"Come in, Mr. Wan, let me pour you a drink..."
Chen Qiuyun, having finished her drink, refilled his glass and said with an apologetic smile, "This place is simple, and I don't have much to offer you. I hope you don't mind."
"You're too kind, Sister Chen."
Wan Yunting, holding his glass, waited for her to fill it before placing it back on the table. He then asked curiously, "Sister Chen, where's your man? Is he working outside?"
Chen Qiuyun's expression turned somber at the mention of this topic. While feeding her son, she said, "My husband died in an accident four years ago!"
Wan Yunting's chopsticks, which were about to pick up some food, paused. He looked at her with a stunned expression and put down his chopsticks, quickly apologizing, "I'm sorry, Sister Chen, I didn't know..."
Chen Qiuyun turned back and smiled at him, shaking her head. "It's alright, no need to apologize. Eat your food. This is my first time making crab; see if it suits your taste."
As she spoke, she placed a chili-fried crab into Wan Yunting's bowl. Wan Yunting thanked her with a nod and then asked her son, "What's your child's name?"
Chen Qiuyun turned to the little boy beside her, her eyes filled with doting love. She said, "His name is Liang Youle. My husband named him, hoping he would always be happy. But fate played a cruel trick, and he had a high fever that damaged his brain..."
Wan Yunting put down the crab he was eating and looked at Chen Qiuyun's somber and helpless expression. He said, "Sister Chen, although your son has been delayed for so many years, and his condition is indeed serious, it's not an incurable disease!"
These words made Chen Qiuyun turn back to him, her pretty face unable to contain her excitement. She asked, "Mr. Wan, I heard you are the chairman of the Beijing Chinese Medicine Association. Your medical skills must be better than the experts in the big hospitals. Can you think of a way to cure my son's illness?"
Wan Yunting found the crab a bit spicy, so he took a sip of soup before nodding. "There are ways, but the treatment course will be a bit long!"
Chen Qiuyun couldn't sit still now. She said excitedly, "No matter how long it takes or how much it costs, I want to try. I can't let my son remain foolish forever. Even if you can't make him as normal as other children, as long as you can restore some of his intelligence and make him call me 'Mom,' that would be enough."
Looking at the mother before him with red-rimmed eyes and a hopeful gaze, Wan Yunting knew that Chen Qiuyun had suffered a lot for her son.
Chen Qiuyun gently stroked her son's small head, speaking with pain, "In the past few years, I've spent all my family's savings and taken him to all the major hospitals in Beijing. I've also seen many Chinese medicine practitioners, but not a single doctor or physician could find a way to cure his illness. My husband died in an accident while driving a taxi to support our family. Therefore, I must find a way to cure my son's illness and make him look like a normal child again, no matter what."
Wan Yunting sighed. He could see that Chen Qiuyun had a difficult life. He picked up his wine glass and said, "Don't worry, Sister Chen. I can't guarantee that your son will recover to the intelligence of a normal child, but I am confident that I can help him recover seventy percent."
"Really?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Qiuyun was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly raised her wine glass and clinked it with Wan Yunting's, repeatedly thanking him with excitement, "Thank you, Mr. Wan. I'll toast you again. My son's illness is in your hands."
Wan Yunting shook his head slightly and smiled, "Practicing medicine and treating illnesses is our duty as doctors, Sister Chen. You don't need to be so polite."
"Mmm-hmm."
Chen Qiuyun wiped away her tears and, with excitement, finished the glass of wine. Seeing this, Wan Yunting had no choice but to drink his as well. When she reached for the bottle again, Wan Yunting waved his hand and smiled, "I won't drink anymore, Sister Chen. I have something to do tonight."
"Is that so? Then, Mr. Wan, please eat. This sea fish is very fresh, try some quickly..."
Chen Qiuyun became enthusiastic, continuously placing food into Wan Yunting's bowl and then carefully asking, "So, Mr. Wan, how much money will it cost to cure my son's illness?"
Wan Yunting, while eating, knew what she was worried about. He smiled and said, "Sister Chen, don't worry about this. The main cost for treating your son will be for the Chinese medicine. However, due to the long-term treatment, each dose of Chinese medicine will cost eight hundred yuan. As for how long it will take, it depends on the changes in your son's recovery. Conservatively, it will require three months of continuous treatment!"
Chen Qiuyun raised her eyebrows at this. "Is one dose of medicine a day's worth?"
"Yes."
Wan Yunting nodded and then looked up at Chen Qiuyun. She was frowning, her head lowered as she calculated whether she could afford eight hundred yuan a day for her son's medication.
"Where does Sister Chen work?" Wan Yunting asked.
Chen Qiuyun shook her head and said, "I've been doing odd jobs outside for the past two years to take care of my child, so I haven't earned much money per day."
Wan Yunting's expression faltered. He had considered this issue, which was why he had waived the fees for his acupuncture treatment for her son!
To treat her son's illness, Wan Yunting would need to use the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate to stimulate his brain, which would consume a lot of energy. Furthermore, he would need to treat him six times a month. If he were to charge according to the standard rates for practicing medicine, it would be over a thousand yuan.
"Mr. Wan..."
At that moment, Chen Qiuyun stood up and knelt directly in front of Wan Yunting, her face filled with pleading. "As long as you can cure my son's illness, I am willing to be your servant."
"Sister Chen, what are you doing? Please get up..."
Wan Yunting was startled by her sudden action and quickly stood up to help her up. He said, "In that case, Sister Chen, the cost of the Chinese medicine for your son's illness will be considered a personal loan from me. If the three-month treatment goes smoothly, your son will need over seventy-two thousand yuan for the medicine. We can write an IOU, and you can repay me slowly when you have the money, alright?"
