Highly Respected
The jade bracelet was placed in a lacquered wooden box, with a layer of velvet at the bottom. It was an incredibly beautiful green jade bracelet, the green so pure and stunning that its smooth, glossy texture seemed to radiate. When Zhan Aiping held it in her hand, the green of the jade made her skin look as white and delicate as cream.
“Who did you rob?” she asked. “These days, everyone hides away their jade, gold, and such things. No one dares to dig them out yet. Maybe there’s some private circulation, but a jade bracelet like this wouldn’t come cheap. In the future, it could be worth as much as a small house in Shanghai.”
Gu Sheng replied, “I got it from someone I know.”
Zhan Aiping was curious: “And you were able to afford it with your little pocket money?”
Gu Sheng hugged her. “It emptied out all my savings.”
Ever since they got married, Gu Sheng had quit smoking, so he barely touched his monthly allowance. Plus, when Gu Ze’an and his wife visited, they left him some money. With his previous savings and the money he had lent out over the years, he scraped together enough to buy his wife the jade bracelet.
Since this transaction couldn’t be done openly, he bought it for a relatively low price in private.
No woman can resist gold, silver, and jade, and Zhan Aiping was no exception. She put the bracelet on her wrist, her heart sweetened, though her words were teasing: “You’re confessing to me that you’ve been hiding secret money right in front of me?”
Gu Sheng thickened his skin and said, “Lao Wang always says a man should have some secret savings.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Don’t learn from him. You’ll only pick up bad habits.”
Gu Sheng insisted, “Wife, I’m as upright as they come. I won’t be corrupted.”
Zhan Aiping teased him, “You’re silly. Hiding private savings and then confessing to your wife right away.”
Gu Sheng laughed and hugged her from behind, burying his head in the crook of her neck and nuzzling her: “I’m just afraid of my wife, that’s all. In our family, we have a long tradition of fearing our wives. The more secret savings I have, the more dangerous it becomes. I figured if I kept hiding it, it would only get worse, so I had to turn it over to my leader.”
“If my leader found out on her own, I’d be finished.”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, patting his head. “Self-reporting and willingly turning over the stolen goods. Good, you’re a model comrade.”
“Nonsense,” Gu Sheng protested, “this is a tribute to my leader.”
“Bribing your leader? That’s an added offense.”
Gu Sheng replied righteously, “Giving something to my wife—what crime is that? There’s no law against that.”
“Wife, do you like it?”
Zhan Aiping turned her head with a smile and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Yes, I like it.”
“Tsk tsk,” Gu Sheng chuckled, “just as I thought. All women love these pretty but useless things.”
Zhan Aiping shot back, “Are you asking for a beating?”
Gu Sheng quickly added, “I like it too.”
“I’ve always wanted to buy you a jade bracelet. I knew it would look beautiful on you, and now this bracelet will keep you firmly tied to me.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “This is a jade bracelet, you know. It’ll shatter if it’s bumped. How do you plan to keep me tied up?”
Gu Sheng replied, “If it breaks, you’d be heartbroken. You’d remember it forever.”
“Pingping, I’ve noticed some changes in the wind these past couple of years. Things may not always stay the same. Keep this jade bracelet your husband gave you—it might become quite valuable one day.”
Zhan Aiping looked at him in astonishment, “Old Gu, Old Gu, I’ve realized something about you—”
Gu Sheng smiled gently, “What is it?”
Zhan Aiping glanced at the jade bracelet on her wrist and said, “I’ve realized you actually have a good eye, quite a bit of foresight.”
Gu had once gifted her a set of jade jewellery. Could it be that he had saved up for it when he was younger?
“Of course. You’re only just now realizing your husband has good judgment?”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “You have good judgment, and a talent for squandering money.”
“What else is money for?” Gu Sheng said indifferently. “Ever since I married a doctor, our family hasn’t lacked for food or shelter. With everything taken care of, why not take a gamble with a little extra cash?”
“I even bought a few pieces of raw jade. I’ll leave them in the corner for now, and we’ll see what comes of it later.”
Zhan Aiping exclaimed, “You—”
“If something valuable turns up, we can make a dowry for our daughter.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “You’re such a good father. But what if they’re just worthless rocks?”
Gu Sheng replied confidently, “I don’t think my luck is that bad.”
Zhan Aiping said, “I envy your confidence. Alright, just leave them there.”
