Chapter 17 (Part 1)
After getting off the taxi, Gan Ling, holding a fruit basket, looked towards the gate of Ginkgo Garden, an indescribable emotion came over her. She had been going in and out of this iron gate for nearly three years. After leaving, she thought she would never set foot here again, but fate played such a trick on her. This morning she received a call from Wei Li, saying that Wei Chi had applied for a week of recuperation at home and was in a bad mood. He hoped that Gan Ling would go to see him. After the divorce, every time Wei Chi had any unreasonable demands, he would pester Wei Li to come forward, and Wei Li was also very annoyed. "I told him that this is the last time I will pass on a message for him. I don't want to care about your troubles at all in the future." Gan Ling asked: "What if I don't go?" "He will call the police to arrest Cheng Zhao." Three days ago, Gan Ling and Cheng Zhao accompanied Wei Chi to the hospital for simple treatment. They were all skin injuries, with no injuries to the bones and muscles. It would take time for the swelling to subside, so they could only apply some medicine and wait patiently. Cheng Zhao offered financial compensation on the spot, but Wei Chi refused. Gan Ling thought that he was too embarrassed to reconcile in front of her. Gan Ling knew how much Wei Chi cared about face. He probably still had a bad temper when he called her over today, but he didn't dare to vent it to Cheng Zhao, so he could only blame her. The password of the building door lock had not been changed, and the door opened as soon as Gan Ling pressed the button. She took the elevator to the third floor. The corridor with lead-gray floor tiles was clean and tidy. Gan Ling had lived in Lao Xincun for a long time, so she was a little uncomfortable coming back so suddenly. But more of the discomfort was emotional. She didn't give herself time to think about it, walked to Wei Chi's door, rang the doorbell, and waited. The door opened, and Wei Chi appeared in front of her, wearing a short shirt and beach pants, looking casual and at home. After not seeing him for three days, the scars on his face had improved a lot. "Come in." Wei Chi looked listless. Gan Ling walked inside, carrying a fruit basket. She glanced around. The room looked much the same as before she'd left. The money plant she'd grown before was still on the bay window sill, only now denser and taller. It was incredibly easy to care for, as long as it was kept well-watered. Wei Chi noticed her gaze and explained, "I got a larger pot, similar to the one you bought before, both white. I searched for it for a long time." Gan Ling, realizing she wasn't there to reminisce, averted her gaze and placed the fruit basket on the dining table. Wei Chi had already brewed a pot of tea and stood pouring it for Gan Ling, asking, "Did you buy the fruit?" "Yes." "Then I'll keep it." He peered into the basket. "How is it the same as last time?" "A standard basket, same price." Wei Chi pouted. "You're not putting in the effort!" Gan Ling glanced at him. "Your injuries are much better." Wei Chi patted...
After getting out of the taxi, Gan Ling, carrying her fruit basket, glanced toward the gate of Ginkgo Garden, a feeling indescribable welling up within her. She had been going in and out of this iron gate for nearly three years, and after leaving, she thought she would never set foot here again. But fate had played such a trick on her.
This morning, she received a call from Wei Li, saying that Wei Chi had applied for a week's rest at home and was in a bad mood. She hoped Gan Ling would go see him. After the divorce, every time Wei Chi made unreasonable demands, he would pester Wei Li to intervene, which made Wei Li very annoyed.
"I told him this is the last time I'll be delivering a message for him. I don't want to get involved in your mess anymore."
Gan Ling asked, "What if I don't go?"
"He will call the police to arrest Cheng Zhao."
Three days ago, Gan Ling and Cheng Zhao accompanied Wei Chi to the hospital for simple treatment. They were minor injuries, no broken bones. The swelling would take time to subside, so they could only apply some medicine and wait patiently. Cheng Zhao offered financial compensation on the spot, but Wei Chi refused. Gan Ling suspected he was too embarrassed to reconcile in front of her. She knew how much Wei Chi cared about saving face. She was probably still angry about being called in today, but she didn't dare to vent to Cheng Zhao, so she had to blame her.
The door lock hadn't been changed, so Gan Ling pressed the key and it opened. She took the elevator to the third floor. The hallway, paved with lead-gray tiles, was clean and tidy. Gan Ling had lived in Laoxin Village for so long, and returning so unexpectedly felt a bit strange.
But the biggest source of discomfort was her emotions. Without giving herself time to think, she walked to Wei Chi's house, rang the doorbell, and waited.
