Chapter 154: I Won't Let You Go
The afternoon passed just like that.
After finishing up the remaining work in the department, Ning Tang gave the on-duty nurse a few more instructions.
Only then, supporting his back, did he slowly walk towards the hospital entrance.
The setting sun hung obliquely on the horizon, casting long shadows on the ground. The early winter wind carried a chill, making one's neck feel tight.
She adjusted her collar and slowed her pace.
The open space in front of the hospital.
There were groups of people waiting for the bus, and some villagers selling eggs from baskets; it was noisy and bustling.
As soon as Ning Tang reached the corner, she heard a familiar, sharp voice that made her eardrums ache.
"What do you know! I'm carrying a boy! He's the heir of the Zhang family! How can he be compared to those worthless girls? What's wrong with staying in the hospital for a few days? Did it cost you any money?"
Ning Tang paused, her brows furrowing unconsciously.
That voice belonged to Ning Xin.
She looked up and saw several elderly women carrying cloth bags gathered at the base of a wall not far away. They were all from nearby rural areas and were probably accompanying their families to see a doctor.
Standing in the middle of the circle was Ning Xin, who was wearing a Western-style cotton jacket.
She was sporting a not-so-obvious belly, her face full of arrogance, arguing with an old woman with her neck stiff.
The old woman had gray hair and was clutching a patched-up cloth bag. She looked at Ning Xin with disapproval and spoke with the honesty of a countrywoman.
"Girl, I'm not trying to be mean, but back in the 1970s, who wasn't struggling financially? Every penny had to be stretched! Your belly is barely showing, and there's nothing seriously wrong. If you stay in the hospital every day, the hospital fees and nutrition costs will add up to a considerable sum!"
Another old woman next to her nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right! There's a woman in our village who was pregnant but still went to work in the fields. She was even cutting wheat on the day she gave birth! Unlike you, who's so precious. Besides, the hospital is a place with a strong smell of medicine and a lot of people. It's not as comfortable as home. You need peace and quiet to have a healthy pregnancy, right?"
"Comfortable?"
Ning Xin sneered, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and looked at him with disdain.
"You call those mud-brick houses in the countryside comfortable? They leak wind and rain, and you could freeze to death at night! In the hospital, there's heating, nurses to take care of you, and doctors come to check on you every day. That's what you call a healthy pregnancy!"
She puffed out her belly, her tone becoming increasingly smug: "My husband said that as long as I can give birth to this boy safely, he'd be happy to stay in the hospital for months, let alone a few days! Unlike you, you're stingy your whole lives, you can't even bear to give your daughter-in-law an egg, you deserve to be poor your whole lives!"
Upon hearing this, the old women were displeased.
The old lady who had spoken earlier was so angry that her face turned red, and she pointed at Ning Xin's nose.
"How can you talk like that, girl! We may be poor, but we live a stable life! Unlike you, so young and so spoiled! I think you've been pampered by men! You don't know how to cherish what you have!"
"Cherish your blessings?" Ning
He sneered inwardly, his gaze sweeping over the patched clothes of the old women, and the curve of his lips became even more scathing.
"Whether I cherish my blessings or not is none of your business! My man can earn money, he can provide me with a life of luxury, and he can make the boy in my belly a prince—that's my blessing! You've never experienced this kind of blessing in your lives, so of course you don't understand!"
She paused, as if remembering something, and her tone suddenly became sarcastic: "Besides, even if I have to spend money in the hospital, it's my man's money, all aboveboard! Unlike some people who climb up the social ladder by relying on men, and then do all sorts of shady things behind the scenes!"
Although the words were not spoken by name, Ning Tang could clearly hear that they were directed at her.
She stood there, her fingers slightly clenched, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Ningxin's mouth is still as sharp and sarcastic as it was when she was a child; she'll bite anyone she can get her hands on.
When she was adopted by her adoptive mother, Ningxin, as her adoptive mother's biological daughter, bullied her quite a bit.
They stole her food, tore up her books, and always gossiped about her to her adoptive mother, saying she was a petty thief and had a malicious heart.
Later, Ning Tang was bullied so badly that she learned to fight back.
Ning Xin, however, felt that she was a capitalist's daughter and an unwanted orphan.
From then on, he felt superior to others, and every time he saw her, he would make a few sarcastic or overt remarks about her.
Ning Tang didn't want to pay attention to her and just wanted to walk around her, but Ning Xin had sharp eyes and had already spotted her.
Her eyes lit up immediately. She pushed aside the old women surrounding her, swayed over, and put on a fake smile: "Oh, isn't this our Director Ning Tang? What? Off work already?"