Gu Sheng nuzzled her again and said, “Wife, I really don’t have a cent left. You’ll have to support me.”
Zhan Aiping teased, “I’ll support you, I’ll support you. Your wife will be out there hauling bricks to feed you.”
Gu Sheng was puzzled, “Hauling bricks can actually make money?”
Even if jade becomes valuable in the future, right now it’s something that can’t be publicly traded—it’s just a pretty stone. The price of jade would only rise after the 1990s.
Zhan Aiping shook her wrist with the jade bracelet, thinking to herself that even if this bracelet became valuable, she wouldn’t want to sell it.
“Let’s just keep it.”
“Don’t touch me right now, let me put this away carefully. Don’t break it.” Currently, this was the most valuable item in their home.
Gu Sheng sighed loudly, “If it breaks, it breaks. I gave it to you to wear. If a jade bracelet shatters, it’s said to protect its owner.”
Zhan Aiping mercilessly pointed out, “If it breaks, it’ll just make both of us heartbroken.”
Gu Sheng responded, “No matter how much I spend on my wife, I won’t feel heartbroken.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “But I will.”
“When we take photos, I can wear it. But I won’t wear it on normal days in case it gets damaged. Otherwise, I’ll be heartbroken forever.”
She carefully put the jade bracelet away. “When I’m old, staying home gardening every day, I’ll wear it all the time.”
Gu Sheng said, “I’ll make a few more for you. If one breaks, we won’t feel bad.”
“No,” Zhan Aiping said firmly. “I’m a miser. I’ll feel heartbroken if even one breaks.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Then I’ll save up to buy you a gold bracelet. Jade is too fragile.”
Zhan Aiping said, “Only kids make choices. I want them all—gold, jade, and silver too.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
He pinched her cheek with a smile. “So greedy.”
“At my old comrade’s hometown there’s a family who used to be in the jade business. You know the situation now… My comrade helped that family.”
Zhan Aiping said, “So you used your connections to get a jade bracelet? You’ve got some nerve.”
Gu Sheng whispered, “Shh! That’s why I’m telling you to keep it quiet.”
Zhan Aiping tapped his head. “You really did take advantage of the situation.”
“It’s best not to stay in touch too much. Do it once and don’t do it again, or people might use it against you.”
Gu Sheng laughed, “Understood, this is a one-time thing to make you happy. We’re not running a jewellery store, so what do we need so many bracelets for?”
Zhan Aiping smiled and nodded. “Right.”
“Let’s put it away for now and take it out in a few years.”
Gu Sheng felt a bit disheartened, “I emptied out all our savings, and now it’s just going to sit in a box?”
He really felt like he’d lost out.
Zhan Aiping said, “Didn’t you say the winds of change are blowing? I think in six or seven years, there will be big changes. Don’t worry, take it slow.”
“Good comrade, keep saving your secret stash.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “…Leader, you’re encouraging me to make mistakes.”
Zhan Aiping said, “With your little ambitions, you’ll just end up giving your secret stash to me. I’ll pretend I’m raising a corrupt official. After fattening you up, you’ll offer it all to me, and my treasury will be full.”
“Make sure to be really greedy, okay?”
“I love that feeling… of money suddenly appearing from nowhere.”
Gu Sheng: “And what about the perks? If you’re raising a corrupt official, aren’t you supposed to give some perks? Am I just working for free?”
“I’ll give you your perks tonight, tonight, tonight. Now go put the kids to bed first.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
That was a total brush-off.
After locking the jade bracelet in a safe box, Zhan Aiping turned around and saw Gu Sheng sulking, his whole body radiating frustration. She couldn’t help but laugh. She walked over, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him on the lips. “I forgot to tell you, your wife is really happy. She loves this jade bracelet and loves you very, very much.”
“While you were away, those two little brats didn’t miss you. I was the only one at home who missed you every day.”
Gu Sheng, pleased by her words, said, “Finally, I hear some truth from your mouth, Miss Zhan. You’re always so stubborn, pretending not to miss me when you clearly do.”
Zhan Aiping teased, “Aren’t you just as stubborn?”
Gu Sheng shook his head, “Nope, I’m not stubborn at all. Why don’t you kiss me again and see?”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“You’re acting in a way that makes me really scared right now,” Zhan Aiping said, looking at Gu Sheng, who had not only tanned but also bulked up. She was genuinely a bit nervous.
