"Little sister, since that's the case, then we won't stand on ceremony with you." Dong Ping gave Fang Hai a wink, and Fang Hai then put the malted milk powder and eggs into the bedside cabinet.

Dong Ping then insisted on sitting up from the bed. Fang Hai helped her change from lying down to a semi-reclining position leaning against the headboard, and thoughtfully placed a pillow behind her lower back.

Fang Qiao sat on a chair on the edge of the bed and asked her with concern, "Sister-in-law, how are you feeling after taking the medicine for a few days? Are you feeling any better?"

"It's all good, the bleeding has stopped, but I still feel a slight downward pressure in my abdomen occasionally. The doctor said to take the medication for another three days, and as long as there are no signs of infection in the uterus, I can be discharged." At this point, Dong Ping smiled and said to Fang Qiao with a look of relief, "Little sister, I'm so grateful for your timely reminder that day, and for helping me stop the bleeding temporarily. The doctor said my condition was very dangerous; if I had come even a day later, I wouldn't have been able to save the baby. I really should thank you properly; you saved this child's life."

Fang Qiao said with relief, "It's good that you're alright. It's also because this child is strong and determined. She really wants you to be her parents and doesn't want to leave you."

“Yes, I bled for a whole week. Any other pregnant woman would have miscarried long ago. It shows how much this child misses us.” Dong Ping subconsciously touched her lower abdomen, her lips curving upwards, her face full of maternal love.

Fang Qiao was relieved to know that Dong Ping was alright.

After chatting for a while, he got up to say goodbye so as not to disturb Dong Ping's rest.

Dong Ping tried to persuade him to stay but failed, so she quickly said to Fang Hai, "Master, go and see your little sister off."

"good."

Fang Hai hurriedly chased after her from the ward: "Little sister, let me take you."

Fang Qiao waved her hand and said, "Brother, no need, I know the way out. Besides, sister-in-law is getting an injection right now, and the medicine in the bottle might run out at any time. She can't be left alone."

"It's alright, there's still half a bottle of medicine left, it won't be finished in a short time." Fang Hai smiled and said, "Let's go, little sister, I'll see you to the outside of the hospital."

Fang Qiao couldn't refuse him, so she had no choice but to agree.

The brother and sister walked out one after the other.

The corridor was somewhat empty, and there was no one around. Fang Qiao took the initiative to ask, "Brother, have you raised enough money for sister-in-law's hospitalization? If there's a shortfall, I have some left."

Fang Hai refused directly: "Little sister, there is a shortfall, but I don't need your money."

Fang Qiao frowned: "Big brother, now is not the time to be reckless."

“Little sister, I’m not trying to be brave. I’ve already scraped together more than thirty yuan, and I’m still short a dozen yuan. I can get the rest by asking a few more relatives and friends.” Fang Hai said seriously, “Little sister, you can’t make an exception for me, otherwise Mom will know you’re soft-hearted and she’ll definitely pester you again.”

Fang Qiao was taken aback by Fang Hai's words, paused, and turned to look at him.

Fang Hai stopped a meter behind her, avoiding her gaze, and continued, "Little sister, you should continue to move forward as you always have. Don't be soft-hearted. None of us in this family, including me... are worth it."

"Big brother..." Fang Qiao hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.

"Little sister, you can go back now. I'll leave you here." After saying that, Fang Hai turned his face away and walked back.

Fang Qiao watched Fang Hai's retreating figure, pursed her lips, and felt a mix of emotions.

Fang Hai returned to the ward with his head down, sat down on the chair by the bed, and his emotions lingered for a long time.

Unable to bear the somber atmosphere, Dong Ping took the initiative to speak: "I've seen my little sister off."

Fang Hai silently hummed in agreement.

Looking at him, Dong Ping sighed: "Your sister is willing to lend you money, so why are you making things difficult for yourself? We're lending it to her, and we've properly written an IOU. It's not like we're not going to pay it back."

"You call it a loan? If Mom finds out, do you think she'll be willing to pay it back?" Fang Hai sneered. "You know my little sister isn't heartless, she can be sentimental and soft-hearted, and she'll come back crying and begging to beg him to pay her back?"

Dong Ping chuckled awkwardly, "My little sister won't pay any attention to her anyway."

"Whether the younger sister responds or not is her business; we can't start that."

Fang Hai was silent for a while, then said, "Xiao Ping, it was our whole family that wronged her. She was just two days away from going to high school, but out of the four siblings, the eldest got married to avoid being sent to the countryside. Neither my younger brother nor I, the two men, dared to take responsibility. We didn't dare to say a word after getting jobs from our parents, and we just watched helplessly as she was thrown into the ranks of those going to the countryside. Before she left, she even got a beating from our parents."

“I was a fool back then. The day my little sister got on the train, I wasn’t thinking that she was going to suffer. Instead, I was overjoyed, thinking that someone in the family had gone to the countryside and that I no longer had to worry about the neighborhood committee coming to talk to us.”

Fang Hai gave a bitter smile and said, "We've wronged her, how could we have the face to use her money?"

Dong Ping didn't know what to say about this.

After all, there are many biased parents in the world, and there will always be one child in a family who has to go to the countryside. Does that mean that all children who go to the countryside should turn against their parents? That would be too much of a temper.

The awkward part is that the sister-in-law has turned her life around; she married a capable and good man.

She used to rely on her family, but now it's the other way around; her family wants to curry favor with her and benefit from her success.

If their positions were switched, wouldn't that be awkward?

After a long silence, Dong Ping said worriedly, "What about the hospital bills...? The family won't pay a single penny. You've already received two months' salary in advance from your workplace. Will they agree to another advance?"

Fang Hai frowned and said, "Don't worry about the money, I have a way. Just rest and take good care of yourself."

Fang Qiao came out of the corridor. The courtyard outside was the inpatient department's recreation area, planted with evergreen flowers, trees and shrubs, and with many benches placed on both sides of the road.

The midday sun was shining brightly, making it warm and cozy, so many patients and their families sat on the benches to enjoy the sunshine.

Fang Qiao had no intention of lingering. She walked through the courtyard, but as she turned a corner, she bumped into a wheelchair being pushed towards her. There was an acquaintance sitting in it.

The acquaintance had a white bandage wrapped around his head, a cast on his leg, and the right sleeve of his hospital gown was empty, clearly indicating that he was missing his right arm.

Fang Qiao stopped in her tracks, her eyebrows slightly raised, her eyes revealing a subtle emotion.

"You are... Lin Youcai?"

Lin Youcai looked flustered and embarrassed, turning his face away and covering his face with his only left hand. He denied it in a hoarse voice, saying, "No, no, you've mistaken me for someone else."

He pretended not to know her.

"Don't be like that, we're all old acquaintances, why pretend to have mistaken someone for someone else?"

She glanced at the empty sleeve of his right arm, scoffed, and said, "Hey, Lin Youcai, where's your right arm? Did you have it amputated?"