Chapter 15 Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin

“Qingqian?” Tang Jincheng, hearing that it was Shi Qingqian, quickly opened the door. After making sure no one was around, he hurriedly pulled her inside.

As Shi Qingqian entered, she immediately saw her emaciated cousin and aunt, Lin Jiahui, and her uncle Tang Yuliang lying on the bed, barely alive. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears—she wasn’t sure if it was due to the influence of the original owner or her own sorrow. Regardless, these were the relatives who had always cared for the original owner. Even if it was to repay them on the original owner’s behalf, Shi Qingqian had to save them.

She quickly went to her uncle’s bedside, softly calling out, “Uncle… Uncle…”

Tang Yuliang slightly opened his eyes. Seeing Shi Qingqian, a glimmer of joy appeared in his eyes, but it was soon overshadowed by worry and fatigue. “Qingqian… why are you here? This isn’t a place for you.”

Shi Qingqian held her uncle’s hand, her voice slightly choked. “I couldn’t bear to leave you like this, so I sold my job and came to Xiangyang Village as an educated youth.”

“Uncle, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so sick?” Shi Qingqian asked.

Tang Yuliang weakly replied, “Qingqian… it’s nothing. Life here is just too harsh, my body can’t take it anymore. You shouldn’t have come; this place is too tough.”

Lin Jiahui wiped her tears and said, “Qingqian, you’re too foolish. What difference can your coming make? We don’t even know when this hardship will end.”

Tang Jincheng also looked at Shi Qingqian with worry. “Qingqian, you should go back quickly. Don’t let them find out you came here, or it will bring you trouble.”

Shi Qingqian shook her head. “No, Uncle, Aunt, Cousin… you are my only family. Since I’m here, I will find a way to help you. Whatever you need, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

Tang Yuliang shook his head urgently. “Qingqian, no… don’t risk yourself for us. Keep your money safe for yourself.”

Lin Jiahui hesitated. She certainly didn’t want to burden her niece, but with her husband’s current condition, without medicine, she feared how much longer he could survive. She said anxiously, “Old Tang, why not let Qingqian buy some medicine for you? You’re so sick, and without medicine, I’m really worried…” She couldn’t help but shed tears again.

Shi Qingqian immediately said, “Aunt, what illness does Uncle have? What medicine does he need? I’ll buy it tomorrow.”

Tang Yuliang wanted to stop her but was too weak to speak, so he could only look on helplessly.

Lin Jiahui wiped her tears and knocked on the door of another room. The stone house had three rooms and a kitchen, and besides the three of them, six other people lived there, including two couples. One of them had once been a doctor at a major hospital.

Lin Jiahui knocked on the door of this doctor’s room. “Old Meng, could you help me with this prescription?”

Meng Wangfei looked at Shi Qingqian. “Is she your family?”

“Yes, she’s my niece. She’ll be fine,” Lin Jiahui reassured him.

Hearing this, Meng Wangfei felt relieved. He checked Tang Yuliang’s pulse again and then wrote out the prescription. He also handed over another note. “Comrade, could you help me buy more medicine? There are quite a few sick people here. Before, we couldn’t get medicine, so we’ve been holding off.”

Shi Qingqian looked at her aunt and cousin. They nodded, and she took the prescription. “Don’t worry, Doctor Meng. I’ll do my best to get all this medicine.”

“Thank you, thank you,” Meng Wangfei said. Later, he returned holding a small yellow croaker. “Comrade, consider this the money for the medicine.”

Shi Qingqian quickly waved her hand. “Doctor Meng, you can’t do this. These are just ordinary medicines; I don’t need this much.”

Lin Jiahui also said, “Old Meng, what are you doing? Our family has relied on your care all this time.”

Meng Wangfei insisted on giving the fish to Shi Qingqian. “Comrade, take it. It’s hard to get medicine these days. Consider this my small gesture. If you can get more medicine, it will save lives.”

Shi Qingqian looked at Meng Wangfei’s sincere eyes but firmly pushed the fish back. “Doctor Meng, really, it’s not necessary.”

In the end, after Shi Qingqian’s insistence, Meng Wangfei took back the fish and returned to his room.

Shi Qingqian asked, “Cousin, how are Cousin-in-law and little nephew?”

Tang Jincheng sighed. “I didn’t want to burden them, so I divorced her. Little Douzi stayed with her.”

Shi Qingqian was momentarily stunned. She wanted to comfort him but didn’t know where to begin.

“Qingqian, tell us about yourself. Why did you suddenly come to the countryside? Were you mistreated?” Tang Jincheng asked bitterly.

Lin Jiahui changed the topic, asking about her time in the countryside.

Shi Qingqian didn’t hide anything. She told them about her stepmother and how she sold her job to come.

Hearing this, Lin Jiahui held Shi Qingqian’s hand in pain, tears welling up. “Qingqian, you’ve suffered. I thought your stepmother was a good person, but she’s really heartless. If we had known, your uncle and I should have taken you in to care for you.”

Shi Qingqian gently shook her head, smiling to comfort her. “Aunt, I’m fine now. I’ll find a way to live well, and I’ll help get medicine so Uncle can recover.”

“By the way, there’s something important I need to tell you today.”

“Qingqian, what important thing?” Tang Jincheng suddenly had a bad premonition.

The next second, Shi Qingqian said, “Uncle, Aunt, Cousin… I’m getting married.”

Lin Jiahui and Tang Jincheng were stunned, shocked.

“You just turned 20 this year! Getting married?” Tang Jincheng exclaimed. “Who’s the man? How old is he? What does he do? Did he trick or bully you? Tell me, I’ll avenge you!”

Shi Qingqian quickly waved her hand. “Cousin, don’t get agitated. He didn’t bully or trick me. His name is Xu Huaian, and his family is right here in Xiangyang Village. He’s a soldier, a few years older than me, but older men are gentle and caring. He’s always treated me well, and his family gets along nicely. He has already submitted a marriage report; once it’s approved, we can get married.”

Lin Jiahui frowned. “Qingqian, you can’t decide so hastily. Marriage isn’t a small matter.”

Shi Qingqian understood their concern and patiently explained, “Aunt, I know marriage isn’t trivial, and I didn’t decide lightly. Xu Huaian is really good. He’s upright, kind, and especially attentive to me. I truly want to marry him.”