mijobooks Chapter 46 Accompanying Again and Again
Chapter 46 Accompanying Again and Again
He waved goodbye to Lao Zhao in a hurry and gave him a few more words of advice about their future work.
Immediately afterwards, Jiang Wan, who was worried about him, rushed to his side.
Xu Liang had been busy mediating the dispute in the warehouse, but now that things were settled, he could go and take care of his own business.
His mind was filled with Jiang Wan's worries, and he quickened his pace, almost running towards the town's health center.
The town's health center in the 1990s was located on the old street in the center of the town. It was a two-story brick building.
However, the walls were somewhat mottled, and there were two perfectly trimmed holly trees by the entrance.
Xu Liang looked simple and clean.
Xu Liang ran into the health center gate in one breath and first smelled a faint medicinal smell mixed with the fragrance of Chinese herbal medicines planted in the yard.
However, it doesn't smell bad; on the contrary, it has a reassuring aroma.
There weren't many people at the central health center.
Only a few neighbors come to see the doctor, and every now and then, doctors and nurses in white coats and old cloth caps can be seen going in and out of that door.
After that, Xu Liang quickly walked through the corridor.
He immediately spotted a slender figure sitting on the infusion chair by the window.
Jiang Wan sat there quietly, still wearing the red plaid skirt she had worn when she left home. Her two small ponytails were tied behind her head, and a few strands of hair fell beside her cheeks, making her face appear even whiter.
Her left hand rested on a small table beside the chair, with a needle inserted into the back of her hand and a thin IV tube hanging down, the medicine in the IV bag slowly dripping into her veins through the tube.
Perhaps the medicine was a bit cold, or maybe I had been sitting for too long.
She frowned slightly, her other small hand gently gripping the armrest of the chair, her eyes gazing blankly out the window, looking somewhat lonely.
Xu Liang's heart softened instantly. He walked very quietly to her side, afraid of disturbing her.
Hearing footsteps, Jiang Wan slowly turned her head. When she saw that it was Xu Liang, her eyes, which had been slightly vacant, instantly lit up, and the faint weariness on her face also disappeared.
A faint smile unconsciously curved her lips, and her voice was soft.
"You're here. Has everything been resolved?"
"It's all resolved. It was just a misunderstanding. No one was hurt, and we've all made up. Don't worry."
Xu Liang sat down on the empty chair next to her, moving very gently, as if afraid of touching her hand receiving the IV drip. He leaned slightly forward, his gaze falling on her slightly swollen cheeks, which were the result of her previous toothache.
"Does your toothache still hurt? Does the IV drip make you feel any better?"
Jiang Wan nodded gently, then shook her head, her little hand unconsciously moving towards him, as if she had found someone to lean on.
"It's much better. When the doctor gave me the injection, the swelling and pain in my cheeks lessened. The medicine was a bit cold, and my hand felt a little numb," she said.
Jiang Wan also quietly raised her left hand, which was still sticking out an needle, very carefully, as if afraid of pulling on the needle.
Upon seeing this, Xu Liang immediately reached out and gently grasped her right hand, which was not receiving an IV drip. His palm was large and warm, carrying the warmth of years spent working in small restaurants.
It immediately stopped the coldness in her little hands.
"Don't move around, be careful the needle doesn't slip out. Your hands are cold, let me warm them for you."
Xu Liang spoke naturally, his fingertips gently caressing the back of her hand, transferring warmth to it little by little.
Jiang Wan's cheeks flushed, and the blush spread all the way to her ears.
Her heart beat faster for no apparent reason, and she obediently placed her small hand in his palm, letting him cover it.
The warmth emanating from my palm spread throughout my body via my veins, easing the chill on the back of my hand and the dull pain in my gills.
My heart felt warm, like the afternoon sun.
"I left in a hurry earlier and didn't come with you, leaving you here alone. Were you scared?"
Looking at her flushed cheeks, Xu Liang felt a little guilty. He had been busy dealing with the cooperative's affairs and shouldn't have left her alone at the health center. Now he felt it was inappropriate.
