Chapter 190: Do You Want to Stay in Taoyang?
The next day, Su Tao noticed that Zhuang Wan seemed distracted. When asked to call Song Yuebin, it took her a few seconds to register the request.
“Oh, oh! I’ll go right now. Sorry, boss, I didn’t sleep well last night.”
Su Tao grabbed her arm and asked, “What’s wrong with you? Back when Taoyang was flooded with orders, you could stay up all night without looking this out of it. What happened?”
Zhuang Wan’s face flushed red as she recalled Zhong Gaoyi’s confession from the night before. She stammered, unable to form words.
Su Tao smirked, “If you won’t tell me, I’ll ask Chen Xi. She definitely knows.”
“Wait, wait!” Zhuang Wan called out.
Her face flashed through a series of emotions—hesitation, embarrassment, anxiety, and nervousness—before she finally muttered:
“I never thought… at my age… that someone would actually want to be Chen Xi’s father.”
Su Tao was momentarily stunned but then flashed a bright grin.
“Dr. Zhong, huh? So what do you think?”
Zhuang Wan shook her head. “I never considered it. It was too sudden, so I didn’t give him an answer. But seeing how well Chen Xi gets along with him… I’m really torn.”
“Besides, he’s not from Taoyang. He can only stay here for ten days a month, and the rest of the time, he’s under Gu Mingchi’s command, unable to act freely. I don’t want to give Chen Xi a father who’s barely around.”
Su Tao asked, “But do you like him?”
Zhuang Wan hesitated, then admitted, “I do feel something for him. He’s steady, loyal, and kind-hearted. Plus, he’s a healer and saves lives…”
Su Tao immediately cut in:
“If you like him, then just set your terms. If he wants to be Chen Xi’s father, he has to move to Taoyang.”
Zhuang Wan’s eyes widened. “Gu Mingchi would never let him go!”
Su Tao shrugged. “Then that’s his problem to solve. If he really wants to be Chen Xi’s dad, he should be willing to pay the price. What, does he think he can just waltz in and get a son, a daughter, and a beautiful, capable wife for free? In his dreams!”
Zhuang Wan was shocked—but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
“Then… should I ask him today?”
Su Tao grinned. “Go for it.”
With a newfound confidence, Zhuang Wan snapped back into her usual energetic self and happily went off to find Song Yuebin.
*
At the Clinic
In front of the clinic, Zhong Gaoyi stared at the newly renovated building, speechless.
Every time he came here, Taoyang always managed to surprise him.
If things continued at this pace, in half a year, Su Tao’s vision of a community hospital would become a reality.
Chen Xi excitedly led him inside, introducing the place like a little tour guide.
“That’s the nurse’s station! We haven’t hired anyone yet, so I’m filling in for now. The treatment rooms are in the back. Pharmacy on the left, office area on the right.”
Just then, Grandma Cen arrived. Seeing Zhong Gaoyi, she smiled warmly.
“Dr. Zhong! Everyone’s been missing you! But today, I actually came for Chen Xi—just a minor issue, a bit of a toothache.”
Chen Xi immediately took Grandma Cen to the treatment room, examined her, and quickly diagnosed the problem.
“You can buy the medicine at Dongyang Hospital. Take it for two full courses, and you should feel better. Try to avoid spicy and cold foods, okay?”
Grandma Cen nodded approvingly and praised Chen Xi as she stood up.
“Chen Xi is so capable now! While you were away, she handled a lot of minor illnesses at the clinic, saving us time and money. Otherwise, we’d have to travel all the way to Dongyang Hospital, wait in long lines, and pay ridiculous consultation fees.”
Then, she turned to Zhong Gaoyi and said:
“But of course, it’s all thanks to your guidance! Chen Xi really takes after you. By the way, how old are you this year?”
Zhong Gaoyi smiled wryly. “Almost forty.”
Grandma Cen, now in matchmaker mode, gasped dramatically:
“Oh my! Little Zhuang is 35—you two are a perfect match! Take my advice as someone with experience: Zhuang Wan is a reliable woman, and Su Tao values her a lot. Marrying her would be the best decision you ever made!”
Zhong Gaoyi felt even more bitter.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to—it was that she hadn’t agreed.
Grandma Cen, undeterred, kept going:
“If you two get together, you should just settle down in Taoyang. I heard your old employer is based in the Eastern District—ugh, that place is a nightmare! It’s only half as good as Taoyang! Listen, people should always strive for better. If you have a chance to move up, why settle?”
Zhong Gaoyi wanted to respond, but when he turned, he saw Chen Xi’s bright, expectant eyes staring up at him.
At that moment, his resolve solidified.
“Auntie Cen, you’re absolutely right.”
*
After Grandma Cen left, Chen Xi eagerly asked:
“Uncle Zhong, will what Grandma Cen said really come true?”
Zhong Gaoyi smiled. “Do you want it to?”
Chen Xi nodded enthusiastically. “Yes!”
Zhong Gaoyi gently patted her head and promised:
“Alright. I’ll do my best.”
Chen Xi cheered, then happily continued the tour.
“Uncle Zhong, this is the office that Sister Tao prepared just for you! There’s even a water dispenser inside! She said that when I grow up a little more, she’ll build me my own office too—right next to yours!”
Zhong Gaoyi looked at the clean, spacious office with floor-to-ceiling windows and thought about his cramped, suffocating quarters back in Dongyang.
He shook his head.
Yes, people should move up in life.
He had spent so many years repaying Gu Mingchi’s kindness—it was time to take control of his own future.
*
Meanwhile, in Taoyang…
Zhong Gaoyi’s arrival had completely healed Meng Qian’s leg and fully cured Song Yuebin’s torn muscles.
Even Old Mei was now able to walk slowly for up to half an hour with assistance.
As a result, Zhong Gaoyi’s reputation soared, and Taoyang received thousands of new residency applications, overwhelming Meng Qian, who had just recovered but now had to work overtime processing them.
Even Song Yuebin couldn’t help but marvel to Su Tao:
“Boss Su, Taoyang is full of talented people. If I hadn’t met you, I’d probably still be suffering from this injury for months. I can’t thank you enough.”
Su Tao smiled. “No need for thanks—we’re all friends here.”
The straightforward Song Yuebin was touched.
“Alright, no more formalities! We’re leaving today. If there’s anything you need, just say the word. If I can get it, I will!”
Su Tao thought for a moment and said, “I’ll take any seeds and books, no matter how many. Also, if possible, I’d like some crystal cores as well.”
Song Yuebin replied, “Seeds and books are easy enough. They’re rare, but with zombie outbreaks happening so frequently, people are too busy trying to survive to care about them. But as for crystal cores… ever since Changjing announced their value, everyone’s been scrambling for them. I can only do my best to ask around.”
Su Tao nodded. “I understand. Thank you, Captain Song.”
“Boss Su, no need to be so formal! We’re heading out now—see you later!”
Under the blazing afternoon sun, the “Yueling” convoy sped off into the distance.
Wu Zhen looked on with anticipation.
“I really hope they bring back fruit seeds and saplings. I’m so sick of seeing those barren slopes on Panliu Mountain. If we could plant fruit trees, it’d be amazing. Oh, and if we could grow a big banyan tree in Taoyang, we could set up a swing for the kids to play on…”
As the group daydreamed about lush greenery and fresh produce, Zhong Gaoyi was facing the full wrath of his superior.
“You want to stay in Taoyang? Zhong Gaoyi, are you tired of living?”
