Zhou Mingli brought lunch over at noon.
One dish of stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar, one dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and three steamed corn buns.
Huang Zheyue did not consider the food he brought to be his; he neither ate it nor looked at it.
Anyway, he was already used to the feeling of being hungry, so he wasn't really that craving food.
The aroma of the stir-fried potatoes with vinegar was so strong that everyone in the ward looked towards Jiang Ci. Huang Zheyue, who was nearby, couldn't resist.
He twitched his nostrils slightly, and the aroma of sour potatoes wafted into his nasal cavity without restraint. He couldn't resist and had just turned his head when Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli caught him red-handed.
"What are you looking at? Come and eat."
Huang Zheyue was taken aback.
The unruly boy was completely bewildered by the two adults who didn't care what he was doing. When he came to his senses, he found himself holding a pair of chopsticks and a steamed bun.
When he tried to refuse, Huang Zheyue's hands and mouth moved on their own, biting into the steamed bun made from the two kinds of dough, and using her chopsticks to pick up the separated shredded potatoes and scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
Once the food entered his mouth, he couldn't say a word; all his energy was focused on the food.
Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli exchanged a glance, and Zhou Mingli handed chopsticks to Jiang Ci, saying, "Let's eat first."
While eating, Jiang Ci said to Zhou Mingli, "I need to go to Professor Cheng's place this afternoon to submit my thesis. You keep an eye on things here."
“Okay, then you can go back in a bit. The bicycle will still be parked where you left it.”
"good."
Jiang Ci finished eating quickly. After Huang Zheyue finished eating, she put her bowl and chopsticks into her bag and walked out.
Zhou Mingli watched as Huang Zheyue ate two steamed buns and couldn't help but burp.
Noticing the man's gaze, Huang Zheyue looked up at him and forced herself to say, "You made me eat, not the other way around."
“Nobody cares about that.” Zhou Mingli sat down, looking Huang Zheyue in the eye. “You said your father was missing, but what about your mother? Besides your uncle, do you have any other relatives?”
Huang Zheyue's face immediately darkened. "Why are you asking this?"
“We are not your parents, and we have no blood relation to you. Although we can help you pay your medical bills, we also have our own things to do and don’t have time to stay here with you all the time.” Zhou Mingli said calmly, “We need to find your family to take care of you.”
Huang Zheyue's face remained hard, her voice cold and firm, "No need!"
It's not the tone a child would use at all.
"You and your mother don't get along?"
"I have no mother! I have no other relatives! Even if you pay my medical bills, I won't be grateful! If you want to leave, then leave now!" Huang Zheyue's voice rose another notch, sharp and sarcastic.
Zhou Mingli raised his eyebrows, said nothing, and kept his gaze fixed on him.
Zhou Mingli had no intention of exploring the soft heart hidden beneath the sharp exterior.
The reason Zhou Mingli helped Huang Zheyue was not only because Huang Zheyue had collapsed right in front of him, but also because Huang Zhiyuan's letter described the person who saw the letter asking for his help.
Zhou Mingli is willing to offer assistance within his capabilities, but he needs to apply for a job the day after tomorrow, and if all goes well, he will have a job.
Jiang Ci would certainly not be content with mediocrity; she would definitely want to find a job. They wouldn't let Huang Zheyue disrupt their own plans.
But Huang Zheyue has one child hospitalized and needs someone to take care of him.
If this person isn't one of them, then it must be a relative of Huang Zheyue.
Huang Zheyue currently weighs 70 pounds, but 69 pounds of that weight is rebellious, and she completely refuses to communicate with him.
Zhou Mingli didn't delve into it further and just watched him.
Huang Zheyue sat back down, head down, her eyes reddening.
Zhou Mingli then spoke again, "Do you have any close friends? Are they willing to come here and take care of you?"
Huang Zheyue was stunned for a moment before nodding.
"Okay, tell me where they are, and I'll bring them over to help take care of you."
After Huang Zheyue mentioned a few names, the two didn't exchange any more words.
Unlike Jiang Ci, Zhou Mingli would at least pour some water for Huang Zheyue. Zhou Mingli found a newspaper, sat there and read it. When Huang Zheyue needed an IV drip or to go to the toilet, he would help change the IV bag and take him to the bathroom. Otherwise, he would just quietly read the newspaper.
Huang Zheyue didn't say anything, lying on the bed either sleeping or spacing out.
...
Jiang Ci went home, washed the lunchbox and other things, and then went back to her room to get the translated paper, which she planned to deliver to Cheng Yehan.
As they came out of the room, they bumped right into the He family.
The visitors were Old Lady He's son and daughter-in-law.
Her son's name is He Guang.
When they saw Jiang Ci, they nodded politely. "Going out?"
Jiang Ci smiled. "Yes, you and your husband are going out too?"
“My husband and I are going back to my wife’s parents’ home.” It was He Guang’s wife who spoke up. She said to Jiang Ci in a friendly manner, “Your surname is… Jiang, right? My mother-in-law has met you before. Could you give her a serving of fried dough twists?”
"My surname is Zhao, and my name is Zhao Xiang."
"Was it the second day after we moved here? There were quite a few elderly ladies who came with Aunt Yan, so I didn't ask any more questions."
“My mother-in-law is thin, and her hair is all black, which makes her look very young. You’ll see next time you have the chance!” Zhao Xiang said, then asked casually, “Are you new reporters or editors at our newspaper? I remember that in addition to our newspaper staff, employees from the radio station also live in this residential compound.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ci responded with an "oh" and frankly said, "We just arrived in Beijing, and I don't have a job right now."
He Guang and Zhao Xiang exchanged a glance.
Understood.
The one with connections is her husband, who is a stay-at-home wife who does nothing.
Zhao Xiang looked at Jiang Ci with a hint of superiority in her eyes.
She not only comes from a good family, but also works at a newspaper as a full-time employee, which is much better than women who stay at home and live off men.
Jiang Ci got on his bicycle, pushed his dark green military satchel behind him, and politely said to He Guang and Zhao Xiang, "I'll be going now."
"Okay, then drive carefully."
Jiang Ci didn't look back; her bicycle sped away, leaving a trail of sparks and flashes.
Zhao Xiang scoffed, "It's not even a permanent or phoenix, not even a flying pigeon, just a broken red flag, what's there to show off?"
He Guang rode his Forever 28-inch bicycle and said, "She probably only got to come to Beijing because of her husband. She's just a country bumpkin who only gave a twisted dough stick as a gift. What kind of knowledge could she possibly have?"
His tone was full of disdain for Jiang Ci's family: "Get in the car quickly, if we go to your parents' house late, they'll start gossiping again."
Zhao Xiang quickly got into the back seat, and the couple headed to Zhao Xiang's parents' home.
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