Chapter 108

Jiang Yexun took out two saltwater bottles that had already cooled, carried a hot water bottle, and entered the bathroom quietly. He placed the hot water bottle into Su Xiaoxiao’s bed to warm it up. After tucking the corners of the blanket, he noticed that Su Hongchen had already opened his eyes and was staring straight at him.
Jiang Yexun nodded at him, washed up, and said in a hushed voice, “I’ll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a coal stove and breakfast. I’ll also get some meat and chicken to make porridge for you.”
Due to strict regulations in this area, the black market was off-limits. If they wanted to buy meat, they had to arrive early at the supply and marketing cooperative before it opened.
Su Hongchen naturally knew this, so he thanked him, and once Jiang Yexun left, he turned his attention to his little sister, who was still sleeping with flushed cheeks and drooling.
He sighed and shook his head. Regardless of how discontented he might be, he had to admit that Jiang Yexun was indeed a reliable partner. When Su Xiaoxiao woke up, it was already late in the morning.
She got up and saw a thermos flask placed nearby. She rubbed her eyes and looked around the hospital room.
“Where’s Yexun?”
“He’s downstairs in the open area, preparing porridge. When you wake up, have Niu Chengchun go downstairs to call him, and we can start brewing the medicine.”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded and climbed out of the hospital bed. After getting ready, she was about to go and find Jiang Yexun, when someone knocked on the door of the hospital room.
“Commander Su, there are two women here who say they want to talk to you about something,” Niu Chengchun reported from outside the door.
Both Su Xiaoxiao and Su Hongchen were a bit puzzled but decided to let them in.
The visitors included a woman in her forties and a young girl who appeared to be around the same age as Su Xiaoxiao. They didn’t introduce themselves and instead let their gaze wander around Su Xiaoxiao and Su Hongchen, examining them closely.
The older woman was particularly impolite, and it was clear she wasn’t holding back her disdain. When her young companion saw Su Hongchen, she seemed taken aback and didn’t bother hiding her fascination.
Su Xiaoxiao immediately stepped forward to block her view. This young girl bore a resemblance to the rude middle-aged woman, indicating they were likely mother and daughter.
Although she hoped her brother would find a wife soon, she didn’t want her family life to be thrown into chaos.
The woman furrowed her brows and gave Su Xiaoxiao an annoyed look before saying arrogantly, “You step aside for now. I need to talk to your brother.”
“I don’t know you, and we have nothing to discuss. Please leave,” Su Hongchen coldly replied, making a dismissive hand gesture.
The young girl by the woman’s side couldn’t stand it and said, “How can you talk to my mom like that?”
“Why not? Is your mother some important big shot? What contributions has she made to our country? Please, enlighten us,” Su Xiaoxiao asked with genuine curiosity.
The young girl’s face turned from green to red.
The woman’s gaze at Su Xiaoxiao became even colder. “Young lady, I suggest you watch your words and not provoke people you can’t handle.”
“Are you trying to threaten me now? Who do you think you are? In today’s society, everyone is equal. Are you trying to bring back a feudalistic attitude? Maybe I should investigate where you come from, ’respected leader,’” Su Xiaoxiao retorted sarcastically, her tone turning threatening.
The two women were left speechless and struggled to respond, their lips moving but unable to reveal their identity.
Finally, the older woman took a deep breath and turned to Su Hongchen. “Qian Haiye was helping me find hundred-year-old wild ginseng. Since you don’t want to discuss it with him, I’ve had to come personally.”
“Are you the ’important leader’ Qian Haiye mentioned?” Su Xiaoxiao looked at the woman skeptically.

The woman rolled her eyes and, with a lack of patience, scolded, “Could you please shut up for a moment?”
“You came to our room uninvited and now you want me to be silent? You’re quite overbearing,” Su Xiaoxiao said, widening her black eyes, her expression filled with disbelief.
The woman’s irritation deepened as she stared at Su Xiaoxiao. After a moment, she coldly chuckled. “You’re a sharp-tongued young lady. With your personality, it seems your future in-laws won’t have a peaceful life.
“My partner is wonderful! But as for you, acting so domineering in our ward, you’re probably capable of putting your entire family in trouble.”
Jiang Yexun pushed the door open and walked in, his disdainful gaze sweeping over the two women before he spoke in a low, threatening tone, “I know why you’re here. But if you persist, I will not agree to it. So please, leave immediately.”
“You have two hundred-year-old wild ginseng roots, why can’t you give us one? Even if your prescription is a hoax, and you’re wasting all those good herbs, can’t you give one to my grandfather? He’s depending on this medicine to save his life!” the young girl pleaded anxiously.
“They are not for sale, and I say it’s not available,” Jiang Yexun’s tone grew even more ominous. “If you continue to disturb us, I’ll have you thrown out.”
He approached the two women, ready to act.
Frightened, the older woman shielded her daughter and took a few steps back.
Being confronted by a rustic countryside man like this left her feeling utterly humiliated. She no longer wanted to continue a polite conversation.
“Your medicine? Where did you get it? I know that in the military, they require you to advance the money for the medicine yourself, and you’re only reimbursed if it’s effective. You, a country bumpkin, where did you get tens of thousands of yuan? Are you secretly selling something on the black market, profiting from the loopholes of socialism? Well, if I report this, I wonder what the consequences will be for you.”
The more she spoke, the more smug she became, her lips curling up arrogantly.