Chapter 60: I Don

Zhu Lin retrieved his wallet, first went to the repair stall to settle the outstanding payment and “redeem” Wei Ming’s old car, then rode it to Xiehe, the nearest hospital.

“Hello, could you tell me if a young man brought a pregnant woman here just now? He’s tall and looks very spirited.”

The police officer at the precinct told her that the robber had frightened a pregnant woman while fleeing, and Wei Ming had immediately taken her to the hospital after subduing him.

“Oh yes, the pregnant woman is a bit older, and there’s a little boy with her, right?”

That matched, and the staff led Zhu Lin upstairs.

The pregnant woman was undergoing an examination; Wei Ming waited outside, beside a quiet five- or six-year-old boy who wasn’t crying.

Seeing Zhu Lin arrive, Wei Ming was surprised: “How did you know I was here?”

“I went to the precinct and heard you came to the hospital—I guessed it must be this place.”

Wei Ming: “Did you get your wallet back?”

“I did, thank you, Comrade Wei Ming,” Zhu Lin said sincerely, then asked, “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, but I’m worried about how that sister inside is doing.” Wei Ming frowned; the woman had bled, and if he hadn’t chased the robber, she wouldn’t have been frightened or suffered this misfortune.

But sister, really—you’re an older pregnant woman, barely days from your due date, why are you out wandering around?

Wei Ming said: “Comrade Zhu Lin, I’ll keep watch here. You haven’t finished shopping yet—why don’t you head back to the department store?”

Zhu Lin shook her head: “This concerns me—I can’t just walk away. I’ll stay and see how things go. After all, I’m a medical worker. By the way, have you notified her husband?”

Wei Ming pointed to the boy: “The child already called his father’s workplace.”

The boy hadn’t started elementary school yet—he was only one or two years older than Xi Zi—but he remained calm and composed, remembered his parents’ workplace phone number, and spoke clearly. Truly, no comparison means no hurt.

But the boy’s father seemed to work for some classified unit—they couldn’t speak to him directly, and no one knew when he’d arrive.

While waiting, a sudden rumbling came from someone’s stomach.

Wei Ming looked at Zhu Lin.

Zhu Lin looked at the boy.

The boy looked at Wei Ming.

Alright, it was a triple rumble—all three were hungry.

All three had come into the city early that morning from Haidian and Fengtai, had eaten little for breakfast, and now it was nearly one o’clock.

Zhu Lin stood up: “Let me see if there’s anything to buy outside—get something to tide us over.”

As soon as she spoke, several girls in white coats walked over, each carrying a lunchbox.

The leader among them looked at Wei Ming: “Are you Comrade Wei Ming?”

Wei Ming stood up: “Yes, who are you?”

The girls laughed, chattering excitedly.

“It really is you!”

“What a coincidence!”

“Did you do another good deed?”

The leader explained.

They were medical students from Xiehe Medical University.

Due to a shortage of faculty for foundational courses, the relevant departments had arranged for their basic curriculum to be handled by Peking University’s Biology Department.

So they usually attended classes at Peking University, had seen Wei Ming on duty at the south gate, and had heard many stories about him.

Just now, one of them thought she’d spotted the former south gate god, now the patrol king, so they came looking.

Wei Ming and Zhu Lin explained the situation to them.

“You really did another good deed!” the girls exclaimed, their eyes filled with admiration and reverence.

Wei Ming merely sighed and rubbed his head: “Isn’t it bad luck? I always run into crimes when I go out.”

“No, it’s the criminals who have bad luck—they ran into you, the criminal’s nemesis!”

“Exactly! You’re amazing!”

After praising him a few times, the girls all offered their lunchboxes, insisting Wei Ming and the others eat first.

Unable to refuse their kindness, the three ate a simple hospital meal.

As they ate, Zhu Lin suddenly remembered something important: her plan for today was to buy the tape recorder and then go out to dinner with her boyfriend!

But now, over an hour had passed since their agreed time.

