Chapter 372: Instigation

Zhou Bingkun still has a bit of a bratty look now, and Wang Yan certainly wouldn't bicker with a silly kid, just lightly kicked him for his disrespect and flicked the ash into the ashtray on the kang table: "I know even if you don't say it."

Zhou Bingkun looked at him uncertainly: "What do you know?"

"Isn't it just Taiping Alley."

Zhou Bingkun's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but lean in, wondering: "How did you know? Did you see it?"

"Silly boy, do I need to see it?" Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "Before the New Year, someone from Taiping Alley came to the health clinic for a consultation. They happened to have seen you before and knew you were my younger brother, so they asked me what you were doing over there. Later, a few other people said they saw you go over, and since we don't have any relatives or friends over there, it must mean you have something going on. If you don't tell me, I'll go to Taiping Alley myself, and I'll be able to find out in no time."

"Tell, I'll tell, is that okay?" Zhou Bingkun shook his head repeatedly, helplessly: "Then can you not tell my mom?"

"We'll see, hurry up and say it. A grown man acting all wishy-washy like a woman, be quick about it."

"Actually, it's nothing. Remember that Tu Zhiqiang I told you about, the one who was good to me at the lumber mill, the one who was shot for killing someone?"

Seeing Wang Yan nod, Zhou Bingkun let out a long breath and slowly began: "Not long after Tu Zhiqiang was shot, two people found me—one named Shui Ziliu, the other Luo Shibin. They were good brothers of Tu Zhiqiang. They said Tu Zhiqiang's wife was pregnant, and her situation was bad—she had an old mother and a blind younger brother. Back when they were sent down to the countryside, it was because of this situation that his wife couldn't bear to leave, wanting to take care of her old mother and brother at home. Since she wasn't assigned a job there, she had no choice but to marry Tu Zhiqiang through an introduction.

Now that Tu Zhiqiang is dead, she is still pregnant, and everything is inconvenient; life is very difficult. Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin are quite decent, so they took on the responsibility of taking care of their brother's wife. However, because their backgrounds are not good, it's inconvenient for them to show their faces, so they asked me to help deliver money. Every last Saturday of the month, they would give me thirty-five yuan, five of which was my errand fee. But I saw Zheng Juan—oh, Tu Zhiqiang's wife is named Zheng Juan. I saw Zheng Juan was too miserable, so I didn't take the five-yuan errand fee and gave them the full thirty-five every month."

"Finished?"

"Finished, what else could there be?"

"Are you trying to fool me? Bingkun, you're so bold now? Trying to rebel?" Wang Yan slapped the back of his head: "Isn't it just that you've taken a liking to this Zheng Juan? Tell me clearly what you're thinking."

"Who said I took a liking to her? Nothing of the sort, you're just misunderstanding."

Ignoring his insincerity, Wang Yan asked: "How many months pregnant is she? Can it be aborted?"

"Four months, I think; her belly is already showing, it's not easy to abort. And Zheng Juan's mother is a Buddhist and won't allow it, saying it's creating bad karma and damaging good fortune."

"Never mind Auntie and Uncle for now, are you willing to raise someone else's child?"

"What's wrong with that... No, Brother, my own brother, I really don't have that intention, look at where you're taking this." Zhou Bingkun shook his head repeatedly, refusing to admit it.

"Then this is going to be difficult. If you don't tell your dad, no matter whose family it is, the parents won't agree. After all, you're a big young man, and our family conditions aren't bad; we haven't reached the point of finding a widow, let alone a widow with a child. Your parents definitely won't allow it..." Waving his hand to signal he didn't need to quibble, Wang Yan pondered: "If you want to be with her, there is only one way."

"What way?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Bingkun wanted to give himself two slaps; his mouth was faster than his brain.

"Act first and report later. Your mom is easier to talk to than your dad. You just say the child is yours, bring Zheng Juan back, and tell your mom that you developed feelings over time while delivering the money and things got out of hand. But because you didn't dare tell the family, you hid it until now, and you couldn't hide it anymore once the belly got big. Although this will have some impact on the old Zhou family's reputation, you can't just leave her hanging, and your mom will understand.

