“What do you mean?” Lin Xiangxiu didn’t understand.
But since the doctor had instructed her to wait, she didn’t rush off. She found a stool, sat down holding Lin Xiao, and waited in the corner.
After a short while, the young doctor finished attending to all the patients and came over. He glanced at Lin Xiao before speaking to Lin Xiangxiu: “You must be from out of town, right?”
Lin Xiangxiu nodded, “Yes, we came from the north.”
As she spoke, Lin Xiangxiu grew more puzzled. What did Lin Xiao’s heatstroke have to do with them being northerners?
The young doctor said: “The temperature here isn’t particularly high, and we haven’t even reached the hottest time of year yet. Your child shouldn’t have suffered such severe heatstroke.”
“I suggest you take your child to a major hospital for a comprehensive check-up. If everything turns out fine, that would be ideal. If any issues are detected, they can be treated promptly, right?”
Hearing this, Lin Xiangxiu was stunned and anxiously pressed, “Doctor, is there something wrong with my daughter? Or have you noticed some problem?”
“No, no, don’t be nervous. I’m just suggesting you take her to a major hospital for a check-up so you can have peace of mind, right?” The young doctor was startled by Lin Xiangxiu’s reaction and quickly explained.
Although he had said there was likely nothing wrong, Lin Xiangxiu still couldn’t rest easy. She thought about how robust Lin Xiao had been back in their hometown – no matter how wildly she played outside, she never suffered heatstroke. Yet she got heatstroke right after arriving in Shencheng. Perhaps there really was some minor issue.
Lin Xiangxiu pulled Lin Xiao home to get money and decisively said, “Xiao Xiao, Mom is taking you to the hospital.”
“Ah?” Lin Xiao looked like she was about to cry, rubbing her eyes and pretending to sob. “I’m already fine. I’ll be okay if I just have an ice pop.”
“No, Mom will buy you an ice pop after we come back from the hospital.” Lin Xiangxiu’s attitude was particularly firm.
Although she wasn’t well-off, she understood that she couldn’t be careless about her child’s health. Since there were already signs of potential issues, she had to get it checked out.
Lin Xiangxiu remained resolute. She could tell Lin Xiao was pretending, so she didn’t soften at all. Grabbing the little girl’s arm, she headed home.
After arriving home, unsure about medical costs in Shencheng hospitals, Lin Xiangxiu reluctantly tucked fifty yuan into her pocket along with some smaller bills before taking Lin Xiao to catch the bus.
It was getting late, with the sun about to set. Lin Xiangxiu grew more anxious, wanting to quickly take her child to see a doctor. As soon as they reached the hospital stop, she rushed off the bus.
Lin Xiangxiu had come to Shencheng’s largest hospital, though it wasn’t particularly big. The hospital lobby was packed with people, noisy and chaotic everywhere.
Seeing such crowded conditions reminded Lin Xiangxiu of the child trafficker incident, and she instinctively picked up Lin Xiao.
“Xiao Xiao, don’t run around. Don’t leave Mom’s side,” she instructed.
Lin Xiao, however, was watching with great interest, even pointing things out to Lin Xiangxiu. “Mom, look – they’re arguing over there.”
It was true.
Someone stood at the medicine purchase window, loudly haggling with the staff. There was also a long queue at the registration window, where the current argument was taking place.
Lin Xiangxiu walked over to listen for a moment and realized the argument had started over a queue dispute. The two men had escalated from shouting to physical blows—swinging and kicking at each other. Bystanders scrambled aside, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
The nurse behind the window had been shouting herself hoarse, urging them to stop fighting, but no one paid her any attention. Even those watching tried to calm them down, but the men seemed too enraged to listen, as if consumed by the brawl.
Lin Xiangxiu, holding her child, had been waiting on the sidelines for some time. She kept glancing outside, her heart sinking gradually. They had arrived late to begin with, and now this fight was preventing the registration window from functioning. What if the doctor left work because of the delay?
She attempted to intervene. “Can’t we talk this out? Your fighting is holding up everyone’s medical visits. We’re all here to see the doctor—can we please be a bit more civil? Getting this angry only harms your health.”
Instead of calming down, her words seemed to fuel the fighters’ aggression. One of them, a shifty-eyed man, glared at Lin Xiangxiu and snarled, “Mind your own business! Who do you think you are? Get lost!”
That set her off. All the frustration she had been suppressing erupted. Without thinking, she set Lin Xiao down and shoved the two fighters apart with such force that they stumbled backward. Accustomed to farm work, her strength was considerable, and her sudden outburst stunned everyone.