Chen Qiuyun was moved to tears. She couldn't help but tightly grasp Wan Yunting's arm in gratitude. "Mr. Wan, you are truly a good person. Thank you, thank you so much."
"Alright, Sister Chen. Difficulties will pass, and I will definitely cure your son's illness and try my best to restore him to the intelligence of a normal child." Wan Yunting helped her sit back down. Chen Qiuyun nodded, wiping away tears, her emotions very agitated.
Sitting back down, Wan Yunting watched her cry and could only continue to comfort her.
Just then, the door to the room was suddenly kicked open. A man in his fifties, wearing a thick padded coat and smelling of alcohol, barged in. The moment he saw Chen Qiuyun, his face contorted into a lecherous grin, and he lunged forward to embrace her. "Little widow, I've missed you so much. Come let me kiss you..."
"Ah..."
Chen Qiuyun screamed in fright, struggling in the arms of the man reeking of alcohol. "What are you doing? Let go of me..."
Wan Yunting was also taken aback by this sudden turn of events. He immediately stepped forward and grabbed the man's wrist, applying a little force. The man let out a scream, and some of his drunkenness seemed to sober up. He turned to Wan Yunting and yelled angrily, "Who the hell are you? Let go of me..."
Wan Yunting's gaze was cold. He snorted and flung the man away. The man fell onto his backside, knocking over a stool next to him. Chen Qiuyun was in a state of panic and instinctively hid behind Wan Yunting, her hands nervously clinging to his arm. She looked at the man, who was getting back up, with fear in her eyes...
"Damn it..."
The man got up, rubbing his sore backside, and glared at Wan Yunting with fury. He then looked at Chen Qiuyun behind him and cursed, "Chen widow, you're quite the charmer, aren't you? You've even brought a young man home this time. Tsk tsk, seems like you've got some skills!"
"Liu San, what nonsense are you spouting? Mr. Wan is a lifesaver to my son. He's a doctor, and I invited him to dinner at my home to thank him." Chen Qiuyun, hiding behind Wan Yunting, retorted with shame and anger, shouting, "Don't cause a scene in my house. Get out."
"Heh heh, Chen widow, don't pretend to be a saint when you're already a prostitute. Who doesn't know that you've done that to get money for your son's treatment?"
The man named Liu San had a lecherous grin on his face. He seemed to have drunk a lot, emitting a strong smell of alcohol, and his eyes leered at Chen Qiuyun. "Don't you want money? As long as you spend tonight pleasing me, I'll give you two thousand yuan. How about that? That's several times the price of a streetwalker!"
"Liu San, you're shameless, you..."
These words infuriated Chen Qiuyun. Wan Yunting glanced at her. Whether Liu San was speaking in jest or telling the truth, he didn't find it surprising.
After all, given Chen Qiuyun's situation, even if she had done something, it was for her son. Wan Yunting felt he had no right to judge her. He asked, "Sister Chen, who is he?"
Chen Qiuyun glared at Liu San and said, "He lives next door. He drinks every night and has caused trouble at my place several times."
Wan Yunting said, "Should we call the police?"
"Don't call the police." Chen Qiuyun quickly stopped him, shaking her head. "We're all neighbors, and this Liu San is a troublemaker. If the police arrest him, he and his wife will pester me every day. Let's just forget about it..."
"Good for you, Liu San. You're here again for that vixen!"
The moment the words fell, a woman's scolding voice came from outside. It was the same woman Wan Yunting and Chen Qiuyun had encountered when they returned earlier, who lived next door.
She entered furiously, grabbed Liu San by the hair, and dragged him out. Then, the woman turned, gave Chen Qiuyun a venomous and resentful look, spat, and cursed, "Stinking vixen, all you know is how to seduce other people's men. You're a public promiscuous woman. Tomorrow, I'll go to the community and find the landlord. I'll definitely kick you out, you vixen. Hmph."
"Sister Zhang, you can't do this..."
Hearing that Liu San's wife, Sister Zhang, was going to the hutong community, Chen Qiuyun became anxious.
"Shameless vixen, you just wait."
Sister Zhang continued to drag Liu San by the hair, pulling him to the doorway of the neighboring house and throwing him inside. She then turned to Chen Qiuyun, who had followed her out to her own doorway, and said fiercely before slamming her door shut.
Wan Yunting, who was inside, raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at Chen Qiuyun's back from the doorway. He said nothing!
Chen Qiuyun, having reacted, turned around. When she faced Wan Yunting, her expression was complex. She pursed her lips and walked over apologetically, saying, "I'm sorry, Mr. Wan, for making you witness this."
"It's alright, Sister Chen."
Wan Yunting saw that it was already half-past seven, and he had to go to the Chang'an Club at eight o'clock. He said, "It's getting late, I need to go. Sister Chen, I'll take your phone number, and I'll call you tomorrow. Bring your son then, and I'll examine him."
"Okay, Mr. Wan. My number is..."
Chen Qiuyun immediately gave him her mobile number. Wan Yunting noted it down, put away his phone, and smiled, "Then I'll be going now. There's no need to see me out..."
Chen Qiuyun saw him off to the doorway, repeatedly apologizing and thanking him. Wan Yunting waved his hand and walked out of the small courtyard. He felt that Chen Qiuyun and her son had a difficult life, but for some reason, he felt a bit strange!
Wan Yunting couldn't quite explain this feeling. He just felt that Chen Qiuyun's actions and subtle expressions, at that moment, were expressed inappropriately, giving him a very peculiar impression!
After watching Wan Yunting leave the courtyard gate and disappear from sight, Chen Qiuyun's eyes instantly became dim, and her expression returned to her usual cold demeanor. She turned and closed the door...