Gu Sheng pulled her into his arms. “What are you afraid of? What does our Deputy Director Zhan have to fear? After all, you’re the deputy director.”
“I’m afraid of being pounced on by a hungry tiger.”
Gu Sheng admitted honestly, “Your fear isn’t unfounded.”
“I remember you said you’re off work tomorrow.”
Zhan Aiping: “!”
What kind of plan was this guy cooking up?
“You used to tell me to be more gentle, but… after a little separation, it’s like we’re newlyweds again. We ought to have a bit of something less gentle.”
“Don’t you agree, Deputy Director Zhan?”
Zhan Aiping threw a drool-covered cloth tiger at him. “I’m running away! I’m not living with you anymore, I’m moving into the Jiang family’s house—”
“Too late.” Gu Sheng grinned, flashing a row of white teeth. “You’re not getting out of this door tonight.”
“Even if you’re mad, I still have to do this.”
“You should know, the appetite of a corrupt official is hard to satisfy.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
The next morning, Zhan Aiping slept all the way into noon and hadn’t gotten up. At this point in her life, she hated corrupt officials the most.
Last night’s situation was no less intense than the first time.
The two little ones were brought to her side. The siblings happily played with the “enemy.” Yesterday, the “enemy” had conquered everything, and now he was basking in his triumph.
Gu Sheng, dressed in casual clothes, was entertaining the siblings with a small cherry tomato. The two silly babies, Guobao and Tangyuan, grinned widely as he teased them.
Zhan Aiping turned over in bed, not wanting to witness this scene. She was upset. “Silly babies, can’t even tell friend from foe.”
Gu Sheng replied, “Silly babies you gave birth to.”
He placed the two little ones next to Zhan Aiping and rolled onto the bed himself.
“Wife, don’t be mad. Today, I’m at your service. These next two or three days, I’m at your service.”
Gu Sheng had less work these days, only needing to handle some paperwork.
Zhan Aiping grunted a few times, lying in bed, thinking of ways to torment him. She turned over, feeling like she had gained three times her weight, heavy all over.
She lifted her leg to kick him but didn’t have much strength.
Gu Sheng gently combed her hair with his fingers. “I’ve got some good news for you.”
Zhan Aiping didn’t give him a pleasant look. “What good news?”
“Lao Wang just came by to thank you. He and his wife sent some fine cotton fabric for you. How about our Deputy Director Zhan make herself another pretty dress?”
Zhan Aiping: “…Lao Wang, as in Shen Liqing’s husband?”
“Yes, he came to thank you. My wife has been working hard—looking after two mothers isn’t easy. He said they’ll treat you to a special meal in the future as a token of gratitude.”
Zhan Aiping: “Lao Wang came by, didn’t see me, and what did you tell him?”
Gu Sheng rubbed his nose. “I just said my wife hadn’t gotten up yet.”
Zhan Aiping: “Get lost.”
“I’m kidding! I said our Deputy Director Zhan was out and that she wasn’t still in bed or, uh, unable to get out of bed.”
Zhan Aiping: “You’re as infuriating as you were when you were a kid. We’ve only been married for a little over a year, and you’re already reverting to your old ways.”
“When are you going to write me a guarantee letter?”
Gu Sheng’s attitude was sincere as he apologized. “Wife, I was wrong.”
Zhan Aiping said, “You admit you were wrong, but you still dare to do it, don’t you? Don’t deny it. You used to say the same thing to your father when you were a kid.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
“I was just too excited to see you, wife. Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything out of line.”
Zhan Aiping lay back on her pillow. “I’ll let you off this time.”
“Go cook, I’m hungry,” Zhan Aiping said, lifting her foot and giving him a light kick. “I don’t want porridge, I want a full table of good dishes.”
Gu Sheng smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “At your service, leader.”
Zhan Aiping lingered in bed for a while longer, but eventually got up. Just as Gu Sheng had mentioned, Wang Youli had indeed dropped by and brought her some fine cotton fabric, ‘Dacron,’ in a light blue shade—just enough to make a couple of dresses.
She stored the fabric away, not in a rush to sew anything. After all, she had already made several dresses this year. Making another new one now would seem “too extravagant” and draw too much attention with so many prying eyes in the courtyard.
