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In the wild mushroom category, the most toxic and deadly species belong to the Amanita genus, causing severe damage to the liver. Apart from these highly lethal ones, there are also some strange hallucinogenic wild mushrooms.
The hallucinogenic ones are quite mystical. Sometimes, in a pot of mushroom soup, some people get poisoned after eating it, while others don’t. Some people get poisoned immediately, while others have delayed reactions.
Some, even after falling into hallucinations, can still go about their daily lives, go to work as usual, and may not even realise they’re hallucinating, calmly immersed in their visions. Two people poisoned in the same way might enter similar hallucinations, and they could even converse and cooperate within each other’s hallucinations.
Here, calling someone crazy is also known as, “Have you eaten mushrooms?”
Dr. Zhao’s condition is relatively mild; he wasn’t screaming or acting crazy. Dr. Zhou and a few others managed to restrain him.
Dr. Zhan Ai Ping examined and treated him, administering intravenous fluids. Dr. Zhou, being strong, was afraid of hurting the pregnant Zhan Ai Ping, so he didn’t let her directly intervene. Dr. Zhou was speechless, “Is this the digestive specialist who’s good at treating mushroom poisoning?”
Qin Yanfang said, “Maybe he ate too many mushrooms; a long illness makes a good doctor.”
Zhan Ai Ping shook her head, “That’s not the same.”
It’s also possible that having seen many cases of wild mushroom poisoning, he wanted to try it himself, perhaps confident in his ability to identify wild mushrooms and believing he couldn’t possibly get poisoned, thus becoming careless.
But doctors who end up in the hospital from eating mushrooms are indeed unheard of.
Dr. Zhou said, “Luckily, he didn’t swat us like mosquitoes.”
There was a previous case of poisoning where the person hallucinated mosquitoes everywhere and kept swatting them.
Qin Yanfang shook her head, “Don’t eat unidentified mushrooms.”
When Dean Hao heard that a new doctor had been poisoned by mushrooms, he was truly distressed.
“Really poisoned?”
“Dean, please come back to the hospital and see for yourself.”
When Dr. Zhao Jing regained consciousness, he sat in the hospital consultation room, his face completely green, like a green mushroom.
— Poisoned on his first day reporting to the hospital.
He never imagined such a thing could happen in his lifetime, being careless.
Zhan Aiping asked Qin Yanfang to take care of the young man whose heart was on the verge of breaking: “Xiao Qin, do you want to go up and talk to him?”
Dr. Zhou also encouraged, “This is the most critical moment to quietly enter his heart. I think he’s quite promising.”
“Not very smart to look at,” Qin Yanfang shook her head. “I would never marry a gastroenterologist who gets poisoned by mushrooms on his first day of work.”
Too foolish.
Dr. Zhou joked, “Why not marry him? Look how interesting this is. In the future, if he dares to bully you, just ask him, ‘Did you eat mushrooms again today?’”
Qin Yanfang shook her head, “No.”
Having seen him go crazy, Qin Yanfang said she couldn’t accept such a person.
Dean Hao came back and specially comforted the injured Dr. Zhao. After all, it wasn’t easy for a young doctor to come to their hospital, even if… there were some issues, he was still precious.
Dean Hao advised, “Comrade Xiao Zhao, relax, work well in the hospital in the future.”
Dr. Zhao looked despairingly at Dean Hao, “Can I transfer?”
If jobs weren’t hard to find these days, he wouldn’t want to step into this hospital a second time.
Dean Hao told him mercilessly, “No.”
“They really haven’t made fun of you, really, don’t believe me? I’ll call people in. Dr. Zhan, Xiao Qin, you all come in, tell him, have you never laughed? You all care about the new colleague.”
Dr. Zhao: “…”
Indeed, the new colleague needed some comfort. Zhan Aiping and a few others came in. When Dr. Zhao saw so many people, especially when he saw Qin Yanfang, his face couldn’t help but blush, “This is really the first time I’ve been poisoned by mushrooms.”
