Chapter 776: Chapter 519: A Chance Encounter
Chapter 509
A few months in, Zhao Qiliang was visibly darker and thinner, but he seemed stronger. Looking him up and down, Chuxia sighed, "If Uncle and Aunt see you like this, they’ll definitely be heartbroken. You need to take better care of yourself in the coming days so Uncle and Aunt won’t worry."
Zhao Qiliang had completed his recruit phase. If he wanted, he could return home for the New Year. However, the female medical team members, though assigned to the base hospital and the 401, were still classified as recruits in their files. So, they couldn’t go home for this Spring Festival. Worried that Luo Xiaoqiong might get homesick, Zhao Qiliang decided to stay with her.
Zhao Yushan and Li Aiyuan were extremely pleased with their daughter-in-law, so naturally, they wouldn’t stop their son. They even wrote letters and telegrams specifically to Zhao Qiliang, urging him to stay and accompany Luo Xiaoqiong.
With such in-laws, it’s hard for Luo Xiaoqiong not to be happy.
Seeing the close bond between the siblings, Wang Jing looked on enviously. From childhood to adulthood, she had never experienced such affection. Perhaps she just lacked the fate for kindred bonds.
Muttering a few things, Zhao Qiliang consciously left. His sister was still at work; he just came to take a look. If he stayed longer, he’d be overstaying his welcome.
On the way downstairs, a woman was helping a pregnant woman who was as round as a ball. He quickly stepped aside to let them pass.
"Brother?" The woman looked him up and down, somewhat incredulous, "How did you get so thin? I almost didn’t recognize you."
Upon hearing her voice, Zhao Qiliang immediately knew who it was. He looked at her, thinking to himself, I’m so thin you didn’t recognize me, but you’ve gotten so fat I can’t recognize you. You’re almost wider than you are tall.
"What’s wrong?" Zhao Qiliang asked.
The woman supporting Zhao Qiyan quickly replied, "Nothing, nothing’s wrong, just here for a routine check-up."
"This is my nanny, Nanny Qi," Zhao Qiyan gestured to the woman, then added, "You go register me with Doctor Qu, I’ll chat with my brother for a bit and then join you."
"Alright, ma’am, I’m on my way." Nanny Qi took a few steps, then turned back to smile at Zhao Qiliang, "Please take care of our lady."
Zhao Qiliang waved dismissively, speechless. He really didn’t have much of an impression of this sister, but since they met, he had to say a few words, "How’s Liu Zhenqiang doing these days?"
"He’s doing well, just busy. He’s so busy he hardly ever comes home, but he’s good to me. I don’t have to do anything now, just focus on nurturing my baby," she said with a blissful smile. Zhao Qiyan’s eyes were small to begin with, and now with the weight gain, they practically disappeared when she laughed.
"How many months?" Zhao Qiliang pointed at Zhao Qiyan’s belly, "I feel like people are giving birth before their stomachs reach your size."
"Brother, are you complimenting me or insulting me?" Zhao Qiyan pouted in dissatisfaction, "You’ve always favored Chuxia over me since we were kids. But I’m your real cousin, we share the same surname."
"Why are you bringing Chuxia into this again?" Zhao Qiliang shook his head helplessly, "I’m saying this for your own good. You say you’re carrying such a big baby, what if the delivery is difficult? It’s you who’ll suffer, isn’t it?"
"If you’re speaking like this, then that’s more like it." Zhao Qiyan reached out to rub her belly, "Don’t worry, brother, Doctor Qu has already said they’ll perform a C-section. After the anesthesia, I won’t feel anything, and when I wake up, the baby’s out."
"You’re not in pain after the anesthesia wears off?" Zhao Qiliang stared at her, "Can’t you eat a little less and have a natural birth? It’s better for both mother and child. You’ve been like this since childhood, always wanting to enjoy the good life without thinking about the future..."
"Brother!" Zhao Qiyan interrupted him, "I’m really happy to see you, that’s why I’m being affectionate. But you only scold me; can’t you say anything else?
Brother, I’m not a child anymore. You have to give me some face. You know, at home, when I say east, the nanny doesn’t dare say west. If she sees you treating me like this, will I still have any authority?
Besides, I’m now the wife of a deputy county head. Brother, don’t always treat me like a little girl who knows nothing. I’m different from before."
"Deputy County Head’s wife?" Zhao Qiliang looked at her, a bit at a loss, "You mean Liu Zhenqiang is a deputy county head now?"
"Yes, he was never on the same path as Xiao Bingqi’s father and son. He was just pretending to follow their orders back then to cooperate with the leadership.
Now, he’s even more powerful than Xiao Bingqi. Brother, don’t you think I’m lucky? Didn’t you all doubt I could marry better than Chuxia? What do you say now, admit it?"
A frog at the bottom of a well is always a frog at the bottom of a well. No matter how her status changes, at her core, she’s still just as narrow-minded. Speaking of this, my cousin Chuxia is indeed something special. As a child, she didn’t have much sense, but when she understood, she understood all at once.
