Chapter 17

A huge windfall. Even if her family never worked another day, they would have enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

The Twentieth Day of Being Overheard

"Would you look at that! My daughter crawls so fast!"

Gu Yousi was practicing crawling on the kang. She had been doing just fine until Gu Jinshui suddenly said that, nearly sending her sprawling face-first.

Luckily, a soft quilt lay beneath her, so the fall didn't hurt.

"Why are you startling her?" Liang Ying shot Gu Jinshui an annoyed look and picked Gu Yousi up. "Let's ignore your father. He never takes anything seriously."

"How am I not taking things seriously? I'm praising our daughter!"

Fresh from his bath, Gu Jinshui rubbed his close-cropped hair and grinned. "She's just too timid. That won't do. Girls need to learn to be brave too."

Gu Yousi made a scornful noise and waved her little fist.

She used to think her father was pretty cool. Only these past few days had she realized what a pest he was. He picked on his own daughter all day long!

"Watch yourself, or she'll beat you up when she's older."

Liang Ying couldn't help laughing at the pair of them.

"No chance. My daughter's such a good, filial child." Gu Jinshui sounded confident for reasons known only to himself. "Besides, her own dad treats her so well, she'll be eager to look after me."

That much was true.

Most families would already be feeding a child Gu Yousi's age rice porridge alongside the adults. Gu Yousi, though, still got powdered milk every few days. There was always plenty for her.

It infuriated Huang Xirong next door. Every day, she muttered about why a little girl needed to eat so well, and how that money would be better spent buying powdered milk for her Da Bao.

Gu Jinshui never paid her any mind.

He wasn't like certain fools who treated their own daughters poorly while doting on someone else's boy. What kind of idiot did that?

Gu Jinshui and Liang Ying coaxed their daughter to sleep.

Only then did Liang Ying ask about what had happened that day. Gu Jinshui's lips curved. "It worked. That fool really took me for an idiot. I set a trap, and he jumped right in."

"So he came out of it badly?" Liang Ying felt a little vindicated too.

Gu Jinshui chuckled. "Just wait. We should have quite a show to watch in the next few days."

Liang Ying pressed him for details, but Gu Jinshui refused to say another word. Exasperated, she smacked him a few times. "Your daughter says you're bad, and she's right. You're deliberately keeping me in suspense."

"Just give it a few days, sweetheart. There'll definitely be a show."

Gu Jinshui was so sure of himself that he grinned through every swat, leaving Liang Ying at a loss.

The next day, Gu Jinshui went out early.

At breakfast with Liang Ying and the others, He Chunlian asked about it. After Liang Ying recounted what had happened the night before, Gu Yinxing immediately said, "Sister-in-law, if my brother said that, you can relax. Nothing will go wrong. Ever since we were little, he's never failed when he set his mind on getting the better of someone."

Gu Yinxing sounded rather proud.

He Chunlian shot her a look. "As if that's a good thing. I wish he'd settle down."

"You can keep wishing." Gu Yinxing stuck out her tongue. "My brother's had the same temper for over twenty years. He's never changed."

"And you sound proud of it." He Chunlian tapped her hand with a chopstick. "Enough about your brother. How are things with the man Liang Renyi introduced you to?"

Not long ago, Liang Renyi and his wife had introduced Gu Yinxing to a man who worked at the Department Store. The two had met a few days earlier. When Gu Yinxing came home without complaining, He Chunlian knew she must have liked him at least a little.

"He's all right."

Gu Yinxing mumbled, "Just an ordinary guy. I'm full—I'm off to work."

With that, she put down her chopsticks, grabbed the small bag beside her, and hurried out.

"That child really is..."

He Chunlian looked helpless.

Smiling, Liang Ying put some scrambled eggs in her bowl. "Mom, don't worry about her. I think she knows her own mind. There's no rush to get married. Better to take our time and find someone good."

He Chunlian appreciated that.

