bookcurios Chapter 1900 A gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions.
Chapter 1900 A gentleman judges by actions, not by intentions.
Originally, Li Xiangnan came to Hongxing Gangfang with the intention of defusing the crisis and even facing the possibility of conflict.
But who could have imagined that things would develop to this point?
The Hongxing Gang, a powerful and influential establishment in Beijing, had its leader make such a vow right in front of him!
If we can get their help, it will definitely be a lifesaver in dealing with the mysterious Mr. and Little Buddha later on!
However, the shock and joy only lingered in Li Xiangnan's heart for a short while before vanishing in an instant.
He quickly calmed down.
As a doctor who inherited the medical skills of the Li family, healing the sick and saving lives is his duty. If he were to use this opportunity to seek personal gain or even try to recruit a gang of martial arts practitioners, he would be going against his original intention and principles as a doctor, as well as the medical ethics passed down through generations of the Li family.
Li Xiangnan put down his wine glass, his expression becoming serious. He looked at Cheng Kui and politely declined, saying, "Cheng Kui, you flatter me! My primary purpose in coming here is as a doctor to treat the old man; this is simply my duty. How could I possibly deserve such a generous reward? And there's no question of requesting the use of a ward! I appreciate your kind intentions, but accepting the ward's request is absolutely unacceptable!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Kui immediately became anxious, his eyes widening: "Doctor Li! You are looking down on me, Cheng Kui, and on the Hongxing Gang! We Jianghu people believe in repaying kindness and settling scores! You have done me a great favor, and if I cannot repay you, how can I stand in front of my brothers? How can I walk around in Beijing? Wouldn't I be ridiculed by everyone?"
His angry glare was full of excitement, carrying the stubbornness and passion unique to those in the martial arts world.
"Cheng Gangtou, I absolutely do not look down on you!" Li Xiangnan's tone was extremely sincere. "A doctor's heart is like a parent's. Regardless of the old man or who is on this bed, I, Li Xiangnan, will do my best to save him! This is my duty. If I were to take advantage of his kindness, then what difference would there be between me and someone like Little Buddha who committed coercion? Please understand my difficulties, Gangtou!"
Seeing that Li Xiangnan's attitude was so resolute and not feigned, Cheng Kui admired him even more.
But as a member of the martial arts world, he relied on loyalty for his livelihood, and his determination to repay kindness was equally firm. He suddenly stood up, took out a thick red envelope wrapped in red paper from his pocket, still warm from his body, and handed it to Li Xiangnan without saying a word.
“Dr. Li, you are a highly skilled person and you look down on our shallow promises, I understand! But you must accept this consultation fee,” Cheng Kui said earnestly, pressing Li Xiangnan’s hand firmly. “I know you are not short of money, but I understand the rules of your medical practice. This is a small token of my appreciation from Cheng Kui and the ward! If you don’t accept it, it will be a disgrace to us!”
"Oh, no, no!" Li Xiangnan immediately stood up from his seat. "Cheng Gangtou, the old man's follow-up treatment requires medication and recuperation, and everything costs money! Moreover, I've heard that the current situation in the orphanage is not good, and everyone is struggling financially. This money needs to be used to take care of the old man, support the orphanage, and maintain everyone's livelihood. I really can't accept it! In Qihuang, we also treat people differently based on their status; one thing at a time!"
Seeing that Li Xiangnan refused to accept it no matter what, Cheng Kui, in desperation, blurted out, "Dr. Li, you're unwilling to do this and unwilling to do that... Well then, I, Cheng Kui, will give you my position as the head of the ward right in front of you today. You have to have something to give up, okay? If you agree, you don't have to accept this red envelope!"
These words were extremely harsh, even carrying a hint of the roguish,江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit of shamelessness.
Just as Li Xiangnan was about to refuse him, his gaze inadvertently swept over a young porter standing behind Cheng Kui.
The young man looked at the thick red envelope on the table, his lips moved, his eyes even turned a little red, and he gripped the hem of his clothes tightly with both hands, looking like he wanted to say something but was trying hard to suppress his excitement.
That expression was anything but ordinary!