As for your dad, he can't come back anyway; the mountains are high and the road is long, so at most he'll curse a few times in his letters. Just be with Zheng Juan first, and deal with the rest later. You have a child of the old Zhou family with Zheng Juan, and even if this comes out later, it won't be a big deal. Besides, didn't your second sister also sneak off to Guizhou and marry a poet ten years her senior? Although your dad was angry for three years, didn't he forgive her in the end? So for you, if three years isn't enough, then make it four. They are all your own children, there are no grudges that can't be resolved.

Don't be hypocritical either. Let me tell you, Bingkun, now is the best time. If you wait until the child is born and then say it's yours, that won't be appropriate. Your mom isn't stupid; don't look at her as illiterate and uncultured, she sees things very clearly. And by then, it will be even harder to talk to your dad. I'm telling you this, but don't sell me out. To your Zhou family, I am ultimately an outsider; if it gets out that I instigated you to marry a young widow with a child, I'll definitely be labeled an ingrate, and I won't be able to survive in Guangzipian."

Zhou Bingkun shook his head: "No way, Brother Yan, you grew up with my dad and mom watching, and we've been playing together since we were kids; we've long been one family. Didn't my mom go out to organize a partner for you? If she didn't consider you one of her own, she wouldn't have taken on that job; you're just overthinking it."

"Just don't sell me out." Wang Yan asked: "You're so infatuated, is Zheng Juan good-looking?"

Since it had come to this, Zhou Bingkun didn't hide it: "I don't know what your standards are, but by my standards, she is very good-looking."

"Then how have your conversations gone?"

"Brother Yan, I'll tell you the truth, don't laugh at me. I've only met her a few times in total, and we haven't even spoken thirty sentences. Usually, when I have nothing to do, I can't help but think of her, and I've thought about marrying her. But you say I've only met her a few times and said a few words, and I don't know what she's thinking. Now that we're talking about this, about acting first and reporting later, it's all useless; it's all just my wishful thinking."

"Damn it, if you like her, then go for it." Wang Yan shook his head: "Bingkun, you need to understand the situation. She is pregnant, has an elderly mother, and a blind younger brother; with these conditions, her chances of remarrying are basically zero. You're willing, but you say you think about her all day—you can't just think about how good-looking she is, right? Her mother, her brother, her child—those are all issues. Since you've thought about it and can't stop thinking about her, then just be decisive. If it works, then let's hurry up; if it doesn't, you can't delay yourself either, your mom is worried."

"Then what should I say?"

"Say whatever, say what you think." Wang Yan stood up: "You wait here for a while, Zheng Juan's family conditions are poor, so they must be a bit insecure. I'll go to the health clinic and prepare a prescription for pregnancy stabilization and energy replenishment; it's safe for pregnant women and won't harm the fetus. You take it to Taiping Alley to find Zheng Juan and have a chat with her."

After speaking, ignoring the slightly panicked Zhou Bingkun, he put on his shoes and left. He rode his bicycle to the health clinic, greeted the person on duty, and quickly grabbed some medicine before leaving. Of course, he paid for it, though it wasn't much—at cost price, or even less. After all, the person in charge here is another man in his thirties who sees patients, and he is responsible for the accounts...

Returning to the old Zhou house, Zhou Bingkun inside had already packed up and was sitting by the edge of the kang, looking quite proactive.

Seeing Wang Yan enter, he hurriedly stood up to greet him: "Thanks, Brother Yan, then I'll go over and take a look first?"

"Wait a minute, I thought about it on the way back, something is not right."

"It's just a poor family, what could be not right?"

Wang Yan shook his head and sat down to pour hot water: "Think about it, that Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin, why are they so proactive in sending money to Zheng Juan?"

"Aren't they good brothers? Isn't it only right and proper to take care of a brother's wife?" Zhou Bingkun sat down and said: "No, Brother, you have the most say in this. Look at when my uncle and aunt passed away, didn't my dad and mom take the initiative to find the neighborhood committee to take care of you?"

"Is that the same? Our two families built houses together, and we've lived here for so many years. Before we were born, your parents and my parents were helping each other; that's how many years of friendship? How old are Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin? How many years have they known each other? Helping a brother's wife is indeed right and righteous, but thirty-five a month—is that a small amount? How much do you earn, how much do I earn?"

