Chapter 38. Not only are there too many people, but the concern is also superfluous...

For Madam Fu and her mother, gynecological examinations were something they were too ashamed to talk about.

After things were settled, Fu's mother reminded Tang Mingli, "It's best if only a few of us know about this; don't tell the men in our family."

"Oh," Tang Mingli replied.

She certainly wouldn't tell other men, but if her mother-in-law didn't specifically instruct her, she would probably still tell Fu Ci.

Because Fu's mother has to work, the timing of their joint medical check-up at the hospital depends on her schedule.

Fu's mother is the director of the Women's Federation. It's easy for her to take leave when she's not busy, and most of the time she's not actually busy.

However, because she needed to mentally prepare herself, she delayed taking leave for two days, citing that she hadn't finished dealing with her work yet.

Tang Mingli wasn't in a hurry. After all, a physical exam wasn't like seeing a doctor, so she could take her time.

She could also tell that her mother-in-law was under psychological pressure.

If it weren't truly a friendly occasion, she would have proactively told her mother-in-law that she didn't have to go if she didn't want to.

At my mother-in-law's age, she is at a stage where she should pay attention to physical examinations.

Practice makes perfect. I was nervous about the physical exam this year, but I won't be so nervous next year, and I guess I won't be nervous at all the year after.

Moreover, she trusted her mother-in-law, a respected women's director, who surely wouldn't lack even this much courage.

Moreover, since my mother-in-law is the head of the women's affairs department, perhaps when she realizes the importance of physical examinations, she might vigorously promote annual physical examinations for women of childbearing age in China.

Thinking about all this, Tang Mingli felt that this matter was even more meaningful. She needed to be patient and wait for her mother-in-law to overcome her psychological barrier.

On the third day, when Fu's mother came home from get off work, she pulled Tang Mingli into her room and finally told her that she had managed to get leave.

Tang Mingli was somewhat pleased. As expected of the women's director, she had done her ideological work so quickly, faster than she had thought.

Without exaggeration, she was even prepared to wait ten days or half a month, or until her period ended next month, before going.

Tang Mingli asked excitedly, "When?"

"tomorrow."

"So fast?" Tang Mingli, who was used to making an appointment before seeing a doctor, was a little worried about whether she could get an appointment if she went directly tomorrow.

Fu's mother thought she had misheard. She had already delayed for three days, and her daughter-in-law was still saying that she was quick?

She asked, "Is something the matter?"

Tang Mingli laughed: "What could possibly be wrong with me?"

Fu's mother blurted out, "That's true."

Staying home every day, there's really nothing to do.

After blurting it out, Fu's mother realized that what she said wasn't quite right, so she quickly gave her daughter-in-law some credit.

“It must be hard for you to take care of your grandparents at home every day.”

"It's not hard work at all."

Tang Mingli didn't dare to take credit, saying that it was more like her grandparents who took care of her.

“I’m telling the truth.” Fu’s mother held Tang Mingli’s hand. “Fu Ci and his father are always busy, and I also have to work. We rarely have time to spend with Grandpa and Grandma. I know they are actually very lonely, especially Grandma. It’s only after you came that their lives became more interesting.”

"You're still young, so you might not feel anything, but at my age, I do have some feelings about it. Many elderly people spend the last years of their lives in loneliness."

You could even say they were killed by loneliness.

It was the arrival of their daughter-in-law that, without them even realizing it, brought their whole family to life.

These words silenced Tang Mingli.

It wasn't a silence of having nothing to say, but rather a feeling of being touched.

She didn't actually do much; it was because they cherished her that they felt less lonely with her by their side.

Moved, Tang Mingli nestled into her mother's arms.

"Mom, don't think that saying these things will make you not have to go for the physical exam with me."

What was supposed to be a heartwarming and touching scene turned into a burst of laughter when these words were spoken.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely go with you."

Tang Mingli said "together," while Fu's mother said "accompany."

Never mind, we'll just get a physical exam together.

Having arrived in this era, Tang Mingli has never been to a hospital. It might sound a bit boastful, but her youthful body is indeed very healthy.

Having never been there before means not knowing the procedure for seeing a doctor at this time.

Tang Mingli asked her mother somewhat anxiously, "Mom, what time are we leaving tomorrow?"

"We might need to get up earlier." After a moment's thought, Fu's mother told her a time: "Get up at six and leave at six-thirty."

"Six o'clock!!!"

Tang Mingli was horrified; this was her wake-up time from her previous life when she was a corporate slave. It felt so distant that she almost thought the days had turned upside down.

She remembered that the military hospital was very close to the compound, only two stops away, so she didn't need to arrive so early.

However, Fu's mother explained to her somewhat shyly, "I want to go to the provincial general hospital for a check-up. I'm afraid of running into acquaintances at the military general hospital."

Tang Mingli: ...

The name "Provincial General Hospital" sounds prestigious and distant.

However, Guangcheng is not very big at this time, and it only takes an hour or two to drive from east to west, so could we go a little later?

But considering that it's a physical exam, some tests might require fasting, I figured I might as well do it as soon as possible.

If we finish the check-up sooner, we can go to a state-run restaurant for a nice morning tea.

Thinking about it this way, getting up at six o'clock doesn't seem so painful anymore.

However, there is still one problem; she needs to confirm with her mother-in-law.

"Mom, have you been to the provincial general hospital?"

Fu's mother laughed: "Of course I've been there. My dad was hospitalized at the provincial general hospital for a period of time, and I went there every day during that time."

