Chapter 64: Dr. Zhong’s Miraculous Healing
Su Tao led Zhong Gaoyi around, demonstrating all the machines in the cafeteria:
“You’ll be staying here for five days, and all meals are included. I’ve given you access—just use fingerprint recognition to select your meals. You can also get three free bottles of cold drinks every day. If that’s not enough, there’s an ice maker here. You can use the water dispenser to get free water and add ice. Oh, and there’s a water dispenser at the clinic too…”
As Su Tao introduced everything, Zhong Gaoyi’s initial shock gradually turned into a calm acceptance.
In Taoyang, the standard of food, drink, and utilities mirrored that of the pre-apocalyptic world. He needed to get used to it.
At the end of the tour, Su Tao suddenly asked, “Dr. Zhong, do you have any favorite foods?”
Perhaps she could consider adding more machines to the cafeteria.
Since the upgrade of the food shop, aside from pet supplies, she hadn’t bought any new machines.
Zhong Gaoyi waved his hand:
“Nothing specific. I’m not picky—anything edible is fine.”
Su Tao checked the food shop and asked directly:
“Beer or wine? Tea? Or maybe candy and sweets?”
Her question made Chen Ci and Chen Yang’s eyes go wide.
Zhong Gaoyi glanced at the two kids and asked, “Candy and sweets? You have those?”
The kids’ eyes lit up instantly.
Su Tao smiled, “There will be some tomorrow.”
Zhuang Wan shot the kids a look, “You little glutton cats.”
Hearing the word “cat,” the black-and-white sesame cats thought they were being called and responded with a soft “meow.”
Everyone burst into laughter, scaring White Sesame into hiding between Su Tao’s legs.
Since a respected doctor was visiting, Grandma Cen personally cooked and specially made three vegetable dishes.
It had been ages since anyone had seen fresh greens. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the three plates of fresh vegetables.
Grandma Cen took off her apron and said:
“There’s been a water shortage lately, causing a massive reduction in the plantation’s yield. Many newly planted seedlings died from the heat and drought. These three plates of vegetables cost three times the usual contribution points. We don’t know when we’ll get the chance to buy fresh vegetables again after this meal.”
She then turned to Zhong Gaoyi, “Dr. Zhong, please eat more.”
Zhong Gaoyi ate his chicken rice bento, with ice-cold drinks and ice cream on the side, and three nutritious green vegetable dishes in front of him.
He hadn’t eaten this well even during the New Year.
After the meal, his stomach felt like it had experienced luxury, and he couldn’t imagine going back to simpler meals.
Su Tao was also delighted, especially with the vegetable dishes—they were so fresh! She envied the idea of setting up a plantation in Taoyang to ensure fresh vegetables at every meal.
But it was just a thought. With no land, manpower, or farming skills, it was better to sleep early and dream about it.
The next morning, Zhuang Wan eagerly took Chen Xi to get her face checked.
Su Tao had to help by welcoming new tenants.
Ten people moved in this time: three double rooms and four single rooms.
The check-in process went smoothly, earning her 85,000 Federation Coins. Her little wallet felt full again.
However, one female tenant in a double room, named Lan Lingling, had looked upset since she arrived.
The male tenant sharing the room with her, likely her boyfriend, had been coaxing her softly the entire time, but her expression never improved.
Su Tao asked her, “Is there something you’re not satisfied with? If so, you can cancel the lease now—no problem at all.”
Lan Lingling snapped, “I have no issue with Taoyang. It’s just that he told me he got a one-bedroom apartment, but on the way here, I found out he lied to win me over.”
Her blunt admission made the man’s face turn red with embarrassment.
Su Tao was speechless and confirmed again:
“So, are you sure you want to rent the room?”
The man stammered, “If a one-bedroom becomes available later, can we switch?”
Su Tao replied, “I can’t guarantee a vacancy or a timeline for switching rooms.”
Lan Lingling immediately slapped the man, “All men are the same! The last one lied to me too. His words sounded so nice—saying if I agreed, I’d get a one-bedroom in Taoyang. In the end, nothing! You’re just the same! I came here all excited, only to find out you want me to stay in a double room?”
“A double room doesn’t even have a living room. The tiny balcony can barely fit two people. We even have to share the washer and dryer with others—”
Seeing the situation escalating, Su Tao quickly pulled out their rental agreement, “How about this—you two discuss it privately before signing. No rush.”
Unexpectedly, Lan Lingling pressed down on the agreement, “Sign it! Even a double room is better than squeezing in with relatives. I’m just angry that men can’t be trusted—they only use sweet words to deceive women.”
In the end, they signed the lease. One kept scolding while the other silently lowered their head, grabbed their luggage, and entered the room.
Su Tao shook her head, not wanting to get too involved—as long as they didn’t disturb the other tenants, it was fine.
After settling all the new tenants, Su Tao rushed to the clinic.
Unfortunately, Dr. Zhong’s treatment was incredibly fast. By the time she arrived, Chen Xi’s face was already fully healed. Her dimples showed when she smiled, her skin fair and tender.
Su Tao was amazed and reached out to touch her, “My little Chen Xi has recovered! Your little face is so soft!”
Chen Xi giggled as Su Tao pinched her cheeks.
Zhuang Wan had clearly cried earlier and was now filled with overwhelming gratitude, “She’s recovered—less than ten minutes, it’s incredible! Thank you so much, Dr. Zhong. And thank you too, Boss. You’re both Chen Xi’s saviors.”
Chen Xi hugged Su Tao, then ran over to Zhong Gaoyi. She hesitated for a moment before gently hugging him with her small arms, “Thank you, Uncle Zhong.”
The child’s sincere warmth melted Zhong Gaoyi’s heart instantly.
For a fleeting moment, he saw his late daughter. It felt like a beautiful yet fragile dream.
Afterward, Su Tao discussed the follow-up clinic arrangements in Taoyang with him:
“From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, with a two-hour break at noon. If you encounter difficult cases, remember to inform Zhuang Wan—don’t handle everything alone. You’re just the doctor; focus on treating patients. We’ll take care of the rest.”
It was the first time Zhong Gaoyi had heard something like this. In Dongyang, although Boss Gu had his back, if there were conflicts or issues with patients, as long as no one died, he still had to handle it himself.
He nodded:
“Thank you. But let me be clear—I can only treat trauma-related conditions like external injuries, internal organ damage, and limb reattachments. I’m not capable of treating viral or bacterial infections. You can think of me as a repairman for a house—if something is broken or damaged, I can fix it. But if the house is dirty, has cockroaches or rats, or if bad people get in, I’m powerless.”
Su Tao replied, “I understand. I’ll make this clear upfront. Also, any tenant who needs medical attention will have to go through our screening process first. Only those who match your treatment capabilities will be sent to you.”
Zhong Gaoyi breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good. Previously, I had a patient with hepatitis A come to me. It’s not that it’s completely untreatable—effective medication and surgery could cure it. But in the apocalypse, with scarce supplies and equipment, my ability alone isn’t enough.”
