The Poor School Heartthrob Was Secretly a Financial Titan - Chapter 28

But his father’s sudden return of the money disrupted the entire plan. The other party acted too quickly, forcing him to preemptively ignite his counter-strategy.

Things were handled rather hastily, but he couldn’t care less.

The surgery performed by Director Qu of the Provincial People’s Hospital was very successful.

When Han Defu was wheeled out of the operating room, the anesthesia hadn’t worn off yet, and he was still drowsy.

Director Qu removed his mask and spoke briefly with Han Xuetao: The surgery itself was fine; the plate was placed correctly, and the reduction was good. However, for this type of comminuted fracture, surgery alone is not enough; subsequent rehabilitation is crucial. He suggested transferring Han to the Provincial People’s Hospital, where the rehabilitation department is more specialized.

Han Xuetao agreed without hesitation.

When Han Defu woke up and heard that he was going to Ninghai, he immediately objected. Han Xuetao didn’t give him a chance to speak and went directly to his mother to discuss the transfer. Zhao Xiurong now listens to her son in everything; if her son says she’ll transfer, she’ll transfer; if her son says she’ll leave, she’ll leave.

The next morning, the ambulance that had been arranged arrived at the entrance of the Second Municipal Hospital.

Han Xuetao and Zhao Xiurong hurried home to pack their things. The basins, towels, thermos flasks, and changes of clothes they’d used during their hospital stay filled two large bags. While Zhao Xiurong was still pacing around the room to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything, Han Xuetao picked up his bag and prepared to leave.

Suddenly someone downstairs shouted, “Han Xuetao!”

Han Xuetao opened the window and looked down. Ma Hui stood at the entrance of the building, craning his neck to look up, with a bicycle parked next to him.

“Monkey?” Han Xuetao waved at him. “Wait, I’m coming down.”

He told his mother and went downstairs with his bag.

When Ma Hui saw him come out, he took a few steps forward to greet him and looked him over: “I heard your father was sick? How is he?”

Han Xuetao didn’t answer, but instead asked him, “How did you know?”

Ma Hui scratched his head: “Uh… I just happened to hear about it.”

“You little monkey, aren’t your sources a bit too accurate?”

Ma Hui chuckled twice and didn’t hide anything: “The class monitor sent me. She asked Luo Diandian to tell me to come and ask about the situation. The class monitor’s intention is to convey the class’s condolences to your father.”

Han Xuetao understood as soon as he heard the words “squad leader”.

That girl Li Man probably found out by asking the waitresses after seeing that he hadn’t gone to work for several days.

“My dad is fine,” Han Xuetao said. “He just tripped and fell, and hurt his leg. The class doesn’t need to come and visit. We’ve made an appointment with a hospital in Ninghai, and he’ll be transferred there today for rehabilitation.”

Ma Hui was stunned: “Leaving today? To Ninghai?”

“Yes, the ambulance is still waiting at the hospital.”

“So you applied to Ninghai University?” Ma Hui asked excitedly. “Perfect timing, let’s go check out the school first!”

Han Xuetao laughed: “The scores haven’t come out yet, who knows if I’ll pass the exam.”

“You’ll definitely be fine!” Ma Hui said with absolute certainty. “If you can’t do it, then we’re even less likely to succeed. Besides, we might even meet up in Ninghai.”

Han Xuetao was taken aback and looked at him: “You also applied to Ninghai University?”

Ma Hui rolled his eyes: “Bullshit! Do you think I could get in? I applied to Ninghai Agricultural College!”

Han Xuetao couldn’t help but laugh out loud and put his arm around his shoulder.

He was quite touched that this guy made a special trip to see it.

“Okay,” Han Xuetao patted him on the shoulder, “I’ll go first, we’ll meet again in Ninghai later.”

Ma Hui nodded: “Go quickly, don’t keep Auntie waiting. When you get there, save one for me if you see any pretty girls.”

Han Xuetao was speechless for a moment. What was he thinking? Where was he supposed to see pretty girls? He picked up his bag, waved at him, and turned to walk upstairs. After a few steps, he turned back: “Oh, right, tell the class monitor when you get back that she thanks you for your concern.”

Ma Hui straddled the old bicycle, pushed off the ground with his feet, and winked at him: “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get the message!”

The bicycle was pedaled away, its bell ringing as it faded into the distance.

Han Xuetao stood at the entrance of the building, watching the figure disappear into the alley, then turned and went upstairs.

…

The ambulance drove out of Donglin city and onto the highway leading to Ninghai.

The vehicle swayed slightly. Han Defu lay in the middle, his leg in a cast, covered by a hospital blanket. Han Xuetao sat on the left, and Zhao Xiurong on the right, two bulging bags piled at their feet. Two medical staff sat in the front, occasionally glancing back at the IV drip.

The fields outside the window stretched out one after another, the wheat had just been harvested, and the corn was growing tall.

