Chapter 43

As expected, Li Aimei stayed behind. She didn’t return to her parents’ home but remained in the small clinic. Since there weren’t many patients that day, she borrowed a sickle from the Pei family and went out to cut grass.

She gathered a large bundle of dry grass, which could be used as firewood, and also collected some wild vegetables.

Jiang Xi admired her strength. 

Since Li Aimei had no food, Jiang Xi lent her ten kilograms of coarse grains and let her use the kitchen. Li Aimei accepted but declined the Pei family’s leftover dishes, feeling embarrassed to take more from them.

Jiang Xi didn’t insist. She helped when she could but didn’t want to fully support another person.

However, at dinner that day, many people came to Pei’s house with their bowls in hand to watch the excitement.

This was because Jiang Xi had been selected for further studies.

This was big news, especially since she was better than the unprofessional team doctor Li Quan. Everyone was excited and chatting happily until one person brought a new piece of gossip: “Did you hear? Doctor Li is gone!”

Everyone was shocked: “What? Doctor Li left?”

“Doctor Li is gone? Is that true?”

They all stopped and stared, waiting for more details.

The man grinned, proud of his inside information: “Yes, really. I just came back from buying some summer heat soup from Doctor Jiang. I sent it to my daughter who had a heat stroke this afternoon. She said she sat in the clinic for a long time but didn’t see Doctor Li!”

“Hiss! Is it true he’s really leaving just for further studies?”

The villagers were puzzled. This was a good job with light work. Why would they leave?

The man laughed sarcastically: “Why wouldn’t he leave? How can he stay when he’s useless? If it weren’t for him, my daughter would have seen Doctor Jiang.”

Now, since she’s not from Pei’s village, seeing a doctor costs money. It would be cheaper with Jiang Xi as the team doctor.

“Yes, my relatives in Linjia Village are envious. Not only is the treatment cheaper, but the doctors are better.”

“Yes, my relatives also wanted to see the doctor, but they stopped coming when they heard about higher fees for outsiders. They were really foolish. Though it costs money, it’s still quite affordable. Plus, Doctor Jiang’s medicine works quickly, unlike Li Quan’s!”

“Now that he’s gone, the team doctor position is open? Will Doctor Jiang become the team doctor?”

“Of course!”

Jiang Xi wasn’t sure whether to be happy or unhappy.

Happy, because there would be more patients.

But unhappy, as she could no longer use the system freely, making the point system less useful.

_

Inside the room, despite the noise outside, the father and son who disliked crowds were playing chess.

This chess set was a gift from one of Pei Hejun’s comrades.

With two patients, this was a perfect way to pass time and relieve stress.

As they played and talked, Pei Hejun asked about the past few months since he’d been in a coma. He hadn’t had much time with his family, and Jiang Xi didn’t know everything, so he asked his father.

“Why haven’t you visited recently, Boss?”

When Pei Hejun asked, Pei’s father’s hand trembled over the chessboard. He seemed to be contemplating his move but was actually feeling depressed and guilty.

The third son was capable and filial, so he had always looked down on his two older brothers.

In the past, the eldest and second sons would be taught a lesson by the third son when they made mistakes. But now, the situation had changed. If these issues were revealed, the third son would definitely hold a grudge, right?

Father Pei glanced at his third son, who seemed to see right through his thoughts.

He coughed and explained, “He didn’t have the face to come.”

“Why are you so shameless?” Pei Hejun waited calmly, his face showing a hint of calm resolve.

Father Pei quietly recounted how the eldest and second sons had caused trouble over pensions recently. The most recent incident involved his hospitalization. He added quietly, “The eldest son was led astray by his wife. He wasn’t so unreasonable before.”

Pei Hejun replied coldly: “He was badly taught by his grandmother, so it’s no surprise he was influenced by sister-in-law. They were just a bad match!”

Father Pei remained silent.

As parents, we often make excuses for our children. He knew he was at fault for not raising them properly. If he hadn’t let the children’s grandmother raise them, things might have been different.

Pei Hejun took advantage of his father’s distraction and won the chess game decisively. After a few moves, he captured a crucial piece and declared, “General.”

“You kid, you win so quickly again,” Father Pei sighed.

Pei Hejun said calmly: “It’s to be expected.”

He was used to finding flaws and exploiting them. It was necessary for survival.

“Are you coming yet?” Father Pei asked, ready to put away the chess set and head inside.

“No,” Pei Hejun shook his head and looked outside.

The crowd had finished their gossip and left, leaving only Jiang Xi and her two younger sisters to clean up while Pei’s mother boiled water.

Jiang Xi was about to head inside for a rest.

Father Pei smiled, putting away the chess set and preparing to go inside when he saw a family arriving: Pei Deming, Xu Cui, and their three children: Chunhong, Fenghua, and Qiuhong.

This family came at night.

Pei Hejun’s eyes darkened as he quickly noticed their guilty expressions, making his gaze colder.

_

Pei Deming tried to act calm as he walked in and saw his third brother sitting in the main room. Although he looked a bit thinner, he was in good health, which made Pei Deming’s heart skip a beat. He slapped his son, urging him to greet his uncle.”Greet uncle quickly.” 

