Chapter 101: A Few More Fake Massages, and It Really Doesn’t Hurt Anymore

Wu Hongying looked at the scene on the ground, utterly speechless.

“Are you out of your mind?” Wu Hongying glared at Song Kai.

“I’m not crazy! Didn’t you hear them confess themselves? Also, when you interrogate these scumbags, remember to charge me for my phone! A 3,600-yuan phone, damn it!” Song Kai was getting angry just talking about it.

“Officer, we really did wrong—just arrest us already!” The little thugs saw Song Kai about to lose his temper again and quickly shouted.

Wu Hongying waved her hand and had them all taken away.

Song Kai picked up the phone card and returned to continue eating his beef noodles.

That night, back home, Song Kai stared at the phone card, sighing deeply.

Tang Ying and Wu Hongying had both returned.

After a moment’s thought, Song Kai mustered his courage and stepped out. “Two beautiful ladies, what do you want to eat tonight?”

Tang Ying glanced at Song Kai, then walked toward the bathroom, saying, “I want braised spare ribs, but to be clear, I don’t have any money to lend.”

Song Kai was speechless.

Wu Hongying sat on the sofa and beckoned Song Kai over with a crooked finger. “Bring me a glass of water first.”

Upon hearing that, Song Kai immediately fetched a glass of water and squatted by the sofa. “You’re the best, Yingzi. I didn’t waste my efforts—going undercover for you, doing this and that…”

He couldn’t quite remember what favors he had done for Wu Hongying, but he decided to guilt-trip her first.

He continued, “I’m working like a beast for you. Hey, Yingzi, does your shoulder hurt? I’m the best at massages. Come on, lie down.”

Wu Hongying lay on the sofa.

Song Kai massaged a few times.

Wu Hongying couldn’t help but hum with pleasure, praising, “So comfortable! Oh, Song Kai, your technique… if you worked in a massage parlor, you’d make at least ten thousand a month. I’m not exaggerating.”

Song Kai immediately said, “That might be true, but I still have to take the college entrance exam. Also, Yingzi, you know those little thieves this evening? So despicable—they broke my phone worth over three thousand yuan. So, can you maybe…”

“Ahem, ah, much better now. Give me the water.” Wu Hongying interrupted.

Song Kai promptly handed over the water.

She took a few sips, then said, “Hmm, tonight I want steamed fish.”

“All right, steamed fish, no braised ribs. What I mean is, Yingzi, can you lend me…”

“Tomorrow morning, go to the Tengyun Red Middle Shooting Range in the suburbs. I’ll teach you to shoot. Oh, and bring your gun.” Wu Hongying said.

“Okay, but Yingzi, I don’t have a phone anymore, it’s really inconvenient. Can you lend me…”

“Ah, I’m tired.” Wu Hongying got up. “You go cook. I’ll take a nap first.”

“Damn! So, will you lend me money or not?” Song Kai grew impatient.

Wu Hongying looked at him. “If you fix my two motorcycles first, I’ll definitely lend you some. Now, give me some water.”

“Drink? Like hell you will!” Song Kai stood up, poured all the water down the sink, and said, “Thirsty little miser!”

With that, Song Kai went into the bedroom, sulking.

Wu Hongying smiled proudly, shrugged her shoulders, and murmured, “Gotta admit, his massage skills are legit. Hmm, maybe I can trick him a few more times and enjoy it…”

Song Kai sulked and fell asleep in his room.

…

Jia Dongming was also deeply distressed. He sat outside the Chinese medicine factory, smoking, his eyes filled with layers of sorrow.

He recalled the past few years.

From a distinguished doctoral graduate to a small executive with a fifty-thousand-yuan annual salary; from a spirited entrepreneur returning to his hometown to now a bankrupt, impoverished, insignificant sole factory manager.

These years had been excruciating.

As he thought about it, tears welled up again.

At that moment, several veteran workers nearby rode electric bikes past him.

“Dongming, heading out?”

“Factory director Jia, cut back on the smoking. Nothing serious, right?”

“Yeah, Dongming, come over for dinner sometime. Your wife keeps asking about you.”

Jia Dongming felt a warm glow in his heart and waved to them.

Qiu Hai also rode out on an electric bike, holding a few dogskin plasters.

“Director Jia, take care. Come visit when you can,” Qiu Hai waved.

