Chapter 118: The Situation

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Xu Fei stood with his back to the group. When Old An Third asked his question, the sound of metal hitting the ground came from behind him. Alert, he grabbed a pair of chopsticks in his hand and spun around sharply. By then, several men had already surrounded him. Seeing they were exposed, they all pulled out steel pipes. Zhang Ze turned to look at the intruders, and one of them suddenly raised a pipe and slammed it down on Zhang Ze’s head.

“Ah!” Zhang Ze cried out in pain, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed to the ground. Xu Fei, seeing this, didn’t have time to look at Zhang Ze any longer; he pivoted and stabbed the chopsticks into the thigh of the man who had just struck Zhang Ze.

“Damn!” The man screamed in pain. Xu Fei stepped forward and kicked him to the ground, then snatched up the steel pipe from the fallen man.

“What are you doing?” Xu Fei shielded Du Man beside him. The attackers saw their comrade stabbed and lying on the ground. One of them pointed at Xu Fei, yelling, “Which one of you is named Xu?” Xu Fei realized they were coming for him, and his worry for Zhang Ze deepened. At the same time, Old An Third and Old Liu picked up chairs from the floor. Zhang Mingyang ran over to Zhang Ze’s side.

“Lawyer Zhang, are you okay?” But Zhang Ze remained motionless, his face pale and streaked with blood.

“Quick, get him to the hospital!” Xu Fei said, raising the steel pipe in his hand and charging at the attackers. Old An Third and Old Liu followed suit. A fierce scuffle broke out. Xu Fei fought desperately. Though he took several hits, he managed to knock down two of them. Seeing Xu Fei fight so fiercely, the remaining two fled.

“Xu Fei, are you alright?” Du Man asked anxiously.

“I’m fine.” Xu Fei’s waist injury hadn’t healed yet. After all this struggle, his waist felt like it was about to break. But he had no time to dwell on it.

“Quick, get Lawyer Zhang to the hospital.” Zhang Mingyang hoisted Zhang Ze onto his back, and Old Liu helped carry him out. Xu Fei wanted to follow, but his injured waist wouldn’t allow it; he sat down hard on the ground after a few steps.

“Fei, are you okay?” Old An Third came forward and grabbed him. Du Man also approached and held him, asking, “Is your waist hurt?” Xu Fei nodded.

At that moment, Li Old Four and several kitchen staff ran out.

“Where are they? Xu Fei, what about those troublemakers?”

Xu Fei waved his hand.

“Fourth Brother, you go to the police station and have them send officers to take these guys away.” Li Old Four instructed one of the men to report the incident to the police.

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“Brother An, please help keep an eye on them.” Xu Fei gestured to the unconscious men lying on the ground.

“Don’t worry, I got it.” After arranging this, Xu Fei let Du Man help him up.

“Let’s go to the hospital.”

And so, with Du Man’s assistance, Xu Fei hurried to the hospital. Upon arrival, before the surgery, Zhang Mingyang looked at Xu Fei, who was supported by Du Man.

“How are you?”

“I’m fine, Third Brother. What about Lawyer Zhang?”

Zhang Mingyang shook his head.

“Not good.”

“What?!” Xu Fei was stunned by the words.

“What did the doctor say exactly?”

“He said the brain suffered a serious blow, there could be clotted blood. If it’s severe, they might have to…” Zhang Mingyang hesitated.

“Have to what?”

“Perform a craniotomy.”

“Ah!?” Xu Fei and Du Man were both shocked.

“Is it that serious?” Old Liu came over and patted Xu Fei’s shoulder.

“Don’t panic yet. The doctor said they need to conduct further tests. Let’s wait here; there might still be hope.”

Xu Fei nodded.

“Should we notify his family?” Zhang Mingyang asked him.

“He has no family,” Xu Fei murmured. Silence fell among them.

Ding! The operating room light went off. After a while, a doctor emerged.

“How is he? Is he okay?”

The doctor removed his mask and glanced at Xu Fei. “Are you his family?”

“Yes.” Xu Fei nodded.

“The situation isn’t good. If you have the means, it’s best to transfer him to the hospital in the provincial capital. The outcome there might be much better.”

Xu Fei looked at Zhang Mingyang.

“Third Brother, what should we do?” Zhang Mingyang frowned deeply.

“He has no family; we are his only relatives. Shall we?”

Xu Fei seemed to understand Zhang Mingyang’s meaning.

“You’re right, Third Brother. We are his family. Let’s transfer him!”

But Zhang Mingyang grabbed Xu Fei’s arm.

“Old Four, you must know, the expenses won’t be small.”

“I know,” Xu Fei nodded. He then looked at the doctor.

“Please help us with the transfer procedures.”

The doctor nodded.

“Follow me.”

After Xu Fei completed the paperwork,

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Old An Third hurried to the hospital as well. Xu Fei briefly explained the situation to everyone. He looked at Du Man.

“I might be in the provincial capital for a while. Please take care of the house.” Du Man nodded.

“Third Brother, you take the eldest and second brothers and continue with my plan to sell TVs at the cinema.”

“Alright.” Zhang Mingyang nodded.

“Xu Fei, with your waist like this, can you make it to the provincial capital on your own?” Old An Third pointed at his waist.

“It’s fine. As long as I don’t do anything strenuous, walking is okay.” Xu Fei moved his feet to demonstrate.

“Alright then, if anything happens, I can’t catch up. I’ll take leave and go with you.” Old An Third looked at Old Liu.

“Big Brother, you go to the cinema and tell our supervisor.”

“Okay.”

“Brother An, that’s not good, you…”

Xu Fei wanted to refuse, but Old An Third waved him off.

“No need for formalities. I have no elders above or children below—nothing tying me down. It’s settled then.”

Seeing his determination, Xu Fei nodded.

“Alright, I’ll arrange the ambulance now, and we’ll depart immediately.”

Zhang Mingyang stayed behind to care for Zhang Ze. Xu Fei went to handle the transfer procedures while Old An Third arranged for the ambulance. The eighty-yuan fare was reduced thanks to Old An Third’s connections at the hospital. Zhang Ze was loaded onto the vehicle. Xu Fei and Old An Third, carrying the money, got into the ambulance.

The ambulance set off with flashing lights. The journey was rough, and Xu Fei didn’t close his eyes once, constantly monitoring Zhang Ze’s condition. Before departure, the doctor had warned that Zhang Ze’s condition was critical and could change at any moment. Xu Fei was worried throughout.

Finally, they arrived at the provincial capital hospital and completed the admission process. Due to Zhang Ze’s severe condition, the hospital immediately convened experts for consultation and devised a surgical plan. Six hours later, Zhang Ze was taken into the operating room. Watching the operating room lights turn on, Xu Fei finally lay down on a nearby bench.

“Get some rest.”

Xu Fei nodded. He wasn’t sure how long he had slept when Old An Third woke him.

“How is it?”

Xu Fei looked anxiously at Old An Third.

“He’s not out yet.”

“What?”

Xu Fei glanced at the still-lit surgery room light in surprise.