"I wasn't afraid, I was just thinking about what was going on with you. I was worried that you might get hurt again, and I was also worried that you wouldn't be able to find me after you finished your work."
Jiang Wan said softly.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as her gaze fell on their clasped hands.
"I know you meant well, and you went to break up the fight to clear up their misunderstanding. You've always been like that—sincere and helpful."
Xu Liang smiled, loosened his grip on her hand slightly, and looked at her intently.
When she had a toothache before, her face was contorted and she didn't even dare to speak loudly. Now that it has eased up a bit, her eyebrows and eyes have relaxed, and she looks even more delicate and charming.
He recalled how she had rushed to the cooperative's entrance in a panic, her eyes filled with worry for Xu Liang. It was truly rare to be cared for and remembered like that in this lifetime.
The two sat quietly like that, with Xu Liang holding Jiang Wan's hand to warm it and occasionally whispering a few words to her.
Ask her about her experience with the IV drip, and tell her the details of the settlement with the cooperative. There weren't many fancy words, but warmth was evident everywhere.
The sunlight streamed through the window, falling warmly on the two of them and casting long shadows.
As the IV fluid in the bottle gradually decreased, the nurse came over and changed the dressing.
Then, he even told me that I needed to have another bottle of IV fluid administered.
Upon hearing this, Xu Liang got up and went to the doctor's office to inquire about Jiang Wan's condition. The doctor said it was just swollen and inflamed gums.
Two bottles of anti-inflammatory IV fluids and some oral medication. Go home and pay attention to your diet; eat light and soft foods, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and you should recover in two or three days.
Xu Liang kept the doctor's words in mind and asked how much the medicine would cost. Before Jiang Wan could speak, he took out the money from his pocket.
The cost of the IV drip and the medicine were settled together.
The money he had came from running a restaurant; he lived frugally.
He wouldn't hesitate to spend money on Jiang Wan without the slightest hesitation.
When he returned to his seat, Jiang Wan realized that he had paid the bill and quickly said something.
"Brother Xu Liang, why did you pay? I should have paid for it myself, I have the money!"
As he reached into his pocket to take out money, his movements were a little too hasty, and the needle on the back of his hand wobbled slightly.
She hissed softly in pain.
"Don't move!"
Xu Liang immediately pressed her hand down, his voice full of heartache.
"Why are you distinguishing between yours and mine? You're already suffering from a toothache, this little bit of medicine is nothing, don't be polite with me."
"If you move around again, the needle will slip out, and you'll have to prick it again, which will hurt even more."
His tone was somewhat forceful, but it was all out of concern for her. Jiang Wan looked at his earnest eyes and felt warm inside. She was too embarrassed to mention repaying the money, and just whispered something.
"Thank you, Brother Xu Liang."
Jiang Wan's voice was filled with gratitude.
Looking at her obedient appearance, Xu Liang's smile deepened, and he took her hand again, quietly staying with her.
The second bottle of medicine was being administered slowly. During this time, he would occasionally look up to check the infusion rate, worried that if it was too fast, Jiang Wan would feel uncomfortable, and if it was too slow, it would waste time. He even carefully smoothed down the bangs that had fallen onto her forehead, his movements extremely gentle.
The woman who was seeing a doctor nearby watched the two of them and whispered to the person next to her with a smile.
"These two young people have such a good relationship. The young man is thoughtful and considerate, and the young woman is gentle and sensible. They are a perfect match."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan blushed even more and gently turned her head to one side.
She dared not look at Xu Liang, but the smile on her lips was impossible to hide.
Xu Liang heard it too, and a sweet feeling welled up in his heart, but he didn't say anything more. He just held her hand a little tighter.
More than an hour later, the two bottles of medicine were finally finished.
The nurse came over and carefully removed the needle, then asked Jiang Wan to press the injection site with a cotton swab for a few minutes to prevent bleeding.
