Chapter 3 (Part 2)
Gan Ling left work an hour early. With Han Xi and Tian Miao around, the bookstore could remain open. Before leaving, Gan Ling worriedly reminded them, "If there aren't many people, you can go back earlier." She was worried that they would be the only ones in the store and if they started arguing again, no one would mediate. Han Xi and Tian Miao said almost in unison, "No need!" They glanced at each other, Han Xi was wary, and Tian Miao was joking. Gan Ling sighed, picked up her bag and left. Usually, when she bought fruit, she would go to Afang's fruit shop to pick it out, and they would take care of each other's business, but today she decided to buy it near the hospital. Afang liked to ask questions, and she didn't want to lie. Wei Li sent a message saying that Wei Chi was staying in ward 503 of the second building of the Third Hospital. Gan Ling walked down the long corridor on the fifth floor with a fruit basket. It was evening, and the ward area was very lively, with people coming and going, and they all carried food in their hands. Gan Ling's phone jingled. It was Cheng Zhao, and she asked where she was. "Outside," she said succinctly. "I know you're out. I just went to the bookstore. Han Xi said you had something to do and left early." "I have something." "Please, could you be more direct?" "What's going on?" Cheng Zhao said, almost angrily. "Why would I call you if it wasn't anything?" "I'm at the hospital to see someone. What's going on?" Cheng Zhao was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Are you going to see Wei Chi?" "...How did you know?" "At the Third Hospital, right? I'll pick you up. We'll talk when we meet." Before Gan Ling could stop him, Cheng Zhao had already hung up. She put away her phone with a pout, then picked up the fruit basket again. Room 503 was a single room, the door ajar. It was quiet inside. Gan Ling peeked through the crack in the door, confirming it was Wei Chi leaning against the bed watching TV. Then she knocked and walked in. Wei Chi had been listless, but when he saw it was Gan Ling, his mouth dropped open in surprise, his back straightening involuntarily. "Why are you here?" "I'll be leaving in a minute." Gan Ling's gaze wandered around the room, avoiding Wei Chi. She then placed the fruit basket on the shelf beneath the TV. Wei Chi said, "I didn't mean to send you away! I just didn't expect you to come... What if your dad finds out? I can't handle it." Gan Ling understood what he meant. During the divorce proceedings, Gan Wenkang had threatened Wei Chi over the phone—"If I ever find out you're bothering me, I'll break your legs!" "What's wrong with your injury?" "My sister didn't tell you?" Gan Ling remained silent, and Wei Chi adopted a more honest tone, explaining, "Two broken ribs and a minor fracture in my calf. Not...
Gan Ling left work an hour early, and with Han Xi and Tian Miao there, the bookstore could remain open as usual.
Before leaving, Gan Ling reminded them worriedly, "If there aren't many people around, you can go back earlier."
She was worried that if the two of them were alone in the store and started arguing again, no one would stop them.
Han Xi and Tian Miao said almost in unison, "No need!"
After saying that, the two glanced at each other, Han Xi wary, Tian Miao playful. Gan Ling sighed, picked up her bag, and left.
Normally, she would go to Ah Fang's fruit shop to buy fruit, and they would look after each other's business, but today she decided to buy it near the hospital. Ah Fang likes to ask questions, and she doesn't want to lie.
Wei Li sent a message saying that Wei Chi was staying in Ward 503, Building 2, Third Hospital. Gan Ling was walking down the long corridor on the fifth floor, carrying a fruit basket. It was evening, and the ward area was bustling with people coming and going, all carrying food in their hands.
The cell phone rang, Gan Ling stopped to answer it, it was Cheng Zhao, asking her where she was.
"Outside." She said simply.
"I know you're out. I just went to the bookstore, and Han Xi said you left early today because of something."
"I have something to do."
"Please, could you be more direct?"
"Are you okay?"
Cheng Zhao was almost annoyed, "Why would I look for you if there's nothing wrong?"
"I'm here to see someone at the hospital. What do you want?"
Cheng Zhao was silent for a few seconds and asked, "Are you going to see Wei Chi?"
"...How do you know?"
"In the Third Hospital, right? I'll pick you up and we'll talk when we meet."
Before Gan Ling could stop him, Cheng Zhao had already died. She put away her phone with a pout and picked up the fruit basket again.
Room 503 was a single room, the door half open, and it was very quiet inside. Gan Ling first peeked in through the crack in the door, confirming that it was Wei Chi leaning on the bed watching TV, then knocked on the door and walked in.
Wei Chi was originally listless, but when he saw that the person who came in was Gan Ling, he opened his mouth in surprise and straightened his back involuntarily.
"Why are you here?"
"I'll be leaving in a moment."
Gan Ling's eyes wandered around the room, but she didn't look at Wei Chi. Then she put the fruit basket on the shelf under the TV.
Wei Chi said, "I didn't mean to chase you away! I just didn't expect you to come... If your dad finds out, I won't be able to handle it."
Gan Ling understood what he meant. When they were going through the divorce procedures, Gan Wenkang threatened Wei Chi over the phone: "If I find out that you are pestering Gan Ling, I will break your legs!"