As she finished combing her hair, Jiang Meihui arrived, carrying something in her hands. It was her first time visiting Zhan Aiping’s home, and she looked around curiously. Zhan Aiping noticed her and invited her inside.
Jiang Meihui carried with her a distinct scent of beans—she had brought fresh tofu. The tofu was soft, white as jade, with a smooth texture and a rich aroma of beans, completely free of any raw bean smell.
Zhan Aiping opened the container, took a look, and was delighted. “Thank you! This looks great. Lao Gu, we’re having tofu today!”
She called Gu Sheng over and introduced him to Jiang Meihui, “This is my husband. You didn’t get to meet him yesterday, right?”
Jiang Meihui eyed Gu Sheng for a few moments. Today, Gu Sheng was on his best behaviour, even wearing an apron. He didn’t take it off and kept his head down submissively, carrying the groceries and heading straight to the kitchen, looking every bit like an “obedient and harmless” man.
Jiang Meihui said to Zhan Aiping, “You found yourself a good man.”
“I want to find someone with a good temper who helps out at home.”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “My husband doesn’t have a good temper.”
“It’s obvious,” Jiang Meihui replied with a knowing look. “Your man has a fierce face and strong presence. It doesn’t matter how bad his temper is outside, as long as he’s good-tempered in front of you.”
“A man who’s soft-tempered with everyone—that’s just soft tofu! Sure, it smells good, but everyone hates it.”
“Dr. Zhan, I’m quite possessive. I don’t want my man being gentle with other women.”
Zhan Aiping laughed. “I’m possessive too. Not only that, I’m a jealous woman. If he dares flirt with another woman, I’d climb onto his head and choke him.”
Jiang Meihui’s face lit up with a smile, revealing two shallow dimples. Despite her broad face, the dimples were small and delicate, like two little bells that made people want to poke them. Her face was now much clearer and fairer than before. “Exactly, you’ve got to be tough on men.”
“My sister-in-law is too soft-hearted, but luckily, my brother’s a good man.”
“Soft hearts always get pushed around.”
After chatting for a bit longer, Jiang Meihui got ready to leave. “I’ve got to head back to help out my sister-in-law. Dr. Zhan, I’ll come talk to you again next time.”
“Alright.”
Before leaving, Jiang Meihui leaned in and whispered with a smile, “Dr. Zhan, your husband is really good-looking, quite the handsome one.”
Zhan Aiping: “?”
Was she complimenting his looks, or making fun of his “big head”?
After Jiang Meihui left, Zhan Aiping wandered over to Gu Sheng and sized him up. He was in the kitchen, apron on, cooking with focused concentration. His hands were strong, and his posture was straight. Every movement he made carried a certain allure.
“Wife, the Jiang family also brought some canned goods. If you’re hungry, feel free to have some,” Gu Sheng said as he played with the kids, making them laugh.
Zhan Aiping rubbed her nose. “I’m not hungry yet. I want to eat what you cook.”
“Then we’ll wait a little longer.” Gu Sheng’s voice softened. “Wife, you’re really clingy today.”
Zhan Aiping: “…How long have I even been awake? How could I be clingy?”
“Alright, I misspoke.”
Once the kids were asleep, Zhan Aiping leaned against him from behind, wrapping her arms around him. She had missed Gu Sheng deeply. After being apart for so long, now that they were together again, she didn’t want to let go.
With a thick nasal tone, she murmured, “Don’t talk. I don’t feel like arguing with you today.”
Gu Sheng held back a laugh. “Wife, I don’t want to argue either, but don’t distract me while I’m cooking. If I mess up the dish, we’ll end up eating burnt food.”
“See? You’re standing here, and now I’ve shaken too much salt into the food.”
Zhan Aiping: “…You’re blaming me for your shaky hands? If it’s too salty, you’ll have to eat it yourself.”
Gu Sheng put down the spatula, turned around, and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her back to the bedroom. The two kids were still sleeping in their crib. To be safe, Zhan Aiping had placed a soft quilt around the crib, just in case they rolled out.
…
“Our Deputy Director Zhan can stay here and watch the kids for a bit.”
After she sat with the kids for a while, someone else arrived—it was Li Qiuling the niece of Commissar Li. Li Qiuling was a young woman in her twenties with shoulder-length hair instead of braids, a fresh face, and dressed in a floral blouse and blue pants. She wore white socks and shiny black shoes, polished to perfection.
