Uncle Zeng said, “Xiaoya has just been transferred to the central hospital. She is very busy with work and probably has not yet thought about settling down.”
“Anyway, she is still single, so you still have a chance. Uncle supports you.”
Aunt Zeng remained silent.
Lin Jian had been making his presence felt in front of them for two years. The young man was decent, but Aunt Zeng was not optimistic about his original family background.
In a large family, only Lin Jian had made something of himself.
He would have to support his original family, including his older brother and younger sister. Lin Jian felt responsible for helping them.
Uncle Zeng was a typical man, not as meticulous as a woman in his thinking.
He only saw that Lin Jian was good: no family background to speak of, yet he had gained a firm foothold in the big city, bought an apartment and a car outright through his own efforts, and even had some savings left. That already put him ahead of many young people.
What he valued was Lin Jian as a person; he had not considered the original family behind Lin Jian.
The Zeng siblings were very close. If anyone in the family had a problem, everyone would pitch in to help.
Even when he occasionally heard Lin Jian mention helping his brother and sister, Uncle Zeng thought it perfectly normal, because that was exactly how their own family worked: you help me, I help you.
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Lin Jian placed the bouquet in a corner of the pharmacy counter, then stepped behind the counter to help Aunt Zeng dispense medicine for patients.
“Lin Jian, your own clinic is open too. I can manage here. You should hurry back to look after your own place, in case patients go there and cannot find the doctor.”
Aunt Zeng told Lin Jian to leave; there was no need for him to help.
Lin Jian replied, “It is fine. I have closed for now. It will not matter if I return a bit later. There are many patients here for Uncle, and it is tiring for you to dispense medicine alone. Let me help.”
If he stayed a little longer, he could remain for dinner at the Zeng house.
And he would be able to see Zeng Xiaoya again.
The Zeng family talked about splitting up, yet everyone still lived in the same building. They had not really separated, but each small family ran its own affairs. They all owned other properties outside, yet this building had been built by Xiaoya’s grandparents, so everyone felt attached to it.
Usually they lived here, one small family per floor.
When it came to meals, however, the whole extended family ate together. Since everyone was a doctor and had no time to cook, they employed an auntie to prepare food. Eating as one big family was simply more convenient.
The second floor was where Grandpa and Grandma Zeng lived, along with the auntie who cooked. The kitchen and dining room were also on the second floor.
Over the past two years, Lin Jian had often come over to make his presence felt. Sometimes he helped until mealtime, and Uncle Zeng could hardly fail to invite him upstairs to eat with them.
Eating at the Zeng house had become routine for him.
“Xiaoya was just helping with dispensing and seeing patients. It is quiet now, so I am not really busy. You should head back.”
Aunt Zeng was clearly trying to shoo him away Lin Jian, however politely.
Lin Jian could tell. He guessed that Aunt Zeng probably wanted to discuss with Uncle the fact that he had confessed to Xiaoya. He smiled and said, “Then I will finish dispensing for this last patient and go.”
At that moment, Aunt Zeng truly was not busy.
He looked at the prescription Uncle had written, prepared the medicine for the patient, and only left the counter after the patient had paid.
“It is almost dinner time. Why not stay and eat?”
Uncle Zeng said casually.
