The question hung in the air.
Silence instantly fell at the doorway.
For a moment, Jiang Meishu almost thought Shen Zhanlie had recognized her.
But that shouldn’t be possible?
She had never had any contact with Shen Zhanlie before.
Even when they happened to cross paths, she would always avoid him from a distance.
So why would Shen Zhanlie ask such a question?
Just as Jiang Meishu was racking her brains for a response, the real Jiang Meilan beside her had already reacted. She smiled brightly at Shen Zhanlie and said, “Shen Zhanlie, did you make a mistake?”
“She’s my sister Meilan.”
“But it’s understandable – even our family members often mix us up.”
After all, they were twins.
Shen Zhanlie murmured, “Is that so?”
He still seemed somewhat doubtful.
Jiang Meishu instinctively replied, “Of course, what else would it be?” After speaking, she turned and hurried inside.
Like a frightened rabbit.
She simply couldn’t handle Shen Zhanlie’s appearance – his tall, imposing stature, his fierce-looking face, and his deep, resonant voice that sounded like he could swallow a child whole.
His presence was too overwhelming.
She felt somewhat afraid.
Watching Jiang Meishu’s reaction,
Shen Zhanlie finally realized where that sense of familiarity came from.
This was exactly how Jiang Meishu used to be – every time she saw him, she would startle like a frightened rabbit.
While Shen Zhanlie was lost in thought,
Jiang Meilan called him inside. It took three calls before Shen Zhanlie snapped back to attention.
“What were you thinking about just now?” Jiang Meilan asked him.
Shen Zhanlie was a straightforward person, so he honestly replied, “I still feel your sister seems somewhat familiar.”
It was that kind of familiarity – seeing traces of the former Jiang Meishu in her.
This had happened twice now.
As these words fell,
Jiang Meilan’s heart skipped a beat.
Jiang Meishu, who had already entered the house, felt much the same.
Almost instantly, all the family members turned to look.
Wang Limei was no exception.
Only Jiang Chenliang remained unaware of the truth. He chuckled and said, “It’s normal for you to find our Meilan familiar. After all, Meilan and Meishu are twins – they’re like two peas in a pod.”
“Even I, their father, have mistaken them for each other many times.”
This explanation from Jiang Chenliang came at just the right time.
It immediately dispelled Shen Zhanlie’s doubts.
After all, if Jiang Meishu and Jiang Meilan were twins, how could even their own father Jiang Chenliang mistake them?
Little did Shen Zhanlie know that Jiang Chenliang actually had mistaken them.
He was the type who focused solely on work and earning money – he wouldn’t even help if a burden fell at home.
As for Jiang Meishu and Jiang Meilan, he understood even less about them.
After Jiang Chenliang’s explanation, both Jiang Meishu and Jiang Meilan breathed sighs of relief.
“Go inside and eat your noodles before they get soggy and lose their taste,” Jiang Meilan signaled to Jiang Meishu with a meaningful glance.
Jiang Meishu acknowledged and, carrying the large sea bowl, retreated to her small room instead of staying outside.
However, when she entered her room and opened the aluminum lunchbox, the aroma that wafted out nearly made her drool with craving.
Looking at the glistening, snow-white Yangchun noodles, finally drizzled with a layer of sesame oil,
Jiang Meishu picked up her chopsticks and without another word took a bite.
It had been too long since she had eaten fine dried noodles. As the noodles entered her mouth, that sweet wheat flavor brought back long-lost taste memories.
Jiang Meishu couldn’t help but widen her eyes at the delicious food, slurping up the noodles in large mouthfuls. “Fine grains really do taste better.”
Her sister truly doted on her.
Even when going out on a blind date, she brought back delicious food for her.
She hadn’t forgotten about her at all.
The best sister in the world!
Outside.
After Jiang Meishu entered the house.
Wang Limei breathed a sigh of relief and poured a cup of plain boiled water. She had considered adding sugar, but unfortunately, the sugar jar at home had long been empty.