Like Jiang Meihui, Li Qiuling was here in search of a match. However, she wasn’t looking for Zhan Aiping to introduce her to someone—she had her eyes on something else from their household.
Li Qiuling had noticed the several dresses Zhan Aiping had made from Dacron fabric before, and today, after seeing that the Wang family had brought some over again, she came to ask for some: “Dr. Zhan, you’ve already made several new dresses this year. For us ordinary folks, one or two is enough.”
“I’d also like to make two Dacron dresses. I brought some cotton fabric and can give you some extra money to trade.”
Zhan Aiping glanced at the cotton fabric Li had brought. It was a piece of red cloth, likely stored for many years. Zhan wasn’t angry but simply declined, “Sorry, I can’t trade it. The Wang family just brought it to thank me, and if I immediately trade it away, how could I face them again?”
Li Qiuling responded, “Once it’s given to you, it’s yours. Since they gave it to you out of gratitude, you can trade it with whoever you want.”
“Deputy Director Zhan, don’t be so stingy.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “I’m not stingy, but I’m not trading with you. I don’t need cotton fabric right now. This was a gift from the Wang family, and I’m obliged to keep it.”
Li Qiuling pressed, “What’s there to keep? Just trade it to me. I’m still young and want to make a new dress to wear for matchmaking.”
“Dr. Zhan, this red cloth I brought is good, you won’t be losing out by trading.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “I also think your red cloth is good. You should keep it for your wedding; red is festive.”
Li Qiuling replied, “I think red is too gaudy. It’s not something you wear in public.”
Zhan Aiping responded, “Perfect, I also think red is gaudy, not suitable for public wear.”
“In the hospital, I’m surrounded by blood all day, so I can’t stand the sight of red.”
Li Qiuling’s face soured, “You—”
Zhan Aiping continued, “You think red is too gaudy, yet you want to trade it with me? What kind of trick is this?”
“How long has this red cloth been sitting around? Who knows if there’s a hole in it? Do you dare unfold it and check?”
In these times, red cloth was valuable. If Li Qiuling was preparing for marriage, no one would complain about having extra red cloth. Why would she want to trade it? Outside of festive occasions, wearing red in public would attract too much attention, and few people would do so.
If Li Qiuling had genuinely wanted to trade fabric, she should have brought something more practical, like blue or green fabric. The fact that she specifically picked out this red cloth suggested there was something off about it.
“If you don’t want to trade, fine, but there’s no need to be so aggressive. I’m leaving.” Li Qiuling hugged the red cloth and turned to leave.
In truth, she didn’t dare unfold the cloth in front of Zhan Aiping. The red cloth was part of her dowry but had been chewed through by mice, with urine stains that wouldn’t come out no matter how much she washed it. There was always a faint smell of urine. She couldn’t bear to throw it away, but she also didn’t want to keep it, so she thought she’d try to trade it for better fabric.
If the trade had gone through, even if Zhan Aiping later realized the problem, it would have been too late. Li Qiuling could always pretend she hadn’t known, leaving Zhan to suffer in silence.
After Li Qiuling left with her red cloth, Gu Sheng brought out the food and noticed that Zhan Aiping was still standing there, deep in thought. “What’s the matter?”
Zhan Aiping rubbed her nose, the aroma of the food overpowering the faint scent she had noticed earlier. “That niece from Commissar Li’s family isn’t a good person.”
“What happened?” Gu Sheng chuckled. “I was just thinking, my wife must be amazing—so many people come to our door, all bringing gifts.”
Zhan Aiping sighed, “If only they were all bringing gifts. Some just come to take advantage. That niece of Commissar Li’s brought over a piece of fabric with a stench. I hadn’t noticed it at first, but no wonder she waited until we were cooking to come by. Guess what kind of fabric she wanted to trade with me?”
Gu Sheng said, “As long as you didn’t trade, it’s fine.”
“I really dislike people who come with hidden agendas. They speak politely but are trying to take advantage. They smile while talking but say things that provoke you, making you angry. Even though they’re in the wrong, if you get mad and scold them, you end up looking like the unreasonable one.”
Gu Sheng laughed, “My wife is so clever. So what are you going to do about it?”
“What to do? The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I’m going to complain to Director Li before she starts badmouthing me. Oh, and I’ll talk to Dr. Sun too.”
