After inspecting corpses for so long, Jiang Zhen was ready to properly wash her hands. Professor Li came to show loyalty, becoming a neighbor and helping with the children. Jiang Zhen welcomed this. Dinner was cheerful.
Gu Pan admired Professor Li’s agricultural knowledge. “Uncle Li, why do tomatoes flower but not bear fruit?”
Even in winter, this was a surprisingly insightful question for a child.
Professor Li glanced at Jiang Zhen, who didn’t stop him. Thinking it through, he said: “Depends where you planted, whether the seeds are healthy, if there’s disease or pests, or if it’s a closed space. Did you pollinate properly?”
The children understood immediately—no wonder the first batch of tomatoes flowered but didn’t fruit. They hadn’t pollinated.
Jiang Zhen listened carefully. Seeds required care. Professor Li, an agricultural expert, worked on optimizing seeds at the Academy. Now getting seeds from him would be easier.
Seeing Jiang Zhen and the children, Professor Li guessed their planting area didn’t allow natural pollination.
He said, “Our department is developing a plant growth regulator. One day, tomatoes might bear fruit without pollination. But now it’s winter—where are you growing tomatoes? A greenhouse at home? Can I see?”
Jiang Zhen signaled the children not to reveal the truth yet.
Gu Pan grinned: “I planted them before. Next year, I’ll know.”
Gu Liancheng figured it out too. He couldn’t let Professor Li show off. “For tomatoes, even a gust of wind can pollinate. If there’s no wind, just shake the branches by hand.”
Jiang Zhen looked at Gu Liancheng in awe. “You know how to grow vegetables?”
He smiled. “When I first enlisted, the old cook told me.”
Jiang Zhen was confident the second batch of tomatoes would bear fruit.
After dinner, Gu Liancheng said: “You take the kids home first. I’ll help Professor Li tidy up.”
Knowing they had things to discuss, Jiang Zhen nodded. “Okay. It’s too cold to sleep alone. Come back early.”
Gu Liancheng couldn’t hide a smile.
…
Professor Li envied Gu Liancheng a little. He wanted to know where Jiang Zhen’s sister had gone but didn’t dare ask.
Gu Liancheng couldn’t say either. How could he explain that the twin sister he wanted to find had been cremated before his eyes?
Professor Li perked up: “See, I’m still useful. Now Jiang Zhen should have a place to grow vegetables—maybe a sheltered hot-spring valley in the mountains. That place may have been affected by the blast wave. Finding it would be valuable for research.”
Jiang Zhen had never been to the mountains alone, so Professor Li’s guess was off.
Gu Liancheng said, “Jiang Zhen trusts us, that’s why she lets the children ask. We shouldn’t betray her trust.”
“Of course.” Seeing his sincerity, Jiang Zhen would open up. Professor Li decided to settle in and said to Gu Liancheng: “It’s going to snow. Can you help me fix the roof tomorrow?”
Gu Liancheng: …How could he refuse?
…
Jiang Zhen boiled water to wash the four children’s faces and feet. After she cleaned herself and went to bed, Gu Liancheng returned.
“You talked so long?” she asked.
“Discussing the roof repair. I didn’t want to bother, but he looked pitiful alone, so I agreed to help,” Gu Liancheng said.
He didn’t mind. Jiang Zhen didn’t either. They discussed upcoming work plans.
“Tomorrow I’ll resign from the hospital job. After sending off the eldest sister and her husband, I’ll settle He Shulan’s matter with both families. Then handle your fake uncle and cousin. Next, the remaining five pairs of swapped children. Finally, deal with An Jin Zhu and Secretary Zhao’s swapped child.”
Gu Liancheng was puzzled. “Why put Secretary Zhao’s last?”
“An Jin Zhu’s child was born in Fancheng and went to Beijing. To handle them first, I must brave heavy snow. Snow may block the roads.”
Gu Liancheng had thought there was another reason and smiled. “Can you really finish so many things in such a short time?”
“Pretty much—not too hard,” Jiang Zhen said. These tasks were simpler than surviving the apocalypse. What seemed difficult to Gu Liancheng’s worldview was easy for her.
“Go wash up and get into bed,” Jiang Zhen said. “Two people can keep each other warm.”
“All right, just a moment,” Gu Liancheng replied, turning around with a flushed face. Back when he insisted they were just bound by agreement, now being contradicted so quickly—it was too embarrassing to backtrack.
…
The next morning, Gu Liancheng took the four children to help Professor Li repair the roof, while Jiang Zhen went to the hospital to submit her resignation.
At the hospital entrance, He Shulan hunched against the cold wind, standing beside two bamboo baskets of charcoal balanced on a carrying pole.
Jiang Zhen asked gently, “He Shulan, didn’t Dr. Qi already give you money? Why aren’t you at school and are selling charcoal instead?”
Tears welled up in He Shulan’s eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. “Sister Jiang, would you like to buy some charcoal?”
Jiang Zhen nodded. “I have some errands. Take it to my house, and my husband will pay you.”
He Shulan’s face lit up. “Thank you, Sister Jiang! I’ll bring it right over.”
Jiang Zhen looked back several times, noticing the young girl’s frail shoulders bent under the weight of the baskets, moving quickly as though used to hard labor.
…
Jiang Zhen arranged with the hospital to finish her shift and resign, taking only a full month’s salary.
That day in obstetrics, a forty-five-year-old expectant mother—Director Wan’s beloved wife—arrived with her second daughter to check into a single room.
“Hey, you, come over here,” the daughter said haughtily, pointing at Jiang Zhen to carry something.
Jiang Zhen walked past without looking. A few steps later, the girl grabbed her nurse uniform. “Didn’t you hear me call?”
Jiang Zhen turned. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were calling me.”
The girl’s anger flared. “You know I meant you! What’s with that attitude?”
Jiang Zhen flicked her hand away. “My attitude is poor. Your upbringing is worse. I’m resigning today, so don’t pick a fight with me—I’ve already warned you.”
The girl, unused to being challenged, snapped, “Just a nurse? Do you know who I am? Dare offend me and you won’t last in Fancheng!”