Later, when she married into the Zhou family, most girls would be so smug they wouldn’t know who they were, but things for her were still the same. If you really think about it, the Zhou family’s economic status is something Liu Zhenqiang couldn’t catch up with even if he took off his shoes. But Chuxia went on with her job and worked hard just the same, unlike this cousin, who suddenly doesn’t know who she is and seems eager to lie around all day waiting to be fed.
He was curious about what on earth Liu Zhenqiang saw in Zhao Qiyan. Could it be that he actually liked this gluttonous, lazy, petty-hearted type?
With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Zhao Qiliang smiled at Zhao Qiyan: "Yeah, I didn’t expect you to be so fortunate." Since he couldn’t persuade her, he didn’t want to argue with her either, so he just went along with her words to quickly send her off.
"Of course, when I was little, a fortune teller said I was blessed, and the villagers laughed at me. Now when I go back, they all suck up to me, wanting my Zhenqiang to arrange jobs for their kids. These people are really interesting. They used to look down on me, but now they ask for my help without offering anything. Who do they think they are? They should take a good look at themselves to see if they have the right to ask me!"
Zhao Qiliang agreed with her, "Hmm, that’s right. If you don’t want to help, you don’t have to."
"Sigh! It’s really a hard thing to handle. If I reject them directly, they’ll say I’ve become big-headed and don’t see anyone else."
"Then just help them."
"Brother, you only say that because it doesn’t hurt you, right?" Zhao Qiyan stared at Zhao Qiliang with dissatisfaction. "Can’t you give me some proper advice? You’re just fobbing me off."
"Qiyan, what can your brother do?" Zhao Qiliang smiled bitterly. "Besides, your brother is just a small Squad Leader now. No one’s seeking my help, and I have no experience with this kind of thing, so how can I give you any advice?"
"Sigh!" Zhao Qiyan sighed, "I used to hope every day to marry an official. Now that Zhenqiang has really reached this position, I truly understand it: being with an official comes with the woes of an official.
He’s busy all day and never at home. Besides going back to the hometown with me once, he hasn’t had any downtime. It’s New Year, and everyone else is on holiday, but he’s still busy with all sorts of miscellaneous things.
For my pregnancy check-ups, he hasn’t been able to accompany me even once. Other than having the nanny cook me good food and take care of me, there’s no one else to talk to me. Brother, I’m about to die of boredom at home."
She must be going stir-crazy at home...
Zhao Qiliang sighed helplessly and patted her, "Xiaoyan, there’s no such thing as a perfect world. If you don’t want to work, you can’t complain about being bored at home.
If Zhenqiang wants you to live a good life, he has to work hard, which naturally leaves him no time to be with you. If he were to stay at home with you, how could you live such a comfortable life, isn’t that right?"
"Brother, I understand the reasoning, but it just feels unfair." Zhao Qiyan wiped her eyes, "Looking at you makes me feel very close. Brother, in the future, treat me a little better and not just Chuxia."
"You’re both my sisters; how could I not treat you well?" Zhao Qiliang’s heart softened. "But listen to me, just control your food intake a bit. You’re too fat right now, which is bad for both you and the baby."
"Brother, you wouldn’t know because you’ve never been pregnant. It’s not that I want to eat; I’m just really hungry," Zhao Qiyan said, swallowing hard. "When I see something delicious and can’t eat it, I feel like killing someone."
"Alright, having a good mood during pregnancy is most important. If you really want to eat, just go ahead. You can slim down a bit after giving birth and breastfeeding."
"Brother, how come you know all about this stuff?" Zhao Qiyan teased Zhao Qiliang with a mischievous look, "Haven’t even gotten married and you’re already learning in advance?"
"When I have nothing to do, I read some medical books. Knowing a bit is better than knowing nothing. If I get injured or unwell, I’ll have an idea," he said. In fact, many soldiers were now self-studying medical knowledge, preparing for cases where it might come in handy on the battlefield one day.
"Zhao Qiliang, who are you talking to?" Luo Xiaoqiong ran over, cheeks flushed.
"Qiyan came for a prenatal check-up, and we just happened to meet, so we exchanged a few words. Are you done with work?" Zhao Qiliang looked at Luo Xiaoqiong softly, "I went to Chuxia’s earlier and thought it might not be convenient for you there, so I planned to wait until you get off work to see you."
"The director didn’t need me, I’ve been sitting outside daydreaming all along." Luo Xiaoqiong looked at Zhao Qiyan with eyes full of shock. From what she remembered, Zhao Qiyan wasn’t thin, but seeing her so fat now still left her a bit overwhelmed.
"What kind of look are you giving me?" Zhao Qiyan was displeased, "Brother, tell her off, she’s mocking me."
"How am I mocking you?" Luo Xiaoqiong looked at her with a half-smiling expression, "Doing pretty well, huh, you managed to get a gynecology appointment at our 401. By the way, why did you come to 401 for a prenatal check-up?"
"Why can’t I come to 401 for a prenatal check-up?" Zhao Qiyan retorted, glaring at Luo Xiaoqiong, "What do you mean?"
"Nothing, I meant well. I was afraid you’d feel inferior if you saw Chuxia." Luo Xiaoqiong never had a good impression of Zhao Qiyan. Naturally, she wouldn’t show courtesy when speaking to her. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users please read at .)