“Comrade Wei Ming, may I ask you a question? Don’t laugh at me,” Zhu Lin said.

“I won’t. Go ahead.”

“When we first met, you mentioned ‘Wei Sheng embracing the pillar’—what did you mean by calling me ‘a living Wei Sheng’?”

Wei Ming had overestimated this generation’s cultural knowledge; Zhu Lin, during her school years, was busy with political movements, then became a cultural soldier—her ignorance was understandable.

“Wei Sheng was an ancient man. Legend says he made an appointment to meet a woman at a bridge. She didn’t come, the water rose, but he refused to leave and died clinging to the bridge pillar. Thus, Wei Sheng became a symbol of ancient integrity and keeping one’s word…” Wei Ming explained the story simply; Zhu Lin listened intently, and the boy listened too.

Having learned something new, Zhu Lin stood up and said she needed to make a phone call.

Outside, she found a public phone and called her boyfriend’s workplace.

Sure enough, he hadn’t waited for her and had already returned to his unit.

“You’re definitely not Wei Sheng.”

“Who? Who’s Wei Sheng?” The man sounded tense—he clearly thought it was a man’s name.

!

“No one. An ancient person,” Zhu Lin said dismissively.

He didn’t press further, but asked cautiously: “Then why didn’t you come? Do you have some problem with me?”

“It has nothing to do with you—I ran into some trouble. I can’t make it today. Let’s reschedule.”

“Oh, alright. Take care of yourself. If you’re feeling unwell, drink more hot water.”

After hanging up, Zhu Lin sighed. She was already quite old; under her parents’ pressure, she’d been on many blind dates and finally met this worker—decent personality, acceptable looks.

Her parents loved workers; though they were a university professor and a physician, they thought workers were safer, a way to hedge risk against their scholarly family.

Her parents were satisfied, and she didn’t dislike him—so they kept dating. Maybe, over time, love would come, and marriage would follow naturally.

Back in obstetrics, Zhu Lin saw a middle-aged man talking to Wei Ming; the boy, Xiao Yong, held his hand.

Zhu Lin exhaled in relief—family had finally arrived!

Wei Ming called Zhu Lin over and introduced her to the senior engineer—he was actually an engineer.

The senior engineer thanked Zhu Lin too, and insisted on getting both their workplace phone numbers, planning to thank them again after the child was born.

The matter here was settled. Wei Ming stretched: “Comrade Zhu Lin, you go ahead. I’ll go check on the doctor.”

“Ah, are you hurt?”

Wei Ming: “Minor thing. I twisted my shoulder during the struggle with that guy. A bit of Honghua oil will fix it.”

Zhu Lin: “I’m coming with you.”

“I’m really fine.”

“Still, I’m coming. You’ll need to take me back to the department store later—my bike’s still there.”

“Oh, alright then.”

The doctor saw them and asked Zhu Lin: “What’s your relationship to the patient?”

“I’m his sister,” Zhu Lin said, lying effortlessly now.

Wei Ming was surprised—he never thought you’d be this kind of queen of the women’s kingdom!

Hearing this, the doctor said bluntly: “Young man, take off your shirt.”

Huh? Zhu Lin panicked but forced calm.

Wei Ming obediently stripped to the waist.

Fortunately, over the past month he’d eaten meat every meal, and with Feng Ge and Biao Zi’s physical training, his physique looked impressive—not at all shabby, even beautiful, so beautiful Zhu Lin couldn’t bring herself to look.

Wei Ming: Look at me. If you open your eyes and look at me, I don’t believe your eyes are empty!

The doctor said it was a minor issue: “I’ll apply some medicine.”

After applying the pungent medicinal liquid, the doctor began massaging to help the medicine penetrate.

As he rubbed, someone suddenly came in and called the doctor out.

The doctor stood up: “Sister of the patient, follow the method I just showed you—keep massaging. If the medicine doesn’t absorb, it’s wasted.”

Zhu Lin: …

(End of Chapter)