Chapter 18: The Talkative Patient

“Well, let me see, three hundred and one, is that right?”
Wan Shun rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you check your own books and see if there’s a mistake? Don’t you know exactly how much you’ve taken in your cash box?”
The shop owner looked embarrassed. “Just double-checking. All right, three hundred and one it is. You’ve been working hard all day and haven’t even had a sip of water. Tell you what, I’ll give you another ten bucks for food.”
Wan Shun laughed. “You’re generous, boss. May your business prosper! If you ever need help again, you know where to find me. I’m from Fu’an Village, name’s Wan Shun.”
The owner clicked his tongue—what a money-hungry girl. Still, he wasn’t stingy; he handed over the payment without fuss, including Wan Shun’s hundred-yuan deposit. Even though he’d given her a fair sum, he wasn’t losing out.
The jobs Wan Shun took on were all tricky ones; he could make twenty or thirty yuan from each. If it hadn’t been for her, who knows how long things would have piled up? Impatient customers might have walked away, and some items he probably couldn’t have fixed himself.
If he’d lost clients, he wouldn’t have made enough to cover her wages anyway, so in truth, he had nothing to regret.
Wan Shun counted the money in her hands. It looked like a lot, but whether it would be enough for Yu Yan’s treatment remained to be seen.
“All right, boss, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.”
The owner quickly spoke up, “Girl, are you still in school? Looking for a job? If you are, how about working here? Same deal as today—paid by the piece. I won’t shortchange you. Think it over?”
Wan Shun glanced around the small shop. It was barely thirty or forty square meters, filled with old, many-times-resold appliances that had been refurbished for sale.
Most of the rest was just parts and scrap metal.
“Boss, don’t take this the wrong way, but you only had this much work because of a lucky couple of days. Usually, I bet it’s just enough to make ends meet.
I don’t want to take a cut of your modest earnings—just not interested. But if you ever get too busy, I can come help out as a friend. We can discuss the price.
You get on with it, see you around.”
Wan Shun waved and strode away with ease.
The owner shook his head, smiling—she was right, it really was just a lucky streak.
After leaving the repair shop, Wan Shun didn’t rush back to the clinic. She wandered the street, hoping to spot another business opportunity.
She didn’t find any, but she did spot Luo Cheng.
The boy was sneaking around with an electric fishing device in his hand.
These days, the rivers were all contracted out, and neither villagers nor city folk were allowed to fish freely.
But people were too stingy to buy fish, so some sneaked off to poach, using homemade gear to fish illegally.
Some fished with rods, some with nets, and some rigged up high-voltage contraptions to electrocute the fish.
Whatever else could be said about the other methods, this electric fishing was absolutely condemned.
Not only is it devastating to the fish, but it’s also incredibly dangerous.
Homemade devices have zero safety guarantees, and with water involved, accidents are all too common.
Every year, at least a hundred people die from electric fishing.
But it’s impossible to eradicate—there are always those daring enough to try.
Wan Shun didn’t bother meddling. People like that, well, the world might be better off without them.
With no other way to make money, Wan Shun stopped wandering and bought food to take back to the clinic.
Yu Yan’s neighboring bed now had a new patient, a talkative old lady in her sixties who wouldn’t stop chattering.
Her family had fled her nagging, so she targeted the nurses. When they escaped, she turned to Yu Yan.
Yu Yan, after years of silence because of the Jiang father and son, was no longer used to conversation, least of all with a talkative stranger.
But out of politeness, she couldn’t ignore her completely, so she responded awkwardly.
The old lady rambled on, oblivious to Yu Yan’s discomfort.
“Let me tell you, young lady, my son is a manager at a department store. Do you know what a manager is? It’s a big boss—he’s got two or three dozen people under him.
My son’s good-looking, has a great job, and a good temperament. Lots of girls want to marry him. Back when he was seventeen or eighteen, matchmakers were already knocking. If I hadn’t refused, I’d have a grandson in college by now.
But back then, I wanted him to focus on his studies, so I didn’t let him think about marriage. That’s why things are the way they are.
I’ll tell you, my son is truly capable. He started working right after high school, helped me take care of his younger siblings. My younger son and daughter were able to study and go to college only because of their big brother.”
Yu Yan nodded politely. So the meaning was, to support his siblings, the eldest still hadn’t found a wife.
If those younger siblings succeeded, became independent, or could repay their brother, that might be all right.
But if they didn’t, and he had to keep supporting them, no woman would want to marry into such a burden.
Who would willingly marry into a family with so many dependents, and a mother who meddles in her son’s life? She was clearly on the eldest’s side.
No matter how good a man is, if the burdens are heavy and the family is troublesome, he’ll have trouble finding a wife.
Yu Yan had all these thoughts, though her face showed nothing.
“Yes, yes, of course,” she replied, politely.
When Wan Shun returned, Yu Yan looked as if she’d seen her savior. “Xiao Shun, you’re finally back. Can we be discharged? I’m fine. Let’s pack up.”
She felt like she was sitting on pins and needles here.
The old lady next door greeted them warmly. “Oh, this must be your girl! How old is she? Is she betrothed yet?”
Yu Yan’s guard shot up. The old lady’s son was at least thirty, while her Xiao Shun was just sixteen—she couldn’t let anything happen.
“She’s still a child. We’re not discussing that.”
The old lady disagreed. “Hardly a child. In the old days, girls started talking about marriage at thirteen or fourteen. Your girl must be at least fifteen by now, right? Don’t delay. Girls aren’t like boys—the older a boy gets, the more valuable he is, but for girls, the older they get, the less they’re worth.”
Yu Yan’s face turned cold. “That might be true for your girls, but mine will always be precious, even at eighty.”
Wan Shun raised her eyebrows. Since the Jiang family incident, Yu Yan had always been meek and submissive. This was the first time she’d shown a hard edge.
It felt like the old days.
The old lady’s expression soured. “I’m giving you heartfelt advice—why can’t you appreciate it? Don’t worry now, but you’ll regret it later when she’s left on the shelf.
Girls will always end up marrying out. If you marry her off early, it lessens your burden. People always say, marry off your daughters early or risk growing to resent them.
Besides, your girl is dark and thin—she doesn’t look like she’d be good at bearing children. If you don’t marry her off while she’s still young and has her youth as an advantage, who’ll want her when she’s older?”
Yu Yan was furious. “Nonsense! Who are you to judge my daughter? Mind your own business and worry about your own son—an old bachelor who still can’t find a wife at his age.
With three siblings to support, no sensible girl would jump into that pit, and with a meddling, sharp-tongued mother like you, even if he does find one, you’ll talk her out of it.
Your mouth never stops, and you’ve already driven away your son’s fiancée, your daughter, and the nurses. If I could leave, I wouldn’t have to listen to your nonsense.”
Wan Shun watched with interest—her godmother was really standing up for herself now.
The old woman’s face flushed red. She sat up straight, hands on her hips, ready to fire back.
Wan Shun slammed a fist down, bending the foot rail of the iron bed.
“Old lady, I can’t stand noise. It gets me agitated, and when I’m agitated, I can’t control my fists.” As she spoke, she straightened the bent rail as if nothing had happened.
The old lady was speechless.
Yu Yan, worried, grabbed Wan Shun’s hand. “Silly girl, why’d you punch the bed? Let me see—did you hurt yourself?”
Wan Shun shook her hand. “I’m fine, really. Godmother, I brought dinner. Let’s eat first.”
Yu Yan frowned. “Aren’t we leaving the hospital?”
“No, we’ll leave tomorrow.”
Yu Yan opened her mouth, but seeing Wan Shun’s resolute expression, she fell silent.