If flowers bloom, youth will naturally follow.

Lu Xi, having been entrusted with a task, returned after the New Year and told Zhang Yingying about "Little Fatty's" pitiful story. As a result, Zhang Yingying knew that Little Fatty was in dire straits. During lunch, she suggested that he be hospitalized that afternoon for pre-operative examinations: "If everything goes smoothly, I will arrange the surgery as soon as possible. I will also make arrangements with the urology department to ensure everyone is careful when taking the medication. He will stay in the hospital for about ten days and then be discharged to recuperate at home. Don't worry, Vivi, it won't cost much."

"Okay, thank you, doctor," Little Fatty was more than happy to accept. He'd been through so much torture, he just wanted it to be over quickly so he could stop and not waste his time studying.

Zhao Shirong felt somewhat embarrassed. Some money could be saved, but some couldn't. If conditions allowed, she wouldn't want Xiaopang to be so frugal, but her family was under heavy burden, and she was powerless to help Xiaopang. She could only awkwardly lower her head and eat.

Lu Yao, however, had no such concerns: "Don't worry about the amount of money. Use effective medicine, and make sure the postoperative recovery is as meticulous as possible. Let's try our best to achieve the best results."

Zhang Yingying glanced at Lu Qian, who smiled and said, "I only found out it was Vivi yesterday. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have bothered you so much. It's okay, Yingying, go ahead and have fun. The old man has money."

"Hehe, okay, I understand. It means we should try our best to save where we can and not save where we shouldn't, right?" Zhang Yingying laughed heartily. This was a state she preferred; being stingy was exhausting.

Moreover, the difference between having money and not having money is huge. Let alone such a complicated surgery, can the difference between carving a radish flower and using a knife and chisel and carving with fine craftsmanship be the same?

“Yes, that’s it,” Old Lu said with a smile. He’s an expert, he really knows what he’s doing.

"No need, no need, just do it normally, it's okay, Grandpa, Aunt, Dr. Zhang, I'm tough and resilient, hehe." Qiangpang was like a mute eating bitter melon, unable to express his suffering. Grandpa Lu's meaning was very clear: he would give money, but he was carrying a huge sum of 120,000 yuan in his schoolbag. Would he use Grandpa Lu's money if he didn't spend it all?

But Xiaopang didn't intend to spend all the money. He just wanted to keep things simple. Every penny of his money was useful. He kept 20,000 yuan in his card for college, withdrew 120,000 yuan, used 70,000 yuan for surgery, and gave 50,000 yuan to Xia Tian to take back to her mother.

Qiangpang took some time yesterday to go to the bank and withdraw the money. He had originally intended to ask Xia Tian to come, but she refused to accept the money he transferred to her. So, he brought it back to her when he came.

Everyone laughed, and no one took it seriously, but Little Fatty felt increasingly bitter.

After everyone finished eating, they went to complete the hospital admission procedures. Little Fatty quickly took a few steps and handed over the admission notice first: "Hello, payment is due."

"Okay, we have regular wards, double rooms, and single rooms. May I ask what you'd like to do?" the ward nurse asked.

How much do they cost respectively?

"These three are 10 yuan, 30 yuan, and 100 yuan respectively."

Judging from Lu Yao's demeanor, Little Fatty figured a standard room was probably out of the question. Besides, Little Fatty was also concerned about his privacy. A double room was 30 yuan, and a single room was 100 yuan...

"Then, sister, can I buy two beds in a double room?" The chubby student easily caught the loophole.

The little fat boy's voice was already pleasant to hear, and the people queuing around him were drawn to him. Hearing how smart the boy was, they couldn't help but chuckle.

"..." The young lady was speechless, having never encountered such shamelessness before: "Theoretically, it's possible, but if we have a shortage of beds, the bed you occupy will be taken back."

"Oh..." Big Smart Fatty chuckled awkwardly, "Then I'll take a single room."

1500 in half a month, Xiao Pang's heart is bleeding.

However, Da Congming quickly regained his lost face. Xiao Pang took off his schoolbag, pulled out nine stacks of cash, hesitated for a moment, and then pulled out another stack: "Here, hospital fees, sister."

"Little Bao'er, what you're doing..."

“Vivi, you…”

Zhao Shirong and Lu Yao were both stunned. This little boy's tattered schoolbag actually contained 100,000 yuan in cash.

Everyone around was stunned. Let alone in 2006, even in 2025, it would be quite shocking for a young girl to pull out 100,000 yuan in cash from her bag. The main thing is that by then, credit cards would be accepted, and carrying so much cash on her was pretty impressive...

The nurse had heard that some nouveau riche liked to show off by buying cars and houses with cash, but she had never seen a nouveau riche in the mood to show off while hospitalized. She paused for a moment before grabbing the money and quickly counting it.

The nouveau riche fat man was admitted to a single room and underwent a series of preoperative examinations accompanied by Zhao Shirong. He didn't return to his ward until evening.

"Let's go eat," Zhao Shirong suggested, as Lu Yao had already gone home with Lu Qian, leaving only Xiao Pang and Zhao Shirong in the ward.

"Wait a minute, I'll find someone to invite us to dinner," Little Fatty sent two messages while sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed.

"Sister, come here. I'm in room 9527 of the inpatient ward at Baoding Central Hospital."

"Qiao Tianyi, I've arrived in Baoding. Please come and serve me in room 9527 of the inpatient ward at the Central Hospital."

"Who is it? Is Jiang Ziyi in Baoding?" Zhao Shirong asked with a smile.

“No, she’s in the south now, it’s her younger brother,” the chubby boy said with a big smile.