"Xiao Zhang, back from the hospital? How's your mom doing? Is it serious?"
In the old housing complex, a woman in her sixties or seventies sat by the flowerbeds cooling off. Seeing her neighbor from the sa unit, she eagerly greeted him.
"Aunt Xu!" Xiao Zhang greeted her with a wry smile. "Just got back from the hospital. My mom, well, the doctor recomnded that it's best to opt for conservative treatnt."
"Ah, there's nothing else to be done about it, your mom's over seventy, and there are too many risks with surgery at her age!"
Aunt Xu sighed and shook her head. They had been neighbors for twenty or thirty years and were very familiar with each other.
The thought of the old lady who had chatted with her just a few days ago, now stricken with a deadly disease like cancer, stirred sympathy as well as a sense of lant.
Xiao Zhang's mother is even two years younger than . She had just seen her grandson off to middle school and should be enjoying her peaceful days, but now—
"The doctor also considered my mom's advanced age and her poor health; that's why he didn't recomnd surgery!" Xiao Zhang's face showed his exhaustion.
The doctor hadn't spelled it out, but the ssage was clear to everyone.
With his mom's condition, they could only go for conservative treatnt.
Surgery?
An old person like her, entering an operating room, there was no guarantee she'd co out alive.
Even if the surgery were successful, other complications couldn't be ruled out.
At most, it could only make a difference of a few more months of life.
Yet, doing nothing and just letting the old lady "Wait to Die" was sothing Xiao Zhang couldn't co to terms with.
It wasn't just about money or filial piety, the main issue was the hurdle he couldn't get over in his heart.
Seeing Xiao Zhang so physically and ntally drained, Aunt Xu felt pity. Suddenly, she thought of sothing, opened her mouth, but then swallowed the words back.
Xiao Zhang noticed Aunt Xu's hesitation and couldn't help but get curious, casually asking, "Aunt Xu, is there sothing you want to tell ? Just go ahead, is it the lights at ho or a clogged drain? I'll fix it for you!"
Xiao Zhang's enthusiastic offer arose not just out of neighborly relations but also due to his profession.
He was a police officer and often helped the community elders look for missing cats and dogs, and do this and that.
Seeing Xiao Zhang's eager-to-help attitude, Aunt Xu finally couldn't hold back and whispered, "Xiao Zhang, if it really cos to it, why don't you take your mom to the He Family's Health Club on East Street?"
At first, Xiao Zhang, seeing Aunt Xu acting all mysterious, thought she was going to recomnd so traditional Chinese doctor.
Ever since his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, relatives and friends had been helping to inquire about reputable hospitals or doctors.
Xiao Zhang had also taken his mother to the Provincial City for consultations, but the conclusions were the sa.
One empathetic doctor added, "Otherwise, why not try traditional Chinese dicine?"
This suggestion was marginally better than just "Waiting to Die"; at the very least, it provided a sliver of comfort for the family mbers.
As soone born in the eighties, Xiao Zhang grew up with antibiotics and various Western dicines. His first thought upon hearing about traditional Chinese dicine was "scam".
Although traditional Chinese dicine had a poor reputation, it was still a legitimate healthcare option.
But this "Health Club" Aunt Xu ntioned, that was just a place that sold health products.
Xiao Zhang would often receive calls from the children of elderly people, complaining about those specialty stores and clubs, having to go there at least once a month to diate disputes.
Although in recent years, Xiao Zhang seldom received calls about the He Family's club, other clubs in the County were places he often visited.
Every ti he went, it turned into a major argunt about whether "health products were a scam," sotis escalating to chaos with the elderly, their children, and the salespeople all involved.
Having witnessed far too many farces, Xiao Zhang developed a physiological repulsion at the re ntion of "health products" or "clubs."
He could never have imagined that while his own mother was suffering from a terminal illness and his family was in complete turmoil, the otherwise reliable Aunt Xu had secretly suggested he take his mother to so health club.
Seriously?
Did she also want to recomnd they purchase so all-curing health products?
Was he, a dignified police officer, expected to hand over money to scamrs?!
This was a joke, right?
Those health clubs or whatever, Xiao Zhang was determined not to go—he wouldn't take his mother there, nor did he want Aunt Xu and others to be duped.
"... Aunt Xu, our station has organized events more than once and repeatedly emphasized to everyone that health products can only maintain health; they cannot cure diseases—"
Xiao Zhang spoke earnestly.
But before he could finish, Aunt Xu waved her hand impatiently, "I know, health products don't cure diseases. I didn't tell you to go to soone else's club. Go find He Hongtu; he will definitely be able to help you!"
Xiao Zhang wanted to say more, but seeing Aunt Xu's stubborn look, he swallowed the words that had co to his lips.
Sigh, working in the community year-round, he dealt with these elderly folks almost every day.
Xiao Zhang knew their stubbornness and obstinance better than anyone.
Not to ntion an outsider like him, even the children of these old people were almost worn out trying to persuade them, but they still trusted those health product scamrs more!
"Oh Zhang, we've been neighbors for two or three decades now, and I have a good relationship with your mom. Do you think I would harm you?"
Seeing Xiao Zhang's expression, Aunt Xu beca agitated, almost guaranteeing with a slap of her chest, "Really, just take your mom to the He Family's club. Zhang, I'm telling you, if it weren't for our good relationship and seeing that you're a decent guy, I... I wouldn't even have suggested it!"
"I know, you young people always think we old folks are muddled, being sweet-talked by scamrs all the ti!"
"... Hmph, we've had more salt than you've eaten rice. Do you think we'd be scamd? If you still want to save your mom, go find He Hongtu. I can't promise a complete cure, but it could at least give your mom another three to five years of life!"
Aunt Xu, growing annoyed in the midst of her words, finally gestured dismissively, "Fine, fine, I won't say any more, so you don't think I'm senile in your heart!"
"No, Aunt Xu, I'm not cursing you. I just think that health products really can't cure diseases, and they're so expensive—"
Xiao Zhang cut himself off mid-sentence.
Because Aunt Xu had already stood up and took her small stool to head ho.
Well!
The old lady was really angry now.
Seeing the old lady's flustered back, Xiao Zhang wasn't annoyed; rather, he beca sowhat curious about this He Hongtu.
Even though there hadn't been any reports regarding the He Family in recent years, He Hongtu and his club were still quite famous in the county.
In their unit's dormitory alone, there were several elderly n and won who were custors of the He Family.
Unlike other salespeople who eagerly acted as godsons and goddaughters, the He Family seed to never visit their custors.
Also, Aunt Xu seed convinced that the He Family's health products could cure diseases.
Was there so misleading by He Hongtu?
If that was the case, then He Hongtu could be suspected of fraud.
"Find so ti, go check out the He Family's club!" Xiao Zhang thought to himself.
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