The weather was too cold to leave the children at home, and with that neighbor nearby, she brought them along to the hospital.
Gu Liancheng introduced her: “Chongling, this is my wife, Jiang Zhen.”
“Hello, Comrade Jiang Zhen. Your children and the little Gu family’s children are well-behaved—and all quite beautiful.”
“Hello, Uncle,” the four children said in different, crisp tones.
It was evening, nothing suitable to buy for a gift, and Jiang Zhen had no blocked memories of Li Chongling. She decided to act as if she didn’t know him.
She took out a red envelope containing five yuan: “A small gift. Buy whatever you like.”
Gu Liancheng felt like digging a hole and hiding. Even sugar or noodles from Big Sister’s house would suffice—what was five yuan? For ordinary families, five yuan might be significant, but for someone like Li Chongling, it was laughable.
Jiang Zhen held Gu Liancheng’s arm and pulled him closer: “I heard you’ve studied abroad, seen the good stuff, and don’t lack money. But I barely have any gold. These five yuan are a lot to me. Because you’re friends with Gu Liancheng, I’m giving this as a sign of respect and friendship. Don’t dislike it.”
…
Li Chongling smiled, then felt a pang of melancholy. Jiang Zhen had once joked, “If you change your heart, I won’t care. Marry a good friend of yours and live happily, so you regret it.”
But Li Chongling knew this was not the same Jiang Zhen. Subtle expressions, tones, manners—people didn’t change this much.
Moreover, this Jiang Zhen neither liked nor hated him, only observed him carefully.
He remembered her saying she had a twin sister and occasionally shared a psychic connection. That sister was likely alive. This Jiang Zhen was probably that sister. He shouldn’t have known Du Qiuyi, a feigned-friend. By the time he realized, it was too late.
Li Chongling accepted the red envelope: “Gu Liancheng, I envy you—such a sincere wife.”
Jiang Zhen proudly looked at Gu Liancheng: “See? Giving your heart earns genuine friends, not ridicule.”
Gu Liancheng: … He could now be certain that Li Chongling had met “Jiang Zhen” during their overseas study.
This was slightly troublesome—Li Chongling wouldn’t think this Jiang Zhen was the one he knew, right?
Gu Liancheng laughed: “Why envy me? Aren’t you afraid your fiancée will get jealous?”
Li Chongling smiled: “She won’t. She’s the most virtuous.”
Gu Liancheng: “Heard your wedding’s set for March next year?”
Li Chongling nodded: “I wanted a National Day wedding, but everyone said sooner is better. March it is. You must come to the wedding.”
…
After leaving the inpatient department, they went to pediatrics to see Big Sister Gu Jiaoxia. She took a moment: “Several people were initially opposed. But you helped the military in the anti-bandit campaign recently. The troops sent a thank-you letter to the hospital. Monday’s meeting confirmed the work placement. I hope you come to pediatrics. If you want it, I’ll fight for you.”
With her as head nurse, Jiang Zhen wouldn’t get special treatment, but at least no one could give her trouble.
Jiang Zhen: “Don’t worry, Big Sister. Wherever I’m assigned is fine.”
“Then come Monday. Gu Liancheng will take leave and stay home with the kids.”
…
Jiang Zhen kept her secret about Li Chongling. He and the supporting department had been generous enough to trust her—she was moved. “Gu Liancheng, if you ever need me, just ask.”
“Good.” Gu Liancheng thought, she must also realize that Li Chongling knows her while she doesn’t know him—an odd situation.
The team wanted to tell her she could trust them, but they couldn’t. And what about Li Chongling—how would he explain Jiang Zhen to Du Qiuyi?
…
Du Qiuyi came to the ward after morning rounds. Her fiancé had completed discharge procedures. She smiled: “You waited for me, huh?”
Li Chongling: “No problem. I can manage stairs now. By the way, yesterday Liancheng and his wife came to discuss work, and checked on me.”
Du Qiuyi had heard from the ward nurses but was still pleased: “Morning meeting was about external doctors and nurses’ arrangements. Jiang Zhen is assigned to obstetrics and gynecology.”
Li Chongling showed no expression: “Your niece might be upset.”
“I’ll advise Qihui. The exes working in the same department isn’t a big deal. We all studied abroad—exes can be friends. Jiang Zhen acts like she doesn’t know us. Has she truly let go?”
Li Chongling: “Probably not. She’s precise. She found a man I know to marry. If she gives you trouble, ignore her.”
Du Qiuyi nodded: “Overseas, you two knew each other. I just heard. Now we’re engaged, I won’t argue with her, for your sake.”
…
Du Qiuyi went to obstetrics to scold An Qihui: “Enough! Stop causing trouble.”
An Qihui: “Auntie, you’re too virtuous. You make Mom become a nun, my sister a widow at Qi household, say there’s no need to avoid suspicion if your conscience is clear—but you let Jiang Zhen into obstetrics. I can’t accept that.”
“It’s your mother’s choice to become a nun, don’t blame me.”
Du Qiuyi: “You said you liked Yan Jiawen. You said you didn’t mind him marrying before. You said you’d be a stepmother to his child if needed. That’s why I helped him into medical school, assigned him to a hospital. Years later, hidden risks surface. You can’t deny it. If you’re really upset, divorce isn’t impossible.”
