Lin Fan pushed open the small western door. Inside was a sickbed, meant for critically ill patients, though it had never been used. Before, when Song Yue was around, someone would tidy up, but now it had practically become a storage room.
"Aunt Chen, look."
Bai Jing pointed at the messy room and giggled.
"You just ate their dou dan and now you're making fun of them?"
Chen Wan'er glared fiercely at Bai Jing.
"Why do I feel like you've changed?"
Bai Jing pouted unhappily, shaking Chen Wan'er's arm incessantly.
"Who is closer to you, anyway? Have you really taken him as your son-in-law?"
"Get lost."
Chen Wan'er poked Bai Jing's forehead. "Let's go take a look."
The two arrived at the critical care ward.
"Whoa, is this an agricultural exposition?"
Bai Jing's eyes widened as she surveyed the room filled with peculiar and dazzling clutter.
On the wall hung an old erhu and a gourd with exquisite carvings.
On the floor, large and small bags were filled with various fruits and grains.
The tables and cabinets were covered with wicker baskets, as well as items she didn't recognize.
"These are all gifts from the villagers."
Lin Fan rummaged for a long time but couldn't find any apples and said casually, "There's nothing special in the countryside, so they give what they have. It's all food and daily necessities, not worth much, so I accepted them."
Chen Wan'er took a deep breath. "These are all from patients?"
She looked around and estimated there were several hundred gifts. She suddenly felt that the wall full of commendation banners in her office seemed like a joke.
The rural folks, in their most sincere way, had expressed their gratitude.
Looking at the messy little room, her heart was filled with envy. Nothing could make a healer prouder than this!
"There's nothing of value here."
Bai Jing glanced around and pouted.
"No, this is a healer's most important treasure."
Chen Wan'er's tone was filled with longing.
"Aunt Chen, what did you say?"
Bai Jing scratched her head. "These are clearly just unwanted junk."
"Silly child."
Chen Wan'er smiled and stroked Bai Jing's short hair. "Haven't you always wanted to hang military medals all over your chest? Look, he has already achieved it."
She pointed at Lin Fan, who was searching for apples in the room.
"How is this a military medal?"
Bai Jing said dismissively.
"For a medical worker, this is our honor."
Chen Wan'er's tone was extremely serious and sincere.
"Found it!"
Lin Fan rummaged through everything and finally found a worn burlap sack.
Fortunately, the weather wasn't hot. When he opened it, a refreshing fruity fragrance wafted out.
Lin Fan took out a few apples and carefully found a clear path to walk out.
"I'll go wash them."
The afternoon passed quickly.
Things didn't go as planned; the patients who came were mostly suffering from common ailments like headaches and colds.
As winter turned to spring, it was indeed a good season for colds and flu.
For minor symptoms, cold medicine sufficed; for more severe cases, traditional Chinese medicine was prescribed for gradual recovery.
Although Chen Wan'er was disappointed, she knew this was normal.
It was a small rural clinic, not a specialized hospital for severe illnesses, so where would there be so many rare diseases for Lin Fan to treat?
Bai Jing aimlessly played with her phone, not even looking up.
Evening.
A little girl walked into the clinic.
"Uncle Lin."
Lin Fan looked up and smiled, "Wan Ling, why are you here?"
Wan Ling took off her backpack from behind and carefully took out a bag of well-preserved wild vegetables.
"My mom dug these in the fields and asked me to bring them to you."
"Thank you, looks like I'm in for a treat."
Lin Fan accepted the bag with a smile. Inside were common but expensive wild vegetables like bitter herbs and dandelions.
Given the Wan family's circumstances, this was the best they could offer.
"Uncle Lin, my mom is at home taking care of my dad and can't leave."
Wan Ling felt a little shy under Chen Wan'er and Bai Jing's gaze, and didn't dare to look up as she spoke.
"My mom said for you to visit when you have time. My dad has been coughing a lot recently."
"Okay, I have time now. Let's go together."
Lin Fan opened a drawer, where scattered banknotes were kept, representing the day's earnings.
He put them all into his medicine chest.
Chen Wan'er's spirits lifted; finally, a serious patient had arrived!
"Xiao Fan, what kind of patient is it? Is there anything I can help with?"
Chen Wan'er unconsciously curved her lips, but then seeing Wan Ling's bright eyes, she felt her reaction was improper and quickly turned away, scolding herself internally.
"We..."
Lin Fan, who had been about to nod, stopped abruptly.
"Aunt Chen, it's... not convenient for you to go."
"Heh, so your medical skills are only good for treating headaches and colds? You can't handle other illnesses?"
Having been bored all afternoon, Bai Jing was full of pent-up resentment and couldn't help but mock him.
"It is indeed inconvenient."
Lin Fan wore a distressed expression. He couldn't say certain things directly in front of the child.
Chen Wan'er said sternly, "Xiao Fan, I am also a doctor. In my eyes, there is only the distinction between a patient and a doctor; there is no such thing as inconvenience."
"No..."
Lin Fan felt wronged and helpless.
Wan Ling's clear black and white eyes darted between the two.
"Uncle Lin, please don't argue. Maybe you shouldn't go."
"How can that be? A patient's condition waits for no one. We'll go now."
Lin Fan thought to himself, "Don't blame me later if something happens. You insisted on coming."
He slung his medicine chest over his shoulder and put his arm around Wan Ling's small shoulders, walking out.
Chen Wan'er instructed, "Jingjing, go drive the car."
The group got into the Audi. As they left Luofeng Village, Lin Fan suddenly called out, "Wait! I need to go back and get something. Don't turn, go to Wangjia Village. I'll guide you."
Bai Jing huffed impatiently, but under Lin Fan's direction, she drove the car to the intersection in front of Song Yue's house.
"Aunt Chen, you all wait in the car. I'll be back shortly."
Lin Fan got out of the car and said.
"Okay."
Chen Wan'er turned to look at the somewhat nervous Wan Ling and asked, "Little girl, what illness does your father have?"
"My father..."
Wan Ling couldn't clearly articulate her father's illness.
"My dad has been in pain for many years. His flesh has rotted away."
Thinking of her father's tragic condition, Wan Ling's tears immediately flowed.
"Don't cry, child. Wipe your tears."
Chen Wan'er felt sympathetic and also a little excited.
His flesh had rotted away, it must be a very serious illness!
Now she could witness Lin Fan's skills!
"I'm back."
A moment later, Lin Fan returned.
Lin Fan was holding a canning jar, filled with large chunks of white, jelly-like liquid.
"What are you holding?"
Chen Wan'er asked curiously.
"A treasure."
Lin Fan grinned and handed it over. "A rare elixir from the world, please accept it."
Bai Jing glanced at it. "What nonsense are you talking about? You dare to brag. Is this how you tricked Mengyao into marrying you?"
A rare elixir from the world?
If it were real, would it be kept in a canning jar?