The door opened and Wei Chi appeared in front of her, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and beach pants, looking casual and at home. After not seeing him for three days, the injuries on his face had improved significantly.
"Come in." Wei Chi looked listless.
Gan Ling walked into the room carrying a fruit basket and looked around. The situation inside was no different from before she left. The money plant she used to grow was still on the bay window sill, but it had grown denser and taller. This plant was very easy to grow, as long as it was kept well hydrated.
Wei Chi noticed her gaze and explained, "I changed to a bigger basin, similar to the one you bought originally, both white. I searched for it for a long time before I found it."
Gan Ling realized that she was not here to reminisce about the past, so she withdrew her gaze and placed the fruit basket on the dining table.
Wei Chi had already brewed a pot of tea and stood pouring it for Gan Ling, asking, "Did you buy the fruit?"
"Um."
"Then I'll keep it." He leaned over to look at the fruit basket. "Why is it the same as the one last time?"
"Standard fruit basket, same price."
Wei Chi curled his lips, "You're not serious!"
Gan Ling looked at him and said, "Your injury is much better."
Wei Chi patted his chest and said, "It's not healed yet. The wound is too deep! I don't know if it will heal in this lifetime."
Gan Ling said, "I told him that he shouldn't use violence. Disputes over words should be resolved verbally."
What you mean is that you, Wei Chi, also have some bad habits.
However, Wei Chi didn't hear anything at all, or maybe he was pretending not to understand. "Why did I warn you? This guy is a complete jerk! He uses his fists when he's not right. Aren't you afraid at all? If you really follow him, aren't you afraid that he'll punch you in the face one day?"
As he said this, he touched his face as if he was afraid, as if the lumps were still there.
Gan Ling said calmly, "I'm not that mean."
Wei Chi's expression froze, as if he'd been stabbed. He quickly found Gan Ling's weakness again. "You're a sensible person. You know you need to be careful when speaking to him, but everyone makes mistakes sometimes. I admit I was just pissed off that day, and it wasn't intentional... Can you guarantee that everything you said to him was flawless?"
Gan Ling looked at him helplessly, "Why did you ask me to come here? What do you want to talk about?"
Wei Chi pulled out a chair and said, "Sit down and have some tea."
Gan Ling was not thirsty, but she still picked up the cup and took two sips, then put the cup down and looked at Wei Chi, her meaning clear: if you have something to say, say it quickly.
Wei Chi said: "I still say the same thing, he is not suitable for you."
"This is between me and him, it has nothing to do with you."
"You're my ex-wife!" Wei Chi suddenly became angry. "He's pursuing you just to disgust me!"
Gan Ling was speechless, her long-held opinion of Wei Chi reaffirmed. Once he fell into paranoia, it was hard to recover. On the way here, she'd planned to have a proper talk with him, having prepared numerous proposals. But within minutes of sitting down, the familiar ambiguity between them resurfaced. She didn't want to engage in a pointless argument with him; it wasn't about determining right from wrong, but simply about proving who had the upper hand. After realizing this, she stopped arguing with Wei Chi. Whenever he got angry, she just wanted to leave him, to leave this suffocating space.
Gan Ling took out an envelope from her bag, which contained 20,000 yuan given to her by Cheng Zhao.
"Cheng Zhao said that although he doesn't regret hitting you, it doesn't mean that hitting someone is right. This is his compensation for your nutrition and lost wages. You should rest well and don't dwell on it. Also, don't bother your sister if you have any problems in the future. Just tell me directly. Of course, I hope there will be no need for us to contact each other again - nothing else, I'm leaving."
"I'm not finished yet!"
Gan Ling put the bag on her lap and looked at Wei Chi.
Wei Chi was firm, "You can find anyone, but it can't be Cheng Zhao!"
Gan Ling was so angry that she almost laughed, as if they had not divorced yet and he still had the right to boss her around.
"What else? You call the police and arrest Cheng Zhao?"
"You can try it."
Gan Ling stood up and said, "Then you should call the police."
Wei Chi began to breathe heavily.
Gan Ling walked to the center of the living room, spun on her feet, and turned back to face Wei Chi. "But I know Cheng Zhao. He won't let it go if you retaliate against him. Unless you have a bodyguard by your side, you might stumble while walking or choke while eating. How many times can your fragile body withstand such a beating? I think it's best for you to stop here. Take the money, put this matter behind you, and do what you need to do from now on."
Wei Chi was stunned when he heard this: "Gan Ling, who did you learn this from? This... As the saying goes, 'Birds of a feather flock together!'"
