Chapter Seventy-Two: Unable to Proceed

"How is it not enough? The child and I ate nothing but this today—what more do you want? The child needs money for his treatment, can’t you think about him for once?"
The woman was clearly under a lot of stress; her voice gradually rose, and the little boy in her arms slowly opened his eyes.

"Mom, what’s wrong?"

The man glanced at the boy with a look full of disgust. "That little brat is a bottomless pit. His illness can’t be cured, spending money on him? How long are you going to throw money away?"

Xu Fei, listening nearby, felt his heart tighten.

Is this his real father?

He glared at the man.

"What are you looking at me for?" The man noticed Xu Fei’s gaze.

Xu Fei responded calmly, "As a parent, don’t you feel ashamed saying such things?"

"Ashamed? What’s it to you? Mind your own business!" The man waved Xu Fei off impatiently.

Then he snatched the woman’s bag.

"What are you doing?" The woman reached to grab it back.

But the man turned and kicked her hard in the stomach. With a cry, she collapsed onto the floor.

"Mom!" The little boy rushed over.

But he was so frail that, in his panic, he grabbed his head, staggered, and fainted directly onto the ground.

"Maomao!" The woman called out his nickname, but the boy didn’t respond at all.

"Hey!" Xu Fei couldn’t stand it anymore.

He shouted as he walked over and grabbed the man’s shoulder firmly.

"What do you think you’re doing?" The man was rummaging through the bag and turned to glare at Xu Fei.

"Give the bag back to this lady."

"Who are you? Since when are you allowed to meddle in our family affairs?" The man said, reaching out to push Xu Fei.

Xu Fei blocked his hand and swiftly snatched the bag from him.

"Hey, give me the bag!"

The man chased after Xu Fei. Xu Fei pointed at him.

"Don’t come any closer, or I’ll teach you a lesson!"

The man hesitated, seeing Xu Fei was taller than him. "Just who are you?"

Xu Fei handed the bag to the woman.

"Just a passerby," he replied over his shoulder.

"A passerby? What are you pretending for?" The man sneered, but Xu Fei ignored him.

"Take your bag, ma’am," Xu Fei said.

The woman nodded to him.

"Young man, could you do me another kindness and help carry my child inside?"

Xu Fei nodded and reached down to pick up the boy.

He was shockingly light. The child was nothing but skin and bones, not an ounce of flesh left. Carrying him felt like holding a bundle of firewood—no effort at all.

Xu Fei carried the boy, with the woman following alongside, and they headed straight for the hospital lobby.

As he entered with the boy in his arms, Du Man and Xu Qing came out of the consultation room.

"What’s your brother doing?" Du Man pointed.

Xu Qing glanced over, puzzled. "Who’s that woman?"

Du Man then noticed the woman following behind Xu Fei. Though she was somewhat older, her complexion was pale and her features quite delicate.

A woman’s mind is easily unsettled. She looked displeased.

Xu Qing glanced at Du Man and said, "Sister-in-law, don’t overthink it. Maybe she’s just his colleague."

Du Man nodded. "I’ll go get your medicine," she said, heading for the pharmacy.

Xu Qing followed closely behind Xu Fei, waiting until he brought the boy into the emergency room.

She grabbed Xu Fei’s arm. "Xu Fei, what’s going on?"

"Oh, I was outside smoking, the boy fainted, his mother couldn’t carry him, so she asked me for help."

"Just helping out?" Xu Qing finally relaxed.

"Who’s the boy’s family?" A nurse stepped out of the emergency room.

The woman hurried forward. "I am."

"Please take this and pay," the nurse handed her a slip.

The woman glanced at it, and her face turned utterly pale.

"What? Twelve hundred?"

She was stunned.

"What’s wrong?" The man walked over, not even looking at the slip, reaching instead for her bag.

Smack!

The woman slapped his face.

"Damn it! You dare hit me?" The man was stunned, then grabbed her hair and punched and kicked her, knocking her to the ground.

"Enough!" Xu Fei couldn’t bear it anymore and stepped in, shoving the man away.

Xu Qing rushed forward to help the woman up. "Ma’am, are you alright?"

Her eye was bruised, her hair a tangled mess from the struggle.

"Zhao Baozhu, you’re not human! The child’s like this and all you care about is your own comfort. Twelve hundred—where are we supposed to find that kind of money?" The woman dropped to the floor in despair.

She broke down in loud sobs.

"Twelve hundred? Even if it were a hundred and twenty, I don’t have it. This damned illness, treating it is pointless," the man said, picking up the bag, extracting a paper packet, and tossing the bag onto the woman before striding towards the hospital exit.

"Bring the money back!" The woman scrambled to her feet, about to chase after him.

But she staggered, and suddenly fainted.

Xu Fei was nearby. Seeing this, he caught her in his arms.

"Hey, are you alright?" He called out several times, but she didn’t respond.

Just then—

"Xu Fei! What are you doing?" Du Man stood behind him, glaring furiously.

Xu Fei turned to look.

"Du Man, quick, come here. This lady fainted, call a doctor!"

Du Man came over, took the woman from Xu Fei’s arms.

"Hey, you—"

Xu Fei was pushed aside, bewildered. Xu Qing tugged at his sleeve, signaling him with her eyes.

Only then did Xu Fei realize Du Man was angry.

He shook his head and hurried to the nurse’s station, calling for help.

Under the doctor’s guidance, they laid the woman on a bed. After a while, she woke up.

"How long have you gone without food?" the doctor asked.

The woman opened her eyes weakly. "Where’s my Maomao?"

Xu Fei glanced at the emergency room. "He’s not out yet."

"My money? Where’s my money?"

"Your husband took it."

Hearing this, the woman squeezed her eyes shut, tears streaming instantly from the corners.

"What will happen to my Maomao?"

Just then—

"Has Zhao Maomao’s payment been made?"

The woman struggled to sit up.

"I—I…"

"Hurry up, surgery is about to start. If you don’t pay, we can’t proceed," the nurse said impatiently, turning back inside.

The woman rushed over, grabbing the nurse’s arm. "Miss, could you please do the surgery first? I’ll pay afterwards, is that alright?"

The nurse’s face hardened. "No money? Why bring him here, then? Are you joking?"

"No, no, I have the money—I’ll get it right away. Can you start the surgery?"

The nurse replied coldly, "We only look at the payment slip. If the fees aren’t paid, the surgery can’t proceed."