Zhan Aiping said, “We believe in you.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” several people nodded in agreement.
Dr. Zhao remained silent.
He didn’t want to stay in this rundown hospital anymore. Dr. Zhao secretly resolved in his heart that he would do everything in his power to transfer out. He was determined to leave; he would never return to this hospital in his lifetime.
But those mushrooms were indeed delicious.
Dr. Zhou said, “We’re colleagues now, young comrade. Don’t take it to heart. Just think of it as being ill and having to go to the hospital once. You should thank Dr. Zhan for that.”
“Thank you, Dr. Zhan,” Dr. Zhao said stiffly.
Dr. Zhao remained stiff for two days but eventually started working. He also moved into the hospital’s staff quarters. It was said that he didn’t have a partner yet and was staying in the room next to Zhan Aiping’s. Dean Hao persuaded him, “Young comrade, living alone is a bit tough now, but once our hospital’s ward building is completed, we’ll assign you a room. It won’t be long before it’s finished.”
“Our hospital is definitely the best in the nearby towns. Although it’s not as good as the one in the county, we…”
Dean Hao tried to paint a rosy picture for Dr. Zhao, fearing he might become disheartened and quit. Young people care about face. In case he became disheartened and went to work as a barefoot doctor in the village, the hospital would lose a talented person.
While Dean Hao was painting a rosy picture for Dr. Zhao, Qin Yanfang pulled Zhan Aiping aside. “Guess when Dr. Zhao will transfer out?”
“I feel like he doesn’t want to stay in the hospital,” Zhan Aiping shook her head.
Qin Yanfang asked, “Why not?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “He’s not buying into the Dean’s promises.”
Qin Yanfang inquired, “What promises?”
“He’s promising Dr. Zhao what you’d like to have,” Zhan Aiping said.
“What?” Qin Yanfang asked.
“He’s promising him a room,” Zhan Aiping replied.
Qin Yanfang: “…”
“Dr. Zhao is even younger than me,” Qin Yanfang sighed. “Do you think our hospital will ever get a slightly older male doctor? We’re not even asking for brilliance, just someone who’s a bit normal.”
Zhan Aiping remained silent.
“The Dean is actually planning to recruit a snake doctor from the village into the hospital. You might want to consider it; it fits your requirements better.”
There are many poisonous snakes in the mountains here, and currently, there’s no serum for snake venom. Typically, traditional Chinese medicine is used for treatment, and there are various folk remedies for snake venom. There are many snake doctors in rural areas.
So much so that when many people are bitten by snakes, instead of going to the hospital, they seek treatment from a snake doctor. However, the skill level of these snake doctors varies, and many cases result in death, disability, or delayed treatment.
“A snake doctor? Treating snake venom? No, no, no,” Qin Yanfang shook her head vigorously. “Being bitten by a snake is too terrifying. I’m scared of snakes, I’m scared of death. Whenever I see a snake, I run away. I don’t want anything to do with snakes, let alone snake doctors. I’d rather eat mushrooms.”
“Are snakes really that scary?” Zhan Aiping asked.
She was quite good at catching snakes, always accurate. Zhan Aiping had good eyesight and a strong ability to spot snakes.
“Yes, they’re terrifying.”
“But you grew up here, you must have seen many snakes since childhood.”
“It’s because I’ve seen so many that I’m scared!” Local people usually avoid places where snakes are frequently seen. Especially during the snake mating season, one must be very careful. When going into the mountains, it’s advisable to carry a stick to ward off snakes while walking.
Thinking of venomous snakes, Qin Yanfang suddenly found the previously poisoned Dr. Zhao both silly and adorable.
Dean Hao had been painting rosy pictures for Dr. Zhao for two days, but Dr. Zhao remained unyielding. Seeing him like this, Dean Hao thought he really might try to transfer out. But there was nothing he could do; a forced melon never sweetens.
