Chapter Twenty: The Deal

"But I have a problem. You have time, but what if I don't?"

"Uh..." Luo Yang froze.

That was true. The treatment didn't just require the patient to have the time; it was crucial that the doctor also had the time available.

"Could you teach your treatment method to someone else?"

!!!

Li Yancheng didn't speak; he just blinked, looking at the young man standing opposite him as if he were looking at an idiot.

In fact, before the words had even finished leaving his mouth, Luo Yang realized he was talking nonsense. The man made his living by his craft, and for all he knew, this was a closely guarded secret—how could he possibly pass it on to others so easily?

Thinking of this, he laughed sheepishly and raised a hand to scratch his scalp in embarrassment.

"Uh... don't mind me, brother. I was just speaking without thinking. How about this? I'll have my unit issue a transfer order to borrow you for a while—it wouldn't take long, just a month."

Luo Yang hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Actually, I know a little bit about what happened to you. I can guarantee that, regardless of whether you can cure me, as long as you put in the effort, I can clear that matter up for you. I promise no one will ever come looking for trouble with you over that again."

Hearing this, Li Yancheng’s heart skipped a beat.

The offer was truly tempting.

Although he was genuinely unaware of the details regarding his predecessor's ex-wife's family, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't have a lapse in judgment and drag him in for questioning again. Being harassed every few days was impossible to endure.

If someone were to really act recklessly and kick him off to the countryside to "receive training," he wouldn't even have a place to cry.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm counting on you to treat me. We’re both men; you should understand how desperate I am to be cured. If you can really fix me, to put it bluntly, you’ll be no different than my savior. I might be careless about some things, but I take my own health very seriously."

Indeed, while Li Yancheng couldn't fully empathize, as a man, he understood that sentiment quite well.

To say nothing else, even the realization from his predecessor's memories that he only lasted three minutes had been depressing enough, let alone the state of "tears flowing in vain" that Luo Yang was suffering from.

Of course, with the physical changes he had experienced since transposing—especially the improvement in his physical fitness and raw strength—he was confident that he was no longer the "one, two, three, and done" type.

He had noticed while bathing that the physical changes brought on by his soul's arrival were still ongoing. During this time, he had seen his muscles gradually taking shape; his pectorals, abdominals, and the muscles in his arms and legs were all starting to show definition.

He was very satisfied with these changes. Just like women care about their figures, men are actually quite conscious of their own. If one can have an eight-pack, no one wants to sport a potbelly.

"You don't need to have me transferred to your unit. Barring any surprises, our medical support activity will conclude in another week to ten days, and we'll be heading back. You can come to the First Hospital to find me then. You can decide the time for the first session. During the day, we'll be at the hospital, but in the evening... I'll give you my address, and you can come to my place."

Hearing Li Yancheng say this, a smile reappeared on Luo Yang's face—a genuine, happy smile, his mouth wide open like a child's.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. You could say this is a mutual arrangement."

Luo Yang nodded, reached his left hand into his trouser pocket, and when he pulled it out, it held a stack of items. He took two slips from the pile and pressed the rest into Li Yancheng's hand.

"I didn't bring anything else with me on this trip, but take these food coupons for now. Consider it a partial payment for the treatment in advance."

Looking at the thick stack of food coupons in his hand, Li Yancheng didn't put on a show of refusal. In his heart, he felt this was what he deserved.

His monthly grain ration was thirty-two pounds. Because he was away on medical support, he had gone to the grain supply store to convert his ration book quota into these coupons. Under normal circumstances at home, he wouldn't bother converting them; he would either eat at his unit or cook for himself at home.

Now, with Luo Yang giving him so many at once, it would be enough to last him quite a while.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

"Please don't. If you didn't take them, I wouldn't be able to rest easy."

People like him feared owing favors more than anything; favor-debts were the hardest to repay.

Conducting this as a normal transaction made things clean and straightforward, leaving no psychological burden for their future interactions.

***

Tucking the food coupons into his pocket, Li Yancheng glanced at the watch on his wrist. It was past seven; the two of them had been standing at the shop entrance for over half an hour.

"It's getting late. Luo Yang, you should head back and get some rest. Just come to our hospital to find me when the time comes."

"Right. See you later, then."

"You bet."

The town government was to the west of the shop, in the opposite direction of the health center. The two parted ways, each heading toward their respective destinations.

Once he turned away, the smile on Luo Yang's face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of gravity, hesitation, and a hint of anxiety.

He didn't know if his choice today was right. Of course, there was still plenty of time to regret it.

But he wanted to try. He hadn't thought much about it that afternoon, but after leaving, he had guessed that the demand for three-hundred-year-old wild ginseng was likely just an excuse—and sure enough, it was.

He decided to keep this matter a secret from his family for now. If the elders at home found out, they would absolutely never agree to it.

With this thought, he exhaled slowly, stopped to light a cigarette, took a drag, and turned to look in the direction Li Yancheng had walked. Seeing that there was no one left in sight, he resumed his walk toward his destination.

He only hoped that Li Yancheng wasn't just blowing hot air.

On second thought, the likelihood of him bluffing was slim. Knowing which unit he worked for, if he were still to lie, he would truly be courting death.

By now, Li Yancheng had already entered the health center. After greeting the gatekeeper, he went to the restroom in the corner of the courtyard to take care of his personal business before returning to the dormitory.

Zhou Guotao was not in the room; he had likely gone to the duty dormitory to listen to the radio. It was Dr. Ma Quanhu's turn for night duty tonight.

Dr. Ma's home was in Chengezhuang Village, not far from town. Because he was on duty, he hadn't gone home. That dormitory had a radio scavenged from somewhere—though it was beat-up and falling apart, it still worked. It was the health center's only form of entertainment and, aside from newspapers, the only channel for keeping in touch with the outside world.