She only had two children, and it wasn't that she was eager to marry her daughter off. Gu Yinxing simply never seemed to settle on anything. He Chunlian hoped that finding the right person might help her settle down.

Gu Jinshui had been a handful in his teens, too. Back then, He Chunlian worried every day that he might be sent to a labor camp or prison. Fortunately, after marrying Liang Ying, he had become much steadier and not nearly so reckless.

"Yinxing, why are you so late?"

Gu Yinxing had just put her things away in the changing room and come out in her nurse's uniform when she heard Song Mei's voice.

She looked up. Song Mei was supporting a middle-aged woman, displeasure on her face. "You're only getting to the hospital now? Don't you know how busy we are?"

Gu Yinxing blinked and glanced at the clock on the wall. Exactly eight. She laughed in disbelief. "Song Mei, are you looking for a fight first thing in the morning? I'm not late, so why are you getting on my case? And who are you to lecture me?"

"I am your senior, at least."

Song Mei bit her lip, looking aggrieved. "We've had so many patients lately that everyone's overwhelmed. If you came in a little earlier, the night-shift nurses could leave sooner. Wouldn't that be better?"

"Sure, that sounds wonderful. Talk to me like that when you're in charge."

Gu Yinxing rolled her eyes at Song Mei, slipped her hands into her pockets, and walked away.

"Oh? What kind of way is that for a young comrade to speak?"

Yan Lan frowned, watching Gu Yinxing go with clear displeasure.

Song Mei gave a resigned smile. "I'm used to it. Let's not talk about her, Director. I'll help you back to your room to rest."

"You're a generous-hearted young woman."

Yan Lan nodded approvingly and patted the back of Song Mei's hand. "All right, let's go back."

Their timing was just right: as they returned, Yan Ren arrived to visit his aunt. He carried rice porridge and a few side dishes. "Grandma had Aunt Liu make pumpkin porridge this morning. She said you liked it."

Song Mei perked up and smiled. "Comrade Yan is so thoughtful, bringing breakfast over this early. He's much better than my brother."

Yan Ren nodded to her and set the food container aside.

Yan Lan's gaze moved between Yan Ren and Song Mei. Seeming to have an idea, she asked with a smile, "My nephew is thoughtful, isn't he, Comrade Song? Whoever becomes his wife will be a lucky woman."

Song Mei blushed. "Comrade Yan doesn't have a girlfriend?"

"No. He spent six years in the army without coming home once. When would he have had the chance to date?" Yan Lan said worriedly. "He's finally left the army and taken a civilian post, but none of the women we introduced him to recently worked out. We elders can't help worrying. Say, Comrade Song, are you single too?"

By then, even Song Mei's ears had turned red. She nodded shyly.

Yan Lan was tempted to pursue the idea, but her nephew's impassive expression told her he had no interest in Song Mei.

She knew how stubborn her nephew was. Once he'd made up his mind, nothing could change it. So she changed the subject, sent Song Mei out, and stayed alone with Yan Ren.

"Why didn't you say anything just now?"

Yan Lan asked her nephew as she drank her millet porridge.

Sitting beside her, Yan Ren said, "Aunt, what was there to say?"

Yan Lan set down her spoon with a helpless look. "You're old enough to marry. Your younger brother already has a child. Your grandparents and I are all worried about you, but you couldn't care less. It seems we're the only ones in a hurry."

Yan Ren knew his aunt meant well.

His family situation was complicated. His mother had died in childbirth in the sixties. Less than six months later, his father married his current wife, who gave birth to Yan Ren's younger brother. That brother was only two years younger than him and already had a child.

His father had always favored his younger brother. Now that he had a little grandson, the favoritism had become boundless. Even after leaving the army and returning home, Yan Ren still lived with his grandparents.

His grandparents hoped he would settle down and start a family soon. Then they could ask his father to give him a hand, sparing him a few years of struggle in his career.

"Aunt, what good will rushing do?"

Yan Ren said, "Don't worry about it. If I meet the right person, I'll get married right away. You won't even have to push me."