Xu Liang quickly took the cotton swab from the nurse and gently pressed it against the back of her left hand, his movements gentle, afraid of hurting her.
Once the bleeding from the injection site stopped, Xu Liang helped Jiang Wan slowly get up and straightened her wrinkled skirt.
Carrying the oral medication prescribed by the doctor, I carefully escorted her out of the health center.
"Slow down, don't rush. You've been on an IV drip for so long, are you tired?"
He walked slowly, asking questions in a low voice to match her pace.
"I'm a little tired, but it's nothing serious. My toothache is much better, and it doesn't hurt to talk anymore."
Jiang Wan leaned against him as they walked slowly, the sunlight warming her body and filling her heart with overflowing joy.
In all her life, apart from her family, no one had ever taken such good care of her or stayed with her like this. Xu Liang's gentleness gradually warmed her heart.
The two walked along the cobblestone path toward the small restaurant. The town's streets were still bustling, and the neighbors greeted them with smiles.
When teased about how well Xu Liang takes care of his partner, Xu Liang simply smiled and responded.
Jiang Wan blushed and followed him with her head down, feeling as sweet as a cotton candy in her heart.
Back at the small restaurant, there weren't many customers; the afternoon was usually quiet.
However, Xu Liang had already closed his door long ago.
Xu Liang asked Jiang Wan to sit at the wooden table in the shop and poured her a glass of warm water.
She told her to rest well, and then turned and went into the kitchen.
Jiang Wan sat at the table, watching the busy figures in the kitchen, and felt a sense of peace in her heart.
The small restaurant was spotless, the tables were polished to a shine, and everywhere showed the signs of Xu Liang's meticulous care.
She held the warm water in her hands and sipped it slowly.
Watching his back as he moved about in the kitchen, I felt that the tranquility of life couldn't be more precious.
Xu Liang entered the kitchen, his mind filled with the doctor's instructions.
Knowing that Jiang Wan had a toothache and couldn't eat spicy or hard foods, I had to make something light, soft, and easy to digest.
He pondered for a moment and decided to make a vegetable and meatball soup, and then steam a bowl of soft white rice.
It's light, easy on the stomach, and nutritious, just right for Jiang Wan to eat right now.
He first took out fresh bok choy from the vegetable basket, carefully selected it, washed it several times with clean water, and then placed it aside to drain.
Then, they took out fresh pork from the freezer.
It's hind leg meat that I just got some time ago.
A good mix of lean and fatty meat, chopped into minced meat, is the most tender and delicious.
He held the cleaver and carefully chopped the minced meat, one stroke at a time, with even force.
The minced meat is finely chopped and has no grainy texture.
Chop the meat into minced meat, put it in a large bowl, and add a little salt and light soy sauce.
Crack in another egg, add a little starch, and stir vigorously in one direction.
Mix the minced meat until it becomes elastic; this will make the meatballs tender, bouncy, and neither dry nor hard.
His movements were skillful, and he did every step carefully, which was entirely due to the skills he had honed from running a restaurant.
Thinking that Jiang Wan would feel better after eating this soup, he felt even more pleasure in his actions.
Next, Xu Liang boiled a pot of water and waited until it was just starting to bubble, but not yet boiling.
He grabbed a handful of minced meat, squeezed it into small, evenly sized balls, and gently placed them into the pot.
Simmering slowly over low heat, the meatballs float to the surface one by one, turning white and tender, and emitting a faint aroma of meat.
Then, he put the drained bok choy into the pot and cooked it for a minute or two until it turned bright green and tender. He then added a little salt to taste.
A few drops of sesame oil bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients, making it both light and fragrant.
After making the vegetable and meatball soup, he steamed a bowl of soft white rice. The rice was steamed just right, each grain distinct, yet soft and delicious.
After serving the soup and rice, Xu Liang sat opposite Jiang Wan and handed her chopsticks and a spoon.
"I made a vegetable and meatball soup. It's light and not spicy. The meatballs are soft and the vegetables are tender. Try it and see if it suits your taste."