When the old women saw Ning Xin suddenly change her attitude, and then looked at Ning Tang's clean and crisp white coat, they immediately understood.
People couldn't help but show disdain when they heard Ning Xin's words, and they dispersed in twos and threes.
Ning Tang looked at Ning Xin, who had walked up to her, and asked calmly, "Is there something you need?"
Ning Xin looked her up and down, her gaze falling on her protruding belly. A hint of jealousy flashed in her eyes, but she then raised her chin and spoke in a provocative tone.
"Can't I talk to you for no reason? We're sisters after all. Now that you're the head of the department, you're getting more and more arrogant."
She leaned closer to Ning Tang, lowered her voice, and said in a tone that only the two of them could hear, "I heard your man is on another mission? Tsk tsk, what's so good about a family that's doomed to fail sooner or later? He's never home, and even though you're pregnant, he can't be by your side. Unlike my man, who stays by my side every day and treats me like royalty."
Ning Tang was too lazy to waste words with her and turned to leave, saying, "I have something to do, I'm leaving now."
"Hey, don't go!"
Ning Xin grabbed her arm with considerable force, causing Ning Tang to stumble.
A sharp pain shot through her stomach, and she frowned, shaking off Ning Xin's hand. Her face darkened. "Let go!"
Ning Xin was thrown back a step by her, and the fake smile on her face disappeared, replaced by a look of resentment and malice.
"Ning Tang, what are you so arrogant about! You're just a lousy director, what's so great about you! If Zhou Hairong hadn't gotten into trouble back then, would you have gotten this director's position?"
Looking at Ning Tang's belly, her tone became increasingly vicious: "Do you think the child you're carrying will be just like you, a worthless burden that no one wants? After all, with your cold and aloof personality, what man would truly like you? Maybe your man only married you because you can have children!"
Ning Tang's face turned completely cold, her eyes like ice: "Ning Xin, watch your mouth."
"Am I unclean?"
Ning Xin burst into laughter as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world.
This attracted the attention of everyone around.
"I think you're the one who's tainted! If it weren't for my mother's kindness in taking you in back then, you would have starved to death on the streets long ago! And what did you do? Now that you've grown up, you don't recognize us anymore! How many times did you visit my mother when she was sick? You're a complete ingrate!"
Ning's mother was sent down to the Northwest because of the capitalists.
Life was incredibly miserable. Ning Xin used her beauty to seduce Zhang Yanfei, a soldier, even though she was constantly being beaten up.
But now that I'm pregnant with twins, I feel much more confident.
During this time, Zhang Yanfei was taken away for investigation by the team leaders because of a crime. Ning was extremely panicked and quickly collected all the IOUs at home.
She was thinking, what if Zhang Yanfei couldn't get out?
He got rid of the child himself and quickly ran away with the money and cash.
As for Ning's mother, who was far away in the Northwest, Ning Xin didn't care at all.
Ning Tang looked at her fierce but cowardly appearance and didn't bother arguing with her anymore.
Ning's mother treated her badly back then, and this time Ning's mother got into trouble and was arrested again. Instead of mailing any money, she wrote down and reported all the wrongdoings that the Ning family had committed over the years.
From now on, we owe each other nothing.
She held her back and turned to leave.
"Stop!" Ning Xin pressed on, stepping forward to block her path, her eyes filled with resentment. "Ning Tang, don't be so smug! Your man is on a mission right now, and who knows when he might not come back! When that happens, you'll be left with this good-for-nothing, and we'll see who respects you then!"
These words were like a needle, pricking Ning Tang deeply.
She knew better than anyone the dangers of Xu Qiaofeng's missions, but she didn't believe those ominous sayings.
She looked up at Ning Xin, her eyes chillingly cold: "How my man is is none of your concern. But you, Zhang Yanfei is under investigation, do you really think he'll get out unscathed?"
Ning Xin's expression changed drastically, as if a sore spot had been hit, and her voice became sharper: "What nonsense are you spouting! My man is innocent! He will definitely be released!"
He said that, but he was actually very flustered inside.
The day Zhang Yanfei was taken away, his face looked frighteningly pale. She secretly went through his things and found several unclear notes, which terrified her so much that she couldn't sleep all night.
These days, she appears arrogant and domineering, staying in the hospital every day and acting like a pampered princess, but behind the scenes she is secretly collecting the debt notes from her family and planning her escape route.
If Zhang Yanfei really can't come out, she'll immediately abort the child in her belly, take the money and tickets, and run far away.
What Zhang family lineage, what two boys—none of them matter when it comes to survival.
But how could she let Ning Tang know these thoughts?
