Chapter 2

Xiang Xi did not ask further, turned around and walked out the door, and in two steps, blocked Er Pan, who was about to kick the bun's belly.

It is not unusual to hear such sounds in the emergency room, yet he still turned and walked over. Last week, a guy who had drunk too much fell face down and tumbled down the stairs, ending up with blood all over his face. He insisted on getting a stamp from the doctor, raising his hand to slap it on the person's face, claiming that with the stamp, he could go on a one-way trip to the moon.

Doctor!" After the boy finished speaking, he took two more steps towards the emergency room door, "Doctor, could you come over and take another look? How much has this leg cost?"

Xiang Xi opened his mouth but could not utter a sound

Xiang Xi shook to dodge, and when the setup of the second plate had not yet been fully collected, he lunged forward and pushed the second plate hard, also shouting: "Where is my dog!"

The aerial performer who fell in front of Xiangxi and Mantou is Li Hui, the daughter of Erpan's daughter-in-law

Wasn't the doctor in the emergency department called Xiao Cheng?

He whistled again, and this whistle was calling the dog

He changed his clothes, leaned back on the sofa, and closed his eyes, contemplating whether to order takeout

"Broke?" Uncle Ping glanced at Xiang Xi.

"Left calf." This person pointed to his leg, his voice very calm, in stark contrast to his friend who had been shouting so loudly that it felt like one's brain was about to boil over.

The tricycle slowed down for a moment, then accelerated and dashed away

What kind of service attitude is this! Mantou is very displeased

"Where did you hit?" Cheng Boyan squatted in front of the person and asked

Orthopedics? That's just right!" The man pointed at the person sitting in the chair, glanced at his watch, and said somewhat anxiously, "Could you take a look? Is it serious? Is it a fracture?"

"Today I've encountered quite a few, and this one is quite a serious injury. You might as well take care of it now," Mantou said, looking down at his leg. "Don't delay too long, or you'll end up like me..."

It hurt so much that in that moment, the pain left him with only the strength to collapse to the ground and gasp for breath

Uncle Ping still did not speak, tilting his head slightly as if he were listening to the sounds of Erpan beating the steamed buns

"Let me take a look." Cheng Boyan said as he walked up to the person sitting in the chair

Go pay the fee, take a photo on the second floor, the elevator is over there. Cheng Boyan did not ask much, just explained, "After the examination is completed, there will be a duty doctor to handle it for you"

He was a bit dizzy from the fall, and he hasn't eaten much today. After this fall, his vision became blurred, and it seemed like the legs of the steamed bun were growing unevenly...

Is that so? Uncle Ping chuckled and said, "Just in time, it's the New Year. Let's do some work that we can manage."

Who the hell knows what the hell is going on, get lost! With a swing of his arms, he pushed Xiang aside.

Oh dear, the sound of two plates has come from the second-floor platform, "Mantou is being tender and considerate again"

The two plates in front are waiting for you. Xiang Xi smiled.

Upon hearing that it was a fracture, and a serious one at that, the people nearby began to shout, surrounding the man and starting to yell again. The man glanced at his watch and asked Cheng Boyan, "Doctor, how much longer will this take?"

Oh. Xiang Xi entered the kitchen and drank a bowl of soup

After this person raised his head, Cheng Boyan clearly saw his face. There was a small cartoon band-aid stuck under the corner of his right eye. He looked younger than the limping individual, quite delicate in appearance, and his eyes reflected a confusion that was inconsistent with his outfit, exuding innocence and naivety.

"How much you've grown," Uncle Ping sighed deeply as he set down his cup. "Now you dare to run back empty-handed."

Xiang Xi did not speak again; he understood Uncle Ping's intention. On the surface, he was helping him, but in reality, he was beating him up. Uncle Ping was quite pleased, and now that he had a fracture, it was just right.

Xiang Xi was stunned, and the pain from his shoulder crashing hard against the wall was not something he could take the time to truly experience

How to eat dinner healthily... The nutrition class by mom is starting now...

What did you say?" He suddenly turned his head and glared at Erpan

This year is unbearable. Uncle Ping took another sip of tea and leaned back against the sofa

However, he still lunged forward, and in the next second, he was grabbed by Erpan by the arm and thrown to the ground from his shoulder

Someone is shouting over at the emergency department, the voice is quite loud. Cheng Boyan paused and glanced in that direction.

