Chapter 84: Only Gratitude Remains

With a sudden thud, before Zhou Ming and Zhou Guoping could react, Wan Fang suddenly knelt before them.

"Auntie Xiao Fang, what are you doing? Please get up, I'm the junior, and I can't bear this!"

Zhou Ming hurriedly went to help her up, and seeing this, Su Han, despite feeling nauseous, also helped Zhou Ming. However, Wan Fang was determined to stay on her knees, and Zhou Ming, not daring to use too much force, was unable to lift her up.

"Master Zhou, Zhou Ming, I really don't know how to thank you. You don't know how it feels to watch Lao Zhang's wound worsen day by day, hearing him groan in pain, and having no one to help. Today, the doctor said Lao Zhang's life would be in danger without treatment. If he passes away, I really won't know what to do!"

Wan Fang cried out to Zhou Ming, her emotions extremely agitated. Zhou Ming understood her feelings well. In his previous life, when his father was hospitalized for a ruptured appendix, he felt the same way. Zhou Ming could empathize deeply.

"Auntie Xiao Fang, please get up first, okay? We're in a hospital, and Uncle Zhang's illness is the most urgent matter right now," Zhou Ming said.

Reminded by Zhou Ming, Wan Fang finally responded, "You're right, Zhou Ming. Lao Zhang's illness needs to be treated."

Wan Fang then stood up and said to Zhou Guoping, "Master Zhou, my Lao Zhang's illness is in your hands."

"Don't worry, Auntie Xiao Fang. Director Huang has already contacted the city's central hospital, and the ambulance should be arriving soon."

As soon as Zhou Ming finished speaking, Director Huang walked in. Zhou Ming quickly asked him how things were going, and Director Huang said that the central hospital was ready, and Zhang Jianjun could be transferred.

Zhou Ming nodded and immediately gave orders, "Director Huang, disinfect and bandage Uncle Zhang's wounds, and prepare the stretcher and accompanying doctors and nurses. Make sure all preparations for the transfer are made as quickly as possible! Director Cai, contact the factory's fleet immediately and send a spacious vehicle to take Uncle Zhang to the central hospital."

Cai Zhongxian and Director Huang immediately agreed. At this moment, although Zhou Ming was only in his twenties, there was an undeniable air of authority about him that they could not resist.

About ten minutes later, everything was ready. Zhang Jianjun was moved onto a stretcher with the help of several doctors and nurses, then lifted onto the vehicle.

The factory fleet sent two vehicles: a van to transport Zhang Jianjun and the accompanying doctors and nurses, and a Crown car for Zhou Ming, Zhou Guoping, and Su Han.

Due to the poor road conditions of that era, the driving speed had to be reduced to ensure Zhang Jianjun wasn't jostled on the way. As a result, it took an hour and a half to reach the central hospital. Fortunately, the central hospital was well-prepared, and as soon as Zhou Ming's group arrived, hospital staff immediately moved Zhang Jianjun into the diagnostic room.

About fifteen minutes later, Chief Physician Chen Zhi walked out. Zhou Ming remembered Chen Zhi; he was not only a senior chief physician at the central hospital but also an assistant to the vice president, responsible for outpatient surgery. When Zhou Guoping was admitted for appendicitis surgery, Chen Zhi had been in charge, so he was someone Zhou Ming could trust.

Chen Zhi approached Zhou Ming and said, "The patient's condition is very serious and requires immediate debridement surgery to remove all necrotic muscle tissue to prevent further infection. Based on the patient's continued muscle spasms, we suspect bacteria have entered the bloodstream, so we'll need to start antibiotic treatment and remove bacterial toxins from the blood. The total cost of treatment is estimated to be around 30,000 yuan."

Hearing this amount, Wan Fang gasped, "30,000 yuan, that's so much!"

Wan Fang looked at Zhou Guoping and Zhou Ming, but before she could say anything, Zhou Ming generously waved his hand, "No problem, Dr. Chen, please arrange the surgery immediately. Use the best medicines and treatment methods; cost is not an issue."

"Alright, I'll arrange it right away," Chen Zhi nodded and then returned to the diagnostic room.

Zhou Ming turned to Wan Fang and said, "Auntie Xiao Fang, please wait here for a moment. Xiao Han and I will go pay the medical fees."

"Thank you, thank you so much!" Wan Fang thanked Zhou Ming and Zhou Guoping, her voice trembling with emotion, reflecting her overwhelming gratitude.

Zhou Ming and Su Han went downstairs to withdraw money from the bank, then returned to the hospital to pay the fees. After getting the receipt, Zhou Ming finally let out a sigh of relief. He saw Su Han tilting her head and looking at him, and couldn't help but ask, "Do you think I'm being overly kind? Spending 30,000 yuan to save someone who isn't even that important to me, and treating them so politely?"

