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

Chen Ping thought for a moment, then said, "County Chief Fang, the Siping Township Health Center is currently undergoing renovations, and there's a funding shortfall. Do you think the county could provide some support?"

"How many?"

"Probably...probably a hundred thousand or so?" Chen Ping hesitated.

He didn't know how much to say, fearing that saying too much would put Fang Jianguo in a difficult position and ultimately backfire.

Fang Jianguo paused for a moment, then laughed.

It wasn't a polite laugh, but a genuine one, a relaxed laugh, as if she hadn't expected Chen Ping to make such a "small" request.

He picked up the teacup, took another sip, and put the cup down.

"A few hundred thousand? Are you sure that's all?"

Chen Ping was taken aback, not understanding Fang Jianguo's meaning, wondering if the other party thought it was too much or what.

"County Chief Fang, I think that if the conditions of the township health center are improved, people in the surrounding villages will no longer need to travel to the county for medical treatment. The county hospital will also be less burdened, the people will benefit, and the county can even make it a success. It's a win-win-win situation."

Chen Ping could only desperately explain the benefits of the health center renovation.

Fang Jianguo laughed again, stood up, walked to the window, and stood there for a few seconds without saying a word.

Chen Ping's heart was a little unsettled. He was confused, wondering if he had said something wrong, or if he had asked for too much.

"I'll go back and have a meeting. This shouldn't be a big problem. Is 500,000 enough?" Fang Jianguo turned around and looked at Chen Ping.

Chen Ping was taken aback.

He originally thought that with the county's support of over 100,000 yuan, the renovation of the health center, and the remaining funds, plus the equipment and medicines provided by the county hospital, there would be no problem with normal operation.

As for the operating room and medical mutual aid fund, we'll deal with those later.

Unexpectedly, Fang Jianguo's investment increased fivefold.

"County Chief Fang, isn't 500,000 too much?"

"not much."

Fang Jianguo interrupted him, walked back and sat down, and poured Chen Ping another cup of tea. "The renovation of Siping Township Health Center is not just a matter for your township, but for the whole county."

That area is remote, and it's difficult for ordinary people to see a doctor. The county hospital can't reach them, and the city hospital is even less capable. If you improve your health center, it will solve the medical problems of several surrounding townships. The county should pay for this."

Chen Ping picked up his teacup and drank it in one gulp.

The tea is still the same tea, but the taste is different now. There's something indescribable about it; it's not sweet, it's not bitter, it's heavy.

Fang Jianguo poured him another glass, then poured one for himself, raised it, and clinked glasses with him.

The porcelain cups clinked together, producing a crisp sound that was particularly pleasant in the quiet tea room.

"Dr. Chen, have some tea."

"Thank you, County Chief Fang."

The two of them drank the tea.

Fang Jianguo put down his cup, stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.

Xiao Li was still standing outside the door, holding his phone. When he saw Fang Jianguo come out, he put his phone away.

"Take Dr. Chen back," Fang Jianguo said.

Xiao Li nodded.

Chen Ping followed Xiao Li out of the tea room and across the courtyard.

He walked to the door, stopped, turned around, and saw Fang Jianguo still standing at the tea room door, nodding at him.

When Chen Ping came out of the teahouse, it was already getting dark.

Xiao Li drove him back to the county hospital, and the two of them barely spoke to each other the whole way.

One by one, the streetlights outside the car window lit up, their orange glow flickering on the window.

Chen Ping leaned back in the passenger seat, his mind still replaying the 500,000 yuan Fang Jianguo had mentioned, which made him feel much more at ease.

Upon arriving at the county hospital, Chen Ping went upstairs to pack his things.

He had prepared the canvas bag in advance and placed it on his dormitory bed. He stuffed the charging cable into the side pocket, zipped it up, and slung it over his shoulder.

Before leaving, he glanced at the potted green ivy on the windowsill; its leaves were still wilted. He poured himself a glass of water, watered it, put down the glass, turned off the light, and went out.

Dean Ma had already left work. Chen Ping sent him a text message saying that the child had been discharged from the hospital and he should go back too. He told Zhao Guosheng to make a list of the equipment and medicines later.

Two seconds after I sent it, Dean Ma replied with just four words: "Have a safe trip."

Chen Ping smiled and put his phone in his pocket.

After leaving the hospital, Chen Ping stood by the roadside waiting for a taxi.

The county town was much more lively at night than Siping Township. Cars drove one after another on the road, and the red and green neon lights in the distance reflected on the wet ground, where a water truck had just passed by.

Chen Ping was somewhat moved, noting that whether in the city or the county, whether it was day or night, rainy or sunny, water trucks were always a common sight.

He hailed a taxi, said "to the long-distance bus station," and the driver didn't say anything, turned on the meter, and sped off.

When we arrived at the bus station, the last bus to Tianhai City was leaving in fifteen minutes.

Chen Ping bought a ticket, boarded the train, and found a window seat in the back row.

There weren't many people on the bus, just a few scattered around. In the front row, there was an old man holding a woven bag with several chickens inside. The chickens were flapping and clucking in the bag.

Chen Ping placed the canvas bag on his lap, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes for a while.

The car started moving.

Once we left the county town and got on the highway, the streetlights outside the window became increasingly sparse until finally, there was only darkness.

Only the headlights of cars from the opposite lane flashed past inside the car before going dark again.

Chen Ping took out his phone, found Zhao Guosheng's number, and dialed it.

It rang several times before I answered. The phone was very noisy; someone was shouting "Left! Left!", there were sounds of bricks colliding, and the rumble of a mixer.

"Dean Zhao, are you busy?" Chen Ping didn't expect that Zhao Guosheng was still supervising the construction even though it was dark.

"We have to be busy, the schedule is too tight. The construction team is working in two shifts, day and night!"

Zhao Guosheng's voice carried a hint of weariness, "Dr. Chen, about what I told you, you and...

"Dean Zhao," Chen Ping interrupted him, "the county has allocated 500,000 yuan to us."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

The mixer was still running, the bricks were still clattering, but Zhao Guosheng remained silent.

"What did you say?" Zhao Guosheng's voice changed; it wasn't that he couldn't hear him, but that he couldn't believe it.

"The county allocated 500,000 yuan to us."

Chen Ping repeated himself, deliberately speaking each word slowly, "County Chief Fang said it himself, that the funds will be allocated after just one meeting."

There was silence again on the other end of the phone.

Then the mixer stopped, the bricks stopped touching, and the voices stopped, as if Zhao Guosheng had covered the microphone or taken the phone to a secluded place.

A few seconds later, his voice came through again, much clearer this time, without any noise, but with a slight tremor.

"Dr. Chen, please say it again, I'm afraid I misheard."

"The 500,000 yuan grant was personally agreed upon by County Chief Fang," Chen Ping said with a smile.

Zhao Guosheng fell silent.

Chen Ping could hear his breathing, one deep, heavy breath at a time, as if he were pressing down on something.

After several seconds, Zhao Guosheng spoke, his voice a little hoarse, as if something was blocking his throat.

"Dr. Chen, I..."

"Dean Zhao, don't cry. Why are you crying, you grown man?" Chen Ping could tell that Zhao Guosheng was crying.