She couldn’t bring herself to buy more, so as a last resort, she poured hot water into the glass sugar jar, swirled it around to capture a hint of sweetness, and managed to produce a barely passable cup of sugar water.
She specifically handed it to Shen Zhanlie alone and asked, “How did your blind date go? Did you take a liking to each other?”
Shen Zhanlie took the enamel mug, still dazed and wondering if he was seeing things, if it was all just an illusion.
When he turned around, he saw “Jiang Meishu” giving him a shy smile.
Almost instantly, the doubts in Shen Zhanlie’s mind vanished without a trace.
He couldn’t help but blush, mumbling in a muffled voice, “Comrade Jiang and I really hit it off.”
Hearing this, Wang Limei couldn’t hold back a laugh. “That’s good then.”
“As long as you young people fancy each other, we elders won’t say anything more.”
She didn’t bring up the matter of registering the marriage, afraid that her younger daughter hadn’t made up her mind yet and might want more options.
But to her surprise, Shen Zhanlie gave her no room for alternatives and went straight to the point. “Auntie Wang, if it’s convenient, could you give the household register to Comrade Jiang?”
He said with some excitement, “We’d like to get our marriage certificate this afternoon.”
In those days, it was common for people to have a blind date in the morning and register their marriage in the afternoon.
But such speed left Wang Limei somewhat stunned.
She turned to Jiang Meilan. “What do you think?”
Jiang Meilan lowered her head, a hint of shyness coloring her cheeks, and whispered softly, “I think registering this afternoon is fine too.”
It had to be said, when she imitated Jiang Meishu, most people couldn’t tell the difference—even Wang Limei, her own mother, had trouble distinguishing them at times.
She was dazed for a moment, and for a split second, she genuinely mistook Jiang Meilan for Jiang Meishu.
This was the match she had picked for her younger daughter.
“Then I’ll go get the household register for you.”
Wang Limei turned and went into the room where she slept, pulled out a metal box from the five-drawer cabinet, and rummaged through layer after layer before finally finding the household register.
She took it out and handed it to Jiang Meilan.
But just as she passed it over, Wang Limei asked, “Are you both sure about this?”
No.
What she really wanted to ask was, Meilan, are you sure?
Once you register the marriage, there’s no turning back.
Jiang Meilan nodded resolutely. “I’m sure.”
She looked at Shen Zhanlie.
Shen Zhanlie also nodded. “I’m sure too.”
“Then go ahead and register.”
Wang Limei handed the household register to them. “Do you know how to get a marriage certificate?”
Shen Zhanlie actually had no idea.
Wang Limei, who knew the process, explained, “First, go to your work unit to get a marriage certificate application. Then take that application to the civil affairs office. They’ll check it and issue your marriage certificate.”
Getting married in those days was a bit complicated.
Now, both Jiang Meilan and Shen Zhanlie understood. They left the house together.
Off to get their marriage certificate!
As soon as they left, Jiang Meishu, holding her bowl, leaned against the doorframe and peeked out. “Mom, are they gone?”
Wang Limei responded with an “Ah,” and Jiang Meishu immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She hurried out with the bowl in hand, holding it up to Wang Limei. “Take a bite, it smells amazing.”
Wang Limei glanced at the pale, glistening noodles coated in oil and instinctively swallowed before waving her hand. “Mom doesn’t like fine noodles—they’re too slippery and digest too quickly. You eat them.”
It seems parents everywhere are the same.
They don’t like meat, only gnawing on bones.
They don’t like fish, only eating the tail.
Even with a bowl of noodles, they claim not to like refined grains, only coarse ones.
But is that really the case?
Not entirely.
Jiang Meishu lowered her gaze, and in that moment, she seemed to see her own mother’s shadow in Wang Limei.
When she was young, her family’s circumstances were poor.
Her mother had been the same—whatever Jiang Meishu liked to eat, her mother claimed not to care for.
