Chapter 168 This kind of thing, you have to try it with a man a few times.
“I know what you’re thinking.” He capped his pen and his tone became more serious. “But Wenchang, be mindful of your image. The higher-ups are repeatedly emphasizing thrift and opposing extravagance. Don’t go too far and make people gossip about you behind your back.”
"Others can be frugal, but my wife can't!" This was the first time Zhao Wenchang had voiced his dissent to his superiors. "She's suffered so much injustice, I must marry her in a grand and impressive way so she can get her revenge! We have to make a grand spectacle of it!"
"Alright, alright, you stubborn mule!" Zhao Changfeng waved his hand. "Since you want to have a grand celebration, this isn't something I can decide alone. I'll have to ask Chief Le for his opinion first. You go back and recover from your injuries!"
Zhao Wenchang was finally satisfied. He took the application form and turned to leave.
"Hey, wait a minute." Zhao Changfeng seemed to suddenly remember something and casually mentioned, "Regarding your wife's matter this time, during your hospital stay, we really owe a lot to Staff Officer Gu for taking care of everything. He did a lot of work, kid, you'd better thank him properly later."
Zhao Wenchang paused for a moment as he leaned on his cane.
"Gu Feiyan?"
The feeling in his heart suddenly became somewhat subtle.
Speaking of this man...
Zhao Wenchang was filled with a myriad of thoughts, but he didn't turn around to ask any more questions. He simply gave a deep "hmm" and left.
...
Jiang Wanqiu went to the hospital pharmacy to get some painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicine for Zhao Wenchang. Just as she reached the window, she heard a suppressed, childish sobbing sound.
She looked in the direction of the sound and saw Gu Feiyan carrying a little girl as she came out of the pediatric clinic not far away.
The little girl's face was flushed from crying, and large patches of frightening red rashes had appeared on her exposed arms and neck, over the old hives scars. She was scratching herself incessantly with her little hands, which was heartbreaking to watch.
Upon seeing this, Jiang Wanqiu couldn't help but frown and walked over: "Officer Gu? Nannan... she's still not better?"
Gu Feiyan looked exhausted and helpless. His usually cool eyes were now filled with the anxiety and powerlessness of an older brother.
He gave Jiang Wanqiu a wry smile: "There's nothing I can do. I've seen all the doctors at the military hospital and tried all the ointments available, but it just won't get better. It keeps coming back, and I can't sleep at night because of the itching."
He looked down at his younger sister, who was squirming and crying in his arms, his usually calm voice filled with heartache and self-reproach: "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have agreed to let her come here and suffer like this. Look how uncomfortable she is..."
Jiang Wanqiu's gaze fell on Nannan's arm, where the child had scratched herself, leaving bloody marks that were shocking to see.
This scene suddenly reminded her of her past life.
She had a similar problem when she was a child, with rashes all over her body that were unbearably itchy. She tried all kinds of Western and Chinese medicine, but nothing worked. Finally, her grandmother found a family secret herbal remedy, crushed the herbs in a mortar and pestle, and applied it to her body. It felt cool and refreshing, and she recovered in just a few days.
A thought struck her.
Gu Feiyan had been an invaluable help to her this time, not only arriving at the warehouse in time but also running errands for Du Wenxiu and He Xiaoman afterwards. This favor was immense, and she absolutely had to repay it.
Just as she was about to offer to say that she might have a solution, the little girl in her arms suddenly became restless, kicking and punching in Gu Feiyan's arms, crying even louder: "I don't want to stay here! It smells like medicine all over the place! Brother, let's go home, I don't want a shot, let's go home!"
When the child started to cry, Gu Feiyan was at a loss. She could only comfort her younger sister while apologetically saying to Jiang Wanqiu, "I'm sorry, Comrade Jiang, she... I have to take her back first."
After saying that, she didn't have time to say anything more and hurriedly left with her child in her arms.
Jiang Wanqiu didn't have time to stop the man, so she could only return to the ward first, thinking that she would copy down the prescription and give it to Gu Feiyan.
She had just put the medicine she had retrieved into the bedside table when Ping An rushed in.
Upon seeing Jiang Wanqiu, Ping An excitedly exclaimed, "Mom! The cafeteria is serving pork stew today! I've already arranged with the cafeteria worker to save a pig's tail for you!"
Jiang Wanqiu was quite surprised to hear this: "You can handle this?"
Ping An proudly raised her head after hearing this: "Of course! I heard from others that eating pig's tail is good for pregnant women!"
With that, Ping An took the lunchbox: "I'll go get you some food!"