However, unexpectedly, after waiting for two or three days, Dr. Zhao was still at the hospital.
Dr. Zhao wasn’t very good at cooking, so he particularly liked mushrooms. Wild mushrooms were rare delicacies that didn’t require much culinary skill but could be incredibly delicious when cooked.
After arriving at the hospital, he managed to get several meals because Qin Yanfang’s sister, Qin Lanfang, was very skilled at cooking. Qin Lanfang stayed at the hospital for treatment; she wasn’t very educated, and her mobility was limited, but she knew how to identify herbs and occasionally helped out in the herbal medicine room.
Because the hospital was constructing buildings, the workers had their meals at the hospital at noon. Qin Lanfang helped cook large pots of food for the workers to eat, and Dr. Zhao would go and join these workers for their meals.
One day of joining turned into the next, and so on…
He would also occasionally eat the vinegar soup with pumpkin cooked by Qin Yanfang. Dr. Zhao was puzzled, “Why is your sister so good at cooking, but you only know how to cook pumpkin every day?”
The person Dr. Zhao least wanted to see in the hospital was Qin Yanfang because every time he saw her, he would be reminded of the first day he came to the hospital.
However, her sister’s cooking was very delicious.
Qin Yanfang said, “Can’t you stop talking while you’re eating?”
Dr. Zhao replied, “Your pumpkin soup is the only thing tasty you make.”
“She’s already engaged. When my sister gets married and leaves the hospital, you won’t get to eat her cooking anymore,” Qin Yanfang retorted.
“If you ever run out of food, I’ll share my pumpkin soup with you.”
“I don’t want it,” Dr. Zhao refused. “Once your sister gets married and leaves, I’ll be transferring out too.”
He would never stay in this hospital.
“I, I will never stay here!”
“What’s wrong with this place? I think our hospital is quite good,” Qin Yanfang said. “I also think our hospital is quite good,” Zhan Aiping smiled. “I think you two have quite a fate, like two happy enemies.”
Qin Yanfang and Dr. Zhao shook their heads simultaneously, saying, “That’s impossible.”
Qin Yanfang couldn’t imagine marrying someone who had looked so silly when poisoned. How could she marry such a silly person?
Dr. Zhao always felt a psychological shadow whenever he saw Qin Yanfang, so how could there be any fate between them? Even if there were, it would be a doomed fate.
Dr. Zhou pulled Zhan Aiping aside. “You, don’t go playing matchmaker randomly. You clearly have no idea what you’re doing. It’s absolutely impossible for those two to be together. Let’s find a new partner for Xiao Qin instead.”
Zhan Aiping asked, “Why?”
“Just look at them. Neither of them can cook. What will they eat in the future? Pumpkin soup every day? Wild mushrooms every day?” Dr. Zhou reasoned.
Indeed, it would be difficult for them to be together. Even if they were, raising children would not be easy.
Zhan Aiping suggested, “When our hospital gets more people, there should be a cafeteria.”
Dr. Zhou shook his head. “I would never eat at the cafeteria. Who likes eating cafeteria food every day?”
Zhan Aiping remained silent.
She and Gu Sheng had grown up eating cafeteria food, but their children probably wouldn’t have to eat cafeteria food often.
She knew how to cook, and the better her child’s father could cook, the better. He had even started innovating now.
***
“Dr. Zhan, you’re in the newspaper!”
“Xiao Zhan, you’re in the newspaper!”
These past couple of days, the last thing Zhan Aiping wanted to hear was the word “newspaper” because Reporter Chen’s article, along with her photo, had been published, making her quite famous.
Zhan Aiping originally wanted to use an old photo of herself in her military uniform, but Reporter Chen refused, saying, “The newspaper must be truthful and accurate. Those are old photos; they belong to the past.”
