The carefree life of Yang Shuisheng, the village miracle doctor

Looking at Yang Shuisheng's terrifyingly calm face, and the icy, bone-chilling razor tip pressed against his own, Zhang Fugui's last shred of feigned composure and wishful thinking shattered instantly.

He could clearly feel the pressure from the tip of the knife. If Yang Shuisheng's hand trembled even slightly, or if he misspoke even half a word, his face would probably be in real trouble.

"I...I..."

Zhang Fugui's lips trembled, and cold sweat trickled down his temples, mixing with the soap suds, making him feel itchy and uncomfortable, but he dared not move.

"Brother Yang... I really don't know what you want with me."

His eyes darted around, still trying to make one last effort, his face contorted with a mournful expression and a pleading voice: "Is there some misunderstanding?"

"If there's anything wrong, just tell me, and I'll definitely cooperate."

"I, Zhang Fugui, am just an ordinary worker. I'm timid and can't stand being scared."

He was still unwilling to give up and tried to play dumb to get away with it.

Yang Shuisheng watched his performance quietly, his face expressionless.

After he finished speaking, Yang Shuisheng slowly shook his head, as if to say, "You're not telling the truth."

Then he tightened his grip on the knife slightly.

The sharp pain from the blade piercing the skin made Zhang Fugui's hair stand on end.

He stared wide-eyed in horror at Yang Shuisheng's unwavering gaze, finally realizing that this man wasn't playing dumb at all; he was serious!

"No! Don't scratch! I'll talk, I'll talk!" Zhang Fugui screamed in fright. "It's...it's about Xu Xiuxia, the restaurant owner, those rumors, right?"

"I've heard about it; it's been circulating in town these past few days."

Yang Shuisheng stopped applying pressure, but the tip of the knife remained pressed against his face. He gave a faint "hmm" to signal him to continue.

"But I really didn't spread that."

Zhang Fugui, panting heavily, spoke rapidly: "I swear to God! I heard it from someone else, it's true!"

"Who told you that?" Yang Shuisheng pressed, his voice low but carrying a strong sense of pressure.

"Yes...yes..." Zhang Fugui's eyes flickered, and he stammered, clearly unwilling to reveal the person behind him.

Yang Shuisheng didn't say anything, but he moved the hand holding the razor forward a little bit more.

The icy pressure from the blade's tip intensified.

"It's Aunt Chen! It's Aunt Chen from next door." Zhang Fugui was so frightened that his scalp tingled. He couldn't care less about anything else and blurted out, "It's all her fault! That day, my wife was chatting with her and talking about what happened at the stationery store. She felt aggrieved, and Aunt Chen gave her this idea to spread the word that Xu Xiuxia had found a gigolo and was spending money extravagantly."

"They said it would disgust Xu Xiuxia and give us a chance to vent our anger."

"The rumors mainly started from Aunt Chen! Really, Brother Yang, you have to believe me."

He finally revealed the most crucial name, but immediately tried to distance himself from his wife.

Yang Shuisheng's eyes grew even colder: "And what about your wife? Didn't she get involved?"

"She...she..." Zhang Fugui's forehead veins throbbed. Feeling the pressure from the knife on his face, he dared not hide it any longer and said with a mournful face, "She must have said some things too, after all, the words came from her mouth to tell Aunt Chen, but it was mainly Aunt Chen who spread them."

"She's known throughout town for her silver tongue; she can talk the dead back to life."

"My wife was just upset and complained to the neighbors a bit."

"Alright," Yang Shuisheng interrupted him, straightening up, but still keeping the razor in his hand. "Take me to find that Aunt Chen."

"Also, where is your wife? Let's meet her too."

"Looking for my wife?" Zhang Fugui's face changed, his voice trembling. "Brother Yang, it's one thing to look for Aunt Chen, but what do you want with my wife?"

"She's just a woman, easily frightened, and can't handle being scared."

"Nothing much." Yang Shuisheng's tone was calm, yet carried a chill. "I just want to talk to her and tell her to watch her mouth in the future."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fugui became even more panicked.

He had personally experienced what Yang Shuisheng meant by "chatting." If Yang Shuisheng were to come to his house, given his wife Li Guihua's fiery temper, who knows what might happen if she argued back?

He would rather suffer more himself than let the fire spread to his home.

"No! Brother Yang, you really don't need to ask my wife," Zhang Fugui said urgently, trying to put on a "for your own good" expression. "She's just an ignorant country woman who believes everything she hears."