After lunch, Zhan Aiping went to visit Director Li, who had just given birth to a boy. She had planned to visit anyway and brought some sweets as a gift. After chatting for a bit, Zhan told Director Li about what had happened.
Director Li responded, “That niece of the Li family really doesn’t know how to behave. She’s been picky about the suitors I’ve introduced her to, always finding something wrong with them. And now she tries to trade a piece of mouse-urine-stained fabric for good cloth? That’s really something.”
“After this, she won’t be finding a match around here. Who would want to marry someone like that? She’d just offend everyone.”
“She’s been turning her nose up at everyone anyway. No one wants her. I’ll have Old Zhang and Dr. Sun spread the word.”
Dr. Sun was known for his big mouth—once he knew, many others would soon find out.
Dr. Sun was a bold man, experienced and sharp-tongued. He could speak to anyone without fear and often played matchmaker. People sought him out to find partners.
After her visit with Director Li, Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng enjoyed a quiet evening together. The next morning, Deputy Director Zhan headed to work with her family in tow.
Gu Sheng carried the two children, looking like a pair of guardian generals, while Zhan Aiping pushed the stroller. The father and their two children boarded the bus together.
Several women on the bus took notice of the family. Zhan Aiping didn’t chat much, and after they got off the bus, Gu Sheng placed the kids in the stroller. Zhan smiled and said, “You better not hold them too much. If they get too attached, they won’t want to get down later.”
“They’ll just cry for their dad to hold them again after you leave.”
Gu Sheng replied, “Daddy only likes holding mommy.”
“Are the kids really that attached to their dad? They seem to prefer their mom. Look, they haven’t taken their eyes off you,” Zhan Aiping said with a smile.
“Today, I’m leaving the kids in your care,” she added. “Don’t let me down, Comrade Gu.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “I’ll do my best.”
“Hey, you two little rascals, remember to behave for your dad—no crying, no fussing. Don’t make your mom late for work. Your mom is the deputy director, managing a lot of people.”
Zhan Aiping snorted, “Feels like you’re boasting. You manage even more people than I do. If I’m impressive, doesn’t that make you even more so?”
Gu Sheng replied, “You doctors save lives—noble, great, and remarkable.”
“Stop flattering me and say it straight: tell me you’re proud of me.”
Gu Sheng hesitated, “Uh… I’m proud of you.”
Zhan Aiping gave him a side-eye. “You’re terrible at flattery. You make a poor excuse for a corrupt official.”
Gu Sheng grinned and sidled up to her. “So, do I have permission to continue being corrupt?”
“Not in public,” Zhan Aiping warned, raising her finger to her lips. “Shh!”
“Got it.” Gu Sheng picked up their son. “Let’s all shush, shush, shush—”
At that moment, their little son, Guobao, decided to add a real touch, peeing right then and there. Gu Sheng glanced at the pee on his hand with a look of speechless exasperation. “…”
Zhan Aiping couldn’t hold back her laughter. “In front of the kids, don’t ‘shush’ too much.”
“And there you go ‘shushing’ again. Now your daughter needs to pee too—oh, she really did.”
The couple quickly got to the hospital and changed the babies’ diapers. “I’ve made a schedule for these two little ones,” Zhan Aiping explained. “When they’re hungry, remember to feed them. Don’t wait for them to wet themselves—you’ll need to ‘shush’ them into peeing. You seem to have a knack for it…”
“Yes, yes, I’ve got a knack for it. It’s like father and children share a telepathic connection,” Gu Sheng joked.
He pushed the stroller around the hospital with the twins. The hospital had expanded significantly compared to before, with more staff, no longer just five or six doctors. There were now over twenty people working there, making it much livelier, and most of the family housing was nearly full. There were no longer enough single rooms, so the new nurses had to share two to a room.
Since they couldn’t afford to build another big building, Director Hao had made the painful decision to add another row of simple houses. Brick and tile houses were much easier and cheaper to build than high-rise buildings, and there were still leftover materials from before. With some help, the new houses were completed in just a few days, similar to the ones built in the villages.
In villages, house-building didn’t require hiring labour. As long as people had good relations, the young and strong in the village would pitch in, and the houses would be built in no time.
“In a few days, the county’s guidance team will arrive, and we’ll have to place them in one of the remaining single rooms on the third floor. There’s only one or two left—it’s a headache. We have more people than rooms,” Director Hao said, clearly worried.
