Chapter 377: Zhou Jianhua

"Auntie, Juan'er."

Wang Yan greeted Li Suhua and Zheng Juan, who were busy in the outer room of the old Zhou family home.

Pregnant women are precious, but not *that* precious. Zheng Juan was naturally a hardworking person, and on top of that, she felt guilty; even with a large belly, she still did everything—lighting the fire, cooking, washing dishes, tidying the house, and doing the laundry.

Li Suhua, of course, couldn't let her do it, but Zheng Juan insisted, so she couldn't force the issue and could only try her best not to let Zheng Juan do too much. Every day, she would find her good nephew to check on Zheng Juan's condition and keep an eye on things.

Hearing Wang Yan's greeting, Zheng Juan nodded and called him "Brother," then turned back to continue her work. Li Suhua glanced at her, then smilingly pulled Wang Yan into the room: "Busy all day, tired, aren't you? You, how did you suddenly become so enlightened? How did you grow that brain of yours? You became a famous doctor all of a sudden. Usually, people with your level of fame in Traditional Chinese Medicine are all old men. It must be that our Wang Yan is smart; everyone says you're a genius."

"Haha, Auntie, I'm still surprised myself. It was just a sudden moment of clarity, and I could explain the ins and outs of many illnesses. Maybe it's because, although I didn't cure many people in the past few years, I saw a lot of patients and gained a lot of experience. After studying hard, I made progress."

"Auntie doesn't understand those things. Auntie just knows you're a miracle doctor who can cure illnesses that others can't. People are all clinging to you, begging for your help, all wanting to be seen first. Look at that pile of things; those were all sent today."

Wang Yan looked at the canned goods, pastries, cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, and tea piled in the corner—things suitable for gift-giving—and said with a smile: "Just keep them. These are all their expressions of gratitude. It doesn't look good to have so many people at the clinic, and I can't accept them there. Sending them straight to our home leaves me no room to refuse, and I wouldn't know who sent them if I wanted to return them. Just eat them. Later, have Bingkun send some to Juan'er's mother and brother."

Due to the current system, it really is people's medicine. No matter how many patients he sees, how many prescriptions he writes, or how many people he cures, he only receives a monthly wage of twenty-two yuan. And that was only after he prescribed medicine for Li Weiguo, and the kid was so grateful he reported it to get him a raise.

Going to the hospital for surgery or using advanced equipment for treatment is a significant expense. But here, the costs are relatively much lower. The main expense is the cost of the medicine. For everything else, his consultation fee is one dime, and acupuncture and massage are free.

Of course, the prescriptions he writes inevitably use scarce medicinal herbs, which are quite expensive and hard to find. But there is one good thing here: there are many difficult and complicated cases, and the rare herbs they need often overlap, just with different dosages. So, in this regard, they all pool their money together and find ways to buy in bulk. Overall, it is much cheaper than Western medicine.

They are all poor families, and they don't know how to thank him, so they buy things that are relatively presentable in this era and send them to his home. From time to time, someone will come by, say a few words to Li Suhua, and leave; just showing their appreciation is enough.

"Auntie, don't have any burdens. No one is watching, so just be at ease. Later, keep the things that are hard to buy and mail some to Uncle and the others. They have it quite tough out there."

Although this wasn't the first time, he still continued to urge her.

"Alright, alright." Li Suhua nodded repeatedly, pulled Wang Yan to sit on the edge of the *kang*, and carefully took out a letter: "Little Yan, this is the letter your Uncle sent. It just arrived today. Take a look and see what he says?"

"Doesn't Zheng Juan know how to read? Why didn't you let her look first?"

"Are you stupid? You're usually so sharp, why are you being muddled now?" Li Suhua gave him a light tap and whispered: "You know, after those two letters went out last month, I wrote several more asking about the situation. If Bingyi hadn't said his dad was fine, I would have thought something happened to him. You say, this old man hasn't sent a single word for so long—isn't that just him being angry with us?"

"If your Uncle says something unpleasant in this letter, what should we do? If Bingkun and his wife find out, can they feel good? Juan'er is due in two months; what if it affects the child? Auntie thinks we should clarify this matter with your Uncle first, and then tell Bingkun later."

