Chapter 172: She Knew What Was Meant to Come, Came After All

As a son, of course he hoped his mother’s illness could be cured, that she could always stay by his side, and that he could take care of her into old age.

He had already lost his father. If he lost his mother too, there would be no one left in this world to care for him.

Today, while working in the cafeteria, Liu Xiwang heard that Dr. Gu was going to be taken on as a disciple by Old Master Chen, which made him believe even more in Dr. Gu’s abilities.

He had been thinking that, no matter what, he would convince his mother today to find some time to see Dr. Gu for treatment. He never expected that, as soon as he got home, his mother would surprise him.

His mother had already gone to see Dr. Gu that morning and even brought back medicine.

You have to understand, before this, even when doctors prescribed medicine, his mother refused to get it filled.

She thought there was no point in wasting money if it wouldn’t help.

Now, looking at her son’s hopeful eyes, Madam Liu didn’t mention what Gu Jianing had said about her illness being curable.

“It’s whatever. Anyway, I’ve got the medicine, so I’ll just take it for now,” Madam Liu replied perfunctorily.

After all, there was no way she could be cured. That young female doctor saying she could cure her—she was probably either lying or didn’t know what she was doing.

Better not to say anything and let her son down gently.

All these years, Xiwang had worried himself sick over her illness, even refusing to get married because of it.

Liu Xiwang could clearly hear the perfunctory tone in his mother’s words. He felt she wasn’t telling him the truth.

He decided that after dinner, he would go to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department himself to talk to Dr. Gu.

“Mom, no matter what, you have to keep taking this medicine,” Liu Xiwang reminded her.

“I know, I know,” his mother replied.

After lunch, seeing that his mother obediently took her medicine, Liu Xiwang finally felt relieved and left the house.

Instead of heading straight to the military district cafeteria, he went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.

So, when Gu Jianing returned to work that afternoon, she saw a young man waiting outside her office.

When he saw her, he gave a shy smile.

“Hello, are you Dr. Gu? My name is Liu Xiwang. My mother came to see you this morning.”

Once inside the office, hearing his introduction, Gu Jianing realized this young man was Madam Liu’s son.

“Dr. Gu, what do you think about my mother’s illness? Can it be cured?” Liu Xiwang asked eagerly.

“It can,” Gu Jianing answered without hesitation, meeting Liu Xiwang’s anxious and hopeful gaze.

A flash of joy appeared in Liu Xiwang’s eyes. He knew it—his mother hadn’t told him the truth.

Still, he had his doubts. “Dr. Gu, do you know what illness my mother has?”

“Yes, it’s chronic pulmonary tuberculosis…” Gu Jianing explained the related symptoms.

“Then, Dr. Gu, knowing my mother has tuberculosis, you still think it can be cured?”

Gu Jianing smiled. “Just because others can’t cure it doesn’t mean I can’t. Since I said it can be cured, it can be cured.”

“To tell you the truth, I’ve already successfully treated another elderly patient with tuberculosis before. She’s fully recovered and living a normal life now.”

Hearing this, Liu Xiwang’s eyes reddened.

So Dr. Gu had cured someone else’s tuberculosis before—if she could cure others, she could cure his mother too.

That was wonderful, truly wonderful!

“Go home and remind your mother to take her medicine as prescribed. I guarantee she’ll be better in half a month.”

“Thank you, Dr. Gu.”

With tears in his eyes, Liu Xiwang bowed repeatedly to Gu Jianing before leaving, overcome with excitement.

Watching Liu Xiwang’s departing figure, Gu Jianing thought, perhaps this is the true meaning of being a doctor.

It’s not about points or rewards, but about seeing patients and their families regain hope. That sense of accomplishment was deeply satisfying to her.

Liu Xiwang didn’t tell his mother about his visit to Gu Jianing.

He knew that after being sick for so long and never finding the right doctor, his mother didn’t trust Dr. Gu.

But that was fine. As long as she took her medicine on time, she’d believe it once her health improved.

By then, it would be a pleasant surprise for her.

After that day, Madam Liu noticed her son was always reminding her to take her medicine.

Fine, she thought, she’d take it.

After all, the money had already been spent. If she didn’t take it, it would just be wasted.

But…

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination.

A few days later, Madam Liu felt some obvious changes in her body.

For example, her cough had lessened, her body didn’t feel as weak and heavy as before, and the tightness in her chest had eased a lot.

Could it be that what that young doctor said was true?

Could her illness really be cured?

Madam Liu found it hard to believe.

She remembered how Xiwang’s cousin had once said her illness was already incurable, that she could go at any time…

“Is this just a final burst of energy before the end?” The thought made Madam Liu’s face go pale.

“Mom, what’s wrong? What are you thinking about?” That day, Liu Xiwang came home to find his mother sitting on the kang, looking dejected. He was startled.

He hurried over to ask.

Madam Liu quickly snapped out of it. “Nothing, nothing.”

“Mom, if anything’s wrong, you have to tell me.” These days, Liu Xiwang had been quietly observing his mother.

He could clearly see that after taking Dr. Gu’s medicine, her health had improved.

No one knew how happy Liu Xiwang was.

But now, seeing his mother like this, he was really frightened.

“Son, I was just thinking, if I’m not around anymore, what will you do?”

“Mom, don’t say that. Your illness can be cured. You’ll be with me for a long, long time. You’ll see me get married and have children, and you’ll help me take care of your grandchildren.”

Madam Liu smiled, but there was a trace of bitterness in her smile. She said nothing more.

Of course she wanted to see that day, but she didn’t think it was possible.

—

After seven days, Madam Liu had finished all the medicine Gu Jianing had prescribed.

Today, she went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department again.

Gu Jianing took her pulse and checked her test results.

It was clear that Madam Liu’s health had greatly improved.

“Madam Liu, I’ll prescribe you one more round of medicine. After this, your illness will be cured.”

“Okay, okay.”

Gu Jianing frowned slightly. Her patient was almost cured, yet Madam Liu didn’t look happy at all—her face was still full of worry. Maybe there was something troubling her at home.

But Gu Jianing wasn’t the nosy or gossipy type, so she didn’t ask.

She wrote the prescription and sent Madam Liu to get her medicine.

Soon, Madam Liu picked up her medicine and left.

When she got home, she saw someone waiting at her door.

When she saw who it was, Madam Liu’s face changed.

She knew—what was meant to come, had come after all.

…

A few days earlier, Gu Jianing had formally served tea to Old Master Chen and become his disciple.

After accepting her as a disciple, Old Master Chen held nothing back in teaching her."