Seizing the moment, Lin Xiangxiu covered Lin Xiao’s ears and barked, “What’s wrong with you? Are you insane? We’re all here for medical help—can’t you wait a little longer without killing each other? If you’re in such a hurry, go to the emergency room! Blocking the line and fighting just screws things up for everyone!”
“It’s just a queue—what gives you the right to cut in? Have you no shame? Think you’re tough just because you can throw punches?”
“If you’re so tough, take it outside! Go fight in the middle of the street and show off your ‘skills’ there! Don’t embarrass yourselves here—and more importantly, don’t waste our time when we need medical attention!”
Her words were crude, delivered with a northern accent, sharp and fierce, instantly silencing the chaos.
The hospital lobby fell quiet for a few seconds before someone chimed in, “She’s right! We don’t care if you kill each other, but don’t hold up our appointments. Some of us are here for life-or-death situations!”
“Get out! Now! If you don’t leave, we’ll call the Public Security Officers! Let’s see how brave you are after they haul you away!”
“Move aside! If you’re not seeing a doctor, at least let the rest of us through!”
Lin Xiangxiu had broken the ice, and the onlookers, previously stifling their irritation, now voiced their anger openly. The shifty-eyed man tried to retort, but his expression suddenly shifted as if he had received a signal. He shoved his opponent aside and grumbled, “Fine, no fighting. Get out of my face! I’m never coming back to this dump of a hospital!”
As he stormed toward the exit, he passed Lin Xiangxiu. Whether intentionally or not, he rammed his shoulder hard into hers as he went by.
Lin Xiangxiu wasn’t paying attention and was nearly knocked over by his sudden collision.
She was holding Lin Xiao in her arms—what if she had fallen and hurt the child?
Anger surged in Lin Xiangxiu’s heart. She turned around and kicked the man. “Are you blind? With such a wide path, did you have to bump into me?”
“You!” The shifty-eyed man narrowed his triangular eyes, his face full of rage.
But he surprisingly didn’t retaliate. As if remembering something, he tugged at the corner of his mouth and walked away.
“Weirdo. What’s wrong with him?” Lin Xiangxiu grumbled irritably before releasing Lin Xiao’s ear. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt just now?”
Lin Xiao rubbed her ear. “No, but your voice was too loud, Mom. It made my ears hurt.”
“I’ll be more careful next time.” Lin Xiangxiu gently massaged Lin Xiao’s ear.
While the mother and daughter were talking, order had been restored at the registration window. No one dared to cause any more trouble, and everyone lined up quietly.
Lin Xiangxiu obediently joined the end of the line, wondering whether there would still be enough time for examination and treatment today. If not, she’d have to come back tomorrow.
Before long, it was her turn. She handed over the loose change she was clutching and followed the nurse’s directions to the pediatrician.
After listening to her description, the pediatrician instructed her to take the child for a blood test.
“Doctor, are there any other tests needed? I’m usually quite busy with work and don’t have much time to bring her for check-ups. I’d prefer to complete all necessary examinations in one visit to avoid coming back later,” Lin Xiangxiu asked politely.
The doctor waved his hand. “No need. Just take her for the blood test.”
After waiting about half an hour, the blood test results came back. The doctor glanced at them and smiled. “There’s no problem. Your child is very healthy.”
“Then why did she get heatstroke so easily today? The doctor at our village clinic suggested I come here for a check-up,” Lin Xiangxiu asked with relief, pressing for details.
“You’ve come from the north and aren’t accustomed to this extreme heat. Children have faster metabolisms and are naturally more sensitive to heat, so heatstroke is quite normal. To put it simply, it’s acclimatization,” the doctor explained. “You asked why she didn’t get heatstroke at home but did here—that’s the reason.”
Lin Xiangxiu patted her chest. “So you’re saying my child is fine?”
“The child is perfectly healthy, no issues at all. Her height development is good too, though she’s slightly malnourished and thin,” the doctor said with a smile.
Lin Xiangxiu: “Does malnutrition require medication?”
“No need. Just cook meat for her daily and vary the meals. Include some rice, noodles, meat, fish, and vegetables—anything is fine as long as she doesn’t overeat.”
Lin Xiangxiu carefully noted this down, resolving to cook for Lin Xiao every day from now on. Recently, with all the busyness of settling into their new home and work, she had somewhat neglected Lin Xiao.
And this child was the fundamental reason she could keep going.
As Lin Xiangxiu stood up to leave, she remembered one more thing. “What should I do about the heatstroke? I can’t afford an electric fan right now. What if she gets heatstroke again?”
The doctor pondered and said, “Don’t let her run around wildly in hot weather. Keep her at home and only let her go out to play in the morning or evening. Usually, she should stay in shaded areas. I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. If she feels unwell in the future, give her a little to prevent heatstroke.”
