Chapter 378: Chen Jing

In this era, apartment buildings are not seen everywhere; more are still patches of single-story houses. About two miles away from the City First Hospital is a patch of single-story houses similar to Guangzipian.

Near a single-story house by the roadside, a charming fragrance lingers. This fragrance might not be much later, but in this era, it is truly charming. It is mainly because the fragrance carries the smell of meat; smelling it from afar makes one's intestines knot.

"The dishes are ready, Dr. Wang, Miss, eat slowly."

An old man served a plate of fish and greeted Wang Yan and a young girl sitting cross-legged on the *kang* with a smile.

"Thank you, Uncle Xiang."

"Dr. Wang, don't say those polite words; this is what I do. Besides, if you hadn't cured my illness, I wouldn't be able to do this. Alright, you eat."

The old man waved his hand and turned to leave the room.

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, looking at the girl opposite: "Try it, his cooking is unique."

She has long, pitch-black hair, clear and lively big eyes under willow-leaf eyebrows with double eyelids, a small and straight nose that is just right, and full, plump lips. Her face is a bit round, slightly covering the pointed chin that a melon-shaped face should have, perfectly covering the bone structure—three parts less would look withered, three parts more would look fat, just right.

Under her beautiful neck, the firm and beautiful breasts hidden in the universe are ready to come out, catching the eye and making it hard to ignore. Because of the dry and hot weather in the north in August, she is wearing a clean white short-sleeved shirt, and the tight buttons seem ready to burst at any time. The black long hair resting on her shoulders makes her look even more youthful and beautiful; she is a spirited girl.

This was introduced by a colleague at the hospital, named Chen Jing, twenty-one years old, working at the City Library, a regular staff member of a formal institution. The work is not heavy, or rather, there is basically no work; most of the time is spent reading books to pass the time, which is quite good. The family conditions are also good; her father is a deputy division chief of the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, and her mother is an accountant at a bank. She is the eldest in the family, and there is a younger sister three years younger and a younger brother five years younger.

Hearing Wang Yan's words, Chen Jing picked up a piece of food to taste, her eyes lit up, and she nodded: "This craftsmanship is really quite good. Listening to that, you saved that old man before?"

"He has epilepsy, which strikes at irregular times, and his hands are not steady, just trembling like this." Wang Yan imitated that appearance and smiled: "You say, can he cook like this? Later, he came to me to check, treated for a month, and now he's much better. Isn't this because he couldn't stay idle and started the fire again? Don't underestimate this old man; his grandfather was an imperial chef, cooking for the emperor, and his father was a cook with the Eighth Route Army. When it reached him, he was a master chef at a state-run hotel, in charge of the kitchen, and only stopped because of this illness. His craftsmanship is top-notch."

"Then like this, won't he be reported?"

"Of course he will. Others are eating chaff and vegetables, and he is eating meat every meal; how could he not be envied? But those who come here are trusted, and the things we eat are all brought by ourselves, so how can one say what one says? Being reported is no big deal. And the people nearby, if there is anything at home, they also need this old man to be in charge of the spoon. Except for a few very bad individuals, no one cares. Eat."

Chen Jing nodded, eating the delicious food in small bites.

This old man surnamed Xiang's craftsmanship is indeed quite good. The four dishes on the table in front of her now are at least at the middle level of LV4. If it weren't for not flipping the spoon for several years, plus being old, the peak should be able to reach LV5, and it's still the kind that has walked a long distance.

His coming out of the mountains again, making money is actually secondary. After all, his son also inherited his mantle, and a cook will not live too badly no matter when. It's mainly because he has been a cook all his life and likes this; if he doesn't flip the big spoon, he feels itchy. If he doesn't cook for others as a private chef, he doesn't have so many things to supply him to show off.

Seeing Chen Jing not speaking, only eating in small bites, Wang Yan of course couldn't let the scene go cold; not daring to breathe loudly while eating was really meaningless, so he said: "You are so beautiful, your family conditions are okay, and your own work is also good. Usually, there should be quite a few people pursuing you, right? Why did you come out for a blind date?"

"There has never been a suitable one. Usually, there are indeed quite a few people pursuing me, but they are too vulgar, just aiming at my good looks. I am good-looking now, but there will always be a day when I am old and faded, right? Besides, liking the new and loathing the old is human nature. What if I see someone better-looking later? You say, how can such a person live together in the future?"

When saying this, Chen Jing stared at Wang Yan unceremoniously.

