Chapter 2079: with translation of chapter title

Night is deep.

Liu Xu zhi finished today's last Shou Bing, sent the patient back, and stretched his back.

The lumbar vertebrae creaked a few times, as if reminding him of his age; it could no longer bear wearing Lead clothing for long periods while doing Interventional surgery.

"Old Liu, your Shou Bing is getting faster and faster." Lin JiaoJiao said with a chuckle.

"Leader, you overpraise me." Liu Xu zhi removed his Sterile Cap; the disposable Sterile Cap was already soaked with sweat.

Liu Xu zhi's hair was gray-white, having been pressed by the Sterile Cap for seven or eight hours, looking like a bunch of weeds.

But his complexion was good, ruddy.

Since coming to Di Du, life has had a goal, unlike in Xilin Town where he just muddled through each day.

"This is your Shou Bing fee for today." Lin JiaoJiao took out an envelope, the kraft paper kind, stuffed full.

She found it strange: why would this humble yet tough old doctor insist on cash?

Now everyone uses WeChat Pay, Alipay QR code payments, and mobile bank transfers are almost instant; who still uses cash?

Carrying 100 yuan in cash in one's pocket might not be spent for a whole month.

Perhaps it's just the habit of a remote small town.

Lin JiaoJiao still respected Liu Xu zhi in various details.

Seeing Liu Xu zhi as a Zao Lao tou zi, already old and worn out, yet truly tough and durable. Wearing Lead clothing, he does at least six Shou Bing a day. This is just the afternoon; in the morning he does liver and gallbladder Shou Bing at Di Du, and he also has to go on stage with Zhu Liangchen.

After Zheng Lao Ban gave him a Shou Bing once, Liu Xu zhi's Shou Bing skill improvement is unknown to Lin JiaoJiao, but each Shou Bing's time has shortened by about 30%.

It seems having such a Zao Lao tou zi doing Shou Bing under him is more suitable than Zheng Lao Ban.

Lin JiaoJiao thought to herself.

Zheng Lao Ban? I can't afford him. If he were here, I'd probably have to bend over backwards to serve him, fearing he'd be dissatisfied and just walk away.

Meanwhile, this Zao Lao tou zi before me cherishes this job, working desperately.

Watching Liu Xu zhi take the kraft paper envelope, his fingers gripping it tightly, his nails turning pale from the force, Lin JiaoJiao found it amusing.

But I'm just too tired today; I've been busy enough to be exhausted, with Fatigue all over and no time to relieve it.

My head hurts a little; if I had Liu Xu zhi's toughness, that would be great.

Lin JiaoJiao's hand pressed on her temples, gently rubbing.

"Leader, are you Uncomfortable?" Liu Xu zhi's flattery was not very skilled.

His expression was affected, though not exaggerated, yet very stiff. He himself wasn't like that; otherwise he wouldn't have spent so many years in Xilin Town without gaining even a minor official post.

"I'm a bit tired; tidy up and head back quickly." Lin JiaoJiao forced a smile, "When you go back, remember to rest more. I originally planned to greet Director Zhu Liangchen, but I think having an institutional position will also make it easier to explain things to your family."

Having spoken halfway, Lin JiaoJiao felt somewhat uncomfortable and stopped.

"Leader, thank you for your trouble." Liu Xu zhi's lips moved slightly twice, but he ultimately didn't continue speaking; instead he greeted and turned to change clothes.

Lin JiaoJiao saw him desperately clutching the kraft paper envelope, as if someone were trying to steal his money, and found it especially funny.

Now public order is so good; not to mention over ten thousand yuan in cash. Even if you walked the streets of Di Du holding a hundred thousand yuan in cash, nothing would happen.

Unlike before, Lin JiaoJiao sat down fatigued on a chair, and the little assistant thoughtfully came over to rub her temples.

Lin JiaoJiao still remembers when she first quit her job, taking money to Pengcheng to learn beauty techniques, and buying some Hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin to bring back.

All the way she held the bag carefully, not even sleeping soundly.

As for Yangcheng, she dared not go there at all, especially the train station area; even now, thinking back on the rumors, she still feels a lingering fear.

But those are all past events; now they've become legends...

Thinking this, Lin JiaoJiao felt her whole body sore and a bit heavier; she wanted to frown, but immediately stopped herself.

Joking aside, on this face, tens of thousands are poured in each year—all real money; how could one casually frown or laugh loudly?

Tens of thousands could buy a Zao Lao tou zi like Liu Xu zhi to work himself to death, or rather, he voluntarily squeezes out all his vitality.

Not mentioning how many injections he gets each year, lately Di Du's haze has lightened, the sun has come out, and UV rays are much stronger than before; just the whitening cosmetics alone—how much is used!

Looking young, that's all piled up from real money.

"Sister, you've been exhausted these days, always feeling Uncomfortable; why don't we go to the Hospital for a check-up?" the little assistant asked softly.

"No need, lately I've been insomnia-prone and dreaming a lot..." Lin JiaoJiao sighed, "It's just old age. No matter how much cosmetic you use or how many injections you get, you can't change reality. This is an objective law; I really envy you young people."

"Look at what you're saying; what do I have to envy?"

"Young." Lin JiaoJiao said: "When I was young, I only cared about making money desperately. Looking back now, having earned money, what can it do? Flowers can bloom again, but people never regain youth."

The little assistant didn't speak, merely thinking to himself that without money he might not even live to see old age.

"Remember to remind me to have dinner with Zheng Lao Ban this week." Lin JiaoJiao said, eyes closed, speaking softly.

"Mm."

"My memory is getting worse and worse." Lin JiaoJiao sighed.

The matter of meeting Zheng Lao Ban would also be forgotten at a turn; it's simply unbelievable. Recently Zheng Lao Ban's side has been thriving; after all I've invested, I always need Zheng Lao Ban to do something.

Even inviting Zheng Lao Ban to come and give Liu Xu zhi two more Shou Bing would be fine.

"I'm leaving." Lin JiaoJiao shook her head, subconsciously refusing to accept the fact that she has aged.

Although she looks about thirty, no amount of cosmetics or beauty injections can roll her physiological age back from her forties to twenty.

"Sister, what did you say?" the little assistant asked in a daze.

"Huh?" Lin JiaoJiao startled, she reached for the handbag on the operating table; but her hand trembled slightly, and the position deviated.

She couldn't even grab such a large handbag... Lin JiaoJiao's first thought was that she had a cerebral infarction!

The little assistant quickly helped Lin JiaoJiao.

"I just spoke, you didn't hear..."

Having only said half a sentence, Lin JiaoJiao realized she didn't even know what she was saying; what should have been a simple sentence came out slurred and incoherent, as if she had an egg in her mouth.

"Call 120!" Lin JiaoJiao struggled to suppress the Fear in her Inner Mind, briefly explaining the meaning.

The junior assistant frantically picked up the phone.

"Call Zheng Lao Ban again!"