As a son, he naturally hoped his mother’s illness could be cured, that she could stay by his side, and ideally, that he could care for her until old age.
He had already lost his father. If his mother were gone too, there would be no one left in this world to love him.
Today, while working in the cafeteria, Liu Xiwang heard yet another piece of news: Dr. Gu was about to be taken on as an apprentice by Elder Chen. This only reinforced his belief that Dr. Gu was truly capable.
He had resolved to come home today and, no matter what, convince his mother to find time to see Dr. Gu for treatment. To his surprise, as soon as he returned, his mother gave him a pleasant shock.
His mother had already gone to see Dr. Gu that morning and had even brought back prescribed medicine.
This was significant because, in the past, even when doctors had prescribed medicine, his mother had refused to fill the prescriptions.
She believed that since the medicine wouldn’t cure her, there was no point in wasting money.
Now, as she looked into her son’s hopeful eyes, Mother Liu didn’t mention what Gu Jianing had said—that her condition could be cured.
“It’s the same as always. The medicine was prescribed, so I’ll take it for now,” Mother Liu replied dismissively.
In her mind, there was no way her illness could be cured. That young female doctor’s claim was either a lie or a misjudgment.
It was better not to say anything and spare her son the disappointment.
Over the years, Xiwang had worried himself sick over her condition, even refusing to get married because of it.
Liu Xiwang could clearly sense his mother’s evasiveness. He had a feeling she wasn’t telling him the whole truth.
He decided that after lunch, he would go to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department himself and ask Dr. Gu directly.
“Mom, no matter what, you have to keep taking the medicine,” Liu Xiwang urged.
“Mm, I know,” his mother replied.
After lunch, once he saw his mother take the medicine without protest, Liu Xiwang finally relaxed and left the house.
Instead of heading straight to the military cafeteria, he made his way to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department.
So, when Gu Jianing arrived for her afternoon shift, she found a young man waiting at her office door.
When he saw her, he offered 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, Gu Jianing learned that the young man was the son of the elderly woman she had treated earlier.
“Dr. Gu, what do you think of my mother’s condition? Can it be cured?” Liu Xiwang asked eagerly.
Under his hopeful yet anxious gaze, Gu Jianing answered without hesitation, “Yes.”
Liu Xiwang’s eyes immediately lit up with joy—he’d known his mother hadn’t been completely honest with him.
Yet he still harbored doubts. “Dr. Gu, do you really understand what illness my mother has?”
“I do. It’s chronic pulmonary tuberculosis…” Gu Jianing proceeded to describe the associated symptoms in detail.
“But… Dr. Gu, even knowing it’s tuberculosis, you still believe it can be cured?”
A confident smile curved Gu Jianing’s lips. “Just because others can’t treat it doesn’t mean I can’t. When I say it’s treatable, I mean it.”
Leaning forward slightly, she added, “To be perfectly honest, I’ve already successfully treated a tuberculosis patient—an elderly woman like your mother. She made a full recovery and has resumed her normal life.”
At these words, Liu Xiwang’s eyes reddened, moisture gathering at the corners.
So Dr. Gu had actually cured tuberculosis before! If she could heal another patient, then surely… surely she could heal his mother too.
Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!
“Make sure your mother takes the medicine properly,” Gu Jianing instructed firmly. “I guarantee she’ll show significant improvement within two weeks.”
“Yes! Thank you, Dr. Gu!”
With brimming eyes, Liu Xiwang bowed repeatedly to Gu Jianing before leaving, his steps light with barely contained excitement.
Watching his retreating figure, Gu Jianing reflected that this—this precise moment—captured the true essence of medical practice.
Not for professional credits, nor for any material rewards, but for this profound fulfillment of restoring hope to patients and their families. The deep satisfaction warmed her from within.
Liu Xiwang chose not to mention his consultation with Dr. Gu to his mother.
He understood her skepticism—years of chronic illness and failed treatments had eroded her trust in physicians. Dr. Gu would need to prove herself through results.
But that was fine. As long as his mother followed the treatment regimen, her improving health would speak for itself.
What a delightful surprise it would be for her then.
True to his word, Liu Xiwang became meticulous about ensuring his mother took her medicine daily.
With resigned acceptance, Mother Liu complied.
After all, they’d already spent the money—it would be wasteful not to take the medicine.
However…
Was she imagining things?
Several days into the treatment, Mother Liu began noticing undeniable changes.
Her persistent cough had lessened considerably. The leaden fatigue that used to weigh down her limbs had lightened. Most remarkably, the constant oppressive tightness in her chest had eased significantly.
Could it be…?
Had that young female doctor been telling the truth after all?
Was her illness… actually curable?
Mother Liu found it hard to believe.
She remembered how her niece had told her that her illness had reached an incurable stage—that she could go anytime…
“Could this be… a final rally before the end?” The thought made her face pale instantly.
“Mom, what’s wrong? What are you thinking about?” That day, when Liu Xiwang returned home, he found his mother sitting on the kang, her expression ashen. The sight frightened him.
He hurried over, concerned.
Mother Liu quickly snapped out of her thoughts. “It’s nothing, son, nothing.”
“Mom, if something’s bothering you, you have to tell me.” Over the past few days, Liu Xiwang had been quietly observing his mother.
He had clearly noticed improvements in her condition since she started taking Dr. Gu’s medicine.
No one could fathom how overjoyed he was.
But now, seeing his mother like this terrified him.
“My boy… I was just thinking, what will you do if I’m no longer here?”
“Mom, that won’t happen! Your illness can be cured. You’ll stay by my side for many, many years. You’ll watch me get married, have children… You’ll even help me raise my kids.”
Mother Liu smiled, but her smile was bittersweet. She said nothing more.
How she wished she could see that future—but she knew it was impossible.
…
Seven days later, Mother Liu had finished all the medicine Gu Jianing had prescribed.
Today, she returned to the Traditional Chinese Medicine department.
Gu Jianing checked her pulse and reviewed the test results.
The improvement was undeniable—Mother Liu’s health had significantly recovered.
“Mother Liu, I’ll prescribe another round of medicine for you. After this, your illness will be completely cured.”
“Yes, yes, of course.”
Gu Jianing frowned slightly. Why did Mother Liu seem so joyless despite her recovery? Her eyes were still clouded with worry. Could there be troubles at home?
But Gu Jianing wasn’t the type to pry into personal matters. She said nothing further, simply wrote the prescription and sent Mother Liu to collect the medicine.
Soon after, Mother Liu left with her medication.
When she arrived home, she found someone waiting at her doorstep.
The moment she recognized who it was, her face changed.
She knew—what she had dreaded had finally come.
…
Days earlier, Gu Jianing had formally served tea to Elder Chen, officially becoming his disciple.
Now, as his student, Elder Chen held nothing back in teaching her.
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