"Auntie is thoughtful. Let me see."

As he spoke, Wang Yan took the letter from the envelope that had already been neatly torn open. Li Suhua had been anxious and opened it earlier, but she couldn't read and didn't understand it; she didn't know how much she had suffered throughout the day.

Looking at the salutation of the letter, Wang Yan knew it was fine, because it was written: "Suhua, Little Yan, Zheng Juan, how are you all?" He then flipped through it roughly and looked with a smile at Li Suhua, who was waiting expectantly beside him: "Uncle agreed, but his attitude isn't very good."

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Li Suhua first grinned, then felt a bit like crying, because there was the precedent of Zhou Rong, and now this one with Zhou Bingkun was even more intense than that. Compared to four years of no contact, this time he only gave them the cold shoulder for half a month before there was news, and he agreed—it was quite good. She was just afraid that her old man would be stubborn and refuse, really driving Zhou Bingkun out of the house.

"Look at your Uncle, that old man, he finally understood something for once. Fine, it doesn't matter what he's like, as long as he agreed, as long as he agreed." She patted Wang Yan: "Then what does he say in the letter? Read it to me."

"Bingkun will be back soon. Let him read it then, and we can all listen together with Juan'er. It won't be long now, Auntie."

"Alright then, I'll go back to cooking. Juan'er is a stubborn child; I have to keep an eye on her, don't let her get tired." Li Suhua let out a long breath and got up to go to the outer room to continue working.

Wang Yan put the letter back into the envelope, placed it on the *kang* table, then lit a cigarette and sat on a small stool in the courtyard, puffing away.

Not long after, Zhou Bingkun rode his bicycle back, greeting him while parking: "Brother Yan."

"Here, for this month." Wang Yan took out the envelope with money from his pocket.

"Thanks, Brother." Zhou Bingkun didn't hesitate, neatly taking the envelope, folding it, and tucking it into his pocket.

"Uncle sent a letter."

"Really? What does he say?"

"I just took a rough look. I was waiting for you to come back so we could read it together."

Zhou Bingkun nodded, ran into the room to greet his mother and wife, and after tidying up, the food was served on the table set up on the floor in the room. It was to take care of Zheng Juan's large belly, as it was inconvenient on the *kang*.

"Son, hurry, read your dad's letter."

Zhou Bingkun said "Hey," took out the letter, cleared his throat, and began to read.

"Suhua, Little Yan, Zheng Juan, how are you all.

I suppose you've been waiting anxiously for my response, right? But for this matter, does my attitude matter? What were you doing earlier? Why wait until she was nearly five months pregnant to say something? Is this the responsibility a man should have? I would have accepted it if you were kicked to death, but to still be clinging on after being kicked out of the house—are you not ashamed to say that? The belly is big, it can't be hidden, the fire is burning on the roof, and now you dare to act and take responsibility? Then why tell me? Does what I say still carry any weight now?

Zheng Juan, I'm not saying this to you, please don't overthink it. I've seen your photo; you are very beautiful. Coming to our house and following such a thing, it's like a fresh flower stuck in cow dung; it's our Zhou family accumulating virtue. Your character is clear from what your mother told me, and I see it clearly, so don't have any pressure. The child in your belly is getting bigger day by day, so you must take care of your health. Your mother says you always rush to do the work; I must criticize you for this. Since you've entered this house, you are a member of this family, so let go of your worries and don't carry any burdens.

Suhua, you must keep an eye on things at all times; this is a critical moment, and you cannot be careless. In addition, Zheng Juan's family conditions are not very good. Our family is not a snobbish one; if there are difficulties, you must help if you can, and if you can't, find a way to help.

The prescription Little Yan gave is excellent. After drinking it a few times, I feel my body is much lighter, and I have much more energy. Here, he is a miracle doctor praised by everyone. But you must not be arrogant; humility leads to progress. Maintain this momentum, improve your medical skills, save more people, and contribute to the country. Also, for Zheng Juan's matter, you should put in more effort. Check on her regularly and ensure she gives birth to a healthy child.

