Chapter 244 A Small Test

Seeing Song Wanying say this, Jiang Zhenhua sighed and said, "We shouldn't interfere too much in matters concerning the child. Doing so will put pressure on Xiaoyue."

Song Wanying frowned: "How am I putting pressure on her? I want her to be better."

What she felt even more resentful about was how Shang Shiying and Fang Hua got along so well after she moved out of the compound.

After their trip to northern Gansu, Jiang Zhenhua, now retired and no longer in her prime, looked much older and more haggard, and seemed to have nothing to talk about with Shang Shiying and the others.

Jiang Zhenhua remained calm, glancing at Song Wanying, who had fallen silent beside him.

My gaze finally fell on Sun Xiaoyue in front of me.

...

After seeing off Jiang Zhenhua and his family of three, Shang Shiying and Li Chengzhang saw that Jiang Zhizhi and Fang Hua were also about to leave. They quickly went over and took Jiang Zhizhi's hand, saying, "Wait a moment. I asked Auntie to steam some buns and make some glutinous rice balls. You can take them home and have them for breakfast in the morning."

Fang Hua felt that Shang Shiying was being too polite: "We have all of these at home, so we won't take them."

Shang Shiying smiled and said, "You definitely don't have this at home. My aunt is from Jiangnan. She makes these fresh meat buns with bamboo shoots inside. They're delicious. Take them back and try them. They're different from the buns we have here."

The nanny brought out a bowl, half steamed buns and half glutinous rice balls.

Shang Shiying didn't give Fang Hua a chance to be polite at all, and shoved the bowl into Jiang Zhizhi's hands: "Zhizhi, you take this. If you like it, tell me later and I'll have the housekeeper make it for you."

Jiang Zhizhi could only accept, smiling and thanking her, "Thank you, Auntie."

Shang Shiying smiled, her eyes glistening with tears, and reached out to pat Jiang Zhizhi's head: "No need to thank me, silly child. Come visit often when you have time."

She couldn't believe that the child she had watched grow up was actually Shang Shiyi's daughter, her own niece.

Thinking of what Shang Shiyi had said to her that day, and looking at the child in front of her, her eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.

...

On the way home, Fang Hua was still puzzled and muttered to Zhou Chengzhi, "What's going on? You and Li Chengzhang don't have any work-related contact, so why is Shang Shiying suddenly being so nice to us?"

Zhou Chengzhi was also puzzled: "It might be because of Zhizhi, they used to have a good relationship with Zhenhua."

Fang Hua frowned. This explanation seemed to make sense, but it also seemed wrong: "But look at Shang Shiying's attitude. He was very rude to Song Wanying."

Zhou Chengzhi said impatiently, "You women are so troublesome. You have to come up with all sorts of schemes for a meal."

Then he asked, "How has Xiaochuan been behaving at home these past two days?"

Fang Hua thought for a moment and said, "It's still the same. This incident has been a big blow to him."

Zhou Chengzhi sneered: "What a load of crap! I don't think he's learned his lesson. Don't go along with him too much lately. Making him do chores after meals is ridiculous. Does he really think he's the young master of the house?"

Fang Hua remained silent, knowing that if she opened her mouth, she would start arguing with Zhou Chengzhi.

She didn't want to argue with Zhou Chengzhi outside of their home; it would be embarrassing!

Jiang Zhizhi quietly followed Fang Hua, listening to the two discuss Zhou Xiaochuan, and also felt that Zhou Xiaochuan had been unusually quiet these past few days.

Aside from meals, he basically stays in his room upstairs, and he doesn't say a word when he comes down to eat.

He had a long face, as if everyone owed him something.

Zhou Chengzhi was still grumbling that Fang Hua shouldn't spoil the child. He said that Zhou Xiaochuan hadn't suffered enough hardship since childhood, and if he had known this would happen, he would have sent him to the grassroots level to train earlier.

Or perhaps he should be sent to the countryside.

Fang Hua couldn't stand it anymore and shoved the basin into Zhou Chengzhi's arms: "So annoying, just leave!"

As she spoke, she pulled Jiang Zhizhi: "Come on, let's go. We won't go with him. He keeps nagging. Even the hen that lays eggs can't nag as much as him."

Jiang Zhizhi tried her best to suppress her laughter and quickly followed Fang Hua home.

Zhou Chengzhi paused for a moment, holding the basin and watching the two women run away. He sighed but no one paid him any attention. He couldn't help but mutter, "Why are people so easily angered these days? They're like firecrackers, they ignite without even being lit."

...

After New Year's Day, Jiang Zhizhi went to Jin Huaiying's place every noon to learn acupuncture techniques, meridian points, and ancient pharmacopoeias.

Jin Huaiying taught her a lot, it felt like she was being force-fed knowledge.

Jiang Zhizhi began to worry that she wouldn't be able to learn so much, or master it.

Jin Huaiying merely glanced at her and said, "You'll never make any progress in your life relying on these theoretical knowledge. You can only accumulate experience through continuous practice."

Jiang Zhizhi thought it made sense, so she rolled up her sleeves and started learning!

While studying, she kept calculating when Zhou Xiye would be able to go home.

The school has other arrangements for Thursday afternoon, so there will be a half-day holiday.

Jiang Zhizhi stayed at Jin Huaiying's place a little longer at noon and even tried acupuncture on Jin Huaiying's arm, which earned her praise.

The needle placement is accurate, and the needlework is skillful.

This greatly boosted Jiang Zhizhi's confidence, making her feel that she could go back and try to find Fang Hua to treat her frozen shoulder.

I rode my bike to the gate and ran into Li Simin coming out of the compound and getting into a car parked by the roadside.

Out of curiosity, Jiang Zhizhi stopped the car and glanced inside. Through the car window, she saw a man sitting inside, looking refined and wearing glasses.

Li Simin said a few words to the people in the car and got out. Seeing Jiang Zhizhi at the gate, he called out, "Zhizhi..."

He spoke to the people in the car again, then walked towards Jiang Zhizhi: "You didn't have class this afternoon?"

Jiang Zhizhi glanced in the direction the car drove off: "Hmm, I'm taking a half-day off this afternoon. Who was that just now?"

After all, Li Simin has very little social life due to health reasons.

Li Simin looked back and said, "The person in the car just now was Tan Songlin, the researcher I told you about the other day. I wasn't feeling well today, so I didn't go this afternoon, but there was a set of data they couldn't calculate, so they came to find me just now."

Jiang Zhizhi remembered: "Is it the one Sun Xiaoyue also knows?"

Li Simin nodded: "Yes, Researcher Tan is very capable."

Jiang Zhizhi's mind started to work: "What are the main areas of your research project? Can you tell us?"

Li Simin shook his head: "That's definitely not possible. Let's go home first."

Jiang Zhizhi said, "Oh, are you feeling unwell? Do you have a cold? Or are you just feeling weak? I recently learned pulse diagnosis, shall I take a look? Oh, and I also learned acupuncture..."

Jiang Zhizhi felt that she was now terrifyingly strong, with no place to use her skills.

Li Simin didn't take it too seriously: "I do have a bit of a cold, then I'll trouble Dr. Jiang to take a look at me in a bit."

Jiang Zhizhi laughed and pushed the cart into the courtyard with Li Simin.

Then they ran into Song Man, who had just bought ink from the service store.

Seeing that she was in a good mood, Song Man smiled gently at Jiang Zhizhi and asked, "What are you talking about? Why are you so happy?"

Jiang Zhizhi smiled at Song Man, her eyes crinkling, and then she had another idea: "Sister Song Man, do you have some time?"