Jianghu Xue pouted, "You'll be working together at the clinic from now on. Aren't you colleagues?"
Lin Fan was puzzled. Wasn't he the boss?
He smiled, not dwelling on it, as he wasn't doing this for profit anyway.
"You can show them around and explain the living situation here. They're new, so please take care of them."
Jianghu Xue nodded, "Alright, follow me."
"Actually, life here is quite simple. The facilities are similar to those in the city."
"It's just that we don't have running water, so we have to use groundwater. But luckily, we have a pump, and it's easy once you learn how to use it."
Jianghu Xue explained everything in detail.
"Are you saying we have to cook for ourselves?" Song Mengling asked with a frown.
"Uh-huh, what else? Should I hire a chef for you?"
Lin Fan looked at Song Mengling.
It seemed this girl was a spoiled lady, incapable of cooking.
"As a woman, you should know how to cook. Otherwise, it'll be hard to get married," Lin Fan teased.
Song Mengling was displeased, "Who made the rule that women must cook? That's just prejudice!"
"Besides, what does my marital status have to do with you?"
Lin Fan simply shut his mouth. One shouldn't argue with women!
He turned to Jianghu Xue and Lin Fang, "The two of you, I'll have to trouble you with her meals from now on."
"I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Lin Fan waved his hand, "If you're not satisfied with the living conditions here, you can just go back. It's indeed more comfortable in the city."
He was indifferent and didn't care about Song Mengling at all. If she couldn't stand it, she could leave immediately!
This made Song Mengling's temper flare up. She was already upset by her father at home, and now she had to endure this treatment here. Yet, she had no recourse.
***
Lin's Hotel hadn't contacted Lin Fan recently. The fruits they purchased from Xiaxue Orchard were mainly sold in their own hotel, with modest sales. However, in the past few days, many customers had come specifically asking for peaches.
At this moment, Lin Qingshuang was working in her office when the manager suddenly knocked and entered.
"Miss Lin, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Lin Qingshuang projected an image of a strong, capable woman, her expressions and movements sharp and decisive, as cold as frost.
"The peaches you bought are running low," the manager said.
Lin Qingshuang frowned. Lin Fan had mentioned that these were only available next quarter. It seemed she hadn't managed things well, causing them to use up Lin Fan's peaches so quickly.
After a moment of thought, Lin Qingshuang said, "I understand. I'll go and ask him. You can go back to work now."
After the manager left, she immediately headed to Luofeng Village.
When she arrived at Xiaofan Clinic, Lin Fan was attending to a patient. It was a relatively simple ailment, and it was over quickly.
"Miss, are you here for treatment?" Lin Fang asked.
"No, I'm looking for Lin Fan," Lin Qingshuang replied.
Lin Fan looked up, "Miss Lin, what brings you here?"
"It's something important. Are you free?"
"Please wait a moment."
Lin Fan handed the prescription to the patient opposite him. "Auntie, take this prescription home and get the medicine as prescribed. You'll be cured after three doses."
"How much will it cost?" The auntie's expression was a little fearful. They were all poor people who feared the cost of medical treatment.
Lin Fan smiled and waved his hand, "No need to pay for now. We'll discuss it after you're well."
"Really?" The auntie clasped her hands together in a bow. "Thank you, Doctor Lin!"
"You're welcome."
After the auntie left, Song Mengling and Lin Fang looked at Lin Fan in bewilderment.
"Do you think she'll come back to pay?"
"Whether she pays or not doesn't matter."
Seeing Lin Fan's indifferent attitude, both women felt helpless. They wondered if he'd starve to death as a doctor like this.
"Miss Lin, let's talk outside."
Lin Fan walked out first.
To cut a long story short, Lin Qingshuang stated her purpose.
"Miss Lin, the peaches are out of season. I can grow other fruits. Given the current temperature, apples, oranges, and tangerines would all be suitable."
"However, there's a problem. I can't just dig up all the peach trees in the orchard!"
Hearing Lin Fan's words, Lin Qingshuang's face turned gloomy.
"Is there really no other way?"
"My hotel's business had just started to pick up. If it falters now, all our previous efforts will be in vain."
Lin Fan sighed, "I'll think of a way to help you!" He couldn't stand seeing a woman on the verge of tears, so he agreed to help.
Seeing how accommodating he was, Lin Qingshuang was touched.
"Lin Fan, thank you!"
Lin Fan smiled, "Since you came in person, there must be a reason."
"I won't ask, but I will help you."
"If there's nothing else, go back and wait for my news."
Lin Qingshuang had prepared several arguments to persuade Lin Fan, but none of them were needed.
Upon returning to the clinic, Lin Fan had just sat down when he saw several people carrying a wooden board rushing in urgently. Lying on the board was a middle-aged man, barely clinging to life.
"Doctor! Doctor! Save him quickly!" The leader was a woman in her thirties, her face etched with the marks of time and tanned dark by the sun. The middle-aged man on the board clutched his stomach in pain, grimacing and groaning.
Lin Fan stepped forward, "Place him on the examination bed and tell me what happened."
"I don't know what's going on. After lunch, my husband suddenly had a stomachache, then collapsed, and vomited blood."
As the woman recounted the events, Lin Fan took the patient's pulse. He quickly determined that the patient had been poisoned.
"He's been poisoned. What did he eat for lunch?"
"He... he didn't eat anything special. We just had stir-fried eggs, rice, and pickles for lunch."
"If it was poisoning, I should have been poisoned too!"
"Did he really not eat anything else?"
Lin Fan's repeated questioning made the woman's expression turn angry.
"You're a doctor. See the patient quickly! What's the use of asking so many questions?"
"My husband is in this state, and you're not treating him? If he had eaten something unclean, wouldn't I have told you directly?"
"Do you even know how to treat illnesses? If not, I'll find a car and go to the town!"
The woman's attitude was extremely hostile, and she began shouting in the clinic. The people standing behind her were similar, looking at Lin Fan with anger.
"Stop dawdling and treat him quickly!" one of the relatives urged.
Lin Fang couldn't stand it anymore. "We've already said it's poisoning, and we don't know what caused it. If you want us to treat him, what if we administer the wrong medicine?"
"Who will be responsible?"
"Do you even have..."
Before Lin Fang could finish, Lin Fan raised his hand and stopped her. "Go and prepare some hot water."
"I..."
"Go!"
When Lin Fang wanted to argue, Lin Fan emphasized his request again. Seeing his insistence, Lin Fang grudgingly nodded and left in a huff.