As Xu Kuo approached, the man also saw him. Their eyes met, and the middle-aged man's face was instantly filled with disbelief and shock!
Wow...so young?!
A storm raged in Yang Zijie's heart!
Yesterday, when Zhang Zhihe mentioned his friend who knew acupuncture, he vaguely remembered that there seemed to be a young man standing behind him, but he was too anxious about his wife's condition to notice.
Upon seeing him now, isn't this the young man from yesterday?!
He was actually the "master" with superb medical skills who could make Zhang Zhi and his wife recover quickly?
This is just too... too unbelievable!
"Excuse me... are you Comrade Xu Kuo?"
Yang Zijie's voice trembled slightly, and his previous doubts and reserve were instantly replaced by great curiosity and respect.
Xu Kuo nodded: "I am Xu Kuo, and you are?"
"Oh my! It really is you!" Yang Zijie excitedly stepped forward, almost grasping Xu Kuo's hand.
"I'm Yang Zijie! I'm from the health clinic in the next town! Brother Zhang Zhihe recommended me here! He said your medical skills are superb, especially your acupuncture, which is incredibly skillful, so he specifically asked me to come and learn from you!"
Xu Kuo suddenly realized that it was the Doctor Yang that Brother Zhang had mentioned yesterday, the "miracle doctor" from the next town.
He smiled warmly and waved his hand, saying, "Dr. Yang, you're too kind! Don't call me a miracle doctor, just call me Xiao Xu or Xu Kuo."
He stepped aside and gestured for us to come in. "Come on in and sit down! I'm only familiar with my family's acupuncture techniques, so there's no question of asking for my advice. Let's exchange ideas!"
As the two exchanged pleasantries, they walked towards Xu Kuo's brick house. Xu Kuo casually asked, "By the way, Doctor Yang, I left in a hurry yesterday and didn't have time to ask in detail. How are Brother Zhang and his wife doing now? Has his trouble... been resolved?"
It would have been better if he hadn't said it. As soon as he did, Yang Zijie's excitement and smile vanished instantly, replaced by deep worry and sympathy.
He sighed heavily, "Oh! Don't even mention it! He... he's having a tough time right now!"
Yang Zijie paused, lowered his voice, and told Xu Kuo in detail about the predicament Zhang Zhihe had encountered yesterday, how Wang Chengxiang had pressed him step by step, how he had framed him, and how he had cut off all his escape routes. He ended by expressing his deep regret.
"That Wang Chengxiang insisted that he was 'disturbing the peace,' leaving Old Zhang with no way out. This morning... he'll probably be forced to take his sick wife and leave for another place! How pitiful!"
"What?!" Xu Kuo stopped abruptly, an uncontrollable surge of anger rising to his head!
His face instantly turned ugly, and his fists clenched involuntarily, his knuckles cracking from the force.
That beast Wang Chengxiang, he actually set his sights on Brother Zhang, all because of that trivial matter?!
A chilling killing intent mixed with overwhelming rage nearly consumed his reason.
Zhang Zhihe's gift of the jade bracelet had been a great help to him, yet now he was suffering such misfortune because of him. How could he possibly bear it?!
"That bastard!" Xu Kuo squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, his eyes instantly turning fierce.
He no longer cared about calling out to Yang Zijie, turned around abruptly, and ran wildly towards the neighboring town!
"Hey! Comrade Xu Kuo! Where are you going?!" Yang Zijie was stunned by this sudden turn of events and instinctively wanted to chase after him.
However, after taking only a few steps, he was horrified to find that Xu Kuo's figure had already turned into a small black dot in the distance, moving at an unbelievable speed!
This...this young man...how can his speed be so fast?!
Yang Zijie stood there, his heart pounding. He could only watch helplessly as Xu Kuo disappeared down the winding mountain road, his heart filled with shock and worry.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring town, at Zhang Zhihe's doorstep.
The sky was already bright, but the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Zhang Zhihe supported his pale-faced, unsteady-stepping wife, carrying a tattered bundle on his back containing all their belongings.
He took one last, wistful look at the home that held half a lifetime of memories, his eyes filled with despair and reluctance.
"Let's go... let's hurry..." he urged his wife in a hoarse voice.
However, they had barely taken two steps out of the courtyard when seven or eight men suddenly emerged from the shadows, led by Wang Chengxiang, who had a sinister smile on his face!
Behind him were several burly security guards, all with unfriendly expressions, who surrounded Zhang Zhihe and his wife.
"Hey, Zhang Zhihe, where are you headed?" Wang Chengxiang crossed his arms, tilted his head, and said with a mocking tone, "Leaving home with a bundle on your back at the crack of dawn, are you planning to... run away?"
Zhang Zhihe's heart sank; his worst fears had come true!
That beast Wang Chengxiang actually set up an ambush here!
His face drained of color instantly. He forced himself to remain calm and spoke, but his voice trembled uncontrollably: "Captain... Captain Wang... I... I wanted to go to town... to try and find someone to lend me some money..."
"Borrow money? Hahahaha!" Wang Chengxiang burst into laughter, his laughter filled with contempt and disdain.
"Zhang Zhihe, Zhang Zhihe, you really think I'm a fool?! I gave you three days yesterday! And you're trying to run away with your family first thing this morning? Do you think I, Wang Chengxiang, am just a nobody?!"
The smile on his face vanished abruptly, replaced by a sinister look. He shouted sharply, "Surround them! Not even a fly will escape!"
The security team immediately stepped forward, tightening the encirclement, and stared menacingly at the trembling Zhang Zhihe and his wife.
Utter despair overwhelmed Zhang Zhihe.
He knew that he was doomed today.
He shoved his wife away abruptly, knelt down in front of Wang Chengxiang with a thud, and kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead instantly turning red.
"I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please, have mercy on us! Money... I'll find a way to get the money! Please... please spare my wife first! She... she really can't take any more suffering! Just let her go, I'll do anything you ask! I'll be your slave!"
"Hmph!" A cruel pleasure flashed in Wang Chengxiang's eyes, but he showed no intention of letting Zhang Zhihe off the hook. Instead, he raised his leather-shoe and kicked Zhang Zhihe hard in the chest!
"Bang!" Zhang Zhihe groaned as he was kicked backward, crashing into his wife.
"Fool! Now you know how to beg for mercy? Too late!" Wang Chengxiang spat, looking down at Zhang Zhihe who was struggling to get up.
"Still trying to fool me? You think I don't know what you're up to? Trying to run away? Wait until I catch that little bastard surnamed Xu, then I'll settle the score with you all!"
He waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies, and shouted, "Beat him! Beat him to death! Let him know what happens when he offends Wang Chengxiang!"
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