Bai Zhenzhu arrived a bit later.
By the time she got there, Kang Wei was already out of danger.
What they’d done to Kang Wei’s head wasn’t just stitches but surgery. The doctors had shaved his head completely bald and wheeled him out of the ward wrapped like a mummy – right as Bai Zhenzhu arrived.
Xia Xiaolan listened carefully to the doctor’s explanation of his condition.
“…Possible aftereffects include concussion. His condition isn’t too severe. We’ve cleared the intracranial blood clots. Once the anesthetic wears off, the patient could wake at any time. Of course, hospitalization is necessary to prevent potential swelling, though the probability is low. Our hospital will monitor him closely.”
Bai Zhenzhu stood quietly listening as well. In Mayor Tang’s presence, these doctors explained everything clearly to Xia Xiaolan.
Poor Kang Wei had hit his head badly.
Yet he was lucky – the cranial injury wasn’t severe, and the hospital’s best doctors had treated him, ensuring minimal aftereffects.
Xia Xiaolan’s emotions rode a roller coaster. Upon hearing Kang Wei’s surgery went well and his injuries weren’t too serious, she finally relaxed, only then realizing she was near collapse.
Bai Zhenzhu supported her, “It’s alright, you heard the doctors say it’s not serious. Just wait for him to wake up!”
While comforting Xia Xiaolan, Bai Zhenzhu was also nervous when she arrived.
Kang Wei wasn’t a stranger; he was Bai Zhenzhu’s business partner. When establishing “An Family Building Materials,” Bai Zhenzhu and Kang Wei worked closest together, forming a revolutionary friendship.
Hearing Kang Wei could be saved, Bai Zhenzhu turned her gaze to Du Zhaohui.
“So you’re the one driving recklessly on the streets?”
These Hong Kong people, relying on their money to invest in Pengcheng, were truly unbridled. Du Zhaohui’s white suit was stained with blood, his hair carefully styled, and a folded handkerchief in his suit pocket – unmistakably a rich young master.
Du Zhaohui was incredibly irritated, Mayor Tang’s appearance had caught him off guard.
Normally, Du Zhaohui wouldn’t even acknowledge someone like Bai Zhenzhu, as dark as coal. Even if she stood in front of his car, she’d only be worthy of speaking to his bodyguards. But with Tang Hongen still present, Du Zhaohui had to keep up appearances:
“I’m sorry, my drive-“
Without another word, Bai Zhenzhu’s foot flew up and struck Du Zhaohui’s face, sending him flying back into the wall.
“Young Master!”
“Master Du!”
Bai Zhenzhu was ruthless, striking without warning. Being a woman comrade, her frame was rather delicate, her voice androgynous, looking like a small man. Du Zhaohui’s followers hadn’t expected such violence.
As they rushed toward Bai Zhenzhu, she showed no mercy.
Her martial brothers were all formidable, and Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t far behind, though limited by her female physique. Still, she could hold her own against Du Zhaohui’s bodyguards.
Bai Zhenzhu knocked down two before being blocked by a thin bodyguard.
Du Zhaohui did have some skilled fighters – fitting for his status as Young Master Du. Many of these experts had snuck into Hong Kong from the mainland, skilled but unable to find legitimate work. Being bodyguards for rich merchants was considered a good outcome. Du Zhaohui paid well for loyalty, offering generous compensation for death and disability, naturally attracting skilled fighters.
After exchanging several moves with her opponent, both sides retreated, watching each other warily.
“Sister Bai!”
Xia Xiaolan spoke only after the fighting ended as if just coming to her senses.
Tang Hongen raised an eyebrow slightly, “Comrade, let’s talk this through reasonably, don’t resort to violence.”
Tang Hongen also felt Du Zhaohui deserved a beating for his recklessness, so he pretended not to notice at first. But with Du Zhaohui having so many followers, Bai Zhenzhu couldn’t win alone, so Tang Hongen made a token protest.
The followers helped Du Zhaohui up. His collision with the wall left him seeing stars, his vision blurred.
A metallic taste filled his mouth. He spat out blood along with a molar. Bai Zhenzhu had calibrated her kick perfectly – had she not held back, Du Zhaohui could have ended up in the room next to Kang Wei, rushed into the same emergency room that had just finished operating on Kang Wei.
“No fighting in the hospital.”
“Comrade, please stay calm.”
Hospital staff emerged, their mediation half-hearted.
Still dizzy, Du Zhaohui heard Xia Xiaolan call out “Sister Bai” and realized he’d just been kicked flying by a woman!
Not only had she kicked him, but she’d also taken down two of his bodyguards. These people around him were truly useless – worthless!
Du Zhaohui tossed away his fallen tooth:
“Mayor Tang, I’ll accept whatever way you think this should be handled. I understand the victim’s family and friends are emotional, I can comprehend her extreme reaction-“
Xia Xiaolan stood up, “You’re mistaken, the victim’s family hasn’t arrived yet. Young Master Du, your car was going too fast. If you hadn’t hit us today, you would have hit someone else eventually. We all must pay for our actions. You should be grateful the doctors saved Kang Wei.”
Du Zhaohui believed money could solve all problems, but it depended on the timing and the person involved.
Xia Xiaolan’s words made Du Zhaohui’s face darken. If Tang Hongen hadn’t been present, he wouldn’t have cared whether Xia Xiaolan was beautiful.
Being Xia Dajun’s daughter meant nothing; sure, Xia Dajun had saved him, but he’d paid his dues.
And that androgynous person had kicked out one of his teeth.
Du Zhaohui feigned weakness, “Doctor, I feel dizzy. Please have someone examine me.”
As doctors took Du Zhaohui to another ward, Xia Xiaolan quickly apologized, “Uncle Tang, I’m sorry for putting you in a difficult position. Sister Bai was just too angry.”
If Xia Xiaolan had Bai Zhenzhu’s skills, she would have beaten Du Zhaohui herself long ago.
Violence might not solve problems, but some people truly deserve a beating – it wouldn’t feel right without one.
Not even slowing down at intersections – today he hit Kang Wei and Xia Xiaolan, who at least had the car’s metal frame for protection. If it had been other pedestrians, would they still be alive?
The Cheng Rong Group operated in grey areas. Xia Xiaolan didn’t know if Du Zhaohui had blood on his hands, but she knew he truly didn’t value human life.
Did he think this was just some poor fishing village where he could drive however he wanted?
Were ordinary people’s lives worth so little?
“Don’t be so impulsive next time. If you hadn’t hit him, the Kang family would have a stronger position. Have you notified his family?”
The surgery was complete, and the doctors said there was no major concern, but until Kang Wei’s condition stabilized, changes could still occur. Tang Hongen felt the family should be notified now – whether to continue treatment in Pengcheng or return to Beijing wasn’t Xia Xiaolan’s decision to make.
Xia Xiaolan was worried too.
Kang Wei’s mother was gentle-natured, his grandparents elderly – who in the Kang family could she notify?
His uncle was reportedly indifferent toward him. Xia Xiaolan didn’t know the Kang family situation well, she could only try to contact Guan Hui’e.
When she called the Zhou house again, she finally got through!