Tang Mingli was relieved and honestly told her mother-in-law, "I haven't been there."

Fu's mother laughed again: "Silly child, isn't it a good thing that you haven't been there before?"

That's true, Tang Mingli agreed.

Hopefully, aside from occasional medical checkups, she will never have to step into Guangcheng's best hospital in her lifetime.

-

Since we have to get up early, we should keep tonight's schedule to a minimum.

Tang Mingli sat on the living room sofa waiting for dinner, while mentally planning which projects to cut.

Watching TV won't do; what I look forward to most each day is watching my favorite shows. Besides, there are no replays at this time, so if I miss it, I miss it forever.

The half-hour calligraphy practice after watching TV can be paused for a day. Today is supposed to be her twice-weekly bath day, but let's cancel that; a shower in the rain will be quicker. The pleasant reading time before bed will also be skipped; let's go straight to sleep.

With this in mind, I can go to bed around 9:30.

I slept from 9:30 to 6:00, which is a full eight hours, enough for me.

There's a saying that things can hardly keep up with changes. Fu Ci, who had been coming home almost asleep lately, actually came back before dinner today.

On days when he comes home early, they usually choose to have some fun together.

But I have to get up early tomorrow, so I can't.

Tang Mingli was determined and told herself to stay firm.

She was right. After she finished watching TV, she went upstairs without delay, and Fu Ci followed closely behind.

Tang Mingli spoke first, telling him, "I need to get up early tomorrow to go to the hospital for a check-up with Mom."

Fu Ci's gaze instantly turned innocent, tinged with concern: "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell, or is Mom feeling unwell?"

"I don't feel unwell, I just want to get a routine physical exam."

Fu Ci was relieved, but then he realized that his wife had to go to bed early since she was getting up early.

He just smiled wryly and said to his wife, "Go take a shower first."

His original intention was to get his wife to take a shower and go to bed early, but Tang Mingli, mindful of his past behavior, couldn't understand such a simple thing.

Tang Mingli bluntly told him, "You can't have any funny ideas tonight, or I won't be able to get up tomorrow, and I won't let you off the hook."

Fu Ci chuckled softly, "I understand, what do you take me for?"

Tang Mingli thought to herself, "A beast that has been abstinent for a long time."

But she dared not say it aloud. Instead, she took her husband's hand and told a white lie: "Of course I see him as my dear husband."

Even though she knew it was just her being coquettish, Fu Ci's heart almost melted.

He felt guilty knowing he had important things to do the next day and couldn't accompany his wife and mother to the hospital.

"I'm sorry, I don't have time tomorrow and can't go with you."

Tang Mingli quickly said, "Even if you have time, you absolutely mustn't spend it with us."

Otherwise, my mother-in-law would definitely run away at the last minute.

Fu Ci asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Is he really that superfluous now?

However, after his wife whispered an explanation, Fu Ci felt embarrassed.

The main purpose is to perform a gynecological examination, and the mother would indeed feel embarrassed if he were present.

Fu Ci said, "Then I'll have to trouble you tomorrow."

Tang Mingli still said the same thing: "It's not hard work, it's not hard work."

Her mother-in-law takes care of her; what hardship does she have to endure?

"Don't be nervous, it's just a medical check-up."

Fu Ci knew that people would be nervous when they went to the hospital. Even though a physical examination is not a medical check-up, they would still worry about what problems might be found.

However, these words were met with a questioning look from his wife.

"I'm not nervous. Why do you think I would be nervous?"

She was young and healthy, and she maintained a good routine, ate a balanced diet every day, and there was nothing that made her angry.

If something is still found to be wrong with her after things have come to this, it can only mean that God is targeting her.

So she wasn't nervous.

With so many people under the heavens, why would God target such a spineless nobody like her?

Fu Ci:......

It seems he's not only a bit superfluous in terms of his person, but also a bit superfluous in terms of his concern.

I need to finish my work as soon as possible so I can have some time to deepen my relationship with my wife.

"I'm going to take a shower."

Tang Mingli gracefully released her husband's hand, grabbed her change of clothes, and happily went into the bathroom.

Taking a bath is one of her favorite activities during the day.

That night, Tang Mingli slept exceptionally soundly, as always.

Unlike her, the old lady downstairs was so nervous that she had nightmares and woke up in a fright several times.

Once again, she woke up from her sleep with a start, and Fu Cheng'an, who was sleeping next to her, was also awakened. He thought his wife was having a nightmare, so he quickly turned on the bedside lamp.

"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

The soft light illuminated the bedroom, and the husband's gentle words of comfort eased Mrs. Fu's tension to some extent.

She didn't reply to her husband, but instead picked up the cup on the bedside table and gulped down several large mouthfuls.

Fu Chengan reminded her, "Be careful not to drink too much water and you'll have to get up at night."

But Fu Mu didn't care about any of that; drinking water calmed her down, so she drank it.

After she put down her cup, Fu Cheng'an, noticing something was wrong, asked, "What dream did you have? You're so scared."

Fu's mother was indeed frightened by the dream.

She dreamt of a cold hospital bed, and the doctor's gloved hand reaching out to her...

Fu's mother told her husband, "I'm going to accompany Mingli to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow."

Upon hearing that she was going to the hospital, Fu Cheng'an instinctively assumed his daughter-in-law was sick and asked with concern, "Mingli, what's wrong? Why do you need to go to the hospital?"

Speaking of this, Mrs. Fu felt a lump in her throat and muttered, "It's all because of Auntie..."