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

It was nearing noon, the sun was shining brightly, and the leaves of the locust trees in the yard were rustling in the wind.

Chen Ping was coming out of the clinic, wanting to get some fresh air in the yard, when he looked up and saw a black Mercedes SUV turn into the health center gate.

The car body was polished to a gleaming shine, dazzling in the sunlight, completely out of place in this dusty courtyard.

The car door opened.

First to come down was Cui Ying's mother, wearing a beige trench coat, with her hair permed and still wearing those high heels.

Cui Ying's father got out of the driver's seat, wearing a dark jacket. He looked much more energetic than the last time we met. His face was fuller, and his lips were no longer purple. He looked like a completely different person.

Cui Ying's mother spotted Chen Ping immediately, and a smile instantly spread across her face.

She walked up to Chen Ping, looked him up and down, her gaze lingering on the gauze on his forehead. She frowned slightly, but didn't ask anything.

"Dr. Chen, we meet again." Cui Ying's mother extended her hand.

Chen Ping shook hands with her and smiled, "Auntie, you've arrived."

"Coming, coming!" Cui Ying's mother called out to the car, turning around. "Old Cui, unload the things!"

Cui Ying's father took out large and small bags from the trunk, including gift boxes of health products, fruit, and two boxes of milk, piling them all over the ground.

He walked over carrying his things, placed them at the door of the clinic, clapped his hands, looked at Chen Ping, and extended his hand.

"Dr. Chen, thank you."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was very sincere. "I owe you so much for what happened last time. If you hadn't discovered it in time, the consequences of my illness would have been unimaginable."

"I didn't know what you needed, so I just bought you some random things."

Chen Ping grasped his hand and shook his head: "Uncle Cui, don't be so polite. I'm a doctor, it's what I should do."

Cui Ying's mother stood to the side, looking at Chen Ping with a completely different expression than last time.

Last time it was criticism, scrutiny, and condescending observation.

This time it was gratitude, recognition, and a little bit of heartache, probably because of the gauze on his head.

"Dr. Chen, this injury on your head..."

"It's nothing, I just tripped and fell," Chen Ping said with a smile.

Cui Ying's mother glanced at him, but didn't ask any further questions; however, there was something more in her eyes.

Cui Ying came out of the accounting office.

She stood at the door, saw the Mercedes, saw her parents, and her expression immediately turned cold.

She walked over, neither calling her mother nor father, and stood next to Chen Ping, looking at the things on the ground.

"Why are you here?" Cui Ying's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a hint of indifference.

Cui Ying's mother glanced at her, her smile unchanged, but there was a hint of hurt in her eyes.

She walked over, tugged at Cui Ying's sleeve, and lowered her voice: "You didn't reply to my messages or answer my calls. Your dad and I were worried, so we came to check on you."

"I'm fine, no need to look." Cui Ying's tone remained indifferent.

Cui Ying's father stood beside her, looking at his daughter without saying a word, and sighed softly.

He turned to look at Chen Ping, forcing a smile: "Dr. Chen, this child is stubborn; he must have caused you a lot of trouble at the health center, right?"

Chen Ping shook his head: "No, Cui Ying is very hardworking and has helped me a lot."

Cui Ying's mother held Cui Ying's hand, looked her up and down, her eyes a little red: "You've lost weight and gotten darker. Are you eating well here? Are you sleeping well?"

"Okay." Cui Ying's answer was just one word.

Cui Ying's mother sighed, let go of his hand, turned around to look at Chen Ping, and her smile returned: "Dr. Chen, we're treating you to lunch at the best restaurant in town. You can't refuse."

Before Chen Ping could speak, a voice came from behind him.

"President Cui?"

Fang Hai emerged from the backyard at some point and strode towards Cui Ying's father.

Cui Ying's father turned around, looked at Fang Hai, paused for a moment, then recognized him. His expression changed from confusion to surprise: "Section Chief Fang? What are you doing here?"

Fang Hai reached out his hand, and Cui Ying's father grasped it; the two shook it.

Fang Hai had a smile on his face, but his eyes kept darting away, not daring to look at Cui Ying or Chen Ping, only staring at Cui Ying's father.

"General Manager Cui, I've been transferred to Siping Township to oversee the use of special funds for the health center."

Fang Hai's voice was noticeably higher than usual, as if he were trying hard to project a normal tone, "What brings you here?"

Cui Ying's father glanced at Cui Ying, then at Chen Ping, and said with a wry smile, "My daughter works here, so I came to check on her. Also, Dr. Chen diagnosed me with a lung problem last time, and I came here specifically to thank him."

Fang Hai's gaze shifted between Cui Ying and Chen Ping, his smile froze for a few seconds, and then he nodded: "Of course, of course, Dr. Chen's medical skills are indeed superb."

Cui Ying's father turned around, looked at Cui Ying, and waved: "Yingying, come here and call him Uncle Fang."

Cui Ying glanced at Fang Hai, her gaze filled with disgust, disdain, and a sense of "you don't deserve it."

She stood still, her lips pressed tightly together.

Cui Ying's mother tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Say hello."

Cui Ying reluctantly spoke, her voice barely audible, "Uncle Fang."

Fang Hai blushed.

It's not the kind of red that's embarrassing, it's the red of someone who's guilty, the red of someone who's had their secret exposed on the spot.

He lowered his head, hummed in response, and his voice sounded muffled, as if it came from underground.

His hands were in his pockets, his fists clenched, and he was so embarrassed that he got goosebumps.

Cui Ying's father didn't notice Fang Hai's unusual behavior. He patted Fang Hai on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Section Chief Fang, Yingying is at the health center. Please take good care of her."

Fang Hai looked up, his face still flushed, and forced a smile: "Definitely, definitely."

Chen Ping stood to the side, looking at Fang Hai's appearance, his lips twitched, but he didn't say anything.

Cui Ying's mother glanced at her watch, turned around, and called out to everyone, "Don't just stand there, it's lunchtime, let's go have lunch together. Section Chief Fang, come along too."

Fang Hai waved his hand, his voice a little urgent: "No, no, no, sister-in-law, it's my treat today. I already agreed to treat my colleagues at the health center to lunch, and since you and General Manager Cui are here, let's all join in."

Cui Ying's father glanced at Fang Hai, smiled, and said, "Alright, let's go together then. It doesn't matter who pays."

"Okay, I'll call them all out..."

Fang Hai called out Zhao Guosheng and the others.

When Zhao Guosheng and his group saw Cui Ying's parents, they greeted them. They were already acquaintances. Cui Ying worked at the health center, and her parents had visited several times before.

The group headed towards Lao Zhou's restaurant!

Fang Hai walked ahead, his pace faster than usual, as if he were fleeing.

The group walked behind Fang Hai, with Cui Ying and Chen Ping at the very back.

Cui Ying tugged at Chen Ping's sleeve and whispered, "How does he know my dad?"

Chen Ping shook his head: "How would I know? You should ask your dad."