"It seems you know my conditions for finding a partner." Wang Yan looked at her with a smile: "Since this is the case, why did you still come?"

"You have a big reputation, everyone says you are a miracle doctor. I think a successful Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor should have quite a lot of research on our country's traditional cultural knowledge and should have thoughts, so I came to take a look."

This is a city girl with thoughts who really treats herself as an independent young woman of the new era. In such a period, she can work in the City Library and talk about her own thoughts here, instead of going to the mountains and countryside, blowing in the wind and sun, and gnawing on corn buns, mainly because her family conditions are good. If this were an ordinary family in the village, there would still be more who marry men to eat.

"I feel my culture is enough, and my thoughts are also okay, but if you say I am not vulgar, I guess you won't believe it either. Living in this world, it is impossible to really avoid vulgarity; one must always have something to seek. You say my current conditions are good, right? Is the future still considered bright?"

Chen Jing nodded and said: "The conditions are indeed good. As for the future, I heard that you cured the hemiplegia of the mother of the director of the Revolutionary Committee and also saw several old leaders in the province. I'm afraid it's more than just bright, right? This is a truly bright future."

"Then look, under such conditions, I am quite popular and have mastered the initiative. I can't see everyone and talk to them. You know, I am still very busy and don't have so much time. So, being good-looking is the most direct line, which saves a lot of trouble and saves a lot of time.

And the most important thing is, if she is not good-looking, even if her thoughts have depth, she is a female Zhuge in the world, then I will feel troubled looking at her. Marrying a wife is to make life better, not to find trouble for yourself. So it's simple and direct; if she is not good-looking, don't see her. For the rest, on the basis of being good-looking, let's see if we can get along. After all, marriage is a lifelong event, so don't be careless, right?"

"You are really practical."

"I have always been like this." Wang Yan looked at her with a smile: "Eat, this taste is not something you can eat anytime, anywhere, you should eat more."

With him actively finding topics and guiding Chen Jing to chat, a lunch passed happily like this. Chen Jing ate quite well, and when she went out, she was rubbing her stomach; she was stuffed.

After coming out, they didn't pull any useless things; it was noon and dead hot, so there was no mood to chat. So Wang Yan directly pedaled his bicycle and sent her back to the library.

Looking at Chen Jing standing gracefully under the steps of the library, Wang Yan issued an invitation. "Tomorrow is Sunday, I will go to your house to pick you up when it's cool in the afternoon. Shall we go for a stroll in the People's Park after dinner?"

Now is not the later double-day weekend; only Sunday is a national statutory holiday. In fact, if it weren't for dating, he would always be at work and wouldn't rest at all.

Chen Jing nodded in response, her eyes full of smiles: "Okay."

"Go back." Wang Yan straddled the bicycle and waved his hand.

Chen Jing smiled beautifully, waved goodbye, turned around, and ran into the library.

Before meeting, the two roughly knew each other's information. Before going to eat, the two had already recognized each other and chatted quite well. During the meal, it could be considered as trying to fit each other. Now that he issued an invitation and Chen Jing didn't refuse, it could be considered a success.

In fact, Chen Jing being able to come already accepted him to a certain extent. As he said, he is the one with the initiative. He has also walked the rivers and lakes for many years, and flirting with girls is a good hand. With the intention to cater, how could it not be successful?

This girl is good, beautiful, with a good figure, and has read quite a few books; she can be counted as an intellectual beauty. As for the family, he really doesn't value it; it's useless. It's a drag, he doesn't care; it's a help, he doesn't really need it.

Not seeing Chen Jing's figure, Wang Yan turned the handlebars, returned to the City First Hospital to work, and began to treat the patients who had made appointments, until five o'clock, when he left the hospital and returned to the old Zhou family.

The old Zhou family was quite lively today; Zheng's mother and Zheng Guangming came over, and Li Suhua kept them at home for dinner. Of course, it wasn't special today; in the past, they would also come to see the child. Whether they came in the morning or afternoon, Li Suhua would definitely keep them for dinner. Zheng's mother and Zheng Guangming, of course, were embarrassed to stay, but Li Suhua was quite open; it wasn't fake politeness, she pulled them hard to stay. By now, Zheng's mother and Zheng Guangming had also adapted, knowing Li Suhua's sincerity, so it was just like that.

But they didn't come very diligently, not wanting to add trouble to Zheng Juan, and not wanting the people of the old Zhou family to think too much. It was just that they came diligently when the child was just born, and later they only came once every ten days or half a month, each time carrying some things. They were not far away, but they didn't come empty-handed, always very polite, still feeling guilty in their hearts.

