I have ten trillion licking dog gold

"Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong..."

Huicheng.

Azure skies and clouds.

Pei Linhan continued knitting hats with undivided attention. In just two days, the atmosphere at home was completely different. Li Wanrong stopped criticizing and instead watched TV leisurely, while Pei Yunxi rested her head on one hand and quietly held the pioneering work of magical realism, "Pedro Páramo," in the other.

How heartwarming.

How harmonious.

Although some people only stayed for one night and left in a hurry, others, though they only came and went, created extraordinary significance.

"despair."

Picking up the remote and pausing the TV, Li Wanrong, hearing the doorbell ring, got up to see what was going on, but Pei Linhan, who was focused on knitting, adjusted his reading glasses and said, "I'll go."

Li Wanrong turned her head to look, and then wisely sat down again. After all, she had learned from the previous experience. Just a few days ago, it was because she lacked sensitivity to life that she was let go. If it weren't for her thick skin, she would have really let him go.

Pei Linhan put down the woolen hat that seemed increasingly likely to come in handy, took off his reading glasses, and got up to walk out of the Western-style building.

"You are... Xiao Wang?"

really.

How could it be the same no matter who comes out?
Outside the courtyard gate, a lean and capable-looking man wore a respectful smile that seemed somewhat incongruous with his appearance.

"Mr. Pei."

He was holding a long scroll in his hands.

"What are you..."

Pei Linhan opened the courtyard gate, his face showing confusion.

"Brother Long asked me to give this gift to Mr. Pei and wish Mr. and Mrs. Pei a happy 30th anniversary."

People with a broad vision are clearly not uncommon.

Yesterday's half-day martial arts competition did not cause any adverse effects.

"Come on, come in and sit down."

Pei Linhan suddenly realized what was happening, and then extended an invitation.

"No..."

As expected, the other party refused.

"Have a glass of water."

Yesterday they said they would come to deliver a gift another day, and today they sent someone to fulfill their promise. They always keep their word, and Pei Linhan is not one to be ignorant of etiquette, so he insisted on inviting them into the house.

"Xiao Wang, a friend of Long Tao, has come to give us a gift."

Upon entering the Western-style building, Pei Linhan introduced the place.

"Madam Pei, Miss Pei."

Xiao Wang greeted everyone respectfully in turn.

"Oh, Long Tao, you're too kind. I can't accept this."

Li Wanrong certainly remembered what the other party had said yesterday, but she did not expect that the other party would not mind what happened yesterday at all. In less than 24 hours, he sent someone to deliver a congratulatory gift and stood up with an elegant smile.

"It's just a small gift to express my gratitude. Brother Long instructed me to accept it."

Since they were being so sincere, it would definitely hurt their feelings if she refused. Li Wanrong glanced at her daughter and, seeing that her daughter didn't say anything, she went along with it and accepted the scroll.

Not surprisingly.

It should contain calligraphy and paintings.

"Then please thank Long Tao on our behalf."

Pei Linhan returned with the water, handed over the teacup, and subconsciously asked, "Why didn't Long Tao come?"

The man called Xiao Wang here took the teacup with both hands. "Brother Long, I have some urgent business to attend to, so I had no choice but to be sent here. I hope Mr. Pei won't take offense."

“We’ve known Long Tao for so many years, Xiao Wang, there’s no need for such formalities.”

Pei Linhan smiled, then casually asked, "What's the urgent matter?"

Xiao Wang picked up his teacup, lowered his head to drink the tea, and remained silent.

Seeing this, Pei Linhan was slightly puzzled. "What's wrong? Is it inconvenient to say?"

"Alright, why ask so many questions?"

Li Wanrong could also see the other party's predicament.

Xiao Wang, having taken a sip of tea, looked up, grinned, and said with a relaxed smile, "No. It's nothing serious. There was a medical accident at the maternal and child health center in Licheng recently, which is why Brother Long couldn't come in person."

Belvedere.

It's right next to Huicheng.

They are sister cities.

Pei Linhan was surprised, "You mean that baby girl who's only a few months old?"

Xiao Wang nodded, "Yes."

A mother and baby, only a few months old, were diagnosed with needing surgery. The parents listened to the doctor and sent their daughter to the operating table. When they met again, it was already too late; they were separated by death.

Because it happened right next door, and the victim was so young, a baby only a few months old, Huicheng knew almost everything about it and was heartbroken.

Who doesn’t have children?

