To Send a Letter
Xue Aiying couldn’t get breast milk from Zhang Aiping, so she approached another family with a nursing mother and asked their sister-in-law to lend some milk. The Tian family’s sister-in-law happened to have plenty of milk and agreed to help.
However, borrowing milk caused trouble. Xue Aiying’s grandson developed a fever and started vomiting again that night, frightening the whole family. The child cried and fussed, his voice low like a cat’s meow, unsettling everyone.
“Da Zhouzi, my big boy, please don’t cry—”
After a commotion next door, they rushed the child to the military hospital that night. Xue Aiying, Auntie Zhou, and Deputy Director Qian’s families all went to take care of the child, leaving the two girls, Da’ya and Er’ya, at home.
Zhang Aiping invited the two girls over for dinner and instructed them to wait patiently at home for the adults to return.
Zhang Aiping sighed. Originally, the child from the Qian family was fine, albeit a bit thin, but now he had to be taken to the hospital.
Gu Sheng, holding his own little bun, commented, “Children are so small; it’s heart-breaking to hear them cry.”
“Raising children is not easy, so we have to be careful and pay attention to hygiene, especially with our two children. If one gets sick, the other is easily infected. If both start crying together, it’s a disaster,” Zhang Aiping said as she wiped the child’s mouth.
“Luckily, we have Dr. Zhang here. Darling, you’re a doctor; you can’t panic. You have to stay calm.”
“No one can stay calm when it comes to their own child,” Zhang Aiping said, holding Xiao Tangyuan and gently touching the child’s face. “Thank goodness there’s no winter here; otherwise, I’d be worried about the child catching a cold. Seeing such a small child get sick and take medicine is heart-wrenching.”
When the child next door recovered, Xue Aiying confronted the Tian family’s sister-in-law, accusing her of lending “poisoned milk.” The Tian family’s sister-in-law wasn’t one to be trifled with. They argued in the courtyard: “You asked for it yourself. I kindly lent it to you. Now you’re blaming me. My child is fine after drinking it. Who knows what you fed your grandson…”
Li Yuxia, who was pregnant, came out to mediate, with Zhang the Political Commissar nervously following her. “Stop fighting. Calm down, Grandma, and go back to take care of your grandson.”
Although the child from the Qian family recovered, his mother, Auntie Zhou, ran into trouble. After such a shock, she lost her milk supply. Xue Aiying scolded her angrily, “Now you don’t even have milk. How are you going to feed my grandson…”
They didn’t dare to use formula milk, as it often caused diarrhoea and upset stomachs. Now Xue Aiying didn’t dare to casually ask for milk from others. “Are we supposed to feed him rice soup?”
With the situation next door escalating, Zhang Aiping went to help Auntie Zhou with lactation. She was experienced and skilled, and she also administered a dose of medication, a commonly used lactation aid. Zhang Aiping reminded Auntie Zhou, “Don’t let your mother-in-law massage you randomly. You’ve raised your two daughters well before; just follow the same method.”
Auntie Zhou’s face looked grim. She smiled bitterly, “Having my mother-in-law here is worse than when she wasn’t here. She didn’t want to come over to help with my previous two daughters, and I harboured some resentment. Now that I’ve given birth to a son, I thought she’d come, and she did indeed come, but it’s worse than if she hadn’t.”
“She criticizes one thing, then another, making me unhappy every day. This child cries and fusses every day, unlike his sisters. Da’ya and Er’ya were so easy to care for before, and they were fed the same milk. Why can’t he eat well and keeps vomiting?”
Zhang Aiping advised, “Don’t feed him too much.”
“I think it’s enough, but my mother-in-law is afraid he’s not eating enough and urges me to feed him more to make him stronger. She says our family’s conditions are better now, so the child needs to eat more to be strong.”
“But the child keeps vomiting.”
“My mother-in-law saw the child vomiting so much and getting thinner, and she urged me to feed him more. Now she complains that my milk isn’t good enough.”
Zhang Aiping said, “If you’re already full, and someone forces you to eat more, can you not vomit?”
“Dr. Zhang, what should I do now?”
“Continue feeding as usual, relax a bit, treat your mother-in-law’s words as if they were the wind blowing by your ears. You’ve raised two daughters before. You’re experienced. You’ve raised them well before, so just follow your own method.”
Whether it’s raising children or driving, differing opinions from those around can be the most irritating. It’s unsettling and earns constant criticism.