Reporter Chen thought, if he included an old military photo of Zhan Aiping while the interview mentioned villagers accusing her of being a “monster who eats placenta to maintain her beauty,” it would be completely mismatched.
So, the photo used in the article was one of Zhan Aiping and Reporter Chen together.
Reporter Chen interviewed several villagers and town residents for the story, writing a long piece that prominently featured Zhan Aiping, giving her significant “coverage.”
When Zhan Aiping saw the newspaper, she felt overwhelmed.
Familiar faces couldn’t resist bringing it up whenever they saw her, “Doctor Zhan, you’re in the newspaper!”
Most people in the town knew her, and whenever they met her, they couldn’t help but say, “Doctor Zhan, I saw you in the newspaper.”
…
Zheng Tong collected over a dozen copies of the newspaper, saying he wanted to save them for Xue Mei, “When she grows up, she must thank Doctor Zhan personally.”
Zheng Tong felt particularly guilty about what his sister did and often came to the hospital to help.
He had now separated from his family, living independently with his wife and raising a little daughter, who was growing strong and healthy. He was very motivated in life.
Zhan Aiping said, “…There’s no need to keep so many newspapers, one copy will do.”
“That won’t do,” Zheng Tong replied. “Doctor Zhan, your article is excellently written. Our village people love it. The stories are fascinating, and the village teacher even uses it to teach children to read.”
“When Mei Mei grows up, she’ll use it to learn to read too.”
“And we’ll tell her, it’s all thanks to Doctor Zhan that she’s alive.”
Zhan Aiping, “…”
—Using it to learn to read?
Luckily, the newspaper only circulated within Yunnan Province.
It wasn’t just her gaining fame from the newspaper, but also her scientific stories that became a topic of interest. The military doctors in the camp’s health team, knowing she could write stories, even asked her to write some engaging and easy-to-understand “snake prevention” stories, including correct first aid methods for snake bites.
Military Doctor Qian came to ask for Zhan Aiping’s help, “The soldiers come from all over the country. We conduct snakebite prevention education every year. Could you help write some stories for our awareness campaign?”
Zhan Aiping agreed and, after writing, took them to Shen Liqing for feedback. Upon hearing about snakes, Shen Liqing’s face paled, “I heard they caught three snakes in the camp a few days ago, the largest was this big. How did it sneak in…”
Zhan Aiping curiously asked, “Did you go to watch?”
“Yes,” Shen Liqing replied. “I also saw them catch a python this big, two people had to stretch it out, it was this long.”
She gestured with her hands as she spoke.
Zhan Aiping said, “You’ve really seen a lot.”
“I went to join in the fun several times,” replied Shen Liqing. She’s the type of person who either stays home all day or goes out to watch any commotion, especially when it involves catching snakes. Although she’s terrified of snakes, she can’t resist watching, always curious and fascinated by the spectacle.
“I heard there were king cobras, and I even went to see one!”
“I was so scared, my face turned green! My face turned green!” Shen Liqing was visibly excited as she talked about the venom spitting king cobra.
Zhan Aiping said, “Yet you still dare to go and watch.”
“I’m just so curious, really curious,” Shen Liqing sighed. “There are so many snakes around here, but thankfully, there are also natural predators of snakes. I’ve heard that some families keep mongooses just to catch and eat snakes.”
Mongooses are natural predators of venomous snakes and are immune to their venom.
“They don’t just catch snakes. People also use mongooses to catch rats in their sugarcane fields to protect their crops.”
Shen Liqing said wistfully, “I wish I could keep a mongoose to guard against snakes.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “What if you train it so well that it starts bringing you snakes as offerings, like how cats bring cockroaches and mice to their owners?”
Mongooses, like cats, will kill for sport even if they aren’t hungry.
Shen Liqing’s face turned even more colourful, “Ping-ping, can you stop talking about such scary things?”
“Just teasing you.”
Shen Liqing shook her head, “I don’t really want a mongoose. I want to keep a little wolfdog.”
