Chapter 68
Gu Xi came to the hospital and received intravenous drips for several days.
She comes to get her injections every afternoon. Shen Mingzheng rides his bicycle to drop her off before work and picks her up after get off work, unless he has to work overtime, in which case he will tell Ji Ya and have her take her home.
Gu Xi felt she could walk back; the distance wasn't far, and it would be a good workout, beneficial to her health.
But Shen Mingzheng insisted that after a recent autumn rain, the ground was muddy and the dirt road was not easy to walk on, and it would be easy to get shoes wet.
Gu Xi had no choice but to let him pick her up and drop her off.
Gu Xi noticed that when she came to the hospital for an IV drip, the nurses were very welcoming and took good care of her.
Because of the medication she was taking and the lack of anything to pass the time while receiving IV drips, she would usually fall asleep while sitting. The nurses would carefully keep track of when the IV drip would finish and would also give her a blanket to cover herself so she wouldn't get cold.
Moreover, while she was waiting in the lounge for Shen Mingzheng to come and pick her up, the nurses would bring her a lot of snacks and treats, which was really very kind of them.
Gu Xi thought it was because of her sister-in-law, Ji Ya.
Dr. Ji was very popular at the hospital; the doctors and nurses all liked her very much, and as her sister-in-law, they also took good care of her.
“This has nothing to do with me.” Ji Ya laughed when she heard her say that. “It’s because you’re pretty. They just want to take a few more glances at pretty girls.”
Not only is she good-looking, but she is also very polite, easy-going, and approachable.
After eating the snacks and treats given to her by the doctors and nurses, she would also bring some homemade rice cakes, roasted chestnuts, and other treats when she came over.
Originally, they just wanted to take a second look at such a beautiful girl, but later, they genuinely fell in love with her.
Ji Ya knew that her sister-in-law's appearance and temperament made it easy for her to win people's favor, so it was not surprising.
Gu Xi touched her nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Her experiences across two lifetimes have made her somewhat socially anxious. She doesn't like interacting with strangers and finds it difficult to resist other people's kindness and enthusiasm.
As for whether she is likable, she has never thought about it and does not think that her personality is likable. She is very passive when it comes to making friends.
**
Today is Gu Xi's last day coming to receive an IV drip.
After several days of IV drips, my cough has mostly subsided, so I don't need to come back for another drip tomorrow.
While receiving the IV drip, Gu Xi fell asleep out of boredom, only waking up slowly when the nurse came to remove the needle.
Upon waking up and seeing the nurse removing her IV, she immediately sat up straight and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." The nurse smiled at her and told her to press on the injection site, instructing her, "Press for three to five minutes before releasing."
The nurse quickly went off to do her work, and Gu Xi sat there.
After pressing for a few minutes to confirm that there was no bleeding from the injection site, she got up and prepared to go to the break room to wait for her sister-in-law to get off work.
Shen Mingzheng is going to a meeting at the regimental headquarters today, and he might be back very late from get off work, so he won't have time to pick her up. Therefore, she and her sister-in-law are going back together.
Just as I got up, I suddenly heard a commotion outside. Then a group of people rushed in carrying several wounded people, one of whom was covered in blood, which was quite frightening.
Upon seeing the injured, the medical staff also got busy.
Gu Xi glanced at it, then her gaze suddenly sharpened.
She walked to the door and asked, "Wanxia, what's wrong?"
Zhang Wanxia was being helped in. She was surprised to see Gu Xi. "Gu Xi, what are you doing here?"
"I caught a cold recently and came here for an IV drip," Gu Xi replied, noticing her awkwardly raised foot. "Is your foot injured?"
Zhang Wanxia hummed in agreement, then frowned and said, "Something happened, I twisted my ankle."
Gu Xi glanced at the two girls from the performing arts troupe who were supporting her. They looked thin and small, much shorter than Zhang Wan, and seemed to have little strength. So she went straight over and picked her up.
Zhang Wanxia: "..."
The girl from the performing arts troupe: "..."
Gu Xi carried the person to find the nurse, explaining, "Let me carry you there so as not to put extra strain on your feet."
Zhang Wanxia is a pillar of the performing arts troupe. She can sing and dance, and is said to be an excellent dancer. Her feet are the most important part of her body, and with this injury, she probably won't be able to dance for a long time.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanxia paused for a moment, then asked with some concern, "Won't it be very heavy?"
"No, you're quite light." Gu Xi's tone was calm and casual as she walked steadily. "You're too thin; you should eat more."
Actually, she prefers girls who are a little chubby, and hopes that after she gets her body in good shape, she can gain some weight so that she can be healthy.
She's determined to live a good life; a little extra weight makes her healthier.
Being skinny seems too sickly, and she doesn't pursue that.
"Is that so?" Zhang Wanxia's face inexplicably turned red. She felt that Gu Xi's arms were very strong, which made her feel very safe. Moreover, Gu Xi smelled very nice, a refreshing scent of soapberry mixed with flowers.
She didn't expect to be hugged by Gu Xi, and said with some amusement, "I want to dance, but I can't be too fat, I need to maintain my figure."
