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

"Alright, that's enough." Chen Ping's voice wasn't loud, but the private room immediately fell silent.

He put down his wine glass, glanced at Liu Wei, and said, "Liu Wei, I know your family situation and your difficulties. Dean Zhao doesn't not want to pay salaries; he genuinely doesn't have the money. You can pressure him, but he won't conjure it up."

Liu Wei lowered his head and remained silent.

Chen Ping then looked at Zhao Guosheng: "Dean Zhao, the salary issue can't be delayed any longer. Liu Wei's child needs tuition, and Li Fang is a temporary worker whose salary is already low. Think of a way, even if it's just to pay a portion first, to solve the most urgent problem."

Zhao Guosheng nodded, his voice hoarse: "I'll think of something, I'll think of something..."

Chen Ping looked at Liu Wei: "Could you give Dean Zhao a little more time?"

Liu Wei was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Dr. Chen, I'll listen to you."

"it is good."

Chen Ping picked up his wine glass. "Then let's not talk about it. This meal is on Dean Zhao's treat. He's being very generous, so let's not waste it. Come on, let's drink."

He downed the glass of wine in one gulp.

Everyone finished their drinks, but the atmosphere was never the same again.

The excitement from just now has deflated like a punctured balloon.

The group ate a few bites of food, each lost in their own thoughts, sat for a while longer, and then dispersed.

There was more than half a plate of braised pork left, and the stewed chicken was almost untouched. When Old Zhou came in to clear the table, he glanced at it and shook his head.

Stepping out of the noodle shop, the sun was shining brightly on the streets of Siping Township.

But none of them had much of a smile on their faces.

Zhao Guosheng stood at the door, looked at the sky, then at his watch, and sighed: "You all drank quite a bit at noon, so don't come to work. Give us half a day off, and we'll go back to work as usual tomorrow."

Li Fang was the first to react: "Really?"

"Really." Zhao Guosheng waved his hand. "Go back and rest."

Wang Tao almost jumped up, but after glancing at Liu Wei's expression, he held back.

Liu Wei didn't say anything, just nodded and turned to walk towards the next village.

Li Fang carried her bag and walked towards the street, but turned back halfway and packed up the leftover braised pork to take with her.

Wang Jianguo pushed his bicycle over to Chen Ping and patted him on the shoulder: "Dr. Chen, thank you so much for today."

"It's nothing," Chen Ping smiled.

Wang Jianguo nodded, got on his bicycle, and rode away.

Only Chen Ping and Cui Ying remained in the courtyard.

"Where are you going this afternoon?" Cui Ying asked.

Chen Ping was taken aback.

He was a complete stranger in this place and had never been anywhere except the health center.

When I get back to the dorm, I just sit there and space out.

"I don't know, I have nowhere to go." Chen Ping shook his head.

Cui Ying glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips: "I'll take you somewhere."

"where?"

"Just follow along."

She turned and walked out, her steps light and quick, her ponytail swaying on her shoulder.

Chen Ping hesitated for a moment, then followed.

The two people left the health center and turned left, not taking the main street, but turning into a side street.

The road was narrow, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. On both sides were farmlands planted with corn, the stalks taller than a person, rustling loudly in the wind.

"Have you been here before?" Cui Ying walked ahead and glanced back at him.

"no."

"When I first came here last year, I was bored and wandering around when I discovered this place. Later, whenever I was in a bad mood, I would come here to sit for a while."

"Where?"

You'll know when you get there.

The two walked for about twenty minutes, passing through a poplar grove, when suddenly the view opened up before them.

It is a reservoir.

It's not big, but it's very quiet.

The water was green, not the dirty kind of green, but a deep, vibrant green, like a piece of jade embedded in a mountain hollow.

The surrounding area is all mountains, and the trees on the mountains are so green they are almost black, which are reflected on the water and turn the water a deep green as well.

A patch of reeds grows beside the reservoir. When the wind blows, the white reed flowers float up, like snowflakes falling.

There were no houses, no boats, and no people.

There was only water, mountains, wind, and a few clouds drifting slowly in the sky.

"How is it?" Cui Ying stood by the reservoir, opened her arms, and took a deep breath.

Chen Ping stood beside her, looking at the water, and it seemed as if some of the chaotic thoughts in his mind had been blown away by the wind.

"It looks good." Chen Ping nodded.

The two people sat down by the reservoir.

The ground was covered with stones and sand, which was a bit rough, but you get used to it after sitting for a while.

Cui Ying took out a pack of tissues from her pocket, pulled out two, and handed one to him.

"Wipe it, it's cool on the stone."

Chen Ping took it and placed it under his buttocks.

The two people sat side by side, looking at the water.

A breeze blows by, carrying the scent of moisture and fresh grass, and feels cool and refreshing.

"Why did you speak up for Dean Zhao at the dinner table just now?" Cui Ying suddenly asked.

Chen Ping thought for a moment and said, "It's not that I'm speaking up for him, it's just that everyone is struggling. Liu Wei's family is indeed in dire straits; they haven't been paid for three months. Anyone would be anxious in that situation. But Dean Zhao isn't deliberately delaying payment; he genuinely doesn't have the money."

Do you think the salary issue can be resolved?

"Yes, there are more and more patients, and income is slowly increasing. As long as we can maintain this momentum, we should be able to pay salaries in another month or two. I'm just worried..." Chen Ping said.

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid the health center won't last until then."

Chen Ping picked up a stone and threw it into the water. With a splash, water rippled outwards in circles. "The pharmacy's medicine is almost gone. We need to restock. If we restock, we won't have money to pay wages. If we pay wages, we won't have money to restock. It's a dead end."

Cui Ying didn't speak, hugged her knees, and looked at the water.

A gust of wind blew, hitting her face with her hair, and she raised her hand to tuck it behind her ear.

"Do you regret coming here? Do you regret coming here?" Cui Ying turned to Chen Ping and asked.

Chen Ping shook his head: "No regrets."

"real?"

"real."

Chen Ping picked up another stone, weighed it in his hand, and said, "When I was at the Municipal People's Hospital, I was in meetings, signing documents, and socializing every day. I was busy, but I felt empty inside. I've only been here for a little over a week. I'm really tired, but I feel at peace."

Cui Ying glanced at him, the corners of her mouth curled up, but she didn't say anything.

The two sat quietly for a while.

The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, shining on the water, making it sparkle like scattered gold.

Birds were calling from the distant mountains. I didn't know what kind of birds they were, but their calls were clear and melodious, one after another, unhurried and gentle.

Chen Ping was staring blankly at the water when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure not far to his left.

He turned his head and saw a woman standing on a rock by the reservoir.

He looked to be in his forties, with messy hair, wrinkled clothes, and wearing slippers.

She stood on the edge of the rock, one step further and the water was just ahead.

Chen Ping's heart clenched suddenly.

"What's wrong?"

Cui Ying followed his gaze and saw the woman as well.

The woman stood there, motionless, like a wooden stake stuck in a stone.

Her face was turned toward the water, so her expression couldn't be seen, but her shoulders were shaking, as if she were crying.