Hello, Welcome to Merit Supermarket (SUPERMARKET)
When they left the capital hospital, only about three million had been spent from the bank card.
With the two officers accompanying them, they left the hospital quietly.
The ICU staff didn't dare approach, and when they visited other departments, they no longer had to sneak around or have private conversations. With the police present, even if some were envious, they didn't dare come close.
As they exited the hospital, Jiang Chenyi cheerfully thanked the two officers: "Thank you both for your trouble!"
The officers were somewhat dazed.
They had seen wealthy individuals fund critically ill patients before, but never someone so low-key.
There were no speeches, no reporters, and it seemed the hospital wasn't even aware of the funding. Most importantly, this young man always managed to identify families in genuine financial hardship and with good character.
Could it really be, as he had said earlier, that because he was a Celestial Master, he knew so much?
But Jiang Chenyi didn't concern himself with their thoughts.
After leaving the hospital, he took Huo Yunxi to a nearby children's hospital.
The capital hospital was a comprehensive one that treated all kinds of patients.
Jiang Chenyi planned to visit all the renowned hospitals in the capital to spend as much as he could. As for the rest... well, he'd figure it out later!
The children's hospital had even more people in need of help. Some children required significant financial resources from birth, while others had severe health issues, but their parents were either unwilling or unable to afford the medical expenses.
In some cases, parents even believed their children didn't deserve treatment.
In the first scenario, Jiang Chenyi could simply transfer the money directly, though not the full amount. Similar to previous patients, he would give a large portion, and the rest would be up to the families to figure out.
In the second scenario, he would deposit the funds directly into a medical account, which could only be used for treatment and not withdrawn for other purposes.
With a subtle hint to the parents of the patients, these children would ultimately receive comprehensive treatment.
By the time he left, most of the children knew they had "pressured" their parents into agreeing, so they quietly expressed their gratitude to Jiang Chenyi.
He patted the children's heads, and only when he saw the light return to their eyes did he feel a little less burdened.
"I don't quite understand." Huo Yunxi suddenly spoke up after seeing off a child.
His eyes were filled with confusion: "If a child is sick, why not treat them? Why let them grow up with a disability?"
This wasn't his era. In his time, there were no options, but now society is stable, the economy is thriving, and these people aren't exactly poor. So why would they do such a thing?
Jiang Chenyi remained silent for a while, as he also couldn't comprehend the parents' mindset.
However, Huo Yunxi didn't need Jiang Chenyi's answer. Voicing his doubts was more of a way to vent.
As for the last scenario, both of them found it particularly tricky.
These parents wouldn't use the money even if it was deposited into a medical account.
It was a strange approach and almost neurotic.
Jiang Chenyi looked at the group of children and heard not the parents' thoughts but the helpless cries of the children.
["Why won't Dad let me see a doctor?"]
["I'm in so much pain... The doctor said I'm sick, so why is Mom calling him a liar?"]
["Why bring me to see a doctor... but not treat me?"]
Yes, why indeed?
Jiang Chenyi didn't rashly approach these people, but he also didn't plan to give up. He quietly memorized their faces and was ready to settle accounts with them later that night.
Thinking this, he comforted Huo Yunxi: "Don't worry, I won't abandon those children."
Huo Yunxi nodded silently with his mind still replaying the disappointed looks in the children's eyes.
They had visited three hospitals in the morning, spending less than five million, and then five more hospitals in the afternoon before finally exhausting the ten million.
"Four million left... Looks like we won't meet the goal today." Jiang Chenyi scratched his head.
Huo Yunxi, sitting on a bench outside the hospital, chuckled at his remark.
"If you covered everyone's medical expenses, you'd definitely meet the goal, and it might even fall short." But the young man wasn't willing to help just anyone.
Still, he understood Jiang Chenyi's reasoning.
The young man was offering aid unconditionally and might continue to do so in the future. If he helped everyone, he would inevitably face endless trouble.
"You've already helped so many people, why not add me to the list?"
"Why help others but not me? Do you look down on me?"
Such remarks would become endless, and even for minor illnesses, people would demand Jiang Chenyi's help. If he refused, they might even gather and surround the supermarket.
"Human nature is greedy."
Jiang Chenyi's ears twitched slightly. He had already blocked out most of the inner voices today, as listening to them had nearly made him sick!
After sitting quietly and resting for a while, Jiang Chenyi stood up and let out a yawn.
"Let's go. The last hospital for today—the oncology hospital!"
The previous hospitals mostly dealt with severe and acute illnesses. Although they were difficult to treat, there was still some hope for recovery.
But this hospital was a gathering place for terminally ill patients, perhaps the most despairing "hell on earth."
Huo Yunxi continued to follow behind him as they boarded a bus.
The bus swayed and jolted along the way, and as the sun set, they arrived at the final stop—the oncology hospital.
As soon as they got off the bus, the two were greeted by a strong aroma of food.
Following the scent, they looked outside and saw an open space not far from the hospital.
A canopy had been set up there, with a row of woks placed underneath. Many people were skillfully wielding spatulas and stir-frying dishes.
Seeing this group of people, Jiang Chenyi turned to Huo Yunxi and gestured with his chin, "Do you know what this place is?"
Huo Yunxi observed carefully. At first, he thought it was a small eatery, but the more he looked, the less it seemed like one.
"It's a charity kitchen. Many oncology hospitals have these nearby. For a dollar or even for free, you can use the cooking stalls here."
