As Yang Ming thought this, he hastily got dressed and was just about to leave when his mother came in.
"Third son, where are you off to? Your wife had me save some food for you, and this medicinal soup has just been prepared!"
Yang Ming took the bowl and gulped down the soup in one breath, not caring whether it was bitter or hot.
"Hey! Slow down, careful it’s hot!"
"Mother, I have something urgent to attend to, I must go!"
Not waiting for a response from his mother, Yang Ming didn’t even eat his meal, leaving behind these words as he rushed out the door.
"Eh? You haven’t eaten your rice yet!"
Yang Ming’s mother called out to her son’s retreating figure, only to see him disappear quickly through the front gate. She had no idea what the emergency was, this being the first time she’d seen her usually composed son so flustered.
At this moment, Yang Ming could not be bothered with his weakened body, enduring the pain in his legs as he walked briskly. He didn’t take an ox cart; as a grown man, he had always relied on walking. The only time he ever took one was to spare his wife from fatigue, and besides, he didn’t have much money on him.
Just as he stepped out of the hospital gate, he heard Hehua’s voice.
Hehua’s heart blossomed with joy upon seeing Yang Ming, as he had been staying at home recently, giving her more chances to see him.
But it was as if Big Brother Ming didn’t hear her, continuing on without turning his head. She persistently ran after him, blocking his way, "Big Brother Ming, wait for a moment, I have something to tell you."
In fact, Yang Ming had heard Hehua calling him from the start, but his mind was preoccupied with thoughts of his wife, so he had no desire to stop. Unexpectedly, Hehua dared to step forward and block him.
He had no choice but to speak, "What is it!"
There was Hehua, with a blushing face, speaking in a timid voice, "My mother has agreed to your proposal, I’m waiting for you to come and ask for my hand in marriage!"
Before Yang Ming could reply, Hehua turned and ran off quickly, leaving him standing there, stunned.
Yang Ming snapped back to reality and chased after her, "Hehua, I’m already married; it’s impossible for me to marry you."
Upon hearing this, Hehua immediately burst into whimpers. It had taken her so much effort to get her mother’s approval, and she was finally able to marry Big Brother Ming. She wanted to tell him immediately, only to be rejected.
"Big Brother Ming, I don’t mind being the second! Please marry me!" She was desperate, crying and pleading. If it weren’t for her mother’s opposition, she could have already married Big Brother Ming, and she couldn’t believe he would refuse her.
"Are you worried that your sister-in-law won’t agree? I’ll go and plead with her! She’s a good person, she will definitely agree."
He had not wanted to hurt Hehua, which is why he’d put it gently, not expecting her to still cling to hope, so greatly misunderstanding that she wouldn’t mind being the second wife, even willing to plead with Xiaoxiao.
Initially, he hadn’t planned to marry her; it was all her mother’s doing. He had even been grateful that Hehua’s mother had disagreed, or he would have been powerless against his parents’ and the matchmaker’s decision. Now years had passed, and Hehua was still fixated on marrying him.
"Hehua, find someone else to marry. I will never marry you in this lifetime! Zhong Xiaoxiao is the only wife I will ever have!"
With that, he strode away, in a hurry to reach the county town as it was already quite late.
Heartbroken by his words, a vicious thought crossed Hehua’s mind. She had overheard the conversation between that ugly freak and Yang Dong; if Big Brother Ming refused to marry her, then she would ruin his precious wife. She was determined to make Big Brother Ming return to her side. She had no other options left!