“How long has your mother-in-law not raised a child? Whom do you trust, her or yourself?”
Auntie Zhou nodded, “I trust myself.”
“You’re the child’s real mother. Your emotions and mood greatly affect the child. Don’t think just because the child is young, he can’t perceive the adults’ emotions…” Zhang Aiping comforted her thoroughly, first addressing her emotions and then giving her detailed instructions on how to care for the child, covering all aspects.
Auntie Zhou nodded as she listened. “No wonder you’re a doctor; you know so much.”
“Your child is raised well because of you and Chief Gu’s care. We, ordinary folks, who didn’t study much and don’t understand science, admire your scientific knowledge, Dr. Zhang.”
“In the future, when my Da Zhouzi grows up, I’ll make sure he learns scientific principles from you.”
Zhang Aiping couldn’t help but twitch at her consistent use of “Da Zhouzi (Big pork knuckle).” “Wasn’t your child called Cong Cong (smart) before?”
Previously, Deputy Director Qian had even mentioned to the Gu family that his son’s nickname was Cong Cong, hoping that he would grow up to be exceptionally smart.
But now it had become Da Zhouzi.
“I’ve changed it. Now he’s called Da Zhouzi. Sturdy and strong, a child needs a humble name to be well-raised.”
“In the future, he’ll be a companion to your little bun.”
Zhang Aiping: “…”
Returning from the Qian family, Gu Sheng was at home with the children. He was holding Xiao Tangyuan in one hand and pushing the little bun in a stroller with the other. The two children were lying on him like two caterpillars.
“Wife, you’re finally back. How’s the situation next door?”
“I checked it out and had a few words with Auntie Zhou.”
Gu Sheng handed Xiao Tangyuan to her. “If you hadn’t come back, our kids would have started fussing too.”
“I was just thinking, should I go next door and bring one child with me to find you?”
Zhang Aiping chuckled, “I came back with a pinch, determined not to let our Chief Gu be troubled.”
“The kids stick to you. When you’re not here for a while, their dad can still manage them a bit. He can fool these two silly ones. But when they realise Mommy isn’t around, they’ll start clamouring for Mommy again.”
“Don’t you change diapers every day. You and the kids also have a bond with diapers, right? They’re also familiar with Daddy, aren’t they, little bun?”
The two children murmured in agreement with their mom. Though not yet two months old, they were already recognizing people, clinging to Mommy, and enjoying being held by Daddy when they were full.
Zhang Aiping held Xiao Tangyuan, while Gu Sheng held Guobaorou. Compared to his sister, the Guobaorou looked sturdier, with chubby cheeks like a round dough. His other facial features weren’t prominent, but his big, dark eyes were the most striking.
He waved his little fist.
Zhang Aiping smiled, “Quick, stand up and hold him. Our child loves being held by you and patted on the back.”
“Really?” Gu Sheng stood up with the child, letting his little head rest against him. The little one indeed seemed very happy.
Gu Sheng teased the baby with his little fist, “The child is so small, can’t bear to be away from people for even a moment. You’re doing great, my dear.”
“Now is indeed the best time to take care of them. When they learn to crawl, run, and jump in the future, that’s when it becomes troublesome. I guess they’ll even ride on your head, Chief Gu.”
“That’s still far off. Right now, these two kids are like little salted fish that can’t even turn over.” Gu Sheng teased the little bun, “If I throw you two into the pot, Daddy will have to come and stir-fry you a bit.”
“If Guobaorou doesn’t turn over and the Xiao Tangyuan ends up soaking in the soup, would my wife like some sweet wine?”
“I’m still breastfeeding the child. What sweet wine? Wait until the child grows up a bit.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Gu Sheng handed Guobaorou to Zhang Aiping and took their daughter. The couple took turns soothing them.
“By the way,” Zhang Aiping stared at the little bun and chuckled, “I heard that Cong Cong next door changed his name to Da Zhouzi.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Da Zhouzi? Along with Chief Jiang’s family’s big plate chicken, it’s a table full of big dishes.”
“All thanks to you, my dear.”
Zhang Aiping didn’t want to take the blame, “Don’t put this on me. It’s not like I forced anyone to change their name.”
“Just look at these names,” Gu Sheng said, shaking his head. “In the future, make sure your Guobao Rou (Sweet and Sour Pork) doesn’t go around bullying Da Zhouzi (Big Pork Knuckle) and Da Pan Ji (Big Plate Chicken). Otherwise, Da Zhouzi’s parents might come over to complain, and the mom of ‘Di San Xian’ (Three Delicacies Stir-Fry) will come to mediate, saying, ‘Guobao Rou’s mom, what’s going on? Why is your kid always picking on Da Zhouzi?’”