“Our hospital has grown, but we still don’t have many patients. We need to work hard to improve our efficiency.”
Even though the hospital’s salaries were paid by the state, meaning their wages wouldn’t decrease even if efficiency didn’t improve, Director Hao was passionate about his work and couldn’t stand the idea of the hospital operating at a loss.
Zhan Aiping tried to reassure him. “Director Hao, don’t worry. This is just the beginning. We’re still getting familiar with our new equipment. If we suddenly have too many patients and can’t treat them properly, that would be a bigger problem.”
“You’re right,” Director Hao conceded. “I misspoke. A hospital’s focus should never be on profits. It’s about saving lives and providing care. We need to focus on improving our medical standards.”
Zhan Aiping nodded. “Exactly. We’ll need to organize several training sessions for the new doctors.”
“They’ve only just arrived and need time to adapt.”
Two new surgeons had joined recently, but for now, they were only handling simple wound cleaning and suturing. Even then, their performance wasn’t great, so Zhan Aiping had to teach them step by step.
One of the new doctors was already eager to perform major surgeries, itching to open someone up.
The two new doctors were quite the pair—one with a big head and the other with a small one, like a real-life version of “Big Head Son and Small Head Dad.” People in the hospital couldn’t help but laugh when they saw them together.
One had a head as big as a basketball, while the other’s was shaped more like a small oval. Individually, it didn’t seem odd, but when they stood next to each other, it was amusing.
And yet, the two of them always sat next to each other in meetings.
Zhan Aiping thought about how Jiang Meihui liked men with big heads. Perhaps she might like this big-headed Chen Li, but since he was new, his character was still unknown. She wasn’t about to start introducing people to him just yet.
Between the two, Zhan Aiping preferred Liu Sheliang, the one with the smaller head. He was more serious and diligent, but his small head wouldn’t meet Jiang Meihui’s preference.
When she went to check on him, Liu Sheliang was practicing suturing banana peels. He tied knots quickly, his hands moving gracefully.
Zhan Aiping’s surgical skills were average, nowhere near as advanced as her expertise in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Or, to put it another way, she had a solid grasp of basic techniques, but when it came to specific surgical details, she couldn’t match the experience of seasoned surgeons. Complex specialty surgeries were beyond her reach, as true surgical expertise comes from performing countless surgeries.
When she was a student, she had practiced suturing many times. Her teacher had once told her she was the most gifted student, something she had always held onto. But in the end, a person’s energy is limited.
Picking up the scalpel again? That was unlikely.
She had completely become a TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) doctor.
Just like the book she had started writing, ‘Surgical Techniques’, which she had been working on for almost two years without finishing, while her ‘Scientific Stories’ flowed effortlessly, one after another. Since she didn’t have much surgical experience, what could she write?
Giving up her rich TCM knowledge to return to the operating table, starting everything from scratch, would be like picking up sesame seeds and losing a watermelon—it wasn’t worth it.
Even though the hospital had built a new operating room, she ultimately chose to stay in the Chinese medicine department.
She chose TCM.
After giving some instructions to Liu Sheliang, Zhan Aiping returned to Gu Sheng’s side. Gu Sheng was in her office, holding her nameplate and glancing at it. “You’re still in the Chinese medicine department? You’re still a TCM doctor?”
Zhan Aiping nodded, “Yep, your wife is a highly respected old TCM doctor.”
“Highly respected?”
“Old TCM doctor?”
Gu Sheng gave her a look of disbelief, as if she were spouting nonsense. “To become a highly respected old TCM doctor, you’ll have to wait another forty or fifty years.”
“To be an ‘old’ TCM doctor, you have to get old first, right?”
Zhan Aiping said, “I refuse to get old—I want to stay young forever.”
Gu Sheng couldn’t help but laugh. “You stubborn, forever-young ‘old’ TCM doctor.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“If you want to be highly respected, you’ll need to become a grandmother first. Let our little Guobao work hard and give you a grandchild. Then our forever-young Dr. Zhan can walk around with a grandchild, and if anyone doubts your youth, you can say, ‘Look, I already have grandkids!’”
“Tangyuan can work hard too. Even if you don’t become a grandma, you can be a doting maternal grandmother. Carrying your grandkids around will boost your TCM credibility.”
