"Village Head Wu, Lin Fan's situation is special," Tian Mengyao said with a stern face, her gaze fixed on Wu Lei. "Our village is remote and poor, with poor medical conditions. Dr. Lin's clinic doesn't just serve our own village; many people from neighboring villages rely on Lin Fan for treatment."
"We cannot, in order to speed up the construction of the cooperative, launch a campaign, boast about achievements, and drag doctors to work as laborers. Professionals can only exert their greatest value in their professional fields."
"What's more, doing this will only make the common people curse me and curse our Luofeng Village, won't it?"
Tian Mengyao's tone was clear and well-reasoned, leaving Wu Lei speechless.
"I'll go back and get the tools."
Wu Lei dejectedly walked away, secretly blaming Tian Mengyao for taking Lin Fan's side.
"I'm old, I can't work without tools."
"Lin Fan doesn't need tools, fine!"
"What kind of world is this?"
Wu Lei mumbled to himself, sighing as he walked home.
Lin Fan sniffed the air. "It smells so good. Mengyao, are you eating?"
"Yes," Tian Mengyao replied, quite displeased. "Wu Lei arrived just as I was about to eat."
"That's not right. Shouldn't your next sentence be, 'Would you like to come and eat something together'?"
Lin Fan chuckled, rubbing his hands as he approached the desk.
"What are you doing?"
Tian Mengyao, like a protective mother hen, quickly pulled the egg noodles towards her and covered them with her hand.
"Egg noodles? I didn't eat breakfast this morning, give me a few bites."
As Lin Fan spoke, he had already circled around the desk and squeezed onto the same chair with Tian Mengyao.
"Go home and eat. I finally managed to make this!"
Tian Mengyao huffed.
When she was at home before, a nanny did all the chores for her. She just had to say what she wanted to eat, and she never had to cook herself.
Now, Lin Fan was snatching at the bowl of egg noodles she had finally cooked. How could she agree?
As they jostled, the chair beneath them creaked loudly.
Anxious, Lin Fan reached out and grabbed the egg on top.
"You're not allowed to eat my egg!"
Tian Mengyao hit Lin Fan's hand with her chopsticks, making a sharp "pa" sound.
She glared at Lin Fan with disdain. "I'll let you have two bites of noodles at most."
"That's fine too, give me the chopsticks."
Lin Fan, appearing content with what he could get, reached for the chopsticks.
"Thick-skinned. Make your own if you want to eat."
Tian Mengyao grumbled, then reluctantly handed the chopsticks to Lin Fan.
Lin Fan picked up some noodles, blew on them, and slurped down a large mouthful.
"Mmm, it tastes good."
Lin Fan mumbled, complimenting Tian Mengyao with his eyes.
After eating two mouthfuls, Lin Fan handed the chopsticks back.
"Aren't you here? Why would I make my own?"
"You want me to cook for you? I..."
Tian Mengyao almost blurted out, "I'm a graduate of a prestigious university, and you expect me to cook for you?"
However, she immediately realized that if Lin Fan thought she cared about her education, it would be troublesome.
"Move aside, I want to eat. Everyone will be here soon."
Tian Mengyao waved her hand and picked up the chopsticks to eat.
Lin Fan took two steps back.
Watching Tian Mengyao unconcernedly use the chopsticks he had used and eat the noodles he had tasted, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
Who would have thought that the fashionable and out-of-place young beauty from back then would be like this now?
"Right, I came to find you for something."
Lin Fan found a chair and sat down.
"Go ahead."
Tian Mengyao replied briefly between bites.
"We're short of people to work, aren't we? I was thinking, could we arrange for someone to come over? She's not from our village, but..."
"A woman?"
Tian Mengyao took a bite of egg, and her gaze sharpened when she heard this.
"How did you know... No, it has nothing to do with whether she's a man or a woman."
Lin Fan replied halfway, then realized something was wrong.
"Because you always like to provoke women!"
Tian Mengyao threw a small tantrum.
"I work hard every day, facing the soil and the sky, and you're busy to death. If you don't help me, that's one thing, but also..."
"Stop, stop, stop."
Lin Fan immediately made a gesture to stop her.
"Where are you facing the soil and the sky? Let me see."
Lin Fan leaned in and, with lightning speed, pinched her smooth cheek.
"It's the same as before."
Lin Fan grinned and sat back. "I know you've been working hard. After these two days, I'll be your ox or horse, and you can order me around as you please. But I really have something important to do."
"The old principal of the Hope Primary School asked me to give the teachers a physical examination. There's a cafeteria auntie named Tian Yu, who is also a student's parent. Her family is in dire straits. Her husband has been seriously ill and bedridden for years, and her child needs to go to school. They can't even make ends meet."
Lin Fan's face showed regret. "I was thinking, could we find her a job in our village? Even if she earns a few hundred more yuan a month, it would be a great help to her family."
"Okay."
Tian Mengyao, kind-hearted, immediately felt a surge of sympathy upon hearing this and readily agreed.
However, she paused for a moment and then hesitantly said, "She's not a villager of Luofeng Village. Can she come over and work?"
"You're like a snakebite victim who fears wells for ten years."
Lin Fan teased, then added, "Just say the old principal asked you to. It will be absolutely fine. He dedicated his life to education. Most people's children and grandchildren were taught by him. Wouldn't he be given this face?"
"That's true."
Tian Mengyao nodded slightly.
"Then it's settled. I'm leaving now."
Lin Fan stood up, looking at the charming and lovely Tian Mengyao, and was reluctant to leave.
"What are you doing?"
Tian Mengyao saw him leaning in and knew it wouldn't be anything good.
"Let me kiss you before I go."
Lin Fan grinned and leaned in with his mouth.
"Go away, you're annoying!"
Tian Mengyao dodged left and right, but inevitably, Lin Fan managed to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"I'm leaving."
Lin Fan rubbed his lips, looking as if he hadn't had his fill.
"Hurry up and leave, hurry up and leave."
Tian Mengyao waved her hand, appearing very impatient.
After the door closed, she touched the spot on her face where she had been kissed and pouted, humming, "You're getting more and more annoying!"
Although she grumbled, she was very happy in her heart.
...
Ding-a-ling!
The clear and pleasant sound of the school bell rang out.
Soon, the campus was like ten thousand ducks flying, and the sounds of cheers and shouts could be heard from afar.
Tian Yu put down her broom and looked towards the school gate.
"Xiao Tian, it's time to get off work. What are you thinking about?"
The cook untied his apron and put away the ingredients.
"Oh, okay."
Tian Yu snapped back to attention and quickly finished the cleanup work.
...
Xiao Fan's Clinic.
Lin Fan, rushing against time, finally saw off the last patient before five o'clock.
He glanced at the wall clock and then began to pack his medical kit.
"Divine Doctor Lin."
Tian Yu pushed open the door and stood at the entrance, looking a bit constrained.
"You're here. Let's go."
Lin Fan nimbly slung his medicine box over his shoulder and signaled her to leave the clinic with him.