The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 41 Reason
Zhao Xiaochui really enjoys his current work situation. With the chubby receptionist blocking his way, he's free from distractions and can focus solely on each guest.

He treats all guests equally, whether they are paying high prices or receiving free admission—taking responsibility for their health.

Old Qin is a scavenger, rumored to be from outside Beijing. He settled in Fatou 20 years ago. Some say the reason he scavenges in this dilapidated place might be because it's where his lost child was last seen.

Too much time has passed, and many things are now impossible to verify. Even the illegal structure where Lao Qin lives—everyone has forgotten who built it, and no one has ever charged him rent.

Old Qin is a familiar face in Fatou Street. He has formed a mutually beneficial relationship with his neighbors. He helps them move heavy objects, take out the trash, or do other small favors. In return, his neighbors give him their unwanted recyclables to dispose of.

The chubby receptionist was one of them. When she handed the accumulated cardboard boxes to Lao Qin in the morning, she noticed his increasingly hunched back and told him to come over before noon.

Old Qin didn't think anything of it, assuming there was some work he needed help with, and the usually taciturn man readily nodded.

When he followed Zhao Xiaochui into the workshop, thinking he was being asked to move furniture, the young man in front of him told him to stand up straight...

Old Qin immediately understood what Zhao Xiaochui was going to do. His back was already too sore to straighten up. He stood there, his right hand tightly gripping the faded hem of his clothes, his knuckles white from the force, and his lips trembling slightly.

"Child, I have no, no, money."

After saying this, he seemed somewhat ashamed and lowered his head. He had heard of Zhao Xiaochui before.

Walking through the streets and alleys every day, what I see most are elderly men and women chatting about their daily lives. In the past, I heard mostly about family matters, but what about now?
The conversation revolves around how to pull strings to get the kid in front of them to do their bidding in advance, or how much they can offer to have the kid come to their door after get off work.

Old Qin knew that this child's services were not cheap.

"Uncle, please try your best to stand properly." Zhao Xiaochui's attitude was very gentle. Before his rebirth, this man's back was almost bent to the ground.

The neighborhood committee offered him a cleaning job, but he refused. Perhaps it was because of something he still longed for; he felt that if he kept moving around, there might still be some hope, but if he stayed in one place, he might lose even that last bit of hope.

It was because he often saw this persistent person that Zhao Xiaochui was able to complete his studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine massage within five years.

Everyone has their own story, most of which are lost to the passage of time, but some have a profound impact on others...

Zhao Xiaochui wants to continue Lao Qin's story.
He placed his right hand on Lao Qin's lower back.

Extra points outside the meridians.

Waist and eye points.

Technique... there is no technique.

Heat flow assistance.

"Uncle, when you go out, pretend to bend over."

A surge of heat flowed out, instantly circulating around Lao Qin's lower back without any obstruction. This flow of heat indicated that Lao Qin was a normal person, neither good nor bad.

Given Lao Qin's circumstances, even if he wanted to do something good or bad, there was nothing he could do, which is normal.

This normal person also returned a strong current of heat, causing barely visible steam to rise from Zhao Xiaochui's head. He quickly began to silently chant the Six-Character Mantra on the open ground.

Looking at the busy children in front of him, Lao Qin tried to speak, but only managed to squeeze out short, breathy sounds. Not daring to disturb them any further, he quickly left the studio.

Recalling how I used to be, I bend over again, and my back feels warm and healthy.

Amidst the envy of many customers, he arrived at the gate, took a broom from a dilapidated tricycle by the roadside, and cleaned the area in front of the massage parlor spotlessly.

He even cleaned the stairwell of the tenement building and replaced the thin, old cardboard box on the child lying on the sofa with a new one.

When someone asked him questions during the process, Lao Qin remained silent.

He knew his back was quite bad, but did he even spend a minute in that room?
That child's abilities seem exaggerated.

What could he say?
He will never say anything, not in his entire life! It turns out that miracles really do happen in this world.

Old Qin's heart was filled with hope again, and he began to pull his tricycle through the streets and alleys.

