Chapter 4

I want to eat too! Cheng Xuanyu rushed into the kitchen and slapped Cheng Boyan on the leg, saying, "Don't take mine!"

"Don't come over," he immediately answered the phone, "Just wait for me at Donglin Supermarket. I ran into a donkey face... It's nothing... I'll come find you in a bit."

Cheng Boyan grabbed his hand and turned it over to take a look. One hand was smeared with a mixture of black, white, and yellow paint, which instantly made him feel a wave of annoyance and nausea: "Have you played with feces or what!"

Xiang Xi was a bit unfortunate today; after wandering around for a while, he didn't manage to find anything good and even ran into his arch-nemesis

As soon as the words were spoken, the person sat up from the ground, shielding his face from the light of the car's headlights as he peered into the driver's seat: "Big brother, that voice sounds familiar."

"Doctor Cheng, brother," Xiang Xi gritted his teeth, "I... my leg hurts"

"It's been quite a while since..." He gazed out the window, "It's vicious, uh... very vicious"

Cheng Boyan tugged at his collar as the wind picked up even more. He opened the car door, got in, and started the engine: "Where is Donglin Supermarket?"

It seems that Cheng Boyan still intends to continue asking

"Guess what." Cheng Boyan leaned against the car door, leisurely taking out his phone from his pocket

Ah, it's me. Are you really going to give me a 20% discount?" Cheng Boyan got out of the car and looked him up and down, "You really are a professional player, aren't you?"

I don't have a mother!" Xiang Xi shouted loudly.

Do you have any plans for the New Year? Grandma arranged the fried chicken legs neatly on the plate

"In the stomach?" Cheng Boyan asked again out of habit, "Which part?"

However, he truly did not expect to encounter Cheng Boyan's car just like that

Therefore

Upon returning to the car, as soon as I turned on the radio, I heard this song again, seamlessly connecting with the last line I heard when leaving the supermarket

If you truly do not wish to, that is acceptable, but please be cautious when you return home. Cheng Boyan instructed him while securing his leg, saying, "Try to minimize movement, do not put weight on this leg, avoid putting it on the ground, and it is best to elevate it..."

As soon as Cheng Boyan saw him, he felt a wave of annoyance and turned to retreat into the kitchen

Your sweet and sour ribs don't even have any salt in them, how can they taste good? What kind of nonsense is this, only 5 grams of salt a day... Plus, with your cooking skills, " Grandma shook her head, " We'll have chicken legs later to make up for it, but I didn't put any salt in the chicken legs either "

Cheng Boyan feels that this exhibition of grand ambitions is quite fragmented; the tone of voice he used earlier is completely different from the tone he is using now on the phone, as if he has become a different person.

Dad has always been worried about Grandma living alone here and wants to buy her an apartment in the city center, but the old lady refuses to move, saying she has lived here her whole life and that moving would be like dying.

"Can you really eat the famine meal your mother prepared for you?" Grandma clicked her tongue a few times and said, "You are indeed easy to feed"

Zhan Hongtu chuckled twice and did not speak further

Xiang Xi glanced at him; this doctor had quite a good heart. Although sending him back was something he could not accept, just hearing the name Zhaojiayao was enough to basically seal his fate.

No, Xi took the list and stood up, bouncing to the door of the consultation room in two steps, "I have already mastered the bouncing."

"No need to say anything else, I've already eaten." Cheng Boyan placed a pile of New Year goods that his mother had brought over onto the table

The phrase "to expand one's grand ambitions" carries a sense of helplessness and a hint of subtle sadness, as Cheng Boyan's outstretched hand, intending to check the injury, paused in mid-air

"I will send you back," Cheng Boyan said, "Isn't it cold?"

The New Year is approaching, and he was chased down three streets by someone wielding a stick. Just two minutes ago, he managed to shake off his pursuer and ran to the place where he had agreed to meet Mantou and Dajian. However, these two, who had promised to arrive at nine o'clock, did not show up on time

Cheng Boyan said nothing else, sighed, and waved his hand

He does not want children! Who said he wanted children!" The grandmother glared at the old aunt.

"Well, you haven't held back on the scolding and the harshness," the old lady frowned and said, "Boyan, with your temper, how do you plan to discipline your own child in the future?"

In this lifetime!

He turned the car around and drove towards his grandmother's house, turning on the music in the car and increasing the volume.

Is it really a child who has been forced to come out and engage in scams for money

What are you doing?" Xiangxi was taken aback and asked while leaning against the car window

"This is not ... ... for my dad ... ..." Xiangxi rubbed his nose and sneezed on the ground

"What's wrong with your stomach?" Cheng Boyan looked at him, "How long has it been? Have you had any tests done? Is it malignant?"