Zhang Aiping suppressed a laugh, “Comrade Gu, seriously, I think they should let you be the Women’s Director.”
*
Although Zhang Aiping didn’t become the Women’s Director, Li Yuxia and He Lingling did involve her in some matters. Several young girls came to her for gynaecological issues, such as irregular menstruation or cold hands and feet.
A few female health workers also came to her house for a chat, some wanted to learn some traditional Chinese medicine from her, and some wanted to see her demonstrate acupuncture.
“I heard acupuncture can be used for anaesthesia.”
“Yeah, just by sticking needles, you lose sensation?”
“And there’s acupuncture anaesthesia for surgery.”
Zhang Aiping said, “Yes, it’s possible, but it’s complicated. If you want to try, I can stick needles on you.”
Acupuncture anaesthesia is feasible, but the operation is too complicated. If there’s a mistake, it could be dangerous. The failure of anaesthesia during surgery is a terrifying thing.
“No, no, we’d rather hear some traditional Chinese medicine stories from Dr. Zhang.”
As the Lunar New Year approached, everyone felt warm-hearted. Whether they were celebrating or not, people liked to stock up on things. There were always plenty of peanuts and melon seeds around. When the health workers came to her house for a chat, they always brought some melon seeds along.
Zhang Aiping didn’t get to eat Shen Liqing’s melon seeds, but she managed to snag quite a few from the health workers.
When Gu Sheng came home and saw the big bag of melon seeds and the medical books spread out, he raised an eyebrow, “Dr. Zhang, are you starting a class at home? It’s been almost two months since you’ve been to work, but you haven’t forgotten about your traditional Chinese medicine career.”
“This is part of my medical career.”
Although she called it a medical career, it was more like hosting a tea party at home. After all, as the year-end approached, chatting with the female health workers to catch up on gossip, she had learned quite a bit about the young new soldiers and officers who had recently arrived.
“I heard from them that at the military dog training base, a new batch of puppies has arrived, and there’s a new handsome military dog trainer. He even invited me to go see them next time.”
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, “Are you changing your mind right in front of me?”
“I was just chatting with them for fun. In my heart, you’re the most handsome. Our Chief Gu is the best looking.”
Gu Sheng suppressed a smile, “That’s about right.”
“Let me tell you something quietly—don’t get too full of yourself. Xiao Zhao and the others said you’re still the best-looking, but I didn’t let them see you. I sent them away before you got back.”
Gu Sheng was even more pleased by her teasing, and he kissed her on the cheek with a smile. “My wife is pretty possessive.”
“Yes, I am. I told them to go look at the other men outside and not to bother with my married man.”
Comrade Gu nodded in agreement. “Exactly, that’s how it should be.”
“But I do want to see what that guy looks like. No, no, I mean I want to see the little puppy. Don’t you want to see it?”
“Not a chance.” Gu Sheng scooped her up around the waist. “Why look at some other guy? Stay home and watch the kids.”
“I was just joking. See, you’re already getting mad. With all the year-end performances and events coming up, don’t let any little vixen from the art troupe catch your eye.” Zhan Aiping wrapped her arms around his neck, playfully expressing her jealousy.
“In my heart, you’re the most beautiful.”
Gu Sheng lowered his head and gently rubbed his forehead against hers. Then, with a sigh, he added, “But there really is a little vixen from the art troupe coming to perform.”
Zhan Aiping was surprised. “What do you mean?”
“Your brother, your own brother. I heard he’s got a part in a play. His troupe is coming here for a performance.”
Zhan Aiping almost bit her tongue. “My brother? Zhan Mingzhao? He just joined the troupe, and he’s already on stage acting in a play?”
“Must be a natural talent, like his sister.”
Zhan Aiping blinked in surprise. She was excited and quickly looked at the children. “Kids, your uncle is going to be on stage performing! Do you want to go see your uncle’s show?”
The little ones babbled in response to their mom.
Thrilled by the news, Zhan Aiping made sure to call Zhan Mingzhao to congratulate him. “Oh wow, my brother’s going to be on stage! Congratulations! A theatre actor, huh? You better hone your acting skills, and maybe one day you can be in movies and TV shows…”
“Movies and TV shows? I’m just being pushed onto the stage like a duck to water.” On the other end of the line, Zhan Mingzhao was feeling the pressure.
