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

The old man glanced at Chen Ping again, this time looking at him more carefully.

He stood up, patted Chen Ping on the shoulder twice, neither too hard nor too soft, with the kind of approval an elder gives to a younger person.

"Young man, not bad, you have potential."

After he finished speaking, the cadres around him immediately surrounded him again. Some helped him up, some handed him his coat, and some bent down to pick up the file bag that had fallen on the ground.

The old man nodded to Chen Ping and walked out of the township government compound surrounded by the crowd.

Two black cars were parked at the entrance of the courtyard. Someone opened the back door and the old man bent down to get in.

The car door closed, the car slowly started moving, exited the gate, turned onto the main road, merged into the traffic, and soon disappeared from sight.

Zhang Jianmin stood in the middle of the yard, looking in the direction the car had disappeared, and let out a long breath, his forehead covered in sweat.

He wiped his face with his sleeve, turned around and looked at Chen Ping, his expression changing from tense to relaxed.

"Dr. Chen, thank you so much for today." Zhang Jianmin walked over and patted Chen Ping's arm harder than usual. "If something were to happen to our old leader, our township couldn't afford the consequences."

Chen Ping smiled but didn't reply. Instead, he asked curiously, "Who was your former boss?"

Zhang Jianmin opened his mouth, about to speak, when his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, quickly answered the call, walked to the side, whispered a few words, and hung up.

He walked back, glanced at Chen Ping, and hesitated for a second.

"The provincial leaders used to be from Siping Township." Zhang Jianmin didn't say anything more, but waved his hand. "Dr. Chen, you can go back now. I'll definitely be there at ten o'clock tomorrow."

Chen Ping nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

He walked out of the township government compound, the sunlight warming him.

There weren't many people on the street. Sister Zhang from the hair salon wasn't at the door anymore; the shutter door was half-drawn, she was probably taking her lunch break.

When I returned to the health center, the courtyard had changed.

The banner is up, red background with white lettering, taut and straight.

Two rows of pothos plants were placed outside the clinic, their leaves so green and shiny that they looked like they had just been watered.

The weeds in the flower bed were all pulled out, and the holly bushes were trimmed neatly, like a row of elementary school students who had just gotten a haircut.

Wang Tao was hanging up a banner, and Liu Wei was holding the ladder for him from below.

When Wang Tao saw Chen Ping return, he grinned. "Dr. Chen, is everything settled at the township government? Is Secretary Zhang coming tomorrow?"

Chen Ping nodded. "Come on."

"Wang Tao, you don't need to ask. Dr. Chen is a celebrity in Siping Township now. Why wouldn't Secretary Zhang come?"

Liu Wei stood to the side, praising Chen Ping.

"Yes, yes, yes, it was Dr. Chen who saved Secretary Zhang's daughter's life." Wang Tao nodded repeatedly.

Chen Ping smiled, said nothing, and walked towards the backyard.

In the backyard, Cui Ying was cleaning with Zhou Xiaohe when she saw Chen Ping arrive. Cui Ying deliberately wiped away sweat that wasn't actually on her forehead.

Seeing this, Chen Ping smiled and said, "You two rest, I'll clean up."

Cui Ying didn't stand on ceremony and pulled Zhou Xiaohe to sit on the bench in front of the dormitory.

"Sister Cui Ying, Dr. Chen is so good to you. He'll definitely treat you very well after we get married," Zhou Xiaohe said to Cui Ying.

Cui Ying was startled and quickly stepped forward to cover Zhou Xiaohe's mouth, then glanced nervously at Chen Ping.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that Chen Ping didn't seem to hear her, and said, "Xiao He, don't say things like that in front of Dr. Chen. I haven't agreed to marry him yet."

"Oh, you were just chatting with me and you said you had a child with Dr. Chen and wouldn't care about their studies," Zhou Xiaohe said, looking completely bewildered.

"Keep your voice down." Cui Ying glanced at Chen Ping again, then whispered, "That's a secret between us, you mustn't tell anyone."

"I understand." Zhou Xiaohe nodded.

Chen Ping, who was cleaning nearby, had already overheard their conversation and a smile appeared on his lips.

However, a serious look flashed in Chen Ping's eyes after that smile.

He really didn't know if he could give Cui Ying a future, or if he and Cui Ying were really compatible.

After all, he was several years older than Cui Ying, and in his heart, Su Meng's place had not completely disappeared.

Before we knew it, the sun was setting in the west, casting long shadows.

The aroma of stewing meat wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the sizzling sound of scallions being stir-fried in a pan, filling the entire yard.

Aunt Li poked her head out and called out, "Dinner's ready!" Wang Tao was the first to run over, followed by Liu Wei. Li Fang, instead of emptying the basin, simply threw it on the edge of the sink.

Wang Jianguo walked slowly toward the cafeteria, his pace much faster than usual.

Cui Ying led Zhou Xiaohe to wash their hands under the tap in the yard and shake off the water droplets.

"Chen Ping, time to eat. Stop working," Cui Ying called out to Chen Ping.

"Oh." Chen Ping got up and went to the tap to wash his hands.

There was some dirt on Zhou Xiaohe's face, and Cui Ying reached out to wipe it off for her. Zhou Xiaohe smiled.

She smiled several times today, and Chen Ping noticed that each time it seemed more natural than the last.

Looking at Zhou Xiaohe, Chen Ping felt a little scared. If he hadn't run into Zhou Xiaohe, she might already be in a mental hospital.

He couldn't imagine what Zhou Xiaohe would be like in the mental hospital.

Chen Ping pondered as he walked towards the cafeteria. When he was almost at the cafeteria entrance, he suddenly remembered something and then headed towards the ward.

When he arrived at the ward door, he slowed down and peeked inside.

The woman was holding a bowl and feeding her man porridge spoonful by spoonful. The man was leaning against the bed, his mouth open, swallowing slowly, but he swallowed every mouthful.

Chen Ping didn't go in; he just glanced at it to put his mind at ease before turning and walking towards the cafeteria.

In the cafeteria, the large round table was laden with dishes.

Braised pork, stewed chicken, scrambled eggs, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, cucumber salad, seaweed and egg drop soup, and a big bowl of rice.

Aunt Li stood by the stove, her apron covered in oil splatters, her face beaming with smiles.

"There's plenty of food today, everyone eat as much as you like. Tomorrow will be even more delicious," Aunt Li said.

Wang Tao had already sat down, chopsticks in hand, eyes fixed on the pot of braised pork, muttering, "Has Dr. Chen arrived yet? Has he arrived yet?"

Chen Ping walked in, and Wang Tao called out, "Coming!" and stretched out his chopsticks.

Liu Wei patted his hand and said, "Wait for Dean Zhao."

Wang Tao shrank back, but his eyes didn't leave the bowl of meat.

Zhao Guosheng walked in carrying a jar, glanced at the dishes on the table, nodded, and sat down in the main seat.

He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of braised pork, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and said, "Dinner's ready."

The sound of chopsticks immediately rang out, clattering and popping like rain.

Chen Ping picked up a piece of cabbage with his chopsticks and chewed it slowly.

Zhou Xiaohe sat next to Cui Ying, eating little, but a couple more bites than at noon.

Cui Ying picked up a piece of chicken for her, which she ate. Cui Ying then picked up another piece, which she also ate.

Cui Ying glanced at Chen Ping, and Chen Ping nodded.