His three children, the oldest being fifteen, the second oldest thirteen, and the youngest ten, were all old enough to understand what their parents had been up to recently. As a result, their faces were all flushed red. After being prompted, they obediently greeted, “Hello, Uncle.”

Xu Cui also smiled and looked friendly.

Pei Hejun said nothing, just took a sip of tea and glanced at them.

Pei Deming’s family was left feeling awkward. Despite their grim expressions, they had to bow their heads and hold back their discomfort. Pei Deming found a chair, sat down, and said with a smile, “Third brother, you look much better. I’ve been too busy these past days. With three children to raise at home, I didn’t dare to take time off to visit you. Please don’t hold it against me.”

Jiang Xi had finished her work, stretched, and walked in. Hearing this, she burst out laughing.

She was initially tired and planned to rest, but now she stayed to watch the scene. She waved to her sisters, Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi, who joined her. The three of them sat on a bench, with one of them cracking melon seeds.

Jiang Xi wanted to see how shameless Pei Deming’s family was and how much they could say. It was also an opportunity to gauge Pei Hejun’s character. If he was too soft-hearted and believed in family bonds, she needed to reconsider her next steps.

Pei Deming was annoyed and his face darkened, especially when he saw Jiang Xi not only laughing but also sitting comfortably, as if watching a show. This made him even angrier.

However, he noticed that his mother was ignoring him, his father was sitting quietly, and his third brother seemed indifferent to Jiang Xi’s behavior. Feeling deflated, Pei Deming lost his confidence.

Pei Hejun noticed, but didn’t show it. He took another sip of tea, set the cup down with dignity, and looked towards Jiang Xi.

She was skillful at cracking melon seeds.

Jiang Xi offered some, “Would you like some? They’re quite delicious.”

Pei Hejun took a handful, placed it on the table, and began peeling them carefully. His strength was still limited, so he worked slowly but with great attention.

Pei Deming, feeling ashamed, tried to make excuses: “Third brother, are you upset with me?”

Pei Hejun looked up coldly, “Shouldn’t I be?”

Pei Deming’s face turned red, but he nodded. “It’s my fault. We thought you were in a hopeless, vegetative state, needing constant care. Given our family’s situation, how could we manage that?”

Pei Hejun responded coldly, “Isn’t my pension money? Isn’t it enough?”

Pei Deming muttered, “How long will it last? It won’t last forever.”

Pei Hejun replied sharply, “Can’t you manage for a few more months? Or even a year or two? There should be enough money.”

If his parents were complaining, he wouldn’t have said these things. But Pei Deming only thought about money.

Pei Deming had nothing to say. His priority was his parents’ retirement money, not his brother’s recovery. He was embarrassed by the situation.

Pei Hejun said with disappointment, “Although I look down on you two, I used to bring gifts for your children. But now, it seems I overestimated our family bond. You should live with distant relatives from now on. Don’t keep coming here.”

“Third brother!” Pei Deming was shocked and stood up.

Xu Cui’s expression changed, and she said anxiously, “We were wrong, but we are family.”

Pei Hejun’s voice was firm: “I didn’t do anything to you! What? Do you expect me to keep supporting you and buying food for your children? Don’t count on it!”

“Uncle San, you can’t say that. We were wrong, but the children are innocent,” Xu Cui said, angry and upset. She wanted her son to join the army in the future.

The children were embarrassed and tried to leave. Fenghua whispered to her, “Mom, let’s go.”

As the children grew older, they felt ashamed too.

Pei Hejun ignored them and Pei Deming felt a chill of realization. He hadn’t expected Pei Hejun to be so cold-hearted. Pei Deming pleaded, “Third brother, do you really feel this way? We are brothers!”

Pei Hejun looked at him firmly and said, “Get out!”

“Dad!” Pei Deming panicked and turned to his father for help.

Pei Zhong waved his hand dismissively, “Leave! You haven’t even asked me a question. How can you call me your father? Forget it!”

Pei Deming was left speechless.

He realized he had angered his brother and father by prioritizing Pei Hejun. The more he tried to placate them, the worse things became.

Seeing the disdain in his father’s eyes and the indifference in his brother’s eyes, along with Jiang Xi and her sisters watching, Pei Deming left angrily. Xu Cui and the children followed.

The unpleasant family left, and Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi exchanged satisfied smiles.

Jiang Xi also smiled with satisfaction. It was good that Pei Hejun didn’t forgive them. She disliked the eldest family more than the second. At least the second family caused less trouble, unlike the eldest, who constantly created conflict.

She put away the melon seeds and patted her two sisters on the head: “Okay, go brush your teeth and wash your face.”

“Got it!” the two said crisply, picked up the melon seed shells on the table, and jumped out to wash up.

Pei Hejun lowered his eyes and sighed.

Suddenly, he felt a heavy weight on his head.

A gentle female voice said, “Blood ties don’t mean everything. It’s better to stay away from some people. It’s okay.”

Pei Hejun’s face flushed, and he forgot all about his disappointment. He only focused on the person in front of him, with slightly curved eyes, clear and beautiful.