Two days later, Luo Dahua came to find Yang Peimin to go to the military hospital to visit Zhao Hongjun together.
Zhao Hongjun had said he was feeling a bit better, but his youngest son had fallen ill due to the inadequate care from the Red Army wife, suffering from repeated fevers and had also been admitted to the military hospital.
When Luo Dahua arrived, she mentioned, "While we’re there, let’s also visit Mr. Zhao’s youngest son."
Yang Peimin understood and added a few more eggs and brown sugar to her gifts. It was almost noon, and she had prepared buns and lean meat porridge at home, which she also packed for the child. The porridge was quite good, much better than the hospital food. Having become a mother herself, she couldn’t stand to see children suffer.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Luo Dahua knew the room number and first went to see Zhao Hongjun, exchanging a few words with the Red Army wife, who then led them to her youngest son’s room.
The Red Army wife looked much thinner, her face wan and haggard, with bloodshot eyes—it was apparent she hadn’t had a good rest in days.
Yang Peimin couldn’t help but advise, "Now that Brother Zhao is stable, why don’t you take the chance to rest while your child sleeps? If you fall ill too, who will take care of them?"
The Red Army wife sighed and clasped her hand, her eyes reddening, "With them in this state, how can I rest easy? Sister-in-law, you don’t know, the injuries my husband has are severe. The doctor said it’s touch and go. How can I not worry? If he has to retire and come home , we won’t be able to live ."
Yang Peimin glanced at Luo Dahua, who quickly came over and comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don’t think too much. Just cooperate with the doctors, and he will be better soon."
The three of them then entered Mr. Zhao’s youngest son’s room, where two other military wives had come to visit the child and were helping the Red Army wife take care of him for a while. "The child looks hungry."
The child, only seven months old, was being held while receiving an IV, looking quite sturdy but not very spirited, likely due to the illness.
"I was just telling sister-in-law that I brought some meat porridge; I’m not sure if Xiao Bao can eat it?" Yang Peimin took out the thermos.
The Red Army wife’s face brightened with surprise and gratitude, repeatedly thanking her, "Sister-in-law, you’re so kind. I, I was just thinking about giving him plain porridge these days. He has been losing his appetite, and hasn’t eaten well for two or three days. I’ve been so frantic that I even stopped producing milk."
Yang Peimin helped her pour the porridge into a bowl, and a military wife handed the child to the Red Army wife to feed him.
A few military wives stood aside, chatting. Someone gossiped with Yang Peimin, "Sister-in-law, did someone move into the house next to yours a few days ago? Guess who?"
Yang Peimin, seeing her suspense-building demeanor, just smiled and shook her head.
Luo Dahua looked like she had something to say but held back.
"You won’t believe it; it was Wen Qing from the Cultural Troupe who moved in. She’s even married a regimental commander now, quite accomplished. She moved next to your place the other day..." The speaker’s eyes gazed directly at Yang Peimin, clearly enjoying the gossip.
Yang Peimin raised her eyebrows slightly; it was somewhat expected. Since Du Juanjuan and Shao Hui moved out, that dormitory has been empty because the other dormitories already had arrangements. Even those without arrangements couldn’t qualify for a two-bedroom house.
She just smiled calmly, but it disappointed those who wanted to hear gossip, and abruptly they started talking about other things to catch Yang Peimin’s attention.
"Wen Qing is much easier to get along with than her cousin, always greeting people with a gentle smile. She helps out when someone needs a hand. When the Hu Family’s Sister-in-law’s quilt fell outside, she picked it up and hung it properly again. Oh yes, didn’t she also help your sister-in-law’s sister with something? Seems like she helped carry oil upstairs and managed to secure a job for the Lu Family’s daughter in the city. Really lucky, Wen Qing is quite capable. I heard she has a comrade in that factory who is a leader, so she introduced the Miss Lu."
Yang Peimin was surprised. Wen Qing found a job for Lu Hailing?
That sister-in-law, seeing a change in Yang Peimin’s expression, grew even more enthusiastic. "Everyone sees her as such a good person; they all want to get to know her better. She’s easy to talk to; she mentioned that once she settles her family, she’ll invite everyone over to chat. She even said she wants to learn from us all, quite humble indeed."
It seemed that Wen Qing had a good reputation in the compound; in just two days, everyone was praising her capabilities.
However, none of this affected Yang Peimin; she just listened to the gossip for a bit.
Later, Luo Dahua told her, "About Wen Qing, I’m not sure how to tell you, but from what I hear, her husband won’t stay here long. Since you’re not living in the compound right now, you can pretend you don’t know."
Yang Peimin just smiled, "Sister-in-law, you don’t have to be cautious with me. You know I’ve heard it all before, and I never took those things to heart. Unless someone provokes me, I won’t bother with them."
Luo Dahua smiled and nodded, "Then, I’m relieved."
The Red Army wife quickly fed her seven-month-old son, who barely ate half a bowl. She planned to save the rest in her thermos for later. Yang Peimin reminded her, "This porridge can’t be kept for long; it’ll turn watery. If it’s still warm, maybe you should just eat it."
The Red Army wife shook her head, "No need, I’ll just eat a bun. Otherwise, when my third son wakes up and there’s nothing to eat, I can give him some. It’s hard to find gruel this thick and soft in the hospital; I’ll just reheat it." Realizing she couldn’t persuade her, Yang Peimin dropped the subject.
Then, Yang Peimin found herself caught up in a long complaint session. Get full chapters from nοvelfire.net
Yang Peimin felt somewhat helpless; with things as they were, discussing these issues was pointless. It was better to think about how to make some nutritious food to replenish the patients.
Yang Peimin tried to console her a bit, but the discussion soon circled back to the same issues, leaving her at a loss for words.
Another military wife nearby, perhaps equally frustrated, changed the topic. "How old is your child now? I heard you have a little boy, haven’t congratulated you yet."
Yang Peimin smiled, "Thank you, he’s three months old, a little boy."
The Red Army wife also looked over, "That’s wonderful. Your child must be well taken care of. Is your mother-in-law helping you with him?"