Gu Xi said, "Is that so? Then you should eat well too, so you'll have the energy to jump."
The two girls from the performing arts troupe following behind them were completely dumbfounded. They were astonished to see that Gu Xi was indeed holding him quite firmly.
At first glance, this girl is so beautiful and slender, yet she can easily lift an adult.
Although Zhang Wanxia looks thin, she is actually quite heavy because she is a dancer and her leg muscles are very strong. They can't lift a girl as easily as she can.
Not only were the two girls stunned, but the nurses were also stunned when Gu Xi took Zhang Wanxia to find medical staff.
These days, Gu Xi comes over every day for IV drips. She gives them the impression of being gentle and weak, especially when she coughs badly. Her frail and pitiful appearance makes everyone think she is as delicate as Lin Daiyu described in the book.
Who would have thought that Lin Daiyu would suddenly transform into a superhuman, lifting a girl with an injured foot steadily over without even breaking a sweat.
After handing the person over to the doctor, Gu Xi did not leave but stayed by his side.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhang Wanxia visited her twice with gifts, and she even treated Zhang Wanxia to a meal. Over time, the two became friends.
Now that her friend is injured and she's run into him here, she naturally has to show concern for him.
After examining Zhang Wanxia, the doctor confirmed that she had injured the ligaments in her foot and needed to rest for a period of time.
Zhang Wanxia looked very frustrated, but there was nothing she could do.
After the doctor treated her foot injury, Gu Xi asked, "Wanxia, what happened to your injury? By the way, were the wounded soldiers who were brought in earlier also from your cultural troupe?"
Zhang Wanxia said, "Yes, during our rehearsal today, the stage collapsed due to its aging facilities, and several people were injured. I also twisted my ankle."
This is a major accident, and everyone is in a bad mood right now.
Gu Xi offered a dry word of comfort, then asked, "How are you going to get back later? Are you going back to the cultural troupe's dormitory?"
Zhang Wanxia's foot is too sore to walk, and she can't be supported by just two women like before, lest she suffer further injury.
“The military drove over, so I’ll take a car back,” Zhang Wanxia said. “I’ll go back to my uncle’s place later and stay there for a while.”
Hearing this, Gu Xi felt relieved.
If she goes to Commander Zhang's place, someone will take care of her, and she can focus on recovering from her injuries, which is better than staying in the dormitory.
When it was Zhang Wanxia's turn to ask with concern, "Gu Xi, why are you sick? You didn't even tell me."
"It's just a cold, why would I tell you? So you'd come see me and then infect me?" Gu Xi said nonchalantly. "Besides, after today's injection, I don't need to come for another one, I'm already better."
Zhang Wanxia couldn't help but tease, "You're all better now, it's my turn to get injured. We're practically sisters in misfortune."
Because the wounded members of the performing arts troupe were still receiving treatment, Zhang Wanxia and the others were very worried and did not rush to leave, but waited at the hospital.
They were only relieved after confirming that they were safe and out of danger.
The cultural troupe left some people to watch over the wounded in the hospital, and let Zhang Wanxia and the others go back to rest first.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xi immediately picked up Zhang Wanxia and carried her to the car.
She did it naturally, but the others were dumbfounded, just staring blankly as the thin woman carried Zhang Wanxia, who was taller than her, into the car.
After seeing her off to the car, Gu Xi waved to Zhang Wanxia, who was sitting inside, and said, "Wanxia, go back and take good care of your injuries. Later, I'll have someone carry you upstairs to Commander Zhang's house. Don't let your feet touch the ground. I'll come see you when I have time."
Zhang Wanxia smiled and said, "I know, you don't need to worry about it."
It's heartwarming to have such a beautiful girl worry about me, but I can't help feeling a strange sense of guilt.
On the way back, the two girls from the performing arts troupe who had accompanied her finally couldn't hold back anymore.
A young woman asked, "Wanxia, who is this woman named Gu Xi? Is she your relative? She's so pretty! Why don't you invite her to join the performing arts troupe?"
Another girl said, "And she's really strong."
This remark was echoed by everyone in the car.
That's because he's strong.
Seeing how easily she carried someone, it was clear that appearances can be deceiving; the contrast was so striking that it left a deep impression on them.
"By the way, is she married?" a male member of the performing arts troupe on the bus couldn't help but ask, his face full of anticipation.
The others immediately knew what he was up to and couldn't help but boo him.
However, this is only natural. Beautiful and outstanding women naturally attract male suitors, and it's always good to strike first.
Zhang Wanxia said, "She's been married for a long time. Her husband is Commander Shen." She glanced at the male comrades in the art troupe and secretly curled her lip, thinking they were not good enough for Gu Xi.
Even if Gu Xi isn't married, he shouldn't even think about it.
Commander Shen?
Someone asked, "Commander Shen? Which Commander Shen?"
Zhang Wanxia calmly replied, "It's Shen Mingzheng from the First Brigade, Regiment Commander Shen."
"..."
Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but look at Zhang Wanxia in surprise.
