161: Chapter 159 Xia Xiaoyu’s Determination 161: Chapter 159 Xia Xiaoyu’s Determination The entire treatment process took about half an hour.
Tangyu could have been faster, but doing so would deplete too much Pure Yang Qi, and if it wasn’t recovered in time, it would affect the evening treatment for Lin Feifei.
At first, Mr.
Xia still felt intense surges of pain, but towards the end, perhaps due to numbness, he didn’t feel much at all.
He only felt waves of warmth streaming up from his knees, which felt quite extraordinary.
“Uncle Xia, it’s done.
Come down and try,” Tangyu’s voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Mr.
Xia’s deep thoughts.
Mr.
Xia looked at Tangyu and opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat choked up and unable to speak.
Being a straightforward man, he was never much for words.
After a pause, he got ready to get off the bed.
He didn’t feel anything special and soon stood up to test his legs.
Perhaps because he had been limping for too long, it felt similar to usual.
“Uncle Xia, take a few steps.
Relax and don’t be nervous,” Tangyu said.
Mr.
Xia nodded and started moving his feet.
Due to some residual habits and consciousness, his initial steps were still a bit limping, but he was amazed to find that walking felt truly different now.
The lame leg now had a strong pressure, unlike before when he could only tiptoe, which sometimes caused pain, but not anymore.
Mr.
Xia also looked at Tangyu again, his mood much relaxed.
When he took another step, he was thrilled to find he could walk like a normal person.
His feet landed flat on the ground, not needing to tiptoe, and there was no constriction at his knee joint.
His feet were able to move freely, the whole sole could touch the ground without feeling any discomfort.
“I—I can really walk normally now.
This—this is just magical,” Mr.
Xia said with joy, laughing and pacing back and forth in the room.
Xia Xiaoyu and her mother, who were waiting outside, also heard the excited voices from the room, easing their worries.
Both rushed excitedly into the room, their eyes on Mr.
Xia’s legs.
“Mom, Xiaoyu, I can finally walk normally, my foot is completely fine; it’s truly miraculous and unbelievable,” said Mr.
Xia, rarely this happy.
“Dad, you’ve really fully recovered, that’s wonderful.
Heaven truly watches over us, sending a Divine Doctor to help the Xia Family, blessed by our ancestors,” his wife exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down her face as she gave thanks.
“It’s just wonderful, really wonderful,” Xia Xiaoyu said, her tears flowing as she covered her mouth, sobbing with joy.
This family of three embraced each other, overwhelmed with happiness.
Tangyu’s intervention had undoubtedly given Mr.
Xia a new lease on life.
Although limping wasn’t a fatal issue, it was considered a moderate disability.
It made many aspects of Mr.
Xia’s life extremely inconvenient, preventing him from many tasks.
This was why the family had been living in poverty for many years, initially doing odd jobs for others and only recently selling vegetables at the market.
Seeing the Xia family in such a state, Tangyu too felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Suddenly, Mr.
Xia and his wife knelt down before Tangyu, exclaiming, “Divine Doctor, you are our great benefactor!”
“Cough, Uncle Xia, Aunt Xia, please get up.
I really can’t accept this,” Tangyu said, startled by their sudden gesture, and quickly helped them up.
“Doctor Tang, the great kindness you’ve shown to our family, we can never repay it in our lifetimes.
Xiaoyu, quickly bring over that 15,000 yuan we just received.
We can’t keep that money, it should go to Doctor Tang,” Mrs.
Xia said.
Xia Xiaoyu immediately handed over 15,000 yuan obtained from Mr.
Wang as compensation to her mother, who insisted on giving it to Tangyu.
Tangyu immediately waved his hands and refused, saying, “Aunt Xia, what are you doing?
That money is rightfully yours.
Keep it.
You all aren’t in the best health, and Xia Xiaoyu also needs better nutrition.
Buy some nutritious food with it.
Use this money to improve your living conditions; I don’t need it.
In my practice, I never take money.”
“But Doctor Tang, that doesn’t matter, we must show gratitude.
You must take this money, otherwise, we really don’t know what else we could do,” Mrs.
Xia insisted.
“Really no need, Aunt Xia.
You’re being too formal, I might not dare to visit you in the future.
That money is yours, and I truly don’t need it,” Tangyu insisted.
“This—” Mrs.
Xia hesitated, clearly seeing that Tangyu was serious.
“Mom, if Doctor Tang refuses to accept it, let it be.
We’ll find other ways to repay him later,” Xia Xiaoyu said, knowing that the 15,000 yuan was a significant sum for her family which could indeed improve their living conditions.
She wasn’t charged tuition for school, so their financial needs centered around household expenses.
Moreover, she was in her final year of high school and facing college entrance exams soon.
Even if she could get a tuition waiver, living costs would still be substantial.
“This—” Mrs.
Xia still hesitated for a long while before saying, “Okay then, Doctor Tang, your great kindness to our family, we all remember it.”
“Cough cough, Aunt Xia, you and your family are really too polite, it makes me feel quite embarrassed.
You all must be hungry, Uncle Xia has just recovered and needs nourishing food.
Why don’t you go and start cooking?” Tangyu suggested.
“Yes, let’s do that.
Dad, come help me with cooking.
Xiaoyu, please entertain Doctor Tang for a while,” Mrs.