A bittersweet, indescribable feeling welled up in Jiang Meishu’s heart. But when she looked up, she wore a bright, beaming smile and handed the bowl and chopsticks to Wang Limei as if coaxing her.
“Come on, try the Yangchun noodles your future son-in-law bought. Aren’t they delicious?”
Wang Limei couldn’t refuse that excuse.
She lowered her head and took a small, perfunctory bite.
Jiang Meishu understood her meaning and knew that even this small taste was a gesture of respect.
She then offered the noodles to her father, Jiang Chenliang, who simply waved his hand. “I’m going to nap for a bit; I don’t feel like eating.”
Seeing that he genuinely didn’t want any, Jiang Meishu didn’t press him.
She set aside the remaining half-bowl of fine noodles, as several others in the household hadn’t yet tasted them. Wang Limei watched her do this and opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words.
Instead, she reached out and gently touched Jiang Meishu’s delicate, fair face. “Being born into a poor family like ours, my Meishu has suffered.”
Jiang Meishu smiled, her large eyes crinkling with warmth. “How could that be?”
“Things are just fine as they are.”
Except for not having enough to eat, everything else really was fine.
“But Mom, when Shen Zhanlie came to our house earlier and said he wanted to go get a marriage certificate with Sister, why didn’t you ask him for a bride price?”
She remembered that marriage always involved a bride price.
It was an old tradition.
Wang Limei truly felt her daughter had been raised a bit too naively.
“Our family is so poor we can barely put food on the table—where would we get money for a bride price?”
“Besides, the Shen family’s situation really isn’t good. From the moment I considered him as a potential son-in-law, I never intended to ask them for a bride price.”
Jiang Meishu didn’t quite understand. “Isn’t it said that if something is free, people won’t cherish it?” She had seen many cases in later times where large bride prices were demanded.
That way, emptying the man’s family savings would make him value the marriage more. It would also make him think twice before doing anything wrong, weighing whether he could afford the consequences.
“Where did you hear such nonsense?”
Wang Limei flicked her forehead. “Marriage is marriage—attaching a price turns it into a transaction.”
“The Shen family is poor. If you ask them for a bride price, it’s my own daughter who will suffer after marrying into their household.”
“Better not to ask. Let them live their lives well. After all, marriage unites two families. As long as they’re happy, I’ll be content.”
Jiang Meishu hadn’t expected Wang Limei to have such perspective. She immediately flattered, “Mom, you’re really something.”
“But,” she coughed twice, “if my blind date with Old Liang is successful, will you ask him for a bride price?”
Wang Limei replied, “Naturally, I will.”
“The Liang family is wealthy. If I ask for a bride price, I’ll naturally provide you with a dowry.”
“The Liang and Shen families have different circumstances, so we must handle it accordingly.”
Jiang Meishu pursed her lips, suddenly smiled, and wrapped her arms around Wang Limei’s neck from behind, saying brightly, “Mom, do you think I inherited your intelligence?”
Her words managed to compliment both of them.
On the bed.
Jiang Chenliang let out a painful groan, immediately drawing the attention of Jiang Meishu and Wang Limei.
They both looked over simultaneously, “What’s wrong? What happened?”
When they lifted the blanket, they were shocked.
Despite the autumn weather, Jiang Chenliang was drenched in sweat, his face pale as a ghost.
Jiang Meishu was instantly frightened, “Dad, where are you feeling unwell?”
Jiang Chenliang had been enduring the pain, but now he couldn’t hold back any longer, groaning in agony, “My arm hurts.”
Jiang Meishu immediately gently picked up his hand to examine it, “What did the doctor say before?”
When they had just returned, she had asked, and both her parents had said everything was fine.
Who would have thought it would be this serious now?
Wang Limei also panicked, “The doctor said it was fine?”
“Maybe it was a misdiagnosis,” Jiang Meishu said. “Which hospital did you go to?” She remembered that doctors in the capital were usually very skilled.
“Just at our Meatpacking Factory clinic.”
