Chapter 98: Zhang Yanfei's Rightful Demeanor
It's time to go for a stroll after dinner, and Lu Niannian's loud crying has attracted many people who are out for a walk to peek out and see what's going on.
Zhou Hairong was embarrassed and tugged at Lu Niannian, telling her to shut up.
Her face darkened, and she said in a very displeased tone, "You junior, you're several generations younger than me, how dare you talk to me like that?"
"Don't think that just because you're Xu Qiaofeng's aunt you can do whatever you want. You're so aggressive towards Niannian. I really don't know what kind of upbringing you have!"
"Aggressive?" Ding Zixin looked at him as if she had heard a joke, her eyes full of disdain.
"You first twisted the truth about my nephew's wife, and now you're saying I'm being aggressive?"
"Let me tell you, either explain this matter clearly today, or stop playing the victim and trying to gain sympathy!"
Ning Tang tugged at Latin Purple Heart's sleeve and said softly, "Auntie, you're not feeling well, let's go back."
She wasn't afraid of things escalating; she was just afraid that a real fight might break out.
Su Ying was pregnant herself, and Ding Zixin was in poor health, so she couldn't help much even if she wanted to.
To be honest, Ning Tang really didn't expect Ding Zixin to speak up for her.
Hearing Ning Tang's concern for her, Ding Zixin was even less likely to back down. She patted Ning Tang's little hand and said with great chivalry:
"Don't go near me while you're pregnant. I'll handle this."
After saying that, he turned to Lu Niannian, sneered, and directly called over the people who were sneaking around and peeking.
Ding Zixin yelled, "Everyone, come and judge this! My nephew's wife kindly saved this ungrateful wretch, and as soon as he was discharged from the hospital, he turned around and accused my nephew's wife of deliberately bullying him, and he even cried and whined. Isn't this bullying us?!"
The neighbors, who were already looking on to see what was going on, immediately had an excuse to join in after hearing what Ding Zixin said.
First they looked at Lu Niannian's tearful appearance, then at Ning Tang's protruding belly, and a flurry of discussion ensued.
"This girl looks so delicate and frail, how can she be so blatantly distorting the truth?"
“I’ve seen Xu’s daughter-in-law at the hospital. She’s a doctor, and she’s very kind. She doesn’t seem like the type to bully others.”
"Yes, I think she's pregnant. Didn't everyone say the Xu family line had ended? I think that's all a rumor, it's too much."
"I've watched Lu Niannian grow up since she was a child. Anyway, she's a real scoundrel. She pretends to be sick whenever she's unhappy. Didn't she pretend to have a heart attack last time, and the army doctor found out she was faking it?"
...
Lu Niannian never expected Ding Zixin to directly call the neighbors to judge and watch the commotion. Her crying stopped abruptly, and this time her face was as white as a sheet.
Zhou Hairong panicked too.
When it comes to verbal sparring, she prides herself on being an educated woman and would never do such low-class things. Now, being forced to insult Ding Zixin, she was so angry that her heart ached, but she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
She grabbed Lu Niannian and tried to leave, saying, "Hmph, I'm not wasting time arguing with you. We have things to do, so we're going back first."
"Trying to leave?"
Ding Zixin sneered and stretched out her leg to block.
"Explain yourself before you leave. My nephew's wife saved your daughter, and you didn't even say thank you? Do you want her to take the blame for something you didn't do?"
"I'm telling you, you must apologize to my nephew's wife today!"
Zhou Hairong's face turned ashen; he felt this was an act of coercion.
Just as she was about to retort, she saw Xu Qiaofeng and his group striding over from a distance.
They were practicing Qigong with Grandpa Xu in the yard when they could hear Ding Zixin's loud voice from a great distance.
Seeing the Xu family women surrounded, they quickly stepped forward to shield them behind them, their eyes like those of wild wolves ready to hunt.
Xu Qiaofeng glanced at Zhou Hairong and Lu Niannian: "My wife is pregnant. If you continue to harass her with this non-existent matter, don't blame me for being impolite."
The Xu family was already well-connected in the compound, and since it was indeed the Lu family's fault this time, everyone overwhelmingly supported them.
Zhou Hairong's anger immediately subsided.
Recently, it seems that her family has something to discuss with Commander Xu. If she offends the Xu family now, then this matter cannot be accomplished.
When faced with the choice between her daughter and her maternal family, Zhou Hairong unhesitatingly chose her maternal family, the family that gave birth to and raised her.
But she didn't want her daughter to suffer in silence. Faced with Ding Zixin's demand for an apology, Zhou Hairong pretended not to hear it and turned to leave with Lu Niannian.
