NOVPUB
Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Helping with Analysis
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The temperature dropped in the evening, and it wasn’t as hot as during the day. Tong Yao strolled leisurely to the hospital, not in a hurry. When she saw familiar faces, she would sometimes initiate a greeting.
When she arrived at the department, Si Chen was washing his hands. Seeing Tong Yao, he signaled her to sit down and rest. Only after he had thoroughly washed and dried his hands did he sit down across from her.
Tong Yao opened the lunch box in front of him, cheerfully saying, "Try this. This is the first time I’ve filled dumplings with pickles and pork. They may not taste as good as the ones made by mom, but you aren’t allowed to say they’re bad. You have to finish them."
Si Chen’s eyes were filled with amusement. He picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and placed it in his mouth. Immediately, the flavor of pickles and pork filled his mouth. Nodding, he lavished praise, "They’re tastier than the ones made by mom."
It’s not that Si Chen was belittling Lin Fengying to praise Tong Yao; it’s just that Lin Fengying’s cooking was indeed mediocre due to her frugality with oil and seasonings. The food she usually prepared was quite ordinary. However, they were used to not always having enough to eat, so having something to consume was considered a blessing, regardless of the taste.
They rarely had the opportunity to eat meat at home, so Lin Fengying wasn’t skilled in cooking meat dishes.
Tong Yao’s eyes, which had already been swollen smaller, squinted into a happy line as she laughed, which made her look quite silly.
"The main thing is, our mother’s homemade pickles are very authentic. You see, the grandpa in Ward 206 also praised them."
Si Chen’s eyes flickered with indulgence, landing on her delicate face, "Have you eaten yet?"
Tong Yao shook her head lightly, "Not yet. It was a bit hot just out of the pot. I left them in the room to cool down. I’ll eat them later at home while enjoying the breeze from the fan."
Upon hearing her, Si Chen didn’t say anything further. The two of them sat there, one eating dumplings and the other watching, creating a peaceful and warm scene.
Watching Si Chen eat dumplings, Tong Yao couldn’t help but think about how Liu Haisheng, like a child, had craved dumplings. She found it amusing, "Dr. Liu must not have had dumplings in a long time. He saw me cooking them and his eyes were gleaming. He just said you’re a fortunate man, which was heard by Li Meiyu. As I was leaving, they were arguing about divorce in the room."
Si Chen chuckled softly, his lips curving slightly, "Cooking is Li Meiyu’s weak point and Liu Haisheng’s ex-wife was the perfect housewife type. When he praised your cooking, it was like stepping on a rooster’s tail. It’s no surprise that Li Meiyu would throw a fit."
Tong Yao propped her chin and chuckled lightly, "Li Meiyu always thinks she’s superior because she’s a teacher. I can’t stand her haughty demeanor at all. I was chopping dumpling fillings and she complained that I was deliberately disturbing her nap. In the evening, she was still banging on an iron basin to retaliate against me. This woman’s heart is as small as a sesame seed, but she has more tricks up her sleeve than a lotus root. She’s always walking around with an air of self-importance."
Whenever Tong Yao talked about Li Meiyu, she couldn’t stop rambling. It may seem like she doesn’t like gossiping in front of Li Nuanchun, but in front of Si Chen, it’s like a floodgate had been opened. She can’t stop talking, and she is not even aware that she feels very relaxed around him. She can confidently say anything to him without any guard.
Subconsciously, she has already accepted Si Chen as the man to accompany her for life. Sometimes, when she imagines them in their old age, sitting on rocking chairs watching television together, she can’t help but laugh.
Si Chen did not find her annoying; instead, he listened to her complaints carefully, and even solemnly helped analyze a few things, "Teaching is a respected profession. Li Meiyu is often praised by students and their parents at school, and she’s used to it. On top of that, she’s pampered by Dr. Liu at home. That kind of treatment has spoiled her a bit."
"I think such a person teaching is misleading the younger generation." Tong Yao shook her head and sighed, appearing deeply thoughtful.
Si Chen simply smiled without replying, finished the last dumpling, then stood up to wash the lunch box. Tong Yao, leaning her head, watched his retreating back. Her eyes inadvertently squinted, creating a small slit. The fact that such a perfect man was her husband suggested that she had already surpassed at least eighty percent of the people.
"Lock the doors and windows tonight. I’ll bring you breakfast at seven in the morning." Si Chen handed the cleaned lunch box to Tong Yao, reminding her to take precautions before going to bed. No matter where they are, there are always bad people in the world.
"You don’t need to bring me breakfast. I’ll get up early to prepare breakfast for you to eat on the way. Now is your working hours, and if I stay here too long, people will gossip. I’ll go back first."
Tong Yao briefly spoke a few words, took the lunch box, and left the department. As soon as she arrived at the ground floor of the hospital, she saw several adults bringing in five or six pale-faced children.
Among the adults, Tong Yao recognized two as teachers from her school, but since they normally didn’t interact, Tong Yao wasn’t familiar with them. Seeing the children in a serious condition, Tong Yao was about to go upstairs to call for help when Si Chen rushed down.
Worried that Si Chen would be distracted by her presence, Tong Yao decided to head back to the residential compound. As soon as she got to the second floor, she saw Dai Liwen and Li Nuanchun standing in the hallway, unsure whether or not to intervene with the dispute. From the sounds coming out of Li Meiyu’s room, it seemed like a heavy quarrel was underway, with voices arguing and objects being thrown about, like the place was being torn down.
"Little sister, do you think we should go in and try to mediate?" Li Nuanchun and his wife were unsure and asked Tong Yao for advice.
Tong Yao’s face painted a picture of distress, she said uncertainly: "Sister-in-law, Dr. Dai, I can’t say. I’m definitely not the one to mediate this dispute. Teacher Li treats me like a vermin; she wishes she could stomp me to death. If I go in, it will only escalate the conflict. She will think I’m there to laugh at her."
Who in the residential compound doesn’t know that Li Meiyu dislikes her! If she went to mediate, Li Meiyu would definitely think she was there to laugh at her, and the situation could explode.
"Oh, I forgot about that." Li Nuanchun smacked his forehead, apologizing to Tong Yao with a smile. He turned to look at Dai Liwen, "So shall we go in or not?"
They both had been standing in the hallway for quite a while, not having gone to mediate but initiating a lot of speculation and gossip. Just standing around wasn’t a solution!
Dai Liwen supported his chin, still unsure whether or not to go in. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝔲𝔟.𝔠𝖔𝖒
Seeing how uncertain the couple was, Tong Yao, who initially had no intention of interfering with the matter, couldn’t help but say a little more. She glanced at the door of Chen Yanmei’s house, "Sister-in-law, Dr. Dai, if you’re really unsure whether or not to go and mediate, why not take a page from the assistant director’s family?"
Yes indeed!
If the assistant director’s family isn’t getting involved, why should they stick their necks out!
With one sentence, Tong Yao woke them up. Li Nuanchun and Dai Liwen looked at each other and immediately decided to go back to their room and enjoy the fan breeze. Before leaving, they couldn’t resist praising her, "Little sister, you are so clever."
"Sister-in-law, I’m going back to eat dumplings now." Tong Yao winked at Li Nuanchun and turned back to her room. As soon as the door closed, whatever was going on outside no longer concerned her.
"Let’s go on!"
Li Nuanchun waved her hand, turned around and followed her husband back to the room. As soon as the door was closed, Dai Liwen said.
"Previously everyone said that Dr. Si’s wife was lazy and didn’t do any work, that she was obstinate and unreasonable. Today, I see things clearly. Everyone underestimated her. In this residential compound, few can match her intellect. She always has everything figured out."