“Thank you so much, Doctor. I’ll go get the medicine right away,” Lin Xiangxiu repeatedly expressed her gratitude.
After leaving the doctor’s office, Lin Xiangxiu earnestly instructed Lin Xiao. As the mother and daughter talked, they walked toward the direction of the hospital lobby, which was also where the pharmacy was located.
Unexpectedly, before they even entered the lobby, they heard a commotion inside—it sounded like many people crying, shouting, and some even screaming hysterically.
“What’s going on?”
Lin Xiangxiu cautiously picked up Lin Xiao and slowly entered the lobby.
“Mom, they’re all crying,” Lin Xiao whispered, pointing with her little finger toward the registration window.
Following Lin Xiao’s direction, Lin Xiangxiu saw several people collapsed in front of the window. An elderly woman was slapping her thigh while crying bitterly.
The woman wailed miserably, “Who stole my money? Is there no justice left? I’ve been suffering from leg pain for two years and finally came for treatment, but before I could even get treated, my money was stolen! This is money I saved for years!”
So, someone lost their money?
Lin Xiangxiu’s heart tightened.
At that moment, she noticed a middle-aged man with bloodshot eyes sitting on the floor. He looked even more heartbroken than the elderly woman, biting his lip hard as large tears rolled down his cheeks.
From overhearing the people around her, Lin Xiangxiu learned that this man had brought his child for medical treatment. His child was seriously ill and needed surgery, but the money had been stolen—it was life-saving money!
Hearing this, Lin Xiangxiu couldn’t help but curse inwardly. What kind of thief would steal life-saving money? They must have no conscience!
This was a hospital. Those coming to register were either patients or their family members, and everyone carried money—but it was all for medical expenses. The thieves specifically targeted this place to steal money; they must have been watching for a long time!
Lin Xiangxiu silently cursed the thieves to suffer misfortune, but she became even more vigilant. Holding Lin Xiao tightly, she walked to the pharmacy window. As she handed the prescription to the nurse and prepared to pay, Lin Xiangxiu reached into her pocket and froze instantly.
Her wallet was gone too!
Sweat immediately dripped from Lin Xiangxiu’s forehead. Frantically, she checked every pocket, but it was nowhere to be found! Her money had also been stolen—fifty yuan!
Although wages were high now, losing fifty yuan still pained Lin Xiangxiu deeply.
She felt like slapping her thigh and crying over her fifty yuan, but seeing that others had lost hundreds of yuan, she felt too embarrassed to speak up.
If she said anything, it might seem like she was relieved to have only lost fifty.
“Whoever stole my money, I beg you to return it! My leg needs surgery to be treated. I’ll kneel to you if you give it back, okay?” The elderly woman cried hoarsely and even made a move to kneel.
Those nearby, pitying her, hurried to stop her and advised, “Kneeling won’t help. Those damned thieves must have been staking out this place long ago. They’ve already taken the money and left. They can’t hear anything you say.”
“What a disaster! When exactly did they steal the money? How could nobody have noticed?”
It was this very sentence that made Lin Xiangxiu feel as if a sudden inspiration had flashed through her mind.
She keenly grasped this point and, upon careful reflection, suddenly exclaimed, “I’ve got it! It must have been that group who were fighting earlier—they must have been in cahoots!”
“Think about it,” she continued, “during the fight just now, everything was so chaotic. Everyone was busy watching the commotion, people were packed close together—if a thief had slipped in to steal, no one would have noticed!” The more Lin Xiangxiu thought about it, the more convinced she became. “My money is missing too. From the time I arrived until I left, only that man with the triangular eyes bumped into me once. That must have been when he stole it. Those people fighting were definitely working together!”
As she spoke, more and more people began to realize what had happened. “Yes, that’s exactly it! Now that I think about it, the way they started arguing was strange too. Who would start a fight just over waiting in line?”
“I remember now too—when they were fighting, they weren’t really putting any force into it. It was more like children playing pretend, mostly just shouting at each other.”
“It must have been that group who stole the money. We need to find a Public Security Officer—we must go find a Public Security Officer!” An elderly woman quickly scrambled to her feet, slapping her thigh in agitation as she insisted on finding an officer.
Other victims who had lost money also stood up, pulling each other along as they demanded to find a Public Security Officer.
“Who needs a Public Security Officer? I am one.” A voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Xiangxiu found the voice strangely familiar. She looked up and studied the person carefully, then suddenly recognized him. “Aren’t you Yang Yong?”
“You are…” Yang Yong also found Lin Xiangxiu familiar, but his memory was slightly better than hers. “You’re the new nanny at Xiao Lu’s place! Xiao Lin!”