Wang Yan entered the room and greeted with a smile: "You're here, Auntie, Guangming."

"Little Yan." Zheng's mother nodded repeatedly; she knew most of the truth and was very grateful to Wang Yan. And after Zheng Juan and Zhou Bingkun got their marriage certificate, she got Wang Yan to treat her illness and prescribe medicine for conditioning, and her body was much better than before.

Originally at this time, Zheng's mother didn't have much time to live, but now after Wang Yan's diagnosis and conditioning, she could live for another three to five years. Any longer wouldn't work; she was over sixty this year, had worked hard all her life, and her body was already not working. Unless she spent great effort and money, otherwise she couldn't be saved. And she still had to work hard all day, so she couldn't be kept; living a few more years was not bad.

"Brother Yan." Zheng Guangming heard the movement and ran over, with a sunny and respectful smile on his face.

Wang Yan rubbed his head: "How do you feel these two days? Can you see things?"

"Still the same as before, can only see blurry shadows."

"Let me see." While speaking, Wang Yan walked over in a few steps, washed his hands, flipped Zheng Guangming's eyes, and tested the distance he could see, how big the shadow was roughly, and after tossing for a few minutes, said: "You should still drink the medicine you are taking now, stop the one for applying to the eyes. Wait until the day after tomorrow, when you and Auntie are selling popsicles, come to my place, and I will give you a few more needles and change the medicine."

"I remember, thank you, Brother Yan."

Zheng Guangming is a good child, the kind whose sensibility makes one's heart ache. Wang Yan rubbed his head again: "This child, always so polite. The situation is quite good now, there is progress, maybe you will be able to see in another half a year."

Zheng Guangming giggled foolishly and didn't speak again, calm and unruffled. Because when he started treatment, he heard Brother Yan say so. A month later, he could vaguely see shadows, and he also said so. A while ago, when he reached the current level, he still said so. He was used to it, and it was hard to have fluctuations in his heart. Of course, he still had hope; after all, he could only see a glimmer of light before, and compared to that, it was much better now. His life had become much more convenient; walking slowly and paying attention, compared to relying purely on listening and feeling before, it was a world of difference.

Zheng's mother on the side smiled with squinted eyes: "Thanking you is what should be done. Now that he can see shadows, it is already very good, which makes me feel much more at ease."

"It can be even better, don't worry, Auntie."

Seeing that he was done with his work, Li Suhua, who had been waiting for a long time, asked: "Didn't you go on a blind date today? How did you chat with that girl?"

"Quite good, we made an appointment to eat together tomorrow afternoon, and then go for a stroll in the People's Park."

"Really? That's too good." Li Suhua patted Wang Yan happily: "You must grasp it; it took more than half a year to find a suitable one. You must treat her well, strive to get married before the end of the year, do you hear me?"

"Don't worry, Auntie, I guarantee I will get married this year and have a child next year."

"I don't know you yet, just good at talking, fooling me every day. You put some heart into it, you're not young anymore, can't drag it on."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, then went to the *kang* to tease the child lying beside Zheng Juan and kicking his legs...

When Zhou Bingkun came back, the food was served on the table. Eating with many people is lively, and there is a child waiting expectantly on the side, talking and laughing, teasing the child. Recently, everything has been going well, and the food and drink are not bad, so everyone is quite happy.

After eating, Wang Yan and Zhou Bingkun went out to fetch water and take out the trash as usual.

Looking at the good brother who was carrying two buckets of water in one hand, holding a cigarette comfortably in the other, and swaying, Zhou Bingkun said: "Brother Yan, I saw Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin today."

Wang Yan turned his head and glanced at him, noticing the slight worry mixed in his happiness: "They were arrested, right?"

"How did you know? Brother, did you see it too?"

"Where would I have that time? Isn't it all written on your face? Gloating, and a little worried."

"Yeah, you say people are just cheap. They gave fifty every month, plus the twenty-three I earned myself, seventy-three yuan a month, and I didn't want to think about money for anything. Now that I see them arrested, I suddenly worry about the money in the future. How does that saying go, ah right, it's easy to go from frugal to luxurious, but hard to go from luxurious to frugal. This getting something for nothing is really not allowed."

