Free Clinic, A Doctor Does Not Need Too Much Emotion

Today was the first day of the free clinic. Simon Sun had prepared all the necessary medicines early and checked his medicine chest over and over again to ensure nothing could possibly go wrong.

The physicians sent by the Young Clan arrived at Feng Manor early as well. Jada Tang and Mira Tang had already set up the free-clinic stalls and spread the word yesterday, making sure everything was ready to support Serena Feng’s plan.

Before dawn, the Feng Manor servants went out to maintain order at the site, sorting patients according to Serena Feng’s instructions: critical, urgent, mild, and slow-developing cases. Everything was ready, just waiting for Serena to arrive and start the clinic.

Seeing that everything was prepared and only her presence was missing, Serena suddenly felt awkward. At this moment, how was she any different from those showboating officials?

Just like them, she gave a single order and everyone else did the work; all she had to do was show up. Maybe the only difference was that she wasn’t just going through the motions—she was truly here to treat patients.

But even so, the number of people she could help was extremely limited. A doctor only had one pair of hands—she could save lives, but she couldn’t change fate.

Medical care has always been expensive and difficult to access; the pain of those who can’t afford treatment has never truly changed, from ancient times in China to now.

Serena sighed, finding an excuse for her own selfishness. She didn’t seem to have a charitable heart—so she wouldn’t force herself. Let things be as they are; she simply couldn’t starve herself to save others.

After a quick meal, Serena filled two insulated cups with hot water and handed them to Jada Tang and Mira Tang. On her way out, she passed a bottle to Simon Sun: “Hot water—keeps warm for six hours. A doctor has to take care of themselves first.”

“Thank you, Master.” Simon Sun’s eyes sparkled, his cheeks flushed with excitement—he clearly looked forward to today’s free clinic. Serena glanced at him and didn’t dampen his enthusiasm.

Anyone who’s ever participated in a free clinic never wants to go a second time—the emotional burden is just too much.

When you truly see those who are sick but have no money for treatment, you don’t feel proud that you can heal them. Instead, you wonder: how many people in this world are dying like them? How many can she actually save?

Anyone who’s attended a free clinic and witnessed a family destroyed by illness loses all hope for the clinic itself, because—

The scene is simply too tragic.

A free clinic is a double test of conscience and spirit—and she hated that feeling. Every time, it felt like a heavy stone pressed on her heart, driving her to want to save every patient in the world. But...

One person’s strength is limited. No matter how skilled a doctor is, the number of lives she can save in a lifetime can be counted. The ones who can truly rescue the people are those in power—the one sitting on the dragon throne. But...

Before they sit on that throne, maybe they still care about the nation and its people. But once they’re there, all that’s left is fighting for power and holding onto it. If you don’t fight, you’re not qualified to sit there. As for the lives and deaths of the common folk—who really cares?

Everything was ready—only a small surprise occurred as she was leaving...

Sean Xuan was waiting at the gate, snow piled on his shoulders—he must’ve been there a long time. Serena, calmly surprised, asked, “Young Palace Lord, what are you doing here?”

She hadn’t chased him out—he could stay at Feng Manor as he pleased, as long as he didn’t keep bringing up that childhood engagement nonsense.

Sean Xuan was very cooperative and didn’t use the engagement to pressure Serena. Seeing her carrying the medicine chest, he stepped forward and took it: “I’ll go with you to the free clinic.”

His action was so natural and matter-of-fact that Serena gave in without thinking. By the time she realized it, Sean was already holding the surgical case and walking toward the carriage.

Honestly, Sean’s move was just like a surgical assistant—no reason not to use him. Simon Sun used to carry her medicine chest, but today he had his own, so...

Serena accepted it all without guilt. Anyway, Sean never understood refusal; whether she agreed or not, he’d do what he wanted.

Sean helped Serena into the carriage and was about to climb in after her when Simon Sun suddenly popped up from nowhere, squeezing between them: “Master.” He gave Sean an apologetic smile and nimbly climbed aboard. “Master, about winter illnesses—”

Simon dove into the carriage, looking as if he had an urgent question for Serena. Sean just touched his nose and silently followed after.

Why was Serena’s apprentice acting so different? Just yesterday he’d been angling for his welcome gift, and today he was blocking trouble. But childish antics like this didn’t bother Sean at all.

On the carriage, Simon sat in the middle, completely monopolizing Serena and giving Sean no chance to speak. His whole back blocked Serena from view—Sean couldn’t even get a glance.

Serena understood what Simon was up to and smiled, indulging him. When Simon brought up common winter illnesses, she went along and discussed them. As they talked...

