Chapter 15: The Next Stage

After an hour's drive, the ambulance arrived at the city center hospital. Zhou Ming was surprised to see that Dai Zhenjiang was already there, having taken care of all the procedures and fees.

"Director Dai, thank you," Zhou Ming said sincerely, understanding why Dai Zhenjiang had become the Provincial Finance Department Director. He handled things excellently.

Dai Zhenjiang patted Zhou Ming's hand and said, "I just happened to have a relative at the city center hospital. It was a small favor."

Thanks to Dai Zhenjiang's connections, Zhou Guoping was quickly arranged into a special care ward. The city center hospital conducted a comprehensive examination and diagnosed the issue as acute chronic appendicitis. The treatment plan was to perform an appendectomy.

This diagnosis terrified Wang Fengqin: "Shouldn't it have just been ordinary gastroenteritis? Why is it now appendicitis requiring surgery?"

"Mom, this means the factory hospital misdiagnosed it. The city center hospital has advanced medical equipment, so their diagnosis is definitely more accurate than the factory hospital's," Zhou Ming reassured his mother.

"Yes, fortunately you insisted on bringing Dad to the city center hospital for an examination. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable!" Wang Fengqin said with lingering fear.

Indeed, it was unthinkable. Zhou Ming thought to himself, remembering the pain of his father in his previous life, suffering due to lack of money for timely treatment, which led to a perforated appendix, peritonitis, and sepsis. His father suffered for more than half a year, and it was the deepest pain Zhou Ming had ever felt. Now that he had been reborn, he was determined to change everything, starting with his parents' health.

The city center hospital quickly arranged for Zhou Guoping's surgery. Wang Fengqin, Zhou Ming, and Su Han went to a nearby temple to pray for Zhou Guoping's safety. Su Han initially wanted to join them, but thinking of Wang Fengqin's earlier attitude towards her, she decided against it.

"Mom, don't worry. An appendectomy is a minor surgery. Dad will be fine," Zhou Ming comforted his mother.

Wang Fengqin nodded, "Your father is honest and doesn't have any bad habits. The Buddha will bless him."

Zhou Ming understood his mother's feelings. In her view, surgeries involving cutting open the body were very dangerous and frightening. The success of the surgery seemed to depend on the Buddha's blessings. But Zhou Ming knew that an appendectomy was relatively simple among surgical procedures, and even in this era, it wasn't particularly risky. Rather than relying on the Buddha, it was more reliable to have given the chief surgeon a thousand yuan red envelope.

Looking at the time, Zhou Ming said, "Mom, it's been almost an hour. Dad's surgery should be finished by now."

Returning to the city center hospital, Zhou Ming, Wang Fengqin, and Su Han found that Zhou Guoping's surgery was indeed completed and he was back in the special care ward. The chief surgeon and his colleagues were performing a post-surgery examination.

When the chief surgeon saw Zhou Ming, he approached and said, "The surgery was very successful. Mr. Zhou is in good condition, with no complications. He should be fine once the anesthesia wears off."

The doctor's words eased Wang Fengqin's and Su Han's worries, and Zhou Ming also breathed a sigh of relief. His father's life was saved, and he had not wasted his rebirth. Now that his father was stable, he could move on to the next stage of his plan.

…

At noon, Zhou Ming and Su Han booked a private room at a hotel in Linyang City for a meal with Dai Zhenjiang. Zhou Ming and Su Han raised their glasses, and Zhou Ming said, "Director Dai, this time my father's illness was all thanks to your help. I toast to you."

Zhou Ming drank his glass in one go, and Su Han followed suit. Dai Zhenjiang also had a drink and then pretended to be unhappy as he said to Zhou Ming, "You're too polite. This is something I should do as a friend. If you're so polite, it means you don't see me as a friend."

Zhou Ming nodded, "Thanks to the city center hospital, my father's condition is now under control. He only needs to recuperate before he can be discharged."

"I heard you gave a thousand yuan red envelope to the chief surgeon and five hundred to each of the other doctors and nurses? You're really generous!" Dai Zhenjiang said.

"Of course. Money can be earned again, but my father's health must be taken care of. Nothing is more important than my parents' well-being!" Zhou Ming said firmly. "Now that my father's condition is stable, we can move on to the next phase of the treasury bond business."

"The next phase?" Dai Zhenjiang was surprised. "Aren't we still selling in Jiangxia City?"

Zhou Ming shook his head, "The interest rates in Jiangxia City are already decreasing. If we continue selling there, our profits will only decrease, so I need to find another place."

"Where are you planning to go next? Is there a place with higher interest rates than Jiangxia City?" Dai Zhenjiang asked.

"Of course. A classmate working in Binhai City told me that the interest rates there are even higher, by one percent compared to Jiangxia City," Zhou Ming said.

