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

"Don't move." Chen Ping's eyes were icy.

The man's hands were frozen behind his back, his face was deathly pale, and sweat streamed down his face.

Ma Hu's expression changed completely. He took two steps back and bumped into the table.

He pulled a machete from under the table, its blade gleaming coldly in the light. His hand trembled, but he held the machete high.

"You...you stay away!"

Chen Ping looked at him but didn't move.

Just then, the sound of police sirens came from afar, growing closer and louder.

People in the casino panicked. Some ran towards the door, some towards the window, and some stuffed money into their pockets.

Ma Hu's face turned pale, and the cleaver fell to the ground with a clatter.

The iron gate was kicked open from the outside, and Chief Zhou of Siping Township Police Station rushed in with several police officers, their flashlight beams flailing wildly inside the casino.

"Don't move! Police!"

The casino was in complete chaos; someone tried to run away but was held back.

Someone threw money onto the ceiling, and the money floated everywhere.

Someone squatted on the ground, holding their head, trembling like a leaf.

Ma Hu was pinned to the ground by two police officers, his face pressed against the floor, his gold chain askew, and he was still cursing, "Do you know who I am? Do you know who I'm with?"

Director Zhou walked over, glanced at the machete on the ground, then looked at Chen Ping, and paused, surprised: "Dr. Chen? What are you doing here?"

Chen Ping threw the steel pipe on the ground and clapped his hands: "Come and rescue people."

Director Zhou glanced at the bag of money, then at the thugs lying on the ground, and then at Ma Hu, who was being held down. He shook his head and didn't ask any more questions.

The people in the casino were taken out one by one and put into police cars.

Zhao Dezhu squatted in the corner, clutching the bag of money, trembling all over.

A policeman walked over and pulled him up: "Let's go!"

"Wait a minute." Chen Ping walked over and took the bag of money from Zhao Dezhu's arms.

Zhao Dezhu's face turned pale: "You..."

"This money isn't yours."

After Chen Ping finished speaking, he handed the money to Director Zhou, saying, "Director Zhou, this is the gambling money. What should be handed over should be handed over, and what should be returned should be returned."

Director Zhou took it and nodded.

Zhao Dezhu was led out. As he reached the door, he turned back to look at Chen Ping, his eyes filled with despair.

Chen Ping watched his retreating figure without saying a word.

The casino was empty, but the lights were still on. Cigarette butts, bottles, playing cards, dice, and several pools of blood were scattered on the ground.

Director Zhou walked over and handed Chen Ping a bottle of water: "Dr. Chen, how did you discover this place?"

"It's a long story."

Chen Ping unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and recounted everything that had happened that day.

Director Zhou sighed: "Zhao Dezhu? The one from Sunjiagou?"

"Do you know him?"

"know."

Chief Zhou shook his head. "His wife has called the police several times, but every time we go, the people have already run away. Moreover, this casino is a hit-and-run operation. The casino owner, Ma Hu, has connections in the county, so every time it's all bark and no bite."

"And this time?"

Director Zhou glanced at Chen Ping and smiled: "This time, he's caught red-handed and can't escape. I'll report it to the county bureau as soon as I get back. This Ma Hu lead needs to be shut down."

Chen Ping nodded, then suddenly asked with some doubt, "Director Zhou, how did you get the information?"

"I didn't quite believe what Liu Mazi said when he called the police, but it turns out it was true," Chief Zhou said.

Upon hearing that it was Liu Mazi who called the police, Chen Ping understood. It seemed that after Liu Mazi left, he went to a place with a signal to call the police.

Director Zhou followed Chen Ping out of the duck shed and directed his men to search the surrounding area, fearing that any ducks might have escaped.

It was already dark outside, and the moon had risen, casting shimmering shadows on the trees in the mountains.

The police car lights were still flashing, red and blue, illuminating the entire hilltop.

Several gamblers squatted beside the car, covering their heads, too afraid to move.

Zhao Dezhu was also inside, huddled up like a worm that had been stepped on.

Cui Ying arrived at some point, standing by the roadside. When she saw Chen Ping come out, she ran over, looked him up and down, then glanced at the duck shed behind him, her lips trembling slightly.

"Are you alright?" Cui Ying's voice trembled.

"It's nothing," Chen Ping smiled.

"You scared me to death." Cui Ying's eyes reddened, and she punched him lightly with her fist. "You ran in alone, and I couldn't get through on the phone, I..."

"Alright, alright, it's nothing now." Chen Ping patted her shoulder.

Cui Ying lowered her head and remained silent, her fingers gripping his sleeve tightly, refusing to let go.

Director Zhou walked over, glanced at them, and coughed: "Dr. Chen, we'll head back now. Come to the police station tomorrow to give a statement."

"OK."

One by one, the police cars drove away, their red and blue lights disappearing into the night.

Chen Ping and Cui Ying stood by the roadside, the moonlight shining on them, casting long shadows.

"Let's go back too," Chen Ping said.

"Okay." Cui Ying nodded, and the two of them walked down the mountain one after the other.

Both of them turned on their phone flashlights, otherwise there would have been no streetlights in the mountains, and the road would have been too dark and dangerous.

"How is Sister Sun?" Chen Ping suddenly asked.

"Well, what else can I do? She just brought me here. She saw her husband being taken away by the police, and she felt a little sorry for him..."

Cui Ying sighed.

Chen Ping was speechless after hearing this; he had been driven to suicide.

But now, seeing her husband arrested, she actually feels sorry for him. That's just how country women are—too soft-hearted…

"Hopefully, Zhao Dezhu will learn his lesson this time..." Chen Ping sighed softly.

Chen Ping and Cui Ying didn't return to the health center until midnight.

"Hurry up and wash up, I'll make you some noodles..."

Cui Ying said to Chen Ping.

I haven't eaten anything all day, and I'm both hungry and tired.

"Okay, I'll eat your noodles..." Chen Ping nodded!

It's unclear whether Chen Ping deliberately misspoke or simply slipped his tongue.

The moment those words left his mouth, Chen Ping felt an instant embarrassment, his face turning a deep blush of shame.

"I...I said I'd eat the noodles you made..."

Chen Ping offered an awkward explanation.

Cui Ying simply smiled, without batting an eye; she was now immune to that statement.

"Alright, stop explaining. Eat whatever you want. Hurry up and change your clothes, it'll be ready soon..."

After Cui Ying finished speaking, she went back to her room to cook noodles.

Chen Ping watched Cui Ying's retreating figure, gave a wry smile, and opened the door to go wash up.

I've been feeling damp and uncomfortable all day.

After taking a shower and changing his clothes, Cui Ying's voice came from next door: "Chen Ping, come and eat, the noodles are ready..."

Listening to Cui Ying's words, Chen Ping knew that this girl was definitely saying that on purpose.

What does "it's ready below" mean?

Isn't this just deliberately teasing me?

When Chen Ping arrived at Cui Ying's room, two steaming bowls of noodles were placed on the table, and Cui Ying had changed into her pajamas.

"You eat first, I'm going to take a shower..."

After saying that, Cui Ying took her toiletries and went straight to Chen Ping's room without even asking a question.

Only Chen Ping's room has a bathroom and a shower.