"It was mainly Aunt Chen who instigated it. Go find Aunt Chen and stop the source, and the rumors will naturally stop."

"Finding my wife won't help, really!"

Yang Shuisheng squinted at him for a few seconds.

While Zhang Fugui's words may seem like an attempt to shirk responsibility, they are not entirely without merit.

Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. Since Aunt Chen, who came up with the idea, is the key to spreading the rumors, it wouldn't hurt to go find her first.

As for Li Guihua, she's a gossipy woman. We can deal with her after we've taught Aunt Chen a lesson.

"Okay, I can postpone going to your wife's place for now."

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "But you must take me to see Aunt Chen now."

"Now?"

Upon hearing that he wasn't going to look for his wife, Zhang Fugui breathed a slight sigh of relief, but his face immediately fell again: "Brother Yang, I'm afraid that won't work."

"I have to rush to work at the factory. I have an important meeting today, and I'll get docked pay if I'm late. How about we wait until tonight? I'll definitely take you there after I get off work tonight."

He wanted to stall for time.

Yang Shuisheng suddenly smiled upon hearing this, a smile that sent chills down Zhang Fugui's spine.

"Oh, you have to go to work?"

Yang Shuisheng slowly removed the razor from Zhang Fugui's face, toying with it in his hand, and said casually, "Alright, work is important, Brother Zhang, you can go now."

Zhang Fugui was stunned, somewhat unable to believe that Yang Shuisheng was so easy to talk to, and a glimmer of hope had just risen in his heart.

But Yang Shuisheng continued, "You go about your business. I'll go to your house and wait there. I can also chat with your wife while I'm at it."

As he spoke, he made a gesture as if to hand the razor to the henchman next to him, and then turned to walk out.

"No! Don't come to my house!"

Zhang Fugui was so frightened he almost jumped off his chair. How could he let this kid go to see his wife alone? Wouldn't that cause a huge uproar?

He quickly grabbed Yang Shuisheng's arm, then quickly let go, saying repeatedly, "I...I won't go to the factory. Fine, I'll take you there right now, right away."

"Aunt Chen must be home right now!"

His sudden change of heart, from arrogance to obsequiousness, made several of Tiger's henchmen nearby want to laugh.

Yang Shuisheng then stopped and looked at him with a half-smile: "Won't this make you late for work?"

"No delay! No delay! Not a moment's delay!" Zhang Fugui shook his head vigorously, forcing a smile. "Work is nothing compared to helping Brother Yang. I'll lead the way right away!"

"Alright, let's go then." Yang Shuisheng was finally satisfied. He casually tossed the sharp razor back to the underling who had been waiting cautiously beside him. "Good job, thanks."

"Brother Yang, you're too kind." The underling hurriedly took the razor, bowing repeatedly, flattered. "It's nothing, it's nothing."

Another younger brother, quick-witted as ever, ran to pull the latch and open the door to the barbershop.

The sunlight and the hustle and bustle of the street flowed in again.

"Thank you for your hard work, brothers."

Yang Shuisheng straightened his clothes and nodded to his underlings: "Take this money and get some breakfast."

As he spoke, he took out ten yuan and casually handed it to the clever younger brother.

"This...this is too much, Brother Yang, you're being too polite." The underling was both surprised and delighted. He declined verbally, but his hands honestly accepted it.

Ten yuan is no small sum for them; it's enough for the brothers to have a good meal.

This Brother Yang is not only capable, but also generous.

"Of course." Yang Shuisheng waved his hand and said no more. His gaze turned to Zhang Fugui, who was still slumped in his chair, his face bearing two bloody marks, clearly shaken. "Brother Zhang, shall we go? Are you waiting for me to invite you?"

"Go! Go! Go right now!" Zhang Fugui snapped to attention, hurriedly tearing off the apron around his neck. Ignoring the burning pain on his face and the lingering soap suds, he quickly got off the chair and walked to the door, bowing and scraping to Yang Shuisheng: "Brother Yang, Aunt Chen's house is in that alley ahead, not far away."

Yang Shuisheng stopped looking at him and walked out of the barbershop.

Zhang Fugui quickly jogged to catch up and led the way.

The sunlight was blinding, and the streets were bustling with people.

The two thin bloodstains on Zhang Fugui's face were particularly noticeable in the sunlight, but he didn't care at all. He only had one thought in his mind: to quickly take the boy to Aunt Chen's house, then push all the blame onto Aunt Chen so that he could get away.

As for what will happen to Aunt Chen, he has no say in it. He is in a precarious situation himself, so how can he care about others?