Li Feng's hometown was a place of clear waters and beautiful mountains, with a hundred households living there contentedly. I had contacted the village secretary, Secretary An, by phone. Secretary An was a rural man in his fifties, with a face full of wrinkles, tanned to a gleaming dark by the sun.
We parked the car at the village committee office, and Secretary An came out with a cheerful smile, brimming with enthusiasm.
"Are you Mr. Tang?"
Secretary An, holding Chang Dachun's hand, had a fawning look on his face.
Chang Dachun smiled and said, "My surname is Chang."
"Oh, my apologies, Master Chang, I mistook you. Then this must be Mr. Tang, young and promising."
Secretary An was quite worldly and his expression changed rapidly. He directly took Chang Dachun for a driver and rushed towards me with great enthusiasm.
"Mr. Tang, Mr. Tang! Forgive my poor reception..."
"It's about reputation. Think about it, Li Feng was found abandoned outside. If he had been born at Doctor Chen's, it would be because some adulterous woman gave birth in a small hospital, didn't pay the bill, and ran off. Doctor Chen couldn't keep him, so he just dumped him. There's no crime in this, but it sounds bad. For a doctor, this is a lack of virtue."
I said nothing. Chang Dachun, however, chimed in, "Is this true?"
"I don't know. This matter had a pretty big impact on Doctor Chen. Doctor Chen also really resents Li Feng. Li Feng has eaten meals from everyone's table except Doctor Chen's."
"Oh~"
Originally, I thought things would be difficult, at least requiring visits to every household. Now, it seemed much simpler. Since there was a key person in this village with a major conflict concerning Li Feng, we might as well start there.
...
Doctor Chen is now over sixty years old and has been practicing traditional Chinese medicine in this village for forty years. To say he dedicated his life to healing would be an exaggeration. However, for a hundred miles around, many people sought treatment at his clinic. He had indirectly solved the problem of difficult access to medical care in the village.
The clinic was named Doctor Chen's Chinese Medicine Hall. When we arrived, Doctor Chen, wearing reading glasses, was seeing patients in the main hall. The entire room was filled with the strong aroma of Chinese herbs. Many cabinets displayed both proprietary Chinese medicines and Western medicines.
If I hadn't seen Doctor Chen consulting, I would have mistaken this place for a pharmacy rather than a clinic.
...
Most people in the village are like this; they take Chinese medicine for minor ailments. When they get truly sick, whether it's a major or minor illness, they come here for IV drips. It seems that no matter the illness, as long as the bag is hung up, they'll be fine.
Secretary An was very enthusiastic towards us because I was going to invest. His attitude towards Doctor Chen was different. Regardless of how Doctor Chen practiced medicine and served the people, his license still had to be managed by the village committee.
"Old Chen, we have distinguished guests from the city who have something to ask you."
Doctor Chen remained silent, carefully feeling the patient's pulse.
"Old Chen!"
Secretary An called out.
"I'm busy here."
"This is important business."
"What I'm doing is also important business."
It seemed that Doctor Chen was also quite stubborn. Fortunately, he had a female apprentice in her thirties, who was plump and friendly. "Folks, the village secretary needs to see Doctor Chen about something. Please come back this afternoon. For those who need their herbs decocted, I'll prepare them for you now. Oh, and if you have young people at home, remember to pick up condoms on your way out."
...
This clinic had a consultation room besides the main hall. It was said that Doctor Chen used to hold formal consultations here. Later, when business declined, he simply moved to the front hall. This was partly to show off his skills and partly to save money. He worked in the hall and fired the assistant who dispensed medicine, handling payments, prescriptions, and dispensing himself. He had managed to get through the most difficult period.
Doctor Chen's business had improved in recent years, and he had grown old. Doing all the work himself was becoming too much.
"Doctor Chen, Mr. Tang is here today to talk to you about Li Feng."
"Li Feng has nothing to do with me."
"I didn't say he had anything to do with you."
"Then why are you looking for me?"
"Just to talk."
"No talking."
Secretary An suddenly became angry. "Chen, don't be ungrateful. Talking about family matters won't do you any good. What, do you really think you're a miracle doctor? You know very well how many medical malpractice cases you've had. You want a reputation for healing the sick after you die. Just listen obediently, or I'll revoke your medical license directly."
I actually didn't want to see this scene. I quickly intervened, "Secretary An, this isn't a big deal. Don't get angry. If Doctor Chen wants to say something, he can. If he doesn't, let's not trouble him."
"Alright, alright, Mr. Tang, my tone was too harsh. I apologize. Doctor Chen, what do you say!"
Secretary An changed his tone, but his eyes were sharp, implying that if he drove away this benefactor, he would skin him alive.
"Ask whatever you need to ask."
"Do you know Li Feng's background?"
I asked politely, but Doctor Chen didn't seem to take me seriously. He pulled a long face and said indifferently, "No."
This attitude displeased Secretary An greatly. He was about to curse the old man when Chang Dachun stopped him. "It's fine, let Mr. Tang ask himself."
"Is that okay?"
"It's fine."
I glanced at the two of them, adjusted my attitude, and smiled at the cold Doctor Chen, trying to ask, "You don't seem to like Li Feng."
"If it weren't for him, would I have fallen into disrepute? I have absolutely nothing to do with him. Just because idle people in the village speculate wildly, how much money have I lost over the years?"
In the end, it all came down to profit. So I tentatively asked, "So you don't like him?"
"More than dislike, I hate him."
So there was a story between them. If I pressed for details now, it wouldn't benefit me. If I heard Doctor Chen's lies, I would be biased.
Therefore, I changed my approach, pretending to have an epiphany. "I'm sorry, Doctor Chen, for disturbing you. Secretary An, let's go."
"Leaving already? Ask a bit more. It's fine. The old man has a bad temper; he'll say whatever you ask him."
Secretary An was afraid I wouldn't invest and was thinking of me in every way. But I wasn't giving up so easily. If finding villagers felt like searching for a needle in a haystack when I first arrived, now I was looking for villagers with a purpose. I would return, and then I would definitely find out what exactly happened.
"There's no need to ask anymore. Perhaps we were wrong from the start," I said, with a slight pretense.
"Alright, then let's ask the villagers. Li Feng is a likable child, everyone will surely speak well of him."
At this moment, Doctor Chen suddenly said loudly, "That little scoundrel Li Feng is no good person. An, you can hide the truth for a while, but not forever."
"Shut up, Chen Shiren. Do you want to quit your job?"
Doctor Chen's lips curled into a cold sneer. He said nothing.