Zhou Bingkun had been working in the slag workshop of the soy sauce factory for more than half a year, and now he was transferred to the sales department, and his salary also increased by five yuan. To be honest, not being transferred to the MSG workshop was Qu Xiuzhen's care. After all, in this era of the big pot, there is no such thing as more work, more pay; doing more or less is the same amount of money. It wasn't too tiring, and it could exercise people. Of course, it was also because Qu Xiuzhen valued Zhou Bingkun's honesty and hard work, and he wouldn't be like the original old employees who were reckless.

"You just stop it, have you ever been luxurious to find it hard to be frugal? Isn't all that money saved in the bank by you? Your mother doesn't need you to support her, just the three of you, what's there to worry about? Twenty-three is enough to support the family. Besides, doesn't your mother also subsidize you? Eating and drinking are all at home, and it's all your mother's money. If you compare this, those friends of yours, Cao Debao, Xiao Guoqing, Sun Ganchao, they are much worse than you. Be content, Bingkun, only contentment can bring constant happiness. Having a sense of crisis is a good thing, but you can't find trouble for yourself. What do you have to worry about?"

"That was seventy-three before, now it suddenly becomes twenty-three, can I not think about it?"

"I'll give you an idea, okay?"

Zhou Bingkun nodded repeatedly: "Brother, you say."

"You also go to mix in the black market, flip tickets or something. You might not be familiar with the market when you first start, but I know people over there, I'll introduce you, let them take you. In less than two months, I guarantee you will earn two hundred every month."

"Brother, Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin, those two bastards, were just arrested and paraded through the streets, and you want me to go and speculate? Am I still your brother? There's no such way to be a brother."

Wang Yan gave him a light kick: "Can I still harm you? Think about it, a batch was just arrested, the black market must be much quieter, so there won't be any arrests in the short term. As long as you are careful, what can happen? Besides, the mother of the director of the Revolutionary Committee was saved by me. Even if you are unlucky and really get arrested, can I, as a brother, watch you being paraded through the streets and watch you be sentenced for several years? At most, you'll squat for two months, no problem at all. It's absolutely profitable, it just depends on whether you dare to do it."

Zhou Bingkun shook his head and said: "Brother, we grew up together, don't you know me? Although I've been mischievous since I was a child, climbing on the roof and uncovering tiles, my courage is not big. You want me to speculate, how dare I do that?"

"Useless. Tu Zhiqiang was taken to be shot, you saw it with your own eyes. Although you were scared enough, it was the first time, so it can be considered as having seen death. Zheng Juan's matter, you also took it all on yourself; if that went wrong, you would be kicked out of the house, so you had the courage. Now that you want to earn money, you don't have the guts?"

"Can that be the same?"

"Still not forced to that point." Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, threw the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it: "If you don't do it, don't do it, anyway, the money is enough to spend. As for the psychological gap, you should share it with Zheng Juan and let her comfort you."

Looking at the good brother walking away, Zhou Bingkun curled his lips and followed with the dirty water bucket...

Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin being arrested had nothing to do with Wang Yan; originally, they were arrested around this time too. If you want to talk about the impact, it was just the little bit that Zhou Bingkun was nagging about; nothing else happened.

Now the biggest thing in the old Zhou family is that the child is sick or something, everything else is very peaceful, no need for Wang Yan to worry. He just goes to work to see patients and bring apprentices, and then dates Chen Jing.

He felt it was okay, and after contacting for more than two months, the two were more familiar with each other.

In this era, dating wasn't exactly a tug-of-war; once you liked each other, there wasn't all that messy nonsense. So, after confirming there were no issues and that they were the right people for each other, the two of them registered their marriage in November.

There was no grand banquet either; they just invited the Zhou family, along with the hospital leadership and colleagues, for a meal. Then, they had a few tables with Chen Jing's side, and once others knew the news of their marriage, that was that.

Zhou Zhigang sent a letter encouraging him, writing in it about the way for a husband and wife to get along, telling him to treat Chen Jing well and urging him to hurry up and have children. Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong also sent letters with congratulations and some money enclosed.

As for Li Suhua, that wonderful aunt, since Zhou Zhigang was already urging them to have children, she naturally couldn't fall behind, and every time she saw them, she would nag them about it.

Because of the marriage, Wang Yan also moved out of the old Zhou house and lived with Chen Jing in the apartment allocated by the hospital, only taking Chen Jing back every Saturday to have a meal with the family.

Li Suhua was still a bit reluctant, but she also knew that Chen Jing's family background was good; it was fine to stay with them for a day or two, but it wouldn't be good to live there all the time. So, she didn't say anything, keeping her words bottled up inside, occasionally muttering about it to Zheng Juan...