Chapter 39: That Is Exactly What I Had in Mind

Looking at the old woman's reddened eye rims, Li Tian'er suddenly thought of her own maternal grandmother, and involuntarily inched her body forward.

Without needing to ask, the elderly woman before her was this Li Tian'er's mother.

"It's all Mama's fault for coming to see you so late."

"I'm fine."

Although she felt a certain fondness for the old woman and didn't want her to worry, calling her "Mama" was something she simply could not bring herself to do no matter what.

"As long as you're fine, as long as you're fine. Since Songyuan arranged such a fine hospital for you, I knew for sure that any ailment could be cured."

Fan Lihua straightened her posture, naturally leaned back, released Li Tian'er's hand, and raised the corner of her shirt to dab at her eyes. Her cloud-cast, sorrowful face smoothed out. She raised her eyes to appraise the ward, letting out clicking sounds of high praise.

Anhe Gynecology Hospital was located by Bailu Lake in the center of Rongcheng. It consisted of two interconnected six-story buildings made of red bricks and grey tiles, covering an area of over a hundred mu, nestled among lush woods and blooming flowers. Every window framed a scenic view, and the hardware and software facilities inside the ward were of cutting-edge, high-tech standards.

It was said that the founding ancestor of Anhe Hospital bore the surname An and had served as an imperial physician in the royal palace. Starting from a small medical clinic, through more than two hundred years of ups and downs, and the efforts of several generations of the An family, it had grown into a renowned aristocratic specialty hospital known throughout the province and even the entire country.

"This room must be twenty or thirty square meters, right? It looks bigger than your younger brother's new apartment. How much does it cost to stay here for a single night? Look at this bed, this cabinet, the sofa, and even these curtains..."

Fan Lihua felt as though her eyes were not enough to take it all in, pinching the curtain and reluctant to let go. She scrunched the mist-blue silk curtain into a ball and then smoothed it out, staring at the restored flatness and luster as she exclaimed in wonder:

"This is definitely made of brocade. I remember seeing people use this kind of fabric for quilt covers when I was little. When placed under the sun, that quilt showed a ripple-like luster—it was so pretty."

The hospital's curtain fabric was indeed fine, but it certainly was not quilt-cover material from decades ago.

Li Tian'er felt a mix of exasperation and amusement toward this country-bumpkin-like old woman. She turned her head to glance at the hanging IV bottle, which was already empty. She quickly clamped the infusion regulator and pressed the call button.

Li Ya efficiently replaced it with a new bag of medication, glanced at Fan Lihua who was still stroking the curtain by the window, swallowed her words, and hurried out.

Fan Lihua finally let go of the curtain and sat down on the sofa, pressing down hard on the sofa cushion with both hands before leaning her entire body back with satisfaction.

"Li Tian'er, your younger brother wants to partner with friends to open an art training school. Do you think you can come up with two hundred thousand?"

"Open an art training school?"

"Yeah, Tao Xin wants to start a business and be his own boss. As his elder sister, you have to support him."

Only then did Fan Lihua carefully observe Li Tian'er's expression. Li Tian'er's indifferent demeanor made Fan Lihua feel somewhat guilty.

"I know, when your younger brother got married, you forked out one million to buy him an apartment. One million is a huge sum even for you. It's only been half a year, so you definitely need some breathing room. But you also know how great your sister-in-law's background is; for her to fancy your younger brother is a blessing cultivated by our family in past lives.

It's definitely not right for your younger brother to lack a proper livelihood. Now that he's finally determined to do something substantive, you surely can't refuse to help. Discuss this with Songyuan and have him take out two hundred thousand from the factory, treating it as a loan from Tao Xin. Your younger brother says opening an art training school will break even in a year, and he'll return the principal plus interest to you by then."

"Oh, as for this matter, you should go talk to Songyuan about it."

After listening for a while, Li Tian'er understood. The old woman before her had not come to check on her daughter's condition at all...