“I’ll be there for your performance. I’ll even bring your little nephews to watch and take pictures.”
Zhan Mingzhao: “…”
Zhan Mingzhao’s performance was still a while away, and before that, Zhan Aiping had to report back to work at the hospital. She had been on maternity leave and hadn’t worked for two months. Early in the morning, Shen Liqing accompanied her, along with Qin Lanfang, who was also pregnant. Although neither woman was visibly showing yet, they still had a lot to manage.
Shen Liqing helped by carrying one of the babies. “There are three of us with two babies, but don’t forget, it’s actually eight of us if you count the little ones. Impressive, right?”
Qin Lanfang chuckled, watching the babies but not daring to hold them. She walked with a slight limp and, though it was just a little unsteady, she didn’t want to risk holding a baby in case she stumbled.
“I’ll have to strap the baby to my chest later.”
Zhan Aiping said, “That’s what strollers are for.”
Zhan Aiping had brought a stroller, and the two babies lay side by side in it. The more Shen Liqing looked at them, the more she liked them. “Your kids are so adorable, Aiping. Lao Wang told me to learn from you. I’ll be taking care of two kids myself soon.”
“I don’t think it will be too difficult,” Zhan Aiping replied.
Zhan Aiping said, “Once the kids start crawling and walking, it’ll be tough. Right now, they can’t even roll over, so what trouble could they possibly cause?”
“True,” Shen Liqing agreed, but the thought of having two little ones following her around made her feel a bit uneasy.
“My two kids, I don’t know who they’ll take after, but Aiping, your two are really well-raised. Whether they look like you or Comrade Gu, they’re both good-looking.”
Qin Lanfang sighed softly, “My situation isn’t as fortunate.”
Shen Liqing remarked, “But your Jiang Tuan is quite handsome.”
Qin Lanfang responded, “I’m just worried it’ll be a girl, and she’ll take after her father.”
Shen Liqing: “…”
Zhan Aiping reassured them, “The baby isn’t even born yet, so what are you worrying about? Don’t stress—worrying could affect the babies’ development.”
The three of them arrived at Yanxin Health Clinic early in the morning. Zhou Zhonghua’s wife, Meng Xiaoyun, was there and was delighted to see Zhan Aiping. “Dr. Zhan, it’s been a while! You’ve had your twins! Let me take a look—oh my, they’re so well-grown, just like the children in those New Year’s paintings.”
“Just add a big carp, and you’ve got a little lucky charm.”
Zhan Aiping laughed and introduced them, “This is my eldest son, Youyou, and this is my daughter, Yuanyuan.”
“Is that so? The brother looks so sturdy. Does Yuanyuan take after her father?”
Zhan Aiping was surprised. “You can tell she looks like her father?”
“Of course! Your little girl is going to be a beauty with such good-looking parents.”
It had been two months since Zhan Aiping had been to the clinic. The new inpatient building and the operating room were already completed, though the operating room was not yet in use. It would be operational after the New Year, with county hospital staff coming down to guide them. Qin Yanfang and Dr. Zhao Jing had already moved to the third floor of the inpatient building.
Zhan Aiping opened up her own room to air it out, but there wasn’t much cleaning to do. Qin Lanfang had been helping her keep it clean, so there wasn’t much dust, just a bit of stuffiness from being unoccupied.
“Dr. Zhan is here! Come on, come see my new place. I finally get to live in an apartment building,” Qin Yanfang said excitedly when she saw Zhan Aiping. She played with Youyou and Yuanyuan for a bit before leading Zhan Aiping to see her new apartment.
Zhan Aiping asked Qin Lanfang to watch the children while she went to check out the inpatient building with Qin Yanfang. Qin Yanfang hurried up the stairs, “Our director is something, making us doctors live on the third floor. Why not the first? I hate climbing stairs.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “If they put you on the first floor, you’d be in trouble. Patients would walk by your place every day, seeing you eat and drink like a lazybones.”
“True, it’s quieter on the third floor, but the climb is a pain. The first floor is offices, the second floor is patient rooms, and here we are on the third floor. Dr. Zhao and Zhu Hui have already moved in.”
“Dr. Zhao lives next door to me, and he’s been worried every day.”
Zhan Aiping asked, “Another case of pesticide poisoning?”