If it were merely a failed surgery, that would be one thing; after all, doctors aren't miracle workers, and all surgeries carry risks. The crux of the problem lies in the fact that during the surgery, the hospital concealed the true situation, repeatedly deceiving and misleading the anxious parents waiting outside the operating room. Despite the child's critical condition, they were told everything was normal, and what was supposed to be a minor surgery in three or four hours was extended to over ten hours. And when the family emerged, the baby girl, whom they cherished dearly, was a bruised and lifeless corpse…

of course.

There is no such thing as 100% empathy in the world, but just a little bit of empathy can make people feel heartbroken.

Simultaneously.

There was also an uncontrollable anger.

Is it an angel in white, or a demon disguised as an angel?!
"That hospital, and Long Tao..."

Upon hearing this, Pei Linhan's expression changed, but he didn't react impulsively.

"Brother Long has no connection with that hospital whatsoever."

"That……"

"After the accident, the baby's parents sought justice everywhere, and Brother Long provided them with some assistance."

"Does Long Tao know that family?"

Li Wanrong couldn't help but interject, knowing that the other party's expression was very tactful.

"do not know."

Pei Linhan and Li Wanrong were all taken aback.

"If you don't know him, why would you..."

"Maybe Brother Long is just a busybody."

Xiao Wang sipped his tea with a slight, bitter smile.

The couple fell silent without saying a word for a long time.

Regardless of who is right or wrong in this tragedy, in principle, it should be reported to the authorities or sued; it shouldn't be someone like Long Tao getting involved.

Ultimately,

Long Tao was just an ordinary resident, just like them.

Is it true that the most righteous are often the lowly butchers?

"It shouldn't be too much trouble, right?"

Pei Linhan asked.

Xiao Wang shook his head, his reply concise yet still meaningful: "Brother Long's troubles aren't too great."

Pei Linhan nodded silently.

"Then I'll go back first."

Xiao Wang took his leave and nodded to Li Wanrong and Pei Yunxi in farewell.

"I send you."

Pei Linhan escorted him to the outside of the courtyard before turning back.

"Long Tao is actually a very upright person."

Li Wanrong sighed.

“They still have a conscience.” Pei Linhan said with a complicated expression.

"But some people, let alone conscience, simply have no humanity."

As she spoke, a look of disgust, bordering on scathing, appeared on Li Wanrong's face, which was lagging behind her age. This was, after all, an elegant woman who paid great attention to her manners.

Pei Linhan sighed and silently sat back down in his previous spot, but he seemed unable to pick up the woolen hat he had put down.

"Everyone makes mistakes, but why don't they even have the courage to admit them? Don't those people have parents or children?"

Li Wanrong plopped down. Old Pei couldn't finish knitting the woolen hat. Did she even want to watch TV?
Although she is old, she is still a mother, and her daughter will be one in the future.

If this happened in my own home...

She didn't even dare to imagine that scene.

"And Long Tao was clearly upholding justice, so how did he get himself into trouble?"

"This society is not as simple as you think," Pei Linhan sighed.

"No matter what society is like, a baby who's only a few months old is innocent, isn't she? I heard that when this child was wheeled out, her little hands were clenched into fists; I can't imagine how much pain she was in..."

Li Wanrong was overwhelmed with emotion and could no longer continue.

Pei Linhan remained silent for a while, then said in a low voice, "Remember this in the future, don't go to this hospital."

"This isn't just a problem with one or two hospitals; the entire system is malfunctioning. All we can see is a hole, but the tree stumps inside are completely rotten."

As she spoke, Li Wanrong looked at her daughter and said, "From now on, we'll go abroad."

Although nothing was said about the future, everyone understood.

Pei Linhan wanted to laugh, but couldn't. "It's not that exaggerated. After all, it's just an isolated case."

"No matter how isolated the case may be, no matter how small the probability, if it happens to you, it's 100% certain."

This was definitely just something said in anger, just an emotional outburst. Li Wanrong herself knew that her family and the victim's family were not in the same social class. In the pyramid structure of society, the higher one's position, the lower the probability of suffering certain misfortunes. But this was precisely what made her feel sad and pity.

The capacity at the top of the pyramid is limited, which means that most people will end up crammed at the bottom.

Pei Yunxi had long since put down that book, Pedro Páramo.

The seminal work of magical realism?
Open your eyes and take a look at the world as it is now, isn't that more intuitive?

"Why don't you call Long Tao later and check on him?"

Li Wanrong composed herself.

"Ah."