Xia nodded, and they happily walked towards the kitchen, laughing.
“Doctor Tang, let’s sit in the living room,” Xia Xiaoyu suggested.
“Mm.” Tangyu nodded.
The two headed to the living room, where Xia Xiaoyu poured Tangyu a glass of water.
Xia Xiaoyu’s living room was small and simple, with no sofa but rather some old chairs.
Xia Xiaoyu bit her lip, then suddenly looked up and said, “I’m sorry, Doctor Tang.”
Tangyu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, “What do you mean?
Why are you apologizing to me?”
Xia Xiaoyu replied, “It’s like this, Doctor Tang.
Actually—I invited you over for dinner today not only to thank you but also with a little selfish motive.
I—”
Tangyu smiled lightly and said, “Your selfish motive was to have me look at your father’s leg, to see if there’s a possibility it can be cured, right?”
Xia Xiaoyu was momentarily stunned, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked at Tangyu, finally saying after a long pause, “Doctor Tang, how did you know?”
Tangyu shook his head with a smile and said, “You just mentioned it, and I guessed it.
Besides this, why else would you apologize to me?
Actually, it’s not unworthy of blame, your selfishness also stems from filial piety, which I can quite understand.
However, you do trust my medical skills quite a bit.”
Xia Xiaoyu’s face flushed with a hint of shyness, “Actually, I wasn’t completely sure, I was just trying my luck.
I don’t know why, but I just knew that your medical skills must be extraordinary.
The last time, you cured my illness so effortlessly, and I’ve felt very comfortable this past week, all my previous symptoms are completely gone.
So—I just felt you must be very remarkable, and so—”
“Haha, alright, no need to say more, I won’t blame you for it.
Quite the contrary, I actually admire your filial piety.
If it weren’t for your sake, I wouldn’t have treated your father’s illness.
If I say that I don’t use my medical skills lightly, would you believe me?” Tangyu said.
Xia Xiaoyu nodded and said, “I believe, I certainly believe.
That’s why I’m really grateful to you, Doctor Tang, it’s etched in my heart for a lifetime.”
“By the way, Xia Xiaoyu, I hope you can keep this matter a secret; don’t let anyone know, I don’t want too much trouble,” Tangyu said seriously.
Xia Xiaoyu nodded earnestly, assuring, “We will keep it secret, even without your saying, I would know.
Don’t worry about that, Doctor Tang.”
“Mm.” Tangyu nodded his head.
The two then fell silent again.
For Xia Xiaoyu, today’s events felt like a thrilling adventure.
Watching Tangyu, she secretly made up her mind that no matter what Doctor Tang needs in this life, even if it means servitude, she wouldn’t have any complaints.
She truly didn’t know how to repay Tangyu; perhaps, the most precious thing she possessed was her body.
Throughout history, tales of offering one’s body in repayment were plentiful.
Half an hour later, Xia Xiaoyu’s parents had also finished preparing the meal.
It wasn’t particularly lavish—five dishes including an egg soup, one fish dish, one meat dish, and one marinated duck.
However, to Xia family, it was indeed a lavish feast.
“I’m sorry, Doctor Tang, we didn’t prepare much for lunch today, please don’t take it the wrong way,” Xia Mom said.
“Haha, it’s quite lavish, Aunt Xia.
I’m not picky with food, having so many dishes is more than enough.
Smells very delicious; I think your culinary skills must be outstanding, Aunt Xia.
I always love home-cooked food,” Tangyu said.
“Haha, simple meals, nothing about culinary skills or anything that grand.
We didn’t have much time to prepare today, it was quite rushed.
Just eat whatever, Doctor Tang, and do come again another time.
Doctor Tang, would you like some alcohol?” Xia Mom asked.
Tangyu waved his hand and said, “No need, I don’t drink.
Just eating is fine.
By the way, Aunt Xia, just call me Tangyu or Xiao Tang, no need to always keep calling me Doctor Tang.”
“That’s—okay, Tangyu, please sit down and eat.
Xiaoyu, you sit too,” Xia Mom said.
Although it wasn’t a lavish meal, everyone eagerly served him dishes, enjoying the rare treat, making Tangyu feel exceptionally warm.
Especially Xia Xiaoyu, who hardly ate herself, kept serving him dishes, making Tangyu a bit embarrassed.
This generosity made him somewhat uncomfortable.
After the meal was finished, and it was not early anymore, with only about twenty minutes left to get to class, much time had been lost during the morning.
“It’s getting late; I should head off to school now.
Xia Xiaoyu, you should probably get to class as well, let’s go together,” Tangyu said.
“Mm, okay,” Xia Xiaoyu nodded.
“Aunt Xia, Uncle Xia, we’re going now,” Tangyu said.
Xiafu and Xiamu both smiled as they saw them to the door, much like in-laws sending off a son-in-law, with Xia Mom cheerfully saying, “Take care on the way.
Tangyu, whenever you have time, come over and have a meal, we may not have much, but there’s always food.”
“Haha, will do, Aunt Xia,” Tangyu smiled, finding Xia Mom’s cooking was indeed good, different in style from Guo Momo’s, but both delicious.
Xia Xiaoyu and Tangyu left the building together, and she couldn’t help but sneak glances at Tangyu, the feeling both warm and wonderful, yet also a bit shy and ambiguous…