Cheng Boyan held onto his collar without moving. He twisted for a long time but remained in place, so he closed his eyes and began to howl: "I won't wash, I won't wash, I just won't wash..."

"What arrangement?" Cheng Boyan was taken aback for a moment, poured himself a cup of water from the thermos, and said, "On duty?"

I cannot be hospitalized, " Xiang Xi frowned, adopting a pained expression, " I have to... take care of my father.

"You just need to entangle me," he said, sitting in the chair with his eyelids drooping, "I will take care of myself."

Oh, one should not be offended by courtesy. I wish all the girls in the world to marry a good boy, and may the two of them always be together

Today he is going to his grandmother's house, and there is a pile of things in the car that his mother bought for him to deliver.

The person suddenly fell to the ground after one second

"Just come over there, in ten minutes, to the south of the road, the little rice dumplings inside are particularly delicious," after the car started, Zhan Hongtu sat up and said, "I will treat you to rice dumplings."

Auntie awkwardly pulled Cheng Xuanyu to the living room

Two people were standing by the street at the entrance of the supermarket. One of them, upon seeing Zhang Hongtu get out of the car, immediately hobbled over.

Today I made sweet and sour spare ribs myself

"Marinated with half a bottle of soy sauce, that's not salt." Cheng Boyan laughed for a long time

Cheng Xuan Yu is the grandson of the old uncle. Now that winter vacation has begun, he stays here every day. In the second grade of elementary school, he has become as round as a mound. Every day, his mind is filled only with thoughts of eating and playing. Cheng Bo Yan feels like hitting him when he sees him, so he must avoid him.

"Don't do that, I didn't eat beans today, I had meat," Cheng Boyan said with a smile, "I'll be there in a moment, I just came out of the supermarket"

"No need, save some for yourself," Cheng Boyan glanced at him through the rearview mirror, "Your leg, just had the cast removed, if you run again like this, you will be able to continue with the work that requires physical effort."

"Darling, come here, can she not do it?" Aunt leaned against the kitchen door and said with a smile, "Xiao Yu has been saying he wants to eat it for the past two days but hasn't been able to fry it yet"

Zhan Hongtu got out of the car, closed the door, and bowed to him: "Brother, thank you"

"Keep shouting," Cheng Boyan lifted him up and hung him over the sink. If it weren't for the dirt pile and his grandmother being nearby, Cheng Boyan would have pressed him directly into the sink. After all, this house had an old-fashioned decor, and the sink was large enough for Cheng Boyan to fit him in.

At the very moment he threw the headphones, a figure suddenly dashed out from the roadside. Before he could see clearly, it had already reached in front of the car

Oh dear, hurry up and wash your hands! Are you looking for a beating? The old lady, unable to tolerate being called by her grandson, came over, turned on the faucet, and started washing his hands while saying, "You have been beaten by your Uncle Boyan before! You never learn your lesson!"

That is why it has grown crooked

Cheng Boyan pressed his temple as a patient walked in, pulling his thoughts back.

How could Uncle Ping possibly allow him to be hospitalized? If he were to be hospitalized, Uncle Ping would probably call someone to drag him out of the hospital. When Mantou had his leg issue, he wasn't even allowed to go to the hospital; he managed to heal it on his own.

The healing condition of this leg, which is meant to achieve great aspirations, is unknown to Cheng Boyan. If memory serves correctly, the day for removing the cast has already passed, and he has not come back since.

Cheng Boyan choked on a mouthful of water and said, "Why are you still worrying about this?"

Cheng Boyan reflexively hummed a couple of lines before quickly changing the channel, but it was already too late; the song was too familiar. Whether he changed it or not was meaningless, as he could charge forward endlessly just by hearing the beginning.

"Eat, eat!" said Cheng Boyan

"Can this let him know? It's not embarrassing enough," Xiang Xi pouted. The statement about embarrassment was the truth; he felt that pretending to be a victim was shameful. Although the things he usually did were not fundamentally different from this, it was just too unseemly to lie on the ground and throw a tantrum. "Why should I get in the car?"

Xiang Xi got up from the ground and, feeling a bit embarrassed, smiled at Cheng Boyan, who looked surprised, saying: "What a surprise to see you here, Doctor Cheng."

I congratulate you on your wealth, I congratulate you on your brilliance, the best please come forward, the bad please step aside

I won't wash!" Cheng Xuanyu struggled, shouting as he tried to turn and run away

After hanging up the phone with his grandmother, Cheng Boyan took off his headphones and tossed them aside

But an unexpected scene appeared without any warning

"Is your friend coming over?" he asked

"Your injury has taken quite a while to address," Cheng Boyan finally redirected his attention to his leg, "I need to examine it carefully to see if there has been any dislocation. How did this injury occur?"

Although the person seemed startled and instinctively raised his arms to shield himself, he remained standing. He let out a sigh of relief, intending to continue moving forward after the person walked away.