As he spoke, he peeled an apple with a knife, his movements deft. The peel came away in one unbroken strip.

"I hope you mean that. I actually think Comrade Song is quite nice. She seems honest and kind. Her family isn't especially well-off, but we aren't the sort to judge someone solely by that."

Yan Lan still wasn't ready to give up.

Yan Ren gave a short laugh. "Not her."

He hadn't forgotten what he had overheard when Gu Yinxing and Song Mei argued. Song Mei acted so sincere in front of his aunt, but behind her back she was someone else entirely. Even setting aside her association with hooligans, that two-faced behavior was enough to rule her out.

Yan Ren had suffered enough under his stepmother. He wanted nothing to do with Song Mei, who reminded him so strongly of her.

If he were going to date anyone, he would sooner choose Gu Yinxing than Song Mei.

"Song Mei, did you see Comrade Yan when he came by just now?"

As soon as Song Mei entered the office, the other nurses gathered around to ask.

Song Mei smiled. "How could I not? I'm the one looking after his aunt."

"You're so lucky you got that assignment!"

The other nurses spoke with undisguised envy.

They envied Song Mei not only for getting to care for a hospital director, but even more for the chance to get close to Yan Ren.

Although Yan Ren was always in a hurry when he visited the hospital, he was handsome and came from a good family. Rumor had it that he had taken a division-level post after leaving the army.

What woman wouldn't be drawn to someone with prospects like that?

"Maybe it was fate." Song Mei brushed back her hair. When she saw Gu Yinxing walk in, she deliberately raised her voice with a laugh. "Actually, it's funny—Comrade Yan even asked whether I was single today."

Gu Yinxing stopped short, Yan Ren's face coming to mind.

She pretended to take a drink from her cup, but she was really straining to listen.

"Really? Comrade Yan asked you that?" Chen Deng Deng's eyes widened as she pressed for details.

Song Mei smiled. "Why would I make it up? His question took me completely by surprise. I have no idea why he suddenly asked."

Chen Deng Deng cursed inwardly and wished she could spit at Song Mei.

Who does she think she's fooling?

She has no idea why he asked? She was completely surprised?

She just wants to show off that Comrade Yan is interested in her!

Chen Deng Deng pulled Gu Yinxing outside and muttered, "If Comrade Yan really fancies Song Mei, all that height of his went to waste!"

For some reason, Gu Yinxing felt a little down.

"It's possible," she said. "Song Mei sounded so certain. It could be true."

Chen Deng Deng stared at her in surprise and stamped her foot. "Whose side are you on? Why are you defending her?"

"I'm not defending her. But if Comrade Yan really does fancy Song Mei, then he's a fool too. Nothing to regret there."

Gu Yinxing pursed her lips. "Men see Song Mei's little act and go blind. Every last one of them is too stupid to see through it."

"That's true."

Chen Deng Deng agreed wholeheartedly. Then she shot Gu Yinxing another look. "I wouldn't dare set my sights on Comrade Yan, but you're much prettier than Song Mei. Why don't you try? It would be such a waste for a man like him to end up with her."

"Quit talking nonsense," Gu Yinxing said with a laugh. "I'm not so bored that I'd fight her over him. Besides, we barely know each other. We've only met a few times. What am I supposed to try?"

"I know you're not that kind of person. I just can't stand it."

Chen Deng Deng folded her arms and sighed. "Why are all the good men in the world blind?"

Gu Yinxing paid no attention to Chen Deng Deng's complaints.

The hospital had been swamped since early morning. Flu was rampant at this time of year, and plenty of people had come in for injections. Gu Yinxing was run off her feet. It was almost noon before her lunch break finally gave her a chance to rest.

She put on a fine gray wool coat and stepped outside the hospital for a walk to clear her head. But Song Mei's words from that morning kept coming back to her.

The feeling they left her with was strange.

"Comrade Gu."

A man's voice sounded behind her.

Gu Yinxing jumped and turned around. Speak of the devil—she had only just been thinking about him, and there he was. "