Chapter 123: Will There Be Any Outcome?

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Chunni was the first to jump down from her chair and rush up to the doctor. “Doctor, how is my mother?”

Shen Qingyi approached, holding Er Ya, and quickly spoke up as well. “Doctor, I’m her friend. Did the surgery go smoothly?”

The doctor understood the situation—her husband had died. He lowered his head and glanced at Chunni with sympathy before looking up at Shen Qingyi. “The surgery went fairly well, but the patient is quite weak. She’ll likely need to stay an extra day in the hospital for observation.

Right now, there are no relatives present. As for the final decision, once she’s awake, you can discuss it with her.”

Shen Qingyi didn’t need to deliberate to know what Feng Erqiu would decide. She decisively told the doctor, “Please arrange for her to be admitted.”

After receiving the confirmation, the doctor went inside and later came out to have Feng Erqiu transferred to a general ward.

At the general ward, everyone went in except Lu Yan, who waited outside.

Shen Qingyi sat by Feng Erqiu’s bedside, holding Er Ya, and smiled. “The surgery was very successful. Both your daughters are so well-behaved.”

Feng Erqiu’s lips were pale, and her face looked weak. She smiled gratefully at Shen Qingyi. “Thank you…”

Before she could say more, her throat tightened, and tears instantly welled up.

To hide her emotions, she glanced back at Chunni, who was leaning by the bed, then steadied herself and asked, “How much did the surgery and hospital stay cost?”

“The final bill will be settled later, but you don’t need to worry about it.”

Feng Erqiu asked, “Was it your decision to admit me?”

“Yes. Since the surgery’s already paid for, it wouldn’t be worth risking anything by trying to save on the hospital fees.”

After Shen Qingyi’s explanation, Feng Erqiu’s tears flowed freely.

Seeing her cry so fiercely, Shen Qingyi reassured her, “Don’t worry about the money. I’m covering it. They say saving a life is worth more than building a seven-storied pagoda—I’m just earning some merit for myself and my family.”

Feng Erqiu wiped her tears and said, “No, I don’t know how to thank you. You’ve been tired and spent money on us. If there were any way I could repay you, I would…”

“That’s enough!” Shen Qingyi interrupted. “Everyone faces difficulties at some point.”

When she gave birth to An An, she had no family nearby and was terrified. Thanks to the Cheng family and Xia Xiyue, she managed to get through it.

She knew well the feeling of being utterly isolated and suddenly receiving help—it’s something one never forgets.

But she didn’t expect Feng Erqiu to remember it forever; she simply wanted to help.

“Won’t your husband mind?” Feng Erqiu asked cautiously.

Shen Qingyi smiled, “No, and besides, I have the money.”

When Feng Erqiu fell silent, Shen Qingyi added, “But he’s really tired today. I told him to take An An home to rest, and he’ll come back to pick us up tomorrow afternoon.”

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“Then let him go back quickly,” Feng Erqiu urged anxiously. Who in the entire base would let him sit idly on the sidelines?

Shen Qingyi held Er Ya and went to find Lu Yan with An An.

When Lu Yan saw Shen Qingyi come out, he quickly stood and held out his arms. “Let me hold Er Ya for a while. You should rest.”

Shen Qingyi didn’t move and instead told An An, “You go back and rest. Come back tomorrow afternoon to pick me up.”

“Are you sure you can manage alone?”

“I can. Er Ya is much easier to take care of than An An was back then.”

But Lu Yan suddenly looked somewhat guilty and uneasy. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry about what?” Shen Qingyi was surprised he was thinking that far.

“When you were pregnant with An An, I wasn’t by your side.”

Shen Qingyi paused, then said, “That’s in the past. Besides, you didn’t do it on purpose.”

Lu Yan pursed his lips and didn’t say anything more.

“You should go back. You have work and injections tomorrow morning. I can handle things here,” Shen Qingyi urged again.

“I’ll hire two nurses, and we’ll come back to pick you up tomorrow afternoon,” Lu Yan suggested.

Shen Qingyi thought for a moment. “One is enough. It’s better to have someone familiar.”

Lu Yan went to inquire about hospital nurses and finally found one.

After Lu Yan left, Shen Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief. She thought it best not to get too close to Lu Yan or she might not be able to extricate herself later.

Two extra beds were added to Feng Erqiu’s ward—one for Chunni and one for Shen Qingyi. The nurse and Shen Qingyi took turns holding Er Ya at night. The hospital beds were narrow, and the night passed in a haze.

The next day, the doctor checked Feng Erqiu’s condition several times. Seeing all her indicators were normal, he prescribed some medicine and allowed her to be discharged.

Shen Qingyi settled the bill and waited for Lu Yan to pick them up.

At four in the afternoon, Lu Yan arrived by car.

Although Feng Erqiu’s complexion was still pale, her spirit was much better than the day before. She looked at Shen Qingyi several times, hesitating to speak.

Shen Qingyi straightened little Er Ya in her arms and showed her to Feng Erqiu. “Er Ya’s been behaving well. Around noon, I went to the maternity ward to get some formula and brought some steamed buns. She shouldn’t be hungry.”

Feng Erqiu whispered, “I know.”

Shen Qingyi understood. “The surgery and hospital stay didn’t cost much—only fifteen yuan in total.”

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She deliberately understated the amount; the real cost was thirty-eight yuan.

If she told her the full amount, Feng Erqiu would remain uneasy.

“Thank you,” Feng Erqiu kept in her heart.

A simple outpatient visit at a clinic costs five or eight yuan, and this was surgery plus hospitalization at a city hospital. Feng Erqiu wasn’t a fool.

The car arrived at Feng Erqiu’s home just as the workday ended. Liu Yong heard the commotion outside and hurried out.

He didn’t wait for the car door to open before stepping forward.

Lu Yan parked, got out, opened the door, and took Er Ya. Shen Qingyi helped Feng Erqiu down from the car.

Chunni and An An jumped down from the car behind them.

Liu Yong approached Lu Yan and ingratiatingly said, “Thanks so much, Engineer Lu. Let me hold Er Ya.”

Lu Yan glanced at him and handed Er Ya over without a word.

Turning back to Shen Qingyi, he said, “You just take An An home.”

Shen Qingyi glanced at Er Ya. Given Feng Erqiu’s condition, she still needed care—how could she take care of Er Ya?

She hesitated, then heard Lu Yan say, “I’ll handle it.”

“All right.”

Back at home, Lu Yan had already returned.

The table was set with food, and the three washed their hands and sat down to eat.

Before Shen Qingyi could speak, Lu Yan said, “I’ve spoken to Liu Yong’s supervisor and told him to handle his family situation properly.”

“What if he refuses to do anything at home?”

“As long as Feng Erqiu speaks up, the women’s organization here will step in. She needs to learn to save herself, not have everything covered for her. As for Liu Yong, he needs to experience what it’s like to take care of a family. He acts like earning money outside makes him the master.

Helping people requires the right approach. Otherwise, you might lose yourself and still get no results.”

Shen Qingyi paused with her chopsticks mid-air and looked at Lu Yan thoughtfully. Indeed, she hadn’t considered the outcome—she just wanted to help Feng Erqiu get through this difficult time.

“Will this matter have a resolution?”