Chapter 251: Back Home

Chapter 251: Domestic Matters

The dorms abroad were indeed as bad as Lu Hanchuan said.

Ye Xiaoxiao only stayed there for a week before she began looking for a place outside.

Finding somewhere that was both close to the school and safe was nearly impossible.

Later, Chu Yunxiao also wanted to move out, so he helped search. Eventually, the two found a pretty suitable place a bit farther from the school, though the rent was pretty high.

Though the others weren’t poor, China’s overall economic level wasn’t high, and some had brought as little as fifty bucks in foreign cash.

Here, the rent alone was thirty bucks per month.

That was a big chunk of money for the others.

But Ye Xiaoxiao really liked the house—a two-story villa with two rooms on the first floor and three on the second.

The owner didn’t live on-site, so the place was relatively independent.

Ye Xiaoxiao decided to sign a two-year lease right away. Even living alone would be fine as long as she stayed safe.

But if Chu Yunxiao was willing to move in, she wouldn’t charge him rent.

"Rent’s on me. How's about you take care of cooking and cleaning, Class Monitor?"

Ye Xiaoxiao believed this demanding task was perfect for Chu Yunxiao.

Chu Yunxiao: "You got it, no problem. Leave it to me."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I’ll go back and ask Jia Yu if she’d like to stay here too."

After hanging out for a week, Ye Xiaoxiao had grown quite fond of Jia Yu.

She’d already paid for the place anyway, leaving it empty would be a waste.

When you're abroad, you gotta stick together.

She knew the other students too, but she wasn’t familiar enough with them yet to invite them to live together.

……

After Ye Xiaoxiao went abroad, the one most affected back home was probably Lu Hanchuan.

Then came the patients at Rende Pharmacy.

Some patients who'd come just to see Dr. Ye were really bummed out to learn she had gone abroad for further studies.

Only when Song Guangjing stepped in did these clients calm down.

Song Guangjing sighed, "We really can't do without Xiao Xiao around here."

Manager Ma nodded, "Xiao Xiao's been a huge help around here, and you shouldn’t push yourself so hard anymore, sir."

Song Guangjing really wasn’t suited to sitting here all day diagnosing patients anymore.

"When Xiao Xiao gets back, we'll hand the place over to her."

Though Manager Ma had known this day would come eventually, he was stunned to hear Song pass over such a vast enterprise so casually.

And is there really someone who would leave their fortune to a person with no blood relation?!

Compared to Manager Ma, Song Guoxian was more concerned about Song Guangjing's promise with someone else.

"Sir, if you let Xiao Xiao leave now, what if her medicine skills don't get better when she returns?"

Song Guangjing understood Song Guoxian's concern, but he didn’t care as much about that wager anymore.

"Regardless of the outcome, I already feel like I've won."

Song Guoxian: "I’m glad you see it that way, sir."

Song Guoxian only hoped Song Guangjing could let go of his obsession and live well. It seemed now that Ye Xiaoxiao had already loosened the knot in his heart.

This was one hell of a good apprentice.

As for Lu Hanchuan, with no love in the picture, his career still had to continue.

Not long after Ye Xiaoxiao left, Lu Hanchuan received an assignment out west.

The conditions there were extremely harsh—even official military units had to tread carefully.

Originally, this task wouldn’t have been given to Lu Hanchuan.

But upon hearing about the difficult conditions and long duration, he stepped up for it.

Seeing Lu Hanchuan’s determination, the Colonel put him in charge of this important task.

...

Folks in the compound also knew about Ye Xiaoxiao’s departure.

Some got antsy upon hearing the news.

For example, Cheng Min, who had once pursued Lu Hanchuan fervently, tried to find a way back into his life.

Instead, she learned he had already left the capital.

As for where he went or what his mission was, nobody had a clue.

Cheng Min’s last shot was gone.

With her parents on her case about getting married, she eventually settled for a setup to start a family.

Their marriage was basically a family merger—the man was also in the medical field, and after marriage, Cheng Min could work at his family’s hospital, which was a sweet deal for her.

Though Cheng Min didn’t like him at all and he was nothing like her type, he could provide her with a better life.

On her wedding day, Cheng Min cried.

It was goodbye to the life she once wanted.

Others who kept tabs on Ye Xiaoxiao and Lu Hanchuan were the Hao and Xu families.

Xu Jianwen and Hao Yanyan had been hitched for six months, and their relationship was just like every other married pair—steady and quiet, but no fireworks.

Today, they were due at the compound for dinner.

Hao Yanyan had been dreading coming to visit her mother-in-law at the Xu family home, as every visit meant facing pressure about having a baby.

Though Hao Yanyan didn’t have a formal job, she ran a clothing store and brought in a steady income each month.

She was quite satisfied with her current life, except for one regret: she hadn’t gotten pregnant yet.

This time, during the family dinner, Zhao Hongxia for once didn’t bring up the topic of grandchildren but instead mentioned something else.

“I heard Ye Xiaoxiao went abroad, and it seems she’ll be gone for quite a while. By the time she returns, the Lu family boy will probably be with someone else already.”

Zhao Hongxia only said this because Xu Jianli wasn’t home.

If her younger son were present, he would’ve blown his top.

Xu Jianli had been admitted to the mathematics department of Huaqing University, one of the top institutions in the country, and was currently in military training, leaving him no time to return home.

Hao Yanyan blinked in surprise. “Really? If their relationship is stable, they probably wouldn’t break up, right?”

Zhao Hongxia: “Who knows? Even if Lu Hanchuan isn’t in a hurry, don’t the Lus want to see their son married?”

At this point, Zhao Hongxia immediately shifted the topic. “You two should also hurry up. How come there’s still no baby after all this time since your marriage?”

“Yanyan, why don’t I take you to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow?”

Hao Yanyan glanced at Xu Jianwen, but he seemed to agree with his mother’s suggestion, showing no intention of objecting.

Hao Yanyan managed a smile.

“Mom, I don’t think we need to rush. We’re still young. Jianwen’s career is taking off, and I’m busy being my own boss too.”

Zhao Hongxia was clearly annoyed, but Xu Guochang quickly changed the subject.

“The kids are still young, there’s really no need to rush.”

They should at least wait until after two years of marriage before worrying. It’s normal not to have a child yet.

Zhao Hongxia had to let it go.

She then asked Hao Yanyan about her business.

Originally, she had wanted to find Hao Yanyan a proper job, but her daughter-in-law insisted on running her own shop. What’s the point of such an unstable livelihood?

Hao Yanyan perked up. “Mom, though my shop isn’t big, I make about 700 or 800 yuan a month now.”

Zhao Hongxia: “That much, really?”

Is selling clothes really that profitable?

With that, Zhao Hongxia could hardly tell her to quit anymore.