Dai Zhenjiang was astonished, "Even higher than Jiangxia City by one percent?"

Dai Zhenjiang was indeed surprised. The interest rate of one percent eight in Jiangxia City was already quite extraordinary. He hadn't expected Binhai City to offer even higher rates. Although one percent might not seem significant, it translates to an extra thousand yuan in interest on a hundred thousand yuan bond. For a three-year term, it means over three thousand yuan more in interest, and for a five-year term, over five thousand yuan more. This is a considerable amount, enough for a typical family in the county to live comfortably for several years. Even as the county's agricultural bank director, it would take a year or two of strict saving to accumulate five thousand yuan.

"Zhou Ming, is what you're saying true?" Dai Zhenjiang asked excitedly.

"Of course. Would I lie to you, Director Dai?" Zhou Ming said. "So, please urge Dog Ye to gather more treasury bonds quickly. I need to sell them in Binhai City."

Dai Zhenjiang nodded eagerly, "Don't worry about it. I know the situation with Old Dog. At the latest, the day after tomorrow, I will ensure that at least 200,000 yuan worth of treasury bonds will be in your hands."

200,000?

Su Han gasped when she heard this number. Such a large amount of treasury bonds meant over 100,000 yuan in pure profit!

Zhou Ming remained calm and joked with Dai Zhenjiang, "That's double the amount compared to last time. Director Dai, you trust me so much? Aren't you afraid I might abscond with the money?"

"If it were someone else, I would be worried, but after seeing how anxious you were about your father yesterday and your willingness to spare no expense to save him, I can be sure you are an honorable person," Dai Zhenjiang said, then continued, "Also, I believe with your capabilities, Zhou Ming, you probably don't care much about 200,000 yuan. You'll earn more in the future!"

Zhou Ming was surprised. He could tell that Dai Zhenjiang was speaking from the heart, not just flattering him. Indeed, in his future plans, 200,000 yuan was relatively modest.

…

After a week of recovery, Zhou Guoping's wound had fully healed. Zhou Ming, Wang Fengqin, and Su Han came to pick him up from the hospital.

After a full-body check-up, the doctor confirmed there were no issues, and Zhou Ming proceeded with the discharge procedures and took a taxi back to the factory.

In the taxi, Zhou Guoping complained, "You're wasting money again. We could have taken a bus back and saved a lot of money."

Zhou Ming replied, "It doesn't matter. You've already spent so much on hospitalization. A little extra money for the taxi is nothing. The main thing is that you've just recovered, and taking a taxi is better for your health."

"I've already recovered quite a bit. I was fine three or four days after the surgery. It's you who insisted I stay in the hospital for so many extra days," Zhou Guoping said.

"Dad, you had just had your stitches removed. The wound wasn't fully healed. How could you be discharged?" Zhou Ming said.

Wang Fengqin also said, "Old Zhou, stop complaining. Just listen to your son. If Zhou Ming hadn't insisted on bringing you to the city center hospital, you would have been misled by those barefoot doctors at the factory."

"Right, Uncle and Auntie, Zhou Ming really cares about you," Su Han added.

"Su Han, you visit me and Old Zhou every day. Don't you have to work?" Wang Fengqin asked.

"Mom, I told you before, Su Han is now working with me on the treasury bond business," Zhou Ming explained.

Wang Fengqin said "Oh" and dropped the subject. Su Han lowered her head, feeling dejected. She knew Wang Fengqin still didn't accept her and thought of her as a woman with a bad reputation, believing it was unrealistic to become her daughter-in-law.

Back at the factory, Su Han took the initiative to leave. Wang Fengqin and Zhou Ming

 helped Zhou Guoping back home. Once home, Wang Fengqin talked to Zhou Ming, "Zhou Ming, tell me the truth. What is your relationship with that girl from the Su family?"

"It's just a friendship," Zhou Ming answered. "Mom, Su Han is really a good girl, not like what's rumored at the factory. Those are just Huang Zheng's attempts to get back at her."

Wang Fengqin remained unmoved, "Zhou Ming, you're still young and don't understand. Not all beautiful women are good. Sometimes, the more beautiful they are, the more dangerous they can be. Many beautiful women are like venomous snakes, ready to bite you at any moment. They are also vain. Do you know why she's close to you? Maybe she's just after your treasury bond business and sees you as her cash cow."

"Mom, Su Han is really not like that…"

Before Zhou Ming could finish, Wang Fengqin waved her hand and said, "I don't care what kind of person she is, nor do I want to know. But you must keep your distance from her, understand? If you want to get married, there are plenty of good girls at the factory. Remember, you're a university student and will make something of yourself in the future. Not just any girl is worthy of you."

After Wang Fengqin left, Zhou Ming, despite having lived two lives, felt helpless against his mother's views on Su Han.