“Yes, it’s me.” Lin Xiangxiu noticed a very thin young girl standing beside Yang Yong, who bore a strong resemblance to him—likely his daughter.
Was Yang Yong here to seek medical treatment for his daughter?
The bystanders nearby were initially skeptical of Yang Yong’s identity, but without another word, he pulled out his identification to prove who he was.
Once his identity was confirmed, those who had lost money immediately surrounded Yang Yong, all talking at once as they poured out their grievances and explained how they had been pickpocketed that day.
With everyone speaking over each other, Yang Yong felt dizzy and saw stars, utterly overwhelmed.
“Wait, please speak one at a time. What exactly happened? With so many people talking at once, I can’t make sense of it. Also, someone should go to the nearby Police Station to report the case and ask them to send backup.” After giving these instructions, Yang Yong turned directly to Lin Xiangxiu and said, “Xiao Lin, you tell me—what exactly happened here?”
At this point, several of the victims were on the verge of emotional breakdown, their words jumbled and incoherent. In comparison, Lin Xiangxiu was more familiar to him and considerably calmer.
So Lin Xiangxiu recounted everything she knew from start to finish: how she had seen people fighting over the queue as soon as she entered the hospital, how she had yelled at them to stop, and how the man with triangular eyes had bumped into her before leaving—she relayed it all clearly and in detail.
After speaking, Lin Xiangxiu added her speculation somewhat sheepishly, “I think that fight was staged by them. There were so many people crowded together at that time—I suspect that’s when they stole the items. If I’m not mistaken, they must have been lurking here for several days. You could ask the nurses working here if any faces look familiar to them.”
After a moment’s thought, fearing Yang Yong might not believe her, she added, “Officer, I’m not making baseless accusations. I’m always very careful with my money when I’m out. From the moment I entered the hospital, only that man came near me. Now that my money is gone, it must have been him. As for who stole the others’ money, that’s just my guess.”
“Your analysis is spot on,” Yang Yong said with a grim expression. “Actually, we’ve received several reports already. This is a mobile theft ring that has been targeting multiple hospitals. You must be more careful in crowded places like this next time. Losing money is one thing, but we can’t let them snatch children.”
“How heartless, specifically stealing money meant for saving lives,” Lin Xiangxiu cursed under her breath. “I’ll remember that. I won’t bring my child to such crowded places in the future.”
“Right, better safe than sorry. After all, nothing is more important than our children, isn’t that true?” Yang Yong smiled, then turned his gaze to Lin Xiao’s face, asking with concern, “What’s wrong with your child? Why did you have to come to the hospital?”
Lin Xiangxiu gently touched Lin Xiao’s cheek, confirming the fever had completely subsided, before explaining, “It’s nothing serious. She’s just struggling to adjust to the new environment—heatstroke. The doctor said some medication will fix it. Officer, is this your daughter? Is she unwell too?”
She looked curiously and sympathetically at Yang Yun.
At first glance, Lin Xiangxiu had only one thought: this little girl is so thin. She wondered if the child usually ate properly.
She hadn’t seen anyone this skinny since her own childhood days of poverty and food scarcity.
Noticing Lin Xiangxiu’s gaze, the timid Yang Yun hid behind Yang Yong, clutching her father’s clothes tightly with a nervous expression.
Seeing this, Lin Xiangxiu quickly averted her eyes.
Yang Yong observed their interaction, patted Yang Yun’s shoulder and sighed, “The child isn’t feeling well. Let’s not dwell on that. You mentioned needing to get medicine, but with your money stolen, do you still have funds to purchase it?”
“No, I plan to go home for money and come back tomorrow,” Lin Xiangxiu replied honestly.
Yang Yong took out his wallet while saying, “No need for such trouble. Since we’ve met, it must be fate. Let me lend you some money.”
“No, no,” Lin Xiangxiu declined, feeling uncomfortable taking money from someone she barely knew.
But Yang Yong insisted, “If you feel uneasy about it, you can return it to my home tomorrow when you go to work at Xiao Lu’s place. My apartment is upstairs—my wife will answer the door.”
As he said this, a flicker of anticipation appeared in his eyes.
Yang Yong thought to himself that his wife was quite sociable and might be able to build a good relationship with Xiao Lin.
If they could establish a good rapport, perhaps Xiao Lin would share some of her delicious homemade food with his daughter occasionally.
His daughter was too thin—it pained Yang Yong to see her like this. Their hospital visit today was specifically to get her checked up.
Ever since Lin Xiangxiu started working at the Family Compound, the tantalizing aroma wafting from Lu Xingzhi’s home at noon each day had become a regular occurrence. Enticed by the delicious smell, even her daughter had begun eating two extra mouthfuls of rice.
