Chapter 147 Extra 1
"Shen Yining, chronic pulmonary heart disease, congenitally low immunity." The doctor slammed his pen down, his brow furrowing. "Let's do an echocardiogram first to observe the condition of her heart."
The patient has a history of heart disease for over ten years, and his condition had been well managed in previous years, but it suddenly worsened this year.
With current technology, heart disease can only prolong life to a certain extent and alleviate the patient's suffering as much as possible; a complete cure is not possible.
He glanced up at the family of three, "Son and daughter?"
Zhao's mother shook her head, smiling shyly, "My daughter and son-in-law."
"That's wonderful, such a filial child." The doctor's furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
It's not bad that he's not her biological son, but he still accompanied his mother-in-law to the hospital for treatment.
He sized up the three men's clothes; they seemed to have plenty of money. "You've had all the necessary checkups done, right? We should investigate any problems as soon as possible."
In most people's minds, heart disease tests are a waste of money and won't cure the disease, so many people try to save money wherever possible, which does not help prolong the patient's life.
Of course, when encountering impoverished families, doctors will not recommend certain unnecessary tests that can be avoided.
After a full physical examination, medication is prescribed, and the patient is hospitalized for treatment, the family can take the person home once the condition stabilizes.
The doctor repeatedly advised, "The patient needs to consume enough nutrition. The test results show that the patient is somewhat malnourished, so please pay close attention to this. Also, exercise more and move around more to help with oxygenation. Avoid crowded places and don't experience too much emotional fluctuation."
Malnutrition...
Zhao Xiheng lowered her head in shame. Even though her family was poor, she still tried her best to prepare eggs and lard for her mother to nourish her body, but her cooking skills were really bad. The food was either burnt or undercooked, so of course it didn't provide any nutrition.
The ward is a double room. In large hospitals, beds are scarce, and it's already considered good if patients don't have to sleep in the corridor.
A simple small bed was set up next to the hospital bed for family members to stay with the patient.
On the first day of her hospitalization, Zhao's mother took vasodilators and told them that evening, "Mom feels much better, there's no problem anymore. Let's talk to the doctor and we can go home." She knew that hospitalization at this hospital was expensive, and it was too hard for her daughter and son-in-law, who were so young, to bear her illness.
Of course not! We went through so much trouble to get to this hospital by tricking and deceiving people, so of course the doctor has to say we can be discharged first.
Wei Li wasn't good at persuading people, so he took two steps back and said, "I'll go buy you some food."
As soon as he left, Zhao Xiheng put down her baggage and, without any fear of embarrassment, rolled onto the hospital bed, saying, "You can't leave. If you do, I'll make a scene."
Zhao's mother pulled her up, looked her up and down, and her cheeks flushed red instantly. "Aren't you ashamed? Aren't you ashamed? Get up! How old are you and still acting like this?"
Zhao Xiheng clung tightly to the bed railing, saying, "Hospitalization, hospitalization, I'll get up if you say I'm hospitalized."
Some of the other people in the ward sat cross-legged on the bed, while others sat on the floor with bowls in their hands, joining in the commotion, saying, "Your daughter is filial, so let her stay."
"Come on in, come on, little sister. Health is the most important thing."
"Stop, stop, stop! You little rascal." Zhao's mother's face turned even redder. She pulled the curtain of the partition closed, slapped her on the bottom, and scolded her in a low voice, "You, you, you're so old, and you don't have any manners of a proper young lady. Aren't you ashamed? If Xiao Wei sees you like this, won't he laugh at you?"
Zhao Xiheng chuckled, "I'm not afraid of him laughing at me."
"What?" Wei Li brought in a stack of aluminum lunchboxes after getting his food. He saw Zhao Xiheng rolling around on the bed, her hair and clothes all messed up.
Zhao Xiheng quickly jumped out of bed, smoothed her hair, and blushed.
Oh no, we've been seen. "It's nothing, what do you want to eat?"
"The hospital cafeteria has braised pork, steamed buns, and fried yellow croaker today." He waved his lunchbox; he had brought all of these back.
Zhao's mother sighed inwardly. This young couple really didn't know how to manage money. As for A-Dan, she was spoiled since childhood and didn't know what money was useful. How could Xiao Wei still act so recklessly with her?
"You two should take advantage of your youth to save up more money to buy a house and start a legitimate business. It's not right for A-Dan to keep teaching at the village school and receiving subsidies all the time. Xiao Wei, you're still young and can still drive a car, but when you get older, it's better to settle down. The national situation is changing rapidly these days, so learn more things in your spare time; they'll come in handy someday."
She probably experienced family changes, coupled with her age and declining health, which changed her mindset a lot. Like mothers everywhere, she started nagging endlessly, saying, "When you have children in the future, you will realize that children are the biggest expense."
Zhao Xiheng and Wei Li held steamed buns and nodded frantically, almost nodding their heads off. Their rhythm was remarkably synchronized, as if they regarded her words as golden rules. In reality, however, they were just letting it go in one ear and out the other.
Having a baby? That's a long way off.
Besides, they're so young, why have children? It'll only cause more trouble.
Seeing how well-behaved the two children were, Zhao's mother was overjoyed and quickly served them food, saying, "Eat more."
She's in good health and strong; let her have a baby soon so we can play with her.
That night, Zhao's mother slept in the hospital bed, with Zhao Xiheng keeping her company, while Wei Li set up a bed in the corridor to sleep.
There were too many people in the ward, and the curtains were not effective at blocking out the sound. The snoring was deafening and kept everyone awake.
Zhao Xiheng tossed and turned for a while, then tiptoed to put on her shoes, pushed open the ward door, and went to the corridor to find Wei Li.