Jiang Meishu, “…”
“Let’s go to the hospital,” she stood up and immediately started gathering things. “We need to have a hospital doctor examine you now to see exactly what’s injured.”
This—
Wang Limei and Jiang Chenliang exchanged glances, both clearly hesitant. “Let’s forget it.”
“It’s not a big problem. Just buy me some painkillers from the clinic.”
For ordinary families, how could they afford to go to the hospital?
Jiang Meishu pursed her lips, her fair face tense and serious. “No, Dad.”
“Your arm hurts here. The external skin is just injured, but I suspect the bone might be damaged inside.”
Jiang Meishu, who usually acted like a child, was now unusually insistent. “Dad, you need to see a doctor.”
“Besides, this is a work-related injury. The unit should cover the expenses.”
Jiang Chenliang was still hesitating.
For ordinary poor families, who could barely afford to eat until they were seventy percent full, how could they bear to spend money on medical treatment?
“Dad, please go. You’re the pillar of this family. If your arm really has a problem, you might not be able to work at the unit in the future.”
This struck a chord with Jiang Chenliang. He nodded, “Let’s go!”
He couldn’t collapse.
And he couldn’t lose his job.
After lecturing his son, Liang Qiurun went to the Meatpacking Factory clinic with Director Yang from the Procurement Section and Director Lu from the Finance Section.
Director Yang added, “Xiao Liu told me he saw them going there.”
Liang Qiurun nodded at this and said to Secretary Chen, “Prepare some nutritional supplements. I’ll take them to visit Comrade Jiang.”
As Liang Qiurun’s right-hand man, Secretary Chen naturally didn’t need to be told these things. He always anticipated his leader’s needs and acted accordingly.
So, as soon as Liang Qiurun finished speaking, Secretary Chen pulled out a net bag of items from under the office desk and handed them to Liang Qiurun.
“Two cans of yellow peach canned fruit, two bags of white sugar, plus one jar of malt extract.”
This was practically the premium package among nutritional supplements.
After all, malt extract was such a rare commodity—not only expensive but also requiring special supply coupons.
Ordinary people simply couldn’t obtain it.
Liang Qiurun nodded, accepting the items with clear, gentle eyes and a mild voice, “Well done.”
Secretary Chen humbly shook his head, “It’s what I should do.”
After speaking, he glanced at Director Yang and Director Lu from the Finance Section.
Director Lu remained silent.
Instead, Director Yang clicked his tongue in admiration—no wonder Secretary Chen’s position remained unshakable. Just look at this and you’d understand.
With Secretary Chen’s meticulous attention to detail, ordinary people couldn’t compare.
Secretary Chen smiled proudly, keeping his achievements and reputation to himself.
When they were about to head to the Meatpacking Factory clinic, Director Lu from the Finance Section said, “I won’t be going.”
“I still have a lot of accounting work left for today. I’ll return to the office to handle matters first.”
Director Lu was twenty-six or twenty-seven this year, a graduate of Capital University’s accounting program. Right after graduation, he was assigned to the Meatpacking Factory as an accounting clerk.
In just four years, he had risen to the position of Deputy Director of the Finance Section. If not for his youth and lack of seniority, even the head of the Finance Section might have had to make way for him.
Liang Qiurun knew his personality—he was practically a workaholic.
He nodded, tacitly approving his departure, “Thank you for your hard work.”
Director Lu shook his head, “It’s my duty.”
After he turned to leave,
Seeing Liang Qiurun leading Liang Rui ahead, Director Yang whispered to Secretary Chen, “Director Lu seems quite… what?” He searched for an adjective, “Bold.”
“Yes, just quite bold.”
The factory director was going to visit the injured workers, yet Director Lu left halfway. That was just unbelievable.
Secretary Chen replied, “That’s because Director Lu is capable.”
“Our factory director appreciates capable people.” After a pause, he added, “Even if they’re a bit arrogant, the director can tolerate it.”
That remark struck a nerve.
Along the way, Director Yang kept pondering.
Was Secretary Chen hinting at him?
