Chapter 442: Lunch
Chapter 442: Lunch
With so many people around, to avoid embarrassing Director Gao, Zhou Chenglei didn't offer an explanation.
He went straight into the office with Director Gao and Director Pan.
Zhou Bingqiang's wife followed, intending to explain, but Jiang Xia abruptly tugged at her hair.
Zhou Bingqiang's wife winced and turned back, "What are you doing?"
Jiang Xia, expressionless, pulled a strand of hair from her brooch, "Your hair got caught in my brooch when you tossed your head."
Zhou Bingqiang's wife's face paled as she realized how painful it was to have such a large clump of hair pulled out, "Your brooch..."
Jiang Xia: "My brooch is expensive. I paid over two hundred for it. Let me check if it's damaged. If it is, you'll have to compensate me."
Zhou Bingqiang's wife: "..."
"What does this have to do with me? How can a few strands of hair damage it? I don't believe it! What time is it? I need to go and check if Guohua has been discharged!"
Zhou Bingqiang's wife hurried away without another word.
As she passed the payment counter, she saw Zhou Bingqiang settling the bill and rushed over, just in time to hear the cashier say thirty-six yuan and seventy-eight cents.
Smiling at the cashier, she said, "My nephew knows your hospital's director! He knows Director Gao, Director Pan, and Doctor He too! They're together right now. Comrade, can you give us a discount?"
The cashier, expressionless, replied, "Even if you were the director's mother, there would be no discount."
Zhou Bingqiang's wife: "..."
Half an hour later, Uncle Dong's surgery was scheduled for the next morning, with Director Pan performing the operation.
Director Pan had a full schedule of surgeries for the day.
After arranging for Uncle Dong, Jiang Xia asked Aunt Dong, "Do any of you need to go back to the village? You can ride with us; we have three or four seats available."
Zhou Chenglei: "I'll come to visit Uncle Dong tomorrow morning as well. I can give you a ride."
As Uncle Dong was having surgery, someone from his family should be there, so Zhou Bingqiang's wife rushed back and eagerly said to Zhou Chenglei, "Are you going back to the village now? That's perfect! Guohua is being discharged today, and we've paid the fees! Wait a moment, and you can take us home too! Ah Qiang is going to the ward to get him; he'll be right here."
Zhou Fu was surprised, "Hasn't Guohua been discharged after all these days? Weren't they going to discharge him last time?"
Zhou Bingqiang's wife: "Don't mention it! When he fell and injured his bones, the doctor said he had a fever. Later, it turned into pneumonia, and he was delirious with fever for a whole week, so he's only being discharged today. Did Ah Lei drive here? Wait for us, and take us home too!"
Her tone was matter-of-fact!
Zhou Mu, without hesitation, declined, "Sorry, there's no more space. We need to take Aunt Dong and her family back."
Zhou Fu: "Bingqiang should have borrowed the team's tractor to pick up Guohua, right?"
Zhou Bingqiang's wife: "Yes, he came by tractor, so Aunt Dong and Guohua, you can take the tractor. I'll accompany Guohua in the jeep. The jeep's seats have cushions, which will be more comfortable for Guohua's injured bones. And isn't the back row of your jeep quite spacious? He can lie down there."
Jiang Xia couldn't help but laugh at her presumptuous tone, "The tractor can be made into a bed! Just add a mattress and a blanket, and it's like a moving bed. As for my car, if you want to ride, it's five hundred yuan per seat. Are you thinking of taking the three back seats? That'll be fifteen hundred!"
Zhou Bingqiang's wife: "You're clearly taking advantage of me!"
"How so? I'm not forcing you to sit. I'm just stating the price; it's a fair deal."
Jiang Xia didn't even glance at Zhou Bingqiang's wife as she offered a suggestion to Aunt Dong, "Aunt Dong, it's best if you take turns caring for him. Leave two people today, and the rest can go home to rest. Then, tomorrow, they can come back, ensuring everyone gets a good rest while providing proper care for Uncle Dong."
Uncle Dong's condition will likely require a lengthy hospitalization."
Zhou Guoxing found this reasonable and said, "Mom, Second Brother, Third Brother, you two go back first. Tonight, my wife and I will stay, and you can come back tomorrow morning."
Zhou Guoxing and Zhou Guoye both shook their heads. "I'll stay. You two go back, Mom, you go back too."
Aunt Dong had been up all day and night, and they worried she might not be able to hold on.
After some discussion, the family decided that Aunt Dong and Zhou Guoye's couple would ride back with Jiang Xia's family.
Zhou Bingqiang's wife sat on the tractor, watching the jeep drive away beside them. She couldn't help but scoff, "So what if they have a car? Soon enough, our family will buy a car too, and not just a car, but also a plane and a cannon!"
Zhou Guohua, lying on the tractor, listened to her grumbling about Jiang Xia for a while before interrupting, "Mom, that's enough! Buying a plane and a cannon? What would you do with a cannon?"
Zhou Bingqiang's wife replied, "To blow up the neighbor's house!"
Zhou Guohua couldn't help but laugh at her audacity.
He didn't bother to argue, knowing that his mother was just venting her frustration.
When Jiang Xia's family returned to the village, it was already past 11 a.m.
The Guangzong Yaozu brothers and the village children were in the fields, herding geese and cattle.
Upon seeing the jeep, the children ran over and shouted, "Auntie! Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, my mom has made lunch. She's inviting you all to eat at our place."
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Jiang Xia rolled down the car window and smiled, "Sure, we'll go home and put our things down, then we'll come over."
Zhou Wenzong shouted, "Okay, I'll go tell my mom that you're back."
The brothers quickly herded the geese and cattle back home.
Zhou Chenglei stopped the car at the village entrance and dropped off Aunt Dong's family before driving home.
As the car turned into the alley, Li Xiuxian was sitting at the courtyard gate, holding a bowl and eating while chatting with Pan Daidi's eldest daughter-in-law.
When she saw the jeep approaching, her instinct was to go inside, but Zhou Ying rushed forward excitedly with her bowl, "Auntie and her family are back!"
Li Xiuxian quickly pulled her back, "Don't run in front of the car!"
Zhou Chenglei drove carefully into the village, keeping an eye out for any sudden appearances of children, dogs, or chickens. He drove slowly, especially when turning into the alley, so when Zhou Ying rushed forward, he was able to brake gently.
Zhou Chenglei steered clear of the mother and daughter and parked the car next to the house.
After getting out, Zhou Chenglei went to help Jiang Xia out of the car.
As the family exited the car, Li Xiuxian smiled and asked, "Dad, Mom, why are you back so late? Have you eaten? I thought you weren't coming back this morning, so I didn't make food for you. I'll go make some now!"
Zhou Father replied, "No need, we'll just eat at Ah Xin's place. Ah Hua has prepared food."
Li Xiuxian smiled, "Alright, then you can go there for lunch. Next time, come to our place."
Zhou Father: "We'll see about that next time."
After standing at the hospital for a while, sitting in the car was tiring, and Zhou Father, feeling exhausted, went back to the room.
The family carried their belongings into the courtyard, washed their hands and faces, and then headed to the main house for lunch.
Jiang Xia never went to someone's house empty-handed. She had packed a can of malted milk, a can of milk powder, some snacks, and about a dozen apples, oranges, and other fruits to bring along.
Zhou Chenglei took the items from her and carried them as they walked out, closing the courtyard gate behind them.
Li Xiuxian noticed the items in Zhou Chenglei's hands and couldn't help but stare.
Indeed, her younger brother-in-law had always shown favoritism towards the Guangzong Yaozu brothers, and he was always generous in buying things for them!
(End of Chapter)
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