RYEY – Chapter 22 Compensation in Hand

Wang Tuozi grinned, but still obediently looked toward Chen Weimin. After all, in a household, it was usually the man who had the final say—especially in matters of marriage.

Chen Weimin was still hesitating when Zhaodi grew anxious. She stepped up beside her husband and whispered softly, “One hundred yuan.” That was enough to make Chen Weimin nod his head.

Cuihua slightly opened her mouth in shock as she watched the couple agree to this marriage in just one breath. Her heart chilled for Chunhua. Weren’t they supposed to love Chunhua the most? Yet, at the sight of money and a bicycle, they changed their minds so quickly.

Hearing their firm reply, Wang Tuozi nodded repeatedly. He didn’t even bother to drink a sip of water—just greeted them hurriedly and left. The thought that he would soon “break his melon” made him almost giddy with delight.

Li Huan, seeing that things were proceeding more or less as he had arranged, felt reassured enough to head home. On the table in the main room, there was already a large lunchbox full of plump dumplings. He knew immediately they were prepared for Cheng Qiao. Picking up the box, he got ready to leave.

“Huanzhi, eat some dumplings first before you go. And tomorrow, don’t worry about rushing back.”

Mother Li knew her son would be staying the night at the hospital. She quickly brought over a large bowl of dumplings from the kitchen so he could eat before leaving.

“I know, Mom. Tomorrow you and little sister shouldn’t tire yourselves out either. We’re not short of those work points. Oh, and here—this money is for Cheng Qiao’s betrothal gift.”

Li Huan handed her three hundred yuan. Mother Li didn’t take it right away. Instead, she looked at her son with worry. She knew what he was doing to earn that money. If he ever got caught, the consequences would be disastrous.

“Son, after you get married, you mustn’t do this anymore. What will happen to your wife and children if something goes wrong?”

“Mom, I know. Just take the money. You still have to save for Big Brother’s marriage and Little Sister’s dowry. Since I have money in hand, you should keep it. Give two hundred to Cheng Qiao as the bride price, and save the rest for your old age.”

Smiling, Li Huan stuffed the money into his mother’s hand, grabbed the lunchbox, and hurried off. By the time he reached the hospital, dusk had already fallen.

“Cheng Qiao, you must be hungry. Here, dumplings.”

Looking at the plump white dumplings, warmth filled Cheng Qiao’s heart. She could tell at a glance they were made by her future mother-in-law. At last, she could eat them again.

“You managed to buy meat today?”

“I was lucky. Bought a few cuts on the black market. One I gave to the educated youth point, one to my family—so my mom made dumplings and sent me to bring them to you.”

Cheng Qiao knew that even with ration tickets, black market meat was more expensive than the meat from state-run factories. What a pity about the meat in her spatial storage—once again, she lost the chance to use it.

“Don’t go to the black market again. What if you get caught?”

“Wifey, I know. But tomorrow’s autumn harvest. I just wanted my mom and sister to eat better.”

“Still, you must never go again, understand? By the way, have you eaten?”

Cheng Qiao shot him a sideways glance as she took the lunchbox. That one glance made Li Huan’s lips curl upward in joy. How could his wife be so good—always thinking of him?

“I already ate. You’re the hungry one. Want me to feed you?”

“No need. I hurt my head, not my hands. I don’t need you to feed me.”

Another sideways glare from Cheng Qiao made Li Huan laugh like a fool.

“Wifey, I have news. Chen Chunhua is getting married.”

“Married? To whom?”

“You know that fellow Wang Tuozi from the meat factory? She’s marrying him.”

Cheng Qiao frowned. Wang Tuozi… why did that name sound so familiar? Right—wasn’t he the distant relative of Auntie Wang, the one whose wife had died?

“Li Huan, did Wang Tuozi lose his wife? How did she die?”

Li Huan gently touched the white bandage on her head. His fist clenched unconsciously, though his heart remained eerily calm.

“Yes, he lost his wife. He beat her to death by mistake. But he got lucky—no one ever found out, so he escaped punishment.”

Cheng Qiao’s heart trembled in shock. Then her eyes welled with tears, a deep sourness filling her chest. Li Huan had gone to such lengths for her. In her past life, she really must have been blinded by pig oil.

Fortunately, heaven had given her a second chance. This time, she was reborn with her child. In this life, she would hold Li Huan’s hand, grow old with him, bear his children, and care for his family.

“Come, eat before it gets cold. I kept them warm against my chest the whole way.”

Li Huan passed her the chopsticks and went off to fetch water. Cheng Qiao took a deep breath to calm her emotions and began eating bite by bite.

That night, Li Huan made up a bed on the cot next to hers. She had thought she would struggle to sleep with him there, but instead, she felt unexpectedly at peace. The moment her head touched the pillow, she drifted off.

Li Huan wanted to say something more, but when he saw the little girl already asleep, with her long eyelashes like tiny fans resting against her cheeks, he couldn’t help reaching out.

But before his hand touched her lashes, he pulled it back. Forget it—better not disturb her. Still, he bent down and gave her tender cheek a light kiss, tucked her in, and then lay on his own bed.

The night passed without incident. At dawn the next day, Li Huan brought Cheng Qiao breakfast: a bowl of thick rice porridge, a plate of pickles, and a big meat bun.

“Hospital meals really are nice—look how thick this porridge is, and that big meat bun just makes me hungry to look at.”

Cheng Qiao’s expression turned strange as she eyed the bun. Wait a second—it looked just like the ones from her convenience store. Could it taste the same?

Taking a bite, she sighed. To be honest, today’s bun really was tastier. The store-bought ones just lacked that extra aroma of real meat.

“What about your breakfast? Why aren’t you eating?”

She frowned at Li Huan, who was just sitting there watching her eat. He laughed and explained that he’d go buy something at the state-run restaurant after she finished. The patient meals were only for patients, not for him.

Cheng Qiao quickly waved him off, telling him to hurry and eat. Li Huan thought about it and agreed—it was best to be quick, in case the Chen family came by and she had to deal with them alone.

Sure enough, not long after he left, Zhaodi rushed into the ward, sweat dripping down her face. Today was autumn harvest, so the men had gone to the fields at dawn. She had hurried over while she could.

“Comrade Cheng, eating breakfast?”

“So it’s Auntie. Please, have a seat. This is hospital food, so I won’t offer you any.”

“No need, no need. Comrade Cheng, about yesterday—I wronged you. My Chunhua was being stupid. Her father has already scolded her harshly. This is three hundred yuan as compensation. Please accept it.”

Cheng Qiao watched as a thick wad of bills was pulled from a grain sack. She thought to herself—Chunhua’s family really was rich. Even after giving a hundred as bride price, they still had two hundred yuan left.