After leaving the medicine factory, Qiu Hai headed straight to a nearby orthopedic hospital.

His son, Qiu Jianjun, had fallen on a construction site, breaking his lower leg in a comminuted fracture.

Once admitted, the orthopedic doctor said this kind of injury required bone nails to fix. Otherwise, the bone would heal crooked.

Because the injury was severe, imported bone nails were necessary.

Imported bone nails were not covered by rural medical insurance; each nail cost five thousand yuan, and the surgery required at least sixteen nails, totaling eighty thousand yuan.

Qiu Hai couldn’t afford eighty thousand yuan and could only have his son lie in the hospital receiving the most basic treatment.

The orthopedic hospital was a semi-public specialty hospital with poor conditions.

One ward held over twenty patients.

Qiu Jianjun lay on the bed, his leg wrapped in gauze and receiving an IV drip.

The pain was unbearable, and he couldn’t even go to the bathroom.

Qiu Jianjun felt life had turned utterly bleak.

His wife wiped away tears silently beside him.

“Jianjun, how are you today?” Qiu Hai entered and asked.

Qiu Jianjun immediately suppressed the pain and smiled, “Dad, I’m fine. I can eat and drink. I tell you, even without bone nails, I’ll heal fine. Don’t worry.”

Qiu Hai gave a thumbs-up. “Good boy.”

“Dad…” Jianjun’s wife called softly, holding back tears. “Dad, my family managed to gather thirty thousand yuan already, but that’s all we can get. Dad, can you scrape together some more?”

“I will, definitely. That kid Dongming just went bankrupt recently. I’ll try borrowing from others. Just wait a bit longer,” Qiu Hai said.

“Dad, we can’t wait anymore…” Jianjun’s wife burst into tears. “You don’t know—Jianjun’s pain keeps him awake at night. He can’t eat. If we wait any longer, I’m afraid he…”

“You crazy woman, what are you saying!” Qiu Jianjun suddenly shouted. “Shut up! Why do you have to tell Dad these things? He’s over sixty years old! You want him to embarrass himself borrowing money? Shut up!”

Jianjun’s wife immediately fell silent, afraid to say more.

Others in the ward chimed in, “Brother, your wife’s just trying to help. Don’t be harsh with her.”

“Yeah, she’s been taking care of you all these days—we all see it.”

“She cares about you; your pain at night isn’t something we can’t hear.”

Qiu Hai lowered his head, biting his teeth, wiping away tears.

“Enough, I’ll take care of my own leg. My old man’s worried enough already. Don’t add to his troubles,” Qiu Jianjun said loudly.

Qiu Hai suddenly looked up. “It’s okay, it’s okay. I’ll think of something else. Oh, by the way, I got some Chinese herbal plasters from the factory. The boss said they work well. Try them first.”

He gently removed the gauze from Jianjun’s leg.

“Dad, what kind of plaster is this? Smells terrible,” Jianjun’s wife said worriedly. “The doctor said not to use random plasters—they can affect bone healing.”

“No worries, just stick it on. I’ll visit your cousin’s house tonight,” Qiu Hai said as he applied the plaster.

Qiu Jianjun didn’t pay much attention but grabbed his dad’s hand. “Dad, don’t go. Don’t disgrace that person. Really, don’t go. If you do, I’d rather lose this leg!”

Qiu Hai chuckled.

“Dad, I really feel okay now. Look, I’m even hungry now. Eating and drinking—what could be wrong?” Jianjun said, picking up the lunchbox.

“Good, good. If you can eat, that’s good. Then I won’t go. I’ll try asking the new factory boss if he can lend me a few thousand. But that young Mr. Song is too young, hasn’t even grown a beard yet. Not sure if he can help,” Qiu Hai muttered, shaking his head.

Jianjun chatted with his dad a while, then started eating.

“Jianjun, if you don’t want to eat, don’t force yourself,” his wife said nearby.

Jianjun was startled, suddenly sitting up. “Huh? Seems like… the pain’s gone!”

“What pain’s gone?” his wife asked.

Jianjun pointed to his leg. “My leg—seems like it doesn’t hurt anymore. Dad! What kind of plaster did you put on? It’s only been ten minutes, and the pain’s really gone. I feel so comfortable now. I want to eat, I want to sleep…”