Chapter 5, New Patients and the News Broadcast

Old man Han watched television without responding. Zhang Dadao did not mind and began to interject with the news broadcast, saying "Mm, mm, ah, ah! Yes, that's right."

Waiting for the caregivers to bring dinner, after counting the heads, Zhang Dadao finally stood up, stretched his somewhat stiff body, and said to the old man who was still mumbling: "Goodbye, teacher"

Zhang Dadao turned and walked away, while Su Jinjing revealed a face full of conflicting emotions

Zhang Dadao then muttered, "Today is April 17, 2014, and this matter must be resolved before May Day." After saying this, he turned around, only to find that Old Han had disappeared without him noticing.

"Practicing skills?" Old Han was taken aback and said, "Does your Heavenly Master Sect have such a practice? Is it the dual energies of yin and yang?"

Old man Han reluctantly nodded and said: "What you say does make some sense. The old fellow originally ran an antique shop, but he was cheated out of a sum of money, which greatly angered him. What are you trying to learn from him?"

Zhang Dadao: "Antique appraisal! The old fellow has quite a bit of research on ancient books and rare editions."

Do you know? Just as you went out, another newcomer was sent in. He acts as if he is a character from a book, claiming that we are all figures written in his story! Everything is predestined. Old Han seemed to have found some joy, his face smiling as if a chrysanthemum had bloomed.

Old man Han's expression stiffened for a moment, then he propped himself up and sat down beside Zhang Dadao, saying: "Who did you say is going to have bad luck? Doctor Xiao Su? That can't be! Xiao Su is a bit simple-minded, but he seems to have pretty good luck."

Zhang Dadao was momentarily taken aback, his expression suddenly contorted. He muttered the names of several patients, then shook his head in denial. Following that, he fell into a deep silence, lost in thought. Old Han, on the other hand, wore a smug expression, humming a Yue opera tune while watching television. After a long while, Zhang Dadao suddenly poked Old Han. Old Han turned his head to look and asked, "What is it?"

"Tianshi Dao? Who is that?" Zhang Dadao looked puzzled, "I am practicing my comedic timing here. In the future, I will have a skill to make a living, and I can find a place to set up and earn a decent meal!"

Old Man Han said: "Did you steal the doctor's computer to go online again? How can that be the same? They know it's fake and are deliberately making up nonsense, while we are taking this seriously. If you look among those readers, you might find one or two who are unwell, but there probably aren't many among the authors. As for where the one who came today is hanging out, I really don't know. If you're interested, why not go take a look? However, this also has a self-destructive tendency; they have already been taken to the third floor!"

He picked up his meal in the strange gaze of the caregiver and found a place to eat. Meanwhile, the patients who had not stopped their medication were led by the caregivers and doctors to collect their medicine. Zhang Dadao sat on a chair watching the news broadcast and said to the old man Han, who had somehow come over next to him: "The dinner today tasted really bad; those meatballs were all flour with hardly any meat flavor!"

Zhang Dadao's eyes lit up, and he said: "You understand this too? I haven't heard you mention it in all these years. Weren't you teaching philosophy before? However, this time you are right; that kid is indeed lucky. Isn't that guy who treats God about to have bad luck? I estimate he will be the second patient to be tricked to death after I was admitted. Once that guy dies, won't the Su family have their day in the sun?"

Old man Han chuckled and said, "You know this? You really are quite ill, aren't you? Your delusions are truly unrelenting. But even if you can learn, what good will it do? Staying in this place, even if you learn antique appraisal, there are no antiques for you to appraise, right? A surgical knife from 1998 or a case report from 2002?"

Suddenly feeling someone touch him from behind, Zhang Dadao shuddered violently. Turning his head, he realized it was Old Man Han leaning forward and looking at him. He couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, and immediately spat out the apple he had bitten into in fright. He said to Old Man Han, "I knew it was you; no one else sneaks up like a ghost!"