"Uh-huh!"
"Eat slowly, don't rush!"
Jiang Wan looked at the soup on the table; white meatballs floated among the emerald green vegetables, and the soup was clear and bright.
The aroma is irresistible; just looking at it makes you want to eat.
She picked up a spoon, scooped up a small meatball, blew on it gently, and put it in her mouth.
The meatballs are tender and smooth, not greasy at all, and the soup is fresh and flavorful with the aroma of fresh vegetables.
After swallowing it, my stomach felt warm, and even the toothache completely disappeared.
"It's delicious, Brother Xu! Your cooking is really good!"
Jiang Wan's eyes sparkled with joy as she scooped up another spoonful of soup and drank it.
She had a little soup on the corner of her mouth, which made her look very cute.
Seeing her eat so heartily made Xu Liang happier than if he had eaten the finest delicacies himself.
He quickly handed her a tissue to wipe the soup from the corner of her mouth, and said with a smile.
"Eat more if you like it. There's more in the pot. I'll get you more if you're still hungry."
"Your toothache has just healed, so eat more soft foods to help you recover!"
Jiang Wan nodded slightly, taking small bites as she ate with great satisfaction.
This meal was simple, without any fancy dishes or spicy food; it was just a home-cooked meal.
But she felt that this was the most delicious and heartwarming meal she had ever eaten.
Xu Liang's companionship, gentle care, and this bowl of soup made with care.
All of this filled her heart with happiness.
Jiang Wan ate slowly. Xu Liang sat opposite her, quietly watching her.
Occasionally, I would give her meatballs and vegetables.
He didn't eat himself, but stayed with her the whole time.
After Jiang Wan finished eating, the soup and rice in her bowl were all gone. She patted her stomach, a satisfied smile on her face, her eyes crinkling, looking incredibly charming.
"I'm so full and feel so good! My teeth don't hurt at all anymore, all thanks to you, Brother Xu!"
"It's good that you're okay. Next time you have a toothache, don't try to tough it out. Tell me, and I'll take you to the doctor and make you something to eat."
Xu Liang was clearing away the dishes, his tone full of doting affection.
"I've packed your medicine. Take it as the doctor instructed, and remember to take it on time. Pay attention to your diet for a few more days, and you'll be completely recovered soon."
As darkness fell, families in the town began cooking, and wisps of smoke rose from their chimneys. The old-fashioned streetlights on the streets slowly came on.
Jiang Wan thought she should go home, otherwise her family would worry.
But I felt a pang of reluctance; I was reluctant to leave this warm and welcoming little restaurant.
She was also reluctant to leave Xu Liang.
She stood up, took the medicine Xu Liang handed her, and said softly.
"Brother Xu, I should go home now. Thank you for staying with me while I received my IV drip today, and for cooking for me..."
"Oh, right, and I also need to pay for the medicine. I don't know how to thank you enough."
"You don't need to thank me. Taking care of you is what I should do."
Xu Liang looked at her with tender eyes.
"Let me take you home. It's getting dark, and it's not safe on the road."
"No need, my home isn't far, I can go back by myself. You still need to tidy up your shop, so go ahead and do your work."
Jiang Wan quickly waved her hand, not wanting to trouble him any further.
"I'll take my medicine on time when I get back, and I'll be fine tomorrow, don't worry."
Xu Liang knew her personality and didn't force her.
He simply escorted her to the restaurant entrance, watched her walk on the bluestone path, and repeatedly gave her instructions.
"Take care on the road. Let me know when you get home. If your toothache flares up again tonight, come to the restaurant to find me. I'll always be there."
Jiang Wan nodded, turned to look at him, waved, and had a sweet smile on her face.
"I understand, Brother Xu Liang. You should get some rest too, don't overwork yourself."
After saying that, she turned and slowly walked towards home, her steps always light.
Every now and then, Jiang Wan would glance back, and only when she saw Xu Liang still standing at the restaurant entrance watching her did she quicken her pace.