"Their money must come from improper sources. Didn't you say their backgrounds are not good? If their backgrounds are not good, no decent unit will hire them. If they can still give thirty-five, it's clearly speculation—reselling tickets, reselling cigarettes and alcohol, etc. This money is a lot, but it's not easy to come by; it's risky. If they worked so hard for this money, I'd believe it if they gave ten yuan; that would be decent of them. But giving thirty-five is too much, abnormally much."

"Are you suspecting that the child in Zheng Juan's belly is one of theirs? Just because they gave too much money? Doesn't that just show they are more righteous? And they speculate, so they must earn a lot. You're just overthinking it, Brother."

Wang Yan sighed; the child is too young and not yet well-versed in human affairs: "Fine, it seems I can't explain it to you, go find Zheng Juan."

"You're just overthinking it." Zhou Bingkun shook his head, holding the medicine and fiddling with it: "The instructions and everything are written on it, right?"

"I make a living from this, how could I forget? Hurry up and go."

"Okay, then I'm off."

Zhou Bingkun turned and left the room. Not long after, the sound of a bicycle leaving and tires pressing on the road echoed outside, gradually fading away.

Leaving so decisively, he had already done his own psychological counseling beforehand. Wang Yan shook his head, took off his shoes, got on the kang, and leaned against the windowsill to drink tea.

His own plans will definitely be laid out, but that's for later. It's only 1973 now; the special zone pilot won't be established until 1979, and it won't be until around 1984 that there will be room for action in the Northeast and other inland areas. There is still plenty of time.

So he has nothing to do now but honestly be his old TCM doctor and first establish the name of a miracle doctor. As for money, he doesn't need to scheme for start-up capital later, and he doesn't need to go to the black market to resell tickets. Because his current salary is enough for him to live on, and if he wants more money, as long as "Miracle Doctor Wang" becomes widely known, he won't lack money or resources.

Although healing the wounded and rescuing the dying is the duty of a doctor, all patients' families hope to make the doctor more dedicated through some material gifts. Decades later, giving red envelopes to doctors is still an accepted rule. It's just that some don't want them, or they recharge them into the hospitalization fees, while others are used to it and feel uncomfortable if they don't give something.

He had not only been a full-time doctor before, but also a doctor at the best hospital in China, and he had risen to the highest position of chief physician. He was also the most popular professor and doctoral supervisor at the academy, and he participated in the healthcare work for national leaders. He understands all the messy things related to doctor-patient relationships and hospitals.

And this process won't take long; it just depends on whether he can cure a few life-threatening illnesses. By then, people will exaggerate and praise him to the skies. Fortunately, his strength is sufficient to hold up.

Of course, in the process, he won't forget to help Zhou Bingkun and let him live a safe and smooth life. He didn't fool Zhou Bingkun yesterday; he really has the intention to let him rise.

Zhou Bingkun is not stupid and has some cleverness. Including opening an educational bookstore in the original drama, or running a moving company later, it was actually quite good. Although the restaurant he managed was too small to see much, he started it from scratch, and the management was quite decent. Giving him a platform to train, it shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, not to mention that Zhou Bingkun himself has some skills, even if he didn't, he could have them with plenty of resources thrown at him. Wang Yan is very familiar with this job; he has done it many times before.

As for Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin, he is thinking about whether to just kill them directly. It would save a lot of messy things later because of the child.

However, Shui Ziliu is okay; he has a bit of conscience. As the "truly emotional friend" of the executed Tu Zhiqiang, he insisted on sending money to Zheng Juan; otherwise, Luo Shibin wouldn't have given any money.

Now Shui Ziliu has a high status, and Luo Shibin is just a little brother behind them. Later, Luo Shibin rose up, and Shui Ziliu became a vassal and was kicked out of the company. Although he still helped Luo Shibin with this and that later, it's unknown whether he was willing in his heart.

And Luo Shibin was accidentally killed by Zhou Bingkun. When he was caught, he didn't know whether Luo Shibin was dead or alive. However, when he learned of Luo Shibin's death, perhaps he also felt a sense of relief. Although he married Zheng Juan and acknowledged his son, he was ultimately a man, and he couldn't truly act as if the encounter of Zheng Juan, a bitter woman he loved deeply, had never happened.

