Chapter 39

Shen Xiao went into the room and carried Wei Hong out, and the group went to the clinic in a mighty manner.

Why a group of people?

When Qiao Baozhu praised Wei Hong, who was only two or three years older than her and could hardly speak clearly, she would become anxious and angry all day long for her sacrificed old father.

This was heard by everyone, just like water dropping into a frying pan. Because of Shen Xiao’s presence, no one said anything. But they kept winking at each other and laughing teasingly.

Shen Xiao was holding Wei Hong and walking side by side with Qiao Baozhu at the front. Bai Hongmei stared at their backs with a gloomy face.

The strange laughter of the old ladies behind her, which was deliberately suppressed, came one after another, and each sound was like a fly that drilled into Bai Hongmei’s ears, making her feel even more uncomfortable.

After arriving at the clinic, the doctor diagnosed Wei Hong with anemia caused by malnutrition. Because of anemia, her skin was pale, she was short, weak, short of breath, and sleepy.

In this era, people don’t eat well, and malnutrition is the norm. But Bai Hongmei is not short of money, and she has received subsidies from Shen Xiao in the past two or three months.

No matter how you look at it, Wei Hong shouldn’t be in this situation.

A few gossiping old ladies outside the clinic heard it clearly.

Watching Shen Xiao coming out of the clinic holding the child, he handed Wei Hong to Bai Hongmei, and took the receipt written by the doctor to pay the money.

As soon as Shen Xiao left, several old ladies started to criticize Bai Hongmei.

“How can a child as young as Wei Hong be malnourished?”

“I see that the chimney of Old Li’s house is emitting hot steam every day. How can he still be anemic after eating three meals a day?”

“Bai Hongmei, I’m not saying anything bad about you. The children are still young and they need nutrition. Cut some meat for them every now and then. If you don’t want to buy eggs, you can get some duck eggs to nourish them.”

“You have so much money in your pocket, spend some on your children instead of buying new clothes for yourself.”

It’s no wonder that the old ladies are nosy. When Wei Yanda got into trouble, in addition to the pension given by the army and the 800 yuan compensation given by Shen Xiao, the cadres in the army spontaneously donated money to the family.

Several company commanders and instructors from the third battalion pooled together 200 yuan, and the cadres from the first and second battalions also pooled together nearly 100 yuan.

If Bai Hongmei was a strong-willed woman, and she had so much money in her hands and had taken good care of her pregnancy, everyone would have helped her. But she loved beauty, coquettishness, and showing off. She would make bright clothes every now and then and walk around the family compound, attracting the attention of the officers who were going home after get off work. Some ignorant people would even dislike their wife’s rustic clothes.

After several times, which family member would not be angry?

But Bai Hongmei was pregnant, and the cadres of the first and second battalions donated less. If she really quarreled with a widow over three or five yuan, it would only make her husband lose face.

So these people dare not speak out and just gossip and spit behind others’ backs.

But this time was different, the old ladies heard with their own eyes that Wei Hong had anemia due to long-term malnutrition. They stabbed Bai Hongmei’s face like they had the sword of justice.

Bai Hongmei sat on a chair, covering her face with her hands and crying loudly.

“Yanda died, and the children missed their dad so much that they couldn’t eat. No matter what I cooked, they didn’t like it. It’s not that I don’t cook for them, I’m their mother, I would rather not eat than let them starve.”

Bai Hongmei’s winning weapon is her dead husband. As long as Wei Yanda is mentioned, no one can embarrass her anymore.

Several old ladies opened their mouths but said nothing.

There are some things that everyone understands without having to say, Bai Hongmei is not an easy person to deal with.

Her children were well-known for being greedy in the family compound. No matter whose house they went to play in, as long as they saw something edible, they would grab it and stuff it into their mouths without even asking the adults.

If any adult said something, he would immediately fall to the ground and roll around, accusing others of bullying a fatherless child.

Children are like this, and so are adults. Wei Yanda has really become their imperial sword, which can protect them for the rest of their lives.

Qiao Baozhu stood far away, watching the scene quietly.

She also understood that Shen Xiao had no feelings for Bai Hongmei. She didn’t know what Qiao Xifeng was thinking, and she had to put a green hat on her head.

At this time Wei Hong opened her eyes and found herself in her mother’s arms in a daze.

She grinned and acted coquettishly: “Mom, I’m hungry. I’m so hungry. I want to eat.”

Bai Hongmei hugged Wei Hong with a look of surprise and kissed the child’s red and chapped little face.

“My dearest baby, you finally woke up.”

“Honghong, do you want to eat? Mom will cook whatever you want. As long as my daughter is willing to eat, I will be willing to eat even if it costs me some meat.”

As she spoke, Bai Hongmei buried her head in Wei Hong’s body again and started to cry.

“My poor child, Mom almost lost you. Wuuuuuu, if anything happened to you, how would I be able to face your father?”

Bai Hongmei acted sincerely, she never thought her daughter was just a three or four year old. She couldn’t see that her own mother was using her to act, she thought her mother had changed her nature and really wanted to give her delicious food.

I shouted excitedly, “Mom, I want to eat dumplings made of two cups of flour and dumplings with leeks and wild duck eggs. You gave all the wild duck eggs that Uncle Li gave to grandma, and you didn’t let me eat any of the dumplings she made. You said we should go home to eat, but we’ve been home for several days, and you still won’t make dumplings for me.”

Bai Hongmei covered Wei Hong’s mouth with her hand, fearing that she would say something she shouldn’t.

She blushed and scolded him, “What nonsense are you talking about, kid? Your grandma loves you the most, how could she not give you dumplings to eat?”

She raised her head and smiled bitterly at everyone: “Wei Hong has a weak spleen and stomach, and can’t eat leeks. She will vomit and have diarrhea after eating leeks, so my mother won’t let her eat it.”

The old ladies are all experienced people. After being daughters-in-law for many years and finally becoming mothers-in-law, how could they not understand the tricks here?

“If she can’t eat leeks, don’t give her any. It’s the same if she eats cabbage instead.”

“Wei Hong, your mom said you can’t eat leeks. Grandma has cabbage at home. Can you ask your mom to make you dumplings stuffed with cabbage, eggs and vermicelli?”

Wei Hong’s eyes lit up, and she immediately sat up from her mother’s arms. She smiled widely and nodded happily: “Okay, as long as it’s dumplings.”

The old lady wanted to get more information from Wei Hong. Bai Hongmei saw Shen Xiao coming over here after paying the bill. She quickly picked Wei Hong up and shouted, “It was Uncle Shen who saved you and bought you medicine. Wei Hong, hurry up and thank Uncle Shen.”

Wei Hong: “Thank you, Uncle Shen.”

Bai Hongmei grabbed Wei Hong’s little arm and shook it towards Shen Xiao, saying loudly: “When you grow up, you can take care of Uncle Shen in his old age, okay?”

When Shen Xiao heard this, his body swayed and he looked at the beautiful figure in front of him guiltily.