However, Ning Tang was no pushover either.
Now that someone is speaking up for her, if she remains silent, it would be tantamount to betraying her own people.
Ning Tang suddenly spoke up: "Aunt Zhou, there's no need for Lu Niannian to apologize, but as an elder, shouldn't you first sincerely apologize to me for your indiscriminate accusations against me just now?"
"After all, I saved Lu Niannian out of a doctor's instinct. I don't expect her to be grateful, but I won't tolerate you distorting the truth and pointing your fingers at me to curse me."
These words were practically an insult to Zhou Hairong's most cherished dignity and status, which were being trampled on.
Her face darkened further, and she was so angry that her chest felt like it was blocked by something, and she couldn't speak for a long time.
Those watching the commotion nodded in agreement, after all, everyone had witnessed the scene of Zhou Hairong and her daughter arguing unreasonably.
Ning Tang's poised and confident demeanor only made Zhou Hairong and Lu Niannian seem even more unreasonable.
Xu Qiaofeng stood beside Ning Tang, pulling her into his arm, his tone cold and hard:
“My wife is right.”
"Either apologize, or let's get this straight right now. Also, let's talk about the time Lu Niannian brought people to my house to cause trouble and then pretended to be sick."
Everyone knows that the Xu family is fiercely protective of their children, especially when it comes to spoiling their daughter-in-law.
Previously, Su Ying accidentally twisted her ankle on a tree branch by the door, and Xu Qiaolan actually tore the tree down that very night.
Ning Tang is currently pregnant.
That was the Xu family's only son, whom they had been longing for!
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it's the only real gem!
Zhou Hairong was clearly aware of this as well. After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, she finally gritted her teeth and squeezed out, "I lost control of my emotions just now. I'm sorry."
Not to mention, as if feeling he had embarrassed his elders, he added a dry, awkward sentence.
"But I am your elder, and moreover, your superior, Ning Tang. Regardless of who is right or wrong in this matter, you should not say such things to me."
"Okay, I forgive you. After all, we were both at fault. I'm leaving."
After saying that, he pulled Lu Niannian, who was still unwilling to admit defeat, and prepared to leave.
Ning Tang's expression slowly turned cold.
She realized for the first time that people really can take advantage of others.
"Director Zhou, the apology I'm referring to isn't about your emotional state, but rather that you're wrongly accusing me of apologizing."
"So, your apology just now was just a casual remark, and you didn't actually realize your mistake? Was it just to brush me off?"
Ning Tang directly exposed Zhou Hairong's attempt to deceive her.
The surrounding chatter started again.
Zhou Hairong finally understood why Lu Niannian always looked like she was facing a formidable enemy whenever Ning Tang was mentioned.
This girl is very cunning.
Even she, who had lived for nearly fifty years, was no match for her.
Zhou Hairong wanted to lash out, but he was also concerned about the Xu family. He wanted to back down and let the matter drop, but he couldn't bring himself to act like an elder or a leader.
He stood frozen in place, looking just like a wild boar being roasted on a rack.
“Aunt Zhou, what my wife wants is a sincere apology, not this kind of perfunctory platitudes.”
After being criticized by several inexperienced juniors, Zhou Hairong was on the verge of a complete breakdown.
She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the strange looks from others.
He was gritting his teeth, and his voice was soft but clearly audible in a quiet environment.
"Ning Tang, I accused you without understanding the situation, and I wronged you. I'm sorry."
After saying that, Zhou Hairong didn't care whether Ning Tang heard her or what other people's expressions were. She didn't even care about Lu Niannian and turned around and left without looking back.
That figure from behind gave off a disheveled and hurried feeling to anyone who looked at it.
Ding Zixin watched their retreating figures, gave a heavy snort, and patted Ning Tang on the shoulder:
"If you ask me, you're just too good-tempered. That's how you should be. You have to be tougher on shameless people like them!"
Ning Tang smiled.
Not only her, but everyone else's impression of Ding Zixin changed drastically when they learned that Ding Zixin was the first person to jump out and protect Ning Tang.
Xu Qiaofeng even thanked Ding Zixin very solemnly.
He repeatedly assured her that he would personally find a good doctor for her when she came to see him.
Ding Zixin showed no reaction whatsoever.
She had given up hope for her condition.
Instead, he told Xu Qiaofeng not to waste time and that he could just find any hospital.
Ding Zixin explained, "Don't let my current appearance fool you. I'm just skinny like a stick. Actually, I have something in my head."
"That thing is called something like a tumor. Anyway, I had it when I was born, and it's probably quite big now."
“I don’t want to get treatment anymore. I know my own body. I’ve had a check-up before, and the doctor said the risks are too high. It’s about the same whether I get treatment or not.”