Or was he really hinting at him?
Before Director Yang could figure it out, they had already arrived at the Meatpacking Factory clinic. He immediately pushed aside his wild thoughts.
Following the others up the steps,
He overheard Factory Director Liang patiently instructing his son Liang Rui, “When we see Comrade Jiang later, apologize to them, remember?”
Liang Rui remained silent.
“Liang Rui.” Liang Qiurun’s gentle expression cooled slightly, “Liang Rui, did you hear me?”
“All of us have piles of work left undone, yet we’re here cleaning up your mess. If you can’t even manage to apologize—”
Before he could finish,
Liang Rui spoke up, “I know.”
Hearing this, Director Yang couldn’t help but mutter to himself: Factory Director Liang was such an impressive man—decisive and influential outside, yet at home, just like him, he had a rebellious son opposing him.
Unable to communicate, unable to educate.
Thinking of this, Director Yang felt somewhat balanced. He also had a rebellious son at home, though his was slightly easier to discipline than Factory Director Liang’s.
Looking at it this way,
His fate was slightly better than Factory Director Liang’s.
After all, he had his wife to help manage the child.
Factory Director Liang had no one—acting as both father and mother alone, with a child who remained disobedient and full of rebellion.
Just thinking about it was distressing.
Up ahead, Liang Qiurun was unaware that his subordinates had already begun to sympathize with him. This was understandable—after all, in the eyes of outsiders, whether it was a mother or a father, anyone raising a child alone had a tough life.
Because it meant having to play both the role of father and mother. If the child was well-behaved, it might be manageable.
But if they hit the rebellious teenage years, you could only brace yourself for endless frustration.
Liang Qiurun was currently in that very stage. Having climbed the stairs and reached the clinic entrance, he glanced back at Liang Rui beside him. The boy’s clothes were a mess, buttons undone, looking utterly slovenly.
He stopped and said to Liang Rui, “Fix your clothes.”
“Looking presentable is the most basic courtesy when visiting someone.”
Liang Rui didn’t want to move. He simply didn’t feel like buttoning up, preferring the cool breeze with his shirt open.
“I don’t want to button it.”
Liang Qiurun fixed him with a silent stare.
Though he made no sound, the intensity in his eyes was overwhelming.
After several dozen seconds, Liang Rui finally gave in. Under Liang Qiurun’s gaze, he buttoned his shirt one by one, just like his father, all the way up to his throat.
It looked neat, but it was genuinely uncomfortable.
A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy was at an age where he cared about style, comfort, and freedom.
“I’ll button it now, but I’m unbuttoning it as soon as we leave,” he bargained with Liang Qiurun.
Liang Qiurun replied calmly, “Do as you please after we’ve seen the patient.”
Sensing his father’s displeasure, Liang Rui, for once, didn’t talk back and followed him into the clinic.
But after asking around, they found out:
“Comrade Jiang Chenliang has already left?”
“He had his minor wounds treated and then left the clinic.”
This—
They had come all this way for nothing.
Director Yang was also taken aback. “That little rascal Xiao Liu didn’t give us the full story.”
If he hadn’t told them Jiang Chenliang was at the clinic, he wouldn’t have brought Factory Director Liang here with such a fuss.
Secretary Chen, however, reacted quickly. “That’s my oversight. I’ll go find him right away.”
Liang Qiurun shook his head. “Let’s check the situation first.”
Secretary Chen made some inquiries and soon gathered some information.
“Comrade Jiang probably realized there was no serious issue and went home.”
Liang Qiurun thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go pay him a visit.”
It was only right for him, as the factory director, to visit and express concern for a worker injured while fighting a fire.
“Do you know where the Jiang family lives?”
Secretary Chen didn’t know and was about to ask around again.
Liang Rui suddenly spoke up, “I know. I’ll take you there.”
At this, Liang Qiurun sharply turned his gaze toward him. Liang Rui shifted uncomfortably and averted his eyes. “I went to see her before.”
