I hope that things will be better in the future.

"It doesn't matter," Fatty said. "It's just a shame, all that good food on the table and we didn't get any."
Zhang Pa replied, "Let's order some dishes ourselves and fill up a table too."
Fatty muttered gloomily, "They had a seafood feast. What do we have here? A whole table of pickled vegetables?" He paused, then asked, "Aren't you going to check on Guo Gang?"
Zhang Pa answered, "Check on him with what? The honest ones should stay out of trouble." After a moment's thought, he added, "Just look at what Guo Gang wears and drives. Honestly, I'm surprised he came to see me in person."
Fatty scoffed, "Isn't he just a person too? Doesn't he feel pain like the rest of us?"
Zhang Pa said, "Keep up that attitude, stick with it. I have high hopes for you."
Fatty was about to say something when the phone rang. After listening for a moment, he asked, "Where are you?"
Once the address was confirmed, Fatty called for the bill and told Zhang Pa and Turtle, "The Doctor's been beaten up."
Turtle immediately stood up. "Where?"
Zhang Pa sighed. "My life will definitely be ruined by you. I’ve kept count—since I met you, it’s been a fight every three days."
Fatty replied, "You talk nonsense. It's the Doctor who got beaten up. You're not going to beat him, are you?"
After settling the bill, the three went outside and caught a taxi to the hospital.

The Doctor was a nickname; his real name was Qian Cheng, and he truly was a doctor. In all of Xingfuli, this was the only doctor to come out of that place. There’s a saying about growing unsullied from the mud—Qian Cheng was much like that. He grew up surrounded by riffraff, attended the worst primary and middle schools in the city, but with sheer academic merit, made it into one of the city’s top high schools, and then on to Peking University Medical School.

The Doctor had no father, only a mother who raised him with great difficulty. When they were kids, Fatty used to bully him. But once, when some students from another school bullied the Doctor, Fatty was furious. How dare those bastards touch someone from Xingfuli? He chased four of them with a kitchen knife for eight blocks. One ended up in the hospital, the others were so scared they skipped school for days, one transferred, and another moved away.

Because of that incident, Fatty earned yet another disciplinary record in his school days.

Speaking of those childhood days, it’s worth mentioning the legendary feats of Xingfuli. The kids there were split by Zhongjie Street: those from East Xingfuli attended Third Primary School, those from West Xingfuli attended Experimental Primary School. Both schools had one thing in common: at least one noon each week was devoted to reading out disciplinary notices. While other schools played news, music, or praised students, these two schools’ weekly broadcasts were all about announcing punishments.

By the time Fatty was a student, reform had started at the city’s reformatory school, so he missed the most chaotic years. A few years before, the school would collect a handful of troublemakers every term—it was as if the reformatory school and these two primaries were made for each other.

Later, when the reformatory school was closed, kids like Fatty finally had the chance to finish middle school in peace.

Back to the Doctor: because Fatty had once fiercely defended him, the Doctor remembered his kindness for life. Ever since, no one—neither outsiders nor their own classmates—dared lay a finger on the Doctor, except for Fatty himself.

Yet, the Doctor never minded Fatty’s pranks. He considered him one of his own.

Later, the Doctor went to university, graduated, returned to the provincial capital, and with his credentials and the school’s reputation, found a job and a promising future.

But the hospital wasn’t much better than Xingfuli. To really become a respected elite, you needed people skills. For now, Qian Cheng was just getting by, relying on his abilities and with no fear of starving. His medical skills had often helped Fatty, Turtle, and the others, strengthening their friendship.

Now that the Doctor was beaten up, Fatty was upset. When they arrived at the hospital, Qian Cheng was lying on the bed, lost in thought, with a bandage on his head and bruises on his face.

Fatty entered and asked, "What happened?"
Qian Cheng saw them and managed a wry smile. "My mom must have called you. I told her not to, but she wouldn't listen."
"Of course she did. You're her only treasure and a big-shot doctor too, her pride and joy. Take care of yourself," Fatty said. "Where’s Auntie?"
"She went to buy food," Qian Cheng replied. "I'm fine, you guys can go home."
It was a single room. Just as they exchanged a few words, Qian Cheng’s department head came in to ask how he was feeling.
"I’m fine," Qian Cheng replied.
"You've had a rough time," the director said sincerely.
"It’s nothing, really," Qian Cheng insisted.

"Regardless, you need to stay in bed for a few days," the director said, glancing at Fatty and the others.
Qian Cheng hurriedly introduced them. "They’re my friends."
"Good to meet you. Xiao Qian was assaulted by a patient’s family. Please comfort him and take good care of him."
"We understand," Fatty replied.
With three extra visitors, the director made his excuses. "I have things to do. I’ll check on you tomorrow."
"No need," Qian Cheng said, but the director just smiled, nodded at them, and left.