"It's better for you and Songyuan to talk. You're husband and wife, so you're certainly closer than I am as his mother-in-law."

Fan Lihua stood up from the sofa somewhat happily and walked over to the bedside to take Li Tian'er's hand. Not wanting to be grasped by Fan Lihua's withered hands again, Li Tian'er slid her hand under the blanket and smiled apologetically at Fan Lihua.

"You should go find Songyuan."

Calling him by the name "Songyuan" felt much smoother this time.

"That's fine too, but you still have to help put in a good word. Songyuan dotes on you the most and is completely submissive to you; whatever you say, he'll make happen."

Good grief, there was no such thing as unconditional love in this world. Even the most affectionate couple could never reach the point of absolute compliance!

Li Tian'er thought to herself that even a twenty-year-old girl like her understood this principle, yet a woman in her sixties failed to see through something so superficial.

Talking about money ruins relationships!

Li Tian'er chuckled inwardly, unwilling to converse any further with this mother of hers. She closed her eyes slightly and began to ponder once again the miracle of how she had transmigrated last night—under what circumstances had it occurred? As long as the same conditions were met, transmigrating back would not be a problem.

Could it have been because of the moon?

Thinking of that bizarre, orange-red full moon from the previous night, the more she thought about it, the more she felt the gateway of time and space was connected to that moon. She could try again tonight...

"Li Tian'er, are you listening to me?"

Fan Lihua patted the head of Li Tian'er's blanket.

"Oh, go on."

Li Tian'er looked out the window. It was the third month of spring, and despite a lingering chill in the air, the sunlight was quite pleasant.

"I said you need to give me this month's living expenses. It's already been two days past due."

"Oh, go ask Songyuan for it."

Passing every matter off to that uncle-like husband of hers was the most appropriate course of action.

Li Tian'er continued to gaze out the window. The edge of the blanket was abruptly yanked open, revealing Fan Lihua's indignant face. Li Tian'er had no choice but to pretend to look at her attentively.

"The three thousand yuan monthly living expense is what you take from the household budget to give me. We can't let Songyuan know about this."

"Oh?"

"What do you mean 'oh'?! You need to give it to me right away today; I have an urgent use for it. I went to your house last night to get it, but I was given the cold shoulder, which almost ruined my plans."

A look of grievance appeared on Fan Lihua's long, thin cheeks.

Li Tian'er had no idea what was going on and didn't know how to respond. Seeing her daughter remain silent, Fan Lihua grew anxious. She had come today specifically for the three thousand yuan. If she couldn't get the money, she would lose face in front of that person, and how would she be able to get along with them in the future...

"You must have brought money with you when you were hospitalized. Just give me three thousand for my urgent need first."

"I don't have any money on me. Why don't you search for it?"

"You—you ungrateful wretch! Are you holding a grudge because I didn't come to the hospital to see you right away?! You didn't even tell me, so how was I supposed to know you were hospitalized for surgery?"

Fan Lihua grew angry out of shame. Whenever she asked her daughter for money in the past, Li Tian'er would obediently hand it over before she even finished extending her hand. Today, not only was she stalling and refusing to give the money, but from the moment she entered the door, she hadn't even called her "Mama" once.

"I really don't have any money. Why don't you wait for Songyuan to come over, and I'll ask him where my money is."

"Don't play games with me! Your money is given to you by Songyuan anyway, so ask him directly. I'll come back again this afternoon, and you better have the money ready. If I can't get the money this afternoon, I'm not leaving."

Fan Lihua stormed out aggressively. Li Tian'er stared blankly at the empty doorway, lost in thought. What kind of mother was this? She was simply a tiger that devoured people without spitting out their bones!

After Fan Lihua had been gone for a long time, An Changlin still had not returned. After the three bags of IV fluids finished dripping, a warm traditional Chinese medicine pouch was placed over her navel. Li Tian'er drifted off to sleep in a haze.