Though two extra bites didn’t amount to much rice, it was enough to bring pleasant surprise and joy to Yang Yong and his wife. At night, tucked under their blankets, the couple secretly schemed about how to poach Xiao Lin over to their side.
Thus, building a good relationship was absolutely essential.
Lin Xiangxiu tried to refuse the money, never expecting Yang Yong to be so insistent. He firmly pressed the cash into her hand.
In the end, Lin Xiangxiu had no choice but to accept it. “Boss, I’ll consider this a loan from you for now. I’ll return it first thing tomorrow when I start work.”
“No rush. If money’s tight, you can pay me back later,” Yang Yong said with a wave of his hand.
Before long, officers from the police station arrived. They called the victims over one by one to conduct investigations, took written statements, and also interviewed eyewitnesses and nurses at the scene. Naturally, Yang Yong became busy as well.
Lin Xiangxiu used the money to buy medicine. Seeing that it was getting late, she said goodbye to Yang Yong and took Lin Xiao home.
The evening heat hadn’t yet dissipated, and the air still carried warmth. As they passed the village grocery store, Lin Xiao started fussing about wanting to eat Naiyou Bingqilin. Lin Xiangxiu refused, “You just had heatstroke and a high fever. If you eat ice cream now, you’ll get diarrhea. Wait until you’re better, and I’ll buy you a watermelon instead.”
Watermelons were quite expensive at this time, so Lin Xiangxiu bought half of one and carried it home.
The watermelon was cut into wedges. Lin Xiao held his piece like a little hamster, taking a bite, chewing a couple of times, then spitting out a series of watermelon seeds with “pfft pfft” sounds.
Lin Xiangxiu was also eating watermelon. Watching Lin Xiao spit seeds all over the floor, she mischievously said, “Xiao Xiao, if you spit watermelon seeds like that, could some accidentally go into your stomach?”
Lin Xiangxiu continued, “I heard that once there was a child who accidentally swallowed watermelon seeds, and watermelons started growing in their belly.”
“Ah?” Lin Xiao was dumbfounded. “What happens if watermelons grow inside you?”
“You’d have to keep spitting out watermelon seeds, just like you were doing earlier.”
Lin Xiao thought about how he’d been spitting seeds. While it had been fun at first, the idea of having to do it constantly seemed terrifying.
He immediately squatted on the ground, trying to dig the watermelon seeds out of his throat.
“Mom, if I really swallowed watermelon seeds, will I start spitting out watermelons?” Lin Xiao couldn’t help but imagine the scenario, his face full of panic.
Lin Xiangxiu almost spit out her watermelon from laughing. “I was just teasing you, sweetie. Watermelons won’t grow inside you. But please stop spitting them everywhere, okay? If you spit on the floor, ants will come, and it’ll be dirty and hard to clean.”
“Really no watermelons will grow?” Lin Xiao patted his round, full stomach, still skeptical.
Lin Xiangxiu said, “I swear to you, absolutely not. Look, I ate some too.”
She took a bite of watermelon, swallowed all the seeds, and opened her mouth to show Lin Xiao.
Actions speak louder than words. Seeing this, Lin Xiao immediately felt relieved, though he gave his mother a reproachful glance. “Mean mom, tricking your baby.”
With that, he picked up another wedge of watermelon and began eating contentedly.
This time, however, Lin Xiao had learned his lesson. He no longer spat seeds randomly, instead spitting them all into the plate Lin Xiangxiu had prepared.
Mother and daughter sat on the second-floor balcony, each on their own small stool, eating watermelon while watching the stars in the sky—nothing could be more pleasant.
As Lin Xiangxiu enjoyed her watermelon in the cool evening air, she thought about Lin Xiao being home alone and asked, “How about I take you to the childcare class tomorrow? It’s too dangerous for you to be home by yourself. If something happened, we wouldn’t even know. I’d worry too much.”
“The same childcare class I went to before?” Lin Xiao’s face scrunched up in resistance, his already thin face wrinkling into a bitter melon expression.
Lin Xiangxiu felt quite guilty as she reasoned with Lin Xiao, speaking gently, “Yes, Mom has asked around. The nearest childcare class nearby is this one. The other one is simply too far. I haven’t bought a bicycle yet, and the bus is too crowded. It wouldn’t be convenient to go there every day. So, Xiao Xiao, could you bear with it for a few days? Once Mom buys a bicycle or finds a suitable nursery, you won’t have to go anymore.”
“Mom, I really want to be obedient,” Lin Xiao said with a worried, bitter-melon face, “but I really don’t want to go. I don’t want to go to that childcare class, and I don’t want to be away from you during the day.”