Zhan Aiping: “…So I should pin my hopes on the kids, huh? The moment they turn 18, I’ll push them to get married and give me grandkids, just so I can boost my status?”
Gu Sheng nodded, “Exactly.”
“Forget it,” Zhan Aiping said, squeezing her son Guobao’s tiny hand. “With the Gu family’s tradition of late marriage, I doubt it’ll happen.”
Gu Sheng replied, “One has to hold onto hope. Just keep working at it.”
Zhan Aiping scoffed, “Stop with your tricks. I’ll earn respect with my medical skills.”
“Look at you, Gu. Your thoughts aren’t very proper. And to think you’re a Party member! You’ve barely become a father, and you’re already dreaming of being a grandpa? You wish!”
“And you’re pushing me to pressure them into marriage? Why don’t you do something about it yourself?”
“You’re hopeless.”
Gu Sheng laughed and scratched his nose. “What can I do when they don’t understand words yet? Even if I wanted to act, I couldn’t.”
The two little babies, who couldn’t understand a word of what their parents were saying, looked up at them.
Guobao and Tangyuan babbled and gurgled, making random noises as they joined in the “family conversation.”
Guobao let out a loud “Ah—”
Tangyuan followed up with her own gibberish, the two of them seemingly having a conversation in their baby language.
The two little rascals kept going back and forth, thoroughly enjoying their nonsensical chatter.
Zhan Aiping raised an eyebrow, “Look at your son. Isn’t he talking? Isn’t he speaking human language? He’s chatting with your daughter. Gu Sheng, can you understand what they’re saying?”
Gu Sheng scratched his head, “Nope, I can’t understand their advanced language. Since I’m at the bottom of this family hierarchy, you as the mom must understand. So, what are they saying?”
Zhan Aiping grinned, “They’re saying, ‘Daddy’s full of nonsense.’”
Gu Sheng: “…I’m pretty sure they’re saying, ‘Mom’s a big boaster.’”
“You’re the boaster. Your whole family’s full of it.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “You’re my whole family.”
Zhan Aiping pushed aside his sulky face and gazed at their little son and daughter in the stroller. The two little ones had chubby, round cheeks that were starting to slim down a bit as they grew, but their faces were still adorably plump, making them even more lovable.
She remembered her wishes when she was reborn: to pick up the scalpel again and remarry her old rival. Back then, it had seemed so simple, but now she realized that many things in life don’t turn out as expected.
Some regrets from youth will remain just that—regrets. There’s beauty in imperfection.
At least one goal had been achieved.
“Your wife has the greatest talent for traditional Chinese medicine. I’m a TCM genius!” she declared, then ruffled Gu Sheng’s hair with enthusiasm.
Gu Sheng caught her hand. “Is a man’s head something you can just randomly mess with?”
“You’re bragging again, so why not add a little action to it? Your husband, son, and daughter aren’t stopping you from showing off, my genius TCM wife.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “Stop saying I’m bragging all the time.”
“I’m just reminding you—if you can make all your bragging come true, then you, Zhan Aiping, will be truly amazing.”
“No matter how amazing you are, you’ll always be my wife.”
Zhan Aiping nodded in satisfaction. “Looks like you’ve finally said something sensible with that mouth of yours.”
“Sigh, I just don’t know how to tell godfather now. He’s sent me so much material, but he still doesn’t know that his student has become a TCM doctor.” Zhan Aiping felt embarrassed to face her mentor, Mr. Sun, for this very reason.
Gu Sheng nodded, “Yep, you’re in trouble. You’ve betrayed your teacher. How did you end up becoming a TCM doctor? I’ve heard that surgeons don’t trust TCM at all.”
Zhan Aiping snapped, “Gu Sheng, are you trying to add fuel to the fire? Stop kicking me when I’m down.”
Gu Sheng smiled and gently patted her head. “Pingping, you just need to do what you want to do. Don’t live your life trying to fulfil others’ expectations. You’ve let too many things sway you.”
“I’ve noticed my wife can be a bit silly. When someone treats you well, you try your best to live up to their expectations. You set high standards for yourself because you’re afraid of disappointing others.”
“No one is perfect, and things rarely go exactly as planned. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
“You already know in your heart what you really want to do, don’t you?”
“Do what makes you happy, regardless of whether you have a talent for it or not. Whether you succeed or not, as long as you’re happy, that’s what matters. Don’t live to satisfy someone else’s expectations.”
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