Volume One, Chapter Fourteen: The Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Zhang Shengli followed Zhou Ling through the street gate and found himself in a spacious courtyard lined with elegant corridor rooms.

“Mom, we’re home!” Zhou Ling shouted in the courtyard.

The curtain of date pit beads hanging from the main room was lifted, and a middle-aged woman with permed hair stepped out. She caught sight of Zhang Shengli at Zhou Ling’s side and immediately frowned, pausing in surprise.

“Mom, he’s my friend, Zhang Shengli. He’s here in the city on some business. Let’s have him stay with us tonight!” Zhou Ling smiled at the woman and then turned to Zhang Shengli. “This is my mom; she works at the county hospital.”

“Hello, Auntie!” Zhang Shengli quickly nodded in greeting.

Zhou Ling’s mother kept her face stern, refusing to respond to Zhang Shengli’s greeting.

Zhang Shengli was suddenly so embarrassed that he wished the ground would swallow him. He had grown accustomed to cold gazes and ridicule since childhood and rarely cared about others’ mockery. Yet, to be treated as invisible as Zhou Ling’s mother did was something he had never experienced.

Fortunately, Zhou Yun entered and said, “This young Zhang is a good person. His family’s situation is difficult, so he didn’t attend high school. I asked him to come register for the correspondence secondary school exam.”

“You! Always the compassionate one, meddling everywhere!” Zhou Ling’s mother shot Zhou Yun a glare, still ignoring Zhang Shengli.

“Um...” Zhang Shengli managed an awkward smile. “I’ll just check into a hostel; no need to trouble you.”

“No need! We have plenty of empty rooms; just stay here comfortably!” Zhou Ling grabbed Zhang Shengli’s arm, as if afraid he would run away.

Zhang Shengli was still hesitating when Driver Wang came in, carrying several melons in a nylon net bag. “These are the melons young Zhang brought for you. I almost forgot to take them off the car.”

“When did you put melons in the car? How come I didn’t know?” Zhou Ling widened her eyes, looking at Zhang Shengli with curiosity.

“I put them on Master Wang’s car this morning...” Zhang Shengli smiled sheepishly. “They’re grown by my family. Please try them, if you don’t mind.”

“See how considerate he is!” Zhou Yun glanced at his wife, then turned to Zhang Shengli. “Young Zhang, come inside and talk!”

Zhang Shengli had no choice but to follow Zhou Ling into the main room.

The room was spacious; in the center, a sofa and tea table filled the sitting area. On the left, set back in a jade-green cabinet, there was a large bed, evidently Zhou Yun and his wife’s bedroom. On the right, a suite hung with a pink curtain embroidered with magpies and spring flowers concealed its interior—most likely Zhou Ling’s room.

“Homegrown melons are always sweeter than store-bought!” Zhou Ling fetched a knife and sliced the melons, filling the room with their fragrant aroma.

The group sat eating melon. Zhou Ling munched and praised, “Mmm... This melon is so sweet and crisp, the best I’ve ever had! Mom, try a piece!”

Her mother frowned, took a piece, bit off a tiny corner, and then silently ate the rest.

After the melon, Driver Wang departed, and Zhou Ling opened the cabinet to find bedding for Zhang Shengli.

“You don’t know where things are, so don’t rummage and mess everything up!” Her mother brushed Zhou Ling aside, took a new set of bedding and pillows from the bottom of the wardrobe, and made up a bed in the western room.

Zhou Yun said, “Young Zhang, don’t be shy. Treat this as your own home and sleep soundly. I have business tomorrow, so let Zhou Ling accompany you to register.”

“No need to accompany me; I can find the place myself.” Zhang Shengli glanced nervously at Zhou Ling’s mother.

“I’m free, so I’ll go with you!” Zhou Ling laughed. “I know everyone at the education bureau. If anything comes up, I can help!”

“All right, then I’ll go to bed.” Zhang Shengli rose and went to the western room, Zhou Ling following close behind. “It’s still early; can you even sleep?”