“The causes of these poisonings are all over the place,” Qin Yanfang said with a laugh. “Just last night, he was busy with a case of chicken poisoning. The patient is still hospitalized on the second floor.”
Zhan Aiping’s lips twitched. “Chicken poisoning?”
“Yeah, the chicken ate seeds soaked in pesticide, got poisoned, and then the person, not wanting to waste the chicken, ate it and got poisoned too.”
Zhan Aiping: “…Was it an old hen?”
“Yep, apparently it was a hen they’d had for years.”
“Some people would rather risk their lives than waste food.”
“That’s right, just like Dr. Zhao—always eating recklessly without regard for his life. No wonder he’s always so stressed, treating people who risk their lives just to eat.”
When they reached the third floor, Qin Yanfang opened the door to her place. “Aiping, come in and take a look. The place isn’t big, but it has a toilet that flushes. You just pull the cord, and it flushes. If you ever need to use the bathroom, you can come over to my place.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Isn’t there a bathroom on the second floor as well?”
“Yes, there is,” Qin Yanfang chuckled. “But this is still pretty novel. You must have seen it before, but the folks from the countryside haven’t. I’m worried that some might purposely get hospitalized just to experience a flush toilet.”
“Nobody’s that bored. Do they think getting sick is free?”
Zhan Aiping entered the room. It was indeed small, about 10 or 20 square meters, just enough space for two beds. The cutting board and stove had to be placed in the hallway, where Qin Lanfang’s pots and pans were already set up.
“There are still some empty rooms. If you want to apply for one, you can.”
“I’ll pass. Climbing up and down with two kids—do you think I wouldn’t get tired?”
After a brief tour, they headed downstairs. It was still early, but there were already patients at the hospital. Two young men had arrived on a bicycle. One was tall, the other short. The tall one was riding the bike, and the short one was holding onto his waist.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch, we’re here, we’re here,” the short man said as he got off the bike.
The tall man pushed the bicycle into a corner and parked it.
Seeing their posture and demeanour, Zhan Aiping guessed they were former soldiers. “You two just got discharged and transferred, right?”
“Yes,” the short man replied, his head tilted back. As soon as Zhan Aiping saw him, she knew he had dislocated a joint and was here for a realignment.
The situation was somewhat amusing, but doctors have seen it all, so they usually don’t laugh.
The tall man kept a straight face. Despite having ridden a bike with a man hugging his waist and tilting his head, he didn’t laugh either. “Is Dr. Zhou here?”
“Dr. Zhou isn’t here. You’re here for a realignment, right? I can take care of it.”
“You?” The short man turned around a few times before getting a good look at Zhan Aiping. “Are you… the new doctor at the hospital?”
“No, I’ve been here for a while. I was on maternity leave earlier. I’m a former military doctor.”
“Really?” The short man was intrigued. “We’re newly appointed Public Security Commissioners.”
They had been discharged and transferred to the police force, becoming Public Security Commissioners. At that time, the townships didn’t have police stations, and there were only two commissioners per township, responsible for maintaining law and order.
“Public Security Commissioners?” Zhan Aiping thought, so they’re policemen. “That’s a good job.”
The short man, whose name was Chen Yiming, smiled wryly. “What’s so good about it? I was hoping to get into the grain station, but I didn’t make it.”
At that time, grassroots police officers weren’t very popular because public safety was so good. With little population movement in the rural areas and the need for introduction letters for everything, there wasn’t much crime. There was no looting, stealing, or robbery, and if there was a major incident, the militia would handle it. These Public Security Commissioners had little to do and weren’t highly regarded. They just rode bicycles with a small loudspeaker, patrolling the countryside.
The grain stations were different, though—collecting grain had its perks.
Zhan Aiping thought to herself that the grain station might be good now, but that could change in the future. The police would become more valued, and the grain station’s role would diminish.
“You twisted it first thing in the morning? Your job must be tough.”
Chen Yiming was about to speak when the tall man beside him spoke first. “He twisted his neck while turning to grab toilet paper this morning.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Their rural hospital didn’t encounter many serious cases, and these policemen didn’t face many serious incidents either.
Chen Yiming, flustered and embarrassed, snapped, “Zhou Xiong, what nonsense are you talking about? You’re making things up!”
Zhou Xiong remained calm. “You shouldn’t lie to a doctor.”
“That’s right,” Zhan Aiping added. “The comrade is correct.”
Chen Yiming’s face turned red. “Where’s Dr. Zhou?”
