“Who are you calling sick?”
“Whoever answers, that’s who,” Chen Li Shu said to Zhou Xiao Qun without courtesy. “You are Nan Hai Tao’s girlfriend, so I respect you. I’ve also explained to you that we are just ordinary friends. As for anything else, I have nothing to say to you.”
Zhou Xiao Qun: “I think you’re just guilty about something. Otherwise, why are you in such a hurry to leave?”
Chen Li Shu narrowed her eyes. “Looking at your attire, you’re still at work, aren’t you? Is it okay for you to leave your post like this? Is your hospital that leisurely? Do you want me to find your supervisor and report the situation?”
After speaking, Chen Li Shu walked away directly, leaving Zhou Xiao Qun standing in place with resentment.
She had originally wanted to declare her territory and make this woman back down. She hadn’t expected the other party to be such a formidable opponent. It seemed she would have to report this situation to Aunt Nan after work.
...
When Zhang Qin went in for surgery, Chen Li Shu went to a nearby supply and marketing store to buy some tonics, such as red dates, goji berries, and pork ribs. She bought some of each. An induced labor surgery was similar to the postpartum confinement period; both required good recuperation, otherwise, it could lead to lingering health problems.
Gu Xing Guo was anxiously waiting outside the operating room. When he looked up and saw her return laden with bags, he knew she had gone to buy things for Zhang Qin. He said gratefully, “Third sister-in-law, we really owe you a lot for your help this time.”
Chen Li Shu put down the items and smiled. “Big brother, we are all family. It’s too formal to say that.”
Before long, Zhang Qin came out of the operating room. Her entire face was covered in sweat due to the pain, as if she had just been fished out of water. Her face was as pale as paper.
Chen Li Shu and Gu Xing Guo hurried over to help her sit on a stool.
“Eldest sister-in-law, please sit here and rest for a while. It’s too cold outside. You might catch a chill if you go out in such a sweaty state.”
Zhang Qin nodded weakly. “Thank you, third sister-in-law.”
After Zhang Qin’s sweat had mostly subsided, the two of them helped her onto the horse-drawn carriage. When they came out, Li Xiu Lan had specially brought an extra quilt. Chen Li Shu checked repeatedly to ensure Zhang Qin was well-covered and wouldn’t be exposed to the wind. The three of them then headed home.
“Third sister-in-law, why did you buy so many things?” Liu Yue Min greeted them when she saw them return. When she saw the items in Chen Li Shu’s hands, her eyes darted around.
“Eldest sister-in-law’s surgery was quite taxing on her vitality, so I bought some things to nourish her body.”
Liu Yue Min felt a pang of envy and pouted. “When I was in confinement after giving birth to Xiao Feng, I didn’t receive such treatment. Third sister-in-law, you are truly good to eldest sister-in-law.”
Chen Li Shu looked up at her and said with a smile, “Second sister-in-law, next time you have a miscarriage, I’ll buy even more than this.”
Liu Yue Min received no pleasantries and, holding her child, turned and went back into the house.
Since Zhang Qin needed to rest after her surgery, Chen Li Shu voluntarily took over the household chores for the next period.
She had already arranged all the work she needed to do. Therefore, for the remaining days before the New Year, she didn’t go anywhere. Besides doing housework, she spent her time reading, looking after the children, and making clothes.
The two shops in the county town closed on the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month. Everyone had worked hard for a year and would take a good rest during this time, reopening for business on the sixth day of the first lunar month.
Business in the provincial capital had been good before the New Year, so Wang Ai Xiang planned to stay open for two more days, closing on the twenty-eighth.
On this day, she and Liang Chun Sheng were taking stock of the goods when a man and a woman suddenly entered the store. The man was tall and handsome, and the woman was slender and beautiful. Judging by their intimate demeanor, they appeared to be a couple.
“Hello, welcome,” Wang Ai Xiang said, putting down her work and smiling as she approached.
“Zi Nian, I didn’t expect the shop assistants in such a small place to be so polite, almost like those in our capital,” the woman said, looking up with a smile.
He Zi Nian nodded and said somewhat carelessly, “They are indeed good.”
“You’re not focused when accompanying me shopping. Are you still thinking about the one at home?”
Wang Ai Xiang looked up when she heard the woman’s words. So they weren’t husband and wife, but rather having an affair. Her expression remained unchanged, but she felt a bit of contempt in her heart.
“Ever since Xiao Rui went missing, she has been almost completely devastated. A while ago, the family urged us to have another child, but she refused no matter what. Now she’s throwing a fit and wants a divorce,” the woman said. A glint flashed in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
“It’s rare for us to be out. Let’s not think about unhappy things,” the woman quickly changed the subject, pointing to the cashmere coats on the mannequins in the window. “Zi Nian, look how beautiful those two coats are!”
“Comrade, these two coats are purely handmade by the shop’s master tailor, and the fur collars are made of mink fur.”
Although she felt contempt, Wang Ai Xiang did not forget her professional duties. Seeing the woman’s interest, she quickly took down the women’s coat. “You can try it on. We only have this one piece in the shop, and there will absolutely be no second piece identical to it.”
Hearing that there was only one piece, the woman became even more interested. She had seen many good things. As soon as she handled the clothes, she knew the materials were exquisite, and the fur on the hood was also good. After trying it on, it felt as if it were tailor-made for her, making her cherish it even more.
“Zi Nian, what do you think of me wearing this coat?”
He Zi Nian nodded. “Not bad, it looks quite nice.”
Wang Ai Xiang pressed on. “Comrade, there’s also a men’s style. When it was made, it was a couple’s set. You two would look even more matched wearing them.”
Upon hearing her words, the woman’s eyes lit up, and she immediately urged the man to try on the men’s coat as well.
After trying them on, they were very satisfied. The woman asked, “How much are these two coats?”
“The men’s is one thousand, and the women’s is one thousand two hundred.”
Hearing the price, the woman hesitated. “I’m buying two. Can you give me a discount?”
Wang Ai Xiang smiled and shook her head. “Comrade, this shop does not negotiate prices.”
The man said, “I’ll go get the money. Please pack them for us first.”
“Oh, certainly.” Wang Ai Xiang quickly agreed, as she had just sold two very expensive items. She took out a kraft paper bag printed with the word ‘Shu Se’ (姝色), folded the two coats, and packed them for the couple.
After the man returned with the money, paid, took the clothes, and left the store with the woman.
“We have to go back to the capital again. There will be fewer days where I can openly accompany you like this.”
“It’s already been delayed for several days. The elders at home have urged me several times; we must go home for the New Year…”
Liang Chun Sheng looked at their departing figures and couldn’t help but sigh, “That man is really rich!”
In his understanding, no matter how wealthy one was, spending over two thousand yuan on two pieces of clothing at once felt like an extremely extravagant thing.
“How else could he have one person at home and another outside?” Wang Ai Xiang said, counting the money again. She took out her passbook, informed Liang Chun Sheng, and then left the store, heading towards the bank.