He was a disabled military officer who doted on his research work in the Northwest.

in the afternoon.

"Tap tap—"

The door rang again.

This time, the two of them came together: Wang Xiulian and Lin Qiaozhen.

Zhao Dahai helped Wang Xiulian, whose five-month pregnancy made her walk somewhat clumsy. Lin Qiaozhen stood beside them carrying a thermos lunchbox.

"Tangtang," Wang Xiulian went straight to the bedside as soon as she entered the room, sat down on the edge of the bed, and took Shen Tang's hand, "How did you collapse? You were fine just a few days ago—"

"It's nothing, sister-in-law, I'm just tired."

"What do you mean, nothing's wrong!" Wang Xiulian glared at her. "Look at your face, it's as white as paper."

Lin Qiaozhen opened the insulated lunchbox, and the aroma of chicken soup wafted out: "It's an old hen, just killed at noon. I also added red dates and goji berries. I simmered it for two hours, and I even skimmed off all the oil. Drink plenty to nourish your body."

Shen Tang took the bowl and took a sip. The rich broth slid down her throat and warmed her stomach.

"Thank you, Sister Qiaozhen."

"No need to thank me." Lin Qiaozhen waved her hand. "You've helped us so much. Xiao An is eating so well now, and he's grown so much. My little bit of chicken soup is nothing. If you like it, I'll bring more tomorrow. We still have a few chickens at home."

Wang Xiulian smiled and patted her round belly, looking at Shen Tang: "Tangtang, take good care of yourself. When you're better, and my belly gets even bigger, I'll need your protection."

Looking at Wang Xiulian's round face and Lin Qiaozhen's cheerful smile, Shen Tang felt a little thaw in the ice that had been pressing down on her heart because of the collapsed vegetable garden.

Dr. Chen also came by in the afternoon. He brought a bag of supplements: milk powder, malted milk powder, and red dates.

"Why are you here? Isn't the hospital busy?"

"I've finished everything. I'm here on official business, representing the hospital to visit our hero." He smiled and placed the things on the table. "It was specially approved by the hospital director. Please don't stand on ceremony."

Shen Tang was both amused and exasperated: "Dr. Chen, I just have a cold—"

"39.4 degrees Celsius is considered a cold?" Doctor Chen waved his hand. "Rest well. Don't push yourself. Your job right now is to lie down—you don't need to worry about anything else."

……

Throughout the day, the east wing of the Mu family residence was almost constantly occupied.

The women from the compound came in twos and threes, some bringing eggs, some bringing brown sugar, and some bringing their own pickled vegetables.

"Tangtang, get well soon! Your sudden illness scared everyone."

"Yes, with Commander Mu here, you can just focus on recovering and not worry about anything else."

"The winter solstice is almost here. Let's make dumplings together when you're better!"

Shen Tang was overwhelmed with the various tonics and foods she was given while lying in bed.

But she noticed—

One person didn't come.

Tiger, the child who is usually closest to her, did not show up from morning to night today.

Almost every child in the compound had come to see her with an adult. Some brought her paintings, some picked a dried flower, and some gave her the candy they had saved up.

But Tiger didn't come.

Shen Tang thought for a moment, and figured that maybe Zhang Cuihua hadn't brought him along because of something, so he didn't think much of it.

……

The neighboring courtyard. Zhang Cuihua's house.

Tiger has stayed indoors since morning and hasn't gone out.

People kept passing by in the courtyard, saying things like "Go see Shen Tang" and "Tang Tang is sick." Every time he heard this, he buried his head deeper into the blanket.

Zhang Cuihua called him to eat after cooking, but he didn't move even after she called him three times.

"Tiger!" Zhang Cuihua walked over and pulled back the covers. "What's wrong with you? You've been like this since last night! Eat!"

Tiger curled up in a ball, his eyes red and his lips pressed tightly together.

"Mom..." His voice was barely audible, like a mosquito's hum, "Aunt Shen Tang... is it because of me... that she's sick...?"

Zhang Cuihua's movements stopped.

"What did you say?"

Tiger's tears finally fell, and he said haltingly, "I...I asked Teacher Li at school the day before yesterday...I asked Teacher Li if it's okay to pour milk over vegetables, and Teacher Li said..."

He sobbed, his voice growing softer and softer:

"Teacher Li said you can't pour pure milk directly onto the soil...it will ferment in the soil, burn the roots, and kill all the vegetables..."

He suddenly raised his head, tears streaming down his face:

"Mom—did I kill Aunt Shen Tang's vegetables with too much water?! Is it because of me that she got sick?!"

Zhang Cuihua stood there, stunned.

She remembered what Liu Fang had said to her a few days ago.

"Milk is especially good for watering plants. It's rich in nutrients, and the plants grow strong."

"Just pour it directly. A higher concentration provides more nutrients."

Zhang Cuihua didn't think there was anything wrong at the time—Liu Fang spoke so confidently that she believed her. She also didn't pay much attention when Hu Zi went to water the vegetables.

But now—

Shen Tang's vegetables died.

Shen Tang is sick.

Because of that vegetable garden.

Because of the milk that Tiger poured.

Zhang Cuihua's lips twitched twice.

She knelt down and hugged Hu Zi, who was crying his eyes out.

"Don't cry, don't cry..." Her voice was a little tight. "You meant well. Auntie won't blame you. It's just a vegetable garden—Mom will help her plant it later."

"But...but Aunt Shen Tang is sick...everyone's going to see her...I'm afraid to go..." Tiger sobbed, trembling, in her arms. "Mom...am I a bad child...?"

"No, you didn't." Zhang Cuihua hugged him tightly, her voice choked. "You're a good boy. You wanted to help Aunt Shen Tang. You didn't know you couldn't pour milk directly onto someone. That wasn't your fault."

Tiger cried for a long time.

Zhang Cuihua hugged him, offering words of comfort, but her expression grew increasingly grim.

If it's not Tiger's fault, then whose fault is it?

Liu Fang.

That smiling, gentle Liu Fang.

Did she genuinely not know that "milk is good for watering flowers," or was she doing it on purpose?

If it was intentional, what was she after?

She and Shen Tang had no worries, so why did she do this?

But if it wasn't intentional—why is it such a coincidence?

Why did they have to tell me of this day of all times? And why was Tiger there?

It was after the army started distributing milk.

Zhang Cuihua felt increasingly uneasy, but she had no evidence.

And...more importantly—she couldn't let anyone know that it was Hu Ziqian who did it.

Tiger is only six years old. He was just trying to be kind.

Even if the investigation eventually reveals that Liu Fang was indeed the one who instigated it, Hu Zi is still so young...

What will the people in the compound say? Will anyone gossip about him behind his back? Will the other kids never play with Tiger again?

Zhang Cuihua hugged Huzi tightly, her lips pressed together.

Let's not talk about this for now.

I won't tell anyone.

3 PM.

Lu Yanzhi has arrived.

He didn't bring any supplements. He only brought an old canvas bag containing soil testing tools and a notebook.

When he entered, Mu Qinghan was sitting in a wicker chair on the veranda reading a book. She nodded slightly when she saw Lu Yanzhi.

"Commander Mu." Lu Yanzhi nodded as well, "I heard Shen Tang is ill, so I came to visit. And also to check on the situation in the backyard."

"Go in."

Lu Yanzhi went to the backyard first.

I squatted by the vegetable patch for a long time. I tested the pH value with test strips and took several soil samples to smell.

He stood up, dusted off his hands, and his expression was surprisingly calm.

He went into the east wing.

Shen Tang leaned against the headboard, and her eyes immediately reddened when she saw him come in.

"Teacher Lu...I'm sorry..."