Fang Yi certainly wouldn’t play tricks; he used a key to open the roll-up door in one go. Although it was a bit rusty, it hadn’t completely deteriorated, sparing Fang Yi from being chased and hit by the woman with a broom again.
The roll-up door was lifted up by Fang Yi, and the woman ca over with her broom. She looked Fang Yi up and down, left and right, making him feel a bit uneasy.
"Auntie..." Fang Yi spoke up as a reminder.
"My surna is Wu. The neighbors all call Auntie Wu. From now on, you can call Auntie Wu too."
Auntie Wu.
Fang Yi thought about it carefully and finally rembered that the old man used to love playing Mahjong. Whenever he had nothing to do, he’d hang out at the Mahjong parlor, often engaging in playful banter with this Auntie Wu.
Fang Yi imdiately replied, "Oh, hello, Auntie Wu. My na is Fang Xiaotian. From now on, you can call Xiaotian. If there’s ever anything you need help with, just let know. I will absolutely be there for you."
Fang Yi has always believed in saying the right things to the right people.
Auntie Wu laughed upon hearing this, and suddenly recalled sothing. "Your surna is also Fang? What’s your relationship with Old Man Fang? Wait a minute, could you be that little troublemaker?"
"No, no, absolutely not!" Fang Yi quickly waved his hand. "What little troublemaker? I’ve never heard of that. To be honest, I’m distantly related to Old Man Fang. It’s a long story, we can chat about it another day, okay?"
Auntie Wu scrutinized Fang Yi’s face but couldn’t discern anything and just gave him a few words of advice before turning around to head back to her Mahjong parlor. She had to attend to those in need of tea and refreshnts. Even with just a few tables, money is money.
After seeing Auntie Wu off, Fang Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Damn, almost got caught.
Fortunately, so much ti has passed, and with Fang Yi not having shaved, unless soone knew him very well, they likely wouldn’t recognize him.
After sending off Auntie Wu, Fang Yi walked into the clinic.
The decor was the sa as before.
However, the dicines in the cabinets were probably no longer usable.
So of the furniture was covered in dust, with a musty sll lingering everywhere, indicating he would be busy today.
Fang Yi put down his travel backpack, rolled up his sleeves, and began tidying up.
...
Pei Xiaoman returned ho, dropped her package heavily on the ground, and then collapsed into a chair, looking utterly exhausted.
"Oh, I’m so tired. Water, water..."
A glass of water was handed over.
Pei Xiaoman imdiately took it and smiled, "Thanks, Dad."
Pei Xiaoman’s father’s na is Pei Mingyuan. He’s in his fifties now, but from his facial features, he must have been quite handso in his youth.
Pei Mingyuan brought over a pair of scissors and started opening the package, while Pei Xiaoman comnted from the side, "Dad, it took quite a bit of effort to bring this back. With this, our dishes will definitely taste better, and all the custors will surely co back."
Pei Mingyuan: "Let’s hope so."
Once the package was opened, it turned out to be a large bag of spices packed in a transparent plastic bag. Pei Mingyuan pinched a bit with his fingers and brought it to his nose to sniff, suddenly frowning.
"Dad, what’s wrong? Is there sothing wrong with the spices?"
"Where did you get these spices from?"
"Wasn’t it from Lin’s Mall? Oh, right, Uncle Lin wasn’t there this ti; it was his son. He’s the one who gave it to ..." As she spoke, Pei Xiaoman suddenly realized, her face instantly turning into outrage.
"Did Uncle Lin’s son cheat ?"
...
Pei Xiaoman looked at Pei Mingyuan, hoping it wasn’t true.
But unfortunately, Pei Mingyuan nodded, looking a bit crestfallen.
Pei Xiaoman felt a surge of guilt and, despite her tiredness, said, "Dad, I... it’s all my fault..." and lowered her head.
Pei Mingyuan stood up, patted Pei Xiaoman on the head, and smiled, "It’s okay, it’s fate; we just have to accept it. Maybe our restaurant closing down was ant to be."
However, Pei Xiaoman clenched her fists, suddenly stood up, and gritted her teeth, "I want to go to Uncle Lin and demand justice!"
But as Pei Xiaoman stood up, Pei Mingyuan reached out, pressed her shoulder, and pushed her back down.
Pei Mingyuan said, "Don’t go. Even if you go, you won’t be able to explain it clearly. The money was given, the items were received. Even if you went back now, they wouldn’t admit it. Moreover, I’ve done business with your Uncle Lin for so long. He wouldn’t cheat . It must be his son who’s blinded by money and sold us these defective spices."
Pei Xiaoman bit her lip and said softly, "But it was more than twenty thousand yuan, taken from mom’s dical expenses." Saying this, a wave of sourness surged in her heart, and Pei Xiaoman couldn’t help wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
Pei Mingyuan sighed softly and didn’t say anything more.
...
Fang Yi spent most of the day cleaning up the clinic.
With just one person, Fang Yi was both willing and not quite able. Getting everything cleaned up quickly was impossible without spending the whole day at it.
Taking a break, Fang Yi sat on a chair, crossed his legs, and lit a cigarette.
Halfway through the cigarette, a chubby kid walked in.
It’s not that Fang Yi wanted to think this way; it’s just that his physique was indeed chubby—plump cheeks and ears, bundled in a down jacket making him look even bulkier, giving a sowhat silly appearance, holding a pack of chips in his left hand, still eating as he ca in.
The chubby kid saw Fang Yi and imdiately lowered his head, seemingly shy, saying, "My...my mom...invited you...for...for dinner."
"Your mom?"
The chubby kid said nothing, turned around, and jogged away, leaving Fang Yi standing there.
Fang Yi’s lips twitched. It’s hard to tell, Auntie Wu must be at least sixty, and this chubby kid’s only about fifteen or sixteen. Seems like Auntie Wu gave birth to him in her forties, a late-in-life mother.
Being invited for a al, Fang Yi didn’t stand on ceremony. He was already hungry; going over for a al wasn’t a big deal. He could always return the favor next ti.
Fang Yi went to the Mahjong parlor, and the players had all left, planning to return and battle after lunch.
"Xiaotian, you’re here. Co in and have a seat; we’re about to eat," Auntie Wu called out.
"Alright, sorry for the trouble, Auntie Wu." Fang Yi entered the house.
There were so dishes on the table, and the chubby kid sat at the table, staring at the fragrant dishes with a silly grin, unable to resist grabbing a piece of fatty at and putting it into his mouth.
Fang Yi didn’t stop him, and Auntie Wu, wearing an apron, ca in, gently tapped the chubby kid’s hand, and said, "No sneaking food!"
The chubby kid looked up at Auntie Wu and gave a silly grin.
The entire scene fell into Fang Yi’s eyes.
Auntie Wu doted on this younger son, so she gave him a chicken drumstick. He was delighted and started munching on it.
Auntie Wu untied her apron and sat down. As soon as she sat, she rembered sothing, grabbed a bottle of high-proof liquor and a cup, and placed them in front of Fang Yi.
"Thanks, Auntie," Fang Yi said.
"No trouble at all. From now on, we’re neighbors. If you’re too lazy to cook, just co over and eat with ," Auntie Wu said with a cheerful heart, making it hard to connect her to the earlier scene of her chasing soone with a broom.
Along with that silly son gnawing on the chicken drumstick.
Every family has its own issues, I suppose.
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