Is that so? He looked up at Zhan Hongtu and asked, "What illness does your father have?"

Cheng Boyan smiled without making a sound

Let me be honest with you, brother. I didn't come here specifically today; I was chased over here by... by my creditors. Four or five people are after me. If I don't come up with a solution, they will definitely beat me half to death. ..." Xiang Xi raised his head and glanced towards the intersection, suddenly bouncing in the car, pointing at the corner to the right front, shouting and banging on the car window, "It's them! Do you see? It's them! They're coming after me!"

Every year, they almost always go to their grandmother's house to celebrate the New Year. The battle of New Year delicacies between my mother's nutritious offerings and my grandmother's gourmet treats began last week and will continue until the end of the first month of the lunar calendar

Xiang Xi feels that he is going to go crazy

What are you talking about, Boyan!" the old lady said somewhat dissatisfied.

"I will not come here again, rest assured," Zhang Hongtu scoffed, "Do you think this place is some kind of paradise?"

"Don't make too much," Cheng Boyan said, watching his grandmother happily fry chicken legs. "I had quite a bit for dinner today, and I'm still feeling full now."

Zhan Hongtu lowered his head and after a while softly said: "There is a tumor growing in my stomach"

Cheng Boyan frowned and followed the direction he pointed, and indeed saw four people standing at the intersection, looking around. Among them, two were holding something that resembled a stick.

You may continue. Cheng Boyan said, pressing the save button on the car's dashcam, locking the previous recordings.

It is not his archrival, but that of Uncle Ping

"Doctor Cheng, you..." Xiang Xi reacted quickly, immediately understanding what Cheng Boyan intended to do. He became anxious at once, knocking on the car window and shouting, "Doctor Cheng! Brother! Cheng Ge! Cheng Da Ge! Uncle Cheng! What are you doing!"

In two days, it will be the New Year, and the streets are filled with various shades of red, along with Old Liu's song that plays endlessly, a New Year song that could continue for another hundred years without stopping

Does your father know you are like this?" Cheng Boyan opened the door of the back seat, "Get in.

However, even such individuals will still have enemies, as ultimately, whether one is doing well or poorly, it is all part of the struggle.

Thank you, uncle... no, thank you, brother," Xiang Xi smiled ingratiatingly, continuing to tap on the car window, "Please let me off this time. If you call the police, I will be arrested. What will happen to my dad? No one will bring him food!

To encounter a scam in one's lifetime is truly unexpected

Not even knowing whether there will be tumors in the stomach, one just blurts out such a statement

"That's it! I have nothing to eat! Grandma is so biased!" A little chubby child rushed out from the inner room

How large is the stomach? Is there enough space there for a tumor to grow?

I have never seen my mother! I don't know where she has gone!" Xiang Xi shouted a couple more times, biting his lips hard, and his voice lowered, "I don't know... perhaps she has run away.

Just as she was about to speak again, her phone rang. Xiangxi took it out to take a glance; it was Mantou.

Do you think your father would be happy to see you like this? You said you are 18 years old, right? You have hands and feet, you are neither disabled nor foolish..." Cheng Boyan slowly typed on his phone, glanced up at him, "You look quite smart..."

As soon as I entered the door, I smelled a delicious aroma; Grandma was frying chicken legs. Although he had previously said not to make any food, Grandma still went ahead and made it.

However, judging by Cheng Boyan's reaction, it is indeed something that can be grown, but as for how long it has been, the tests, whether benign or malignant, he truly does not know how to respond.

"Look out for cars before crossing the street! Why did you suddenly rush out?" Cheng Boyan shouted as he lowered the car window, "What will we do if we hit someone?"

In ... ... at the beginning of the grand plan, I pinched my brow and said, "In ... ... in the stomach."

Cheng Boyan quickly slammed the brakes, and the car let out a sharp scream, stopping just about twenty centimeters away from the person.

This is still on someone else's territory, and the pursuers will definitely not return empty-handed. In order to ensure his safety before Mantou and the others arrive, he plans to find a vehicle to create some chaos, making it inconvenient for the other party to take action

Go wash your hands! Cheng Boyan pulled Cheng Xuanyu and pushed him to the edge of the sink

While driving halfway, Grandma called to ask him when he would arrive: "Have you had dinner? Do you want me to make you something to eat? Do you eat beans every day?"

He is merely a laborer responsible for procurement and transportation

That somewhat pitiful tone and gaze, along with that call of "brother"... instantly pulled him into a long-lost state.

"Expand the grand blueprint, 18...... Hospitalization?" Xiang Xi was taken aback and shouted, "I cannot be hospitalized!"