Suhua, Little Yan is twenty-two years old this year, not young anymore. In the old society, he would already be a father of several children. You should arrange for him to find a partner. Our family only has him left unmarried, so you should put some heart into it. But marriage is a lifelong event, so don't be too hasty, don't just settle; you must find someone suitable.

For matters at home, with Little Yan there, I am at ease. Suhua, you must take care of your health, eat well, and drink well. Don't worry about me at home. As you say, keep different opinions, digest your own anger, and you also said that children and grandchildren have their own blessings. I have already kept and digested everything, and I have let go of the blessings of children and grandchildren.

I am doing well out here, don't worry or miss me.

Zhou Zhigang,

March 30th, 1973."

Wang Yan listened with a smile; he had only scanned it roughly before and hadn't looked closely. Now, listening to it like this, it was quite interesting. The whole letter was only a few hundred words, just two sheets of paper, but it sternly expressed his dissatisfaction with Zhou Bingkun.

Zhou Zhigang cares very much about his reputation. Zhou Rong's incident was enough to bear, and now there's Zhou Bingkun—it would be strange if he weren't angry. It was only because they insisted the child was Zhou Bingkun's, and he couldn't deny it, that he held back many opposing words. If Zheng Juan weren't pregnant, and it was just that they had lived together for a while, it would be impossible for Zhou Bingkun to be with Zheng Juan unless he really severed ties. This matter, in this era, is about the same for anyone's parents.

As for Zhou Zhigang's favoritism, that certainly exists. After all, with three children, not everyone is a master of balancing water; personal subjective feelings are there. Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong both had good grades since childhood, later went to university, one became an official, and the other became a university teacher; the partners they found were one from a high-ranking official's family and the other a famous poet. When it came to Zhou Bingkun, he was mischievous since childhood, married a widow, and was raising someone else's child—how could he be comfortable?

Even if he didn't care about others' opinions because he cared about his reputation, he would still feel troubled thinking about it himself. He says children and grandchildren have their own blessings, but how could a father not think about it? Besides, that former wife of someone else, that son of someone else, dangling in front of his eyes every day—who could not think about it?

Of course, they are all his own children; what can he do? Even if there is favoritism, there is a limit. Later on, when he is old and doesn't add trouble to his children, that is the best. Where would there be any messy thoughts? It's just like that.

Truth be told, Zhou Zhigang as a father, in the China of the same period, in countless cities and outside, is good enough, not bad.

"This old man, he's really interesting. Saying he's not angry, saying he's let go—you all look at how he wrote this letter, as if anyone couldn't hear how much resentment he has." After listening to the letter read by his youngest son, Li Suhua put a piece of meat into Zheng Juan's bowl: "Juan'er, this old man has that donkey temper, don't overthink it. Although his words are unpleasant, he's blaming Bingkun for saying it too late and too suddenly. This matter is now considered resolved, so just live your life steadily with Bingkun."

Feeling the warmth on her thigh under the table, Zheng Juan turned her head to look at Zhou Bingkun, who was grinning foolishly: "Mom, you're the one overthinking it. I never thought about those messy things from beginning to end, so don't worry."

"My dad is like a child, writing a letter without signing it." Zhou Bingkun shook his head, smiling as he straightened his chopsticks on the table: "Enough, let's eat, let's eat. I'm exhausted from working all day, I have to eat more."

Li Suhua urged: "After you finish eating, write a reply to your dad."

"Don't worry, Mom. As long as Dad agrees, it's fine. I won't hold it against him. I'll write a reply after I finish eating." Zhou Bingkun laughed: "Mom, Brother, thank you all."

"You child, I'm your mother, he's your brother, what are you thanking us for? Hurry up and eat."

"Exactly, we're one family, no need for two sets of words. You thanking us like this makes it sound like I'm not part of this family."

"Right?" Li Suhua gave her youngest son a symbolic slap: "Look at you, such a big person, can't handle things, can't speak well. Hurry up and let Mom save some worry."

Wang Yan chimed in: "Auntie, then you're thinking wrong."

"How so?"

