Chapter 128: How Are the Television Sales?

“Let’s wait a little longer on this. Now that we’re in the provincial city, if he wakes up, the doctors here are far better than those back in Donghai.”

“But what if he doesn’t wake up?”

Old An glanced at Xu Fei.

“I know you feel responsible for Zhang Ze’s injury, Fei. But don’t blame yourself so much. We all saw what happened—those guys didn’t even know who was who. If I had been in Zhang Ze’s place, maybe I’d be the one lying here now.”

Xu Fei nodded.

He had thought the same, but he just couldn’t get past his own guilt.

The scene of Zhang Ze falling kept replaying like a movie whenever he closed his eyes these past few days.

The guilt weighed heavily on him.

“Fei, don’t be too hard on yourself. We already did everything we could. You’ve given all you have for him.”

That was true.

Before the surgery, Xu Fei had handed over 2,000 yuan of the 3,000 yuan, and the missing thousand made it a total of three thousand spent on Zhang Ze.

It was no small sum.

“It’s what I should do.”

“Should?”

Old An put down his chopsticks.

“Today I went downstairs and used the hospital phone to call Brother Liu. He told me those who hit Zhang Ze have been caught. They’re the real culprits and should bear the responsibility.”

Xu Fei nodded.

“Third Brother, I understand what you mean, but who’s responsible for the knife wound on Brother Zhang’s head?”

Old An frowned.

“Fei, are you crazy? That’s got nothing to do with you.”

Xu Fei picked up the bowl and chopsticks and glanced at Zhang Ze lying on the bed.

“Third Brother, I’m going to deliver these to the breakfast shop.”

With that, Xu Fei turned and left.

Old An’s brows knitted tightly.

He shook his head.

“What’s the point?”

…

At the breakfast shop.

“Hey, why the rush with these bowls and chopsticks?” Liu Erpang came out from the kitchen, took the utensils, and handed them to Xiao Lan.

“Come, have a seat.”

Liu Erpang pulled Xu Fei down beside him.

“How’s your friend’s injury?”

Xu Fei shook his head.

“He’s still unconscious.”

“I’ve seen plenty of cranial surgeries. Many never wake up, some don’t even come off the operating table. Your friend’s lucky.”

Liu Erpang said, trying to comfort Xu Fei.

As they talked, Xiao Lan came out carrying a teapot and poured tea for Xu Fei. She said to Liu Erpang, “Boss, we’re running low on millet in the kitchen.”

“Oh? Then go buy some.”

Xiao Lan frowned. “I went to several grain stations nearby and a few grain shops, but they all say there’s no millet.”

…

“What’s going on?”

“They said the millet harvest this year was poor. In the provincial city, only a few distant districts still have millet. Around here, we won’t see millet for at least a month.”

Liu Erpang shook his head.

“Alright then, tomorrow I’ll take the tricycle and go buy from afar.”

Xu Fei’s heart stirred at Xiao Lan’s words.

Millet is scarce?

A thought formed in his mind.

“Liu Ge, don’t rush to get millet yet. Let me think of a way.”

“You? You have a way to get millet?”

Xu Fei smiled and nodded.

After saying goodbye to the breakfast shop, he returned to the hospital and shared his plan with Old An.

“You want to sell millet in the provincial city?”

“Yes. We aren’t planning to return to Donghai anytime soon. Although we can find odd jobs at the labor market, it’s unstable. I’m going back to collect millet, then transport it here to sell. We’ll definitely make a profit, enough to cover Brother Zhang’s medical bills and our living expenses.”

“Hmm, that’s a plan.”

“Third Brother, I’ll leave the rest to you after I’m gone. I just spoke to Liu Ge at the breakfast shop; you can eat there for now. I’ll settle the bill with him later.”

“But what about the hospital expenses?”

Xu Fei smiled and pulled 200 yuan from his pocket.

“This money?”

Old An looked surprised.

“It’s loaned to me by Liu Ge at the breakfast shop.”

Old An took the money.

“With this, Zhang Ze’s treatment won’t be delayed. Go with peace of mind.”

Xu Fei walked to the bedside.

“Brother Zhang, I’m leaving now. Rest well, wake up soon. We still have to drink together.”

He squeezed Zhang Ze’s hand.

Aside from some warmth in the palm, his fingers and hand felt cool.

“He’s been getting colder these past days. The doctor said it’s due to his circulatory system slowing down, so we need to sponge him down regularly.”

“Thank you, Third Brother.”

Old An waved his hand.

“Enough, you should go.”

Xu Fei nodded, picked up his bag, and left the ward.

…

Donghai Train Station.

Xu Fei got off the train at two in the morning and went straight home.

When he entered, Du Man looked at him in surprise, dusty and worn.

“You’re back?”

Xu Fei collapsed onto the bed, too exhausted.

At the provincial city hospital, he was constantly on the move—working during the day and taking shifts with Old An at night.

“Let me nap for an hour. Wake me then.”

After saying this, he was asleep.

Du Man looked at her man with concern. She took off his shoes and then his socks, revealing toes whitened by sweat.

Ignoring the smell, she brought hot water and gently washed his feet.

Seeing Xu Fei sleeping so deeply, she knew he must be utterly exhausted.

She brushed his face softly.

He had lost weight.

An hour later, glancing at the time, Du Man hesitated to wake him but eventually nudged him.

“Xu Fei…”

“Hmm?”

He opened his eyes with effort, reluctant to awaken, as if heavy weights hung from his eyelids.

He struggled to sit up, stretched lazily, and walked to the window.

The eastern sky was already lightening.

He dressed in the fresh clothes Du Man had packed.

“Where are you going?”

Xu Fei looked at Du Man, carrying his bag.

“To Xiao Zhang Village. Xu Qing has her college entrance exam soon; I want to make her something good.”

Du Man nodded.

“Do we have money left?”

“Not much, but I’ll find a way.”

“You?”

Xu Fei glanced at her.

“Thinking of asking the Du family for help?”

Du Man said nothing.

“I’ll go find Third Brother now and check on their situation.”

With that, Xu Fei left.

On the empty street, only a few sanitation workers were busy.

He soon arrived at the Zhang household.

Zhang Mingyang opened the door, surprised to see Xu Fei, then grabbed him.

“Old Fourth, you’re finally back. How’s it going? Has Lawyer Zhang woken up?”

Xu Fei gave a brief update.

“Third Brother, I came to ask—how are the TV sales going?”