"Xia, a meal in the cafeteria costs 50 cents. I know you can't bear to spend that money since you don't have any income. Have you ever experienced that kind of food? If it's really not worth it, your sister-in-law will treat you to a meal and let you see for yourself."

Xia Enru thought to herself, the food was only worth 50 cents, any more than 50 cents was a waste of money, but Qiao Huizhen treated it like a treasure.

"Sister-in-law, our family is too poor to afford this. You should save it for Brother Ding."

Qiao Huizhen looked at Xia Enruo carrying large and small bags and asked:

"What are you getting for Gu Shaoxuan?"

"I made a few cornbread buns and asked Sister Qiuqin for a bowl of pickled vegetables, intending to use them for our dinner."

Qiao Huizhen's throat ached from listening. That's right, Xia Enruo only deserved to eat coarse grains; without a job, where would she get the money to buy white flour?

"Then you'd better prepare plenty of hot water, in case the two of them choke and can't swallow it down."

"There's no need for you to trouble yourself, sister-in-law."

The two barely exchanged a word the entire way. Qiao Huizhen subtly suggested to Xia Enruo that continuing to follow Gu Shaoxuan would only lead to their demise. They were already eating cornbread, and once Gu Shaoxuan became disabled, they would be forced to eat coarse grains every day. It would be better to let Jiang Pei suffer the hardship and let her simply leave.

Xia Enruo was tired of hearing it. This Qiao Huizhen was really something. Even though she didn't want to talk to her, she still kept trying to win her over every day. She really had the willpower.

When Xia Enruo arrived at the hospital, she opened the lunchbox and laid out a table full of dishes. She also boiled a few eggs and put one in each of Gu Shaoxuan and Yuan Qiang's bowls.

The millet porridge with added butter and brown sugar was really sweet and delicious.

Xia Enruo was taking care of Gu Shaoxuan almost as much as she was giving him a postpartum confinement.

Yuan Qiang was so engrossed in his food that he didn't have time to talk. He felt his trip hadn't been in vain. The fish was not only flavorful, but the ribs were also melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Qiao Huizhen got Ding Haotian some food and put it by his bedside. She then went back to her parents' home to bring her son some pants.

Ding Haotian had been on a hunger strike for the past two days and really didn't want to eat the cafeteria food, but Qiao Huizhen didn't indulge him. She served him meals on time every day, regardless of whether he wanted to eat or not.

After recovering from his injuries for half a month, Ding Haotian was able to get out of bed and eat and walk around on his own these past two days because his injuries were minor. He glanced at the lunchbox and turned his head away in disgust.

He picked up the cup, intending to drink some water to fill his stomach, only to find that both the cup and the thermos were empty.

Is this Qiao Huizhen really determined to fight me to the bitter end?

Having no other choice, Ding Haotian got out of bed and slowly took the thermos out of the ward to get water from the hot water room.

He remembered what Qiao Huizhen had said about how Gu Shaoxuan had been tormented by Xia Enruo, and he wanted to go and see him. After all, this was the first time he had stepped out of his room since being hospitalized, and it wouldn't be right not to go and see his comrade.