Northeast: My Absurd Woman

Lu Shi sighed, picked up his teacup, drank some water, and stopped talking.

"Uncle, I don't want to use Lin Qiu to find me work anymore."

We are classmates, and it would be bad for her if her father-in-law found out.

I'm going to the health center to see my wife now. I wonder how she is doing?

If Lin Qiu comes looking for me, please tell her that I'll come see her again when I have time.

After thinking it over for a while, Zhang Changyao decided to give up the opportunity.

It wouldn't be good for me to add to Lin Qiu's current predicament.

After all, they each have their own families, and keeping their distance is the best choice for both of them.

As Zhang Changyao walked back, he felt a mix of emotions.

He felt guilty for leaving without saying goodbye once again.

Even now, he still loves Lin Qiu.

Neither Zheng Meizhi nor Yang Wuni could replace Lin Qiu's place in his heart.

No one could possibly know which position belonged exclusively to Lin Qiu.

"Zhang Changyao, look what this is!" Yang Wuni stood at the hospital entrance waiting for Zhang Changyao to return.

The first thing I did when I saw him was to stretch out the two yuan and seventy cents note and show it to him.

"Wu Ni, they really are giving us a subsidy. Then stay a few more days and we'll go back after you've fully recovered."

Zhang Changyao brought back the subsidy of 2.7 yuan with Yang Wuni.

The two men sat on the bed, grinning foolishly at the money in their eyes. They never dreamed that someone would give them money for medical treatment.

"Zhang Changyao, you should buy Yang Wuni some food to help her recover."

She's taking medication every day and is pregnant, so her body can't take it anymore.

The subsidy is for her to improve her health, not for you to save for a living.

Nurse Zhang walked in carrying a large package and collapsed onto the bed with a "thump".

"Nurse Zhang, this is so heavy, let me help you carry it."

Seeing that Nurse Zhang was panting heavily, Zhang Changyao went over to help her carry the package.

"Zhang Changyao, this package contains clothes and pants that several of the older women from our health center found for Yang Wuni."

And the clothes, pants, and blankets our children wore when they were little.

They've all been washed clean; you can keep them for your children to wear in the future.

Nurse Zhang straightened her back and walked out as if she had completed her task.

"Oh my god! Zhang Changyao, this is all for me, did you hear me?"

Yang Wuni's eyes lit up, and she clung to the large package, unwilling to get down.

"Wu Ni, let's open it and see what's inside?"

Zhang Changyao sat down next to the large package and reached out to open it.

"Zhang Changyao, you're not allowed to move. Nurse Zhang said these are all for me."

I'm not going back, so you can't take the big package back first.

"Your father and Zhao Xiulan will definitely try to steal my things if they see this."

Yang Wuni protected the package, preventing Zhang Changyao from touching it, just like a child guarding their food.

"Wu Ni, I'm not taking the package home, I just want to find you something to wear."

Look at your clothes now, they're covered in patches.

Zhang Changyao pointed to a patch of a different color on Yang Wuni's clothes and showed it to her.

"What's wrong with patching clothes? Who in the village doesn't patch their clothes these days?"

"It's not like I'm naked, showing my butt, what's there to be afraid of?"

With her hands full of packages, Yang Wuni could only lower her head and bite Zhang Changyao's hand.

Despite saying that, Yang Wuni's hands still opened the package.

The clothes, big and small, were folded neatly.

The fragrant smell of soap made Yang Wuni unable to resist picking up a few pieces and bringing them close to her nose to smell.

"Zhang Changyao, look how nice this is, it feels so soft and fluffy."

Look at this one again, how beautiful it is! The big flowers are reddish-white.

Go close the door, I'll put this on, and these pants too.

"Oh my god! Zhang Changyao, come quick, there's another pocket inside!"

Yang Wuni picked up an item and sighed, her emotions even more intense than when she first visited the Grand View Garden.

Zhang Changyao closed the door and watched Yang Wuni try on one piece of clothing after another.

He forced a smile, but his heart was filled with unbearable sorrow.

My silly wife actually likes a bunch of old clothes like this.

If this isn't because the man she married was incompetent, then what is it?

"This is the one. It feels soft and warm."

Yang Wuni finally chose a faded workwear jacket and trousers.

Then he neatly folded his own clothes and put them among the clothes he had just tidied up.

After tying it up, he leaned against it, looking completely satisfied.

"Wu Ni, I'll buy you new clothes when I have money in the future."

After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Changyao said something that lacked confidence.

"Zhang Changyao, what are you saying? It's like we're complaining about the clothes someone gave us."

I'm telling you, I don't wear new clothes; I'm proud of these old ones.

Look at the material of those clothes; you couldn't afford them even if you worked yourself to death.

"I'm going to take this huge package back with me; I guarantee it'll make all those old women in the village green with envy."

Yang Wuni pointed at Zhang Changyao, telling him to watch his words.

"Wu Ni, are you hungry now? I'll go buy you some food."

When Zhang Changyao heard Yang Wuni's stomach rumbling, he went to buy her some food.

"What should we eat? How much will that cost? Let's go home and eat tomorrow. A handful of cornmeal can make half a pot of porridge."

Yang Wuni grabbed the money from the bed and stuffed it into her shirt pocket.

It seems they're not planning to give Zhang Changyao money to buy food.

"Wu Ni, I've found out. Five steamed buns cost one cent each, which is enough for the two of us."

Zhang Changyao slipped his hand between Yang Wuni's hands.

He took out a two-mao note and was about to buy a steamed bun.

"Zhang Changyao, two cents won't do, I have one cent here."

Yang Wuni quickly snatched the two cents from Zhang Changyao's hand, found a one-cent coin, and handed it to him.

Zhang Changyao took a dime to the steamed bun shop at the entrance.

Five sorghum flour buns cost one cent, four bran flour buns cost one cent, and five white flour buns cost two cents.

Having no other choice, Zhang Changyao bought five sorghum flour buns to take home.

"Zhang Changyao, you really can buy a steamed bun with just one cent. You're really something."

Yang Wuni was lying in bed when she saw Zhang Changyao return. She rolled over and sat up, laughing.

"Wu Ni, this is a sorghum flour steamed bun, not a bran flour or white flour steamed bun."

Zhang Changyao placed a few steamed buns in front of Yang Wuni.

"Zhang Changyao, I have three, you have two. I can eat more than you."

Yang Wuni divided the steamed buns into two piles, placing three in front of her.

She had never eaten steamed buns before, so she favored herself, picked one up, and took a bite.

"Wu Ni, is it delicious?" Zhang Changyao didn't take a steamed bun, but watched Yang Wu Ni eat.

"Zhang Changyao, let me tell you, this steamed bun is really delicious."

It's the taste of cooked sorghum rice when you chew it.

It tastes sweet, like it has saccharin in it.

Yang Wuni looked completely absorbed, chewing her food while shaking her head and occasionally smacking her lips.

"Nurse, is there a man named Zhang Changyao who came to the hospital with his wife?"