After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

Wang, a cadre in the factory, was a secretary. He was so anxious that he almost lost his shoes. He grabbed Gu Qiangying's hand with such force that it was like he was dragging a stubborn donkey.

"Dr. Gu, hurry up! If anything really happens to the old factory director, all those hundreds of workers in our town will be in an uproar!"

"What's the rush? If the King of Hell wants to take you, running yourself ragged won't help. If it's not your time yet, going a little later won't kill you."

Secretary Wang was so speechless that he almost couldn't catch his breath. He wanted to curse but didn't dare, so he could only stare blankly.

Lin Qingqing followed behind, still clutching the cloth bag that Jiang He had shoved back into her hand, which contained more than eighty yuan that she had "scammed" from her parents.

She was a little nervous and had to jog to keep up with the two men.

Jiang He, on the other hand, was quite relaxed, with a blade of grass dangling from his mouth and his hands in his pockets. The group got into the car, drove through the bustling market, and after a few more streets, turned onto a road paved with bluestone slabs.

The environment here is completely different from that dirty and chaotic alleyway we just left.

Tall sycamore trees lined both sides of the road, providing dense shade. At the end stood a two-story villa with red bricks and white walls, and roses planted in the courtyard. It was clearly a place where a wealthy family lived.

Before the group even entered the house after the car stopped, they heard a heart-wrenching cry coming from inside.

"Father! Open your eyes and look! You can't just leave like this!"

Upon hearing the commotion, Secretary Wang turned pale and rushed inside after pushing open the iron gate.

The spacious room was packed with people, and the floor, which was covered with shiny terrazzo, was now covered with mud from being walked on.

In the very center was a carved wooden bed, on which lay an old man who was so thin he was practically skin and bones. His face was purplish-black, and his chest was barely rising and falling.

Several women dressed in red and green gathered around the bed, their makeup ruined from crying.

A man with slicked-back hair was pointing at several people who looked like doctors and cursing loudly.

"A bunch of useless trash! What's the point of keeping you around all this time? You can't even utter a sound when it matters! If my dad dies, you're all fired!"

The doctors kept their heads down, not daring to breathe.

Secretary Wang wiped the sweat from his brow and shouted, "Director Li! Director Li! I've brought him! Doctor Gu is here!"

The man turned around abruptly.

This Li Wei is the old factory director's son, a cadre in the county. He usually looks down on everyone, but now he's so anxious his eyes are red.

He glanced at Gu Qiangying behind Secretary Wang and paused for a moment.

"Old Wang, have you lost your mind?"

Li Wei pointed at Gu Qiangying, spitting as he spoke, "This is the miracle doctor you were talking about? Is this kid even fully grown up yet? I think you just wanted my father to die fast enough, so you hired a charlatan to send him off, right?"

Before Secretary Wang could explain, Gu Qiangying had already walked over with her first-aid kit.

He shook his head, walked to the bedside, and reached out to lift the old factory director's eyelids.

He had always been the one to take care of the old factory director's illness, and this cadre's son had never cared about it before, but now he was so agitated that he was practically dying.

"What are you doing!"

Li Wei strode over and reached out to shove Gu Qiangying, shouting, "Who gave you permission to touch my father? Get out!"

Gu Qiangying dodged to the side with a light and agile movement, and Li Wei missed his target and almost fell on the edge of the bed.

"If you want him to live longer, shut up." Gu Qiangying's voice was icy as she glanced at him indifferently.

Li Wei steadied himself, and his anger flared up instantly.

He was used to being fawned over in the county; he had never been treated like this before.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like that!" Li Wei rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight. "Men! Throw these people out of here! Don't get in my way!"

Several strong and burly subordinates immediately surrounded him.

Secretary Wang was so anxious she stamped her feet, desperately trying to step in between them: "It's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! Director Li, Dr. Gu is truly a miracle doctor. He treated the old factory director's illness before, and last time our factory's female worker had a severe hemorrhage, it was he who brought her back to health with just a few needles!"

Li Wei originally only questioned Gu Qiangying because she was young, and didn't intend to really kick her out. As long as Gu Qiangying said a few nice words, he wouldn't make things difficult for her.

But Gu Qiangying's attitude made him very unhappy.

"Who knows if it's just blind luck!" Li Wei pointed at Gu Qiangying's nose. "Look at him, he doesn't even have a medical license, does he? A barefoot doctor dares to come to my door? And want to treat my dad? Dream on!"

Gu Qiangying stood still, her hand holding the medical kit tightening slightly.

He's arrogant to the core.

Since people don't believe him, he has no interest in trying to win their favor.

"Since you don't believe me, then forget it." Gu Qiangying turned to leave. "It will take more than an hour for the county hospital ambulance to get here. You should start preparing for your funeral now."

"Stop right there! Who are you cursing!" Li Wei persisted, reaching out to grab Gu Qiangying's collar.

Just then, a slender figure suddenly rushed out and stood in front of Gu Qiangying.

"He can cure it!"

The voice trembled slightly, but it was filled with stubbornness.

Lin Qingqing didn't know where she got the courage.

She was most afraid of causing trouble in her life, especially in front of people who seemed powerful and influential.

But when she saw that man pointing his finger at Gu Qiangying and cursing her, she felt uneasy.

Every member of the Qin family protected her. She was a coward, and she could endure being wronged, but she couldn't let those who protected her feel disheartened.

Just now at the Lin family home, this man lowered himself to deal with those scoundrels in order to help her get revenge.

If she doesn't stand up now that she's been humiliated like this, is she even human?

Li Wei was startled by the woman who suddenly appeared, but when he saw Lin Qingqing's face, his hand froze in mid-air.

Lin Qingqing took a deep breath, suppressing her fear, and looked directly at Li Wei: "Dr. Gu is a very skilled doctor. No matter who in our village gets sick, he can cure them all. You... you can't look down on someone just because he's young."

She spoke haltingly, her face flushed red, and her hands clenched into fists.

But they did not back down.

The room fell silent for a moment.

All eyes were on the woman who had suddenly rushed out.

Her hair was simply tied back, and although her attire was unfashionable, her face was exceptionally beautiful. Her skin was as white as a freshly peeled egg, and her peach blossom eyes were filled with tears, making her look both pitiful and endearing.

Gu Qiangying looked at the thin figure blocking her way, her eyes behind her glasses narrowing slightly.

This was the first time a woman had stood in front of him.