Chapter 188: Times Have Changed

Chapter 188: Times Have Changed

"You don't have to hold it all the time. Just put it in the car and eat it when you're ready."

Song Guangjing had specifically asked someone to buy the watermelon.

It was bought yesterday, but Ye Xiaoxiao came back late and didn't see it.

"Alright."

Ye Xiaoxiao had no choice but to take the watermelon with her.

For three consecutive days, Ye Xiaoxiao showed up at the clinic with different fruits each day.

While others were curious about Ye Xiaoxiao's family background, they were also impressed by her medical expertise.

She must have been studying hard on her own, otherwise, the knowledge from school wouldn't have made her so skilled.

Sun Zhengyao scheduled seven days of fieldwork.

On the last day, Sun Zhengyao decided to take the students out for a nice meal.

At the dinner, Dr. Li finally mustered the courage to sincerely apologize to everyone.

"I was wrong on the first day. I had biases against you because you were students, but now I have completely changed my views. I'm sorry for misjudging you with a petty mindset."

No one expected Dr. Li to apologize so sincerely.

Sun Zhengyao was quite pleased.

Although Dr. Li usually liked to nitpick, he was serious about his work. Now that he could take the initiative to apologize, it showed that he had a good heart.

On one side was a doctor from his department, and on the other were his students.

Sun Zhengyao handled the situation very fairly.

After Dr. Li's apology, Sun Zhengyao also told Chu Yunxiao and Zhang Lichuan not to dwell on the matter.

There may be chances to work together in the future, and it's always better to have more friends than enemies.

Beijing First Hospital is a major hospital in the capital, and being able to work there after graduation would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everyone.

Chu Yunxiao and Zhang Lichuan didn't dwell on the matter either and gracefully moved on.

After dinner, Ye Xiaoxiao went back to the Song household.

After arranging her time, she started her driving lessons.

...

Baishi Village.

Today was a special day, as it was the wedding day of Zhang Erni and Fei Qing in the village.

Zhang Erni ran a hair salon in the city, and Fei Qing also got plenty of carpentry work in the city.

Although they were not formal workers, they were making more money than factory workers.

In the last six months, their relationship had grown quickly, reaching the point of marriage.

Neither the Zhang nor the Fei family had any objections, except for Wang Meili, who had some different ideas about the bride price (a traditional payment from the groom's family to the bride's family).

"Mom, it's my call on the bride price, so don't push it."

Zhang Erni had been giving money to her family every month since she started earning her own money, so her mother asking for a 500-yuan bride price was just not happening.

Wang Meili: "But it can't be too little either."

Zhang Erni: "A hundred tops, and that's it."

She was in charge of the household finances, and Fei Qing had chipped in a lot when she opened her shop. She knew exactly how much savings they had left together.

Zhang Erni thought keeping the bride price low was better for their future happiness.

Zhang Rengui added: "As long as the two can live happily together, the bride price doesn't matter."

Wang Meili shot Zhang Rengui a frustrated look.

Their eldest son wasn't even married yet, and he wasn't thinking about his son's future.

But Wang Meili wasn't the type to favor sons over daughters. With her daughter speaking up, her plan for a higher bride price was shot.

Zhang Rengui saw that Fei Qing was young, capable, and dependable, so he was willing to let his daughter marry him.

The Fei family had a solid reputation in the village—honest and hardworking.

The marriage was settled without a hitch. The couple registered their marriage and then threw a banquet.

From discussing the marriage to the wedding, it all happened in just a month.

But the two had already built a solid relationship, so it wasn't a rush job.

On the wedding day, the Fei family set up dozens of tables in their yard, and most of the villagers came to attend.

Zhang Erni did her own hair in a trendy city style.

She'd slimmed down a lot and her skin had lightened up. Standing next to Fei Qing, they made a great pair.

"Erni's really turned into a stylish beauty."

"Yeah, she and Fei Qing are a perfect match. I never thought these two would end up together."

"Did you hear? Something's up with the Li family."

"Li Deshu seems to have divorced his ex-wife."

A village auntie whispered, "Don't go spreading rumors. How'd you find out?"

"I heard it from Li Deshu's aunt. Isn't it because Li Deshu's leg has been acting up? It seems to affect his walking."

"That's because he went to the hospital too late. Look at Ye Jianguo—he also hurt his leg, but he's recovering well."

"Alright, stop talking. The bride is coming over."

Zhang Erni didn't hear what the aunties at the table were saying and walked over with a smile to toast.

Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo didn't come to the wedding banquet.

Ye Jianguo's leg still couldn't support him, so he had to use crutches and was still living in the city.

However, Ye Jianye and Li Guilan showed up.

Zhang Erni then asked Li Guilan, "Didn't Xiao Xiao come back?"

Li Guilan: "She mentioned she had some business to attend to over the holiday, so she won't be coming back this time."

Zhang Erni: "When she comes back, tell her to visit me in the city. My barber shop is right across from the No. 1 Middle School."

Li Guilan: "Of course, when Xiao Xiao returns, I’ll make sure to let her know."

Zhang Erni continued to go to other places with Fei Qing to toast.

The wedding was going perfectly until Li Deshu showed up.

Since Li Deshu couldn’t pay the rent, he and his mother lost their city home and were forced to slink back to the village.

Fortunately, the family’s old village house was still unsold, so they still had a place to stay.

Li Deshu's father took the family's money to do business, but lost everything, was cheated, and owed a lot of money, so he had to flee to another place.

He dumped the family’s troubles on Li Deshu and his mother.

Back in the day, Li Deshu was a big spender, and Feng Yan was happy to be with him, but it’s easier to move from frugality to luxury than the other way around.

Fed up with the poverty and constant debt collectors, Feng Yan started to argue with Li Deshu about divorce, but they haven’t divorced yet because Li Deshu didn’t agree. They’re still dragging it out.

He discussed with his mother that as long as they don't divorce, Feng Yan is still a member of the Li family.

The Feng family couldn't just ignore Li Deshu.

As they passed by the Jia family, Li Deshu wondered who was getting married that day.

He knew the Jia family's son, who had been apprenticing as a carpenter since he was a kid and never really clicked with the other villagers.

Li Deshu's mother was also curious.

"We don't know who the bride is; we haven't heard anything about her."

Just then, someone noticed them, and a friendly auntie called out.

"Mrs. Li, Deshu, you're back!"

Many villagers were unaware of the Li family's bankruptcy and treated them just as they always had.

Li Deshu had no choice but to step up and say hello.

"Who's getting married today?"

The auntie who had just spoken hesitated slightly, "It's Fei Qing and Zhang Erni."

Li Deshu glanced into the courtyard and saw Zhang Erni wearing a long red dress.