"We're here."
Lin Fan guided Wang Ying, and they soon arrived at the clinic.
"This is your clinic?"
"It looks quite new."
Wang Ying was slightly disappointed.
She had initially imagined that with Lin Fan's superb medical skills, the family clinic would undoubtedly be antique, boasting a rustic charm of centuries of heritage.
Unexpectedly, what greeted her was a small Western-style building.
"My grandfather's generation's clinic closed down long ago. This is a new construction, so of course, it's new," Lin Fan said as he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door.
Wang Ying picked up her handbag and keys and followed him out.
Lin Fan opened the main gate and smiled back, "Come in, Sister Wang Ying."
Wang Ying stepped into the courtyard with a smile of excitement and curiosity.
However...
It was still not as she had imagined.
The clinic looked very ordinary, completely lacking the classical and mysterious aura often depicted in movies and television dramas.
"Xiao Fan, do you usually treat patients here?"
Wang Ying felt a pang of sympathy for Lin Fan in her heart.
She had witnessed and personally experienced Lin Fan's medical prowess.
Such a clinic, which resembled a private residence, was entirely unworthy of Lin Fan's skills!
"Yes, it's quite good. It has everything indoors, including a bathroom and air conditioning."
In the village, this was Lin Fan's sole source of pride.
"Xiao Fan, don't you think that with your medical skills, you could achieve greater success in the city?"
Wang Ying spoke earnestly, a hint of anticipation in her tone.
"In the city?"
Lin Fan shook his head. "Sister Wang Ying, you must understand, the city has public hospitals, private hospitals, and numerous clinics of all sizes."
He sighed and continued, "Whereas here, in these ten villages and eight hamlets, there is only me, Lin Fan."
"And in these ten villages and eight hamlets, there is only me, Lin Fan..."
Wang Ying quietly repeated the sentence, and in that instant, she was profoundly struck.
When she was young, her father was a cadre in an organization, and her family had always been well-off.
Therefore, the meaning behind Lin Fan's words was something she could not fully comprehend.
As Lin Fan walked towards the house, he said, "Sister Wang Ying, you've seen the situation here."
"It's a poor and remote area, and the people are generally impoverished."
"With me here, they at least have a place where they can afford to see a doctor for a small sum."
"If they were to go to a big hospital in the city... the vast majority of them would not be able to afford it."
Wang Ying's eyes sparkled with admiration, and she praised, "Xiao Fan, you are truly great!"
"You flatter me. There's nothing great or otherwise, I'm just trying to make a living," Lin Fan replied.
After a moment of thought, he added, "Furthermore, I promised the previous village head, Han Xiangxiang, that I would never close the clinic lightly."
Wang Ying repeatedly shook her head. "No, no, no, you are great. You've done so much for this place. You could have..."
She envisioned Lin Fan going to a big city, quickly gaining enthusiastic admiration from the dignitaries, and achieving fame and success.
At that point, wealth and prestige would be within his easy reach.
However, Lin Fan had not done so, choosing instead to live in seclusion in the countryside, bringing benefits to the common people.
Truly great!
Of course, she was unaware that the reason Lin Fan remained was simply because Xia Xue was here.
Wherever Xia Xue went, that was where Lin Fan's home was!
Wang Ying's heart, eyes, and face were filled with affection and adoration.
She felt that the person she liked was even better than she had imagined, like a saint!
"What, are you falling head over heels for me?"
Lin Fan reached out and gently pinched her smooth cheek.
Wang Ying let out a soft "hmph," "This is the only thing I don't like about you."
Just then, patients began to arrive.
Hearing footsteps, Wang Ying's expression immediately became flustered.
"Xiao Fan, look at my..."
Lin Fan was about to say it was nothing when he saw that the first patient was Grandma Wan from the village.
Grandma Wan, nearing seventy, walked in unsteadily, leaning on a cane.
She was about to tell Lin Fan about her ailment when she was drawn to Wang Ying.
Even with her blurry old eyes, she could still distinguish beauty from plainness.
Today, Wang Ying wore a beige off-the-shoulder top and black casual pants, making her appear both youthful and radiant.
Her appearance and demeanor were unlike those of a village girl.
This greatly surprised Grandma Wan.
"Xiao Fan, this patient of yours doesn't look like she's from our village..."
"Grandma Wan, she is..."
"Hello, Grandma. I'm Xiao Fan's friend. I'm not here for treatment, no, no, treating is secondary. Please, you first."
Wang Ying had always been well-behaved and sensible in front of elders.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, bowed to Grandma Wan, and then stepped aside.
Lin Fan had been wondering how to introduce Wang Ying.
If he directly acknowledged their relationship, his sister-in-law and Song Yue would surely explode when they returned.
Unexpectedly, she preempted him by claiming to be a friend, thus cleverly resolving the situation.
"Xiao Fan's friend, oh."
Grandma Wan glanced at Wang Ying again and said, "Girl, with your looks and your figure, you won't find many like you in ten villages and eight hamlets."
Wang Ying blushed, feeling shy. "Grandma, you are too kind."
Lin Fan watched Wang Ying with amusement, thinking, "A few compliments and she'll be on top of the world!"
"What are you smiling at?"
Wang Ying guessed Lin Fan's thoughts and rolled her eyes several times.
She felt a bit awkward and found an excuse, "Xiao Fan, have you eaten yet?"
Lin Fan was taken aback and asked, "What do you think?"
"Then I'll go buy you something to eat."
With that, Wang Ying grabbed the car keys and went out.
Lin Fan called out from behind, "There's no market in the village today. Go to the supermarket in the next village. Be careful on the road!"
"Got it!"
After Wang Ying left, Lin Fan noticed Grandma Wan's smile seemed a bit off and asked, "Grandma Wan, what's wrong?"
Grandma Wan gave him a thumbs-up and praised, "Xiao Fan, you're quite capable!"
Lin Fan smiled and explained, "Grandma Wan, don't misunderstand. She's truly just an ordinary friend."
Upon hearing this, Grandma Wan immediately put on a stern face. "I'm practically buried up to my neck in the earth. You can fool others, but you can't fool me!"
"It's really not!"
Lin Fan waved his hand, saying with a look of helplessness, "It's no use explaining to you."
Grandma Wan took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Xiao Fan, if it were anyone else, I would advise you to be cautious."
"She's like a pampered canary living in luxury, unlike us villagers."
"But I won't advise you. You're capable. Even though you were born in a village, you're worthy of her."
Lin Fan sighed and smiled, "Thank you, Grandma Wan, for thinking so highly of me."
"Come, sit down. Let me examine you."
Lin Fan helped her sit down and then began the examination, involving observation, listening, questioning, and touching.
By the time Wang Ying returned, laden with bags, the clinic was already full of patients.
"Xiao Fan, I bought a lot of things."
Lin Fan was in the process of applying acupuncture to a patient.
This patient was a gentleman in his fifties.
Upon hearing Wang Ying's voice, the elder involuntarily turned to look.