Ning Xin forced herself to remain calm and reached out to push Ning Tang away: "Stop cursing my man! I think you're just jealous of me! Jealous that I'm pregnant with two sons, jealous that my man can earn money!"
Before her hand could even touch Ning Tang's arm, Ning Tang dodged to the side.
Ning Tang was pregnant and her body was heavy, so her movements were slow, but she wasn't so much that she could be pushed around at will.
More and more people gathered around to watch the spectacle, and whispers and pointing voices reached their ears.
"What's wrong with this woman? She's so fierce."
"He looks quite well-dressed, but why does he speak so rudely?"
"Dr. Ning is a very good person. Last time my old man was sick, it was thanks to her patient treatment that he was able to see me."
Ning Xin felt embarrassed after hearing these words.
She looked around and saw that everyone was looking at her with disdain, which made her even angrier. So she decided to just give up and do whatever she wanted.
"What do you know! Ning Tang is just an unwanted orphan! If it weren't for my mother's kindness in taking her in, she would have starved to death long ago! Now that she's all grown up, she's forgotten her roots!"
Looking at her hysterical state, Ning Tang felt utterly exhausted.
She didn't want to argue with her anymore; she just wanted to get home as soon as possible.
She took a deep breath and said, word by word, "Ningxin, Heaven is watching what people do. You will have to pay for the bad things you've done sooner or later."
After saying that, she didn't look at Ning Xin again, and supporting her waist, she disappeared step by step from before her eyes.
Just as Ning Tang moved.
Ning Xin instinctively tried to rush over to stop him, but she twisted her foot and stepped on something, falling to the ground.
She was in so much pain that she grimaced and clutched her stomach, unable to get up for a long time.
The onlookers gasped in surprise. Several elderly women rushed forward to help her, but she abruptly shook them off.
"Don't touch me!" Ning Xin's voice was sharp and disheveled. She looked up at Ning Tang's departing figure, her eyes filled with resentment that was almost overflowing.
"Ning Tang! You stop right there! You're the one who made me fall! What are you up to! Do you want something to happen to the baby in my belly?!"
Ning Tang paused, but did not turn around.
At this moment, whatever is said will become an excuse to distort the truth in Ning Xin's mouth.
The strong wind blew Ning Xin's hair into a mess, leaving her disheveled and completely different from her previous arrogant demeanor.
Some people couldn't help but whisper among themselves: "This girl is so unreasonable. She rushed forward to stop him, so why is she blaming Doctor Ning?"
"That's right, Dr. Ning is pregnant, she walks very slowly, how could she have the strength to push her?"
"I think she's just feeling guilty. Dr. Ning hit a nerve, so she's trying to throw a tantrum."
These words, one by one, penetrated Ning Xin's ears, causing her face to flush red and then pale.
She tried to stand up, supporting herself on her arms, but a dull, aching pain shot through her abdomen, causing cold sweat to break out on her forehead.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she panicked instantly.
These two children are her only support right now. If something really happens to them, and Zhang Yanfei comes out, how will she explain it?
If Zhang Yanfei can't get out, she won't even have the leverage to escape.
Ning Xin's arrogance was instantly extinguished by panic, and she no longer had time to curse Ning Tang.
Clutching her stomach, she cried out in a tearful voice, "It hurts... my stomach hurts so much... quick, take me to the hospital!"
The old woman who had just argued with her sighed, finally softening her heart. She turned and ran into the hospital, shouting, "Help! Someone has fallen! She's pregnant!"
A few moments later, several nurses rushed out and hurriedly lifted Ningxin onto a stretcher.
Lying on the stretcher, Ning Xin still craned her neck and shouted in the direction Ning Tang had disappeared, "Ning Tang! You just wait! I won't let you get away with this!"
The nurses hurriedly carried Ningxin into the emergency room.
As soon as she was placed on the hospital bed, she curled up in pain, cold sweat streaming down her forehead and wetting her messy hair.
The once exquisite cotton jacket was now stained with mud and clung to his body in a wrinkled mess, making him look utterly disheveled and devoid of any of his previous arrogance.
"It hurts... Doctor! Call a doctor quickly! My children! My two sons!"
Ning Xin gripped the bed sheet, her knuckles turning white, her voice shrill and trembling with sobs.
That arrogant disdain for country folk from before has long since been replaced by fear that leaves him at a loss for what to do.
The doctor on duty arrived quickly, lifted the corner of her clothes to take a look, and then reached out to press her lower abdomen, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.
"Bear with it for a bit, get a checkup first. Judging from your condition, it looks like you've had a miscarriage."
Upon hearing this, Ning Xin's face turned pale instantly.
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