Chapter 31: 31, A new door

“He... is he really a doctor?” someone in the band asked with a hint of doubt and disbelief.

“Could it be we misunderstood him last time?!” Luo Xinyu grew even more puzzled.

Wang Fugui thought to himself that it was indeed no misunderstanding—he had only become a doctor these past two days...

But he had no intention of saying that. After all, he wanted to distance himself from them. You claim I introduced a madman to you, but I didn’t. Look, he’s truly a doctor...

“No, no, no, let me think,” a mercenary mused. “What did he say when we saw him last time?”

“Congratulations, father and son are safe, fair and square!” someone replied.

“Yes, what the hell did he say about father and son being safe?!” the mercenary snapped angrily. “People like that can become doctors in your town now?”

Wang Fugui, seeing they had recalled Ren Xiaosu’s exact words, explained, “Our medical conditions are just poor, that’s all. But I swear, he’s genuinely our town’s doctor. Don’t believe me? I’ll find someone to confirm.”

As he spoke, Wang Fugui walked a few houses forward and knocked on a door. “Is Ren Xiaosu our town’s doctor?”

The person who opened the door paused. “Yes, he is.”

“How’s his medical skill?” Wang Fugui pressed.

The man gave a thumbs-up. “Who in our town doesn’t praise Ren Xiaosu now?”

The band fell into contemplation again. When they turned back toward the clinic, there was no one in the window anymore...

“You said only he can lead people through the refuge barrier?” Luo Xinyu’s mood calmed.

“Yes,” Wang Fugui mused with a smile. “Actually, I can’t say for sure if he can get you through. But if he can’t, then no one in this town can.”

“You’re practically blowing him up to the sky,” Luo Xinyu sneered. “Tell him he’s been conscripted. We’ll regroup and set off again.”

“Forget it, you’re not the one to tell him,” Wang Fugui said awkwardly. “If you want to conscript him, you’ll have to ask Boss Luo if he’s willing.”

“Boss Luo? He’s connected to Boss Luo too?” Luo Xinyu froze.

“I’m not sure of the specifics, but you can’t just conscript him casually,” Wang Fugui explained.

Luo Xinyu gave a cold laugh. At that moment, the man who had gone to handle customs returned. The barrier’s gates were slowly lifted by hinges above, and Luo Xinyu, without a word, led the group into the refuge barrier.

Wang Fugui patted his chest. He was afraid they’d come after him, but luckily, thanks to delivering the black medicine, he had Boss Luo’s backing. If he hadn’t bluffed by relying on that connection today, he’d probably be skinned alive.

In truth, Wang Fugui himself wasn’t entirely sure how much influence Boss Luo held within the refuge barrier. But every time he bluffed, he deeply felt—this flag was truly useful...

Wang Fugui knocked on the clinic door, hoping to discuss the matter with Ren Xiaosu, but after half a day of knocking, no one answered. “I must’ve offended him,” he muttered.

The next morning, Ren Xiaosu opened the clinic door on time for business, only to find Wang Fugui standing at the entrance with a smile. “What do you want?” Ren asked irritably.

“I meant well when I recommended you to them,” Wang Fugui said. “That’s a chance to enter the barrier. Do you know how many people outside want to get in? Everyone does!”

“Why wouldn’t you take such a good opportunity?” Ren frowned. “I’ll draw you a map, lead them there, and you’ll get into the refuge barrier.”

“I’m not going,” Wang Fugui shrank back. “I don’t have your skills. And if I go in, what about my daughter? At my age, I can still find a partner outside, spend some money. But inside, no one would want me.”

“I have Sixyuan and Sister Xiaoyu too,” Ren said. “If I go into the barrier, what happens to them? If you recommend me again, I’ll have Sixyuan and Sister Xiaoyu eat your food and drink your wine.”

“I’m doing this for your own good!” Wang Fugui snapped, frustrated. “If I were twenty years younger, I’d go myself!”

“For my good?” Ren scoffed. “Thank your entire family!”

Wang Fugui’s temper flared. “Thank your eight generations of ancestors!”

“A thank-you from Wang Fugui, +1!”

Ren: “???”

In his mind, he roared at the palace, “What kind of thanks is this?! And sincere ones at that?! I think you’re the sincere one!”

Ren never expected his ninth gratitude coin to come from this—absurd!

Still, Ren understood that though Wang Fugui had thoughts of getting close to the star in the barrier, recommending him first was genuinely well-intentioned.

But the problem was Ren truly didn’t want to go in. If the condition was to swap faces with Sixyuan to enter, he might have agreed.

Ren thought carefully and said seriously, “Old Wang, let me tell you again—I can’t abandon Sixyuan and Sister Xiaoyu. Don’t recommend me again.”

Wang Fugui sighed. “Fine, fine, I get it. Don’t worry. As long as Boss Luo doesn’t speak up, they won’t take you. You’ll be gone three months—who’ll supply medicine for Boss Luo then?”

“Okay, as long as you know,” Ren said.

At that moment, a man approached and said to Ren, “Doctor, I want to see a doctor.”

“I’ll talk to you later—there’s a patient,” Ren turned toward the clinic.

Ren sat behind the desk and asked the man, “Where’s your injury? Let me see.”

“I’m not hurt, just feeling under the weather,” the man said.

As soon as he finished, the nurse, Sister Xiaoyu, turned red. Ren felt awkward and asked more professionally, “Is it painful?”

The man froze. “Does it hurt when it’s done or not done?!”

Ren couldn’t help but laugh and cry—what a day!

After sending the man away, he unexpectedly received another gratitude coin...

Fine, whatever the symptoms, as long as there’s a gratitude coin.

Now Ren had ten gratitude coins. The day of unlocking the weapon didn’t seem too far off.

One reason Ren didn’t want to be a guide was that collecting gratitude coins in the town was more convenient. Who would thank him on the road with the band and mercenaries?

He didn’t know why he constantly anticipated that weapon, wondering what it looked like.

Sincere thanks were so rare—this weapon must be something special.

……

Sorry for the late post.