“But after summer vacation, you’ll have to go to kindergarten and be away from me then. You can’t avoid school forever,” Lin Xiangxiu replied.
Lin Xiao pleaded, “Just give me a little more time, and I’ll be willing to leave you. But you can’t just send me off without any warning. I’m still a little baby.”
“Lin Xiao, you’re already four years old.”
“Four years old is still a little baby,” Lin Xiao retorted, turning her back to her mother with a huff.
The two were having a serious discussion, but the memory of a child wetting themselves last time had left a shadow on Lin Xiao. Combined with the fact that the childcare class environment wasn’t exactly ideal, no matter how much Lin Xiangxiu tried to persuade her, Lin Xiao simply refused to go.
To be honest, Lin Xiao was usually a very well-behaved child, displaying maturity and obedience beyond her years. But when a good child dug in their heels, it was enough to give Lin Xiangxiu a headache.
Unwilling to scold or hit Lin Xiao, Lin Xiangxiu finally said, “How about this: tomorrow, you can come to work with me, but you mustn’t make a fuss or bother Mr. Lu. If you behave and just accompany Mom to work, we’ll come straight home afterward. In a few days, I’ll find a nursery for you, okay?”
Lin Xiao nodded so vigorously her little pigtails swayed wildly. “I won’t cause any trouble for Mom!”
“Pinky promise!”
“Pinky swear, a hundred years…”
…
The next day, as work time approached, Lin Xiangxiu prepared some food for Lin Xiao, packed a water bottle and toys, and with a heart full of anxiety, took Lin Xiao to Lu Xingzhi’s home.
Arriving at the Public Security Bureau Family Compound, she first went upstairs to the Yang family to repay the money.
When the door opened, it wasn’t Yang Yong or his wife but that skinny girl, even thinner than Lin Xiao, with a sallow complexion. She kept her hand over her mouth after opening the door, looking as if she were about to vomit.
“Little girl, are you feeling unwell?” Lin Xiangxiu reached out to touch her hand.
The girl flinched as if burned, quickly pulling her hand back and shaking her head. “I’m fine. Auntie, who are you looking for?”
“I came to return the money I borrowed from your dad yesterday,” Lin Xiangxiu said, taking out the prepared money.
After repaying the debt without further conversation, the girl promptly closed the door. Puzzled, Lin Xiangxiu took Lin Xiao into Lu Xingzhi’s home.
As soon as she entered, Lin Xiangxiu apologized profusely, “I’m sorry, Mr. Lu. I know we agreed I wouldn’t bring my child to work, but my daughter was sick yesterday, and there’s truly no one at home to look after her.”
“So, I had no choice but to bring her along. If you’d prefer not to see her, I can take a couple of days off. Once she’s better, I’ll send her to the nursery and return to work. Would that be alright?” she asked nervously.
It was Sunday, and Lu Xingzhi was at home on his day off. Hearing this, he set down his book. His first thought was that he couldn’t let Lin Xiangxiu take time off.
During the days Lin Xiangxiu had been working, Lu Xingzhi had grown accustomed to coming home to fragrant meals, freshly laundered and neatly pressed clothes, and a spotless household. He didn’t know what method Lin Xiangxiu used, but the floors she mopped didn’t carry that lingering sour water smell common in Shencheng—instead, they held a faint floral scent that made one feel relaxed upon entering, washing away half the day’s weariness.
In short, returning home had become a comforting experience.
He had completely forgotten how he managed before Lin Xiangxiu came—it was unimaginable now.
So when Lin Xiangxiu mentioned taking leave, how could that be acceptable?
Lu Xingzhi’s gaze naturally fell upon the little girl standing beside Lin Xiangxiu. The child was hiding behind her mother, peering at him with innocent wide eyes.
Lin Xiangxiu stroked her daughter’s head, comforting Lin Xiao while explaining to Lu Xingzhi, “My daughter is very well-behaved. She won’t make any noise or cause trouble. Just give her a small space to look at picture books or play with toys—she won’t be any bother.”
Lu Xingzhi tilted his head and asked curiously, “What’s wrong with the child? Is there anything I can help with?”
“Nothing serious, just heatstroke. The room I rent is a small attic that gets direct sunlight—it becomes unbearably hot, so the child suffered heatstroke.” Lin Xiangxiu explained helplessly, “The doctor said it might also be due to difficulty adjusting to the climate. It’s not this hot in our hometown.”
“Heatstroke,” Lu Xingzhi repeated thoughtfully.
He looked at the mother and daughter again, noticing how well-behaved Lin Xiao truly was. Since arriving, she had been standing quietly without fussing or trying to touch anything in his house. Half his concerns already melted away.
