Chapter 285: Going Abroad

"Mother, is the little brother not at home?"

"No, he went out to play with Bang Geng, Yuliang, and Jiedi; they said it was some kind of class reunion."

The little brother, Zhang Xile, is thirteen years old this year and has just graduated from elementary school; it is still summer vacation, and he will start middle school in another week or so.

"Heh heh, then it'll just be the two of us eating at noon."

"Alright, give me the fish, I'll go clean it."

With only her at home, Dong Dani had originally intended to just eat something simple to get by, but since her eldest son had returned home, she had to make a dish no matter what.

Half an hour later, the mother and son were eating while talking about some things in the courtyard.

"Yushui and Xu Xiaoling from the Back Courtyard are both getting married."

"Oh? So fast? Who are they marrying?"

"Fast? Both of them are twenty years old; if they drag it out any longer, they really will become old maids. But they are marrying quite well; it was introduced by your Si Jie, and they are both colleagues of your San Jie Fu."

"Oh? That is indeed quite good."

It seems Yushui has also married a Public Security officer just like in the show, though I don't know if it's the same person.

In this day and age, being able to marry a Public Security officer is truly a blessing; once that Public Security Uniform is worn out, who wouldn't be envious?

"That, how are things going with your colleague Qiu Nan? I heard from your San Jie Fu that she even wrote you a letter."

"..." So the previous parts were all just foreshadowing; this part at the end is the real point.

"Mother, it's impossible between her and me. She is from a high-status, wealthy family, and we are just common folk; we aren't a match. Besides, the letter she wrote was an apology letter."

"An apology letter?"

"Yes, she misunderstood some things about me before and was specifically apologizing."

"I see." Dong Dani looked slightly disappointed, but she also knew about the importance of social status, so she didn't ask any more.

After finishing the meal, Zhang Ping'an tidied up, brewed a pot of tea in the small courtyard, picked up a book, and immersed himself in his own world.

It was one o'clock in the afternoon when Zhang Ping'an rode his bike out to work. After Zhang Ping'an left, the area under the grape trellis was occupied by the old women of the courtyard, who began their daily gossip.

Days passed one by one, and Zhang Ping'an's life returned to being plain; every day he would hunt a bit, catch some fish, and lived quite comfortably.

But Zhong Mingzhu was miserable; she was completely monitored by her family, and apart from going to work, she couldn't go anywhere. Moreover, she was to be sent abroad for studies at the end of the year.

This was a place she hadn't dared to think about before, and now she didn't want to go. Previously, Zhong Mingzhu had always wanted to go abroad for advanced studies to improve her medical skills, but her family had obstructed her in every way; now that she didn't want to go, her family was forcing her to.

"Big Sister, why? Father and Mother are old and don't understand me, but you don't understand either?"

"Mingzhu, Father and Mother are doing this for your own good." Zhong Yan now had bitterness she couldn't speak of; what could she do? No matter which side she tried to counsel, she never ended up in a good position.

"Big Sister, you've changed. You used to say Zhang Ping'an was excellent, but in front of Father, Mother, and Big Brother, you don't say anything at all."

Zhong Mingzhu knew that as long as she gave up on Zhang Ping'an and married the grandson of her grandfather's comrade-in-arms, she wouldn't have to go to the Great Furry Country for studies.

But Zhang Ping'an was the first man she had felt a heartbeat for; how could she just give up? Besides, Zhang Ping'an had already agreed to try getting along with her; it was her father and mother who didn't agree, so she would rather go abroad for studies than get married now.

In the blink of an eye, it was December. In just three short months, Zhong Mingzhu had lost quite a bit of weight. This day, Ding Qiunan finally couldn't help but find Zhang Ping'an.

"Zhang Shu, Mingzhu is now so thin she's barely human, and she has to go to the Great Furry Country for studies at the end of the month. Aren't you going to go see her?"

"Xiao Ding, I already said before that it's not possible. Now you see the result? Put these five pills into her water cup; they can make her feel a bit better."

Zhang Ping'an hadn't expected Zhong Mingzhu to be so stubborn; he couldn't bear it in his heart—she was, after all, his little fan.

