But Yang Jianjun had overthought it. In matters like this, whoever cares about face ends up more humiliated. Since he acted this way, Zhao Ran certainly wouldn’t indulge him.
She placed the packed luggage by the bedside and went to the hospital’s payment office.
“Hello, what’s the total cost for Zhao Ran in bed 3, room 307?”
“Zhao Ran? You paid a deposit of one hundred yuan earlier, and there’s still fifty yuan outstanding.”
Zhao Ran: …
She had expected it to be a lot. If it was only fifty yuan, it seemed she didn’t need Yang Jianjun after all. Zhao Ran remembered taking three hundred yuan from Yang Jianjun’s cabinet earlier. She had given fifty to Xiao Jun and his mother, who brought her here, and twenty to Grandma Sun.
The medical deposit was one hundred yuan. That meant she should still have one hundred and thirty yuan left. She had wanted to teach Yang Jianjun a lesson, but now it seemed unnecessary.
“Wait a moment,” Zhao Ran instinctively reached into her pocket, only to find the money she had brought with her was gone.
After double-checking, it was indeed missing. Instead of panicking, Zhao Ran’s lips curled into a faint smile. She had just felt a bit regretful, thinking that no matter what, the three hundred yuan in her hand was still given by Yang Jianjun. Little did she expect that while she was unconscious, Yang Jianjun would take the money from her pocket.
In that case, she no longer needed to feel any sense of guilt.
Taking out a wristwatch from Kongjian, Zhao Ran said with a distressed expression, “I’m sorry, it seems the money in my pocket was stolen. My husband isn’t here either. How about this—I’ll leave my watch here as collateral, then find someone to fetch my husband so he can settle the payment. Is that alright?”
The staff at the payment office thought for a moment and said, “Bring your ID along and leave it here as collateral.”
Zhao Ran quickly handed over her ID, and the other person said, “Hurry up and go.”
Only then did Zhao Ran leave the payment office.
She had just said she would find someone to help her look for her husband—only, this person was a bit special.
Leaving the hospital, Zhao Ran asked two people for directions and arrived at the nearby police station.
“Hello, comrade, I’d like to report a crime.”
In these times, not many people came to report crimes, especially a woman dressed like someone from the countryside.
But because Zhao Ran spoke politely and without an accent in her Mandarin, this stood out to Wang Kun, who was on duty.
“While I was hospitalized, one hundred and twenty yuan went missing from my pocket. I suspect it was taken by a nurse or doctor at the hospital. I was unconscious only after entering the emergency room. Before that, I’m sure the money was still in my pocket.
Also, please help me find my husband. He said he was going out to work five days ago, and I haven’t seen him in the hospital for five days. I suspect he’s missing.”
Upon hearing Zhao Ran’s words, Wang Kun was momentarily stunned before replying, “We’ll look into the matter of the money for you. But you said your husband has been missing for five days? Could it be that he’s busy with work or something?”
Zhao Ran insisted firmly, “Impossible. My husband loves me dearly! He said he would die without me. I’ve been in the hospital for five whole days—there’s no way he wouldn’t come to see me. If he hasn’t come, it must be because he’s missing!”
Hearing Zhao Ran say this, and considering that she mentioned he hadn’t appeared for five days, which met the criteria for filing a report, Wang Kun asked in more detail:
“Could you provide specific details about your husband? Also, since you knew he had been missing for five days, why did you only report it now instead of immediately when you first noticed?”
Zhao Ran covered her face and cried, “My husband said he would come back once he finished his work, so I kept waiting for him. But I couldn’t wait any longer, and I didn’t know what to do. Please, you must help me find my husband.”
Seeing Zhao Ran in this state, Wang Kun quickly added, “Comrade, don’t panic just yet. First, tell us more about your husband’s situation so we can help you find him as soon as possible.”
Zhao Ran sobbed, “He… his name is Yang Jianjun, and he’s the director of Furong Food Factory.”
Wang Kun exchanged a glance with his colleague before asking, “Are you certain the person you’re looking for is named Yang Jianjun?”
Zhao Ran nodded, “Yes! Yang Jianjun is my husband. Please, officers, you must help me find him. I truly love him and can’t bear to lose him.”
As she spoke, Zhao Ran tried to kneel down.
The two young officers hurried over to support her, “Please, don’t worry. We’ll go look for him right away.”
Only then did Zhao Ran “reluctantly” manage a smile, “Thank you so much. I really wouldn’t know what to do without you.”
Zhao Ran wasn’t just reporting a missing person; she also reported a theft. Although the amount wasn’t large, 120 yuan was equivalent to several thousand yuan today, making it necessary for the police to respond.
Moreover, Zhao Ran was in a very weak physical state. She explained that she had no money left to pay the remaining medical fees and could only come to report the incident by using the “token of love” Yang Jianjun had given her as collateral.
If she didn’t return, the hospital might eventually come to the police station with her documents to report her.
So, Zhao Ran returned to the hospital in a police car.
Back at the hospital, she sat in the ward and waited.
In less than half an hour, Yang Jianjun forcefully pushed open the ward door, his anger barely concealed:
“Zhao Ran, what nonsense have you been spreading outside? What do you mean I’m missing? Don’t you know filing a false police report is illegal?”
Zhao Ran lowered her eyes, hiding the mockery in her gaze. The next moment, she rushed to Yang Jianjun with a look of urgency, her eyes red and trembling.
She tightly grasped Yang Jianjun’s hands, “Jian… Jianjun, you’re okay? That’s wonderful, truly wonderful. You have no idea how worried I’ve been these past five days. If it weren’t for an elderly lady who urged me to report it, I really… I really thought I’d never see you again.”
Yang Jianjun was taken aback, masking his emotions as he awkwardly replied, “Didn’t I tell you I was busy? Can’t you be more understanding?”
Zhao Ran fought back her disgust and nodded vigorously, “I can, I truly can! You asked me to take care of the household, and I’ve done my best. You said for the sake of neighborhood harmony, since the neighbors have helped you, you spend your free time helping them, leaving all the chores at home to me. I’ve never complained.
You give the family ten yuan a month but take back eight, and I understand that too!
I take care of our three children at home every day, along with your elderly mother who can move but is too lazy to.
I know it’s not easy for you, and I know you love me. I’m the one who understands you the most, right?”
At this moment, many people had already gathered at the entrance of the ward. Among them were not only the police officers looking for Yang Jianjun but also those investigating the theft case, as well as the doctors and nurses who had been affected by the incident while performing surgeries in the hospital at the time.
Of course, there were also the onlookers who had come to watch the spectacle.
Upon hearing Zhao Ran’s words, everyone’s eyes were filled with disbelief. Only Yang Jianjun felt as though countless eyes were burning into his back.