Chapter 53: You Didn't Even Send Word When You Were Sick

Chapter 53: You Didn't Even Send Word That You Were Sick

Shen Meng’s hands paused. Instead of knocking, she pushed the door open directly.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back."

Shen Meng pushed her bicycle into the courtyard with some urgency. Behind her, Lu Mingliang tugged at his brother's sleeve.

"Brother, did you hear that? It sounds like Grandpa is sick. I heard him coughing."

"Be quiet. Don't worry Mom."

Inside the house, Wang Guizhi, who was bringing water to Shen Fugui, froze for a moment.

"Old man, am I hearing things? Why do I think I heard our daughter's voice?"

"Cough, cough, cough... what nonsense are you talking about? Xiao Meng hasn't fully recovered yet; how could she come home? Besides, her in-laws aren't easy to deal with. If she comes back, she'll probably just start another argument, cough, cough..."

"Dad, Mom, I'm back."

Wang Guizhi looked outside in surprise. The water she was about to bring to Shen Fugui's lips was set down abruptly on the kang table.

"Oh! I knew it was Xiao Meng! You old man, you kept saying it wasn't! Daughter, daughter, why are you here? Are you feeling better? I'm in the west room!"

She rushed out in a flurry, paying no attention to Shen Fugui, who was sitting there with his mouth open, waiting for water.

"Cough, cough... old woman, the water..."

After parking her bicycle, Shen Meng quickly led the children into the main hall. After looking around and not seeing anyone, she heard they were in the west room and headed that way, nearly colliding with the rushing Wang Guizhi.

"Mom, slow down."

"Oh, daughter, why are you here? Are you tired? Take a rest, I'll get you some water. My eldest grandson and granddaughter are here too! Grandma, Grandma will find some snacks for you all!"

"Mom, don't fuss yet. They ate something on the way here, they aren't hungry. Where is Dad? Is he sick?"

Wang Guizhi let out a gasp. "Oh no, oh no! Your father was just about to drink water, and I forgot! Your father is in the west room. The side room in the main hall is being used by your brother; he saw your father was sick and was afraid of a draft, so he moved him. Your father's condition got a bit worse."

She headed toward the west room, and Shen Meng and the children quickly followed.

A moment later, Shen Fugui finally got his water. After feeling a bit more comfortable, he began to cough again.

"How long have you been sick? Why didn't you send word to me!"

"It's been on and off. It's just the cold weather; I caught a chill. It's been intermittent, but it got a bit worse these past two days, so I didn't go to work. I saw a doctor, and the doctor said it's nothing serious, so don't worry."

Shen Fugui spoke with a smile, looking at his daughter standing there healthy and well, and seeing his grandchildren all clean and looking a bit more fleshed out in the face. It seemed his daughter had been taking good care of the children lately.

"Your father is right, it's nothing much. It's just the cold weather. You'll be fine in a couple of days."

Shen Meng looked around the room and then up at the ceiling. With these conditions, if they didn't renovate, the house would surely collapse in the winter!

"That's good then. Mingyang, you kids stay in here and play with Grandpa. Mom and Grandma are going to unload the things from the bicycle."

"Okay."

Wang Guizhi followed Shen Meng out with a frown. When she saw the two baskets on the bicycle, her frown deepened.

"Good heavens! Daughter, what is all this? Why did you bring so much stuff?"

"Mom, these are things I brought for you and Dad, and some are for my nephews and nieces. I need to go to the county town in a bit. The kids will stay here with you to help with cooking. I'll be back later. If I make it in time for dinner, we'll eat; if not, you all go ahead and eat without waiting for me."

Carrying a basket on her back with a bent waist, Wang Guizhi asked somewhat confusedly, "What are you going to the county town for? You finally came home, you should spend some time talking with me!"

Shen Meng repeated what she had previously told Lu Mingfang. She placed the two baskets on the low table in the main hall and began taking the items out one by one.

Candies, peach crisps, malt extract, elderly milk powder, canned yellow peaches, eggs, three pounds of pork belly, fabric, shoes, socks... the table was piled high.

Wang Guizhi: "..."

In all her years, she had never seen so many good things, and now they were all piled in front of her.

"Daughter, you... why did you bring so much? Take it back and keep it for yourself. Your father and I don't need it."

Shen Meng didn't waste words; she was in a hurry to get to the county town.

"Mom, don't worry. I've started my own household. From now on, I'll give you whatever I want to give you. You are my parents; you raised me, and it's my duty to show you filial piety. You and Dad can eat these with peace of mind. Lock them in your kang cabinet; don't give them to anyone. These two sets of ready-made clothes are for you and Dad. This fabric is for Xiaobin; he's not young anymore and will be looking for a wife in the next couple of years, so he needs some decent clothes. This bag is old clothes for Mingyang and the others; give them to my little nephews. If they fit, they can wear them; if not, we'll look into making shoes. Give the candies to the children, and put the rest in your cabinet as you see fit."

Wang Guizhi wanted to refuse again, but seeing her daughter's serious face, the words died in her throat.

With trembling hands, she packed everything into the baskets bit by bit. She took them to the west room and put them all in the kang cabinet. On the table in the main hall, only a bag of candy, twenty eggs, and three pounds of pork belly remained.

After saying goodbye to her parents and the children, Shen Meng pedaled her bicycle toward the county town.

***

At the hospital.

Cheng Yufen looked at Cheng Yuan, who had come with Wang Jin'e. He was carrying quite a few things. The two had rushed over early in the morning, glancing anxiously toward the door from time to time.

"It will likely be a bit late. Comrade Shen has several children to settle first, so don't be in a hurry."

Cheng Yufen's comfort made Wang Jin'e feel a bit embarrassed. After she went home last night, the more she thought about it, the more she felt that person had been lying to her. Who would have thought that after making a few inquiries, she actually found out the truth?

Zhao Wei was indeed a soldier under Lu Zhenping's command. Wang Jin'e had been cautious and hadn't mentioned her own business, but Zhao Wei assumed something had happened and turned around to tell Cheng Yuan.

Cheng Yuan knew in his heart that his mother had gone to the county town to ask his aunt for help buying a radio. He had intended to ask her for news when she got home, but he hadn't expected his mother to cause such a huge stir.

"Son, listen to your aunt. Don't rush this. I've already spoken to Comrade Shen; she won't say anything out of turn."

Cheng Yuan's expression remained somewhat sour. He let out a "tsk" and turned to look outside again.

Shen Meng sped all the way to the county hospital, clutching a box as she walked toward Cheng Yufen's office.

She desperately wanted to bring out the car from her space. If not that, even an electric scooter would do; this bicycle was simply too exhausting. She really couldn't handle this much physical exertion.

"She's here, she's here! Xiao Yuan, that woman with the hair tied up is the one."

Cheng Yuan scanned the crowd and froze.

The woman had bright eyes and white teeth, with a graceful figure. Because she was walking so fast, a few strands of hair had fallen across her forehead, and one playful lock rested on the tip of her nose. He thought to himself: *This woman is truly beautiful!*