Who was “her”?
Both he and Liang Qiurun knew perfectly well.
Liang Qiurun frowned slightly.
Since he’d brought it up, Liang Rui felt there was no point hiding it. “I gave her a hundred yuan and told her not to go on the blind date.”
“But she went anyway.”
He didn’t finish the rest, just looked at Liang Qiurun.
He didn’t say it, but Liang Qiurun understood.
Liang Qiurun was completely unfazed. “So you think she should have agreed to the blind date with me without caring about my circumstances?”
It made sense.
Liang Rui silently acknowledged it.
Liang Qiurun stated calmly, “Do you think I have some overwhelming advantage? If she wasn’t interested in my situation, what do you think she’d want with me?”
“My age? The fact that I’m rarely home? Or the fact that I have a rebellious son who’d drive her up the wall?”
Director Yang, who was standing nearby, couldn’t hold back a sudden chuckle upon hearing this, finding the remark rather catchy.
Noticing everyone looking at him,
Director Yang immediately covered his mouth, “I didn’t mean to.”
“Factory Director Liang, with your excellent qualities, you shouldn’t speak of yourself that way. It makes me rather uncomfortable.”
Liang Qiurun was well aware of his own limitations. “I’m just stating facts.”
“Liang Rui, don’t overestimate me, and don’t underestimate others either.”
“Self-awareness is a person’s most valuable quality.”
Liang Rui immediately fell silent.
Until an urgent voice called out from nearby, “Factory Director Liang, the Shuji Office is looking for you.”
“They want you to come quickly.”
At these words, Liang Qiurun froze momentarily. He furrowed his brows, his jade-like pale face showing traces of concern. “Did the Shuji Office mention what it was about?”
The messenger had no idea and simply shook his head. “I heard from the person who relayed the message that Secretary He at the Shuji Office looked quite displeased.”
Now Liang Qiurun understood. “I’ll go to the Shuji Office to see Secretary He.”
After a moment’s contemplation, he entrusted Liang Rui to Secretary Chen. “Take Liang Rui to the Jiang Family, and please apologize to Comrade Jiang on my behalf. I truly can’t make it due to urgent matters.”
When Secretary He summoned him, he had no choice but to go.
Others might think the factory director held immense power, but in reality, even factory directors had superiors to answer to.
Secretary Chen nodded. “I’ll make sure to complete the task.”
Still uneasy, Liang Qiurun added a reminder to Liang Rui, “Listen to Uncle Chen.”
He felt that since becoming a father, he had practically turned into a fussy old woman.
Liang Rui hung his head, fiddling with the corner of his clothes, and muttered a noncommittal “Mm.”
As they watched Liang Qiurun depart,
His figure stretched long in the evening sunset. It was only then that Liang Rui suddenly realized how excessively thin his father’s back appeared.
It seemed that in the month since coming to the Meatpacking Factory, he had noticeably lost weight.
Noticing Liang Rui watching Liang Qiurun,
Secretary Chen suddenly explained, “Factory Director Liang actually has it very tough. Don’t think his going to the Shuji Office is a good thing.”
At this point, he glanced at Liang Rui. “The fire in the Meatpacking Plant Workshop was ultimately caused by you. Whether it’s the former or the latter, Factory Director Liang can’t escape responsibility.”
He sighed. “Secretary He and Factory Director Liang don’t get along. This time, the director might have trouble extricating himself.”
He didn’t expect Liang Rui to fully understand.
Secretary Chen simply pleaded with him, “Liang Rui, please try to be more considerate of your father in your daily life.”
“He really has it very hard.”
Being both father and mother, while balancing his career—
Even someone made of iron would struggle to endure it.
Liang Rui pressed his lips tightly together and said nothing.
He knew. He had always known how difficult things were for his father.
But he was afraid.
A deep-seated fear from his bones. He had been abandoned before, then picked up by his father.
He had finally gained a family.
He was terrified that after a stepmother entered the picture, he would lose his father and his home.
