Chapter 5: Setting Up a Stall

Thus, for five years, Mother lay in bed, and Su Mengli tried various methods, hoping to pull her back from the brink of death, yet in the end, she achieved nothing.

Jiangling City is divided into four districts: southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest. Among them, Dongling District serves as the commercial center of the entire Jiangling City, representing the most prosperous area of Jiangling City

"What is it?" Hu Xue'er asked curiously

Su Mengli's words were undoubtedly powerful; with her beauty, these charlatans would willingly go through fire and water for her

Not long ago, her father introduced her to a man named Zheng Jian. This Zheng Jian is a notorious playboy in Jiangling City, five years older than Su Mengli. His greatest asset is his father, Zheng Guowen, the president of the Bank of China in Jiangling City. For Su Mengli's father, Su Zhiyuan, marrying his daughter to Zheng Jian would allow him to leverage Zheng Guowen's position as bank president to easily secure a loan to turn around the current difficulties faced by his company

He is squatting here to set up a street stall at this moment, and there is certainly a reason for that

Compared to other stalls, this one appears rather shabby, lacking tables and chairs. The stall owner is merely a young man of about eighteen or nineteen years old. He holds a bamboo pole, to which is tied a tattered piece of cloth, seemingly scavenged from some garbage heap. On this dark, worn cloth, several lines of oracle bone script are awkwardly inscribed. Upon careful examination, one can discern the text: "Find the right match through palmistry and physiognomy, eradicate the third party, tighten and restore the membrane as if it were a house, skilled hands of a divine doctor come to assist." The bamboo pole is tied with a tattered piece of cloth, seemingly scavenged from some garbage heap, on which several lines of oracle bone script are awkwardly inscribed. Upon careful examination, one can discern the text: "Find the right match through palmistry and physiognomy, eradicate the third party, tighten and restore the membrane as if it were a house, skilled hands of a divine doctor come to assist."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xue'er immediately became anxious: "Meng Li, you, you wouldn't be thinking of selling yourself to save your mother, would you?"

If it were not for reaching a dead end, Su Mengli would not have placed her last hope in these charlatans

"Meng Li, you must think this through. How could these people possibly be worthy of you?" Hu Xue'er advised with concern

As they spoke, the two women had already walked into the aisle between those charlatan stalls

Beautiful lady, your forehead is high, your eyes sparkle with brilliance, you are truly the reincarnation of Guanyin, a celestial maiden descended to the mortal realm. Although I have revealed the secrets of heaven, calamities are unavoidable, yet this is my destiny. Even if I must take great risks, I will show you the complete picture. Today, our establishment is holding a grand sale at a loss, with a 80% discount across the entire venue. To see the complete picture, it is only 500 yuan, just 500 yuan.

In an instant, the lecherous charlatans around eagerly rushed towards Su Mengli, with Ye Wutian, the notorious lecher, naturally taking the lead.

"That is my person," Su Mengli replied淡淡.

After stopping in her tracks, Su Mengli glanced around and shouted loudly: "Listen up, everyone. If anyone can cure my mother's illness, I am willing to offer myself in return."

Moreover, setting up a stall here can also allow one to earn some extra income, and who knows, perhaps good fortune may come unexpectedly

"My mother has given me life twice; if only I could truly heal her, I would be willing to sacrifice my life, not just sell myself." Su Mengli said resolutely.

"Oh, sir, I see you have a gloomy expression. It must be that your wife has another man, right? I have a secret remedy here; after three courses of treatment, I guarantee your wife will no longer have any men." "Bah! Your mother has a man instead." "Damn, your mother is a virgin!"

Due to Su Mengli's repeated refusals, this matter ultimately came to nothing. However, just yesterday, while Su Mengli was seeking medical treatment in the United States, Su Zhiyuan suddenly called and brought up the issue again, threatening that if she did not comply, he would stop their mother's treatment. Consequently, Su Mengli hurried back.

At this moment, Su Mengli was walking hand in hand with her close friend Hu Xue into the area selling dog-skin plaster.

In a relatively remote area at the northwest corner of Dongling Square, there are some stalls set up haphazardly, offering fortune-telling, divination, and selling dog-skin plaster. These vendors are either blind beggars or monks and Taoists, with only one stall being somewhat special.

However, in the past two years, my father's company has been increasingly losing money, and our family situation is not as good as it used to be. The daily nursing expenses of 40,000 to 50,000 have already placed a significant burden on the entire family, and my father's temper has also been getting worse.

It is evident that this skilled physician is none other than Doctor Ye Wutian.

... ...

In the evening, Dongling Square is bustling with activity. After dinner, residents living nearby often bring their entire families to the square for a stroll. Gradually, Dongling Square has spontaneously developed into a well-known night market area. As night falls, various street vendors spring up like mushrooms after rain, covering the entire square, with the sounds of hawking and selling creating a lively atmosphere throughout Dongling Square

In these five years, the daily expenses for the ventilator, various monitoring devices, and specialized nursing care have reached as high as 40,000 to 50,000. Given Su Mengli's family background, they could originally afford this expenditure, and her father, recognizing her dedication and filial piety towards her studies, did not impose any restrictions.

After an hour, Ye Wutian's mouth was nearly worn out from shouting, yet he had not secured a single deal. He could only sit down on the ground, gazing longingly at the bustling stalls next door.

Su Mengli smiled sadly and said: "No matter what, it is still better than marrying that flower boy Zheng Jian. Xue'er, please stop persuading me. After all, the hope is still very slim. Of course, if this can really cure my mother, then sacrificing myself would be worth it."

"Hasn't your uncle already frozen all your bank cards? What do you plan to use to ask them for help?" Hu Xue'er asked in confusion

After having lunch at noon, Ye Wutian dialed the number on the medical record, but the person who answered was not the beautiful girl, but an old fortune teller. Following the address provided by the fortune teller, he arrived at this place, believing that the beautiful girl would definitely come in person after losing the number.

Miss, you carry an ominous sign! Only I can help you unravel it. Otherwise... hey, don't go! The price is negotiable

Hu Xue'er tightly grasped Su Mengli's hand, feeling extremely uneasy under the predatory gazes surrounding them. "Mengli, I think we should go back. These people are clearly nothing but swindlers and charlatans. How could they possibly help Aunt?"

"No matter what, I have to give it a try; this is already my last hope." Su Mengli's face was filled with sorrow. Every time she saw her mother's haggard face on the hospital bed, her heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles.

Su Mengli smiled coldly and said, "He can freeze my bank card, but the most valuable thing on me, he can never freeze."

Five years ago, in a car accident, her mother shielded her with her own body, granting her a second chance at life. However, the mother fell into a state of brain death and could not recover. Since brain death is irreversible, the hospital had repeatedly advised her to discontinue treatment. Yet, gazing at the faintly trembling electrocardiogram on the computer screen, Su Mengli could not bring herself to let go.

After sitting for a moment, Ye Wutian's eyes suddenly brightened, and he instantly became more spirited, for he had seen that familiar figure. "I didn't expect this girl to find her way here so quickly," Ye Wutian thought with great joy, ... and his eyes also sparkled with brilliance ...

A few blind men, squinting as they read fortunes for others, suddenly opened their eyes wide in shock, startling the customers. The backs of the hunchbacks straightened, the monks and Taoists turned envious, and the limping man even dropped his cane, sprinting towards Su Mengli at a hundred-meter dash speed