back to work with the thought of borrowing money.
She had a total of 33% for the surgery money now. She still needed 17% more for the surgery to take place, and 50% to conclude the hospital debts before her mother would be discharged.
While working, her thoughts were filled with money for her mother’s surgery and how she could get the remaining balance.
There was only one person that came to her mind, and who was capable of loaning her some money, and that was her former Boss, Fu Ling. Given the relationship between them, Xiulan would never think about asking him for help, but what choice did she have when her mother’s life was on the line?
Coincidentally, Xiulan who was thinking of going to see Fu Ling at his company the next day, saw him walk into their restaurant.
She was shocked to see him. If it was before, she would have hidden away, but she couldn’t.
”The handsome customer is here again!” One of her female co-workers said with an excited gaze directed at Fu Ling.
Xiulan’s interest was immediately pricked. She had to ask her colleague, “Has he been here before?”
After confirming from her colleague, Xiulan went back to her sober mood, not until a male colleague came up to the desk to say to her…
”Xiulan, that man came to ask about you the last time he was here, do you know him?”
”What? He asked about me, are you sure?” Xiulan asked in surprise as she glanced over at where Fu Ling was sitting before glancing back to her male colleague.
The male waiter glanced at Fu Ling before turning his gaze back to Xiulan. “Yes, I’m sure. He asked if you worked here and I confirmed it.”
Xiulan was quiet for a while as has thought about what reason her former boss had to look for her.
”Since he looked for you the other day, maybe you should go to his table to ask for his order, so he can see you.” The male waiter suggested.
