Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

Chen Ping blanched the pork ribs, marinated the fish, washed and chopped the vegetables, turned on the stove, heated the oil, and flipped the spatula in the pan.

The aroma wafting from the kitchen was irresistible; Cui Ying's mother, who was in the living room, couldn't help but glance towards the kitchen several times.

Six dishes and a soup were served.

Braised pork ribs, steamed sea bass, water spinach with garlic, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, cold black fungus salad, Mapo tofu, and a bowl of winter melon and meatball soup.

When Cui Ying's father came home, he changed his shoes, walked to the dining table, glanced at it, didn't say anything, and pulled out a chair to sit down.

He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of pork rib, chewed it, nodded, and then took another piece.

Cui Ying's mother sat opposite him, picked up a piece of fish. The fish was so tender that it would break at the slightest touch of the chopsticks. She carefully picked it up, put it in her mouth, chewed it, and didn't say anything, but then reached for it again with her chopsticks.

Cui Ying sat next to Chen Ping, put a piece of water spinach in his bowl, and then a piece of pork rib in his bowl.

Chen Ping ate some, then she picked up more, and Chen Ping ate some more.

Watching this scene, Cui Ying's father picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and said nothing.

Cui Ying's mother also saw it, lowered her head, and continued eating.

After finishing the meal, Chen Ping was clearing away the dishes when the nanny took over.

He washed his hands and went to the living room. Cui Ying's father had already made tea and was sitting next to the coffee table with a chessboard in front of him.

He arranged the red pieces and pointed to the opposite position.

Will it download?

"I know a little." Chen Ping sat down.

The two began to play chess.

Cui Ying's father plays chess very slowly. He thinks for a long time before each move, and when he places a piece, it's very heavy, with a loud "thud," like hammering a nail.

Chen Ping played quickly but not haphazardly. Every move was calculated, and he was neither greedy nor reckless, but steady and methodical.

In the first game, Chen Ping won by capturing a pawn.

Cui Ying's father glanced at him, said nothing, put the chess pieces back, and started again.

In the second round, Cui Ying's father won, winning a horse.

He put the chess pieces back and glanced at Chen Ping again.

"Again."

In the middle game of the third set, Cui Ying's father's chariot was captured by Chen Ping's horse. He had two choices: protect the chariot but lose momentum, or sacrifice the chariot and launch an attack.

He thought for a long time, tapping his fingers on his knees, and finally picked up the rook, put it aside, and pushed the chessboard away.

"I'm not playing anymore, you win."

Chen Ping smiled, said nothing, and put the chess pieces back into the box.

Cui Ying's mother and Cui Ying were sitting on the sofa watching TV, a Korean drama. The female lead had a terminal illness, and the male lead was crying outside the hospital room.

Cui Ying's mother's eyes reddened as she watched, and she took out a tissue to wipe them. Cui Ying sat next to her, holding a cushion, her eyes fixed on the TV, but her ears were constantly listening to the sounds coming from the chessboard.

When she heard her father say "You won," the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

The Korean drama has ended, but neither the female lead nor the male lead died; it's an open ending.

Cui Ying's mother turned off the TV, stood up, and glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost ten o'clock.

"It's getting late, go to sleep." After she finished speaking, she glanced at Chen Ping, "Chen Ping, don't put your head injury on it when you sleep tonight."

"Thank you, Auntie, I understand."

Cui Ying's mother nodded and went upstairs.

Cui Ying's father also stood up, put away his teacup, and followed behind.

Cui Ying sat on the sofa without moving, and Chen Ping did not move either.

The living room fell silent, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall.

"My mom was much nicer to you today," Cui Ying said.

"Um."

"She told you not to press on your wound; she was just worried about you."

Chen Ping smiled and said, "I know."

Cui Ying stood up, patted the cushion, put it back on the sofa, and turned to walk upstairs.

He took two steps, stopped, and turned around.

"Chen Ping."

"Um?"

"Good night."

"Good night."

Cui Ying went upstairs, her slippers making a pattering sound on the stairs.

Chen Ping sat on the sofa for a while, then stood up, turned off the light, and went upstairs.

The corridor was quiet, with the wall lamps on, casting a dim, yellowish glow.

Chen Ping pushed open the door to his room, went in, and closed it. He changed into his pajamas, lay down, and stared at the ceiling.

The curtains weren't fully drawn, and moonlight shone through the gaps, drawing a thin white line on the floor.

The sound of Cui Ying's footsteps came from the next room, followed by a creaking sound from the bed, and then silence.

Chen Ping closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

But in the middle of the night, a piercing cell phone ring woke Chen Ping up!

Chen Ping jumped out of bed, reached for his phone on the bedside table, and squinted at the screen which was blindingly bright. It read: Zhao Guosheng.

His first thought wasn't "What's going on so late?" but rather "Something's happened at the health center."

He answered the phone, but before he could even speak, the voice on the other end snapped at him.

"Dr. Chen, come to the county hospital right away, immediately!" Zhao Guosheng's voice was urgent and hoarse, as if he had run 800 meters without drinking water.

Chen Ping's heart sank: "Dean Zhao, what's wrong?"

"It's hard to explain over the phone. You'll understand when you get here. Hurry up and take a taxi. I'll reimburse the fare." Zhao Guosheng hung up after saying that, without even leaving a polite word.

Without delay, Chen Ping threw off the covers, got out of bed, and grabbed his pants to put them on.

He moved quickly but not haphazardly, having already thought through his actions while getting dressed.

At the county hospital, in the middle of the night, it was an emergency—either Zhao Guosheng had an accident or a patient had an accident.

He put his phone in his pocket and opened the door.

The motion-activated lights in the corridor came on, casting a dim, yellowish glow. He walked downstairs in his slippers, his footsteps echoing in the empty stairwell.

The door to Cui Ying's room opened.

She was wearing a coat, her hair was loose, and her eyes weren't fully open, but she was already standing in the hallway. "Chen Ping? What's wrong?"

Chen Ping stopped on the stairs and turned around: "Dean Zhao called and asked me to go to the county hospital. It must be something urgent."

Cui Ying was instantly wide awake, her eyes widened, and she turned to go back to her room to change her clothes: "I'll take you."

"Need not."

Chen Ping waved her hand, "It's late at night, it's not safe for a girl like you to drive alone. I'll take a taxi, it'll be more convenient."

Cui Ying stood in the corridor, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back.

She watched him go downstairs, and then followed him down.

The lights in the living room were already on. Cui Ying's mother came out of the master bedroom wearing a bathrobe, her hair clipped back, her face still sleepy, but her eyes were already awake.

She glanced at Chen Ping, then at Cui Ying, and frowned slightly.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"Auntie, there's an emergency at the health center, I need to go to the county hospital." Chen Ping changed his shoes and picked up his canvas bag from the doorway.

Cui Ying's mother stood at the top of the stairs, glanced at him, moved her lips slightly, said "Be careful on the road," and didn't ask any more questions.

Cui Ying's father also came out of the bedroom, wearing pajamas and with messy hair. He stood behind Cui Ying's mother, not saying anything, but nodding.

Chen Ping opened the door, and a cool night breeze blew in. It was almost autumn, and the night breeze was quite chilly.