Chapter 157 Having a crooked idea
"Really, there's no need. I have money, so don't worry."
Seeing that she was determined not to accept it, Qin Yongcai did not force her.
He carefully stuffed the money back into the insole.
"Okay, take good care of the child, I'll be going now."
Shen Cuifen responded and accompanied Qin Yongcai to the door of the ward.
Just as she went out, two pairs of eyes quietly peeked out from the gap in the curtain behind her.
Shen Cuifen returned to the ward, gently closed the door, walked to the bedside, and sat down quietly.
A moment later, familiar footsteps echoed again from outside the corridor.
Shen Cuifen was startled and looked up.
As expected, Qin Yongcai has returned.
"Big brother? Why are you back again?"
She stood up in surprise, her eyes filled with confusion.
Qin Yongcai was carrying several bulging plastic bags.
“Cuifen, I thought it must be hard for you to take care of the child here all by yourself, so I bought some things while I was at it.”
As he spoke, he opened the bag in his hand to show it to her.
"Look, this is a new washbasin, sturdy and durable. This towel is cotton, it's comfortable to use to wipe your body. You two are staying in the hospital, you'll need these daily necessities."
"These are freshly steamed meat and vegetable buns. Eat them while they're hot. I also bought a tin lunchbox. The lid fits tightly, so it won't leak even when you put soup in it."
As he spoke, he handed over the lunchbox.
"It's inconvenient for you to keep running up and down the stairs to eat while taking care of patients by yourself. With this lunchbox, you can go directly to the cafeteria downstairs to get some porridge or soup, which saves a lot of trouble."
"I just asked the nurse, and the cafeteria is on the first floor, at the east corner door. It's only a two-minute walk away, and the signs are very clear."
Hearing these meticulous arrangements, Shen Cuifen felt a warmth in her heart.
She nodded and took the items from her older brother.
"Brother, thank you so much!"
Qin Yongcai waved his hand and said with a smile.
"Don't mention it, we're family. It's not easy for you to take care of Fuhua, so I'll help in whatever way I can. Besides, everyone has their difficulties."
As he spoke, he glanced at his old watch on his wrist and frowned.
"I have to leave quickly, or the last bus will be gone."
After saying that, he patted Shen Cuifen on the shoulder and turned to walk outside.
Shen Cuifen chased after them to the door and looked towards the stairwell.
Qin Yongcai's figure hurriedly turned the corner.
She smiled and murmured to herself.
"This guy is still the same as always."
Then, he slowly retreated back into the house.
Shen Fuhua lay on the hospital bed, breathing steadily, but his face was pale.
Shen Cuifen looked at him, feeling as if something was pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
She walked to the wall, intending to tidy up the things Qin Yongcai had brought.
The moment the lid of the lunchbox was unscrewed, a stack of banknotes wrapped in kraft paper suddenly fell out.
Shen Cuifen was taken aback and quickly bent down to pick it up.
Just as her fingertips touched the banknotes, a pair of cloth shoes suddenly stopped in front of her.
She quickly clutched the money in her hand and looked up abruptly.
It really was Zhou Wenjuan.
She stared intently at Shen Cuifen's hand as she received the money.
It wasn't until Shen Cuifen stuffed the money into her pocket that she slowly spoke.
"Sister Cuifen, are you still busy tidying up so late? Oh dear, is Fuhua sick? It looks pretty serious."
Shen Cuifen's face darkened, and she stared coldly at Zhou Wenjuan.
"Zhou Wenjuan, are you a tagalong? The hospital is so big, I can run into you everywhere. Are you just waiting for me?"
Zhou Wenjuan was not annoyed.
She pointed to the curtain of the next cubicle, her voice lowering slightly.
“Sister Cuifen, don’t be angry. Brother Jianguo is also hospitalized here! He’s in the bed next to mine. He’s had a fever for three days. The doctor said it’s pneumonia and he has to stay for a week.”
Shen Cuifen immediately felt uncomfortable.
What a coincidence!
Even though they're not from the same department, they were put in the same large ward.
She snorted coldly, her voice full of sarcasm.
"I'm not his relative! Whether he's hospitalized or dies is none of my business. Just stay away from me and stop causing trouble! Seeing you annoys me!"
After saying that, he turned to leave.
Zhou Wenjuan lowered her head, bit her lip, and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
"Sister Cuifen... I know you're upset, and I know I shouldn't be bothering you... but I really have no other choice... Could you lend me thirty yuan? Just thirty yuan, I'll definitely pay you back once Brother Jianguo is discharged from the hospital!"
Shen Cuifen almost burst out laughing.
She turned around abruptly and stared at Zhou Wenjuan's hypocritical face.
"No way! I'm not your biological mother! How dare you ask me for money? Get out of here! Don't disgust me!"
Zhou Wenjuan trembled from the shout and her eyes immediately reddened.
She took a step back, sobbing, clutching her chest, and choked out.
“Sister Cuifen… I didn’t mean to upset you… I’m really desperate… Jianguo is still fifty yuan short of money for hospital bills, and it’s been a day already. The nurse said if we don’t pay soon, they’ll stop his medication… I… I really have no other choice…”
As she spoke, she actually bent her knees and made a kneeling motion.
Shen Cuifen stood still, motionless.
She's used this trick far too many times.
Every time, it's nothing more than feigning helplessness and trying to gain sympathy.
Seeing that Shen Cuifen showed no intention of helping her up, Zhou Wenjuan gritted her teeth and knelt down with a thud.
She clasped her hands together and called out in a trembling voice.
"Cuifen, please have mercy... We're really desperate... Could you lend us some money? Just thirty, we'll definitely pay you back once we've recovered!"
Shen Cuifen snorted and went straight back to her son's bedside, touching Shen Fuhua's forehead.
After confirming that the temperature was normal, I picked up the water cup and carefully fed him a few sips of water.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from behind the curtain.
Lu Zhongping rushed forward and pulled Zhou Wenjuan up from the ground.
"Mom! Don't beg her! That woman is heartless! She'd rather our whole family die!"
He pointed at Shen Cuifen, his eyes filled with resentment.
Hearing the noise, the patient in the next bed quietly lifted a corner of the curtain and peeked over.
"Zhou Zhongping! Have you lost your mind? Who forced you to die? What do we have to do with each other?"
Shen Cuifen suddenly turned around, her gaze coldly fixed on Lu Zhongping.
"If you really want to die, find a secluded corner to die, don't disturb my son's rest here!"
Lu Zhongping was so angry that his teeth were chattering.
"Yes! We were never related in the first place!"
He practically roared it out.
"But you've done too many evil deeds, and now you're reaping what you sowed; that's why your son is sick!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Shen Cuifen slapped her across the face.
The blow forced Lu Zhongping to turn his head to the side, his cheek instantly swelling and turning red.
"Fine! I've committed too many sins to deserve running into a bunch of scoundrels like you!"
She stared at him coldly, her eyes burning with anger.
Listen up! My money is only for my own children! Outsiders, don't even think about it!
Lu Zhongping stared at her, his eyes red.
His expression was as if he wanted to devour her alive.
Shen Cuifen's heart sank, and memories of her past life flooded her mind.
On the day Lu Zhongping was released from prison, he went straight to her house with an axe in his hand.
The hatred in his eyes now is exactly the same as it was back then!
The difference this time is that she is no longer the powerless victim.
Lu Zhongping was panting heavily. He touched his burning cheek and found a trace of blood on his fingertips.
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