Cheng You and Qi Chengyan finished delivering the heat-relief medicine and took a stroll around the commune.
Looking at the sign of the state-run pharmacy and the flow of customers, Cheng You felt a pang of envy.
When would her Zhen Shan Tang gain such a reputation?
Qi Chengyan saw through her thoughts and smiled, "In the future, Zhen Shan Tang will be even bigger than this."
Cheng You smiled brightly, like a blooming flower.
"You're really good at comforting me."
At the current pace, even with so many customers, she wouldn't have enough medicine to sell.
They ambled around the commune, stopping and starting, without buying too much.
When it was time for lunch, they went to the state-run restaurant.
As soon as they ordered their dishes, they saw Cheng Tao and Zhao Yunlin, accompanied by a man whose features seemed vaguely familiar to Cheng You.
They sat at the table next to Cheng You's.
Cheng Tao initially intended to greet her but was restrained by Zhao Yunlin.
In the end, she merely glanced at Cheng You and did not initiate a conversation.
"Big brother, see what you'd like to eat. The braised pork here is good," Cheng Tao handed the menu to the man.
Cheng You glanced at the man again, feeling puzzled. Where did Cheng Tao get a "big brother" from?
The man ordered two meat dishes and returned the menu to Cheng Tao.
"The rest is up to you both."
Just then, Cheng You's dishes arrived.
She focused on her meal and didn't think about it further.
A while later, she learned from Cheng Tao's conversation that the man was from the Old Yang family.
Cheng You chuckled while eating, drawing a look from Qi Chengyan, who then placed a piece of meat on her plate.
"What are you laughing at?"
Cheng You stifled her laughter and shook her head.
"Just thinking about some things."
Cheng Tao was quite something. After remarrying Song Yulian, she couldn't wait to change her surname.
Now that she needed the Old Yang family's help, she shamelessly went back to them.
Indeed, the shameless are invincible.
Qi Chengyan served her food, gently tapping her head.
"Focus on eating."
Always thinking about trivial matters.
Cheng You stuck out her tongue. "I am eating."
After finishing their meal, they paid and left, not in the mood to listen to Cheng Tao's affairs anymore.
As they walked out, she chuckled, "Cheng Tianhua is truly a fool."
Though Cheng You didn't want to admit it, she couldn't deny that seeing Cheng Tianhua pour his heart out for Cheng Tao occasionally still brought a hint of sadness.
They were both his daughters, yet the difference was so vast.
Qi Chengyan clasped her hand tightly. "Youyou."
Cheng You blinked. "I'm fine, just feeling a bit emotional. Let's go, Wen Yu should be finished with his exam."
Cheng Wen Yu's final exams were today. After they finished, he would start high school in September.
If the college entrance examination were to be resumed next year, Cheng Wen Yu, though missing it, could aim for the year after.
They waited at the school gate for a while. Students gradually emerged, and finally, they saw Cheng Wen Yu, accompanied by a little girl.
Cheng You remembered her; her name was Ruan Qingqing.
"Hello, sister."
Cheng You smiled and patted her head. "Hello, Qingqing. Are you all done with your exams?"
Cheng Wen Yu nodded. "Finished. Sister, I want to stay at Uncle's place for a few more days. I'll go back after I get my results."
Cheng You asked, "Is there anything else? If not, you can pick them up by bicycle in a couple of days."
Cheng Wen Yu hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's... it's Ruan Qingqing. She said she wants me to tutor her for a few days."
Cheng You didn't think much of it; she had a good impression of Ruan Qingqing.
"Alright then, go home after you get your results. Don't play around too much. Qingqing, please keep an eye on him for me."
Cheng You gave a few instructions and left with Qi Chengyan.
Ruan Qingqing asked curiously, "Cheng Wen Yu, when did I ask you to tutor me?"
"I lied to my sister," he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder and walking forward.
Ruan Qingqing trotted to keep up.
"Why did you lie to your sister?"
"It's none of your business. Don't follow me," he said impatiently.
Ruan Qingqing followed like a little shadow, but her legs were short. He walked briskly, and she had to run to keep up.
"That won't do. Your sister just said I should follow you. You're not allowed to do anything bad."
"You're so annoying! Stop following me!"
"I won't!"
...
Cheng You hadn't thought much of Cheng Wen Yu's words, assuming he just wanted to stay and wait for his results.
However, just a few days later, someone rushed over with urgent news: Cheng Wen Yu had gotten into a fight and was hospitalized with a young girl.
The girl, Cheng You knew without guessing, must be Ruan Qingqing!
She grabbed the messenger and gritted her teeth, "Where are they? How are they?"
"I don't know. Director Zhang asked me to come and report, to let you know to come and see!"
The messenger then ran off.
Cheng You stumbled, remembering Cheng Wen Yu in her dreams, who had injured someone, taken the blame, gone to prison, and was eventually tortured to death.
Could it be that even with a second chance, the outcome couldn't be changed?
"Youyou, let's go to the clinic first."
Qi Chengyan, without time to comfort her, knew that seeing Cheng Wen Yu safe at the clinic was more important than anything else.
Cheng You was too weak to ride the bicycle now, so she sat behind Qi Chengyan, letting him carry her.
Before they reached the village entrance, they heard Cheng Tao gloating, "He was a hoodlum before. What good is he trying to reform? He's rotten to the core. How can he possibly change?"
Cheng You couldn't wait for him to stop and jumped off the bicycle, grabbing Cheng Tao's hair and pulling it back.
"Say that again!"
Cheng Tao, suddenly grabbed by the hair, was startled and cried out in pain.
"Cheng You, let go of me!"
People nearby quickly intervened. "Cheng You, calm down, don't be impulsive! She's just a gossip, you know her. Let her talk. We don't believe her anyway."
Cheng Wen Yu had improved, and everyone could see it.
This injury must have a reason.
Cheng You coldly pushed Cheng Tao away. "If I hear you say anything about my brother again, you'll regret it!"
Cheng Tao spat forcefully. Only after Cheng You and Qi Chengyan were out of sight did she dare to speak.
"I'm not wrong, am I? Who ends up in the hospital for no reason? He must have been injured in a fight!"
The onlookers rolled their eyes and ignored her.
Cheng Tao, however, became more animated, even speculating if Cheng Wen Yu had stabbed someone.
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Cheng You's back!"
Cheng Tao's heart sank. Covering her head, she scurried away.
Cheng You and Qi Chengyan rushed to the clinic entrance and hurried inside.
They finally breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor said it was only a minor injury.
"That girl shielded your brother. Both of them were injured, but hers is more serious. She'll need a good period of rest."
Hearing this, Cheng You felt a pang of self-reproach.
If only she hadn't asked Ruan Qingqing to keep an eye on him.
"Youyou, let's go in and see them," Qi Chengyan said.
Cheng Wen Yu and Ruan Qingqing were in the same ward. One had an injured arm, and the other had an injured leg.
The doctor mentioned they were both injured by sharp objects.
They still needed to ask for the specific details of what happened.