The next day, when Gu Xingdong woke up, he had already gone for his morning exercises. Chen Lishu made breakfast before calling Rui Rui to get up.
"Mom has to go to the city today. It's too cold outside to take you with me. How about I take you to Aunt Wang's house to play with Brother Yan Chao and the others?"
Rui Rui nodded obediently, "I have gifts to give them too."
Soon, Chen Lishu dressed Rui Rui and took him over, promising to pick him up in the afternoon before setting off for the city.
Following the address given by Zou Liang, she arrived at the provincial newspaper office, where Zou Liang was already waiting.
The interview went smoothly. Chen Lishu silently wrote down the lyrics for Zou Liang and answered a few questions she could, and the interview concluded.
"Thank you so much for this. There's a restaurant across from our office. Let me treat you to a meal there to show my gratitude," Zou Liang said, collecting the interview notes and inviting her.
Chen Lishu smiled and refused, "I have other things to do. Perhaps next time."
Zou Liang had no choice but to drop the matter. After thanking her again, he escorted her to the office entrance and only turned back after she left.
"That girl is so beautiful and has such good气质. And she's a university student. Liang, didn't you think about pursuing her further?"
Zou Liang gave a wry smile, "I'd like to, but she's already taken."
...
After leaving the newspaper office, Chen Lishu took a car directly to Wang Aixiang's house.
Wang Aixiang was sewing clothes at home. Her eyes lit up when she saw Chen Lishu arrive, "Sister, when did you get back?"
Chen Lishu smiled and sat down by the kang, "Yesterday."
Wang Aixiang got up to pour her some water, "Drink some hot water to warm yourself up."
Chen Lishu took the cup and warmed her hands with it for a while before telling her about the year-end benefits.
"Oh my, my boy has been clamoring for new clothes. You know, it's like falling asleep and bumping into a pillow. Two meters, I don't even need to buy fabric from outside," Wang Aixiang said, extremely pleased.
"Where can you find such a good job? I heard from Aunt Zhang in our courtyard that the factory's performance wasn't good this year, and they only gave everyone a pound of pork and called it a day."
They received two meters of fabric and ten yuan. When Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law heard Chen Lishu's words, she was so happy her mouth couldn't close.
After reviewing the ledger, Chen Lishu left Wang Aixiang's house.
As the end of the year approached, in addition to the shops, many small vendors appeared on the streets. Chen Lishu saw vendors selling frozen pears and frozen persimmons. She bought two catties of each to take back for the children.
Upon returning home, she first set aside half of the items to send to the Wang family, and took the opportunity to pick up Rui Rui.
"Sister-in-law, you're too kind. The children are grown up, there's no need to spoil them." Zhao Guiying looked at her bringing things over and felt very embarrassed.
"I saw them on the way back and bought them on impulse," Chen Lishu smiled and placed the items on the table before calling Rui Rui home.
Having not eaten these two items for a long time, Chen Lishu also felt a craving. As she thawed them in water, besides Rui Rui's portion, she added an extra one for herself.
The persimmons were very sweet, and the frozen pears were very juicy. Both mother and son ate with relish. However, due to the cold nature of the fruits, they didn't eat any more. Chen Lishu put the rest outside to freeze.
Unexpectedly, even though she had been careful, Chen Lishu's stomach began to feel uncomfortable in the afternoon.
Thinking it was just a common stomach upset, Chen Lishu didn't take it seriously. She drank some hot water, thinking she would be fine soon. However, by the time she finished making dinner, her stomach was aching more and more.
Gu Xingdong returned in the evening. As soon as he opened the door, he found that only the living room light was on, and the entire room was very quiet.
Rui Rui looked up and saw him enter. He quickly ran to his side, tilted his head up, and put his index finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture, "Shh, Mom is sick and sleeping. Don't disturb her."
Hearing that Chen Lishu was sick, Gu Xingdong paused as he closed the door. Then, without even taking off his shoes, he rushed into the bedroom in a few strides.
He reached out and pulled the light cord. As the light flickered on, Gu Xingdong saw a bulge under the covers on the bed. Chen Lishu was curled up inside, the quilt covering her mouth. Her pale little face was buried in the pillow, her brows furrowed tightly.
Gu Xingdong went over and reached out to touch her forehead. Finding no fever, he gently nudged her a couple of times, "Lishu, wake up. Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
"Mommy said her stomach hurts," Rui Rui stood by the bed, looking at Chen Lishu with worried eyes.
Chen Lishu was woken by Gu Xingdong. Her senses gradually returned, and she felt as if a meat grinder was working inside her stomach. The pain made her involuntarily groan, "Xingdong, my stomach hurts."
"Don't be afraid. Hang in there for a little longer, and I'll take you to the hospital right away."
The army base also had a medical clinic, but they were skilled at treating external injuries. Since Chen Lishu said her stomach hurt, Gu Xingdong dared not delay. He instructed Rui Rui, turned around, and went back to the unit to borrow a car.
Soon, Gu Xingdong returned driving a car. The commotion alerted Wang Jianshe and his wife. They came out to ask and found out that Chen Lishu was sick.
"We don't know when you'll be back from the hospital. You can leave the child with us for now."
"Thank you."
Gu Xingdong thanked them, watched Rui Rui being taken away, then went to the bedside to help Chen Lishu put on her clothes, wrap her scarf, and put on her hat. He bent down and lifted her directly into the car.
Gu Xingdong was a good driver. Although he drove at the limit, the car remained stable. In less than half an hour, the car stopped downstairs at the military region hospital.
He got out of the car and went to the passenger side to help her out, but Chen Lishu refused.
"I'm much better. Just help me a bit." It was just a stomachache. If he carried her in like this, it would be as if she had a serious illness. If word got out, wouldn't they laugh at her?
"Help what? Look at your complexion. You're still trying to be tough." Gu Xingdong didn't give her a chance to refuse. With a long arm, he lifted her from the seat and, with a flick of his foot, closed the car door.
...
Jiang Yuning was on duty that day. After her routine rounds of the wards, she looked at her watch. It was already past seven in the evening. As she walked to the nurse's station to give some instructions, she suddenly saw a familiar figure flash by the stairwell. Her expression changed slightly, and she hurried upstairs after the figure without finishing her sentence.
There weren't many doctors on duty at night. The guide downstairs simply asked about the situation and then directly told Gu Xingdong to take the patient to the internal medicine department on the third floor.
Since the doctor needed to conduct an examination, it was inconvenient for outsiders to go in. Gu Xingdong had to wait at the door for news.
"Xingdong?" Jiang Yuning called out uncertainly, looking at the tall and upright figure in front of her.
Gu Xingdong turned around. Seeing that it was her, he wasn't too surprised. He nodded politely, "Doctor Jiang."
Jiang Yuning subtly sized him up and found that he had changed quite a bit since they first met.
His eyebrows and eyes were still handsome, but his demeanor had changed a lot.
If he had been a sharp sword when they first met, then now he was a treasure sword sheathed, having hidden his sharpness, yet also becoming even more captivating.
"I heard long ago that you had been transferred here, but I never had the chance to meet you."
Gu Xingdong nodded, "Training is quite busy."
Seeing that he still had the same reticent personality as before, Jiang Yuning smiled and asked, "I just saw you carrying a girl in. Is she your sister?"