Chapter 26: Acute Abdomen

"No, he must not have that money!"

Hearing this, Fang Zhiyan was the first to object.

"He beat my mother, and he still wants money? In his dreams! That is absolutely impossible!"

Jiang Tao looked up at Fang Zhiyan, and seeing his defiant expression, he couldn't help but smile.

"That's right, Dad. We can't give him that money. He hit my sister; he should be the one paying us!" Jiang Zhao added, nodding in agreement.

After the words were spoken, Jiang Tao sighed softly.

"Paying is a simple matter; the priority is the divorce."

"As long as the marriage holds, Jiang Xu is not a free woman. Once the divorce is finalized, we can take our time finding ways to make trouble for him."

"Fang Jianjun is a bully who fears the strong and targets the weak; he won't dare to do anything."

Jiang Zhao paused, only then realizing the logic behind the suggestion.

He was right. As long as they were not divorced, Jiang Xu remained Fang Jianjun's wife. Carrying that title would always invite trouble. It was better to spend a little money now; after all, Fang Jianjun was greedy and would surely agree. Once the divorce was final, there would be plenty of time and opportunity to deal with him, and at that point, whatever he wanted to do to Jiang Xu would no longer be up to him.

With that, Jiang Zhao nodded, consenting to the plan.

Beside them, a glimmer of joy appeared in Jiang Xu's eyes. If she could successfully divorce, she was confident she could build a better life for her two children. Now that her son was so capable and working at the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Hospital, the future would only get brighter. At this thought, a look of hope ignited in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tao glanced at Fang Zhiyan. He had known for a long time that his grandson was studying medicine, but he hadn't expected him to return after graduation.

"Where do you work as a doctor?" Jiang Tao asked.

"Jiang'an City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine," Fang Zhiyan quickly replied.

His path into medicine was perhaps influenced by his grandfather. In the past, his grandfather had been a renowned "barefoot doctor" in the area. Because of him, people from surrounding villages for miles around knew of his exceptional skills and character. If not for that dedication, how could Jiang Tao have been out on a snowy night to treat a patient, only to accidentally fall?

Now that his grandson had also become a doctor at a TCM hospital, Jiang Tao felt a sense of daze. Was this what they called a legacy?

"You little rascal, I never expected you to become a doctor at the TCM hospital," Jiang Tao mused with emotion.

Beside him, Jiang Xu quickly explained, "Although Zhiyan is at the TCM hospital, he is a doctor in the emergency department, so he practices Western medicine."

As she finished, a look of melancholy crossed Jiang Tao's face.

"Western medicine?"

"Nowadays, whenever people get sick, they seek Western medicine and take Western pills. Who remembers traditional Chinese medicine and herbal remedies anymore?"

"Perhaps one day, TCM will truly be buried in dust."

As a traditional practitioner of old-school Chinese medicine, Jiang Tao had also studied Western medicine. He knew well that in some aspects, Western medicine was incredibly fast-acting. This speed had been squeezing out the status of TCM for years, causing its influence to wane.

However, in Fang Zhiyan's eyes, it was not that way at all. Having returned from a past life, he possessed memories of the future—a time when TCM, after its initial decline, saw a massive, explosive resurgence. In the future, TCM would hold a significant place in people's hearts and even become popular overseas.

"Grandfather, that won't happen!" Fang Zhiyan said.

"TCM and Western medicine are both ways to treat patients. They are like the two legs of a person; neither can do without the other."

Hearing this, a smile reappeared on Jiang Tao’s face.

"You brat, you're lecturing me now."

As he spoke, he stood up and walked to a bookshelf. From the very bottom, he pulled out a book with a red cover: *The Barefoot Doctor's Manual*. He placed it slowly in front of Fang Zhiyan.

"This book was originally intended for ordinary barefoot doctors to use for rural emergencies."

"I mastered this book, which is how I gained a bit of a reputation here in Jiang Village."

"Beyond the basic knowledge, I have recorded some of the illnesses I encountered and the methods I applied to treat them."

"To you, it might not be very useful, but it is, after all, a form of legacy."

Jiang Tao pushed the book forward. "Take it. This book is for you."

Fang Zhiyan looked up in surprise. He knew the book itself was not the most important thing; what mattered was the legacy of the old man, the experience he had accumulated over decades. Although those specific notes might not be of great help to someone with the memories of a future medical professional, the inheritance and the conviction behind it were exactly what Fang Zhiyan needed.

He nodded, took the book with both hands, and held it tightly to his chest.

"Human life is of paramount importance; it is worth a thousand pieces of gold. To save it with a prescription is a virtue that exceeds even that."

"Grandfather, I have always remembered the words you taught me as a child. I have never forgotten them."

Jiang Tao looked up, startled. As he gazed at his grandson's vibrant, youthful face, tears welled up in his eyes.

"Good, very good. As long as you remember, that is enough."

"Whether it is Chinese or Western, whoever can cure the sick and save lives is a good doctor!"

Perhaps due to his guilt over Jiang Xu's suffering, or perhaps due to his affection for his grandson, Jiang Tao was exceptionally happy that day. He insisted they stay for dinner, and afterward, he tried to persuade them to stay the night.

Jiang Xu declined. After all, this was Jiang Zhao's home. If he were unmarried, staying would be fine, but Jiang Zhao had a family now, and it was unnecessary for her to impose. Besides, the place she was renting was quite comfortable. Though small, having her son and daughter by her side made it feel like a home. One day, they would rent a larger place, until they finally had a home of their own.

Jiang Xu refused the offer to stay, but Jiang Tao remained concerned, having his wife, Zheng Xuehua, prepare plenty of items for them to take. When the family of three left, Fang Zhiyan was loaded down with bags.

As they departed, his grandmother held his mother and wept. The whole family was moved to tears. But Fang Zhiyan knew that this would always be his mother's home—always.

He walked cheerfully with his bags, followed Jiang Xu onto the bus, and returned with his younger sister to their rental. By the time they finished putting everything away, it was quite late. Fang Zhiyan washed up and collapsed onto the sofa. So much had happened that day that he was exhausted, falling into a deep, heavy sleep.

The next morning, he felt somewhat recovered and hurried to the hospital.

"Morning."

Seeing Fang Zhiyan arrive, Zhu Zixiao waved with a grin. "Old Fang, good to see you."

The address left Fang Zhiyan confused. *Old Fang?* Didn't he used to call him "Little Fang"? Why the change in title?

"Have you eaten? I brought you some steamed buns. Want to try one?" Zhu Zixiao asked, smiling as he held them out.

Fang Zhiyan looked at him suspiciously and muttered a thank you. But before he could even take a bite, an ambulance pulled into the bay outside.

"Quick, doctor! We have a patient with an acute abdomen!"

Fang Zhiyan's expression changed instantly. He stared fixedly at Zhu Zixiao.

*This guy—damn it, he really is a jinx!*