The two of them really were just talking about symptoms—nothing else. But none of this had anything to do with Sean.

Sean Xuan was perfectly courteous; even when Simon Sun was clearly blocking him, Sean showed no displeasure. When they arrived at the clinic site, Sean carried the medicine chest and followed Serena off the carriage, never acting like the Young Palace Lord. Jada Tang glanced over, opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing.

Whether on purpose or not, Jada Tang had chosen the clinic location right at the city gate. When Serena stepped off the carriage and saw it, she was stunned.

To her, the Capital’s main gate was where all her humiliation began. Serena couldn’t even describe how she felt about this place—she just knew she didn’t want to use charity to wash away the pain that had once been forced on her here.

Jada Tang was anxious the whole way, afraid Serena would blame her for acting on her own. Seeing Serena frozen by the carriage, Jada hurried over to explain.

“Miss, Young Master Su picked this spot for the clinic, and his porridge stall is here too. Miss, look—people are already lining up over there.”

The more Jada spoke, the softer her voice got, until she finally hung her head. Serena gave her a cool glance—she knew Jada meant well, but she shouldn’t have made decisions on her own.

“I don’t want this to happen again.” Giving you authority doesn’t mean you get to run my life. One Ninth Royal Uncle is headache enough; she didn’t want to deal with a whole crowd of people meddling with her fate.

“Understood, Miss.” Jada breathed a sigh of relief—Serena’s words meant she wasn’t angry.

Sean Xuan and Simon Sun both understood what was going on. Neither said a word, leaving the decision to Serena. Seeing she wasn’t upset, they quietly relaxed too.

They all knew exactly what Serena had been through at this city gate. Ninth Royal Uncle had paraded her past it again and again; now, it was up to Serena herself to rewrite the story—to erase the shame this gate had brought her.

From a distance, Serena could hear the refugees shouting, “Such good people—kind as Bodhisattvas! This porridge is so thick the chopsticks stand straight up. It’s so much better than the watery stuff the officials hand out.”

“There’s porridge and steamed buns—we won’t starve anymore, we won’t starve!”

“Now these are real good people. Those so-called philanthropists only ever give out a few bowls of plain water.”

“Bah! The stuff the officials hand out—is that even food? It smells rotten and is so clear you could use it as a mirror.”

“Whoever this generous master is, they must have a truly kind heart—giving us such thick porridge. We’re saved, we’re saved!”

“I don’t know who it is. The ones serving porridge are workers from the Su family’s shop, but they said it’s not Master Su—he’s just doing it for someone else.”

“Good people—truly good people! Heaven, look—there are still kind souls in this world. They give us porridge and don’t even leave their name.”

...

The closer Serena got, the louder the chatter—everyone praised the porridge-giver, saying good deeds bring good fortune. The whole scene was lively and bustling.

Everything was going smoothly, and the refugees’ faces lit up with happiness.

The people of Huaxia have always been the simplest, most honest folk. Give them a little, and they’ll treat you as a wise and just official. Restore even basic fairness, and they’ll believe you’re a model magistrate.

Their needs are few: enough food, warm clothes, a little less exploitation. But even these small hopes are cruelly stripped away by the officials.

The porridge line was harmonious. No matter how hungry or desperate, not one person cut in. There were children in their teens, wearing broken straw sandals that exposed their toes, shivering in the cold, yet still straining to peer into the steaming pot...

Everything they longed for was right there!

Men and women alike wore faint smiles, calculating how many mouthfuls their family could get from one bowl of porridge and a bun.

The elderly, hair white as snow, wrapped in thick burlap sacks, their faces weathered by wind and frost—when their cloudy eyes saw the porridge stall, a soft smile appeared, just like a child spotting their favorite candy.

The refugees kept praising the kindness, and the faces that had been numbed by the snow disaster slowly came alive. Lifeless eyes regained their spark—all thanks to a bowl of hot porridge and a bun.

It was a moving scene, both dynamic and still. Seeing people find happiness in a bowl of hot porridge, Serena and her companions just stood there, motionless...

They’d come with their own motives for doing good, but witnessing this moment hit them hard. It made you want to cry.

Serena was the first to regain composure. She’d seen so much tragedy—her heart was a little colder and harder than most.

She turned to see Sean Xuan stunned, and Simon Sun and Jada Tang in tears. Serena walked over to Simon and knocked him on the head: “You silly thing, what are you crying for?”

Simon really was a soft-hearted fool, born with a healer’s compassion. How could he not cry at a sight like this? But if he couldn’t control himself here, how would he stay calm inside the clinic?

Doctors can’t be too sentimental—feelings interfere with their work.