Chapter 187 He Mingshu
There were benches in the hospital corridor for people to rest, and the three of them found an empty bench outside the ward and sat down.
Sitting in the chair, you can still see into the ward.
On a hospital bed near the window lay a gaunt and thin woman. He Mingshu sat beside the bed, speaking softly to his mother.
He was still soaking wet and hadn't even had time to tidy himself up. The woman on the hospital bed stroked his cheek tenderly.
Mao Mao leaned softly against the First Madam, holding her arm, his dark eyes fixed on the mother and son interacting in the ward.
“…He Mingshu is my student, and he is also in the same class as Lou Yansui.” Shen Zhaolin explained, “Today during class, the school received a call from the hospital saying that his mother had fainted while working.”
The first wife said softly, "I just heard the doctor say that his mother seems to have been ill for a long time?"
Shen Zhaolin sighed: "Yes, He's family situation is very bad. His father died when he was young, and his mother and grandmother raised him by doing small food business on the roadside. Last year, his grandmother fell and passed away."
The hardships of a lonely mother supporting a student in school are self-evident and can be understood by both of them without needing to be elaborated upon.
"He Mingshu has excellent grades and studies very hard. He always ranks first in every exam. Because of his family situation, he almost had to give up his enrollment," Shen Zhaolin said.
The first wife took a soft breath: "That's such a pity."
“That’s right. When he enrolled, we waived his tuition and fees, and with his mother’s insistence, he was able to attend middle school. I never expected…”
The two looked into the ward.
A rope always breaks at its thinnest point, and misfortune always befalls the unfortunate.
Now his mother at home is seriously ill and needs a huge amount of money for surgery. How can this poor student afford it?
"Mao Mao." Mao Mao, who was leaning against the First Madam, suddenly spoke up: "Mao Mao will help my brother."
The First Madam and Shen Zhaolin were both taken aback.
The two looked down and saw the little girl open her small handbag and rummage through it.
She searched for a long time but only managed to pull out a harmonica and a few odd little toys; she didn't find a single penny. When going out with her mother or brother, she never expected to spend so much money.
Mao Mao's money was all kept in a box by her mother, not in her small handbag.
Shen Zhaolin chuckled: "No need to spend money. I already paid some of his medical expenses downstairs just now."
He came from a good family and earned his own money. Although a teacher's salary wasn't high, he regularly contributed articles to publishing houses or newspapers, earning money by word count, and also received considerable royalties. He had no wife or children to support, and spent all his income on himself, so he was financially comfortable.
"Yes." The first wife closed her small handbag and said with a smile, "No need to worry, there are adults here."
"oh."
Mao Mao suddenly sat up straight, looking straight ahead: "Brother."
The two turned around at the sound and saw the woman on the hospital bed get up and the mother and son support each other as they walked out of the ward.
Shen Zhaolin immediately stood up: "He Mingshu, classmate?"
The first wife also stood up, and Mao Mao quickly jumped off the bench, grabbed the first wife's clothes, and looked up at the mother and son opposite.
It wasn't until He Mingshu's mother stood in front of them that they realized how incredibly old she looked. She was only in her early thirties, but years of hard work had made her look like she was fifty, with a few stray white hairs in her hair.
She was very thin, not as tall as her son, with delicate bones, and her fingers, which were supporting her son, were red and swollen like water radishes.
Mao Mao changed from grabbing the eldest madam's clothes to hugging her, snuggling closer to her, her soft little face pressed against her body.
"Aunt He, how are you feeling?" Shen Zhaolin asked with concern.
A grateful smile appeared on He's pale face: "Teacher Shen, thank you so much. I heard from Mingshu that you were the one who brought him to the hospital. It's raining so hard outside, I'm so sorry to have troubled you."
Shen Zhaolin: "It's nothing, it's a small matter. The most important thing is your health."
He glanced at the mother and child, hesitating slightly: "What are you planning to do..."
“Oh, we’re planning to be discharged,” said Mrs. He.
"Discharged from the hospital?!"
Shen Zhaolin asked in surprise, "I heard that your..."
He stopped abruptly, his expression turning somewhat grim.
He Mingshu kept his head down in silence, but his mother remained calm and said, "I'm fine, just some old ailments. I'm sorry to have worried you, and I gave Mingshu quite a fright."
"..."
Shen Zhaolin was silent for a moment, then said, "If it's about medical expenses..."
“Teacher Shen, thank you for your kindness.” Mother He interrupted him, “I just have a minor ailment. I just got up too quickly today and accidentally fainted. It’s not as serious as the doctor said.”
"..."
“I’m fine now, so I won’t stay in the hospital any longer.” Mother He patted her son’s hand reassuringly and said with a pale face, “Teacher Shen, I’m sorry to have troubled you.”
Shen Zhaolin: "..."
Shen Zhaolin opened his mouth and glanced at his student again.
He Mingshu had his head down, his wet hair hanging down, obscuring his eyes and making it impossible to see his expression.
Unable to discern his thoughts from his face, Shen Zhaolin sighed after a long while: "...It's nothing."
The mother and son bowed to him, their gaze lingering briefly on the mother and daughter beside them. Since they didn't know each other, they didn't greet each other and left together, supporting each other.
From afar, He Mingshu's low voice could be heard: "Mom, be careful."
"It's alright, it's alright..."
The two figures disappeared into the stairwell.
Mao Mao blinked in confusion, then turned to look at the empty hospital bed.
"Big Mom?" she tilted her little head. "Where did Brother go?"
The first wife patted her head but did not answer her.
"hold head high?"
Shen Zhaolin adjusted his glasses and sighed, "In that case, I'll go back too. I have a class this afternoon."
"Teacher Shen, please take care."
Shen Zhaolin bent down again and said to Mao Mao with a warm smile, "Mao Mao, I'm leaving now. See you next time."
Mao Mao waved her little hand obediently at him: "Uncle, bye-bye."
Shen Zhaolin's figure also hurriedly disappeared into the corridor.
The first wife glanced at the rain outside the window; it wasn't as heavy as before. She said, "Mao Mao, let's go too."
"hold head high?"
Mao Mao looked back at the ward again, and one of the beds was empty.
She scratched her head in confusion: "Oh."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com