“I’ll fix it for you,” Zhan Aiping said, motioning for him to sit down.
Chen Yiming hesitated, “You? You treat orthopaedics too?”
Zhan Aiping had him sit down, and in just five or six seconds, she corrected his dislocated neck. Chen Yiming rubbed his neck. “Is it fixed? You’ve got quite a strong grip for a lady doctor.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “If you have any more sprains or injuries, feel free to come to me, Dr. Zhan.”
“You’re that Dr. Zhan? The one who tells scientific stories? I saw you in the newspaper. No wonder you looked familiar.”
Chen Yiming stood up, “I must have terrible luck this month. I’ve been to the hospital several times.”
Zhan Aiping teased, “It seems like just minor issues.”
“You’re a retired military doctor? Impressive… There sure are a lot of beautiful doctors at this township hospital.”
Zhan Aiping joked, “You’re not coming to the hospital repeatedly just to see a pretty nurse, are you?”
“No, no, not at all.” Chen Yiming turned to Zhou Xiong. “Thanks for always coming with me to the hospital, my good friend. Lunch is on me today.”
Zhou Xiong remained silent.
“Dr. Zhan, mind if I use the hospital tap to wash my hands?”
Zhan Aiping gave him a look, thinking he probably hadn’t washed his hands before coming to the hospital.
Zhou Xiong stood silently in front of Zhan Aiping. He was tall and slender, with strong, defined features, including a square jaw that gave him a rugged look. He appeared reserved and said nothing. After Chen Yiming left, Zhou Xiong hesitantly pointed to a passing nurse. “What kind of illness would I need to see her for?”
Zhan Aiping glanced at Nurse Lanlan and stifled a laugh. “It’s a condition you can’t get.”
“She’s a midwife. You’d need to be giving birth to need her services, but she does other things too,” she added with a smile, thinking of how their small hospital often assigned staff to various tasks.
Zhou Xiong remained silent.
“Dr. Zhan, I heard from an old comrade that you also help people with matchmaking.”
Zhan Aiping raised an eyebrow, catching on to his implication. He had his eye on Nurse Lanlan. “You’re looking for a match? Well, you need to be a bit more proactive in your approach.”
Nurse Lanlan was a carefree spirit, often laughing and joking around. Outside of her professional duties, she was rather laid-back, and with her being a bit oblivious, someone would need to make the first move to get anywhere romantically.
Zhou Xiong’s face flushed slightly. “Dr. Zhan, can you help me set something up?”
Zhan Aiping raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You want me to set something up?”
“Yes.”
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, This guy must be blind. There’s such a good match like Meng Xiaoyun, who’s eager to help set people up, and yet he insists on asking me.
“You could go to Dr. Zhou’s wife. Sister Meng is really good at this kind of thing,” Zhan Aiping suggested.
Zhou Xiong, however, pleaded, “Could you help me with this instead?”
Zhan Aiping hesitated. “…I don’t have much experience with this. Should I just go ask her directly?”
Zhou Xiong blushed and nodded.
Seeing this tall man standing in front of her, blushing, made Zhan Aiping feel slightly uncomfortable. She reminded herself to remain professional and not to laugh.
When Chen Yiming returned, Zhou Xiong quickly reverted to his usual self, and the two paid their medical fees and left. Qin Yanfang sighed, “These two police officers have been here several times now. Do you think he might be interested in me? That Chen guy? He’s had a few too many accidents, hasn’t he?”
Dr. Zhao, overhearing, replied, “Interested in you? More likely he’s interested in Dr. Zhou.”
Zhan Aiping chimed in, “Actually, you might be right, Yanfang.”
Qin Yanfang was surprised. “Really? He’s interested in me? Well, if I can’t find a doctor, I think a police officer isn’t a bad choice. He’s a veteran, right? He looks pretty sturdy; I like that.”
Dr. Zhao’s expression darkened. “Why would he be interested in you?”
Zhan Aiping, suddenly inspired, said, “Yanfang, the tall guy, Zhou Xiong, he’s a retired soldier and a police officer. What do you think of him? Should I introduce you two?”
“Sure, sure! You’re amazing, Aiping, you even know his name!” Qin Yanfang was intrigued.
“Introduce me! This town is so small; it’s hard to find a decent young man…”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “Perfect timing then. Both of those police officers are single. The tall one is Zhou Xiong, and the shorter one is Chen Yiming…”
“The one named Chen is funny, but I prefer the quiet one. Set me up with the tall guy.”