Those who came here were people whose families had been impoverished by cancer.
"Cooking your own meals is always cheaper than eating out."
For them, saving even a little bit was crucial.
Jiang Chenyi stood there as his pale complexion gradually improved.
Here, the inner voices he heard were far more comforting than those in the hospital.
[Hehe, these potatoes are really cheap today. After I deliver the meal to my spouse, I'll go buy some more.]
【Today, my cooking skills are truly impressive. This braised pork, mmm, and this stir-fried eggplant, mmm! My wife is sure to love it!】
【Yesterday, I specifically learned how to make soup from Aunt Zhang next door. I hope my daughter can at least drink a little of it.】
These were hopeful, optimistic voices filled with a positive attitude, yet no one could bring themselves to laugh upon hearing them.
Huo Yunxi also sensed the underlying helplessness and sorrow beneath these smiles, much like the young soldier who once fought alongside him, vowing to earn a first-class merit for his mother, yet in the end, he never made it back.
"Let's go."
"Let's go..."
They spoke simultaneously while uttering the same words.
Jiang Chenyi and Huo Yunxi exchanged glances and both recognized the sorrow in each other's eyes before they sighed in unison.
Upon entering the hospital, the atmosphere was indeed more oppressive and despairing than any they had encountered before.
Yet, it wasn't entirely devoid of hope.
Outside several wards, they could hear the laughter and chatter of patients.
Some were even playing music and creating a lively atmosphere within the rooms.
However, in one particular ward, Huo Yunxi noticed that a few individuals already bore the aura of death—a sign that their time was running short.
He pursed his lips while feeling increasingly distressed.
Jiang Chenyi continued to listen to the inner voices of the patients in one ward after another. As he had expected, not everyone here was seeking help.
In fact, the more severe the illness, the more the patients' inner voices expressed hope for others to recover and for their families to live well, with little concern for themselves.
Jiang Chenyi had a premonition that he wouldn't be spending much of his money here.
He pulled Huo Yunxi to a corner then traded with the Supermarket for two hiking backpacks, and transferred some of the items from the Supermarket shelves into the backpacks.
"What is this for?" Huo Yunxi looked at his backpack filled to the brim with Mountain Spring Water while feeling utterly puzzled.
Jiang Chenyi calmly explained a harsh reality: "The cost of curing cancer is extremely high, and most people can't afford it. Moreover, some are unwilling to continue chemotherapy because it's just too painful."
Mountain Spring Water has a unique property—it can gradually enhance the body's natural immunity.
Of course, Jiang Chenyi wasn't offering the water as a cure for cancer. He simply wanted to provide these patients with a bit of comfort.
If they were willing to try, he would leave them a Supermarket business card. Besides the Mountain Spring Water, the supermarket also carried many products that could alleviate suffering. These items didn’t require much Merit, and even if purchased with money, they weren’t overly expensive.
For some patients, these products could help them spend their final days in peace and comfort.
Huo Yunxi gripped the straps of his backpack while standing silently for a moment before suppressing the warmth in his eyes.
"This is the last hospital. I’ll just spend freely, as if fulfilling their wishes…" Jiang Chenyi’s voice was unusually gentle.
From the beginning, they carefully selected patients who were kind-hearted and gentle in nature. And while letting them try the effects of the Mountain Spring Water, they also listened to their innermost thoughts.
Some patients were initially skeptical, but when Jiang Chenyi placed tens of thousands of yuan in cash into their hands, they were stunned.
"You wanted to see the flowers in Rong City before you passed away. You should go now, or by autumn, the trees will be bare."
This patient’s family had nearly exhausted all their savings. Even daily meals were a struggle, let alone a trip to Rong City to see the flowers.
Yet, the Aura of Death around him was the heaviest. Huo Yunxi estimated he had less than three months left to live.
Whether it was wanting to see the scenery outside, preparing a gift for their family, or simply enjoying a lavish meal, Jiang Chenyi provided them with a sum of money—not a fortune, but enough to fulfill their wishes.
As for whether they used the money or how they spent it, that was no longer Jiang Chenyi’s concern.
He had done what he could. He couldn’t hover over them like a mother hen, could he?
And when he fulfilled these patients’ wishes, their families were never present.
For terminal patients, he focused on granting their final desires. For those with mid-stage or benign tumors, he offered funds for treatment, even if the medication was exorbitantly expensive. He didn’t hesitate to provide a substantial amount.
Of course, this money could only be used for medical purposes.
Before long, most patients in the hospital knew of his presence.
Some terminal patients desperately begged him for money to continue treatment, even if it meant extending their lives by just a week.
But there were also family members who declined his generosity while stating that they could still manage and hoped Jiang Chenyi would help others in greater need.
No one was without curiosity about why he did this, but Jiang Chenyi only smiled and offered no explanation.
Some patients had the Mountain Spring Water tested to determine what substances it contained. Jiang Chenyi didn't stop them, knowing full well that even if all the components were identified, the current world wouldn't be able to replicate it.
Because this was simply not a product of this world.
After nearly walking through the entire hospital building, Jiang Chenyi was stopped at the elevator entrance on the final floor.
"Sorry, this area ahead is for VIP wards. Unless you're a patient's family member, you can't proceed."
Jiang Chenyi looked at the assistant in front of him while slightly surprised.
He had come here because he had heard a unique inner voice and was curious about the person's identity.
And that inner voice was saying...
["The newly cultivated beans don't seem to be ripe yet. Will I live to see them mature?"]
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