Zhang Dadao rolled his eyes and said, "Isn't it just right that you are being transferred when a problem arises? It's just the right time to change to a place with flourishing peach blossoms"

Zhang Dadao asked somewhat hesitantly: "Which room is the new arrival staying in today? I need to find him to ask for a favor, to have him write a layoff notice for Zhang Hongmin."

Old man Han looked shocked, staring at Zhang Dadao in silence for a long time. The voice from the news broadcast said, "Thank you for watching!" and several patients who had finished their medication entered through the door. Only then did Old man Han say, "I don't have time to inquire today; I will ask you tonight."

Old Han is indeed mentally ill, focusing on a unique style, practicing his comedic timing in front of the news broadcast, which he perceives as completely normal.

Old man Han looked at Zhang Dadao with a strange expression and cautiously asked, "Are you just practicing the supporting role? If you go out, who will play the main role for you? I haven't heard that Zhang Hongmin is quitting, have you?" Old man Han pointed at the host on the television and asked Zhang Dadao seriously.

Su Jinjing was indeed walking towards him, and upon reaching him, said: "What are you talking to yourself about? I am on the night shift today, so please behave yourself. This is a critical period for training"

Old man Han, somewhat confused, was drawn to Zhang Dadao's attention. With a stiff neck, he turned away from the television and stared at the animated Zhang Dadao for a moment before asking, "Are you going crazy? I haven't heard that you have a speech impediment"

Zhang Dadao nodded with a look of pride, feeling quite pleased that his calculations were recognized by others. Old Han did not dwell on this matter; instead, he shifted the conversation and put Doctor Chen's situation out of his mind.

Old man Han was taken aback and squinted his eyes, saying: "Doctor Chen? Now that you mention it, there really are some issues. We have had several troublesome patients come in consecutively, and this time someone even committed suicide. If something were to go wrong, it is indeed quite possible."

Zhang Dadao was taken aback and curiously asked: "The author? From Qidian? Is it Tomato or Potato? I have always said that those who write novels are even crazier than us; they should all be taken in for treatment"

Zhang Dadao said with a smile, "Who are we? We are just like Fan Jin, who has passed the imperial examination, feeling greatly stimulated and then shutting ourselves off. If he ignores me, can I not ignore myself? The things that guy mumbles about are quite interesting."

Zhang Dadao was unaware that he was being watched. He casually entered the adjacent activity room and found a neurotic old man in the corner, who was muttering incomprehensible words to the corner of the wall. Zhang Dadao immediately sat down beside him and listened intently for an entire afternoon. The two did not interfere with each other; one spoke while the other listened, creating a distinctly psychiatric hospital atmosphere. Zhang Dadao sat down beside him and listened intently for an entire afternoon. The two did not interfere with each other; one spoke while the other listened, creating a distinctly psychiatric hospital atmosphere.

Zhang Dadao was taken aback and turned to say: "Don't make a fuss, I am practicing my skills!"

Old Han hurriedly caught up, grabbing Zhang Dadao, and said: "Why are you always looking for that old fool? If you want to learn something, come to me! After all, I am a university professor. What use is it to seek out that old fool? Isn't he suffering from scholar syndrome? That guy has social and communication barriers; how can he possibly engage with you?"

Zhang Dadao waved his hand and said, "I am not interested, I am going to attend class with the old man!" As he spoke, Zhang Dadao casually tossed the apple core, which was left with only a small piece, behind him and got up to walk outside

Zhang Dadao scoffed disdainfully and sang as he walked: "How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan? The cicada and the magpie mock the great roc. One day, we shall rise with the wind, with a catalpa tree hanging from our waist, roaming the rivers and lakes."

An elderly doctor passing by was taken aback, as he happened to hear Zhang Dadao's singing. He scratched his head and said, "'Xiaoyao You'? 'Zhuangzi'? Who brought this book to Zhang Dadao? I must interrogate him properly when I return; how can he show any book to a patient! I always said he was just an old man claiming to be the reincarnation of a celestial master. It turns out he has been reading these worthless books!"