So he didn’t dare. He never dared.
Liang Rui wasn’t brave at all.
He remained just as he was in early childhood—a complete coward.
He feared new things and new relationships.
He could only cling stubbornly to what he had, as if that would prevent him from losing anything.
Seeing Liang Rui remain silent, Secretary Chen sighed and said no more.
Director Yang, who had been observing nearby, shook his head and said to Secretary Chen, “Let it be. Boys his age are at their most rebellious—how could they understand their family’s difficulties?”
Hearing this, Liang Rui suddenly clenched his fists.
He knew.
But he was equally afraid.
Terrified, in fact.
All the way to Qudeng Hutong, the three of them walked in silence.
What a coincidence.
As Liang Rui and his group entered the alleyway, they encountered Jiang Meishu leading Jiang Chenliang, both hurrying outward.
The two parties collided head-on.
“Comrade Jiang.”
Secretary Chen called out.
At this, both Jiang Meishu and Jiang Chenliang halted, since in public settings, either could be addressed as “Comrade Jiang.”
“Secretary Chen?”
Jiang Meishu might not have recognized Secretary Chen.
But Jiang Chenliang knew him—when Liang Qiurun was transferred to the Meatpacking Factory as director, it was said he brought an exceptionally capable right-hand man.
That person was Secretary Chen.
Previously, Jiang Chenliang had only glimpsed him from afar, but this time they were face to face.
Seeing that Jiang Chenliang recognized him, Secretary Chen breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s me.”
He strode forward and observed carefully.
“Factory Director Liang heard you were injured and intended to visit you personally, but when he went to the clinic, you weren’t there. Coincidentally, the Shuji Office needed him for something, so he left first and instructed us to check on you. By the way, Comrade Jiang, how is your injury?”
At this question, Jiang Chenliang instinctively wanted to say he was fine.
But before he could speak, Jiang Meishu cut him off, “My father’s injury seems quite serious. The Meatpacking Factory clinic might have misdiagnosed him. He probably injured a bone while fighting the fire, and now we need to go to a major hospital for a reexamination.”
When it came to telling the truth, no one could match Jiang Meishu.
She wouldn’t let her father lie and claim he was fine. After all, he was injured on duty, and the unit should take responsibility.
At this,
Secretary Chen and Director Yang exchanged a glance. “Is it that serious?”
“Which hospital are you heading to now?”
Jiang Meishu actually didn’t know. “Which hospital is good?”
“Let’s go to the People’s Hospital.”
Secretary Chen quickly responded, “It’s just a bit far from our Meatpacking Factory. Wait here for a moment—I’ll report to Factory Director Liang and bring the car over.”
Though slightly against regulations, exceptional circumstances called for exceptional measures.
“Wait here for me.”
Jiang Meishu acknowledged cheerfully. With someone else taking charge, she was happy to sit back and do nothing.
Secretary Chen left, leaving only Director Yang and Liang Rui.
Director Yang chatted with Jiang Chenliang; after all, Director Yang was Jiang Chenliang’s superior.
As for Liang Rui beside them, his expression was both sour and complicated, lips pressed tightly as he fidgeted uneasily on the spot.
After a long while, he finally approached Jiang Meishu, wanting to apologize.
But he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Seeing Liang Rui like this, Jiang Meishu wondered, “System, do you think Liang Rui has hemorrhoids?”
The System: “…”
It admired Shushu’s train of thought.
It chose to remain silent.
By the time Secretary Chen drove over, Liang Rui still hadn’t managed to open his mouth.
Jiang Meishu gave him a strange look, then helped Jiang Chenliang into the car. Having lived most of his life, this was Jiang Chenliang’s first time riding in a car.
He didn’t know where to put his hands and feet.
Jiang Meishu held his hand. “Dad, lean on me.”
“Stretch your legs out like this—just get comfortable however you like.”
She was completely at ease, without a trace of restraint or unease.
Secretary Chen glanced in the rearview mirror, somewhat surprised. He thought to himself, Factory Director Liang’s blind date is truly unusual.