Um. Xiang Xi lowered his head and stood by the coffee table

Finally, he entered the room, turned on the treadmill, put on his headphones, increased the volume of the music, and began to run

"I just ate a little," Xiang Xi glanced towards the corridor leading to the backyard on the first floor and said, "My stomach hurts today."

"Brother," the bun-shaped figure seemed startled, raised its head and smiled, then limped into the house, "Brother, I have..."

Get lost! Two plates glared at him

"Damn!" the bun shouted in frustration.

Hmm? Cheng Boyan was taken aback.

I don't know. Xiang Xi gritted his teeth and stood up, clinging to Mantou's shoulder. In such a short time, his legs already felt swollen; it would be a miracle if they weren't fractured.

"It will take a little over an hour, depending on the severity of the fracture." Cheng Boyan took out his phone, preparing to call the radiology department to see if it could be done immediately

Mantou turned his head and saw a tricycle emerging from the alley across the street, and immediately shouted with excitement: "Hey! Buddy! Come over here!"

I said I wouldn't give you any money! The man shouted back, "A fracture is a fracture, I know exactly how it is broken. Do you expect me to give you whatever amount you ask for?"

Have you given the money

"Zhan Hongtu," he replied, smiling when mentioning his name, "the Zhan Hongtu of great ambitions."

Have you eaten? Uncle Ping asked

After the sound of the whistle blew, he heard the curses from the second table, directed at the steamed bun

Today, after the three whistles were blown, I did not see the joyful figure of the dog bouncing around

"Are you a doctor?" The man stared at him

"You drive so fast, do you know there is a speed limit of 20 there? If you press the accelerator like that, even the moon would be scared and fall down at 60!" said another boy who didn't look very old.

After finishing the soup, he walked down the corridor to the backyard and whistled.

"Damn you!" Erpan was probably moved by his inexplicable persistence, as he suddenly grabbed his arm and slammed him against the wall, "You son of a bitch, I’ve had enough!"

Looking back now, I realize how naive I was; I just want to call them Big Splash, Second Splash, Third Splash, and Fourth Splash

Where is my dog?" Xiangxi looked at him and asked

Hmm, orthopedics, Cheng Boyan nodded slightly, "The emergency doctors are all busy, let me take a look, you all don't need to worry."

"Are you not going to reply? It's so cold. I just said to share a ride with those two, but you are unwilling again." Mantou sighed.

After saying this, Uncle Ping raised his chin towards Mantou and said, "Help him inside"

The distance between the buildings was too close, and the sound of people arguing like they were in a noisy market made Cheng Boyan helplessly open his eyes. Frowning, he composed himself for a moment, then closed his eyes again, making an effort to control his emotions by taking several deep breaths. Only then did he suppress the impulse to open the window and shoot down the caged birds across the way with a slingshot.

You are out of your mind! Erpan shouted, raising his fist and swinging it towards Xiangxi's face.

These two pairs of parrots were brought back last month. Because they are both blue, they appear more attractive compared to the usual yellow and green ones. Cheng Boyan was quite interested and watched them at the window for a while, silently giving them names: Big Blue, Second Blue, Third Blue, and Fourth Blue.

"Xiao Zhan," Li Hui called out behind him, her voice hoarse and barely audible, "Save me."

Consider it a punishment, as I have recently caused Uncle Ping some displeasure.

Xiang Xi has always looked down on such matters. This time, he was forced into a corner by Uncle Ping; otherwise, he wouldn't have spent two days dealing with those two "partners" he usually finds displeasing. He needs to appease Uncle Ping's anger, or else he won't be able to get through this year.

Forget it, I won't eat anymore

Upon returning home, Cheng Boyan felt quite hungry, yet he was not particularly inclined to eat. The mere thought of having to eat the meals he had prepared himself filled him with a mix of sadness and anger, leaving him completely devoid of appetite

Hmm," Xiang Xi frowned in response.

"You have a stomachache again, what's wrong with your stomach?" Uncle Ping frowned, "There is still some hot soup in the kitchen, you should go drink some."

The fourteen-year-old girl, as thin as a little monkey, always made Xiang feel that when the wind picked up a bit, she could bounce and be blown away for two miles.

