Chapter 97: Doing Good Requires Strength

“A bit busy.” Yu Dazhang answered instinctively.

“It’s already this late and you’re still busy?” Qu Tuotuo clearly didn’t believe him, raising her voice:

“Who are you fooling!”

Whether from hunger or frustration, Yu Dazhang’s voice grew low:

“I’m really busy. Let’s reschedule. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”

He had no energy for anything else—his mind was entirely consumed by Xiao Liu Ying’s condition.

Sensing Yu Dazhang’s gloom, Qu Tuotuo’s tone softened:

“Working overtime at the station today?”

“No.” Yu Dazhang replied offhand:

“I’m at the hospital.”

Qu Tuotuo’s tone shifted, tinged with tension:

“Are you sick? I’m coming right now.”

Her emotion was palpable—her speech had quickened considerably.

Only then did Yu Dazhang snap back to reality.

Total misunderstanding.

He came to the hospital for work; she assumed he was ill.

Feeling her concern, Yu Dazhang’s heart warmed, his voice noticeably lighter than before.

“I’m not sick. You don’t need to come.”

“I don’t believe you. Tell me right now.” Qu Tuotuo pressed.

Yu Dazhang explained again, but she wouldn’t listen.

Finally, Qu Tuotuo offered a compromise he could barely accept.

“Fine. Tell me which hospital you’re at. If you really aren’t sick, I’ll just take one look and leave.”

The proposal wasn’t unreasonable.

Yu Dazhang didn’t want to mix his personal life with work.

But seeing how deeply she cared, he couldn’t bear to let her worry—so he gave her the hospital name and department.

After hanging up, he ate half a bowl of noodles, then returned to the pediatric ward.

On the way up, he kept reminding himself: Yu Dazhang, stay rational. Don’t overstep your duties.

Ma Jian stood up the moment he returned:

“I just checked the room—the child’s condition is worsening.”

Hearing this, Yu Dazhang hurried toward the ward.

Inside, he saw Xiao Liu Ying lying on her side, drenched in sweat, lips cracked.

Even so, she clutched the photo frame tightly to her chest.

He reached out and touched the child’s forehead.

Even hotter than before… His heart clenched—he knew if they waited any longer, someone would die.

“Xiao Ying, Xiao Ying…” he whispered, hoping to rouse her, but received no response.

Just as he was at a loss, the child’s lips moved slightly, as if murmuring something.

Even with his sharp hearing, he couldn’t make it out.

He leaned closer, listening intently.

“Goodbye, Mom… goodbye, Dad…”

When he finally understood her words, his last shred of restraint vanished.

He didn’t hesitate—he rushed to the nurses’ station.

“Where’s the doctor?” Yu Dazhang no longer cared about hospital decorum—he shouted:

“Get a doctor here now! That child is dying!”

A nurse frowned at him:

“Please be quiet. This is a hospital—your noise disturbs other patients.”

Her gaze was icy… Even though he was frantic, Yu Dazhang froze.

This hospital is insane~

Every nurse here radiates assassin energy.

That one look just now made him feel as if his eyes had been stabbed.

Realizing further talk with these nurses was pointless, he told Ma Jian something and hurried to the doctors’ office.

Inside sat only one male doctor, wearing glasses. After explaining the situation, Yu Dazhang pleaded:

“First, lower her temperature—just lower it! I’ll pay for it, okay?!”

The doctor adjusted his glasses, dismissive:

“Officer, the hospital has strict policies for unpaid patients. Everything’s computerized—no medication can be issued once fees are overdue.”

The meaning was clear: nothing can be done.

Yu Dazhang also noticed his gaze was even colder.

What bullshit policy—it was just an excuse to stop treatment.

Yu Dazhang had no patience for more talk—he asked directly:

“How much do we need to pay to resume treatment?”

He realized now—pleading was useless. These people wouldn’t listen. The doctor glanced at him, clearly disdainful of such saintly behavior.

“Go ask at the payment counter.”

Yu Dazhang ignored him and turned to leave.

Outside, he confirmed the counter’s location on the signboard—just as he moved to go, he saw Qu Tuotuo exiting pediatrics, heading toward him.

Their eyes met. Qu Tuotuo hurried over:

“I looked for you in pediatrics and couldn’t find you—I was about to call you.”

“Believe me now?” Yu Dazhang waved his hand:

“I’ve got things to do. Go home.”

Saying this, he sidestepped Qu Tuotuo and hurried toward the payment counter.

At the counter, he quickly gave Liu Ying’s name and department.

Over twelve thousand yuan in arrears… Hearing the number, Yu Dazhang instantly calmed down.

Please... Col...lect 6...9...Shu....Ba....!

Had he been too impulsive just now?

This was the classic case of not understanding your own strength.

Too hasty.

Damn it, in my panic I forgot—doing good requires strength.

I thought the debt was maybe one or two thousand—I’d cover it myself, then find the parents later.

Over ten thousand… It’s not that I won’t help—I just don’t have that kind of money… Only now did Yu Dazhang truly grasp the weight of money.

He’d only just started working, and his salary was low—he had no savings at all.

“Are you paying or not?” the clerk snapped.

Yu Dazhang scratched his head and offered an excuse:

“I forgot my payment slip.”

“You don’t need a slip to pay,” the clerk said, stopping him as he turned to leave:

“Everything’s computerized—just find the account and pay.”

You can pay even without money…? Yu Dazhang nearly asked aloud.

“Swipe your card,” came a voice like a neighbor’s girl:

“Swipe twenty thousand. Keep the rest as a deposit.”

Yu Dazhang turned.

Qu Tuotuo stood beside him, holding a bank card, handing it to the clerk.

“You…” Yu Dazhang was speechless.

After a moment, he stammered:

“You didn’t leave?”

Qu Tuotuo entered her password as she replied:

“If I left, what would you do?”

“This money…” Yu Dazhang swallowed hard, gritted his teeth:

“I’ll borrow it from you. I’ll write you a promissory note right away.”

He felt this had to be made clear.

Before now, he’d never imagined asking Qu Tuotuo for help.

Using someone else’s money to soothe your conscience—what’s the difference between that and a green tea bitch?

The money’s been paid—so I’ll pay her back.

I don’t spend much anyway. I’ll repay her slowly.

Find the child’s parents, then go ask them for this money.

“What are you talking about?” Qu Tuotuo said carelessly, teasingly:

“This money will be deducted from your bride price.”

“What bride price?” Yu Dazhang didn’t understand.

Qu Tuotuo smiled and said:

“Aren’t you asking for a million as bride price? Consider this an advance payment.”

Yu Dazhang realized she was joking and smiled along.

After paying the fee and taking the receipt, Qu Tuotuo nudged him:

“Hurry up, don’t waste time.”

Back in pediatrics, after handing the receipt to the doctor, the child was quickly treated.

Doctors and nurses entered the ward one after another.

What puzzled Yu Dazhang was that the medical staff didn’t seem particularly eager.

At least, their expressions showed no great enthusiasm.

He even saw annoyance on the face of one nurse.

This surprised Yu Dazhang greatly.

They’ve been paid—how can they still act like this?

Is he overthinking it, or is there something wrong with them?

As he pondered where the problem lay, Qu Tuotuo nudged his arm:

“The nurses at this hospital are acting strange.”

(End of Chapter)