"Wait, I want to go too." Jiang Wanqiu called out to Ping An.
"But you're not..."
"I am pregnant, not that I broke my leg. It's good for my health to exercise more. Your dad hasn't come back yet, and I'm bored staying in the ward alone."
"Alright then." Ping An thought for a moment and agreed to let Jiang Wanqiu go together.
The hospital cafeteria is not far from the inpatient department, and the corridor is filled with the aroma of food as soon as it is mealtime.
As soon as the chef saw Ping An, he kindly called him over and then put the pork and pig tails he had prepared earlier into their lunch boxes.
"Your brat, the day before yesterday he heard that a pig was going to be slaughtered, and he begged the butcher for ages. Then he came over late at night and started peeking through my window, just so he could leave you a pig's tail."
As the cook handed the lunchbox to Jiang Wanqiu, he said with a smile, "I've never seen such a troublesome kid. Your child is really filial. How did you raise him? Tell me about it. My brat is up to no good and can't be controlled at all. I don't even ask my son to be filial to his parents. I just ask that he doesn't talk back during the day and then stuff firecrackers into his parents' bed at night to scare them."
Jiang Wanqiu responded with a smile, "We don't know how to teach children. It's just that this child has been sensible since childhood and makes us worry-free!"
As he spoke, he patted Ping An's head.
This action made Ping An blush instantly.
After getting their food, Ping An insisted that Jiang Wanqiu not carry the lunchboxes. Ping An carried the kettle of hot water, the two lunchboxes, and the soup container all by herself, and the mother and son walked back side by side.
Just as I reached the corner of the stairs, I bumped into Jiang Wanxia.
Enemies meet on a narrow road.
Jiang Wanqiu paused, intending to pretend she hadn't seen it.
Jiang Wanxia spotted her sister immediately, raised her hand to stop her, and curled a cold smile as she spoke sarcastically, "Sister, we've run into each other again. I heard that Battalion Commander Zhao was incredibly lucky on this mission; he didn't die after all that?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqiu's face instantly turned cold: "What are you trying to say?"
Jiang Wanxia snorted and glanced at Ping An again: "It's nothing, I just want to say that your man is really lucky. You are so blessed. Look at him, now he has to have a child serve him his meals. You've raised the child to be as obedient as a dog!"
These words were spoken loudly, and the patients and their families who were coming and going to get food slowed down and listened carefully to what was happening.
Zhao Ping'an wasn't in a hurry despite the veiled criticism. He smiled at Jiang Wanxia and said, "If taking more makes you a dog, then Auntie, you've taken more than me. If anyone's going to be a dog, it should be you first!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanxia became agitated and immediately retorted, "You little brat, who are you calling a dog!"
Zhao Ping'an added, "Besides, it's my duty to get food for my mom, and it's none of your business to talk nonsense! My mom is a couple now, and I'm a man, so of course I should get it for her!"
"Two people?" Jiang Wanxia was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"
Zhao Ping'an proudly announced, "My mom is pregnant! I'm going to have a younger brother or sister!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanxia's face was filled with disbelief.
She stared at Jiang Wanqiu's lower abdomen and demanded in a shrill voice, "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! Zhao Wenchang can't have children at all! Where did you get this child from!"
"Zhao Wenchang is a normal man, so why can't he have children?" Jiang Wanqiu asked with a half-smile, looking at her sister's jealous expression.
Jiang Wanxia couldn't wait to retort: "What normal man! Everyone who knows Zhao Wenchang knows about his illness! You've only been married to him for less than a year, how could you possibly have it!"
Hearing this, Jiang Wanqiu laughed and said, "Little sister, you have to try these things. If it doesn't work the first time, try twice. If it doesn't work the second time, try ten times. You'll get pregnant eventually. So you see, I was able to get pregnant, so you and Wang Jianjun... don't give up either."
As she said this, she suddenly seemed to remember something and sighed regretfully, "Oh, look at my brain. Wang Jianjun hit his head and it's hard to say when he'll wake up, let alone have a child."
Jiang Wanxia was brought to her knees by her sister's words and immediately burst out with a curse: "Pah! Stop pretending to be nice to me! Zhao Wenchang has been with you for so long and nothing's happened, but the moment he left, you were all pregnant! To put it bluntly, who knows whose bastard is in your belly!"
Several people who had stopped to look in this direction lit up with excitement upon hearing this: There's big news here?
Jiang Wanqiu frowned: "Jiang Wanxia, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! This is a military region! You must be responsible for your words and actions!"