This girl was nothing like his nephew—that little rascal who turned the place upside down every time he visited.
Nodding, he said, “Alright, she can play on the sofa or watch TV. If she’s feeling hot, I’ll turn on the air conditioning.”
As he spoke, Lu Xingzhi switched on the air conditioner in his study. The unit beeped, releasing a stream of cool air.
He deliberately left the study door open and closed all the windows, allowing the cool air to circulate throughout the home, noticeably lowering the temperature.
Lin Xiangxiu took a deep breath. She now felt those who had called Mr. Lu picky must have been blind—such a kind, reasonable man, where was the pickiness?
And those previous housekeepers—they had been utterly unreasonable!
“Thank you, Mr. Lu,” Lin Xiangxiu said sincerely, feeling an impulse to rush to the kitchen and prepare him a lavish feast to fatten him up.
Her gratitude always manifested in this simple way—showing appreciation by feeding people well.
Lu Xingzhi picked up his book and continued reading, responding casually, “No need to keep thanking me. You do excellent work, so I’m willing to make accommodations. That’s only reasonable.”
Lin Xiangxiu initially wanted to suggest leaving the air conditioner off, knowing it must consume considerable electricity. But seeing Lin Xiao sitting comfortably on the sofa, she kept silent.
Never mind—she’d just prepare more of Mr. Lu’s favorite dishes.
Lin Xiangxiu took her bicycle to go grocery shopping. Due to the intense heat, she left Lin Xiao behind and went out alone.
With Lin Xiao at home, Lin Xiangxiu was afraid the mischievous child might irritate Mr. Lu, so she didn’t dare linger long at the market. Spotting someone selling tender young chickens by the market entrance, she had one slaughtered to take home, along with some pork and vegetables. She hurried back as fast as she could.
Upon opening the door, she found everything exactly as she had left it.
Mr. Lu was still reading in the study, while Lin Xiao sat on the sofa engrossed in a picture book, completely absorbed.
Lin Xiangxiu poured each of them a cup of warm water and reminded Lin Xiao not to make noise before heading to the study to ask, “Mr. Lu, I bought a whole chicken today. Would you prefer White Cut Chicken or Bao Chao Xiao Gong Ji?”
“Can we have both?” Lu Xingzhi set down his book, genuinely troubled.
If there was one vexation since Lin Xiangxiu’s arrival, it was deciding what to eat each day.
Lin Xiangxiu could cook a wide variety of dishes, and he often saw her poring over a cookbook with fascination.
The problem was, he knew nothing about Chinese cuisine!
Lu Xingzhi felt like a miser guarding a treasure trove, unsure how to spend it.
Every dish Lin Xiangxiu made was delicious—he craved both White Cut Chicken and Bao Chao Xiao Gong Ji and couldn’t decide which to prioritize. He simply didn’t want to miss out on either.
It was only after tasting Lin Xiangxiu’s cooking that Lu Xingzhi realized he suffered from decision paralysis—he just couldn’t choose.
Lin Xiangxiu was both amused and exasperated. “That won’t work. The chicken I bought today is very tender but quite small. If we split it for two dishes, there won’t be enough.”
“How about I buy two chickens next time?” Lin Xiangxiu suggested.
Lu Xingzhi waved his hand. “No need. I can’t finish two. If we don’t finish it in one meal, the leftovers would go in the fridge, and I might not have time to eat them later. That would be wasteful.”
“So what should we have today?” Lin Xiangxiu posed the eternal question again.
Just as Lu Xingzhi was racking his brains, torn between options, a voice piped up from the living room, “My mom’s Bao Chao Xiao Gong Ji is really delicious!”
He looked up and saw the little girl Lin Xiangxiu had brought with her licking her lips, her eyes sparkling as she met his gaze. She enthusiastically recommended, “Mom makes the best young chicken. She fries the skin until it’s crispy, the meat is super fragrant, and she stews it until it’s so tender even I can chew it easily.”
“Oh, and she also uses the chicken fat to stir-fry vegetables!”
“Really?” Lu Xingzhi pressed, “Is the stir-fried version better than White Cut Chicken?”
“I’ve never had White Cut Chicken, but everyone in our village loves my mom’s Bao Chao Xiao Gong Ji! Even my grandma can’t find fault with it!” The little girl lifted her chin proudly, as if she were the chef herself.
Just hearing the description made Lu Xingzhi’s mouth water; he could almost smell the tantalizing aroma.
He looked at Lin Xiangxiu, his eyes full of anticipation. “Xiao Lin, how long will it take to prepare this young chicken?”