"What's wrong with your injury?"
"Didn't my sister tell you?"
Gan Ling remained silent, so Wei Chi changed his tone and explained honestly, "I have two broken ribs and a slight fracture in my calf, but it's not bad. I don't need a cast. I'll be fine after taking some medicine."
"Sister Li said you fell down. Are you so careless?"
Wei Chi curled his lips and said, "I'm drunk! But it's not a fall, it's someone trying to trick me."
Gan Ling's gaze finally fell on his face, "Who?"
Wei Chi spread his hands. "This scope is enormous. As you know, since I became a project manager, I have to deal with all kinds of people. If I'm not careful, I might offend someone. This kind of thing is hard to avoid."
Gan Ling didn't ask any more questions, and the silence in the ward became noticeable.
Wei Chi couldn't stand the oppressive silence. He glanced at the gift and tried to find something to say. "Thank you for remembering to come and see me. I'm sorry for the expense."
"It's nothing... I'm leaving."
"etc!"
Gan Ling stopped at the end of the bed.
"It's only been a few minutes, and you're leaving already?" Wei Chi said with a somewhat aggrieved tone, "Can't you sit for a while?"
Gan Ling didn't move. The end of the bed was close to the window. She looked out the window. The sky was getting softer by the minute.
Wei Chi sighed again, "Gan Ling, I owe you an apology. I was wrong about what happened between us."
Gan Ling's gaze fell on his face for the second time.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not so bad that I can't tell right from wrong."
"I understand. Take good care of him. I really have to go."
"Can't you say a few more words?"
"We're already divorced, so there's no point in talking any more."
"you……"
Wei Chi was so angry that he couldn't say anything, and Gan Ling had already walked out.
When Gan Ling got downstairs, she checked the time. Only a quarter of an hour had passed. If Cheng Zhao had driven from Xiaoxi Lane, it would have taken at least half an hour. She walked out of the inpatient department and decided to have a drink at a cafe across the street. She also sent a message to Cheng Zhao, telling him not to come into the hospital.
There were not many people in the cafe. Gan Ling chose a seat in the corner and sat down. She sent a message to the work group to ask about the situation in the store. Han Xi did not reply, but Tian Miao did.
"Everything is normal."
Gan Ling couldn't help but wonder just how normal Tian Miao was. She hadn't bothered to send Wei Li a letter proving she'd been to the hospital. Wei Chi would tell her, and there would undoubtedly be a barrage of complaints. Gan Ling used to be distressed by the thought of these people talking behind her back, but now she was trying to ignore it.
Cheng Zhao finally sent her a message. He parked his car in a temporary parking lot near the cafe.
"Just walk over here. It won't take more than three minutes. Parking is not allowed on the road next to the cafe."
Gan Ling walked over with two cups of coffee and saw Cheng Zhao leaning against the car, smoking. He was tall, with a haggard expression, as if he were in a desert, struggling to find a way out. Seeing Gan Ling approach, he quickly put out his cigarette and opened the passenger door.
Gan Ling handed over the cup of coffee she bought for him.
Cheng Zhao picked up the phone and couldn't help but complain, "Why did you come to see him? Are you still in contact with him?"
Gan Ling didn't respond and got into the car directly. Cheng Zhao knew her temper, so he had to get in as well.
After the car started, Gan Ling said, "Wei Chi's sister helped my dad get an imported medicine a while ago. I came to return the favor."
"What medicine? Why didn't you come to me?"
Gan Lingxin said: Can you read the entire drug instructions in English?
Cheng Zhao seemed to be able to read minds. "If you don't understand, I can ask my friends for help! It's better than asking your ex-husband's family for help."
Gan Ling didn't bother to argue with him. After drinking some coffee, she asked, "Did you beat him up like that?"
Cheng Zhao sneered, "How is that possible?"
"Or do you know which hospital he is in?"
"I'm trying to win over a project he's got! I've been keeping a close eye on him lately, and I won't let him hide any movement he makes."
"Who did you have dinner with last night?"
“It’s him!”
"Then what?"
"Then I called a car to take him back."
"So the accident happened on his way back?"
"Yeah. Although I called the car, it has nothing to do with me! The driver took us to the wrong place. There's a construction site across from the residential complex, and there was a ditch where Wei Chi got off. There were no lights. He was drunk that night and fell into the ditch after taking a few steps."
Cheng Zhao's speech was like hammering nails into cement, so brave and sonorous that Gan Ling breathed a sigh of relief.
"I knew about his accident the moment he got into trouble. I even rushed to the hospital last night to run errands for him. I was so busy that I couldn't wait to help him! It took a lot of effort to help him offset his negative feelings towards me. Why should I deal with him? What good will it do me?"
"What do you want from me?" Gan Ling changed the subject.
"Oh, I went to Luozhuang to visit a friend today, and they gave me a few bags of local rice, saying it was very delicious when cooked in it, so I thought of sending it to you."
"Don't bother, I can just buy it online."