"I'll take responsibility? I already said it, what can you do to me?" Jiang Wanxia was blinded by jealousy and anger, and was still shouting recklessly.
Jiang Wanqiu glanced indifferently at Zhao Ping'an beside her.
Zhao Ping'an understood instantly!
The small figure suddenly lunged forward, mustering all its strength, and kicked Jiang Wanxia hard in the calf!
"ah--!"
Jiang Wanxia screamed, lost her balance, and staggered backward. With a crash, the lunchbox in her hand fell to the ground, spilling white rice and stewed cabbage all over the floor.
"How dare you bully my mother!" Zhao Ping'an shouted. "You're a bad person!"
This sudden turn of events stunned everyone.
"You've rebelled! You've rebelled! You little bastard, how dare you hit me!" Jiang Wanxia struggled on the ground for a moment, then got up cursing and bared her teeth as she tried to grab Zhao Ping'an's hair.
"He's just a child! Why are you arguing with a child!"
Jiang Wanqiu stepped forward, firmly protecting Zhao Ping'an behind her, and then stretched out her arm to grab Jiang Wanxia's wrist as she swung it.
"Jiang Wanqiu, let me go! Look at the good son you've raised! He dares to hit his elders, I'll break his legs today!"
Jiang Wanqiu's grip was quite strong, and Jiang Wanxia's wrist ached from being squeezed so tightly. She grimaced in pain, and her anger surged to her head!
"Let go of me! Jiang Wanqiu, if you don't let go, I'll beat you too! The little one is uneducated, and the old one is shameless! Whether you raise a child properly or not is the adults' fault. Today, I'll teach you two a lesson on behalf of society!"
As she spoke, she raised her other hand in mid-air, as if to slap Jiang Wanqiu across the face.
Seeing this, Ping An quickly put down what he was holding and rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.
Just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out from the stairwell: "It's not your place to teach a lesson."
When the family members who were watching the commotion heard the noise, they turned around and saw who it was. Like mice that had seen a cat, they immediately shrank their necks and disappeared in an instant.
Zhao Wenchang, leaning on a cane, stood not far away, coldly watching Jiang Wanxia.
Seeing Zhao Wenchang, Jiang Wanxia felt a chill run down her spine, but she refused to back down. Instead, she preemptively accused him, saying, "Zhao Wenchang, you've come at the right time! Look at your little brat, has he lost all sense of the law? Daring to lay a hand on his elders! If you don't discipline him properly, I'll teach him a lesson today!"
Zhao Wenchang's gaze swept over her indifferently before turning to Ping An. He slowly moved over, leaning on his cane, and said coldly, "My son, I will teach him myself. But before I teach him, I need to ask him why."
He looked at Ping An, his gaze softening slightly: "Ping An, tell Dad, why did you kick your aunt?"
Zhao Pingan poked his head out from behind Jiang Wanqiu and shouted, "She insulted my mother! She said my mother is carrying a bastard!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wenchang's face darkened immediately, and he glared at Jiang Wanxia with hostility.
Anyone with eyes could see that Zhao Wenchang was angered by these words.
Jiang Wanxia shuddered at the man's appearance, shrinking back guiltily. She quickly waved her hands, her voice trembling, "I...I was just joking! Brother-in-law, I was just joking with my sister, who knew this child would take it seriously..."
"Oh? You're joking." Jiang Wanqiu sneered. "Then when Ping An kicked you earlier, he was just joking too. You're such a grown-up, why are you still arguing with a child over a joke?"
Zhao Wenchang frowned and said sternly, "Jiang Wanxia! I'm reminding you, this is the military region! Here, you are responsible for every word you utter! If I hear another filthy word from your mouth, you're packing your bags and getting out of the military region. Don't think I wouldn't dare; I, Zhao Wenchang, can handle this with just one word!"
Hearing this, Jiang Wanxia trembled slightly, but still forced a brave face and shouted, her voice trembling with fear, "You dare! My man was injured while saving your wife! Is this how your Zhao family treats their saviors? You dare to kick me out and see what happens!"
Although she was tough on the outside, she didn't dare to cause any more trouble. She hurriedly squatted down and frantically started cleaning up the overturned lunchbox and spilled food on the floor, pretending to be very busy. She muttered, "Alright, alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. I've spilled my food all over the floor and haven't even eaten it yet. What a waste..."
Because the other party was, after all, Jiang Wanqiu's younger sister, Zhao Wenchang still gave her some face and did not continue to make trouble.
He stepped forward and naturally took the heavy lunchbox and water bottle from Ping An's hands, then took Jiang Wanqiu's hand with his other hand: "Let's go back."
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