…………

In fact, Zhao Xiaochui wasn't afraid of Lao Qin talking nonsense, because no one had ever cared about this lowly scavenger. Since Zhao Xiaochui was able to recover so quickly, everyone would just assume that his symptoms weren't serious.

But if it were that technical investigation expert, it would be a different story.

People of different social statuses can have vastly different effects when they speak!
Before the expert customer could even speak, just as afternoon arrived, a convoy of cars drove up the narrow Jinchan West Road.

At this moment, Zhao Xiaochui was delivering food to the child on the second floor: white porridge and a little bit of lightly salted pickled vegetables.

The porridge was cooked by the chubby receptionist, and the pickled vegetables were bought from the supermarket next door. It didn't cost much, but it was enough to ensure a child's health.

Doing this kind of thing makes Zhao Xiaochui feel good, so he ignores the anxious calls from Director Qi downstairs.

He suddenly remembered an idiom he learned as a child: "He who has no desires is invincible."

He really didn't think he would ever need to beg those people downstairs, so, Director Qi, just shout it out. The child's health is more important than meaningless socializing.

Two men in white shirts came downstairs, one from the municipal bureau and one from the branch bureau. Chief Qi, sweating profusely, was introducing Zhao Xiaochui's personal information.

Because Zhao Xiaochui's phone call involved mid-level personnel within the system, the outsourced call center reported it as quickly as possible, and then it was reported layer by layer, eventually leading to inquiries from higher levels down the police system.

The forensic expert was brought to Peking University Third Hospital with sirens blaring. After reviewing the X-ray, the hospital's experts gave the accompanying leader a severe dressing-down.

The matter is clear now.

The staff working on the two call lines should be commended, and certain individuals should be held accountable!
Director Qi looked at the plump receptionist pleadingly, but was ignored. He could only try his best to speak well of the culprit.
“That kid has only been here for less than two months, and his technique is amazing,” Director Qi said, giving a thumbs up while wiping sweat from his forehead. “At the national weightlifting competition a while ago, Chen Yanqing won the championship because she received a massage from him.”

"Old Qi, don't worry." The district bureau chief in the white shirt reassured Director Qi and explained, "This accountability is addressed verbally, and it's not for outsiders."

The man in the white shirt from the municipal bureau also spoke up: "The big boss has already gone to the city to explain and hold people accountable. Whose responsibility is it?"
We've investigated and found out that his supervisor was constantly pressuring that hardworking guy to take time off and see a doctor. But what happened? He only took half a day off, and when he went to the doctor, he went to the community hospital for painkillers, pretending he wasn't sick, and then secretly went to work…”

When this eccentric expert was mentioned, all three of them were speechless.

The city bureau chief looked up, and after understanding the situation, realized that the child was doing a good deed.
"The surgery is about to begin, and I have to go to the scene to wait for the results. Don't make things difficult for the child; they really meant well."

After saying that, he sighed heavily, got into his Audi, and drove away.

The district bureau leaders and Director Qi were left looking at each other in bewilderment. Who was to blame for this? Was it Zhao Xiaochui's fault for not greeting Director Qi first?

But you brought this person here. Instead of sending such a seriously ill patient to the hospital, you sent him to a blind massage parlor. How little do you value this expert?

Zhao Xiaochui was unaware of the power of his two phone calls. In fact, the phrase "two second-class merits and countless third-class merits" was already considered classified information. Fortunately, the content of the report scared countless people. Who would investigate a 19-year-old who did a good deed?

Otherwise, if that hardworking ox really gets into trouble, not to mention whether the family members will make a fuss, it won't just be a matter of accountability.

"Chief, what's the deal with that guy?" Director Qi was completely baffled. What was he after?

The district bureau leader sighed again; he spent the whole day sighing: "His child is studying abroad, which is expensive. There are bonuses for solving cases."

Director Qi: "..."

He looked up at the second floor and shook his head.

If you have any votes, please cast some. Thank you very much.



(End of this chapter)