“Alright, they’re planning to have lunch today. Yanfang, you should—”
“No way, you can’t set them up!” Their lively conversation was interrupted by Dr. Zhao, whose face had turned visibly pale, and he was on the verge of panicking.
Zhan Aiping directly addressed the situation, “Dr. Zhao, why are you getting all worked up? Anyone would think you’re jealous and have feelings for our Accountant Qin.”
Qin Yanfang waved her hand dismissively, “Aiping, what are you talking about?”
“I’m not making this up,” Dr. Zhao interjected irritably. “Qin Yanfang, if you want to date someone, date me. You’ve been looking for a young male doctor, right? If we get together, we wouldn’t even have to move after getting married. We could make it work.”
Qin Yanfang was taken aback. “…I don’t want to just ‘make it work’ with you.”
“If you don’t want to make it work with me, who do you want to make it work with? If you get diarrhoea, I’ll treat you. If you get constipated, I’ll treat that too. I know your stomach problems, and I’ll make soup for you. If you get food poisoning, I’ll pump your stomach—”
Qin Yanfang quickly jumped up and covered his mouth, “Just shut up, will you?”
“I’ll date anyone but you.”
With that, she turned and ran off.
Zhan Aiping was left speechless, thinking, …That was the most ‘terrifying’ confession I’ve ever heard.
Seeing her run off, Dr. Zhao Jing was still standing there, clearly not finished with what he wanted to say. Zhan Aiping casually encouraged him, “I just saw Yanfang blushing. Hurry up and go after her; don’t just stand there.”
“Oh, right, right.” Dr. Zhao hurriedly ran after her.
Watching their retreating figures, Zhan Aiping couldn’t help but remark, “In the future, if your family gets poisoned from eating wild mushrooms, don’t worry. You’re in the hospital, and we’re here.”
With that matter settled, Zhan Aiping went over to Qin Lanfang, who was in the pharmacy. The two babies were there as well, peacefully sleeping after a full meal.
“Sister Qin, congratulations! It looks like you might be getting a brother-in-law soon.”
Qin Lanfang looked up in surprise. “That Dr. Zhao? Are they really starting to date?”
“Almost. You knew it was Dr. Zhao?”
Qin Lanfang chuckled. “I’m not blind.”
“People in the situation are often confused, while those watching can see clearly,” Zhan Aiping joked as she pulled up a chair to sit down. “When your baby is born, the three of us can raise our kids together.”
Qin Lanfang sighed. “I never thought I’d get married before my sister. I hope she and Dr. Zhao can make it work and get married soon.”
“Once the hospital housing is built over there, the kids will have plenty of space to run around,” Zhan Aiping reminisced, thinking of the children in the courtyard where she grew up, always playing in groups.
Qin Lanfang patted her belly and nodded.
After chatting with Qin Lanfang for a while, Nurse Lanlan sneaked over. Normally quite bold, she dragged a small stool over and sat down, bluntly saying, “Dr. Zhan, are you helping people find partners? How about setting me up with someone too?”
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, You’re just throwing yourself in the mix, aren’t you? She laughed. “Sure, I can set you up with someone. Did you see the two public security officers who came in today?”
Lanlan replied, “They’re regulars at our hospital. I’ve seen them.”
“Neither of them has a partner yet. If you’re looking for someone, I can introduce you.”
Lanlan, surprisingly bashful, blushed a bit. “Since we’re in the same town, it wouldn’t hurt to get to know them.”
Zhan Aiping asked, “Do you prefer the taller one or the shorter one?”
“I’m fine with either. Dr. Zhan, you pick for me.” Normally outgoing, Lanlan became uncharacteristically shy. “You have more experience. Who do you think suits me better?”
“The shorter one, Chen Yiming, is quite funny. If you’re with him, your life would never lack entertainment,” Zhan Aiping suggested, thinking of how someone could manage to hurt themselves just grabbing toilet paper.
“He’s been to our hospital quite a few times, hasn’t he?”
Lanlan’s reaction made Zhan Aiping smile even more. These people are so reserved, pretending to give me a choice when they’ve already made up their minds, she thought. “The taller one is also nice. I think he’s a good match for you. He’s a bit quiet, and you talk a lot. You’d complement each other well.”
Lanlan blushed even more. “Really? You think we’d be a good match?”
Zhan Aiping nodded. “I’ll set it up for you two to meet and get to know each other.”
“Okay.” Lanlan shyly agreed.