“I’m not divorcing. Why should I let Jiang Zhen benefit and laugh at me?”
“Exactly. Live happily with Yan Jiawen, surpass Jiang Zhen—that’s the best revenge.”
“But in the same department, Jiang Zhen can talk to Yan Jiawen. No matter how careful I am, I can’t prevent it.”
Du Qiuyi smiled: “Relax. You can talk to Gu Liancheng. She can’t talk to Yan Jiawen. Be generous. If you lack confidence, make Jiang Zhen disappear.”
An Qihui was incredulous: “…Auntie, the overturned boat incident—was it an accident or…?”
“How would I know? Stop overthinking.”
…
Jiang Zhen’s work was confirmed. The children didn’t want to wait at home, so Gu Liancheng brought them along: “Department assignment confirmed?”
“Yes, obstetrics and gynecology, same as ex-husband. Many are waiting to see the fun.”
Gu Liancheng: … “And you’re okay with that?”
“Anywhere is fine,” Jiang Zhen said. “If the pediatric nurses’ salary were higher, I’d fight for it. Same salary, department doesn’t matter. You never know what you’ll encounter. My experience: sometimes it’s better to go with the flow than fight the heavens. Not necessarily bad.”
Gu Liancheng thought she was right—she wasn’t the old “Jiang Zhen” and had no relation to Yan Jiawen.
Gu Jiaoxia expected a steady pediatrics placement, but this result surprised her: “I said, Du Qiuyi’s hypocrisy is behind this.”
Jiang Zhen reassured her: “It’s fine, Big Sister. I can handle relationships.”
Gu Jiaoxia whispered to her brother: “Gu Liancheng, watch Yan Jiawen. Don’t let him steal your wife.”
Gu Liancheng wasn’t worried about Yan Jiawen. He worried about Li Chongling: “Big Sister, trust Jiang Zhen. If she were to change her mind, it wouldn’t matter if I’m at the hospital or not. But I believe she won’t.”
Gu Jiaoxia looked at her brother’s character and relaxed slightly.
…
After settling work, Jiang Zhen didn’t rush. Checking the time, it was nearly due.
“I’ll go find Yan Jiawen. During the meeting, he gave me a note asking to meet at the mortuary. You keep watch for us.”
Gu Liancheng: …Really knows how to pick a place. “Am I suitable for this?”
“You are. You can observe—openly. I’m not afraid of you hearing.”
Gu Liancheng knew Jiang Zhen better than she thought, so he was naturally reassured. He wasn’t worried about her—he was worried about Yan Jiawen. How could Yan Jiawen be so foolish as to choose An Qihui over Jiang Zhen?
…
Yan Jiawen finally managed to break free. Luckily, Jiang Zhen was punctual. An Qihui was watching him closely, giving him only a few minutes to speak.
“Jiang Zhen, I want to divorce An Qihui. Can you help me think of a way?”
Jiang Zhen: …She had suspected the relationship between “Jiang Zhen” and Yan Jiawen—was it, like her arrangement with Gu Liancheng, purely contractual?
At the time of reviewing memories, “Jiang Zhen” had blocked all details she didn’t want to recall. She truly didn’t know the specifics between herself and Yan Jiawen.
“Why should I help? Do I owe you?” Jiang Zhen asked.
Yan Jiawen looked guilty. “I’m sorry, Jiang Zhen. I know we agreed that you needed to marry someone to legitimize the child. My family was poor, and I volunteered. You also honored the agreement—supporting my family each year. I’m grateful. I really don’t know who else to ask. Please ignore what I just said, but you must watch Du Qiuyi. I suspect the overturned-boat incident is related to her.”
Jiang Zhen: …Looks like Yan Jiawen sensed something and was uneasy. “Stop the pity act. Tell me why you want a divorce.”
“Ever since Du Qiuyi returned, she’s very popular, but some dislike her. Two people, one forcibly married away, the other disciplined and expelled, still asked about me and An Qihui’s relationship. They asked if we planned to divorce, and I denied everything. But now, after she arrived, whenever I joke with a nurse, that nurse gets assigned the long night shift.”
“Are you overthinking?” Jiang Zhen asked deliberately, hoping to draw out more.
“No, it’s real. Only me. Other doctors aren’t affected. Now Dr. Qi is also affected. He treats a female patient kindly; Du Qiuyi gives extra attention. I’m worried for that patient.”
“What’s her name?”
“He Shuli, obstetrics. Ectopic pregnancy. Needs surgery, otherwise life at risk. She’s unmarried, no family came, won’t say whose child it is—very pitiful.”
Jiang Zhen nodded. “I’m in obstetrics and gynecology; I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Too late. She’s having surgery today.”
Gu Liancheng, outside, heard everything. Now he understood—they didn’t care about Yan Jiawen, rushing to the surgery building and floor.
Yan Jiawen watched them disappear and murmured: “We agreed to keep this secret. Why invite her husband to listen? An Jiawen raised me, I owe them. But if I don’t act, I fear for my life.”
When Jiang Zhen and Gu Liancheng arrived, they heard the surgery had failed—He Shuli had died.