"The weather is terrible today."
"Yes, yes, to be exact, it has been like this for the past few days."
Inside the tavern, two old guys were sitting by the window, drinking and talking. They looked like they had drunk too much and looked tipsy.
Maybe it was due to the bad weather and the fact that not many people came to drink during the day, the pub was completely empty. Apart from the bartender who was still wiping the glasses, there were only these two guys left.
"But why did you want to drink with me?"
Oscar looked at him suspiciously. They hadn't been in touch for a while, but the last time they contacted was here.
"Because drinking alone is boring."
Buscaro thought for a moment and then said that he looked like he was worried about something and no one knew what he was hiding.
Oscar didn't ask any more questions. The two of them sat together, drinking from morning till now, chatting about everything from recent trivial matters to the bad weather.
"Ah, this damn place called Old Dunling... By the way, I've always felt that I might have some special abilities." Oscar scratched his gray hair.
"Ah? Tell me about it." Buscaro asked curiously.
"I can't really explain it, but every time before it rains, I feel a pain in my knees. Sometimes it hurts so much that it lasts until the rain stops."
Oscar rubbed his knee vigorously. As his palms applied force, he could easily feel the pain underneath, as if the gears were covered with rust and messy dust, and every bend brought clear pain.
"Although it hurts, the predictions are always very accurate. Do you think my ability is very useful in Old Dunling?"
When Buscaro heard this, his expression was a little dull. He thought about it, and then said with a little embarrassment.
"I think you have rheumatism."
"Ah? Rheumatism?"
Oscar cried out, he had never associated this condition with rheumatism.
"Well, really, many people have this symptom after living in Jiudunling for a long time. I usually recommend that they take painkillers or leave Jiudunling and find a sunny and warm place to live." Buscaro said seriously.
"That sounds quite professional." Oscar's words were muddled, probably because he drank too much.
"Professional? I've always been professional."
Hearing this, Oscar looked at Buscaro, his expression wrinkled, trying hard to recall, and then he exclaimed.
"Yes, you are a doctor!"
Oscar looked at his old friend. Perhaps Buscaro had been decadent for too long, so long that Oscar had forgotten that this guy was once a doctor.
"Well, yes, doctor, it's just past tense," Oscar repeated.
Listening to this guy's mumbling, Buscaro felt heartbroken. It took less than a year for him to go from a doctor to an alcoholic. Even he himself did not expect that he would change so much and become so completely decadent.
"Are you still in touch with your wife?" Oscar asked again.
"besides."
Buscaro spoke weakly, drinking wine in big gulps, trying to numb himself with alcohol.
"I guess so."