It is February now, and Zheng Juan is four months pregnant, which means she will give birth in July or August. In the original drama, the New Year passed fiercely, but the time in between wasn't very clear. Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin were caught after Zheng Juan gave birth; the scene wasn't winter, so basically, they should be caught in half a year or so, and they won't be seen for ten years.

Thinking this way, Wang Yan decided to let Luo Shibin and Shui Ziliu off for now and wait until later. Try to let Zhou Bingkun solve it himself; taking revenge with his own hands is always the most satisfying...

Zhou Bingkun rode his bicycle, swaying toward Taiping Alley, thinking in his mind about how to talk to Zheng Juan when they met. It wasn't very far, and it was two wheels turning, but the closer he got, the more panicked he became.

"What are you doing, Bingkun?"

The sudden greeting caught Zhou Bingkun off guard, and the wheel swerved just as the ground was covered in ice from the heavy snow two days ago. He didn't control it well and slid sideways; fortunately, he stabilized, otherwise he would have plunged headfirst into the snow pile next to him.

Xiao Guoqing looked at Zhou Bingkun, who had just stabilized his figure, in a daze, and stepped forward with a smile to punch him: "What are you thinking about, not even looking at the road? Why didn't you plunge in? I could have laughed at you for two years."

"Get lost." Zhou Bingkun retorted with a punch and pedaled to leave.

"Hey, no, what are you doing? That's Taiping Alley, do you have something going on?"

"Ah... something, um... what, my Brother Yan asked me to go over there to deliver medicine. Look, isn't this it." Zhou Bingkun cleverly found an excuse and showed the square package of medicine tied to the handlebars with yellow paper.

"I saw Debao this morning; he and Chunyan's families are meeting today at noon. You don't know, when we broke up yesterday, I left with Ganchao, and Ganchao was heartbroken."

"What can you do about being heartbroken? Chunyan just likes Cao Debao, saying he looks cool playing the harmonica." Zhou Bingkun shook his head: "Alright, I won't talk to you anymore, I have to hurry and deliver the medicine."

"Alright, hurry up, we'll talk another day."

Nodding, Zhou Bingkun pedaled his bicycle away, heading toward Taiping Alley.

Arriving in front of the two rooms with only a small courtyard facing the street, he hesitated, afraid to speak, so he just sat on the bike with his feet on the ground, staring blankly at Zheng Juan's door.

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"Bingkun? It's not Saturday today, why are you here?"

The creaking sound of the dilapidated wooden door rang out, and an old woman with gray hair, a face full of wrinkles, and somewhat dirty clothes pushed the door open; it was Zheng Juan's old mother.

Poor families, especially in such an era of material scarcity, are mostly like this. Working hard to earn a living day after day, smoked and scorched, where is there time to care about the most useless face-saving work.

Her voice interrupted the dazed Zhou Bingkun.

"Ah, Auntie. That, my brother is a doctor at the health clinic, he prescribed a medicine for pregnancy stabilization and energy replenishment for Zheng Juan, and I'm delivering it. Are you going out, Auntie?"

Before Zheng's mother could speak, Zheng Guangming, who looked malnourished, ran out: "Brother Bingkun!"

"Hey, Guangming."

Zheng's mother rubbed Zheng Guangming's head: "Why don't you come in and sit for a while? Drink some hot water?"

"...... Okay."

Seeing Zhou Bingkun agree, Zheng's mother smiled and let him into the room: "I have to go get some soy sauce, we're out. Guangming, come with me."

"Okay, Mom."

Zhou Bingkun stood in the outer room, watching Zheng's mother leave with Zheng Guangming. He looked at the curtain in front of him, not knowing whether to enter or not, and there was no movement in the room.

After a long silence, he couldn't stand the oppression, and stammered: "That, I put the medicine on the stove. The usage and precautions are all inside. My brother said this is for pregnancy stabilization and energy replenishment; your body is weak, and it's good for the child in your belly."

"Come in, I'll pour you some water."

The curtain was lifted, and that face he had been thinking about day and night appeared before his eyes. Zhou Bingkun nodded blankly: "Okay."

In the small room, he held an enamel mug in his hands, staring straight at the uneven ground. All the words he had thought of at home and on the road, he couldn't say a single one.

Zheng Juan sat beside him, her hand stroking her belly, turning her head to look at his profile.

After a long time, it was Zheng Juan who broke the silence... ===== CHAPTER 373 =====