Silence fell instantly upon hearing this.
Ning Tang's smile froze, and she subconsciously looked at Xu Qiaofeng and the others.
They also had the same unpleasant expression.
As a doctor, Ning Tang knew best what the phrase "there's something in the head" meant.
But seeing Ding Zixin's nonchalant demeanor, she really didn't know what to say.
Even the usually carefree Xu Qiaoyan kept his mouth shut, which was a rare occurrence.
The group then went home.
Even Aunt Zhang noticed the awkward atmosphere earlier.
Fearing something might happen, she specifically asked what was going on. Su Ying and Su Qiaolan felt that this was a serious matter, so they took the initiative to talk to their elders about it.
——
Second floor.
In the bedroom.
Ning Tang leaned against the headboard, while Xu Qiaofeng was taking a shower next to her.
Normally, she would have gone straight to sleep after coming back, but today, her mind was filled with Ding Zixin's words.
While pondering.
The bracelet on my wrist suddenly started to get hot.
The long-lost ethereal voice reappeared in my mind.
"Tang girl, I've only been gone for a short while, why do you look so downcast?"
"What? Did someone bully you while I was away? Was it that jerk Xu Qiaofeng?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Ning Tang was overjoyed.
He repeatedly denied it in his mind and told the woman what had happened that day.
The woman remained silent for a long time before speaking again.
"Although I am the embodiment of medical books, I still need to make a careful diagnosis before I can find a treatment for this kind of mental illness."
"Tang girl, don't you work at the hospital? Why don't you just take her for a check-up tomorrow?"
In the 1970s, the level of military region hospitals was already considered to be among the best in the country.
However, Ding Zixin's surgical skills were limited due to his heart condition.
Even doctors might hesitate to operate on a brain tumor that has been growing for decades, let alone Ding Zixin herself, who had long since given up on treatment.
Ning Tang rubbed her throbbing temples, indicating that she understood.
When Xu Qiaofeng finished washing up, he saw that Ning Tang was already asleep in bed.
He moved quietly, rolled onto the bed, and turned off the light.
Then he stretched out his long arms and hugged the person in his arms, all in one smooth motion.
For several days in a row, Ning Tang kept thinking about Ding Zixin while at work.
She specifically went to the neurology department to ask her colleague.
Their meaning was clear: they suggested that I come and check it myself.
But given Ding Zixin's personality, even if you forced her at gunpoint, this person wouldn't come.
Ning Tang had no choice but to thank her colleagues and prepare to leave. Just as she was going upstairs, Professor Ming's voice suddenly rang out behind her.
"Ning Tang? What are you doing in the neurology department?"
"Professor Ming, you're here too."
Since they collaborated on a craniotomy, Professor Ming's opinion of Ning Tang has changed drastically, and he now greatly values her talent.
After he went back, he even thought about how to poach people from the Traditional Chinese Medicine department to the neurology department.
It's such a waste that such a bright and talented genius is staying in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Ning Tang suddenly realized that Professor Ming, the man in front of her, was a formidable figure from the capital. Perhaps he had some insights into Ding Zixin's condition.
"Professor Ming, I've come to ask about intracranial tumors."
"What? Does someone in your family have this disease?"
“I have a relative who was born with a tumor, and it’s been almost 20 years now. She was told before that the risks were too high, and she doesn’t want to get treatment anymore. I’m wondering if there are any conservative treatment options.”
Upon hearing this, Professor Ming's brows almost furrowed together.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice.
“If it’s present at birth, it’s very likely to be benign, but after twenty years, even if it’s benign, it can still compress nerves. Didn’t you have her get a CT scan?”
"I still don't know how to bring her here," Ning Tang said with a helpless smile.
Professor Ming understood instantly.
He expressed his understanding.
After discussing it for a long time, the two parted ways in a hurry.
Fortunately, Professor Ming has an idea: he will come over when Ding Zixin arrives.
Ning Tang immediately felt much better. There were many patients in the afternoon, so she quickly returned to the department.
I had only been sitting down for a few minutes when an unexpected person arrived.
Zhang Yanfei had a limp, with a splint and bandages on one leg, and was using a cane. He looked like a stray dog.
As soon as he entered, Zhang Yanfei sat on the opposite stool with a dark expression.
His face was so ugly, as if someone owed him money.
Zhang Yanfei stared at the beautiful woman opposite him and said confidently, "Ning Tang, prescribe some medicine for me. I remember you had a kind of ointment before. Xu Qiaofeng's injury was so serious, but it healed so quickly. After I use it, I estimate I can go back to the team next week!"
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