Once he’d gone, Fatty asked, "Medical dispute?"
"Yes. The patient died. It's normal for the family to be upset," Qian Cheng said calmly.
"Was it your patient?" Fatty pressed.
"No. They were causing a scene in the office, shouting and threatening violence. I went over to say a fair word, and this happened," Qian Cheng explained. "It's no big deal. Is there any hospital without disputes? Any doctor who hasn’t been cursed at? It’s normal."
"You’re just too kind," Fatty said. "I can’t figure out how a weird specimen like you grew up in Xingfuli."
"I’m not a freak," Qian Cheng said. "No matter what, I have to stay in the hospital for a few days. As for my mom, please keep an eye on her."
"Does she need you to watch her?" Qian Cheng’s mother entered, carrying a boxed meal. "Take care of yourself and stop worrying about others."
Fatty said, "Auntie, with your energy and spirit, you’re as mighty as a dragon or tiger. He should worry more about himself."

At that moment, a young female doctor came in, plain-looking, carrying a watermelon.
"You’ve bought so much fruit already. Stop buying more," Qian Cheng said.
"Thank you," the young doctor said. "Sorry to have dragged you into this."
"I’ve said it before," Qian Cheng replied. "Go home, I’m fine."
"Still, I have to thank you. Otherwise, I would have been the one beaten," she insisted.

Heels clicked outside, and soon a stunning woman entered. She was strikingly tall—wearing heels seven or eight centimeters high, plus her natural height of over 1.7 meters, she was impossible not to notice.
She strode to the bedside. "Dr. Qian, are you alright?" Without waiting for a reply, she continued, "I heard you were attacked. Who could be so cruel?"
"I’m fine, really. Thank you," Qian Cheng replied.
"No need to be so polite." The woman was dressed elegantly, her long legs dazzling. As she spoke, she took out a stack of cash from her purse. "I didn’t have time to buy anything. Here, get yourself something you need." She placed the money on the bed.
Qian Cheng refused it, and his mother picked up the money and pressed it back into the woman’s hand.
Still trying to give it, the woman was cut off by Qian Cheng. "It’s late, I’d like to rest. Please, all of you, go home."
"Oh," the woman said, a little reluctant. After a pause, she added, "I’ll come see you tomorrow."
"No need. Just take care of your patient. I’m fine," Qian Cheng insisted.
"Alright." The woman finally greeted Qian Cheng’s mother. "You must be Auntie? Hello, I’m Yu Xiaoxiao."
Fatty muttered under his breath, "So tall… and her name is Little?"
After a few more polite words, the woman glanced at Zhang Pa and his friends. She looked past Fatty and Turtle, but when her eyes rested on Zhang Pa, she hesitated, looked him over, and asked, "Have we met?"
Zhang Pa shook his head. "No."
"Impossible! It’s definitely you," the woman insisted. "Not only have I seen you, I’ve heard you speak. It’s you."

Zhang Pa adamantly denied it. "It wasn’t me. I’ve never seen you before."
"Hmph." The woman snorted softly, then said goodbye to Qian Cheng and his mother, and left.
Fatty asked Zhang Pa, "Do you know her?"
"The night before last? Or maybe the night before that? She asked for directions in Xingfuli, and I told her I wasn’t from here and sent her away," Zhang Pa replied. "I didn’t lie. I really am not local."
Fatty laughed. "You’re a real piece of work."
Zhang Pa changed the subject, asking Qian Cheng, "You’re really okay?"
"I’m fine," Qian Cheng said. "The hospital wants to resolve the dispute quickly, so I have to stay here. You should go."
"Alright, we’re off then," Zhang Pa said.
But Fatty, always looking for trouble, asked, "Want us to teach those people a lesson?"
Qian Cheng refused. "Their loved one is gone…"
True enough—someone just lost a family member; going after them would be cruel.
Fatty said, "Well, you get your rest. We’re leaving." After saying goodbye to Qian Cheng’s mother, the three left.

They exited the inpatient unit and paused at the front gate.
There were four or five people there, standing or squatting, keeping watch over a stretched white banner that bore the word "Injustice."
They had noticed these people when they arrived, but paid no mind. Now it was clear—they must be the family members who had assaulted Qian Cheng.
Turtle asked Fatty, "Should we do something?"
Zhang Pa said, "Can you two use your heads? After all this, you still want to fight? I’ll smack you myself! Didn’t you see the hospital isn’t getting involved?"
Fatty thought it over. "Zhang Pa’s right. Let’s go."
So they left, returning to their beloved home in Xingfuli.

At Zhang Pa’s insistence, Fatty paid for them to take the bus back. Fatty complained, "Come on, do we really have to be this frugal?"
"Yes," Zhang Pa replied.
"Then you take the bus; we’ll grab a cab," Turtle said.
"You two really have the nerve," Zhang Pa said, heading for the bus stop. In the end, Turtle and Fatty were too embarrassed and followed him onto the bus.

It wasn’t crowded at this hour. Fatty, bored, looked around. "Think we’ll catch a pickpocket?"
"With your voice, even if there was one, he wouldn't dare try," Zhang Pa retorted.
Turtle added, "What are you two so loud for? Are you performing, telling jokes, or collecting money?"
This was the good thing about having no real direction: you could find simple joy in anything you said or did. Simple joy is still happiness, no matter how shallow.

After more than twenty minutes on the bus—thankfully there was no traffic—they arrived at their stop.
As they walked home, they were surprised to see Long Xiaole’s sports car parked outside Tiger’s Barbecue.