"You can't buy it online! Let me tell you, this rice is not only delicious when cooked, but it's also great when cooked into porridge. It's soft and sticky. Doesn't Teacher Gan love porridge? You have to be more particular and don't fool around. He stays at home all day with nothing to look forward to. Can't he have something to enjoy?"
Gan Ling didn't argue anymore.
After finishing her coffee, she clutched the empty cup in her hand and said slowly, "Why did you hit him so hard? What if Wei Chi calls the police and the investigation leads to you? You won't be able to do business and you might even be put in jail. Why bother?"
Her tone was gentler than ever. Cheng Zhao's heart was moved when he heard it, and he began to explain as soon as his nerves relaxed.
"I'm so wronged in this matter! I didn't mean to do anything to him, I just wanted to teach him a lesson and fix his foul mouth! My little brother dropped him off the car, but before he could do anything, even though he'd drunk too much cat piss, he was still smart. When he saw that things weren't going well, he took off running and ended up falling into a ditch. You know how deep ditches are on construction sites, so that's when my friend pulled him out and took him to the hospital."
"Don't be stupid next time."
"Yeah, I know... Hey? Why did I admit it?"
Gan Ling finally smiled, "You don't know how many mystery novels I have read."
"Reading is indeed useful."
Gan Ling turned her head and caught a glimpse of the sly smile on the corner of his mouth. She was very familiar with this expression since she was a child. She knew that he was teasing her and was in a good mood.
"Did you buy books again today?"
"Well, how can I leave empty-handed?"
"How many?"
"What? Accounting?"
“Don’t buy it anymore.”
"Why?"
"You didn't even look at it after buying it."
“Who said that!”
"You really know how to read it?"
"certainly!"
"Who wrote 'Soushen Ji'?"
"Huh? Oh, I haven't read this one yet."
"Where's 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword'? You bought this three months ago."
"I forgot. I never remember the author when I read a book."
"What is this book about?"
Cheng Zhao laughed dryly, "Actually, I haven't read this one yet!"
"Then tell me which one you've read."
"Gan Ling, I really don't understand. You're always polite to everyone, but why are you so sharp-tongued with me?"
"You're going to attack me if you can't answer?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"I buy more than a dozen books at a time. I can't eat them at home, and they take up space. And I have to spend time looking for new books. I don't want to do meaningless things."
Cheng Zhao curled his lips, "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you... I have a question I'm curious about. If your father knew that the Wei family got this medicine for him, would he be able to swallow it?"
"I didn't tell him."
"That's what I said!"
After crossing the Yujia Bridge, turn a corner and you will reach Xiaoxi Lane.
Gan Ling said, "Just take me to the bookstore."
"Let's go to your door! There are two bags of rice here. I'll carry them upstairs for you!"
"The rice is ready at the store. I'll ask Tian Miao to help me deliver it. He has a trailer."
"That's such a hassle! And it's already off work now."
"You can eat tomorrow! There's no rush to eat."
Cheng Zhao still refused, "Can you finish it in one go? I don't think you can rely on either of those two young people in your shop. One can only embroider, and the other can only stare at her and make her laugh."
Gan Ling pursed her lips. Cheng Zhao glanced at her when he turned around and said quickly, "But it's okay to watch the store. There aren't many customers anyway... Did I say something wrong again?"
"Are you tired?"
The car turned into Xiaoxi Lane. Ignoring Gan Ling's instructions, Cheng Zhao turned right at the entrance to Changwang New Village, entered the residential complex, and finally parked downstairs from Gan Ling's house. Without further ado, he pulled two bags of rice and a basket of fresh fruits from the trunk, handed the baskets to Gan Ling, and then, carrying a 20-jin bag of rice in each hand, he carried them from the ground floor to the fourth in one breath. Gan Ling asked him to rest, but he didn't respond.
Gan Ling caught up a minute later, "Aren't you tired of walking so fast?"
Cheng Zhao said, "Don't let out a single breath. If you do, you'll get more tired the more you walk. Look how out of breath you are."
Gan Ling smiled, "You should also take a deep breath, don't hold it in."
Cheng Zhao pretended to be calm and said, "I have no problem at all!"
Gan Ling took out the key and opened the door, then turned and said, "Come in and sit for a while? I'll pour you a cup of tea."
Cheng Zhao's expression immediately changed. "Forget it, maybe next time."
He turned and walked away, and Gan Ling watched him go. When they reached the stairs, Cheng Zhao looked at her again.
Gan Ling said, "Thank you for the rice."
Cheng Zhao nodded and said, "I'll bring it to you after you finish eating."
There was reluctance in his eyes, but he didn't stay long. He waved to Gan Ling and went downstairs.
After opening the door, Wu Juan helped Gan Ling carry the food in. Gan Wenkang was watering the plants on the balcony and asked Gan Ling when he saw her coming.
"Who was outside just now?"
"Cheng Zhao. He sent you some rice and fruit."
"Why don't you invite him in?"
"He's busy."
Gan Wenkang looked at his daughter, seemed to be about to say something, sighed, and lowered his head to continue watering the flowers.
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