Zhan Aiping asked, “A little wolfdog?”
“Yes, those short-legged puppies. They’re so cute and lovable, but they aren’t as attractive when they grow into big wolfdogs. There’s a big wolfdog in our residential area that didn’t make it as a military dog, so they kept it here.”
“It was eliminated.” In Yunnan Province, they were breeding military dogs, and the “wolfdogs” Shen Liqing mentioned were likely a mix of German Shepherds and local breeds. These mixed breeds are commonly referred to as wolfdogs.
The demand for military dogs in this border area is high. They undergo rigorous selection and training from a young age, and many are eliminated for not meeting the strict standards, including those that don’t look “intimidating” enough.
Zhan Aiping said, “I’d like to keep a little wolfdog too.”
Shen Liqing’s eyes lit up, “When you have a baby, we’ll go together to see the puppies. There’s a military dog training base nearby, and I heard from the medic that you can see young soldiers jogging with the puppies in the morning.”
Zhan Aiping curiously asked, “Are you really going to see the puppies, or the ‘puppies’?”
“What do you mean by ‘puppies’?”
Zhan Aiping gave her a knowing look, “The young soldiers.”
Shen Liqing suddenly realized, “Oh… the ‘puppies’.”
They exchanged glances and laughed together. Shen Liqing then said, “Doctor Zhan, your family has the real ‘puppy’.”
Zhan Aiping, “…”
“My household is more like a parrot, chattering all the time,” Shen Liqing said, referring to the noisiness and nagging that can be quite a headache.
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Tut tut, does comrade Old Wang know?”
“As long as he doesn’t find out,” Shen Liqing laughed heartily.
After finishing the snake prevention stories, Zhan Aiping took them to Military Doctor Qian for review. Qian thought they were well written and commented, “I’m not as good at dealing with venomous snakes as the local snake doctors. Snake venom is really difficult to treat.”
“A few years ago, a young soldier was bitten on the foot. The treatment wasn’t done properly, and he lost his leg and had to be amputated,” Qian said with deep regret.
Being bitten by a venomous snake is extremely painful, and while surviving is fortunate, it’s tragic to lose a leg at such a young age.
As they were talking, someone who had been bitten by a snake was brought in. Zhan Aiping treated the patient using traditional Chinese medicine, and the improvement was swift, much to Qian’s amazement.
“You know Chinese medicine too?”
“A little.”
Qian laughed, “It’s good to know a little of everything. I know a few herbal remedies for snake bites, sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. Treating snake bites is a field of its own.”
“Those who specialize in snake bites and venom can treat it effectively. I’ve heard of families who pass down snakebite remedies through generations; it’s a valuable accumulation of experience.”
Zhan Aiping nodded, “Once the anti-venom research is completed, treating snake bites will be much easier.”
Qian replied, “I think I heard about that before, but didn’t it get suspended?”
Research on anti-venom began in the 1950s but was halted due to unsatisfactory results.
“Research on anti-venom is still ongoing in Shanghai,” Zhan Aiping said, remembering that anti-venom was set to be clinically available starting this year, with plans for gradual promotion. Their township hospital could proactively cooperate in the application and promotion of anti-venom.
Using traditional Chinese medicine to treat snake bites carries significant risks, especially given the high standards required of the doctor. Improper handling can lead to the patient’s death. Incorrectly applying herbal treatments can easily cause infections, contributing to a high mortality rate when using traditional remedies for snake bites.
After chatting with Qian for a while, Military Doctor Sun Zhou, hearing that Zhan Aiping was there, rushed over to inquire about something.
“What kind of match did you introduce to Regiment Commander Jiang? He seems particularly cheerful lately, but he’s tight-lipped and only talks to Gu Sheng. I’m extremely curious.”
Both Regiment Commander Jiang and Gu Sheng were known for their discretion.
