Lu Fan’s home was a small courtyard with three small brick houses! The modest gatehouse at the entrance of the courtyard had been converted into a small clinic.
Because the village was too remote and sparsely populated, the small clinic’s business wasn’t good. Therefore, Lu Fan’s father, Lu Changfu, the village’s sole village doctor, had to farm and do manual labor like the other villagers. Six months ago, due to a car accident, he had broken a leg and was now paralyzed in bed.
Lu Fan’s mother, Zhao Rongrong, suffered from rheumatic pain due to years of arduous labor. She couldn’t do much work these days.
“Mom! I’m back!” Lu Fan excitedly entered the house, holding a dark, ring-like object in his hand.
“Xiao Fan! Have you finished the work in the fields? You must be exhausted! Quickly wash your hands, dinner is ready!” Zhao Rongrong looked at her son with a hint of apology.
For a child from a mountain village, getting into university was such a stroke of luck! Alas, her son was unfortunate! He got into university but couldn’t graduate, forcing him to return to farming. The child’s entire life had been ruined by his parents!
“Sigh! Xiao Fan! Your father and mother are incompetent! To make you…” Lu Changfu’s eyes welled up with tears whenever he thought of these matters. He wished he could just die, to avoid being a burden to his son.
“Dad! Mom! You don’t need to be like this! Although I didn’t finish university, I brought back all the university courses. When I have free time, I’ll finish all of them!
Moreover, I’ve already made up my mind. In the future, even if I don’t go to school, I’ll definitely earn a lot of money, cure your illnesses, and let you enjoy your old age!” Lu Fan said while washing his face.
“Good! Good! We all believe our son can definitely make a fortune!”
Zhao Rongrong, wiping away tears, forced a smile and said.
The child was sensible and never complained about giving up his studies. He often comforted the elderly couple, which made them feel even more indebted to their son.
After washing his face, Lu Fan casually picked up the dark little object placed nearby and rinsed it in water. As the mud was washed away, a light green ring appeared in Lu Fan’s hand.
“What a beautiful ring!” Lu Fan’s face lit up with surprise. He put the ring on his finger and looked at it. It was indeed quite nice.
“Lu Fan! Lu Fan! Why are you running so fast? Look, I’m holding a child, do you want to exhaust me!” Suddenly, Taohua, holding Xiao Hu, burst in breathlessly.
“Taohua! You… you need something from Xiao Fan?”
Lu Fan’s parents were stunned. Why would Taohua, a young widow with a child, be looking for Lu Fan?
“Auntie! I want Lu Fan to help me massage my leg. My leg has been cold these past few days, and I can’t sleep.
Xiao Fan is studying medicine at a university, isn’t he! I figured he could definitely treat this!” Taohua said, placing Xiao Hu on the ground.
“Let Xiao Fan treat you?” Zhao Rongrong immediately became displeased.
Xiao Fan was only twenty years old, a young and handsome fellow. Treat you? And massage your leg? How could a widow with a child be so close to her son?
“Taohua! Although Xiao Fan studies medicine, he doesn’t have a medical practice license yet. How about this, let your father-in-law massage your leg? He knows a bit about acupuncture, massage, and manipulation. I guarantee that even if he can’t cure it, he definitely won’t kill you,” Zhao Rongrong said, her eyes darting around.
“Auntie! What you’re saying… I… I definitely can’t let my uncle massage my leg. Besides, Xiao Fan is studying medicine, doesn’t he need an internship phase?
In our Twelve Ravines, this poor mountain village, can you find someone like me who actively offers Xiao Fan an internship opportunity? What more do you want?” Taohua, sensing that Lu Fan’s mother didn’t want Lu Fan to be too close to her, quickly said.
“Sister Taohua! Massaging your leg isn’t impossible. In the city, acupuncture and massage are quite expensive. It costs at least thirty to forty yuan per session.
Considering we’re from the same village, and I don’t have a license, I’ll charge you half price! Fifteen yuan per session, how about it?” Lu Fan’s heart stirred. This might be a good opportunity for him to earn money and get some practice. He immediately said.
“Fifteen?” Taohua gulped. In this poor mountain village, who would be willing to pay fifteen yuan for someone to massage their leg? Fifteen yuan was enough to improve a meal!
Zhao Rongrong was secretly pleased, thinking her son was clever. Once money was mentioned, Taohua would surely back down. It wasn’t easy for this young widow with a child to earn money, so how could she afford to spend so much on a leg massage?
“Alright! Fifteen it is.” Suddenly, Taohua gritted her teeth and said resolutely.
“Sister Taohua! Are you really willing to pay?” Lu Fan asked again, feeling a surge of joy.
“As long as you can fix my leg, I’ll pay. You can’t get medical treatment without paying.”
Taohua said casually, but she reached out and pried a milk candy out of Xiao Hu’s mouth.
“Good son! For your mother’s happiness, you’ll have to eat one day’s milk candy over a week from now!”
“Taohua! What are you muttering about?” Zhao Rongrong suddenly asked from the side.
“Ah! Nothing!” Taohua’s eyes rolled, and she immediately shoved Xiao Hu into Zhao Rongrong’s arms: “Xiao Hu! Go play with Grandma for a while. Mommy will come to pick you up later! Go on, go on! Oh my, Xiao Hu is so good.”
Zhao Rongrong looked at Xiao Hu in her arms, her eyes blinking. How did she become the child’s grandmother?
“Lu Fan! Come on, go massage my leg for me.” Taohua grabbed Lu Fan and walked away.
“Taohua… Taohua! My son hasn’t eaten yet! Sigh!” Zhao Rongrong called out from behind, her heart aching.
…
Inside the small clinic, Taohua was somewhat excited, her face flushed. She lay on the clinic bed, her eyes fixed on the handsome young man in front of her. She deliberately lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing her straight, slender, fair, and delicate thighs.
*Gulp…* Seeing Taohua’s thighs, Lu Fan’s heart suddenly pounded, and he gulped.
Although he was focused on earning money, he was still a twenty-year-old university student. How could he not understand anything?
“Sister Taohua! How about you put your skirt down? I can massage your leg through your skirt,” Lu Fan said, regaining his composure.
“No way! If you wrinkle my skirt, your fifteen yuan won’t be enough. Hmph!” Taohua almost burst into laughter. Lu Fan’s shy appearance was truly adorable.
“Al… alright!” Lu Fan took a deep breath, constantly telling himself: I am a doctor, I am a doctor. I cannot have distracting thoughts, I cannot be distracted.
After repeating it a few times, Lu Fan finally placed his hands on Taohua’s calf.
“Mmm…” Taohua trembled as if she had received an electric shock, immediately closing her eyes. She secretly cursed herself: You useless thing, weren’t you the one flirting with the handsome young man? Weren’t you prepared for a long time? Why are you still nervous?
Lu Fan was even more startled by Taohua’s involuntary moan, almost pulling his hands back.
“Fifteen yuan… fifteen yuan… one click earns one mao… one click earns one mao…” Lu Fan kept muttering, finally relaxing a bit.