"Grand Uncle, you're recovering well."
At the Health Clinic in Jinzhou's Zhonghu Town, Du Heng, a chief attending physician in traditional Chinese medicine general practice, helped an elderly man tidy his clothes after a check-up. "I'll prescribe you some more medicine. Just continue taking it for two more days, and you'll be fine."
The old man looked spirited and robust. As he buttoned up his shirt, he said, "Good, these last few days have been tough on me. It's all thanks to your skills that you've brought honor to our Du family."
Du Heng had grown accustomed to this kind of pointless praise and responded with a faint smile. Returning to his computer to work on the disease record, he said, "Grand Uncle, be careful not to eat any raw and cold food after you get home. Also, don't eat any leftovers or food that's been kept overnight. Your stomach can't handle it."
"Alright, I'll listen to your advice."
"I might as well give my grand aunt a call since her words hold more weight with you. It's better for you to have smaller, more frequent meals. If you're the one trying to be careful, knowing how you've scrimped your whole life, I doubt you'll change much."
"How can you talk to your grand uncle like that?" The old man didn't mind being teased by his grandnephew and sat down across from Du Heng, casually asking, "I heard your sister-in-law introduced you to a girl. How's that going?"
"What else can I say? It fell through." Du Heng then hit the print button for the completed prescription, and the printer beside him began to CHUG as it printed.
"How did it fall through? Are your sights too high?"
Du Heng forced a smile. "Grand Uncle, do I even have the luxury to be picky? The girl just didn't like me."
"Nonsense! I heard she's your sister-in-law's cousin from her maternal family, also from a poor village. How could she not like you?" The old man felt Du Heng wasn't being honest and became annoyed. "Yes, your parents passed away early, but you have a job, and your brother and sister-in-law helped you build a two-story house! A fine house! How could she not like that? You're twenty-seven, stop being so picky. Village girls might not dress up much, but they know how to run a home and live sensibly."
With a somewhat bitter expression, Du Heng handed the old man the prescription and billing statement. "The first time we met, she demanded betrothal gifts totaling 188,000 yuan, with the 'three golds' as a separate expense. She also wanted a city apartment in her name and a car for her younger brother."
The old man choked on his words. "Isn't she your sister-in-law's cousin?"
"My sister-in-law didn't expect them to make such outrageous demands either. They ended up arguing right then and there."
"It's also your sister-in-law's fault. She should have asked about these things beforehand."
"She did ask beforehand, but they added more conditions at the last minute." Du Heng didn't want to discuss the topic any further. He helped the old man up, saying, "Grand Uncle, I'll walk you to the cashier to pay and get your medicine."
The old man started to say something, but Du Heng quickly interrupted, "Grand Uncle, how are you getting home later?"
Du Heng didn't want to discuss such personal topics at his workplace.
"Don't you worry about that. There are plenty of vans for hire. I can just flag one down and head back."
"That's good."
As they spoke, they arrived at the payment window in the hall.
Du Heng quickly helped the old man pay, get his medicine, and then escorted him out of the Health Clinic.
Back in his office, Du Heng's good mood instantly vanished.
Marriage?
What normal person wouldn't want to get married?
But I can't find anyone to marry.
Working at the Health Clinic meant a fixed salary. With few patients and little work, there was no such thing as a bonus.
With a monthly salary of four thousand yuan, after covering living expenses, there was barely anything left.
He had painstakingly saved some money, and with his brother's help, built a two-story house. Yet, no girl was interested; they all preferred large apartments in the city.
Sigh...
DING! DONG!
Heaven Rewards the Diligent - Doctor's Basic Salary Subsidy System (Activated)
Starting Out: Successful Treatment 1/1 case (Completed), Basic Salary Subsidy: 10,000 yuan/month.
Reward: Traditional Chinese Medicine Occupation Expertise: Internal Medicine (To be claimed)
Renowned in the Countryside: Successful Treatments 0/1000 cases (In progress), Monthly Subsidy: 50,000 yuan/month.
Reward: Traditional Chinese Medicine Occupation Expertise: Gynecology and Pediatrics (Not completed).
Note: System loading complete. Automatically linked to bank card XXXX XXXX XXXX 8899 (cannot be changed). System salary will be issued on the 30th of each month. Please ensure you check and collect it.
The sudden appearance of a virtual screen in front of him made Du Heng shudder.
A system?
The Chosen One?
The peak of life?
However, Du Heng quickly gave a wry smile. It seems my obsession with money has finally driven me mad.
Rubbing his eyes, he thought he might be suffering from neurasthenia and considered prescribing himself some medicine.
But who would have thought? As soon as he opened his eyes, the light blue screen reappeared before him.
Du Heng was dumbfounded. Have I developed a mental illness?
As his thoughts ran wild, another DING DONG! sounded by his ear.
But this time, it was his phone's text message notification.
Du Heng's heart leaped. Could it be real?
He quickly opened his phone. "Your card ending in 8899 received a payment of 4,300.00 yuan for your February salary on the 29th at 11:29 from XX Bank. Current balance: 8,232.30 yuan. [XX Bank]"
4,300?
That's my salary from the Health Clinic.
Any budding joy in Du Heng vanished before it even had a chance to fully form.
Just as he was about to put down his phone, another notification chimed.
Isn't this over yet?!
DING DONG!
"Your card ending in 8899 received a payment of 10,000.00 yuan for your February salary on the 29th at 11:30 from Industrial and Commercial Bank. Current balance: 18,232.30 yuan. [XX Bank]"
Du Heng stared at the new message, his heart starting to pound uncontrollably.
10,000 yuan?
Is this a joke?
Du Heng rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but the text message on his phone insisted it was all real.
Happiness had struck so suddenly that Du Heng was momentarily stunned. He remained dazed for some time. It wasn't until his phone screen went black that he snapped back to his senses, needing to confirm it again.
He quickly used his phone to try and transfer 10,000 yuan from his bank card to his WhatsApp account.
He originally had only a little over 8,000 yuan in his account. If he could successfully transfer 10,000 yuan, it would prove the money in the card was real.
In just a few seconds, his phone pinged with a notification. Du Heng quickly opened WhatsApp and saw his balance displayed as 10,003.20 yuan.
It really transferred!
Du Heng was so excited he was speechless.
Mouth agape, he flailed his arms wildly.
He had no idea how much time had passed before he remembered there was still an item "To be claimed." He hurriedly tried to figure out how to claim it.
After trying various methods in vain, Du Heng helplessly shouted, "Claim!" Then, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a flood of knowledge that surged into his mind.
Fortunately, it didn't last long—only about three or four seconds.
But in those brief three or four seconds, Du Heng's vision filled with stars—stationary ones, flashing ones, and others streaking past like meteors. His ears rang with the cacophony of endless firecrackers and deafening gongs and drums. As for his brain, it felt as if ten thousand horses were stampeding through it, throbbing to the point of nearly exploding.
Terrifying!
Agonizing!
Yet, Du Heng was incredibly excited.
The knowledge flowed through his mind like a gentle stream, its nourishing warmth leaving an indelible, exquisitely beautiful impression.
It's real! It's all real! It's really happening!
Lying back in his chair, he began to process the new knowledge in his mind, gradually alleviating the throbbing discomfort.
Just as he was fully immersed in this new knowledge, completely oblivious to the outside world, his office door was flung open forcefully. "Doctor Du! Fan Yuxiang can't breathe! Hurry and check on him!"