“Very soon.”
Lin Xiangxiu gave him a reassuring glance, picked up the spatula, and headed into the kitchen.
Just as Lin Xiao had described, she not only stir-fried the chicken pieces until they were aromatic and golden but also added two dried chili peppers and a small piece of baizhi, which she had bought from a Traditional Chinese Medicine shop.
This was Lin Xiangxiu’s secret to cooking chicken—stewing it with baizhi enhanced the chicken’s flavor.
She had learned this trick from an old master in her village.
For lunch today, she made Bao Chao Xiao Gong Ji, and also prepared stir-fried mushrooms with rapeseed for Mr. Lu. She first fried a few slices of garlic in the wok to release their aroma, as this makes stir-fried greens more delicious.
Last time, when she had minced the garlic, Mr. Lu didn’t touch the dish at all. He lamented with great distress that he dislikes eating garlic—though he appreciates its flavor in dishes, he doesn’t like consuming garlic itself, especially when it’s minced so finely that it can’t be picked out.
This time, Lin Xiangxiu remembered and sliced the garlic instead. This way, she could still infuse the dish with the garlic’s fragrance, and it would be easy to pick out while eating.
The kitchen was filled with the clattering of pots and pans, and soon, the delicious aroma wafted through the air.
However, Lin Xiangxiu was preoccupied while cooking, constantly wanting to check on Lin Xiao, worried that she might run around or touch other people’s belongings.
Every five minutes, Lin Xiangxiu would rush out to take a look.
The first time she came out, she saw Lin Xiao sitting obediently on the sofa, reading a picture book, while Mr. Lu was deeply engrossed in his work at the desk, writing swiftly with a fountain pen.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating his arm and casting a warm glow on his skin. The bruise on his arm from blocking a brick for her was gradually fading.
The second time she came out, she saw Lin Xiao drinking from a water cup, her big eyes darting around. Lin Xiangxiu immediately felt a sense of urgency and whispered to Lin Xiao, “Don’t run around! Uncle doesn’t like children!”
Only after seeing Lin Xiao nod seriously did she hurry back to the kitchen.
The third time she stepped out of the kitchen, Lin Xiangxiu realized Lin Xiao was gone. The child wasn’t on the sofa or in the living room.
Since the air conditioning was on, the only door left open in the entire house was the study.
Lin Xiangxiu’s mind went blank, thinking Lin Xiao had slipped out unnoticed. She quickly took off her apron to go search for her.
“Xiao Xiao? Xiao Xiao?” Lin Xiangxiu called out loudly.
Lin Xiao’s voice came from the study, “Mom, I’m in here!”
Lin Xiangxiu followed the sound and found Lin Xiao in the study. As she entered, she saw Lin Xiao sitting on Mr. Lu’s lap, her hands tousling his hair into a complete mess.
This…
Lin Xiangxiu rubbed her eyes in disbelief, wondering if she was hallucinating!
Author’s Note:
This chapter continues with red envelopes~ Lucky readers who are following my updates! Last night, I was captured by the Transmigration Bureau and bound to a writing system—if I don’t write, it electrocutes me, wuwuwuwu~
Shoutout to my dear friend’s work:
“Transmigrating to the 1970s: The System Makes Me a Backup” – by Rain Falls on the Window Curtain
When others transmigrate, they become princesses or daughters of wealthy families. But when Zuo You transmigrates, she ends up as a little educated youth who’s starving and fainting from hunger.
Before she could even collect herself, she was bound by something called the Backup System.
Then she discovered that this small mountain village was full of hidden talents.
The Brigade leader’s son is the male lead in a military marriage novel.
The landlord’s “dog cub” is the male lead in a soft and delicate romance novel.
The male educated youth next door, No. 1, is the male lead in a rebirth struggle novel.
The male educated youth next door, No. 2, is the male lead in a transmigration romance novel.
Even the commune is filled with various male and female leads.
And the character Zuo You transmigrated into is the backup for all these male leads.
[Ding~ Detected Male Lead No. 1. Please prepare, host. Step forward, fall into his arms, and gaze deeply into his eyes~]
Zuo You: Hah.
[Ding~ Detected male lead No. 2. Please call out to him and give him all your food.]
Zuo You: Heh.
[Ding~ Detected male lead No. 3. Please snatch the clothes from his hands and wash them clean for him.]
Zuo You: Heh heh.
[Ding~ Detected male lead No. 4. Please help him finish the farm work assigned to him.]
Zuo You: Heh heh heh.
Spare Tire System: Completing tasks comes with generous rewards~
Impossible. Just end it all. Even if the heavens themselves descended, she would never become a spare tire. If it dared, it might as well just kill her.