Su Han smiled sweetly, "Not at all! I think what you did was great! The fact that you helped Uncle Zhang and Auntie Xiao Fang when they needed it most shows you're a hero with a strong sense of justice. On the contrary, if you ignored them, then you really would be a cold and heartless capitalist."

"Cold, heartless, unreasonable? That's quite a 'Qiong Yao' style," Zhou Ming joked.

Su Han looked puzzled, "Qiong Yao style?"

"It's nothing, just a phrase referring to overly dramatic characters," Zhou Ming waved it off, "But you're right, Xiao Han. However, do you know another reason why I helped them?"

Su Han shook her head, "I don't."

Zhou Ming sighed, "Xiao Han, you should know that not long ago, my father was hospitalized for appendicitis. If I didn't have money back then, my mother and I might have felt as desperate and helpless as Auntie Xiao Fang. The only difference is that I wouldn't have been so lucky, with another version of myself helping me."

For some reason, Su Han suddenly felt a strange sense of oppression after hearing Zhou Ming's words, making her feel uneasy. She said to Zhou Ming, "Zhou Ming, that's not true. Didn't your father's illness get treated? Didn't Director Dai of the county agricultural bank help you contact the central hospital's ambulance? How could you think that way? Those hypotheticals don't exist!"

Don't they?

Zhou Ming smiled bitterly to himself. In his previous life, this had actually happened. It was a pain he would never forget in both of his lifetimes.

Zhou Ming would always remember how, in his previous life, his mother cried every day at home because of his father's illness, selling everything valuable to pay for it, and going to every relative and friend to borrow money, all while he groaned in pain in the hospital because they couldn't afford anti-inflammatory injections. Every time he recalled these memories, Zhou Ming wanted to kill himself for being so useless back then, unable to help his parents and burdening them when they needed him the most.

Suddenly, Zhou Ming felt a soft touch on his face and turned in surprise to see Su Han gently caressing his cheek.

Su Han gazed at Zhou Ming and said, "Zhou Ming, what's wrong? Your expression just now made my heart ache."

Zhou Ming gently shook his head without saying anything, but Su Han suddenly reached out and hugged him. She whispered to Zhou Ming, "Don't worry, Zhou Ming. I'll never let you worry again. If you want me to be the general manager, I'll manage the factory well for you and handle the restructuring. I'll do everything to improve the factory's performance so that you'll never have to worry again."

Feeling the warmth and softness of Su Han in his arms, Zhou Ming could sense her slender figure, but he had no inappropriate thoughts at that moment.

Zhou Ming patted Su Han's back, "Silly girl, those words should have come from me. I want to do everything I can to ensure that the people I care about and who care about me never have to worry about money, that they can eat well, sleep well, be happy, and healthy, and never be bullied by the factory."

Zhou Ming's words weren't just meant for Su Han; they were a reminder to himself to never forget this goal!

Meanwhile, Su Han was entranced by Zhou Ming's words. Though they were simple wishes, they reflected the responsibility of a man.

After a while, Zhou Ming teased Su Han, "Alright, Xiao Han, you can stop hugging me now. People are starting to look at us."

Su Han suddenly remembered that they were in the hospital lobby, and seeing the people passing by, her beautiful face immediately flushed with a deep blush, looking incredibly alluring.

A nearby man, holding a briefcase and looking like a successful businessman, nearly popped his eyes out at the sight. He cast a resentful glance at Zhou Ming, inwardly cursing Zhou Ming's luck for having such a beautiful woman throw herself into his arms. If it were him, he would be ecstatic.

But Su Han didn't care about any of that. Although she appeared gentle and weak on the outside, seemingly needing a man's protection, she was actually quite stubborn. Once she had chosen her man, she didn't care what others thought.

Zhou Ming could sense Su Han's genuine feelings for him. He gently said to Su Han, "Xiao Han, let's go upstairs. My father and Auntie Xiao Fang are still waiting for our news."

Su Han nodded with a soft "Mm," finally letting go of Zhou Ming's hand. Zhou Ming then took her small hand and led her

 upstairs.

When they arrived, Zhang Jianjun had already been taken into the operating room. Seeing Wan Fang's worried expression, Zhou Ming reassured her, "Auntie Xiao Fang, don't worry. Our central hospital is one of the best in the province. Tetanus and wound infections aren't incurable. With a chief physician personally operating, Uncle Zhang will be fine."

"Yes, he will be fine," Wan Fang then turned to Zhou Guoping, "Master Zhou, my Lao Zhang is so fortunate to have a master like you. And Zhou Ming, you're truly our family's savior. Besides gratitude, I don't know what else to say."

"Then don't say anything, Auntie Xiao Fang. Just pray for Uncle Zhang," Zhou Ming replied.