Chapter 127: Beauty with a Kind Heart

After hearing this, Shen Qingyi no longer felt mere pity for Feng Erqiu, but rather admiration. She thought for a moment and asked, "If I lend you a sum of money and rent a house for you in Lincheng City for a year, do you have the courage to pay me back in ten years?"

Feng Erqiu, overcome with emotion, struggled to sit up. "You... you believe in me?"

Shen Qingyi nodded. "Yes."

In such a desperate situation, Feng Erqiu had not once tried to take advantage of anyone; she remained discerning, resolute, and straightforward. Such a person, if given a spark of light, could illuminate a whole world.

Feng Erqiu still couldn't believe it. "Aren't you afraid I'll run away?"

Chunni quickly interjected, "Mama, if you run away, I'll pay her back! Besides, An'an said I should study hard and get into university in the capital so I can find him there."

Feng Erqiu glanced at her daughter and gently stroked her hair. "You silly girl, stop talking nonsense. Mama won't run away."

Shen Qingyi smiled. "Chunni isn't talking nonsense; they even pinky-promised."

Soon, Dr. Zhao returned, removed the IV needle from Feng Erqiu, and cautioned, "Avoid spicy food and make sure to get plenty of bed rest."

"Thank you, Dr. Zhao!"

Shen Qingyi helped her up from the bed. "Why don't you come home with me to rest?"

Feng Erqiu hesitated. With her two children, An'an would inevitably chatter away if he saw Chunni, and her youngest daughter, Erya, wouldn't listen to anyone once she started crying. A quiet person like Engineer Lu surely wouldn't like that.

Seeing her hesitation, Dr. Zhao spoke up: "Would you like to see the empty room I mentioned? It used to be occupied by little Wu. It's kept quite clean, and the bedding and such are still there. If you'd like to stay, I'll go file a report."

"Why isn't little Wu staying there anymore?" Feng Erqiu asked.

Dr. Zhao laughed it off. "Little Wu's home is in the city. Lately, his family has been pressuring him to find a match, plus he wasn't used to living here, so he moved back home."

"Then I'll trouble you, Dr. Zhao."

Dr. Zhao waved his hand. "No trouble at all, it's just a small favor."

Just then, little Wu returned. Shen Qingyi, having just learned he was from Lincheng City, called out to him with a smile, "Little Wu, are you free right now?"

Every time little Wu saw Shen Qingyi, he felt she was cold and distant. They would only nod or smile in passing, so her sudden warmth today made his heart race. He responded with an exaggerated grin, "Free, I’m very free!"

"I just heard from Dr. Zhao that you are from Lincheng City. Could you help me look for a safe place to rent? Preferably with three rooms."

Little Wu said happily, "You asked the right person! How long do you want to rent it for, and what is your budget?"

"One year. What is the usual price for such a place?"

Little Wu was puzzled. "Engineer Lu's project shouldn't last that long, should it?"

"Oh, it's for Sister Feng," she replied.

Little Wu’s jaw dropped in surprise, but he didn't say anything further. "A decent place like that would probably cost about ten to fifteen yuan a month."

Shen Qingyi thought about it; it wasn't expensive. "Then I'll trouble you, Comrade Xiao Wu, to keep an eye out after you go back today."

"You got it!"

Little Wu glanced at his watch. "Oh, I have to go. I need to catch the shuttle bus; I can't work overtime." With that, he shouldered his bag and headed out.

Not long after he left, Dr. Zhao hurried out. "Little Wu, bring back some medicine from the city."

Little Wu took the prescription. "Is this for Engineer Lu?"

"Yes!"

Speaking of Engineer Lu, little Wu sighed. "I finally know why I haven't been able to find a satisfactory partner for so long."

"Why?" Dr. Zhao asked perfunctorily, intending to return to the infirmary.

"Out of all the girls my mother has set me up with, not one is like Comrade Shen—beautiful in appearance and kind in heart."

Dr. Zhao gave him a swat on the head. "You’ve got a vivid imagination! Why don't you wonder why you aren't like Engineer Lu—handsome and possessing a top-tier mind?"

After reprimanding him, Dr. Zhao turned to head back to the infirmary.

"En... Engineer Lu!" Little Wu stammered, clutching the spot where Dr. Zhao had swatted him.

Lu Yan’s expression was cool and indifferent. "Is Comrade Shen in your infirmary?"

"Yes! Yes!" Dr. Zhao replied quickly. He felt embarrassed for little Wu, but was glad his own previous comment had been quite tactful.

Lu Yan said nothing, striding toward the infirmary.

Dr. Zhao looked at little Wu with disdain. "Get going, don't miss your bus."

Little Wu gave a sheepish smile, stuffed the prescription into his bag, and left without looking back.

When Lu Yan arrived at the infirmary, he saw Shen Qingyi sitting beside Feng Erqiu. He called out, "Qingyi."

Shen Qingyi stood up immediately. "Why are you here?"

"It's time to go home for dinner," Lu Yan said.

"Sister Feng signed a divorce application with Liu Yong and can't go back. Dr. Zhao just found her a place to stay, but she hasn't eaten yet."

Lu Yan gave a faint "hmm" and added, "I'll have someone bring food over in a moment." He then glanced at Dr. Zhao. "Do you need dinner delivered as well?"

Not wanting to pass up such an opportunity—and saving him the trouble of crowding into the canteen—he immediately agreed, "That would be a great help."

"You're welcome."

With that, Lu Yan led Shen Qingyi out of the infirmary.

On the way back, Shen Qingyi told Lu Yan about Feng Erqiu's situation, though she only mentioned the house rental and omitted the loan. A year's rent would cost no more than two hundred yuan at most.

Lu Yan nodded and added, "Returning to the countryside will inevitably lead to gossip. Even if she brings her family over, without connections or capital, I’m afraid having a place to stay won't sustain them for long."

Shen Qingyi looked at him expectantly. "Do you have any suggestions?"

Lu Yan paused for a long moment before speaking gently, "Whatever you decide, I will support you." Having heard little Wu’s earlier comment about her being "beautiful and kind," he had already guessed that his wife had promised Feng Erqiu something more.

Shen Qingyi smiled. "I intend to lend her one thousand yuan and have her pay me back in ten years."

Although Lu Yan had prepared himself and knew his wife was always generous, he was still slightly surprised by the figure of one thousand yuan.

Shen Qingyi quickly explained, "Part of it is capital for business, part of it is for peace of mind, and part is for living expenses and Chunni's tuition." She didn't like helping people halfway; since she had the ability and the person was worth helping, she would see it through.

She added, "Chunni said she wants to get into university in the capital. If her mother can't pay it back, she will."

Lu Yan nodded. "I see. Do you have enough money on hand?"

Seeing Lu Yan's trust in her, Shen Qingyi did not hide anything. "Yes. I originally had savings of about five thousand yuan. I used some for inventory, and I still have over three thousand on me. I’ve already recouped the cost of the inventory and should have a profit of over a thousand yuan."

Because she didn't want him to overthink it, she didn't mention the ten thousand yuan her mother had given her.

Lu Yan looked at his wife with surprise. He said nothing, but in his heart, he felt a deep sense of admiration.