Just now, he was ready to agree. It was really late, and it seemed that the old man really had no money, otherwise he wouldn't have spent such a whole afternoon with him. He would just pay the little money.
Just as he was about to agree, he was interrupted by his son-in-law.
The old man wanted to continue asking for help. He had noticed that Dr. Tang's attitude had softened. No wonder people in their village said that the doctor in the hospital here was soft-hearted. Some people in their village had seen the doctor several times without spending a penny.
When he came to register today, he got the wrong number. Fortunately, he made a big fuss and the number was transferred to the right one, otherwise he would have lost a lot of money today.
"Doctor Tang, this is your son-in-law. He is indeed a kind-hearted person just like you. Kind-hearted people, please help us." The old man thought that the boy was fair-skinned and had a good temper. Young people are thin-skinned and will definitely be easier to persuade, so he grabbed Chen Xiangnan's hand directly.
Chen Xiangnan smiled and asked him some daily questions more patiently than Tang's father.
Chen Xiangnan: "How old is the old man this year?"
Old man: "57."
Chen Xiangnan: "How many people are there in your family? This is your grandson, right? He looks really smart."
The old man said, "He is my youngest grandson, named Xiaohu. He is 6 years old this year. He is the most noisy one on weekdays. He is the youngest son of my eldest son. I have five sons."
Chen Xiangnan: "Wow, this is really amazing. The old man has a very large family."
The old man became proud and said, "Yes, our family is very lively."
Tang's father didn't know why his lousy son-in-law would ask this old man these questions. It was all nonsense. Wasn't it a waste of time? He looked at his watch. It was already quite late.
"Jiaojiao, you and Xiangnan should go back first. Dad is here and everything will be fine."
Chen Xiangnan shook his head: "Dad, Jiaojiao and I are not in a hurry, you still have to resolve the matter with this old man."
"Old man, you said you had five sons. Did they all give you grandchildren?"
The old man raised his head even higher, "Yes, every one of them can run and jump."
Chen Xiangnan: "Then your harvest must be very good this year, otherwise how could the children be so lively?"
The old man started to talk non-stop, and he gave a thumbs up, "Our village this year... but this!"
Chen Xiangnan clapped his hands. "That's great, old man. Didn't you just say you had no money? It's okay. You can use the food you received as payment for the medicine. Then my dad will buy your food at the supply and marketing cooperative's price. Isn't that enough?"
The old man was stunned: "No, the food..."
Chen Xiangnan: "What's wrong? Is there something difficult? The food we just distributed can't be eaten up so quickly, right?"
The old man didn't want to pay or give food, he just wanted to get it for free. The young man looked friendly, but why did he say something to set people up? "My home is far away, and the trip back and forth will delay my wife's illness."
Chen Xiangnan patted his chest and said, "That's fine. Just tell me where it is and I'll ride my bike there. You just said you came here by oxcart. My bike is faster than an oxcart, so I'll definitely be there soon."
The old man's face darkened, and he suddenly rushed towards Tang's father again, "Doctor Tang, please help us."
Chen Xiangnan pulled the man towards him again, "Old man, you are confused, right? Didn't we just agree that if you use food as compensation, my father will definitely help you. No need to beg him anymore. Even if he doesn't help you, I will help you. You give me the food and I will pay for your medicine. Isn't that a happy ending for everyone?"
"Oh, you see, I was too busy talking. Your medical record must have your address. I'll send someone to get it when the time comes. It's dangerous late at night, winter, and the road is long, but it's okay. My brother has nothing to do all day, and he's tall and strong, so he's not afraid of danger. I just thought the old man looked kind, so I didn't mind the round-trip fare. I just considered it a good deed."
"You might not know this, but sometimes when someone owes money, they ask him to help collect it. He's quite strong."
The old man looked at the sudden change of scoundrel look on Chen Xiangnan's face and his heart skipped a beat. Could this guy... be a gangster?
He swallowed, feeling a little scared. But thinking that this was a legitimate hospital, he thought that he wouldn't dare to attack him, so he became bolder and said, "Don't try to threaten me."
Chen Xiangnan grinned again, "Old man, what's the point of threatening or not? I'm just giving you some advice."
Suddenly, he shouted outside: "Black dog, black dog, come here!"
Both Tang's father and Tang Jiao were confused. Who was Hei Gou?
This was a coincidence. Chen Xiangnan collected goods in the countryside and sold them in the city, so he knew a lot of people. The brother he had just mentioned was actually a fabrication, but as luck would have it, he looked outside and saw a man he had sold goods to several times was seeing a patient in the hospital. He immediately called him over.
Black Dog was inexplicably called in and greeted Chen Xiangnan: "Brother Chen."
Black Dog lived up to his name, being dark and fierce, and standing just a short distance from him, a small mountain. However, his personality was completely different from his appearance. He was shy and introverted, and would stutter after speaking more than a few words.
"Black Dog, do you remember the village I told you about before? This old man is from there. I'm planning to go visit his house."
The black dog stared at the old man for a few seconds, and the old man began to feel frightened.
"That's great. Brother Chen, will you take me there?" His family still needs to buy an old hen for the New Year. If they can go there directly, it might be cheaper. The money saved can be used to buy more melon seeds.
Chen Xiangnan: "That depends on what this old man means."
The two men stared at the old man together, and the old man became even more panicked. This tall, black man looked like he had a life in his hands. He wanted to get something for free in the hospital, not lose his life here.
It was the old man's turn to smile uncomfortably. "That Doctor Tang... fifty cents, right?"
Tang's father nodded.
He hesitated and took out fifty cents from his pocket and put it on the table. "I just remembered that I brought money with me. I'm so sorry."
Chen Xiangnan asked resentfully, "Uncle, didn't we agree to exchange it for grain? I was planning to get some glutinous rice back home."
The black dog's eyes lit up: "And glutinous rice?"
The old man's hands were shaking. He thought this man wouldn't want to go to his house to steal the glutinous rice. No, his family only got a little bit, and they had to save it for their grandson to eat during the New Year.
Are they robbers? They actually planned to rob his house in broad daylight. Is there any law in this?
The old man felt like a farmhand who had been oppressed by the landlord. He wanted to curse but didn't dare. He quietly pulled his grandson to hide behind Doctor Tang and whispered, "Doctor Tang, where can we get the medicine? We...we have to hurry home."
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