“It wasn’t me who introduced them; Regiment Commander Jiang met her himself. They’ve known each other for over ten years,” Zhan Aiping clarified, not wanting to take credit. The two had likely developed feelings long ago.
“They’re both very reserved people.”
Sun Zhou was stunned, “Over ten years?”
“Yes, when Regiment Commander Jiang first met her, he was just a young soldier.”
Sun Zhou was exasperated, “Well, they really kept their mouths shut!”
“Just like my Old Gu,” Zhan Aiping added.
Sun Zhou, “…”
It seems both of them have had someone they’ve liked for about ten years.
“When he gets married, we must get him thoroughly drunk. You’d never guess from his usual demeanour.”
After chatting with Military Doctor Sun for a while, Zhan Aiping headed back to the residential compound, escorted by Gu Sheng. Now that her pregnancy was showing, her belly was growing noticeably larger day by day, like an inflating balloon. Carrying twins, her belly was slightly bigger than usual for a single pregnancy, but Zhan Aiping was careful to manage her weight.
Returning to the compound, Gu Sheng accompanied her for a walk. Zhan Aiping increasingly felt the burden of her growing belly, eagerly awaiting the day she would give birth. Carrying such a belly made everything inconvenient.
Gu Sheng took good care of her, spending as much time as possible walking with her. Zhan Aiping also found ways to stay active, doing exercises she could manage without overexerting herself.
It was already evening, and in the summer, darkness falls slowly. Even at this hour, the sky was still bright, with layers of golden clouds creating a beautiful scene. Looking closely, you could see the clouds moving.
After a lap around the compound, they were heading home when they heard a dog bark. Turning their heads, they saw a young man in his twenties walking a German Shepherd, waving at them.
“Commissar Gu.”
The dog, seeing Gu Sheng, became very excited, its eyes bright and tail wagging, barely restraining itself from running over.
Zhan Aiping sighed, suddenly realizing that Gu Sheng must have been secretly interacting with the dog behind her back. He must have been bonding with it quite often.
Gu Sheng had always loved dogs and was very popular with them. He had previously kept a German Shepherd, which had even bitten her once.
Gu Sheng, seeing the familiar dog, pretended not to know it, “Zeng Lei, don’t bring it over. My wife is afraid of dogs.”
“Okay, okay,” Zeng Lei replied, being careful as he knew the dog looked big and fierce, which could scare people.
“Who said I’m afraid of dogs?” Zhan Aiping walked over, “Can I pet it? What’s its name?”
Zeng Lei said, “Sister-in-law, his name is Lai Fu.”
“Lai Fu?” Zhan Aiping echoed, finding the name not intimidating at all.
“Because he goes ‘woof woof woof,’ so we call him Lai Fu,” Zeng Lei explained.
Lai Fu was a very impressive-looking German Shepherd with upright ears, a shiny coat, and bright eyes. The closer Zhan Aiping got, the more she could appreciate the dog’s large and imposing build.
Seeing Zhan Aiping approaching with her pregnant belly, Zeng Lei was more nervous than the dog. However, Lai Fu was indifferent to Zhan Aiping, its clean eyes fixed on Gu Sheng, clearly yearning for some affection.
Gu Sheng squatted down and petted Lai Fu’s head. Lai Fu put its front paws on Gu Sheng’s arm, tilting its head and rubbing against his shoulder.
Seeing such a fierce-looking large dog acting like a big baby was quite endearing.
Zhan Aiping sighed internally, realizing her husband was more of a magnet for “little wolfdogs” than she was.
She also shook hands with Lai Fu and then they said goodbye to Zeng Lei and Lai Fu.
Since she was pregnant, she still needed to be careful.
Back at home, Gu Sheng took a shower first, changing into fresh clothes. The hot weather made multiple showers a day refreshing, and the lightweight clothes dried quickly. Zhan Aiping also showered and changed into comfortable home clothes.