Li Xiangnan's mind raced. He suddenly reached out, not to take the red envelope, but to grab Cheng Kui's wrist, which was holding it. His eyes were like torches as he stared at the young porter and asked in a deep voice, "You! Tell me, what's the deal with this red envelope?"
The young porter trembled at Li Xiangnan's sharp gaze and sudden question, and instinctively looked at his porter, Cheng Kui, his eyes filled with panic.
Cheng Kui turned around and his face stiffened. He hurriedly shouted, "Dog, shut up! You have no right to speak here, get out!"
The porter, nicknamed "Dog," trembled, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, his face filled with struggle.
Seeing this, Li Xiangnan knew perfectly well that there was something fishy about the red envelope. He grabbed Cheng Kui, fixed his gaze on Gouzi, and spoke in an even sterner tone.
"Dog, tell me, I want to hear the truth!"
“Gangtou…I,I…” Gouzi looked at Cheng Kui, then at Li Xiangnan, and then at Song Ziming, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.
"Stop talking! Did you hear me! Get out!" Cheng Kui's forehead veins bulged as he tried to break free from Li Xiangnan's grasp, but the seemingly weak man possessed astonishing strength in his hands.
"Tell me now! If you don't, I won't treat your old man anymore!" Li Xiangnan pressed again.
The dog was nearly driven to despair by the atmosphere at the table, and finally cried out in a tearful voice, "Dr. Li, this red envelope... and this banquet at Hongbinlou... it's... it's the last piece of Ding ware polychrome vase from our Gangtou family's antique shelf, which I sold for four hundred yuan at Panjiayuan! It's all here, a table full of food and wine, and a red envelope... If you accept it..."
“…” Li Xiangnan frowned instantly.
“If you accept it, then for the next two hundred people in our brothel, we really won’t have anything to eat for the next half month... The brothel leader has given you... all his last savings!”
boom!
After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Li Xiangnan involuntarily released Cheng Kui's hand.
He looked at the tough guy in front of him, who blushed and then turned pale as his subordinate exposed his secrets, turning his head away so he couldn't bear to look him in the eye. He then looked at the young porter who lowered his head in shame after speaking, his shoulders trembling slightly. Finally, his gaze fell on the thick red envelope and the table full of still warm food and wine.
Four hundred yuan!
The last surviving antique vase.
The living expenses for the two hundred people.
An indescribable surge of warmth rushed into Li Xiangnan's heart, making his nose tingle.
He never imagined that there was such a heavy weight behind this red envelope!
Cheng Kui wasn't flaunting his wealth as a reward; rather, he was selling everything he owned, leaving nothing behind, to express his sincere gratitude.
This sense of brotherhood is heavier than a thousand pounds!
All his previous refusals and principles seemed so pale in the face of this almost tragic sincerity.
It's even a bit heartless!
He was no longer in the martial arts world, yet he was deeply moved by its spirit.
Li Xiangnan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and when he looked at Cheng Kui again, his eyes were different.
He stopped looking at the red envelope and instead reached out to grasp Cheng Kui's calloused hands, which had just been trembling with excitement.
“Cheng Gangtou,” Li Xiangnan’s voice was slightly hoarse, “Why…why are you doing this! If I accept this red envelope, am I even human?”
Cheng Kui turned his head sharply, his tiger-like eyes slightly red, and said with his neck stiff, "Dr. Li, I, Cheng Kui, am not good at sweet talk! But the four words 'gratitude and repayment' are a matter of course! Money can be earned back, and equipment can be replaced, but if conscience and loyalty are gone, I, Cheng Kui, am not worthy of living in this world, not worthy of being this leader! You saved my father! You saved my old leader!"
At this moment, Li Xiangnan felt no more lingering conflict, only overwhelming emotion and deep respect for the man before him.
Cheng Kui could see that his resolve had softened, and his face lit up with joy. He held out the red envelope and his fist, saying, "Dr. Li, please accept the red envelope, and please accept my promise as well..."
Li Xiangnan pressed down on the red envelope, looked at the young porters behind him, and shook his head, saying, "No, since you are all at my command, then this red envelope can be used as living expenses for the brothers!"
"???"
Cheng Kui was stunned for a moment, then suddenly looked up and burst into intense joy.
They had already understood what Li Xiangnan meant!