One of them is holding a stack of money in hand

Li Hui's mother brought Li Hui to cohabit with Erpan, claiming that this is Erpan's child, but Erpan does not acknowledge it

Returning? Mantou stood by the street, looking back and forth, trying to find a tricycle

As soon as I closed my eyes, I heard the half-mad calls of two pairs of budgerigars hanging on the balcony of the opposite building

The person sitting in the chair had been keeping his head down; it was only after Cheng Boyan spoke that he finally raised his head

In fact, he has little appetite at the moment, but this soup must be consumed; if Uncle Ping insists on it, he must drink it

Mantou hurried over, wanting to help Xiangxi up. As soon as Xiangxi exerted force with his foot, he frowned and sat back down on the ground. Mantou reached out to touch his leg, but was pushed away by him: "Don't touch it, it hurts"

His tone was rather harsh, and Cheng Boyan glanced at him without saying a word

"You are the one who needs to come to the hospital, right? We came with you," shouted a young man with a fierce expression, pointing at a man. "The doctor has already said it's a fracture, what else do you have to say! Hurry up! Get the money!"

The so-called backyard is not a yard; it is merely a row of self-built buildings each with a back door, a long, dark, and dirty passageway that is one meter away from the wall

Xiang Xi has never engaged in the act of scamming, but Mantou used to do it quite happily. As a disabled person, he would fall to the ground, kicking with his lame leg and shouting, causing the unfortunate victims to often pay him off to avoid further trouble

Fear not. Xi La La adjusted his collar, Cheng Bo Yan.

The ceiling height of these old houses is low. Li Hui's fall should not have been too severe. She lay on the ground for a while, struggling to get back on her feet

After the onset of winter, the number of orthopedic patients has significantly increased, mostly due to various fractures, such as those who slipped on ice and broke their legs, or those who fell on ice and broke their wrists while trying to brace themselves. Both the inpatient department and the outpatient clinic are busy. Today, Cheng Boyan has been occupied in the outpatient clinic without a break, and several patients with injuries have been sent over from the emergency department.

With a crash, the second plate did not relieve his anger, and he came over and stomped on his leg with a kick

Lame? Cheng Boyan glanced at his leg a few times

Mantou was tempted to walk into the room and whispered softly as he passed by Uncle Ping: "Uncle Ping, we need to go ... ... to the hospital to take a look"

"Perhaps." Xiang Xi said

"Are you annoyed?" Uncle Ping said in a low tone while holding a teapot, "Is this street yours? Aren't you ashamed? Beating your own child so harshly, what a disgrace!"

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose

Someone in the room let out a cold laugh, the sound tinged with an inexplicable sense of schadenfreude

"Damn!" He slapped him across the face with two plates, and just as he was about to scold him again, Uncle Ping walked out from Room 17. He glanced at Uncle Ping and stopped his actions.

The noise from a few people nearby was truly bothersome, so he walked into the adjacent hallway to make a phone call

The calf has already swollen up, and it appears to be a new injury, and quite serious at that. It might require hospitalization. Cheng Boyan reached out to press and confirm, but as soon as he touched the skin on the leg, the person swatted his hand away

Oh, yes," Cheng Boyan said, "You're welcome."

The bun's voice trembled a bit, perhaps recalling the time when its leg was kicked and broken

To be honest, the emergency department often encounters individuals attempting to defraud, some with genuine fractures, others with old fractures over three weeks old, and there are also those who reportedly leave as soon as they hear about needing an X-ray, similar to the situation at hand.

Erpan still wanted to make two more attempts, while Mantou held onto his leg, silently gritting his teeth without loosening his grip

Xiang Xi glanced at Li Hui, walked past her, and prepared to return to No. 17

Xiang Xi raised a dog; to be precise, it was not his dog. The dog, whose owner is unknown, ran into the large pit during autumn, rummaging through the trash cans for food

Cheng Boyan had temporarily categorized this group of people in his mind, especially the one who had been hit. The first time Cheng Boyan saw his mohawk hairstyle, he felt no fondness for him. Additionally, there were the leather boots with copper buckles and those pants that were uncertain whether they were cropped or ankle-length. It was a cold day.

After finishing the communication with the radiology department, when Cheng Boyan returned to the entrance of the emergency room, he noticed that the surroundings had quieted down considerably. The man seemed to have left, and only the three young people remained by the chairs.