"Zheng Juan is due in two months; won't you be the one worrying then? And there's Big Brother and Second Sister; they'll be having children too. Especially that Feng Huacheng, he doesn't have anyone there, so won't it all be your work later?"

"Now that you mention it, it really is. Oh my, this life is just a life of toil. And you, Little Yan, I've introduced quite a few to you, but either they don't like you, or you don't like them. You should also put some heart into it, hurry up, while my body is still okay, let me help you take care of your children."

Li Suhua had a picture in her mind of a group of little ones surrounding her, and she said happily: "Bingkun, after you finish eating, write letters to your brother and sister, tell them your dad's attitude, so they don't have to worry. By the way, ask them when they plan to have children? Your sister is two years older than you, your brother is two years older than your sister—you say they are both this old, why aren't they anxious?"

Zhou Zhigang is, after all, the head of the household. He nodded and agreed to the matter between Zhou Bingkun and Zheng Juan, which meant the matter was completely over. Zheng Juan and Zhou Bingkun, as well as Zheng's mother and Zheng Guangming, could finally set their minds at ease.

However, although Zhou Bingkun was grinning foolishly on the surface, his mood was just the opposite. It's normal to think so; his own father was angry with him for something he hadn't done. If it were all done by him, and things were really like the story he made up, he would be able to jump three feet high with joy. But fate is so fickle, and the love between men and women is so uncontrollable.

Of course, he wouldn't tell anyone about these things, just silently keep them in his heart. Since he chose it, he should bear it.

Days passed by, and Zhou Bingkun's life settled down, going to work and coming home every day, accompanying Zheng Juan, and looking forward to the arrival of the child with her. Li Suhua stopped knitting sweaters and changed to making clothes for her eldest grandson, humming little tunes every day, smiling happily.

Outside, of course, it was impossible not to have rumors, but no one was stupid enough to say it to their faces, so they just pretended not to know. Live your own life, let others say what they want.

As for Wang Yan, he cared even less. At the City First Hospital, considering his medical level, his salary was directly raised to thirty-five yuan. And after he cured the minor ailments of several leaders in the hospital, he was allocated a two-bedroom brick-concrete apartment in the family building. Talent can always receive preferential treatment. Although there was a long line of people waiting for housing and inevitably some complaints, they really couldn't say anything; after all, the strength was there.

Medical staff can better understand what a person with superb medical skills means to them. Although they always talk about how saving lives is a doctor's duty, there is an order to treating illnesses, it's that simple. This has nothing to do with anything else; it's just human nature, it's human relationships. Ever since Wang Yan started working at the City First Hospital, this doctor, that director, all arranged for him to see patients in advance. This doesn't even count the others from the city and province, those with a little power in their hands who arranged it; he was quite busy.

However, although he was allocated a house, he only found someone to build some furniture and moved it in, but he didn't live there, still returning to the old Zhou family to live. Only occasionally when he was too busy would he rest there. This news reached Zhou Zhigang, making him very happy, and he wrote a very long letter encouraging him to work hard and serve the country and the people.

From the old Zhou family to the City First Hospital, the one-way trip is about four kilometers, and the round trip is eight kilometers. He couldn't walk it, so he bought a new bicycle for transportation.

In this world, for him, the only interlude was the affairs of the old Zhou family; his life was always stable. There was no opportunity for him to show his skills in this era, just honestly taking a fixed salary every day to see patients and feeling the joys and sorrows of the world.

He saw patients in the morning and used some of his methods to treat patients in the afternoon. Of course, he also brought along several apprentices of Traditional Chinese Medicine about his age. This is very normal, and it is what he should do. He couldn't bring many apprentices; it wasn't that his energy wasn't enough, but that there were only so many positions around him, which was limited. He planned to write a book to spread his medical skills and his philosophy. The debate over the existence of Traditional Chinese Medicine had not stopped since the founding of the country, and he wanted to plant a flag and set up a base.

Of course, he hadn't forgotten the major events of life. Even if he forgot, Li Suhua wouldn't. In fact, since he came here, he basically hadn't stopped, having already gone on many blind dates.

