"That's fine too." Cheng Baidong asked softly, "Do you need me to come with you?"

“No need.” Fang Qiao shook his head and said, “Besides, my sister-in-law is hospitalized in the obstetrics and gynecology department, and it’s not convenient for a grown man like you to go in. You should stay at home and take care of the child; Xiao Jing can’t take care of the child by herself.”

Cheng Baidong replied, "Okay."

In the square not far away, Tian Tian turned around and saw Fang Qiao. Her face immediately lit up with a bright smile, and she raised her arm to wave at Fang Qiao: "Auntie!!"

Fang Qiao smiled and waved in response.

Sweetie shouted, "Auntie, come quick, look at the bamboo dragonfly! It can fly so high!"

An'an also called out to her, "Mommy, Mommy, come here."

Cheng Baidong put his hand on her back and said, "The child is calling you, go quickly."

Fang Qiao hummed in agreement and loudly replied to the two children, "Coming right away."

After saying that, she took off the scarf around her neck and handed it to Cheng Baidong so that he could hold it first, so that he wouldn't get all sweaty when he played later.

As soon as she entered the square, Tian Tian and An An eagerly came to greet her.

The two men each held one of her hands, vying to invite her to play with their bamboo dragonflies.

Sweetie took out a piece of mung bean cake wrapped in oil paper from her pocket and handed it to Fang Qiao: "Auntie, here you go."

Fang Qiao took it and asked with a smile, "Where did this mung bean cake come from?"

Sweetie replied, "It was given to me by Sister Panpan."

When Panpan heard Tiantian mention her voice, she subconsciously turned her head, saw Fang Qiao, gave her a shy smile, walked up to her, and obediently called out, "Auntie."

Fang Qiao took a bite of the mung bean cake and smiled as she said to her, "Thank you, Panpan. The mung bean cake is very sweet."

Panpan blushed and said shyly, "Auntie, no, you're welcome. I bought it with the New Year's money you gave me."

Fang Qiao patted her head and said, "The New Year's money is yours. You bought the mung bean cake with your own money, and you're willing to share it, so your aunt should thank you."

Upon hearing this, Panpan's eyes suddenly reddened, and she said somewhat aggrievedly, "But my mother said that children can't take their own New Year's money, so mine is hers."

Fang Qiao: "The New Year's money your aunt gave you is yours; it's not up to her to decide."

Panpan nodded and said, "So I spent all my New Year's money! Even if she asked me for it when I got home, she wouldn't have any left."

The little girl's bright black eyes held a mischievous glint.

Fang Qiao: "Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up?"

“I’ll accept being beaten,” Panpan said stubbornly.

Fang Qiao couldn't help but chuckle.

Even the most well-behaved little girl has a rebellious streak inside her.

Fang Qiao played with them for more than half an hour, and was so tired that she was panting and sweating profusely, her little face even turning red from the heat.

"Alright, let's stop playing now. Put the bamboo dragonfly away and go home."

The children were all tired from playing, and when they heard Fang Qiao say that they were leaving, they all obediently packed up their bamboo dragonflies and headed back.

Cheng Baidong's jeep was parked outside Fangjia Hutong. If she wanted to leave, she had to tell her family first. Otherwise, if she left without a word, she would be gossiped about.

The atmosphere at her parents' home was tense. Yang Fengxia had a stern face, while Fang Xue sat on a stool to the side, her eyes and nose red, looking like she had been crying a lot.

The mother and daughter avoided each other's gaze, clearly having had a fight.

Fang Qiao pretended not to see it, told Yang Fengxia that she was leaving, and then left her parents' home.

Yang Fengxia followed behind her to see her off. Just as she was about to get into the car, she grabbed her arm and pulled her to a secluded corner, saying, "Xiao Qiao, Mom has something to tell you."

"you say."

Yang Fengxia said with a troubled expression, "Your sister-in-law... has only been in the hospital for a few days and has already spent fifty yuan. The doctor wants another fifty. The family really can't afford that much. Can you help the family out?"

Fang Qiao guessed that this was what she was going to say, so she was prepared and had thought of her words in advance.

“I told my older brother that if he has any difficulties, he should just ask me, and I will definitely lend him the money if I have it.”

That's not what Yang Fengxia wanted to hear.

She wanted Fang Qiao to give her the money directly, rather than saying it was a loan.

You have to pay back what you borrow, but with our family in such a state, how can we pay it back?

"Xiao Qiao..."

As soon as Yang Fengxia opened her mouth, Fang Qiao knew she was trying to morally blackmail her again, so she interrupted her directly: "Mom, you're old, you should just stay at home and enjoy your retirement. Your brother knows what's going on outside, you don't need to worry about him. Be careful not to overwork yourself."

"Okay, Mom, that's enough. I have to go now. It's cold outside, you should go back too."

Fang Qiao didn't give Yang Fengxia a chance to speak. After finishing her sentence, she opened the car door and got in, signaling Cheng Baidong to drive away quickly.

Cheng Baidong quickly started the car, stepped on the gas, and drove away.

Yang Fengxia was so angry that she stomped her feet on the spot.

That brat!

The next morning, Fang Qiao left the child with Cheng Baidong and Xiao Jing and boarded a bus to the city by herself.

Don't ask her why she doesn't ride a bicycle; the answer is simply that it's too cold.

My face, hands, and ears are freezing! The biting wind is so strong I can barely open my eyes!

Not only is it painful, but it also strains your legs! You might as well just take the bus.

Although you have to transfer twice, the bus has windows and is draft-free, so the inconvenience is worth it compared to the warmth.

Fang Qiao got off the bus at a bus stop near the Beijing Hospital.

Behind the bus stop was a state-run store. Fang Qiao went in and bought a tub of malted milk powder and twenty eggs.

There was fruit available, but in the dead of winter, the fruit was not only expensive but also not fresh, so Fang Qiao glanced at it but didn't buy any.

After leaving the state-run store, she went to the state-run restaurant next door and ordered a nourishing chicken soup.

It's called chicken soup, but it actually contains more than just broth; it also has a lot of meat in it.

She brought a thermos in advance, and the waiter filled it to the brim; it was enough for two people to eat.

Fang Qiao carried her things and went to the ward number that Fang Hai had told her yesterday.

The ward was small, a three-person room, but only Dong Ping was staying there.

Fang Qiao knocked on the door and went in, and saw Dong Ping lying on the bed receiving an IV drip.

"Sister-in-law, I've come to see you." Fang Qiao first placed the thermos she was carrying on the bedside table, and then handed the eggs and malted milk powder she was carrying to Fang Hai.

Fang Hai declined, saying, "Little sister, this is... too expensive."

Malted milk powder is not cheap.

Dong Ping also said, "Little sister, you've come all this way, why did you bring anything?"

As she spoke, she tried to sit up in bed.

"Sister-in-law, you're getting an injection right now, lie down and don't move." Fang Qiao quickly reached out and pressed her shoulder, saying, "How can you visit a patient empty-handed? Brother and sister-in-law, please don't stand on ceremony with me. Please accept this. Eat more nutritious food to nourish your body during this time, so that the baby in your belly can grow well."