"Let your mother send it," Cheng Boyan said

Cheng Boyan was stunned for about three seconds before he managed to react

"Is it not tasty?" Grandmother glanced at him

According to the standards of Xi, Ping Shu has not actually achieved much success; he has merely managed to rise above the basic level of survival within the realm of thugs and ruffians. If he does not get arrested or killed in his lifetime, he will likely remain in the big pit, drinking tea, playing cards, collecting rent, and commanding a group of even more useless subordinates.

"Why are you just like your father, always thinking about the hospital no matter what I ask? I was asking about your plans for the New Year," Grandma looked at him, "You are almost 30 years old, even if it's... a boyfriend, you should bring one home, right?"

Cheng Boyan halted his actions, turned his head to glance at him, and said nothing

"We need to remove the plaster to examine the fracture line before we can bid farewell to this unpleasant place," Cheng Boyan glanced at him, "but the premise is that your fracture healing condition must be sufficiently good"

Zhan Hongtu and his few friends, with their common delinquent youth styles often seen in the chaotic old town, are rarely given a proper glance by Cheng Boyan.

As he watched Zhang Hongtu's somewhat emaciated figure disappear from the doorway, Cheng Boyan let out a sigh

First, he was clear that he definitely had not encountered this person, so this person could not have fallen to the ground due to being hit. Then, based on his own experience, if someone had fainted from fright, they would not be in this state; even if they had fallen, they would not be able to peek up while shielding the light.

It is still uncertain whether hospitalization is necessary; I will check the specific situation in a while," Cheng Boyan looked at him, "Did someone accompany you here?

However, he still got into the car, as it could at least ensure his safety for the time being; he would find an excuse to get out later.

"Are you going to eat or not!" Grandmother glared at him

Someone like Xiang Xi, who grew up by Uncle Ping's side, is regarded by enemies as being just as familiar as Uncle Ping himself

"Why can't I be hospitalized?" Cheng Boyan handed him the examination form, "Take it to pay for the examination, and don't run away again."

"... ... is very unappetizing." Cheng Boyan nodded

Ah! Zhan Hongtu suddenly interrupted him with some irritation, saying, "I know, I know, you can just say that I am lying on the bed and not moving."

"You won't know the examination results until you see them. I told you that day that this is not a minor fracture, yet you delayed for several days before coming in," Cheng Boyan said, frowning as he sat back at the desk, picking up the examination report and writing down, "If the situation is not good, hospitalization and surgery will be necessary... Name, age."

Fortunately, my uncle's house is right next door, so there is someone to look after me

While listening to the new song delivery, I can still sing "Congratulations and Prosperity" in my mind

"I didn't let them come; if they do, it will be a complete mess," Zhang Hongtu said while still lying in the back seat. "Brother, Dr. Cheng, I'll lie down for a bit and then leave. I'll go once they are gone."

Just as he got into the car and had not yet settled in, Cheng Boyan slammed the door shut behind him, followed immediately by the sound of the car locking.

Cheng Boyan parked his car downstairs at his grandmother's house, squeezed in among a jumble of large and small vehicles, as well as three-wheeled electric scooters. The chaotic scene always gave him the illusion that his car would be damaged when he came down again.

"I was kicked by someone who was collecting debts, and I owe a lot of money. Otherwise, I wouldn't be out on the street doing this," Xiang Xi said. "I can just wrap this injury with a bandage or something, right?"

It is his habit to speak without truth, but to say in front of a doctor that his father has a tumor is akin to digging a pit for oneself; once fallen in, one must fill it back up by oneself

"Do you think I am just joking around?" Cheng Boyan retracted the little sympathy he had for him and continued to explain the precautions, "If I don't make this clear to you, you will go back to work with the plaster and then come to me saying, 'Doctor, can you take a look at how my leg got crooked?' Is this responsibility mine or yours?"

I didn't lie to you," Xiang Xi lay down on the back seat, "Brother, I really have no way out.

In order to avoid getting trapped in an endless loop of a single song, Cheng Boyan quickly cleared the melody from his mind as he exited the supermarket and silently sang the national anthem once.

Cheng Boyan still did not speak, but he also did not continue fiddling with his phone, merely staring at him in silence

Donglin Supermarket is indeed not large, squeezed in among a cluster of shops. Cheng Boyan passes by here every time he goes to his grandmother's house, but he has never noticed that there is a small supermarket here

You ... ... "Cheng Boyan glanced at his face, almost biting his own tongue, 'Expand the grand blueprint?'

The condition of Zhan Hongtu is not too severe, and surgery is not required. However, Cheng Boyan indicated that he still needs to be observed in the hospital for two days, which he refused.

The expression on his face instantly resembled the one Cheng Boyan had when he saw him extorting someone on the street, a mix of impatience and an emotion that clearly indicated he had been in this game for a long time

I have never hit him. Cheng Boyan walked to the side and took a plate to prepare to serve the chicken legs