I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

"What was your son doing when you entered the ward?" Songming's father prompted.

"Nothing much, Dr. Zhong fed him braised pork." Fang Guiying blinked in confusion.

"Do doctors feed their patients? Especially braised pork, such a precious dish. Unless there's a special relationship, who would be willing to give braised pork to an outsider?"

"Yes, they were quite surprised when we went in. His father, son, and Dr. Zhong?"

"Yes, when you said you went to the old chief to resolve Songming's personal issues, he said he had someone in his heart and had secretly seen Dr. Zhong."

"You old codger, you have a very keen eye for observation, don't you?"

Fang Guiying had been a matchmaker for half her life, but when it came to her own son, she turned her back on him.

Dr. Zhong is great! That girl is fair-skinned and beautiful, a doctor, and a student of Dean Luo. Oh, she's perfect in every way.

Fang Guiying forgot about the wound on her son's back, stood up happily, and said, "Come on, let's go take a look."

"What are you looking at? I'm changing the dressing."

"What do you know? Come with me."

Fang Guiying and Songming's father stood at the entrance of the ward, where Zhong Yao was carefully cleaning around Liu Songming's wound with gauze soaked in saline solution.

They applied iodine to the wound, and Liu Songming hissed in pain. Zhong Yao was extremely worried: "Does it hurt a lot?"

"It's okay, it's okay, it's just a little chilly."

"Tell me if it hurts, and I'll be gentler."

Fang Guiying leaned against the threshold, smiling adoringly. There was no doubt that the two of them had fallen in love.

"Old woman, what are you grinning about?"

"Mind your own business? Forget it, let's go back. The brat doesn't need us anymore."

"Okay, let's go back. We haven't had lunch yet, and I'm starving."

"Eat, eat, all you ever think about is eating."

Fang Guiying packed up the lunchbox and said softly to Liu Songming, "Dad and Mom have gone back. They'll bring you dinner again tonight. What would you like to eat? Mom will cook for you."

"Mom, there's a canteen here, you don't need to run around."

"No cafeteria food allowed, it's not nutritious. How about I make chicken and vermicelli soup for dinner?"

"Alright."

Fang Guiying turned to Zhong Yao with a smile: "Dr. Zhong, I'll bring you a bowl of chicken soup tonight. It's from our own chicken, it's delicious."

"Auntie, no need, I get off work at 5:30 and will go home to eat."

"Oh, is your home far from the hospital?"

"It's not far, I have a bicycle."

What do your parents do for a living?

"My dad works in the Education Bureau, and my mom works in the Housing Reform Bureau."

"Oh, these are all good jobs."

"Just an ordinary employee, without any official position or rank," Zhong Yao said with a smile.

"The Education Bureau and the Housing Reform Bureau—they're clearly educated people, unlike us country folk who can't read many characters." Fang Guiying grew increasingly fond of Zhong Yao.

"Auntie, you can't say that. You're much better than my mother. You're the director of the commune's women's federation. It's not something just anyone can do," Zhong Yao said sincerely.

"That's true. I was considered someone important in the commune, but once I got to the city, I was nobody. Dr. Zhong, what kind of food do your parents like to eat?"

"Huh?" Zhong Yao didn't understand.

Fang Guiying said earnestly, "Songming lives in a large compound, a row of houses, and there's a huge yard in front, all of which is overgrown. Songming's father and I are planning to clear the land and grow vegetables. What do your parents like to eat? I'll grow some."

"That... is fine."

What do you like to eat?

"I... cucumbers, eggplants, and peppers are all fine," Zhong Yao replied, seemingly confused.

"Right now, we can only grow cabbage, radish, cauliflower, and chives. You like chive and egg dumplings, right? I'll grow more and make dumplings for you."

"Okay... then."

Zhong Yao was taken aback by Fang Guiying's inexplicable enthusiasm.

"Mother, you should go back now," Liu Songming couldn't help but call out.

"We'll go back then. Dr. Chung, we're going back now. Please take care of my son for us, thank you."

"You're welcome, it's what I should do."

On the way home, Fang Guiying felt completely refreshed.

The weather in September was still hot, but Fang Guiying didn't feel the heat; instead, she felt comfortable as she sweated profusely.

Her eldest son's marriage was a knot in her heart; once that knot was untied, her mood naturally improved.

"Don't come to the hospital tomorrow. Just stay home, dig the ground, and quickly tidy it up to plant chives, cabbage, cauliflower, and radishes."

"Yes, I'll listen to you."

My poor Yu Fu! He was sent by Vice Governor Zhou to take care of Minister Liu, but he ended up being assigned to dig the ground and plant vegetables.

Qiaoqiao loves growing vegetables, and so does Minister Liu's mother. No wonder they've become like family.

Liu Songming rested for half a month, and his wound had healed and was no longer in pain. He should be discharged now, as the armed forces department still had a lot of official business to attend to.

But he kept procrastinating. Several times he tried to test Zhong Yao's thoughts, but then he backed down and just kept staying in the hospital.

That day, after making her rounds, Luo Meiyun said, "Songming, you're recovering very well. You can go home to recuperate, or you can continue to recuperate in the hospital. It's up to you."

"I... how about I get discharged?"

Spending all day in the hospital doing nothing is also very agonizing.

"So, you're being discharged tomorrow?"

"Okay." Liu Songming nodded with difficulty.

"You need to hurry up with your marriage. I can tell your mother is very anxious. Of course, Lao Zhou and I are also very anxious."

"Madam, I..."

"Okay, I was just reminding you. I'll have Dr. Chung come and help you pack." Luo Meiyun smiled, giving them time to do so.

In the ward, Liu Songming was so nervous that he was sweating profusely.

"Dr. Chung, thank you for taking care of me these past few days."

"Of course, we should do our best to fulfill the teacher's instructions. If you want to thank someone, thank the teacher."

"Yes, Dr. Chung, don't you have any good feelings towards me at all?"

Liu Songming's heart was pounding. He had to say it; otherwise, it would be difficult to see each other again.

"You're very good," Zhong Yao said softly.

Liu Songming was extremely excited and stammered, "Then...you, would you like to date me? Oh, my mother said my house is very big, but it's cold and quiet, and no one cleans it...By the way, I have a driver who can take you to work..."

"What did you say? Your house is big, and it will be lively when your parents come." Zhong Yao deliberately interrupted.

"No, Dr. Chung, I... I want to live with you... Would you be willing?"

"You, we've only known each other for a few days, and you're already saying these things."

"Zhong Yao, even if we've only known each other for a day, I've already decided on you. I'm a rough guy, I don't understand romance, I just want to spend my life with you." Liu Songming confessed incoherently.

"Well, I'll have to ask my parents," Zhong Yao said, her head down.

"Okay, tell me a time, and I'll come to your house to propose."

"Why bring up marriage? It's just a meeting. My parents have no objections, so I have no objections either." Zhong Yao lowered her head shyly.

"Okay, I'll wait for your call. Wait a minute, I'll give you my home phone number."

Liu Songming frantically searched for a pen, while Zhong Yao took out a pen and a notepad from her white coat pocket and said, "See how anxious you are? Here you go."

"Hehe, I'm just so happy."

After leaving his phone number, Liu Songming helped Zhong Yao pack her luggage. Amidst their awkward clumsiness, happiness blossomed in their hearts.