The environment in the corridor was much worse than in the ward. The smell of stinky feet, body odor, and sweat was mixed together, making people's eyes hurt. People were sleeping haphazardly on the floor, and their snoring was almost enough to lift the ceiling.
The nurse changing the dressing dodged the people on the ground like they were avoiding landmines. When she saw Zhao Xiheng, she smiled slightly and nodded at her.
Wei Li was sleeping on the bed by the corridor, but he couldn't sleep either. He noticed Zhao Xiheng as soon as she came over.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly, coughing twice from the strong smell.
"I couldn't sleep, so I came to find you." Zhao Xiheng sat by his bedside, her eyes watering from the fumes.
"Let's go for a walk," Wei Li said, putting on his coat.
The hospital's backyard is a small garden, used by patients to stroll around during the day. At night, when no one is around, only a street lamp casts a dim light.
A swarm of tiny flying insects gathered under the lamp. Early summer in Shanghai is quite warm; even wearing a skirt at night won't make you hot, unlike in Northeast China.
Only after leaving the uncomfortable hospital corridor did Zhao Xiheng feel a little sleepy.
Wei Li chased away the cat that was sleeping on the bench, wiped the chair with her clothes, and invited her, "Come and sit down."
Zhao Xiheng sat down groggily, slumped her shoulders, and yawned.
The moon in the sky is so round, like a freshly baked sesame seed cake. Wei Li looked at the sesame seed cake and asked her, "Do you want to eat sesame seed cakes tomorrow?"
Zhao Xiheng yawned. "Anything is fine." As long as it tastes better than what she makes.
"She used to be a pampered young lady, quite easy to take care of." Wei Li chuckled upon hearing this.
"I'm mainly worried that you won't be able to afford to support me if I get me sentimental." Zhao Xiheng was quick-witted when she retorted, never taking a loss.
"Then why don't you try and see if I can afford to raise you?"
"Tch." Zhao Xiheng curled her lip in disdain and looked up at the moon like him.
It's round, round like a big sesame seed cake. "Then let's eat sesame seed cakes tomorrow," she suddenly thought, her mouth watering.
"Mm," Wei Li replied.
A short while later, he felt a weight on his shoulder. Zhao Xiheng had fallen asleep sometime earlier, her head resting on his shoulder, her breathing even.
Afraid of waking her, Wei Li carefully lowered his head, tucked her stray hairs behind her ears, and then examined her closely.
At this distance, I can smell her delicate fragrance, and with just a slight downward tilt of my head, I can kiss her.
Um……
"It's not illegal to kiss my own wife, is it?" Wei Li thought to himself as he slowly moved closer to her.
"Meow!
Meow~
One meow after another rang out, and two pairs of fluorescent green cat eyes appeared in the grass.
Two cats, one black and one white, popped out.
One of the little white cats was the one that Wei Li had driven away; it had brought its companions to reclaim its territory.
Wei Li was feeling guilty, and the two cats' shouts completely enraged him. He grabbed some pebbles from the ground and threw them at them.
The two cats angrily flicked their tails and ran away.
The ambiguous atmosphere from before had vanished, and Wei Li closed his eyes dejectedly, falling asleep shortly afterward.
Zhao's mother stayed in the hospital for a week. The final test results met the hospital's discharge criteria. The doctor repeatedly gave her instructions before they were discharged.
Wei Li took a break for nearly a month, then started going out early and returning late again, getting busy all the time.
"Brother, a boss has asked us to transport a batch of goods to Guangzhou. He said he'd pay us 300 yuan." 300 yuan is a lot of money; it can buy a cow. But it's from Northeast China to Guangzhou, which is too far, and they've never done it before.
What does "inspected goods" mean?
"A batch of porcelain, no contraband." Chen Ruojiang lit a cigarette and handed it to Wei Li.
Wei Li instinctively reached for it, then waved his hand, saying he didn't want it.
"Then I'll ship it." Now he has a wife and needs to support his family.
The day before their departure, two or three people approached them. Hearing that they were going to Guangzhou, they asked if they could bring some things for their relatives in Guangzhou. They said they could leave them at the storage facility and the relatives could pick them up themselves. They were willing to pay five yuan per item.
These are all fresh produce, local specialties. It's not worth it to send them by car; it's both troublesome and expensive. Sending them by post is too slow; they'll spoil before they even arrive.
Wei Li thought for a moment and nodded in agreement; he had some new ideas.
After returning, he used the 300 yuan he earned to hire a fleet of trucks and started a professional freight business. He rented a small shack in several counties, offering express delivery of fresh produce for an extra fee, and regular shipments departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
He was not very literate, and the early stages of his business were extremely difficult, sometimes he couldn't go home for several days in a row.
At 11:30 p.m., he turned off the car and went inside, only to find candles still lit in the house.
Electric lights are too expensive, so Zhao Xiheng tries to save money wherever possible.
She yawned, picked up a book, and lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed). When she saw him come back, she greeted him, put down the book, put on her shoes, and went to the kitchen. "I left you some food. Eat something before you go to sleep. I boiled some water so you can soak your feet in a little while."
Wei Li's eyes reddened, and he finally understood why so many people were so determined to get married.
Oh dear, he'll definitely work hard to earn money and give his wife a good life.
"Why aren't you asleep yet tonight?" he asked, wolfing down a steamed bun.
"Tomorrow is Saturday, a holiday." Zhao Xiheng poured him some warm water.
"What book were you reading just now?" Wei Li took a sip of water. He was actually quite proud of his wife's education, but he couldn't understand the book.
"It's nothing, just my high school textbooks." She had sold all her other books, but she couldn't bear to part with her high school textbooks, so she kept them.
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