Chapter 33: The Extraordinary Vendor

“Mr. Tang!”
“Who are you?”
“You definitely don’t know me, but I know you! My husband and I used to buy goods from your company.”
Wu Xiuli jumped off the bed as if she were seeing a family member, nearly throwing herself into Tang Songyuan’s arms. It was no wonder: in Wu Xiuli’s eyes, Tang Songyuan meant money, and who doesn’t love money?
“You’re... Miss Wu.”
Tang Songyuan actually recognized her! Wu Xiuli was even more surprised than before, her face lighting up with excitement as she reached out to shake Tang Songyuan’s hand. He shook her hand politely, then quickly let go.
“I never expected you to know me! I thought we’re just small business owners, not worthy of your attention.”
“You’re too modest, Miss Wu.”
Tang Songyuan had no desire to continue the conversation, nor to build rapport with a minor client in this setting. He placed his handbag on the bedside table, opened the small tray, poured a bowl of soup, and offered a gentle, apologetic smile to Tao Fei:
“I went to Clay Pot House and bought your favorite Five-Finger Root soup. I didn’t expect traffic, so I’m only just back. The soup is still hot—have some while it’s fresh. And here’s this.”
Tang Songyuan pulled a black wide-screen phone from his pocket and handed it to Tao Fei.
“Your old phone model isn’t produced anymore. See if you’re comfortable with this one. I’ve already replaced your SIM card—it’s still your original number. I’ve also installed your most-used apps.”
“Thank you.”
Tang Songyuan had bought the latest phone model, but in Tao Fei’s eyes it was an outdated relic. Yet Tao Fei enjoyed studying antiques, and her interest grew as she swiped through the phone.
Tang Songyuan reminded Tao Fei to drink the soup first, so she put the phone aside. Wu Xiuli, now understanding the relationship between Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan, began to lavish praise on Tao Fei, with Wu Xiuli’s mother chiming in, saying Tao Fei was the picture of a virtuous wife and mother, without any airs of a wealthy lady.
Tang Songyuan listened with obvious pleasure, smiling as he watched Tao Fei finish the entire bowl of soup. He poured mineral water for Tao Fei to rinse her mouth, wrung out a hot towel for her to cover her face, and didn’t forget to help her apply face cream.
Watching Tang Songyuan’s attentive actions, Wu Xiuli and her mother exhausted every compliment they could think of.
“If my husband were even half—no, a tenth—as good as Mr. Tang, I’d be happy for life. Tao Fei, you’re so lucky! Mr. Tang not only makes money, he’s so thoughtful and gentle. How did you find such a wonderful husband? Did you save the galaxy in a past life?”

Wu Xiuli was genuinely envious of Tao Fei, and sincerely wanted to hear about her and Tang Songyuan’s love story. Tao Fei simply smiled, so Wu Xiuli insisted Tang Songyuan share some of his experience, so she could use his standards when seeking husbands for her three daughters in the future.
Wu Xiuli was only about thirty-one or thirty-two; how old could her eldest daughter be?
“My wife and I were introduced by a matchmaker—nothing unusual. Back then, most marriages were arranged that way.”
“Really? Introduced by a matchmaker! My husband and I were high school classmates and married for love. I thought marriages arranged by matchmakers could never be as happy as those for love, but seeing you two, I’ll have to change my mind.”
Wu Xiuli said half-jokingly.
“Then you must have been well-matched. Well-matched marriages are the most solid. That’s why matchmaking is trendy again—TV shows are full of it. Every successful couple is well-matched; rich people marry rich people. Good looks aren’t everything.”
Wu Xiuli’s mother summarized Tao Fei and Tang Songyuan’s marriage, waiting confidently for their approval.
“Back then, I married up,” Tang Songyuan said.
“Tao Fei must have been a beauty in her youth!”
“She’s beautiful now,” Tang Songyuan replied with a gentle smile. Tao Fei continued to smile, remaining silent.
“Men who are a bit older than their wives tend to be more caring!”
“That’s not always true. Old He is more than ten years older than his wife, but he still beats her often...”
Wu Xiuli’s mother tugged at her sleeve. Wu Xiuli instantly understood her mother was trying to flatter Tang Songyuan. Anyone could see Tang Songyuan was much older than Tao Fei.
“It depends on the person! Only mature, cultured men like Mr. Tang truly cherish their wives.”
“Mr. Tang is obviously a good man! Not like those who fool around outside, keeping mistresses when they have money.”
“It’s half past two—the patient needs an afternoon nap.”
Tang Songyuan interrupted the mother and daughter, helped Tao Fei flatten the bed. Tao Fei, eager to study the antique phone, saw Tang Songyuan leaning in to cover her, quickly pulled the blanket up to her chin and pretended to sleep.

Wu Xiuli wisely fell silent. Within a minute, she and her mother began whispering about what to eat before five o’clock. They reached an agreement, greeted Tang Songyuan, and slipped out of the ward to shop.
The ward was suddenly quiet.
Tang Songyuan reclined on the sofa by the window, eyes closed, the afternoon sun painting his hair with a layer of golden oil.
Tao Fei secretly observed Tang Songyuan, sensing a faint worry between his brows. Suddenly, Tang Songyuan opened his eyes and Tao Fei quickly turned over.
The fierce mother who had threatened earlier didn’t come to the hospital that afternoon to demand money. Tao Fei rested well, waiting for the moon to rise.
A round orange moon hung silently in the sky, and Tao Fei’s heart began to race. Same time, same place, same moonlight! The moment of witnessing a miracle was near.
Wu Xiuli and her mother had not returned. Tang Songyuan was sent out by Tao Fei to buy minced fish porridge.
She gripped the door handle, opening and closing it several times. The ward, the corridor—everything was unchanged. Standing outside the door, she pushed and pulled it again, but still, no miracle occurred.
Tao Fei was unwilling to give up. She believed it must be a matter of timing. She returned to the ward, opened the door again, closed her eyes and walked out, then suddenly opened them. The long corridor, under soft, warm lights, saw a young nurse walking briskly into a nearby room.
The familiar laboratory had not appeared!
Tao Fei forced herself to repeat the door-opening ritual several times, and standing at the ward’s threshold, she heard the sound of her own heart breaking.
The electronic clock at the nurse’s station in the Y-shaped corridor flashed its red digits once more.
One last try!
Perhaps because her hope was so intense, Tao Fei, trembling, opened the door with her eyes closed, stepped outside, and hesitated to open her eyes. She longed to hear her mentor call her name, then open her eyes to find herself standing in the medical school laboratory...
But the expected voice did not come. Instead, she sensed a burning presence before her.
Tao Fei opened her eyes and was startled by the sudden appearance of a man, stumbling back several steps, nearly falling into the ward.