Liao Laifu, who had been sitting aside eating his meal with a mouth full of grease, was somewhat displeased. However, thinking that he would still need to scrounge things from his third sister’s hands in the future, he reluctantly suppressed the dissatisfaction from his meal being disrupted and feigned concern as he asked, "Yeah, sis, how come you’re back so early? What happened to your face? Did someone bully you? Just tell me, and watch how I make them spit their teeth all over the ground!" he said, rolling up his sleeves as if ready to go out and fight someone.
"It’s fine, it’s fine," replied Liao Zhaoji with a relieved smile. The slight discomfort she had been feeling instantly healed by Liao Laifu’s show of concern.
She turned to her mother from the Li Family and her father, Liao Xinmin, and quietly told them about what had happened the day before.
The Li Family and Liao Xinmin had already heard some rumors the previous day but had pretended not to know. Now that Liao Zhaoji had brought it up, the Li Family finally looked at her with concern and asked urgently, "How is your son-in-law? Is he alright?"
"He’s temporarily okay. His leg has been reattached. If he recovers well, he’ll be just like any ordinary person. It’s just that the follow-up medical expenses are very expensive, Mom..." Liao Zhaoji hesitated, having a hard time to bring up the subject when suddenly the Li Family slapped her thigh, her face full of excitement, and said to Liao Zhaoji, "It’s good that he’s okay. Oh, you came at just the right time; I have something else to tell you too."
"Your brother and his girl have settled things, and they plan to pick a good day this month to get married. Her family said they don’t want a dowry, just a bicycle. Look, your brother is planning to go check it out in town later. You’re going back to the hospital later, right? Well, that’s great. You two can go together; he could also drop by to see your brother-in-law, and then buy the bicycle. After all, there’s no rush."
"What’s wrong? You’re not going to the hospital later?" The Li Family looked up at her, as if suddenly remembering something, and then said, "You spent the night in the hospital yesterday; you must be tired. Here, let Mom fry you a couple of sunny-side-up eggs so you can have a good nourishment." She then turned and went to the kitchen, where the sound of clanging, as if frying eggs, could be heard.
Liao Zhaoji was seated by the Li Family, listening to the noises from the kitchen, facing her father and brother, who were showing her care and concern, and she found herself unable to utter another word about needing money.
Even when the Li Family saw her out, she had not mentioned a word about needing money.
But as soon as the Li Family closed the door, she turned to Liao Laifu and said, "Go ahead and buy that bicycle today, to avoid any further complications."
"Ah," Liao Laifu responded; he had exactly the same idea. As for his sister and brother-in-law’s situation, he didn’t consider it at all.
Liao Zhaoji walked all the way back to the hospital, and by then, it was already dark.
Standing at the entrance of the hospital, touching her empty pockets, she didn’t even know what she had gone out for.
Ruan Jun had been waiting at the door already and quickly came up to her when he saw her.
"Did you get the money?"
Liao Zhaoji, hesitating, looked at him. Her lips moved but in the end, she only shook her head.
She looked at him with pleading eyes, "Xiaojun, Mom really couldn’t bring herself to ask. Can you understand Mom, please?"
Ruan Jun scoffed coldly, "Understand you? Who’s going to understand my dad?" And with that, he turned and walked away.
He couldn’t even bother to express his disappointment at his mother.
Seeing his reaction, Liao Zhaoji felt extremely uneasy and followed him with small steps. When she reached the door of the ward, she stopped again, even more afraid to go inside, afraid to face the Ruanlin Family, and even more afraid to face Ruan Jiandang who might have already woken up.