Pei Linhan nodded.

Anger, regret, heartache... so what?
They are just ordinary citizens.

But they are, and their daughter doesn't seem to be.

Celebrities are not public officials, but they are public figures. How is that slogan promoted?
As public figures, they should have a sense of social responsibility.

"Is there still no result regarding this accident?"

Not everyone enjoys surfing the internet.

She generally doesn't touch her phone unless absolutely necessary.

"It's not that easy. Long Tao has been implicated too. The best outcome is probably just paying some money to settle the matter."

Li Wanrong shook her head and said.

"Dad, give me my phone to make a call."

"..."

"..."

Look.

Sometimes I don't even know where my phone is.

Pei Linhan seemed to be used to it. He picked up his phone, dialed his daughter's number, and then the phone rang at the bar.

"Mom will go get it for you."

Li Wanrong got up and went to get her daughter's phone back.

Which child isn't the apple of their parents' eye?

Pei Yunxi took the phone, opened the Starry Sky app, but found that she hadn't logged in for a long time and needed to re-verify.

After successful verification, she logged back into her account.

Tsk.

Only a handful of updates.

The most recent video was still a promotion for "That Piece of Blue," which is almost two years ago now.

But look at the number of fans.

8336.8 million.

How do you describe popularity?

This should be the concrete explanation.

The number of private messages is astronomical, even for celebrities; it's practically impossible to open them all.

And although the news was censored, countless people must have gone to her account to verify the passionate kiss at the airport yesterday.

"Duoduo, what are you doing?"

Li Wanrong asked, seemingly realizing something.

"Clockwork Starry Sky".

Upon hearing this, Pei Linhan frowned slightly and involuntarily said, "None of those big stars have spoken up. You're not suited to be the one to stick your neck out, are you?"

The first one to stick his head out.

The choice of words is quite concise.

He both affirmed his daughter's behavior and expressed concern about the potential consequences.

While celebrities certainly have a great influence, although not all of them can reach a staggering 80 million fans, it is not too difficult for top-tier celebrities to reach tens of millions.

That is precisely why we need to be more careful when we speak.

Although the medical malpractice that occurred here is still under investigation, justice will prevail, and so far, no top celebrity has tried to capitalize on the situation.

why?
of course.

They've already reached their peak; they don't need any more buzz.
More importantly, it's the fear of "creating trouble for oneself."

Long Tao is a typical example.

The concept of social responsibility also has its own interpretation.

What exactly is social responsibility, and who gets to decide?

Anyway, it's definitely not up to the celebrities to decide.

and so.

We can't always sing "The courtesan is oblivious to the sorrow of a fallen nation, still singing 'The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard' across the river."

People go through countless hardships and struggles in the entertainment industry to achieve their current status. Is it worth it to throw it all away for a complete stranger?
No one is a saint.

Celebrities are not among them either.

"Yes, Duoduo, don't be impulsive."

Even the indignant Li Wanrong rationally reminded her daughter.

"I'm just a clockwork to the starry sky. Children should be angels who come to save their parents, not hostages who enslave them."

Li Wanrong and Pei Linhan were both stunned.

"Have you figured it out?"

Pei Linhan spoke, his voice low and deep. Looking at his daughter, his eyes showed hesitation, worry, but even more so, pride and joy!

"At worst, I'll just quit acting."

Ah.

Isn't this a double celebration?

Isn't she planning to retire from acting?

If she were to retire from the entertainment industry in this way, without a doubt, her name would be forever etched in history, and she would rewrite the world's stereotypes about the entertainment industry.

Who says actors are heartless?

"Duoduo, Mom supports you!"

Inspired by her words, Li Wanrong clenched her fists and said passionately, "Anyway, Xiao Jiang said he'd take responsibility if you don't have any money. We have to live with our consciences!"

"..."

"..."

Why bring that guy up now?

If I don't become an actor, can't I support myself?

Since my parents have no objections and have expressed their support, I feel even less burdened.

Instead of posting a video, Pei Yunxi simply found a photo in her album—a photo of her when she was a few months old and still in swaddling clothes.

Children of this age don't seem to possess any stunning beauty; they all look pretty much the same.

Ok.

She also added a background music track.

Hemerocallis.

"On the high green mountain"

Daylilies in bloom

Pick one and give it to me.

"A little girl..."

Watching her edit, add photos, add music, and then click send, Pei Linhan slowly exhaled, smiled, a smile that conveyed relief and satisfaction. (End of Chapter)