6: Chapter 3: The Past_2 6: Chapter 3: The Past_2 He looked up and was surprised, “Yuan Lin, what are you doing here?”
Yuan Lin and he were from the same village, grew up together, even joined the military together.
However, a few years ago, Yuan Lin lost half of his pinky finger on a mission and had to retire early, which made their meetings less frequent.
Nevertheless, the friendship between them never waned.
“You’re asking me?” Yuan Lin ran over, panting, and patted his shoulder, “I’ve been looking for you for a long time.
I thought you were at the health clinic, but who knew you had come to the county hospital.”
On hearing this, Shen Chi sighed, “You know what those barefoot doctors at the health clinics are capable of, no equipment whatsoever.
How could I dare send Wanwan there?”
He had worked tirelessly to complete a task that was supposed to take two months in just forty days.
Elated, he rushed back home only to find his wife lying in a pool of blood.
The panic he felt then still made his heart flutter.
“That’s true,” Yuan Lin scratched his head, then remembered something important, “Oh, I almost forgot what I came for.”
Saying this, he opened the snake-skin bag he was carrying and pulled out a flapping hen, “My mom raised this, a three-year-old hen, it’s very nourishing.
Take it and let your wife replenish her body.”
Shen Chi wanted to refuse but given the urgent situation, the markets were closed, and getting good poultry would require a trip to the village which he didn’t have time for.
Seeing him accept it, Yuan Lin breathed a sigh of relief.
This guy never liked taking advantage—before coming here, he really feared that Shen Chi would refuse out of pride.
But, seeing the situation, this guy really did like his sister-in-law, just like the gossiping aunts in the village said.
“By the way, do you have a place to cook?
Do you want me to accompany you to find a small restaurant?” Yuan Lin asked considerately.
“No need,” Shen Chi shook his head, “Ma Laoer works in the county hospital’s cafeteria.
I’ve talked to him; we’ll borrow the kitchen there.”
Yuan Lin felt relieved and after hesitating for a while, seeing that Shen Chi’s complexion wasn’t as bad as he expected, he asked, “How is your wife doing, was the child saved?”
At that time, Shen Chi had rushed out of the house holding Lin Xiaoguai, who was covered in blood.
Many villagers saw it and, understanding the situation from the blood stains, guessed what had happened.
“The child was saved, but the doctor said it could still be lost at any time,” sighed Shen Chi.
“Don’t worry too much, being cautious can still save it,” Yuan Lin originally wanted to say that you and your wife are still young and can have more children, but those words seemed inauspicious at this moment, so he swallowed them back.
The two went to the hospital’s cafeteria.
It wasn’t mealtime, so the kitchen was empty except for a cleaning lady sweeping the floor outside.
Shen Chi started boiling water for the chicken, Yuan Lin helped by thoroughly cleaning the pots, cutting boards, and kitchen knives.
It wasn’t that they were fussy; it’s just that the cafeteria’s utensils were really in poor shape.
The kitchen knife still had meat fibers from who knows when, the cutting board was darkened, and even the pot was greasy.
“By the way, how is my sister-in-law’s mood?” Yuan Lin hesitated before asking.
Shen Chi paused in his movements, “Why do you ask?”
“You, kid!” Yuan Lin snorted coldly, “I’m not criticizing you as a brother, but what you did was really shady.
If I were her, I would definitely hate you.”
Somewhat frustrated, he continued, “You’re usually so clever, how could you do something ?
I was confused before, but now I understand, you must have had your eye on her since the end of last year, right?”
He didn’t need Shen Chi’s answer and continued to lecture,”This is something only a brother would say to you.
You used shady methods to marry her.
Although the guys didn’t approve, thinking about your genuine feelings for her, they didn’t say anything.
But how could you just leave her at home right after getting married?
What was her situation then?
Her father had just passed away, she hadn’t recovered from the shock, was sick, and knew nothing about what was happening.
Her family couldn’t rely on anyone.
You know your house is practically a den of wolves, how could you dare to leave her like that?
If it weren’t for Xiuxiu, there’d be no need for you to come back; she might have died from the fever.”
Seeing Shen Chi open his mouth to speak, Yuan Lin quickly cut him off, “I know you want to say it was because of an urgent mission that you left her, but that’s no excuse!
Does she owe you something to suffer ?”
He had to get it off his chest.
During the time Shen Chi was back at the army, he was almost worried to death.
Although Shen Chi had asked him to look after his wife before he left, being an outsider and a man, there was only so much he could do!
Wang Zhaodi, that spiteful lady, had never liked him for his friendship with Shen Chi; she wouldn’t even let him inside her door, let alone stand outside for a while without hurling ugly words at him.
Unfortunately, his wife had gone back to her parents’ home to take care of her sick father, so he couldn’t even send his wife to check on Shen Chi’s wife.
People couldn’t see her, and the village gossips talked all day about how Wang Zhaodi was tormenting her daughter-in-law again.
Their tales about how Wang Zhaodi mistreated her became the hottest topic in the village, his heart raced every time he heard them.
Yuan Lin worked efficiently, and recounted everything he had heard from those gossiping aunts to Shen Chi.
Finishing, he exclaimed with a face full of relief, “Educated people are so lofty, that’s how the people in Fengyuan Village talk about her.
She grew up pampered, never suffered before.
First, her relatives sold her out, then she faced this crisis.
I’ve been so anxious every day, fearing she couldn’t take it and might seek death, I wouldn’t be able to face you if something happened.” He had been restless in his sleep, his gaze unconsciously moving towards Shen Chi’s house whenever he had a moment, fearing bad news would arrive in the blink of an eye.