Are you in a hurry?" Xiangxi looked at him and asked while leaning against a nearby tree

Cheng Boyan stared into his eyes for a few seconds, then stood up: "What is your name? We need to take a picture."

The noise of the shouting is about the same as it is now

The steamed bun remained silent, and after a long time, it let out a sigh

Ah? Mantou does not understand what he is saying

As the two plates lifted their legs and kicked towards the bun that was dodging forward and backward, Xiang Xi shouted and lunged behind him, delivering an elbow strike to the back of his neck: "Who the hell told you to eat my dog!"

Uncle Ping glanced at him while holding the teapot, and a scream came from outside the house as the steamed bun was knocked out the door by Erpan.

Xiang Xi looked at the dog with pity, so he fed it a little something. Since that day, the dog has been wandering around this area. Xiang Xi did not give it a name; he simply whistled, and the dog would come running over.

He turned back into the room and walked over to Uncle Ping: "Uncle, where is the dog?"

"You must have piled up a lot of coal." Xiang Xi looked at him

Xiang Xi stepped into Room 17 without pausing, closing the door behind him.

Uncle Ping always speaks in a slow and measured manner, believing that being amiable brings wealth. However, Xiang Xi knows that if he does not bring the money back soon, he will face dire consequences.

There are quite a few people in the room, and Uncle Ping's hobby is drinking tea and playing cards. At this moment, he is sitting in the living room drinking tea with several people, all of whom Xiangxi knows. Uncle Ping does not have a strictly defined "criminal gang"; if he did, these few would certainly be considered the main members of the gang.

Thank you, Doctor Cheng," said the boy named Zhan Hongtu as he looked at him

Where is the dog? Xiangxi could discern something from Ping Shu's gaze, but he did not dare to be certain. He persistently asked once more, "What about that yellow dog, where is the dog?"

I said that broken dog of yours is eaten! I stewed a pot! Spitting on the ground twice, I cursed and walked towards the steamed buns, saying, "All of them are just eating idle food, what the hell is the use of raising them!"

I asked you, "Xiang Xi stumbled a couple of steps, ignored the bun, and quickly blocked in front of Er Pan, almost face to face with him, 'Where is the dog?'"

Mantou glanced upstairs, hesitated for two seconds, reached out to support himself, and Li Hui nervously looked up at the stairs, pushed Mantou away, and stood with his head down against the wall.

I will take a look first," Cheng Boyan gestured for him to roll up his pant leg, "Does it hurt?"

Xiang Xi knew that his leap was even more willful than cracking an egg against a rock, and the two plates were like towers; every time he stood beside him, he felt as if a torrent of sand and stones obscured the sky and blocked the sun

"Why are you in such a hurry to go back?" Xiangxi looked up at the sky, as if tiny snowflakes were beginning to fall. "In this miserable life, you seem quite anxious to move forward. What is there ahead?"

Ah? Mantou was taken aback

"You're back." Upon seeing him, Uncle Ping said while holding the cup, his tea-drinking movements were very slow, and he wore a look of enjoyment

"Such a jinx," Xiang Xiyuan jumped up and down in place, "Tonight's luck is quite good, let's have another round tomorrow, otherwise Uncle Ping won't let me off the hook"

Once again, I was unable to leave work on time. After finishing the examination for the last patient who came for a follow-up, he leaned back in his chair and stretched, contemplating what to have for dinner. However, his mind was immediately filled with the sound of his mother's voice.

At this moment, there are quite a few patients in the emergency room, and all three doctors are busy. One of them turned his head to glance this way, looking at Cheng Boyan, and said, "Xiao Cheng, do you have a moment..."

"Still an orthopedic doctor," this person said slowly while pulling up his pant leg, "Have you ever encountered someone in orthopedics who was hit like this and felt no pain?"

Xiang Xi did not speak

The people in the room remained silent, watching coldly. Xiang Xi was also silent. Uncle Ping always spoke like this, unlike Er Pan, who acted like a little boss, resembling a free henchman.

Ah, just now I was worried about what the doctor would say, with our injuries and disabilities, if someone finds out, we wouldn't be able to run away smoothly

Little Zhan ... ... the steamed bun called out to him while half-squatting and half-sitting behind him

"Brother," he frowned, "it hurts a lot"

After walking over, Cheng Boyan realized that the person sitting with his head down on the chair at the emergency entrance was not drunk. Three people were surrounding him, shouting.