Gan Ling smiled, stopped talking nonsense, and turned away.
Only after leaving the residential complex did Gan Ling slow down her pace. The sun was blazing, but she didn't feel the heat at all. She looked up, took a deep breath, and felt great.
Metro Line 2 runs within a five-minute walk of Ginkgo Garden, directly to the entrance of Xiaoxi Alley. The subway was sparsely populated at three in the afternoon. Gan Ling found an empty bench and sat down alone. She pulled out her phone and saw two messages from Cheng Zhao. He knew Gan Ling was coming to see Wei Chi today, and at first he was worried.
"I'll go with you." He insisted. "Who knows what that guy is up to!"
"What if there's another fight?"
"I promise……"
"Come on! A man's promise is useless."
Cheng Zhao smiled, "You finally understand the essence of a man."
"Then I'll take you there and wait for you downstairs." Cheng Zhao took a step back.
Gan Ling still shook her head. "Go and do your thing. I'm not a child, I can handle this. I'll go listen to what he has to say and then leave. Don't worry, everything will be fine."
After all, she had lived with Wei Chi and knew him well. Although Wei Chi was not a decent man, he had limited courage and there were some things he did not dare to do.
Gan Ling texted Cheng Zhao back, letting him know the matter was settled. Two minutes later, Cheng Zhao called to inquire about the situation. Gan Ling offered a few general remarks, avoiding any specific details, including Wei Chi's threats. She didn't want the feud between them to continue.
"He asked me to go just to complain. I left your compensation to him, and he didn't refuse this time, so the matter is over. Don't argue with him again in the future. I'm just a peacemaker this time. If you two are still inseparable, then I'll just break up with you and you can move on with him."
"Now that you've said this, I promise there won't be a next time!"
"hehe!"
"Don't laugh. This promise isn't a man's promise to a woman. It's Cheng Zhao's promise to Gan Ling. It's permanent. Do you want me to record it and send it to you via voice?"
"No, just keep it in mind."
"Hey, Aunt Liu has been at your house for two days. Is your dad satisfied with her?"
"He thinks it's good. She's quite hardworking and has a good memory. She can basically remember everything Wu Juan says. They can complete the handover today."
Cheng Zhao was very happy. "Then I feel relieved. I have done something useful for you. Shouldn't you treat me to a meal?"
"Wait a couple of days, until things get a little more settled at home."
"I don't want you to treat me to a meal. Just cook for me and I'll wait for you upstairs." Cheng Zhao's tone became sneaky. "The food outside isn't as delicious as your cooking."
"Besides, I have to get off the bus. Bye!" Gan Ling hung up the phone and put it in her bag.
Gan Wenkang and Wu Juan both praised Liu Cui highly, but Gan Ling had a different opinion. She didn't like Liu Cui very much, or rather, she didn't like people like Liu Cui. She was too active, too flattering. Besides the smile in her eyes, there was something else hidden behind them, something subtle, complex, and not so open, as if she was secretly thinking about something else.
However, Gan Ling knew that her feelings were too subjective to express, and they were likely wrong. Since her father was satisfied, and Wu Juan was anxious to transfer to Kong Yu to resolve the family conflict, she could only suppress her doubts and retain Liu Cui.
After getting off the bus at Xiaoxi Lane, Gan Ling did not go to the bookstore. Instead, he decided to go home first because Wu Juan was leaving today.
The house was bustling with activity. Wu Juan and Liu Cui were making wontons in the living room. Gan Wenkang, a rare absence from the study, was sitting in the living room helping. The two women chatted and laughed, and although Gan Wenkang didn't talk much, she was smiling too. Gan Ling suddenly realized that the house hadn't been this lively in ages. This change was entirely due to Liu Cui.
Like the Gan family father and daughter, Wu Juan is not a talkative person, but Liu Cui is completely different. She seems to have countless topics in her mind and can create a livelier atmosphere at any time.
"Xiao Gan is back! Let's have wontons tonight. I'll take Wu Juan home after dinner and come back tomorrow morning. We've already made arrangements with Teacher Gan!"
Gan Ling smiled and said, "Okay! Do you want my help?"
"No, no! The three of us can definitely make a good meal of wontons! You're busy in your shop, right? Go ahead and do your thing. Just come back and eat later!"
Seeing that she was truly no longer needed here, Gan Ling decided to return to her work at the bookstore, so she said goodbye and left. Her heart warmed, and her negative feelings towards Liu Cui faded. Perhaps this new nanny could bring a different kind of warmth to the family.
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