Chapter 1681 - 1085: Heroine of the Republic 59 (4000+)_2

Chapter 1681: Chapter 1085: Heroine of the Republic 59 (4000+)_2

"You really plan to accept this favor? I still think giving her money would be more practical. What if she asks you to do something in the future that you can’t manage?"

Qin Zheng chuckled softly, his expression twisting a bit as the movement tugged at his wound: "You’re underestimating her. She’s not that shallow. Look at how she eats, dresses, and lives now—does she look like someone short of money? If she were truly short of money, would she be raising so many children who have nothing to do with her? All she wants is a peaceful, comfortable life, that’s all."

On this point, Gu Cheng deeply agreed: "That’s really true. After I had my surgery, she fed me all kinds of good things. It seems like her family... doesn’t lack food!"

"It’s not that they don’t lack food; it’s more that this woman is pretty capable at her job. What she earns each month as a teacher is enough to support this household. And each person in their family living in the rural area should get some food subsidies too."

...

An Yi had no idea that after she left, the two men analyzed her from top to bottom.

Considering that Gu Cheng would be staying here in the future, An Yi gave him a key to the front gate.

"There’s rice, flour, oil, and vegetables in the kitchen. Make whatever you feel like eating, don’t overthink it. I’ll write out his dietary standards for you separately. From today to tomorrow, don’t let him eat anything first."

The first night was critical. With Gu Cheng watching over Qin Zheng the whole time, she could finally get a good night’s sleep.

The weekend passed just like that, with a bit of lingering regret.

Before it got dark, Anna packed up An Hu’s things and sent him home early, so he wouldn’t have to get up so early the next morning.

At four or five on Monday morning, the An family were already busy getting off to class. An Yi had morning and evening self-study every Monday and Wednesday, so by the time Gu Cheng got up, the An family were gone. Only nut poked its head out from the nest, squeezing out four puppies beside it. They had seen Gu Cheng before, so they weren’t afraid of him, and they romped happily around the yard.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching smoke still rising from the chimney, the dog mom and her sons playing by biting at each other, and suddenly he felt a sense of time flowing quietly and peacefully.

Qin Zheng lay on the couch looking over at him: "It’s time you settled down and started a family!"

Gu Cheng wanted to say something, but suddenly didn’t know where to begin. He could only sigh: "What about you?"

He hadn’t started a family yet because he was so uncertain about his own future. But Qin Zheng? At least he’d been married, had children. Even though he didn’t feel much affection for them, his salary had been sent home on time all those years—that was a kind of responsibility. He’d thought Qin Zheng would just muddle on like that, drifting through life. Who would have imagined...

"They’re already your past. In the end, you have to look forward."

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Qin Zheng’s mouth: "Someone like me, who might not have a tomorrow, shouldn’t be starting a family. Besides, at this point, apart from staying alive properly, I don’t ask for anything else."

Then, both of them, without saying it aloud, thought of An Yi’s approach to life: not getting married, adopting children, busy day in and day out. It seemed... not bad?

"Nowadays, there really aren’t many women as open-minded as she is."

"She’s got her own independent outlook on life—strong and self-reliant, not clinging to any man, and able to support so many people on her own. A woman like her doesn’t need a man at all. Her thinking is quite progressive. At least in all these years, among the many kinds of women I’ve met, even our own teammates—including that wise and cool-headed sniper—might not be as unburdened as she is."

Qin Zheng was already deeply impressed by her. Aside from her mysterious medical skills, it was her attitude toward life that struck him; very few women could manage that.

With a patient at home, An Yi had to hurry back at noon to prepare medicine for Qin Zheng. For the first three days, he needed IV drips as a transition, once each in the morning, noon, and evening. His food needed to be mostly liquids; since he lay in bed without moving and his activity level was low, that was enough to maintain his basic bodily needs.

When An Yi came home from work, she would sometimes bring a fish, or buy some ribs, or get a few duck eggs, then match them with sweet potato flour, cornmeal, strong flour, and broken rice left from milling to supplement everyone’s nutrition, which indirectly raised the standard of Qin Zheng’s meals.

Her thoughtfulness was something the Qin brothers took to heart; they quietly tucked this kindness away inside.

Half a month later, An Yi checked on Qin Zheng’s recovery. With her combination of Chinese and Western medicine, applied externally and taken internally, his condition had already begun to stabilize.

"From here on out you still need to rest quietly. Don’t rush to leave. I’ve prescribed one month’s worth of medicine for you. As long as you get through this month, you’ll basically be fine."