Chapter 588: This Eldest Sister Wang Is So Pitiful

Zhou Shujuan’s expression darkened. She just shook her head and said, “This isn’t a cold or a fever. There’s nothing to prevent.”

“Ah, okay then,” Zhao Jun replied. Seeing that the large clock on the wall already showed it was past twelve-thirty, he said to Zhou Shujuan, “Aunt Zhou, it’s already noon. Why don’t we all go out for a bite to eat?”

“I… can’t.” Zhou Shujuan tried her best to make her refusal sound less blunt. Then she added, “You all go ahead. I have things to take care of at home.”

Zhao Jun was taken aback, feeling something was off. He knew Zhou Shujuan had switched shifts with someone, but a shift meant a full day and night. A hospital wasn’t like other workplaces; you couldn’t just leave even if you had something to do at home.

So, Zhao Jun felt that Zhou Shujuan’s attitude toward him was a little off, not as warm as it was when they first arrived.

Zhao Jun suspected that perhaps his earlier attitude had caused Zhou Shujuan to misunderstand. She might think he doubted her medical skills, which would explain her displeasure.

But how could Zhao Jun have known that Zhou Shujuan had already played out several grand dramas in her head?

“Aunt Zhou, no matter what you have going on, you can’t skip a meal,” Zhao Jun said to Zhou Shujuan with a smile. “I heard from Jie Chen that you like fish. We’ll find a restaurant in a bit. As a junior, allow me to treat you to a proper meal.”

“I’m really not eating,” Zhou Shujuan said, refusing as she stood up and walked toward the door. Seeing this, Zhao Jun quickly followed.

The moment Zhou Shujuan came out of the room, she turned her head and saw Wang Meilan’s unhappy expression. This immediately solidified her suspicions, so she called out to Wang Meilan, “Eldest Sister Wang.”

“Ah!” Hearing her name, Wang Meilan turned to see it was Zhou Shujuan and quickly got up from the bench.

To be honest, Wang Meilan’s heart was in her throat at that moment, and she looked at Zhou Shujuan with some nervousness.

“Eldest Sister Wang, you can relax,” Zhou Shujuan said with a smile. “You’re in good health. There’s nothing wrong with you at all.”

“Really!” Wang Meilan’s heart instantly settled. She took a step forward, grasped Zhou Shujuan’s hand, and patted the back of it gently a few times with her other hand. “Little sister,” she said sincerely, “we’ve really troubled you.”

“It’s nothing, no trouble at all.” Out of the corner of her eye, Zhou Shujuan saw Zhao Jun follow them out of the room. She then said to Wang Meilan, “Eldest Sister Wang, you’re perfectly healthy, nothing wrong with you. So all that weird medicine… if you don’t have to take it, then don’t.”

“Right!” Wang Meilan nodded with a smile. “It’s my son, always making me take things like blood and some dark, gooey medicine.”

At this, Wang Meilan was still holding Zhou Shujuan’s hand, but she waved her other hand dismissively and said with a laugh, “All that stuff he gets me, I haven’t taken any of it!”

Zhao Jun: “…”

“That’s the right thing to do!” Zhou Shujuan grasped Wang Meilan’s hand with both of her own. “You really shouldn’t take medicine randomly.”

Jin Xiaomei, standing to the side, had no idea what was going through Zhou Shujuan’s head. Just making casual conversation, she chimed in, “Her son is just being filial. He’s worried about his mom’s health.”

“Filial?” Zhou Shujuan glanced at Jin Xiaomei. Earlier, when Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu had supported Wang Meilan on their way in, Jin Xiaomei had been left behind. After Wang Meilan entered the examination room, Jin Xiaomei had been sitting outside the whole time. So, Zhou Shujuan didn’t recognize her.

“Eldest Sister Wang,” Zhou Shujuan asked Wang Meilan, “is this a relative of yours, too?”

“Yep,” Wang Meilan said with a smile. “This is my younger brother’s wife!”

“Ah… so, a sister-in-law.” Zhou Shujuan looked at Jin Xiaomei, then glanced over at Zhao Jun, as if she’d just understood something.

“Aunt Zhou,” Zhao Jun said, stepping forward to invite her once more. “It’s almost one o’clock. Let’s go grab a bite to eat.”

“That’s right!” Hearing this, Wang Meilan tugged on Zhou Shujuan’s hand. “Little sister, we’ve caused you so much trouble today. Come on, let’s go eat.”

“No, no,” Zhou Shujuan said. “Eldest Sister Wang, I really do have something today, so I won’t eat with you. After a while, I’m planning to head over to Lingxi to visit you at your home.”

“Little sister, if you want to come, of course I’d welcome you,” Wang Meilan said. “You know my name. When you get to our area, just go to Yong’an Village. After that, you just have to ask around and you’ll find me easily.”

