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

Qiao Manman's heart skipped a beat: "Auntie, your family is quite wealthy? Don't blame me for being suspicious, but what if your sister-in-law doesn't want you to get pregnant and finds out you've taken the medicine..."

Sigh, I'm just worrying unnecessarily. There's no such thing as a lot of nonsense. Take care of yourself, and don't go around talking about it until the pregnancy is stable.

Although Qiao Manman's words displeased Fu Xianling, they also served as a reminder to her.

Yes, the old woman has been nagging about bringing her grandson to live with them for a long time. Maybe that boy has already taken the house in the glass factory's residential compound as his own property.

"Oh, thank you so much, Auntie! Once I get pregnant, I'll definitely help you promote your business and make you lots of money!"

Qiao Manman cried out in terror, "No, Auntie, I'm scared!" What era is this? If she dared to be so outspoken, she'd probably be in for a world of trouble!

Fu Xianling gave an awkward smile: "Auntie was just too excited!"

Qiao Manman hummed in agreement and said goodbye to Fu Xianling.

I ate dinner at the state-run restaurant when it was just past six o'clock, and then packed up a bunch of food to go.

Carrying him back to the hospital, she saw the man next door gently placing Old Qiao on the bed. Seeing her approach, he rubbed his hands together with a fawning expression.

"Sister, you're back! I've carried your older brother to the toilet seven times these past two days, I've been taking very good care of him!"

Qiao Manman glanced at Qiao Runming in surprise, and seeing him nod with a flushed face, she didn't hesitate and took out seven cents from her pocket and handed it to him: "Thank you, brother!"

"Hey, you're welcome, you're welcome. Just call me if you need anything!"

The burly man left satisfied, while He Nian looked on in astonishment: "He asked for money for helping him!"

"Otherwise, why would they serve me like a grandson?"

Although Qiao Runming felt it was expensive, it was a necessity and it would also avoid embarrassment.

He Nian knew she couldn't carry Qiao Runming to the men's restroom, but it was just so expensive. She couldn't earn that much even after working seven or eight hours in the production team.

"Manman, do you think it would be okay for Mom to help those old ladies to the toilet?"

Qiao Manman could tell what He Nian was thinking just by looking at her pained expression.

Nodding, I said, "Sure, but you probably won't find an employer as generous as me. They'll likely think you're some kind of Good Samaritan, out doing good deeds!"

He Nian sat in the corner like a wilted eggplant.

Qiao Manman could only comfort her elderly mother: "The most important thing for you right now is to recover. Once Dad is discharged from the hospital, I'll need your help again!"

He Nian's mood improved a bit, and looking at Qiao Manman's new clothes, she couldn't help but ask, "Where did you buy these? They're so pretty! We don't think we have any cloth coupons!"

Qiao Manman sighed and recounted how Qiao Zhenzhen had ruined her trip back to the county to take the job recruitment exam.

He also admitted that he gave up his job at the supply and marketing cooperative to others just to earn money for Qiao Runming's medical expenses.

The couple cried after hearing this.

One cursed Qiao Zhenzhen for being heartless, while the other lamented her daughter's misfortune, saying that she had finally gotten a job but only earned a little over a hundred yuan.

They're the ones who dragged our daughter down!

Qiao Manman comforted the two of them: "It's okay, Mom. I couldn't keep that job anyway. Simin's parents are very kind. They gave me a lot of clothes and money. At least for now, we can focus on recovering."

He Nian sighed, his worry undiminished. The immediate problem was solved, but what about the future?

Qiao Runming can't do heavy work, Manman's job application was ruined by Zhenzhen, and the Qiao family doesn't even welcome them. How are they going to live like this!

Qiao Manman deliberately concealed five or six hundred yuan so that Qiao Runming and He Nian could see the true colors of Old Lady Qiao and her brothers and sisters.

On the day the family separates or ties are severed, it won't be too painful.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Have you eaten yet? I ordered some hearty dishes from the state-run restaurant."

Qiao Runming looked at Qiao Manman expectantly. Qiao Manman chuckled, opened the lunchbox, and the braised pork inside emitted an enticing aroma.

The couple hadn't eaten much meat in over a decade. They even had chicken porridge a couple of days ago and found it a bit too much, let alone this rich, oily sauce.

After eating a few pieces, the two put down their chopsticks and ate the mixed grain rice with shredded potatoes, enjoying it immensely.

After dinner, Qiao Manman borrowed a wheelchair from the hospital and pushed Qiao Runming out for a stroll.

As the family strolled in the warm sunshine, He Nian sighed, "I wish I could live outside all the time."

Qiao Manman chuckled: "Yes!"

***

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, just as Qiao Manman was about to complete the discharge procedures for Qiao Runming, she received a call from Zhou Guoping, the captain of the transportation team.

"Man'er, your article has been accepted! A reporter from the provincial capital even called to say they want to interview me!"

Qiao Manman was somewhat surprised, but also a little happy: "The reporter asked when the interview was scheduled?"

"I'll take the train tomorrow!"

Qiao Manman's eyes lit up: "Uncle Zhou, my dad is out of danger and can be discharged from the hospital. Do you think we should tell the reporters in the provincial capital to get off the bus in the city and interview them about the aftermath of his hospitalization?"

Zhou Guoping was stunned for a few seconds before he realized what was going on: "You want me to go pick up your father, right?"

"Haha, ha!" Qiao Manman said somewhat awkwardly, "You saw right through me!"

Zhou Guoping didn't mind and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll arrange a time with him and go there directly. You can handle the formalities then."

Before hanging up, he reminded them, "Please let the hospital know so that the reporters won't be caught unprepared when they arrive."

Qiao Manman hummed in agreement, then turned to the dean and told him the "good news."

The dean immediately gave orders, and the doctors and nurses were busy with cleaning and etiquette.

Qiao Manman also changed Qiao Runming and He Nian into the tattered clothes they had worn at the beginning, and she also lowered the standard of their meals again and again, leaving only black cornbread and boiled vegetables.

Zhou Guoping's suggestion was quickly adopted by the newspaper, which immediately dispatched a reporter and photographer to Changping City by train.

The two simply changed their train number and decided to conduct a surprise interview. Little did they know, Qiao Manman had prepared in advance.

Upon arriving at the hospital, the two received a "warm welcome," with doctors and nurses smiling and asking them if they needed any help.

The two men scratched their heads awkwardly and said they wanted to visit a patient.

The nurse immediately took out the register: "Sir, what is the name of the patient you want to visit? Let me check his/her ward number for you!"

Left with no other option, the two pulled out their work IDs: "Can we look around? We'd like to find some material about hospitals for our writing!"

"Okay!" After checking, the nurse returned the work permit to the person.

The reporter breathed a sigh of relief and asked before leaving, "I heard that your hospital recently saved a patient who almost had a leg amputated?"

"Yes, reporter. At that time, we had a patient who was seriously injured and needed surgery while saving factory property. In order to save the young comrade's life, the hospital director contacted experts in Kyoto to perform the surgery."

The patient you mentioned arrived at a fortunate time, just in time to see the specialists. The hospital director and the specialists both felt that treating and saving lives was a major undertaking, a vivid example of serving the people, and thus performed the surgery on Comrade Qiao.