The five pills, about the same size as the Six-Flavor Rehmannia Pills from his previous life, were Concentrated Pills that Zhang Ping'an had made using Space Water and nourishing medicinal herbs; they could restore human vitality to the greatest extent.

"Heh heh, Zhang Shu, I knew you had Mingzhu in your heart."

"I just can't bear to see it, that's all. One pill a day; don't tell her I gave them to you."

"Oh, alright."

The next day at work, Ding Qiunan arrived at the office early, poured a cup of hot water into Zhong Mingzhu's Tea Mug, and when the water temperature was fifty or sixty degrees, she put one pill inside.

The water in the Tea Mug instantly turned brown, then slowly faded until it became light yellow.

"Crack!" As the office door was opened, a slightly thin, beautiful figure walked in—it was Zhong Mingzhu. Compared to three months ago, she had lost at least ten pounds.

"Mingzhu, hurry, hurry, you must have frozen on the way. I brewed a cup of tea; drink it quickly to warm your body."

"Mm, thank you, Qiu Nan Jie."

The Tea Mug in her hand was just right, warm and not burning. Zhong Mingzhu took a sip and instantly felt her whole person become much more spirited; at the same time, there was a faint medicinal fragrance in her mouth.

Usually, when Ding Qiunan arrived early, she would also prepare hot water for her, but there was never this medicinal fragrance. She seemed to have thought of something, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Eh, eh, Mingzhu, don't cry."

"I'm not crying, I'm happy. Thank you, Qiu Nan Jie. Also, please say thank you to him for me."

"..." Zhang Shu, I didn't say anything at all; Mingzhu guessed it herself.

"Since you've already guessed it, take these four pills too. Remember, one a day."

"Mm." Zhong Mingzhu took the bottle and carefully put it in her pocket. At this moment, her heart felt very warm.

Actually, these three months she hadn't just had to face the pressure from her family, but also those words from Zhang Ping'an. She hadn't contacted Zhang Ping'an, firstly because she really couldn't leave, and secondly because she was afraid that the grandson of her grandfather's comrade-in-arms would cause trouble for Zhang Ping'an's family.

At this moment, because of Zhang Ping'an's five pills, she swept away the gloom, and her pale face gained a bit of color and a smile. At noon, she had a rare, hearty appetite and ate two Steamed Buns.

In the evening after work, Zhong Mingzhu returned home. Now, apart from mechanical greetings every day, her communication with her family was minimal; only the few children in the house could still talk to her.

The next day at work, Xu Kun came to the Procurement Section Two and handed a letter to Zhang Ping'an in the office.

"Zhang Ge, this is from my aunt for you. Take a look at it quickly; if there's anything you want to write back, or any items, I'll come get them in the afternoon." Xu Kun left before Zhang Ping'an could even react.

This letter had been handed to him by Zhong Zhengguo. Although it had a feeling of a secret agent rendezvous, I have to say, it was quite exciting.

Zhang Ping'an opened it and took a look. The beginning was full of Zhong Mingzhu's incoherent words, even with water droplets or tear stains; the middle mentioned her departure date and the location of her government-sponsored studies; the end was an introduction to her grandfather's comrade's family, mainly telling him to be careful.

"Sigh, what is all this."

In the morning, Zhang Ping'an went out and prepared a round of things: two tin boxes filled with Space Water and small pills made from medicinal herbs, with usage instructions clearly marked. They were sealed well enough to last her alone for three or four years in the Great Furry Country.

In the afternoon, Xu Kun came over again. Seeing the two tin boxes and a letter, he felt a bit numb; this was a bit large. He braced himself and took them.

Returning home in the evening, Xu Kun was holding the two tin boxes, preparing to sneak back to his room, when he was grabbed by his mother.

"What are you holding in your arms?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

"Enough nonsense, bring it here and let me see."

Zhong Yan had already noticed something off about her younger sister at the Hospital yesterday, and now that her nephew Zhong Zhengguo had come over today as well, it was hard for her not to overthink things.