Han Defu looked at the roof of the car and suddenly said, “I never thought that in the end I would be lying in this ambulance, sending you to Ninghai to study at university.”

Han Xuetao turned his head to look at his father and smiled.

He never expected it. He never imagined he’d get a second chance, never thought he’d have the opportunity to return to university. This time, no one could take what was rightfully his.

The head nurse in charge of nursing, Nurse Wang, was a middle-aged woman in her forties, and she was very talkative. She looked at Han Defu, then at Han Xuetao, and said with a smile, “Old Han, your son is going to be successful. You two can stay in Ninghai from now on. The conditions in the provincial capital are much better than in Donglin, and it’s closer to your son.”

Zhao Xiurong and Han Defu shook their heads together: “How can that be? Our house is still in Donglin.”

Head Nurse Wang scoffed, “What’s wrong with that? We’ll buy you a house in Ninghai after our son graduates and makes a lot of money. Now it’s all commercial housing; anyone with money can buy one. You know, I want to buy one myself. The apartments our workplace provides are even shared toilets, and two families share one stove. We’re making do now, but what will we do when our child gets married?”

Zhao Xiurong said, “As long as our child can earn his own money, get married, and live a good life, that’s enough. We, as parents, won’t cause him any trouble.”

Han Xuetao listened to their conversation while looking out the car window.

Buy a house.

Buying a house in Ninghai seems to be a must. After what happened with Qiao Laosi, he can’t let his parents go back to Donglin.

Moreover, this transfer to another hospital would be a good opportunity to give his parents a comprehensive medical check-up at the Provincial People’s Hospital. In his previous life, less than two years after he went to prison, both his parents were diagnosed with serious illnesses and passed away. In this life, he needs to detect any potential problems in advance.

All of these require money.

He felt the bank cards in his pocket. Thirty thousand yuan—was that enough? The surgery and transfer to another hospital had already cost a considerable amount. Rehabilitation would cost money, medical checkups would cost money, and buying a house would cost even more…

He squinted, watching the fields rushing past the window.

We’ll figure out the money issue when we get to Ninghai.

…

Donglin.

Ma Hui delivered the message to Li Man and the others downstairs at Luo Diandian’s house.

Luo Diandian and Sun Ling were both there, and the three of them surrounded Ma Hui, listening to him relay the story.

“Han Xuetao’s dad just fell, it’s nothing serious,” Ma Hui said. “His classmates don’t need to go see him. They’re being transferred to another hospital in Ninghai today.”

Upon hearing this, Li Man panicked: “Ma Hui, are you stupid?”

Ma Hui was taken aback: “What’s wrong?”

“If it’s not serious, do we need to transfer to Ninghai?” Li Man stared at him.

Luo Diandian immediately chimed in, “Exactly! Ninghai is the provincial capital! The hospitals there are definitely better than those in Donglin. It’s gotten to the point where they need to transfer patients, do you think it’s not a big problem?”

Sun Ling chimed in, “Ma Hui, can’t you use your brain? You think you can get to the provincial capital just from a fall? You must be seriously injured!”

The three of them talked back and forth, until Ma Hui was speechless.

After hesitating for a long time, Ma Hui finally managed to say, “What can we do? They’re being transferred to another hospital today, and there’s no time for their classmates to visit them!”

Li Man stomped her foot angrily: “It’s all your fault! I asked you to come and ask yesterday, but you kept dawdling!”

Ma Hui felt incredibly wronged: “Yesterday I had to help my mom chop pork! I chopped from morning till night, my hands were sore. I even had to ask my mom for leave today. Besides…” He looked at Li Man, “You were the one who first told me the news. Why didn’t you ask?”

Luo Diandian and Sun Ling both looked at Li Man.

Luo Diandian asked, “Manman, how did you know Han Xuetao’s dad was sick?”

Sun Ling also said, “Yes, it seems the old teacher took his son on a trip. Did he say that himself?”

Li Man felt a little flustered by their stares, but she kept a straight face and said, “I’m the class monitor, of course I have a way of finding out.”

Ma Hui persisted: “Then why don’t you know about my family’s situation?”

Li Man panicked and blurted out, “I ran into him working part-time at that restaurant when I went out to eat not long ago, so that’s how I found out. Is there a problem?”

The three people exclaimed in unison, “Huh?”

“Has Han Xuetao already started working?”

“Is he trying to earn money for his college tuition?”

Luo Diandian looked at Sun Ling, Sun Ling looked at Ma Hui, and Ma Hui looked at Li Man.

Finally, Luo Diandian blurted out, “His family’s circumstances must be really difficult!”

Li Man remained silent, biting her lip.

She knew more than they did. She knew Han Xuetao wasn’t just a regular employee; she also knew he had rescued a dog at the hotel, and she knew which room he was in… but she couldn’t say.

Ma Hui scratched his head: “What do we do now? Everyone’s gone.”

Li Man didn’t say anything more.

She suddenly regretted taking the day off to eat.

If I had known, I would have gone to work every day.