Chapter 5: I’m Not His Wife

Shen Sisi sneezed.

She’d sneezed several times on the way, wondering who was talking about her.

Niu Niu saw the worry lines on her mother’s forehead, and gently smoothed them with her small hand.

“Pretty Mommy, don’t be unhappy, Niu Niu is very good.”

Shen Sisi affectionately rubbed the soft little face, her heart melting. “Niu Niu is good, Mommy isn’t unhappy because of you, I’m thinking about what Uncle said…”

If Gu Chengfeng was telling the truth, it would indeed be difficult for him to find a wife, and he might even be ridiculed by some thoughtless people.

She couldn’t guarantee how others would treat Senior Gu, but she could guarantee that she would be grateful to him and be kind to him for life.

If… they really got married, they could get along like siblings now.

That way, Senior Gu wouldn’t be embarrassed, and she wouldn’t have the burdens of being a wife and raising children.

Regardless, they still had Niu Niu.

Of course, that was secondary.  The most important thing was what had moved her the military hospital had far better resources and conditions than the county hospital!

They would definitely be able to find top domestic experts to cure Niu Niu’s tuberculosis.

She was somewhat tempted.

Then again, her tarnished reputation and family background were like insurmountable obstacles between them.

Forget it, let’s go home!

Halfway, Niu Niu fell asleep on Shen Sisi’s shoulder.

Even asleep, her small hands clutched Shen Sisi’s clothes tightly, not daring to let go for a moment.

Shen Sisi arrived at her aunt’s house and was about to knock when she heard her aunt crying inside, accompanied by her uncle’s scolding.

“Cry, cry, cry, all you do is cry! Isn’t it all because of your niece? Taking a child on blind dates everywhere, now the whole county knows, you have no shame, but I do!”

Zhao Shilan cried even harder, feeling wronged.

“I said I’d introduce someone to her, but you disagreed, saying you couldn’t bear to do it. Now you’re ashamed?”

“I… I thought she’d only stay for a day or two, get her medicine and go back. Who knew she’d really do it?  Fine, getting married is getting married, but bringing a child along, isn’t that nonsense?”

“Now, the neighbors all know that we have an unmarried young relative with a child. How is Tingting going to get married?”

“She and Huaidong are about to get engaged. Huaidong is a university student, his father is the factory director of the paper mill. If this great event is ruined, I’ll beat you to death…”

Uncle Chen Jianguo had disliked her for a long time.

Every time she stayed at her aunt’s house, she would receive Chen Jianguo’s cold stares.

Thinking that she only came a few times a year, staying only a day or two to get Niu Niu’s medicine, Shen Sisi had endured it, pretending nothing was wrong.

Unexpectedly, her blind dates had caused so much trouble for her aunt’s family, affecting her cousin Chen Ting’s reputation and marriage.

Shen Sisi’s grip on Niu Niu tightened.  Just as she was hesitating whether to knock, she heard Chen Jianguo sigh.

“Tingting called this morning, crying, saying that Huaidong’s parents postponed their meeting. From the tone, they must have heard about this. Get rid of Shen Sisi quickly, and don’t associate with her anymore!”

Her aunt cried until she was almost out of breath: “No contact? Chen Jianguo, don’t forget, our jobs and this house were all arranged by my younger sister, Sisi’s mother. Don’t forget your roots.”

“That’s ancient history!  Your younger sister has been dead for years! And we took care of Shen Sisi for several years, it’s her own fault for being irresponsible and ruining her reputation, why blame me? Why don’t you think about me, your own daughter?”

The argument continued. Shen Sisi’s hand, poised to knock, slowly retracted.

She turned and left with Niu Niu, the sounds of the argument fading into the distance…

Over the years, her aunt had taken good care of her, but her aunt also had her own family, children, and many difficulties. She couldn’t burden her aunt any longer.

It seemed she had to make a decision quickly!

As soon as she went outside, a cold wind blew, and Niu Niu coughed violently after inhaling several mouthfuls of cold air.

Shen Sisi quickly found a sheltered spot and gave Niu Niu two pills, but found that she didn’t have many left, only enough for today.

She had registered to buy medicine at the hospital a few days ago, and it would be just in time to pick it up.

Niu Niu’s cough wouldn’t stop, until her little face was red, and traces of blood appeared at the corner of her mouth, did she finally stop coughing.

“Mommy… Niu Niu is uncomfortable…”

Shen Sisi tucked the scarf around Niu Niu, took out the aluminum water bottle from her bag, and gave her a few sips of warm water.

“It’s okay, Mommy will go buy medicine… Our Niu Niu will be good, take your medicine, eat your food, and you’ll be better soon…”

Niu Niu hummed. She also wanted to get better quickly, so her mother wouldn’t be so tired.

Shen Sisi comforted Niu Niu, then searched through her pockets, finding some loose change, stood up, and walked straight towards the hospital…

At the hospital, Gu Chengfeng and Feng Yanzhou had bought a fruit basket and were visiting an old comrade.

Just as they came downstairs, Gu Chengfeng caught sight of a familiar figure.

“Doctor, I registered a few days ago, why is there no medicine? The child is seriously ill, she really needs this medicine, please help me find a way…”

The doctor was also in a difficult position: “I’m sorry, comrade, there’s a shortage of medicine, even if you registered, there’s nothing we can do. Please wait, it will be shipped from the provincial capital in two or three days.”

“Two or three days? We only have enough medicine for today, we can’t last that long…” Shen Sisi was almost in tears, how would Niu Niu survive without medicine?

The doctor sighed, about to dismiss her, when a tall figure appeared at the doorway, walking straight behind Shen Sisi.

“Sisi!” Gu Chengfeng’s voice was soft, landing on Shen Sisi’s head.

Her heart tightened, she had met him again!

A second time, in such an awkward situation.

“Senior Gu, Commissar Feng.” Shen Sisi greeted them with a wry smile, her eyes brimming with tears.

Gu Chengfeng looked down and saw her flushed face, his heart aching inexplicably.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing…” Shen Sisi forced a smile, not wanting to reveal her predicament, nor wanting Gu Chengfeng to worry about her.

She didn’t want to say, but Gu Chengfeng didn’t intend to let it go.

He turned to the doctor, his gentle face instantly turning cold, filled with coldness and murderous aura: “Doctor, what’s going on?”

The doctor’s back felt cold under his sharp gaze. Seeing how gentle he was towards Shen Sisi, they must be a couple!

“Comrade, your wife came to buy rifampicin, but there’s no medicine left, the provincial capital hasn’t sent any yet, there’s nothing we can do…”

Wife…

Shen Sisi and Gu Chengfeng both froze, their faces flushing red.

Gu Chengfeng was speechless, even finding the doctor pleasing, but his happiness lasted only three seconds before he heard her anxious, suppressed voice.

“Doctor, don’t say that, I’m not his wife…”

Shen Sisi was afraid of affecting his reputation, her explanation was hurried.

Gu Chengfeng’s face darkened slightly, did she mind that much?