After work, An Zhiyuan hadn’t returned home yet. Bai Xiao got off work at 5:30 PM, but An Zhiyuan’s job probably kept him busy until six or seven, so she washed the vegetables and made some simple dishes, including a few pancakes with green onions.
She got off work late today and didn’t have time to steam buns; their department of Traditional Chinese Medicine was understaffed, and the time spent on duty far exceeded the rest time.
Altogether, including the Director and their attending physicians, there were only four people, so basically, one person would have a day off rotationally. Of course, Saturdays and Sundays were the legal rest days, so, in this way, there were three days off a week, which could be considered a very relaxed workload.
She’d steam the buns when it was her turn to rest.
After finishing cooking, she was watering the flowers on the balcony with a kettle.
Then she heard a knock on the door and opened it.
It was Zhang Han. The young girl was holding a lunchbox.
At a glance, it was clear she had come to return the lunchbox.
"Thank you, Doctor Bai."
Zhang Han handed the lunchbox to Bai Xiao.
"Don’t mention it. Is your mother’s mood better now?" Bai Xiao asked with concern. This young girl seemed to be the most pitiful one.
"My mom is much better now..."
The girl lowered her eyes, her words insincere.
There was a loud clang.
Zhang Han’s face changed instantly, and she rushed back into their home.
Bai Xiao hurriedly followed.
Inside, Li Jiao had already fallen off the bed, the whole person collapsed on the floor. Her head must have hit the cabinet, as there was a severe and bloody wound on her forehead.
Zhang Han ran over, trying to lift Li Jiao from the ground, but it was impossible for the 12-year-old girl to lift her completely uncontrolled mother.
"Mom, what’s wrong with you?"
"Don’t mind me, let me die, just let me die! I’m just a burden to you and your dad!" Li Jiao cried out hoarsely, forcefully pushing away her daughter who was attempting to embrace her.
Zhang Han was accidentally pushed by Li Jiao and bumped into the foot of the bed behind her, her knee hurting so much that she exclaimed in pain.
Bai Xiao quickly steadied Zhang Han. Rolling up her trouser leg, she saw that the ankle was already bruised. Zhang Han pulled down her pants and said, "Mom, it’s okay, it’s okay, you are not our burden, you are my mom, dad and I don’t feel burdened by you at all. We both love you."
She said urgently, trying to console her own mother.
Bai Xiao sighed and, together with Zhang Han, helped Li Jiao back onto the bed. Because of the appearance of this stranger, Li Jiao’s emotions seemed to be more restrained as she probably felt uncomfortable causing such a scene in front of someone she didn’t know; she still cared about face.
"Thank you, Doctor Bai." Zhang Han was very grateful to Bai Xiao.
"Why do you do this to yourself? Just look at the injuries on this child. If you really care about her, you shouldn’t be hurting her." Bai Xiao looked at Li Jiao with a mixture of pity and anger. Li Jiao might be pitiable, but what about Zhang Han?
Li Jiao stubbornly turned her head away.
"This is our family’s business. It’s none of your concern."
Oh, she still had quite the temper then.
"I may not have the right to intervene, and if you want to die, nobody can stop you. If a person truly wants to die, even if someone is watching them 24 hours a day, they will always find the opportunity. Of course, you’ll be relieved if you die, but Director Zhang is still relatively young. I guess he’s barely over 40, and it’s unlikely he’d stay single forever. If he brings back a stepmother, the one who will suffer is this little girl.
A child without a mother is like a blade of grass, and if she encounters a malicious stepmother, tsk, tsk, whether Zhang Han can even grow up is questionable. And even if she does grow up, if the stepmother is not dedicated, her future marriage prospects, hmph, if she meets someone who only cares about money and nothing else, this child’s entire life would be ruined."