A-Jian’s excellence had made their family much more respected in the village. Their voices carried more weight now. They absolutely could not let A-Jian remain a bachelor for life.
If A-Jian could really marry that junior colleague of his, his father and mother would naturally be delighted. A daughter-in-law from a wealthy family who was also a doctor would bring even greater prestige to them in the village.
But if their son could not win her, then He Yuehua would do. Although the girl was not a doctor, she was a nurse and understood medicine.
Moreover, He Yuehua was very good at looking after people and excellent at housework. She was far better than that Dr. Zeng, whom they had secretly gone to observe.
That Dr. Zeng appeared to be a delicate young lady who had never lifted a finger. A woman like that might manage in city life, but if she returned to the village, she would probably struggle with farm work.
It was only because they coveted the Zeng family’s status that they had so eagerly hoped their son would marry Dr. Zeng.
Now it seemed there was no hope.
If there had been hope, they would have married long ago. There would have been no need to wait until now.
Fortunately, Yuehua had stayed in place, waiting for A-Jian all this time.
“Dad, please do not interfere in matters of the heart. I know what I am doing.”
Lin Jian said with some irritation, “Just this year. If there is still no result this year, I will give up. Then, whoever you want me to marry, I will marry.”
If he could not marry the woman he loved, it made no difference whom he married.
His father said, “Very well, then. Just this year. If there is still no result, stop clinging to it. I think Yuehua is quite good.”
“Dad, He Yuehua is a leech. Almost all her monthly wages go to her own family. Once I marry her, she will drag me into supporting her relatives as well.”
“We have known this girl for several years now. We understand her fairly well. She is like this now, but she will not be after marriage. She has said herself that once she is married, she will save her earnings and spend them on her own little family.”
“When you two are truly married, you will be husband and wife, one family. You will control the money. She works at your clinic. You pay her wages. After marriage, you can simply stop paying her a salary and give her a few hundred yuan pocket money each month instead.”
“That way, she will not be able to support her own family. She is family-oriented, quick at her work, and very good to your mum and me. Dad thinks she is quite suitable.”
“A leech is not frightening as long as you guard your money firmly, have thick enough skin, and a hard enough heart. If you ignore her family’s affairs, she will not be able to get money from you to help them. It still depends on your own ability.”
His mother also spoke earnestly, “A-Jian, your dad is right. It has been so many years already. If you and Dr. Zeng reach no conclusion, choose He Yuehua. This girl has her own mind. She says that giving her current earnings back to her family is to repay her parents for raising her.”
“Once she is married and has her own home, giving her parents some money only during festivals will suffice. She will not continue as she does now.”
“Is it not the same with all the girls in our village? Before marriage, nearly all the money they earn goes back to their parents. After marriage, which of them still hands money over to their natal family?”
Lin Jian said, “Mum, we will talk about it when the time comes. Mum, for your check-up tomorrow, have you registered yet?”
“Not yet. Help Mum register, will you? It is just a follow-up. There is nothing major. I will go to your clinic afterwards to get two months’ medication to take home. I will not get it prescribed at the hospital. Hospital medicines are expensive.”
Since their own son ran a clinic, if his clinic had the equipment for checks, she would not need to spend money at the hospital.
His mother had suffered from diabetes for many years. She needed insulin injections and medication every day to control it. All these drugs were prepared for her by Lin Jian.
Lin Jian immediately took out his phone to register for his mother. He said, “There are no slots tomorrow morning. Let us book for the morning after instead. Tomorrow, Dad and Mum can rest here.”
“The slots are gone so quickly? Are there no appointments with any of the doctors?”
Lin Jian hummed in agreement. “That is how big hospitals are. There are afternoon slots, but since Mum is going for a follow-up, she needs to be fasting. A morning slot is much better. She can eat after the checks. If we book an afternoon slot, Mum would have to go hungry all morning.”
