RYEY -Chapter 385 Is She Going Through Menopause?

The lunchbox was opened, and an indescribable fragrance wafted into Shen Ying’s nose. Just smelling it made her slightly weary body feel energized.

“Wait, Cheng Qiao, can I have a bite?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to eat?”

“I… I changed my mind. Just one bite, to taste it.”

Shen Ying was also a studious person. Ye Jun was someone on par with her grandfather—people of that level always had good things in hand. But there were rules among peers, and the first rule was never to steal each other’s secret formulas.

However, if you could figure it out on your own and make some modifications—even if your results were better than the original formula—your peers would recognize it. That would be your skill.

There were bowls in the ward, but Shen Ying took a spoon from her backpack and scooped a spoonful directly into her mouth. The medicinal porridge rolled on her tongue several times before she swallowed.

“Cheng Qiao, this medicine replenishes vitality and also helps remove lochia from the body.”

Cheng Qiao nodded. She had guessed correctly. As expected from a descendant of a medical family—her skills were impressive, and even her taste was sharp.

Shen Ying, however, shook her head. The prescription was simple; just by tasting it, she could tell. Yet she felt there was still one herb in the medicinal porridge she couldn’t identify, no matter how hard she tried.

Cheng Qiao smiled. That ingredient was brewed using space water. If you could taste it, it would be fine. Jiang Meili was already a little impatient, her eyes fixed on the lunchbox.

“Here, no need to serve it separately. Eat as much as you can. If you can’t finish it now, you can eat it warmed later.”

Jiang Meili picked up a spoon, scooped a portion, and put it in her mouth. The porridge was slightly bitter, yet had an indescribable sweetness. The sweetness was subdued by the bitterness of the herbs, yet it seemed to peek through.

“Delicious! Cheng Qiao, how can you be so skilled? This porridge is cooked to perfection.”

After a few more bites, Jiang Meili was completely won over by the medicinal porridge. Even though she was already full, she couldn’t put down the spoon, unknowingly finishing more than half the lunchbox.

Just then, Yuan Qin walked in carrying a bowl of plain porridge and salted eggs. Seeing Cheng Qiao, her expression darkened slightly. But as a member of the Li family, she still nodded slightly to Cheng Qiao.

Cheng Qiao returned a similar nod, which made Yuan Qin feel even more uncomfortable. After all, she was an elder; how could Cheng Qiao be so impolite?

“Meili, what are you eating?”

“Cheng Qiao brought me medicinal porridge. It’s really tasty.”

“Oh my, how can you eat medicine recklessly? How do you know what’s in it?”

Cheng Qiao’s expression darkened. She had put the only ingredient in the world—priceless space water infused with spiritual energy—into the porridge, and it was being maliciously speculated upon.

But she said nothing and prepared to turn away. Jiang Meili panicked and tried to stop her. Pulling too hard, she fell off the hospital bed.

Shen Ying was still pondering what crucial herb was in the porridge, and Yuan Qin was about to serve the plain porridge. For a moment, no one noticed Jiang Meili’s fall.

It wasn’t until they heard a “Ouch!” that everyone snapped back. Shen Ying and Yuan Qin quickly helped her back onto the bed, but Jiang Meili pitifully looked at Cheng Qiao, who was still about to leave.

“Dear sister-in-law, we are sisters-in-law. Don’t be angry because of my mother’s ignorance. I’m sorry, I apologize on her behalf.”

Yuan Qin paused, but her heart ached. She had grown up with her mother and now had to apologize to someone else. For whom was she doing this? That ungrateful woman—she no longer wanted to care about her.

“Fine, I’ll apologize. Cheng Qiao, I’m sorry. Don’t take it out on my daughter. I’ll leave.”

Shen Ying stared blankly as Yuan Qin stormed off. Could this person be going through menopause? Her emotions were so unstable—she needed treatment, or it could seriously affect everyone around her.

“Ah, Aunt, wait for me, let me take your pulse.”

Yuan Qin was fuming and ignored Shen Ying. After all, she was a small leader at work. She felt shamelessly overlooked. Thinking of her workplace only made her angrier.

Originally a civilian staff, she had finally climbed up to this position. But now that Old Jiang had transferred posts, her strong backing was gone, and she faced the risk of reassignment.

At her age, without any special skills, where could she be transferred? She would have to grit her teeth and wait for retirement. Life was not easy.

And she had only taken two days off, yet everyone came to check, wanting her to leave so they could take her small director position.

Her mind drifted back to work. She decided to go today to prevent people from finding fault. She hurried along the road and didn’t notice Jiang Hua entering the hospital in haste.

“Meili, don’t act like this. Right now, you must avoid extreme emotions—keep stable, cultivate your mind and body. Only then can you recover quickly.”

Cheng Qiao turned back helplessly, standing by Jiang Meili’s bed, gently guiding her. Jiang Meili nodded, her eyes showing resignation and annoyance.

“Cheng Qiao, my mother has changed in the past two years. She’s not just like this to you, but also to my father and her colleagues. One disagreement, and she lashes out. If she’s unhappy, she scolds people.”

Cheng Qiao understood. This was likely menopausal syndrome. She cautiously asked Jiang Meili how old Yuan Qin was. Meili made a gesture with her hands—forty-eight.

Hmm, a little early for menopause, but still within the normal range. Cheng Qiao then asked about Yuan Qin’s physiological matters, and Jiang Meili suddenly realized something.

“Oh my, my mother hasn’t had her period in the past two months… Could she be pregnant?”

Cheng Qiao didn’t know how to answer immediately but grew concerned. Although the chance of pregnancy at this age was low, it wasn’t impossible.

“Should… should your mother take a urine test, just in case…”

Cheng Qiao had initially thought her menopausal estimate was correct, but if she really was pregnant, she would be a high-risk older mother. And Cheng Qiao was certain Yuan Qin would keep the child.

“If she is pregnant, it will definitely cause trouble. Perhaps it’s better to…”

Before Jiang Meili could finish, she noticed a familiar figure at the ward door and shouted happily, “Dad! You’re here!”

Jiang Hua had once been a small company commander in the military. Now older and unable to be promoted, he had transferred posts and was assigned as the head of the security department, holding some authority.

“Meili, I understand. Don’t be upset. This child isn’t meant for our family. Take care of yourself. When the right time comes, there will be children.”

“Dad, how did you have time to come? Did they catch the thief?”