At home, Zhan Aiping preferred wearing long dresses. When she went to see Military Doctor Qian earlier, she wore pants and a shirt, but now with her belly growing, loose-fitting long dresses were much more comfortable. She had tried wearing the brightly coloured wrap skirts her brother sent her, but only around the house because they were too eye-catching to wear outside.
Gu Sheng came over and hugged her. “Are you really not afraid of dogs anymore?”
“Mm,” Zhan Aiping nodded. Gu Sheng rested his head on her shoulder, and she stroked his hair, still damp from the shower. It felt like petting a big dog, a human-sized one.
“When the babies are born, let’s get a dog.”
Gu Sheng was taken aback, “Really?”
Gu Sheng loved dogs but never had the opportunity to keep one, only able to play with others’ dogs.
He asked excitedly, “What kind of dog should we get?”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “A little wolfdog.”
Gu Sheng felt puzzled, “That sounds a bit odd.”
“Go steal one from the military dog team.”
Gu Sheng gave her a look, “We’ll get one later.”
Zhan Aiping joked, “The military dogs might not even want to come to our house.”
“True,” Gu Sheng agreed. “Dogs eat better than people.”
Military dogs don’t get a salary but are well-fed with top-notch dog food.
Zhan Aiping teased, “We already have a human-sized dog at home.”
Gu Sheng lazily replied, “And you’re carrying two little pups.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Then you better start making dog food.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “This big dog has it rough, I have to feed myself.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “And walk yourself too. Ouch—”
She held her belly, feeling noticeable movements again. Gu Sheng quickly looked at her with concern, and Zhan Aiping smiled, “Your little pups are kicking me.”
It felt less like kicks and more like little fish blowing bubbles.
“Does it hurt?”
“I’m okay.”
Zhan Aiping urged him, “Go cook. They must be hungry. The kids get excited when they hear their dad cooking. They just want to eat what you make.”
Gu Sheng said, “…Are you sure it’s the kids who want my cooking, not you?”
“Both the kids and I want your cooking,” Zhan Aiping replied with a smile.
The next day, Gu Xiangyi, on her day off, showed up at their house right on time to scrounge a meal. Gu Sheng, holding a kitchen knife, tried to chase her away, but she hid behind Zhan Aiping, complaining, “Sister-in-law, control him. How can he be so fierce? Is he even my real brother?”
“A sister can’t come to her brother’s house for a meal? So stingy.”
“He wants to kick me out!”
Gu Xiangyi felt extremely wronged. Visiting her brother’s house for a meal shouldn’t be this difficult. This was her third time coming to mooch a meal, though she had never thought of it before because she knew her sister-in-law was pregnant and didn’t want to bother her. Even though she knew Zhan Aiping’s cooking was delicious, she never came to impose.
Gu Xiangyi had figured that with Zhan Aiping pregnant, cooking might be inconvenient for them, and they were likely eating at the canteen. But canteen food couldn’t provide the necessary nutrition. One day, she brought chicken soup over to nourish her sister-in-law, only to find her brother, Gu Sheng, cooking at home.
Initially, she hesitated to try Gu Sheng’s cooking, but once she did, she was blown away.
“My brother’s cooking is amazing!”
“How is my brother such a good cook?”
Gu Xiangyi couldn’t believe it. They were siblings from the same mother, yet her brother’s cooking skills were incredible.
Since then, she had been trying to mooch meals at her brother’s house whenever she could, although her busy job meant she couldn’t do it often. But even her occasional visits led to her brother chasing her out with a knife.
Gu Sheng said heartlessly, “Stop coming here for food. You’re being a nuisance.”
“I’m here to take care of my sister-in-law and have a meal.”
“Oh, taking care of your sister-in-law right at mealtime.”
Gu Xiangyi retorted, “Who says I’m here just for the meal? I brought meat and vegetables. Go cook.”
