"Doctor Lin, it's not that I'm shameless. My entire family of three relies on the salary I earn at the canteen for a living."
Tianyu's tears streamed down her face. "In any case, my life is already like this. Once my child grows up, I'll throw myself into the river!"
"Sister, please don't think like that."
Lin Fan pondered for a moment and asked, "If the matter with Hu Jian is suppressed and he returns to school, what will you do then?"
"I..."
Tianyu had no reply.
Lin Fan could see that she had already resigned herself to her fate.
"Ahem, how about this? Our village has set up a cooperative for medicinal herb cultivation, and we're short of people to work. If you can handle farm work, I'll help you arrange something."
"Doctor Lin, I'm not from your village," Tianyu said timidly.
"It's fine, I'll just speak to the Party Secretary. I helped set up the cooperative. So, are you willing or not? As for the salary..."
Lin Fan paused. He didn't dare to act rashly anymore.
The last time, Li Shen and his wife receiving extra money had caused such a huge stir.
Tianyu was from another village. If her salary was too high, wouldn't the villagers riot?
"How much do you earn at the school canteen?" Lin Fan asked.
"Fourteen hundred yuan a month, which is quite a lot." Tianyu smiled with satisfaction. "I can take the children to school on my way in the morning, and the work at the canteen isn't tiring."
Lin Fan calculated that her daily wage was less than fifty yuan.
In comparison, Tianmengyao's minimum wage started at fifty yuan.
"Don't worry, it will definitely be more than what you earn at school. If you do well, I'll ask the Party Secretary to secretly give you a bonus at the end of the year."
"Ah?" Tianyu was stunned.
It was as if the village committee was run by him. He could give bonuses as he pleased?
"What 'ah'? Just tell me if you're willing or not?" Lin Fan was determined. He absolutely would not let Hu Jian off the hook.
He was being watched closely by his sister-in-law now, unable to even touch Song Yue who was right beside him. What kind of person was Hu Jian, thinking he could indulge in nightly pleasures and live a carefree life? What a wishful thinking!
"If what you say is true, then I'm willing." Tianyu had always worried that one day, her relationship with Hu Jian would be exposed at school, and then her daughter would have no face to see anyone.
"Alright, it's settled then." Lin Fan smiled. "Just a casual question, Sister, what's your family situation? It's alright if you don't want to say, I just thought if I can help, I should."
"There's nothing that can't be said." Tianyu had already revealed the most shameful things about herself, so this was nothing.
"My husband, after he could no longer work at the quarry a few years ago, fell gravely ill..."
"What did you say?"
Bang!
With a loud bang, Lin Fan frowned and slammed his hand heavily on the table.
"Doctor Lin..." Tianyu was startled, thinking she had said something wrong.
"The quarry you mentioned, is it the one on Luofeng Mountain?" Lin Fan pointed in the direction of Luofeng Mountain.
"Yes, that's right." Tianyu nodded repeatedly.
"Alas~" Lin Fan sighed, a complex emotion churning within him. It's happening again! He realized now that he had never truly understood that snake demon.
Every debt has its debtor, and every wrong has its perpetrator. Li Jian was merely doing his job, and Tianyu's husband was just an ordinary worker. What sin had they committed to deserve such a cruel fate from it?
"How is your husband now?" Lin Fan asked.
"Doctor Lin, what did you just mean?" Tianyu also asked.
"It's nothing, I just heard some elders in the village say that the quarry seemed a bit strange, so I was surprised," Lin Fan explained, then pressed on, "Can you tell me about your husband's current condition? Perhaps I have a way to cure him."
"Doctor Lin..." Half of the hope flickered in Tianyu's eyes, while the other half held suspicion. After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head. "It's no use."
"What's no use?" Lin Fan was somewhat surprised. "You should know my reputation. Perhaps I can really cure your husband."
Tianyu's expression was complicated as she whispered, "My husband, I don't know what strange illness he has. That place... that place started to itch and fester, then the whole thing rotted away. Now..."
Lin Fan scratched his head. "Sister, where exactly are you referring to? If you don't explain clearly, how will I know if I can cure it?"
"It's, it's that thing... that men have." Tianyu explained.
"Ah?" Lin Fan was taken aback, his face flushing.
That thing had rotted away! It might really be incurable. After a moment of awkwardness, Lin Fan asked, "How is he? Is his life in danger?"
Tianyu took a deep breath, and two tears trickled down her cheeks. "He's alive, but it's worse than being dead. If he dies, my daughter and I can live a better life."
At this point, Tianyu realized she shouldn't be saying these things in front of an outsider. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, I understand." Lin Fan had witnessed too many tragedies where patients dragged their families to ruin. Thus, he could empathize with Tianyu's predicament.
Her ongoing relationship with Hu Jian, how much of it was for that little bit of money he provided, only she herself knew.
"I have time... tomorrow, I'll go and take a look." Lin Fan sighed softly. "I can't promise a cure, but at least I can reduce the burden he's placing on you."
A look of surprise appeared on Tianyu's face, then quickly faded. "Doctor Lin, I, I don't have any money, and we still have a pile of debts."
"Do I look like someone who wants your money?" Lin Fan said irritably.
"You don't want money?" Tianyu was very surprised.
"Yes, is that a problem?" Lin Fan smiled. "I have too much money, is there an issue?"
"Doctor Lin, to be honest," Tianyu brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "When my husband first fell ill, I took him to countless large and small hospitals. I even saw several so-called miraculous doctors and skilled practitioners. After exhausting our family's fortune, they were all helpless, and instead, our debts grew."
"Alas~" Tianyu sighed deeply, then stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Fan. "Whether or not you can cure my husband's illness, I will definitely repay your kindness."
"Let's not talk about that. I need to go home for dinner. Come to the clinic to find me tomorrow, I'll be waiting for you." Lin Fan got up, preparing to pack his things and leave.
Tianyu's eyes flickered. She walked a few steps outward, then suddenly stopped.
"Is there anything else?" Lin Fan asked.
"Doctor Lin, if..." Tianyu's cheeks flushed, and she stammered, "If you don't mind, I, I can serve you... consider it as payment for the consultation fee. I really have nothing else to offer."
"Go, go, go!" Lin Fan waved his hand dismissively, appearing very impatient.
"If you're going to be like this, then I won't care anymore."
"Wait." Tianyu, overwhelmed with shame, fled like a rabbit.