Before, when he was at the clinic in Guangzipian, his salary was twenty yuan a month. Although the conditions weren't bad, they weren't said to be very good either, so his blind dates back then were still a bit lacking. Later, his reputation as a miracle doctor spread, and the quality improved a bit. When he was transferred to the City First Hospital, and especially after he was allocated a house, it was even better, and the channels were also a level higher.

Before, it was all from Li Suhua's side, or people from Guangzipian looking for him. Later, it was colleagues and leaders from the City First Hospital, as well as other officials with vision introducing him. Now, he, the old doctor Wang, is very marketable...

After going around in circles, time arrived at the end of June, and Zheng Juan, who had been pregnant for more than nine months, welcomed the birth. The place, of course, was the City First Hospital, arranged by Wang Yan, and she was admitted in advance to wait for the birth. After more than ten hours, the child was successfully born. No matter how arduous Zheng Juan's production process was, the result was long destined: it was a boy.

Li Suhua loved him dearly, saying where he looked like the youngest son and where he looked like Zheng Juan. Just by people saying it, one can always find a little bit of commonality.

Zhou Bingkun wanted Wang Yan, the most educated person in the whole family, to name him, but Wang Yan shook his head and refused, telling him to write to his father, Zhou Zhigang, for a name.

Zhou Zhigang was also stubborn. Although it wasn't like the original drama where the father and son didn't write to each other, it was quite interesting. Zhou Bingkun was addicted to writing letters and was determined to be a rascal to the end, sending one out every week at a fixed time and place, from Li Suhua to Zheng Juan, then to Wang Yan, as well as the situation of Zheng's mother and Zheng Guangming. Anyway, he was looking for things to say, just writing according to two sheets of paper. Zhou Zhigang also sent two letters back every month at a fixed time and place, but the salutation of the letter never had Zhou Bingkun.

Facing the heavy responsibility of naming the next generation, Zhou Zhigang's reply was a bit slower. But very coincidentally, on the day of the child's full month, he received his reply. From Jichun to the location of Zhou Zhigang in Shancheng, the mailing time of the postal system is about ten days. During these ten days, one can imagine how serious Zhou Zhigang was in order to name his eldest grandson.

This reply had "Bingkun" written in the salutation, and he named the child "Zhou Jianhua." The Zhou family clan was now scattered, otherwise, it should have been named according to the original generation. This name was also quite good, building China, very characteristic of the era, and also entrusted the beautiful hope of the elders for the younger generation, quite good. Zhou Bingkun felt it was also okay; anyway, it was named by his own father, so even if it wasn't good, it had to be good.

While naming, the letter also wrote Zhou Zhigang's exhortations to his youngest son. That long letter was Zhou Zhigang's life accumulation of half a lifetime, and it was the earnest teaching to his youngest son.

That letter didn't have gorgeous and moving rhetoric, just a calm narration of an old father. But that day, Zhou Bingkun broke his defense and cried loudly, like a child.

He used to always feel that his parents cared more about his eldest brother and second sister than him. But that letter from his own father made him feel the fatherly love as heavy as a mountain.

But this was not the reason for his wailing; what he was crying about was still the guilt of deceiving his parents in his heart. He had always known his father's temper, but the more he knew, the more guilty he felt.

Li Suhua didn't understand the key to it, just crying and laughing, calling him a silly child, and comforting him. Only Zheng Juan and Wang Yan understood the truth; the former accompanied him in crying, while the latter just watched with a smile...

Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong, of course, also received this news. Because of the distance, they mailed some things that could be used after the birth, and also attached some money to express their intentions.

That month, the money sent by Shui Ziliu was one hundred yuan, saying it was for the child. Wang Yan, of course, accepted it all. If it were really for the child, this wouldn't be enough. But don't take it for nothing; many times, there's no need to go against money.

With the child, the old Zhou family was very lively every day. Especially Li Suhua, she was the happiest, loving him dearly. The thing she must do every morning is to ask her miracle doctor nephew how her grandson is...

In this way, time arrived in mid-August, and after half a year, Wang Yan finally saw a good girl... ===== CHAPTER 378 =====