Chapter Thirty-Nine: Opening a Clinic

Just as Lu Hao was pressing down on Ziting and the two were about to cross the line into something beyond friendship—

“Knock, knock, knock! Brother, are you in there? Come out, quick!”

“Brother! What are you doing? Mother told me to fetch you—she’s worried, and you haven’t even finished your meal!”

“Brother!”

In an instant, the fierce flame between Lu Hao and Ziting was doused, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Lu Hao’s head.

Both regained their composure.

“This… Sister Ziting, I—I didn’t mean to.” Lu Hao hurriedly rolled off her and apologized.

“Oh, it’s fine.” The young woman Ziting sat up, wiped the sweat from her brow, and her gaze dimmed.

In her heart, disappointment welled up.

What’s with Xiaohan, barging in at such a crucial moment and ruining a good thing between me and your brother?

Alas, I’d thought I might truly let loose with Xiao Lu today, but who’d have expected…

She cast a regretful glance at Lu Hao’s handsome face, her heart sinking further.

“Brother, what are you doing? Come out, now! Mom’s looking for you!” Lu Han’s voice called out again, urgent.

“Sister Ziting, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now,” Lu Hao said at once, hearing his sister.

Ziting nodded, looking at him. “Go ahead.”

After all, there’s still plenty of time. Xiao Hao, I’ve watched you for years and know you’re someone I can trust. Sooner or later, I’ll be yours…

“Be careful on your way out—don’t slip. Really, thank you for everything today. Tomorrow I’ll bring a chicken to your house as thanks.”

Lu Hao scratched his head upon hearing this. “No need, really. Our families are so close, there’s no need to stand on ceremony.”

He bit his lip, turned, and left Ziting’s house.

Soon, Lu Hao stepped outside, explained the situation to his sister Lu Han, and only then returned home.

“Xiao Hao, where on earth were you? You were gone so long.” His mother, Liu Xiulan, eyed him with a hint of suspicion.

Lu Hao waved a hand. “Sun Wenguo, that scoundrel, tried to force himself on Sister Ziting. I’m thinking of reporting him to the police and having him arrested.”

At this, Liu Xiulan’s face turned pale. She quickly grabbed his hand. “Xiao Hao, we can’t afford to fight with a family like theirs.”

“Sun Wenguo’s father is a big boss in construction, and his uncle knows people in government. Their family’s powerful and well-connected—not people we can afford to cross.”

Lu Hao shook his head. “Don’t worry, Mom. This is my problem, you don’t need to be afraid. I’m not scared of him.”

“How can I not worry? We haven’t even finished paying back the debt to the former village chief’s family.”

At this, Lu Han spoke up in her brother’s defense. “Mom, it was Sun Wenguo who stole Brother’s fiancée, and the hundred thousand bride price—Xu Juan still hasn’t returned it.”

“One day, I’ll definitely get that money back! Otherwise, how will Brother ever marry another wife?”

At this, Liu Xiulan seemed to lose her spirit.

The thought of Lu Hao’s marriage made her heart ache.

“Your father’s ill, you’re out of work, and now the bride price money’s been taken by those villains.”

“What are we supposed to do, my son? Why is our family so unlucky?” Liu Xiulan’s face grew even more sorrowful.

Lu Hao immediately stepped forward to comfort her. “Mom, what are you so worried about?”

“Your son’s got medical skills now—even those on the brink of death, I can save. We’ll have food on the table, don’t worry.”

“That rich man from the village I saved—he’s already paid me handsomely.”

“But…” Liu Xiulan didn’t know exactly how much money Lu Hao had, nor about his other income from selling herbal remedies.

She still believed their future would be dark and hard.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll open a small clinic here in the village and earn a living right here—no more going out. The First People’s Hospital is full of scheming types, all under Zhou Run’s thumb. There’s no point staying there.”

“This way I’ll have a respectable job, too.”

Liu Xiulan was startled. “What? Son, you want to open a clinic here in the village…?”

She thought about it, and suddenly, it seemed like a sound idea.

After all, her son was a student of the Capital Medical University, far more educated than the old doctors in the village, with broader knowledge, too.

What’s more, he’d just saved a rich family’s daughter the other day—she’d left by helicopter, no less. If he could save someone like that, then handling the village’s common ailments would be a breeze.

“But the village already has a health clinic. If you open another, won’t there be trouble…” Liu Xiulan looked at Lu Hao, worried.

Lu Hao shook his head. “Don’t worry, Mom, Director Chen isn’t that kind of person.”

“Besides, I won’t treat minor illnesses. For those, I’ll send patients to Director Chen. But for serious or urgent cases that they can’t handle, I’ll take them on.”

“I’m confident I can make this clinic thrive.”

“And as for the money we owe the village chief, I’ll pay it back tomorrow when I go to register for my business license.”

At this, Liu Xiulan hesitated, then said, “Son, I’ve still got a little money saved—meant for your wedding.”

“But now that there’s no wedding, take it and pay back the debt. Otherwise, I’m afraid they’ll make things hard for you.”

As she spoke, she carefully took out a red cloth bundle from her bosom and tried to hand it to Lu Hao.

He smiled and refused. “Mom, I don’t need it.”

“I really do have money now. You’ll see—tomorrow, after I get my license, pay off our debt, and buy a few pieces of furniture, you’ll understand.”

Liu Xiulan was dubious, but said nothing more. After all, past experience had shown her that her son’s decisions were right.

She spoke to him earnestly. “All right, son, just remember—whatever happens, your mother is always here for you. Don’t do anything reckless and get into fights.”

“Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t. Get some sleep, it’s late.”

Now that he’d inherited the Azure Dragon legacy, how could those people possibly be his match?

Lu Hao returned to his room, gathered all his credentials, awards, and qualifications, and prepared them.

Tomorrow, he would rent a place, buy medicinal herbs, and then apply for his business license.