“He’s very helpful and seems like a good person. Every time, he brings his comrade to see the doctor,” Zhan Aiping added.
Zhan Aiping thought to herself, The key prerequisite is needing a comrade who frequently gets injured.
She easily accomplished the task of matchmaking and thought it was almost too easy. Perhaps the two had already taken a liking to each other, and all that was needed was to break the ice. Usually, matchmaking isn’t this simple.
Nurse Lanlan, in her carefree manner, said, “Dr. Zhan, when I have a baby, you have to be the one to deliver it!”
Zhan Aiping nearly choked on her own saliva, “We haven’t even set up the match yet, and you’re already thinking about having kids.”
Lanlan was unfazed. “Isn’t that just a matter of time?”
“I just like the way you cut the umbilical cord.”
Zhan Aiping thought about the blushing, silent policeman and then looked at the straightforward Nurse Lanlan in front of her. She mused that the two of them together might be quite an interesting pair.
After working a full day, Gu Sheng returned home, and Zhan Aiping recounted the day’s events to him. Gu Sheng laughed and couldn’t help but say, “Wife, you sure had an eventful day at work. What a story.”
Zhan Aiping playfully sighed, “This hospital really is a place where all kinds of emotions gather and part.”
“Do you know why our clinic is called Yanxin Health Clinic? It means that to be a doctor, your heart must be as hard as stone.”
Gu Sheng chuckled at her joke, “Isn’t it called that because it’s located in Yanxin Town?”
Zhan Aiping laughed along with him.
Gu Sheng hugged her from behind, “Your job sounds so interesting. Not like mine—just the same dull training every day, seeing the same few people.”
Zhan Aiping comforted him, “But you’ve got Captain Jiang around, so you’re not bored.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Don’t remind me. When he’s not doing his job, he’s always talking nonsense about his ‘Big Plate Chicken’ and ‘Little Sweet Bean.’”
“And you’re always thinking about our ‘Guobao Rou’ and ‘Little Tangyuan.’”
Gu Sheng buried his head in her neck, “I never thought I’d have what I do now. I used to think my days would just go on like that, one after another…”
Zhan Aiping hugged him back, “Comrade Gu, it’s our first wedding anniversary.”
She gently ruffled his hair, “On the eighth day of last month, you were so restless, waking me up early in the morning, dragging me off to get married.”
“Not just dragging you—I was dreaming of tying you up and taking you to get married. If you didn’t go, I would have used a rope to make sure you did.”
Zhan Aiping teased him, “Were you really that tough? You came over early, helping me clean and wash clothes. You looked so nervous when you got the marriage certificate.”
“I didn’t care if I was nervous. I married the woman I love.”
This past year had been transformative for Gu Sheng. His life had undergone a monumental shift—he now had a wife, having married the girl he’d always dreamed of. His beloved childhood friend had even given him a pair of twins.
It was a year in which he gained a wife, a son, and a daughter.
“When we take the train in the future, I’ll have to tease you, remembering how attentive you were back then—it’s amusing.”
At night, after the two kids were finally put to sleep in their crib with a safety railing, Gu Sheng lifted her onto the bed. At last, they could continue enjoying their married life.
“Let’s keep it down so we don’t wake up the little ones.”
Zhan Aiping lay on her pillow, “It’s strange not hearing the neighbours arguing—it’s almost unsettling.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Gu Sheng reassured her.
As the Lunar New Year approached, Zhan Aiping busied herself with preparations. She called home ahead of time and also reached out to Gu Sheng’s parents, not just by phone but also by writing letters.
Gu Sheng’s brothers, along with some old friends, had also sent letters, enclosing photos. Altogether, Zhan Aiping counted more than ten letters, and just writing replies took up a good amount of time.
After placing stamps on the envelopes, she turned to Gu Sheng and said, “I feel like my writing skills have improved a lot with all this letter-writing.”
Gu Sheng replied, “Writing those stories must have helped. If you ever get tired of being a doctor, you could always become a writer.”
Over the past year, Zhan Aiping had written quite a few scientific stories and sent them to radio stations, where they were read aloud by announcers. She had listened to one or two broadcasts herself but felt too shy to listen to more.
After mailing the letters, she received a few in return—some from old friends, some from Gu Sheng’s brother, and even a letter from an old classmate. As she went through the letters, she noticed one from a publishing house.
A question mark popped into her mind.
A letter from a publisher? “Could they be asking me to publish a book?” she wondered.
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