Refusing to marry a widower, I went on a crazy spree of sending my children to the army.

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the staff winking at her.

A bad feeling rose in Qiao Manman's heart.

She stiffly turned her head and saw Lu Yuan standing two meters away from her with a dark face.

Dr. Li, standing nearby, looked at Lu Yuan with great interest, as if to say, "You still say you're not my girlfriend? Look, the girl's denying it now!"

Qiao Manman felt her face burning, but who was she? A useless little brat from the 21st century. As long as she wasn't embarrassed, it was everyone else who was!

He forced a smile and waved at the two of them: "Hi, good evening, Dr. Li!"

Li Minghua nodded, suppressing a laugh: "Yes, good evening!"

Seeing that Lu Yuan didn't expose their relationship on the spot, Qiao Manman breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward.

His smile faded, and he asked with a worried expression, "Dr. Li, was my father's surgery successful?"

"Very successful. With proper follow-up care, it won't affect your walking!"

Qiao Manman breathed a sigh of relief and asked Lu Yuan, "Where's my mother? Has she woken up yet?"

Lu Yuan shook his head: "Not yet!"

Qiao Manman hummed in agreement and took out a wad of cash from her pocket: "Lu Zhiqing, thank you so much for paying my parents' hospital fees."

Here's seventy yuan, take it first, I'll give you the rest when we get back to the production brigade!

Lu Yuan frowned deeply, glanced at the curious or envious gazes around him, took the money and put it in his pocket, giving a barely perceptible "hmm".

Li Minghua glared at him: "You're so stingy, calculating even when it comes to your father-in-law's hospital fees!"

Lu Yuan didn't explain and took the blame for it.

Qiao Manman asked with a smile, "Dr. Li hasn't eaten yet, has he? Lu Zhiqing, do you have any food coupons? I'd like to treat Dr. Li to a meal!"

Before Lu Yuan could speak, Li Minghua waved his hand and said, "No need, no need, I'll just grab something to eat at the guesthouse!"

How could Qiao Manman let Dr. Li make do? She smiled and said, "You've worked hard today, it's worth it even if you eat well. It's just that I can't leave right now, so I can only trouble Lu Zhiqing to help entertain you. I hope you don't mind."

"Lu Yuan, you pick the good spots. I'll reimburse you when we get back to the production team."

Lu Yuan thought to himself, "You're quite generous!"

If I hadn't investigated the Qiao family's background, I would have really thought that Qiao Runming was very wealthy!

Huh? Wait a minute! Wasn't Qiao Laosan the one who was the most miserable in the Qiao family? How did Qiao Manman manage to get money in just a few hours?

not......

Ha, he really is full of secrets!

"Let's go, Dr. Li!" Lu Yuan gestured, and Li Minghua left with a smile.

But after leaving, she gave him a reproachful look: "You, you, so cold to a young girl, be careful she doesn't dump you!"

"Qiao Manman is not my girlfriend!"

Lu Yuan muttered under his breath, only to be kicked by Li Minghua: "You little brat, don't cause me any trouble! The girl said she's dating you, what, trying to back out?"

"If you dare to shirk responsibility, I'll get Old Master Lu to deal with you!"

Lu Yuan knew this would happen, and he felt extremely frustrated.

They arrived at the state-run restaurant with gritted teeth, only to find that there was no food left.

Lu Yuan took out his money and spoke kindly to the waiter, hoping that the head chef would work overtime and cook them a simple bowl of clear broth noodles.

The waiter, however, looked up at them and chased them out.

Li Minghua had never seen Lu Xiaozi so disheveled before, and he stood aside laughing so hard he bent over.

"Alright, let's go back to the guesthouse. I still have some biscuits there!"

Helpless, Lu Yuan could only send Li Minghua back to the guesthouse.

Looking at the few remaining crumbs of biscuits, I didn't eat any. I made a kettle of hot water for Li Minghua and then rushed back to the hospital.

On the other side, Qiao Manman watched the two walk away and went straight to the ward.

Seeing that Qiao Runming and He Nian were sleeping peacefully, he breathed a sigh of relief and unconsciously slowed his pace to sit between the two.

On the table between the two hospital beds lay her tattered bundle. Inside were a few changes of clothes she had packed.

Qiao Manman sat in the ward for a few minutes before getting up.

He took the tattered clothes out of the bundle and put them in the cupboard. Then he took some rice from the system space and put it into the bundle.

After hesitating for a moment, I grabbed a roast chicken. As soon as I tore open the vacuum packaging, the aroma of meat filled the ward.

Qiao Manman was startled and quickly buried the roast chicken in the rice. The aroma faded slightly, so she tied the bundle up and took it to the hospital cafeteria.

I was mentally preparing myself the whole way.

"It's okay, it's okay, the rice is pre-washed, it's perfectly clean!"

As for the wrapping cloth, what could she do?

This was my first time checking in, and I didn't check in my suitcase or my insulated container. I had to use a rag from home as a container.

Fortunately, Qiao Runming and He Nian were clean people, so the cloth wrappings didn't look dirty, and the clothes were all washed and dried.

Lost in thought, Qiao Manman arrived at the hospital cafeteria.

It was past lunchtime, and only the head chef was on duty. Seeing Qiao Manman approach, he asked curiously, "Young lady, what brings you here?"

Qiao Manman asked with a sweet smile, "Uncle, my dad just had surgery. Can I borrow the pots and stoves in the cafeteria to cook some porridge for him?"

Don't worry, I'll pay whatever amount is due!

He then took out a few small bills.

The master chef had seen plenty of people come to borrow pots and stoves, but this was the first time he'd seen someone pay so readily.

He couldn't help but laugh: "Sure, it'll cost two cents per use, but you'll have to bring your own seasonings!"

Qiao Manman nodded, took out two cents and put them in the chef's hand, thanked him and went into the kitchen.

The head chef, still worried, stood aside and watched. He saw Qiao Manman take a roast chicken out of the snow-white rice.

Head Chef: "......"

"Girl, your way of hiding meat is quite unique!" Smelling the aroma, she couldn't help but swallow.

Qiao Manman said apologetically, "I was in such a rush that I didn't bring any cutlery. I'll have to borrow your bowl later. Have you eaten yet? Would you like to have a drink with me?"

The head chef's eyes lit up, and after washing his hands, he came over to help: "Let me tell you, this is how you cook porridge to make it taste good..."

The master chef used his best skills to cook the porridge until it was soft, sticky, and sweet.

After washing the roast chicken again, I tore off the meat from the breast and put it in. Before long, a pot of fragrant chicken porridge was ready.

Qiao Manman generously served the head chef a large bowl and even gave him a chicken leg.

Upon seeing this, the head chef served her a small dish of pickled vegetables.

They also took two insulated containers and two aluminum lunch boxes, packed up the remaining porridge and chicken, and gave them to her to take back to the ward.

Qiao Manman thanked them, cleaned up the kitchen, and then left with her things.

Back in the ward, seeing that Mr. and Mrs. Qiao were still asleep, they opened the lunchbox and started drinking the porridge.

Mmm, this porridge is so delicious, so fragrant and sweet. The pickled vegetables are also great, fresh and crisp.

It's a pity there were no steamed buns; it just doesn't feel right.

Just as she was engrossed in her meal, Lu Yuan returned. Qiao Manman looked up in confusion: "Why are you back so soon?"

Lu Yuan felt annoyed. He thought to himself that he was starving outside, while she was eating alone here.

As if she could read the meaning in Lu Yuan's eyes, Qiao Manman pushed one of the thermos containers forward: "Aren't you full? Drink some while it's hot! It was made by the cafeteria chef himself, it's especially delicious!"