If they remembered correctly, Zhang Wanxia had taken a liking to Commander Shen back then, and even asked her uncle, who was a brigade commander, to help introduce them, right? Later, when she learned that Commander Shen had a fiancée, she naturally had to give up. But how could she casually become good friends with Commander Shen's wife, and the two of them actually seemed to have a pretty good relationship?
When did this happen? Doesn't she feel embarrassed at all?
Zhang Wanxia knew what these people were thinking without even looking. She snorted, raised her chin, and said proudly, "What? Do you think I'd give up a great friend for a man? Gu Xi is a very good friend, and I like her very much. Even Commander Shen can't stop me from being friends with her!"
Initially, she wanted to introduce Gu Xi to the performing arts troupe because of Gu Xi's beautiful appearance. However, after getting to know her, she found Gu Xi to be a really nice person and thought it would be good to become friends with her.
This has nothing to do with Shen Mingzheng.
These words were truly magnanimous, and the two girls from the performing arts troupe next to them felt pleased to hear them. Their friendships were none of the business of the men.
"Wanxia is right!"
"Indeed, we women don't need to consider your opinions when making friends."
"..."
The man, who was being condemned by the women, looked completely innocent. He really hadn't said anything, so why did it seem like he had done something heinous?
**
Because of the wounded soldiers sent by the cultural troupe, Ji Ya was busy for a long time, which caused her to finish get off work a little later.
By the time she finished her work, it was already past her off-get off work hours.
Just as I was about to go find Gu Xi, I passed by a break room and overheard the nurses huddled together talking. They mentioned Gu Xi, so I quickly asked, "What are you talking about? What happened to my Xi Xi?"
The nurses said, "Comrade Gu is fine. We were just saying that he is very strong."
"Yes, Dr. Ji, you didn't see it. When she carried the female comrades from the cultural troupe to find a doctor, she looked so reassuring."
"She's a petite woman, but I never expected that she could carry a woman who was taller than her and walk so steadily, as if it were effortless."
After listening, Ji Ya finally understood what they were talking about.
She couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Xixi is indeed quite strong. When a pregnant woman in our compound had an accident, it was she who took her to the clinic."
"Is Dr. Ji referring to Comrade Qiao, who was sent over in September?"
"It's her."
The nurses all looked amazed.
Their impression of Gu Xi has changed repeatedly, leaving a deep impression on them.
Ji Ya greeted them and then left the hospital with Gu Xi.
She rode her bicycle, carrying Gu Xi back to the military base, and first went to the kindergarten to pick up Gu Tuantuan.
Gu Tuantuan hasn't gone home yet; her dad must be busy too.
The little girl was overjoyed to find that her mother and aunt had come to pick her up together. She rushed towards Gu Xi and asked, "Auntie, are you here to pick me up too?"
Gu Xi jumped off the back seat, caught the little girl, and then spun her around, making the little girl giggle.
"Yes, your mother and I came to pick you up today. Are you happy?"
Gu Tuantuan hugged her and said loudly, "Happy!" Then she asked, "Auntie, are you feeling better? Can you play with me now?"
Because Gu Xi is sick, she hasn't been able to go to her aunt's house to play or feed the rabbits for quite some time.
"It's all done. You can come and feed the rabbits tomorrow."
"Yay~~"
Ji Ya said to the teacher who brought Gu Tuantuan over, "I'm a little late today, thank you for taking care of Tuantuan."
The teacher glanced at the aunt and niece who were hugging and spinning around, couldn't help but chuckle, and said goodbye to them.
Because of Ji Ya's job, there are sometimes emergencies at the hospital, so she gets off work quite late. The teachers are used to it and know about Dr. Ji's situation. If no one comes to pick up the child when it's time, they will personally take the child back to the family compound.
After saying goodbye to the teacher, Gu Xi hugged Gu Tuantuan in her arms and sat on the back of the car. Ji Ya rode a bicycle and took them home to their residential compound.
After arriving at the family compound, Gu Xi parted ways with them at the intersection and went straight home.
When he got home, he found that Shen Mingzheng had not returned yet.
Gu Xi went to change her clothes first, then went into the kitchen to boil water and cook herself a bowl of tomato and egg noodles.
After she finished eating her noodles, Shen Mingzheng still hadn't returned. She was used to it, so she read a book under the lamplight for a while, then took a shower and went to bed.
As night deepened, Shen Mingzheng returned, emanating a chill from his body.
He had just lain down when Gu Xi woke up and asked, "Big brother, have you eaten?"
"I've eaten." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her face, which was warm from being wrapped in the blankets. "You don't need to go for your shot tomorrow, right?"
"No need, I'm all better now," Gu Xi said. "By the way, big brother, I'm going to see Zhang Wanxia tomorrow."
"how?"
I ran into her at the hospital today; she had twisted her ankle.
Then she told him about what happened at the performing arts troupe that day. She would tell him about all sorts of things, big and small. It was a way for husband and wife to communicate. She didn't like to talk about these things with others, but she really liked to talk to him.
Shen Mingzheng listened silently until her voice grew softer and softer until she gradually fell asleep. He pulled her closer to him and fell asleep as well.
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