“Uh... I’ve been on the road all day and feel a bit dizzy.”

In truth, Zhang Shengli wasn’t dizzy at all; he simply didn’t want Zhou Ling’s mother to see Zhou Ling clinging to him.

“I’ll pour you a cup of tea; after you drink it, you’ll feel better!” Zhou Ling fetched two cups of tea and sat in the western room, chirping away with Zhang Shengli.

From their conversation, Zhang Shengli learned that Zhou Ling’s father, Zhou Yun, had entered Lanzhou University after the reinstatement of the college entrance exam, then was assigned to work in Shacheng County and was now the deputy county magistrate in charge of agriculture. Zhou Ling’s mother, Su Qiong, was the director of obstetrics and gynecology at the county hospital.

“My mom’s got a professional quirk—she’s always aloof. Don’t mind her!” Zhou Ling told Zhang Shengli.

“She’s quite nice... She even gave me new bedding.” Zhang Shengli glanced at the pristine sheets.

“She’s got a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She looks stern, but when it matters, she’s kinder than anyone!” Zhou Ling laughed. “You’ll see for yourself, in time.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Su Qiong’s voice echoed from the courtyard, “Lingzi, how late it is—what are you two still chattering about? Go to bed!”

“Got it!” Zhou Ling replied in frustration, then smiled at Zhang Shengli. “Sleep well. I’ll take you to register in the morning!”

“All right.” Zhang Shengli saw Zhou Ling out, closed the door, and went to bed.

The bedding was smooth and soft, yet its newness brought an unfamiliar, pungent scent of mothballs, making Zhang Shengli toss and turn, unable to sleep for a long time.

The next morning, Zhang Shengli woke early, dressed, and listened intently. Hearing no sounds from the courtyard, he stayed in bed rather than venture out.

Only when he heard movement outside did Zhang Shengli sit up and peek through the window by the bed. He saw Su Qiong, impeccably dressed, crouched beside the courtyard drain brushing her teeth.

Still too shy to step out, Zhang Shengli remained quietly in the room.

After brushing, Su Qiong clattered her toothbrush in the mug and called, “Lingzi, it’s late—why aren’t you up?”

The main room was silent.

Su Qiong took her mug inside, and from the suite came her voice, “Lingzi, hurry up! I’m working overtime today—go buy groceries and make lunch for your dad!”

“All right... Just go to work...” Zhou Ling’s lazy murmur drifted from the suite.

“You’re a grown girl, still acting like a child—carefree as ever. How much longer must I worry about you?” Su Qiong grumbled a bit more, slung her delicate leather bag over her shoulder, and wheeled a Phoenix bicycle out of the courtyard.

Throughout, she never glanced at the room where Zhang Shengli stayed.

Zhang Shengli let out a sigh of relief, but continued to lie quietly in bed.

After a while, Zhou Ling, hair tousled, emerged from the main room, carrying a washbasin of water and nudged open Zhang Shengli’s door with her foot.

Zhang Shengli jumped up and said, “I can go outside to wash; you don’t need to bring water in for me.”

“It’s fine—I’ve already brought it. Just wash up!” Zhou Ling smiled, then yawned.

“If you’re sleepy, get some more rest. Registration isn’t urgent,” Zhang Shengli said.

“My mom’s nagging kept me from sleeping... I’ll go wash up, and then we’ll head out.”

Zhou Ling stretched and went back to the main room to wash her face.

Zhang Shengli took his towel and mug from his military satchel, washed his face, poured hot water from the thermos to brush his teeth, emptied the mug into the basin, and then carried the dirty water out to pour it into the courtyard drain.

He saw Zhou Ling, now fully groomed, step out of the main room.

Today she wore a tasteful dress, her figure slender and athletic, radiating youthful energy like a young poplar.

Her face was dusted with snow cream, giving her a porcelain glow, and her cropped hair was neatly combed, adorned with a fashionable hair clip—she looked just like a star from a painting.