Gu Sheng went to the kitchen, and Gu Xiangyi sat next to Zhan Aiping, curiously looking at her belly. Her two little nephews were in there. “Your belly has gotten bigger since last time. Sister-in-law, is it tough?”
“What do you think?” Carrying a large belly was like having a natural weight increase, how could it be comfortable?
Gu Xiangyi said, “You should really make my brother work hard for you.”
She touched Zhan Aiping’s belly, growing more excited, “In a few months, my two little nephews will be here. Are they boys or girls?”
“Can I hear them move?”
“Let me listen!”
Gu Sheng said, “I’m the father. Don’t steal my job.”
Once Gu Sheng finished cooking, the three of them sat down to eat. Gu Xiangyi, holding her bowl and chopsticks, lamented her situation. Both her brother and sister-in-law were great cooks, while the hospital food was terrible.
“The food at the hospital is so bad,” she said, almost crying. “The doctors’ and nurses’ canteen food is as bland as the patients’ meals. It’s hard to have an appetite.”
“Recently, someone got poisoned by mushrooms. Do you know what his family did? They cooked mushroom soup at the hospital. It was unbelievable… risking their lives just for a meal.”
The smell made everyone on the two floors uncomfortable.
Eventually, the head nurse had to persuade them to stop cooking at the hospital.
Gu Xiangyi, being an outsider, didn’t dare eat wild mushrooms. She was taught from a young age that mushrooms could be poisonous and not to eat them. Not knowing how to identify them, she feared ending up poisoned.
Zhan Aiping said, “A new gastroenterologist at our hospital got mushroom poisoning on his first day.”
“Really?” Gu Xiangyi laughed, “I wouldn’t dare eat them.”
“Your brother likes them.”
“Perfect,” Gu Xiangyi said. “If my brother gets poisoned and goes crazy, you can hold him down, give him injections, and pump his stomach.”
Gu Sheng sneered, “Gu Xiangyi, I won’t get poisoned. But I can poison you.”
“Sister-in-law, did you hear that?” Gu Xiangyi immediately complained, “My brother is threatening me.”
Zhan Aiping shook her head helplessly, “Let’s just eat quietly.”
After the meal, Gu Sheng sent Gu Xiangyi to a corner, “You’ve eaten, now be considerate and stay out of the way. Don’t bother me and your sister-in-law.”
Gu Sheng took his wife to the study for some quality time, leaving a radio with Gu Xiangyi to keep her occupied.
Gu Xiangyi sighed, wondering why she didn’t have a childhood sweetheart.
Back at the military hospital, Gu Xiangyi called home. Her father, Gu Ze’an, answered and praised her, “It’s good to have a daughter who calls regularly, unlike those sons who only call on schedule.”
“Well, you have a lot of children. The brothers take turns calling home.”
“How’s everything?”
“Great! My sister-in-law made it into the newspaper.”
Gu Ze’an was puzzled, “Made it into the newspaper? What newspaper?”
“The provincial newspaper. My sister-in-law is an excellent doctor.”
“Of course,” Gu Ze’an said, not thinking much of it. Being in the newspaper didn’t seem that special to him. His eldest son had been in the newspaper too, always with the same old stories.
Every morning, Gu Ze’an read the newspaper, a habit that had grown dull over the years.
“In a few days, your mother and I will come to visit you and your brother and sister-in-law.”
Gu Xiangyi was startled, “Dad, you’re on leave? Why now? I’ve only been gone a few months, and you’re already coming to see me.”
She felt like a dog running freely on the lawn, suddenly yanked back by the leash of fate.
“We’re not coming to see you; we’re coming to see your brother and sister-in-law. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Gu Ze’an and his wife had decided to visit, primarily to see their youngest son and his wife, and also to check on Gu Xiangyi. They had heard she was doing well at the hospital and hadn’t gotten involved with Dr. Wu.
When Gu Xiangyi hung up, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety about her parents’ visit.
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