He had seen too many people who, upon riding in a car, reacted just like Jiang Chenliang.
By comparison, Jiang Meishu stood out all the more.
Can she really handle Liang Rui?
Secretary Chen wondered uncertainly.
“I’ve reported to Factory Director Liang. He asked me to take you to the hospital first. All medical expenses will be covered by the work unit.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chenliang immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Their family had no money and couldn’t afford hospital treatment.
“Thank Factory Director Liang for us.”
Jiang Chenliang said.
Jiang Meishu, however, pressed her lips together and remained silent.
When they arrived at the People’s Hospital, Secretary Chen parked the car. After Jiang Meishu helped her father out, she noticed Secretary Chen hesitating at the entrance.
He seemed unsure which department to take Jiang Chenliang to.
Secretary Chen genuinely didn’t know. Liang Qiurun was as strong as an ox and never got sick, so he had almost no experience with hospitals.
Jiang Meishu seemed to guess his dilemma. She raised her voice and said, “My father might have a bone fracture. We should go to the orthopedics department.”
Secretary Chen was taken aback and looked at her with increasing surprise. “Let’s go upstairs then.”
He thought Factory Director Liang’s blind date seemed quite unusual.
She even knew things like this.
Knowing which department to visit made things easier. After confirming the location on the first floor, they went straight to the orthopedics department on the third floor.
After examining Jiang Chenliang’s arm, Doctor Li from orthopedics said, “The external injuries aren’t serious, but given the level of pain, I suspect a bone fracture. Take him to the first floor for an X-ray.”
This was something none of them had ever heard of.
“X-ray?”
Secretary Chen instinctively asked.
Jiang Meishu thought for a moment and instinctively explained, “It’s a machine that can see through flesh to check if the bones are intact.”
Such machines were very common in later years.
But she forgot that in the 1970s, this kind of equipment was quite rare.
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone instinctively looked at her.
Secretary Chen still looked somewhat surprised.
Liang Rui was the same. He thought Jiang Meishu was talking nonsense.
How could there be a machine in this world that could see through flesh and look at bones?
Wasn’t this just a fantasy?
It was obvious his future stepmother was lying.
However, the next moment, he heard Doctor Li say, “Yes, this young comrade explained it very well. It is indeed a machine that can see through flesh to examine bones. This is the newest imported equipment at our People’s Hospital.”
Now everyone was shocked. “There’s really such a machine?”
Liang Rui was also surprised. He hadn’t expected his future stepmother to be quite knowledgeable. How did she even know about this?
“Yes, we just imported it from Germany last month. But getting an X-ray with this machine is quite expensive.”
“How much?”
“Forty-two yuan per X-ray.”
Everyone couldn’t help but gasp. That was almost equivalent to a worker’s monthly salary.
Director Yang instinctively said, “That’s too expensive.”
Doctor Li nodded, “Yes, so you can choose not to do it. If you don’t, I’ll just fix it with a wooden splint. However, without seeing the condition of the arm bone, we can’t guarantee how well it will recover in the future.”
Since the X-ray machine was imported, very few people had used it. Everyone was scared off by the price.
Secretary Chen hesitated. This price exceeded what ordinary people could claim for reimbursement. “I need to ask Factory Director Liang. The price is too high, and I can’t make the decision.”
Doctor Li said, “Then you should hurry. His arm can’t be delayed.”
Jiang Chenliang was afraid of causing trouble for others and also dreaded approaching Factory Director Liang, so he instinctively refused, “Then let’s not take the photo. It’s too expensive.”
For the poor, pain and illness were the least of their concerns.
However, as soon as these words fell.
Liang Rui, who had been leaning silently against the wall, suddenly stepped forward from the green wall to face the crowd.
He pulled several Great Unity notes from his pocket and handed them over, his voice cracking like a pubescent boy’s, “Take the photo. I’ll take responsibility for my actions.”
“I’ll cover the cost.”