“Alright!” Zhou Shujuan made a silent vow, saying aloud, “Eldest Sister Wang, I’ll definitely go!”

As she spoke, Zhou Shujuan gripped Wang Meilan’s hands with both of her own and shook them firmly twice.

At this point, Zhao Jun felt the atmosphere was a little strange, but he didn’t press the invitation further. Logically, there was nothing wrong with him treating her to a meal and her accepting—no need for such politeness. After all, it was lunchtime, and he and his family needed to eat too.

But since Zhou Shujuan refused again and again, it was possible she really was busy and couldn’t get away. So, no one tried to persuade her anymore.

After Wang Meilan and Zhou Shujuan said their reluctant goodbyes, Zhao Jun and the others prepared to leave. But just then, Zhou Shujuan called out to Jie Chen.

Jie Chen didn’t think much of it, assuming Zhou Shujuan had something private to tell him. He said to Zhao Jun, “Brother Jun, you and Aunt go get in the truck first. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Alright!” Zhao Jun nodded. After thanking Zhou Shujuan and saying goodbye one more time, he left with Wang Meilan, who kept looking back every few steps.

Watching Wang Meilan walk into the distance, Zhou Shujuan didn’t look away, and even let out a long sigh.

Just then, Jie Chen asked from her side, “Aunt, what’s wrong?”

“Sigh.” Watching Wang Meilan’s retreating figure, Zhou Shujuan shook her head and said, “That Eldest Sister Wang of mine… she’s just too pitiful.”

“Huh?” Jie Chen followed Zhou Shujuan’s gaze, but by then Wang Meilan and the others had already turned a corner and were out of sight.

But remembering Zhou Shujuan had just mentioned the three words “Eldest Sister Wang,” Jie Chen asked in confusion, “Aunt, are you talking about my Aunt Zhao?”

“Yes.” Zhou Shujuan nodded and repeated with emotion, “That Eldest Sister Wang of mine has had such a bitter life.”

“Aunt!” Zhou Shujuan’s words gave Jie Chen a huge fright. He thought Wang Meilan had some serious illness that Zhou Shujuan couldn’t bring herself to mention in front of her, so she’d kept him behind to pass the message to Zhao Jun.

‘But that can’t be right,’ he thought. ‘Zhou Shujuan and Zhao Jun were talking alone in the room for a long time just now. If Wang Meilan were sick, Zhou Shujuan could have just told Zhao Jun directly.’

Still, Jie Chen asked Zhou Shujuan anxiously, “Did my Aunt Zhao get diagnosed with some illness?”

“No,” Zhou Shujuan said. “Several tests came back fine. The only thing left is a blood test. But for that, you’ll have to go to Shulan.”

“Huh?” Jie Chen grew more and more confused. He simply asked, “Then why did you say she was pitiful?”

Zhou Shujuan didn’t answer, asking instead, “You’ve stayed at her house. What’s her life like? Is her family incredibly rich?”

As soon as Zhou Shujuan asked this, Jie Chen thought of Zhao Jun’s family’s newly built five-room tiled house, the row of Bear Galls in the storehouse, and the pile of Wild Ginseng in his satchel. He nodded repeatedly and said, “Yes, his family is loaded!”

“Sigh!” Her suspicions confirmed, Zhou Shujuan shook her head. “It’s all because of money.”

Jie Chen blinked, looking at Zhou Shujuan in confusion. ‘What on earth is she talking about?’ he thought.

But he just heard Zhou Shujuan say, “It’s nothing. You should hurry and go eat with them. And give a message to my Eldest Sister Wang for me. Tell her I’ll visit her in a while.”

“Huh!” Jie Chen was a bit bewildered. He still had no idea why Zhou Shujuan had asked him to stay behind.

「Outside the hospital.」

Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu climbed into the back of the truck, while Wang Meilan and Jin Xiaomei sat in the passenger seat, chatting.

Wang Meilan was heard saying to Jin Xiaomei, “That young woman just now was really nice.”

“Well…” Jin Xiaomei frowned, thinking for a moment before replying, “Why do I get the feeling something was a little off about her?”

“There was nothing off about her,” Wang Meilan said with a laugh. “She’s just too kind-hearted. The way she was looking at me, it was like she felt really sorry for me.”

“What?” Jin Xiaomei stared at Wang Meilan, thinking, ‘What could she possibly feel sorry for you about? You eat meat three hundred and sixty days out of the year. Your family is the richest in the entire village—no, the entire township. If you’re pitiful, how is anyone else supposed to live?’

Just as Jin Xiaomei’s mind was racing, Jie Chen came running out of the hospital. He climbed into the passenger seat and relayed Zhou Shujuan’s message about wanting to visit Wang Meilan.

Then, amidst Wang Meilan’s touched sighs, Jie Chen started the truck.