"Thank you all for coming to visit my son. Here, have some fruit—don’t be shy with this old lady."
Yang Yufen handed out the fruit she had brought, relieved she hadn’t come empty-handed.
"Thank you, Auntie."
One by one, they accepted the fruit and stepped aside to make room by the hospital bed.
"Auntie, we’ve stayed long enough. We should head back to the base now."
The group noticed the lunchbox Yang Yufen had brought and decided not to overstay their welcome. For a moment, no one remembered Zhang Lingling, and none felt comfortable lingering at such a time.
"Alright. Next time, let Xianjun invite you all over for a meal at home. I won’t keep you any longer."
Yang Yufen saw them out the door before returning to the ward, only to find Shen Xianjun already digging into the lunchbox.
"Mom, you know me so well. I’ve been craving your egg sauce noodles. Some garlic would’ve made it perfect."
"Don’t even think about it. From now on, no garlic in the egg sauce noodles at home—Nian can’t stand it, and no chili either. The kids and Nian can’t handle spicy food."
"No garlic, no chili, and no vinegar? What kind of hand-pulled noodles are these? How can anyone be so picky?"
Shen Xianjun muttered the words without thinking, only to get a smack on the head.
"You should be grateful I even made this for you! Demanding garlic, chili, and vinegar—who’s the picky one here, you little rascal?"
Shen Xianjun looked up, bewildered. Wasn’t this how they’d always eaten at home? What had he even said?
This is my birth mother, this is my birth mother, this is my birth mother!
He repeated the mantra in his head before burying his face in the noodles. Fine, he’d keep his mouth shut.
Yang Yufen listened to the loud slurping and gulping, feeling like she’d raised a pig. Even Dabao and Erbao didn’t eat noodles this messily.
Her disdain was plain, but Shen Xianjun, too focused on his meal, missed it entirely. Yang Yufen turned away, deciding ignorance was bliss.
"Brother Shen, how can you eat something like this?"
Zhang Lingling appeared at the door, holding a lunchbox. She hadn’t noticed Yang Yufen at first, but seeing Shen Xianjun already eating, the words spilled out before she could stop them. She hurried inside.
"What’s wrong with it?"
Yang Yufen’s voice cut in as she stepped forward. What was this girl’s problem? Without the white uniform, Yang Yufen was certain—another flower her troublemaker son had attracted.
"Auntie, you’re here. It’s just that Brother Shen is still recovering. Greasy, salty food isn’t good for him right now."
Zhang Lingling lowered her tone upon seeing Yang Yufen.
"Relax. There’s just a hint of bean sauce—mostly eggs and noodles. It won’t hurt him. I already checked with the doctor, and they said it’s fine."
Yang Yufen kept her expression neutral, but her tone was sharp.
"It’s so bland it’s practically tasteless. Just slightly better than the hospital cafeteria."
Shen Xianjun’s face fell. He loved bold flavors, and the lack of vinegar, garlic, and chili was bad enough—now someone had to come and make it worse?
"Then stop eating like a starving hog if you’re going to complain! If not for the country, a guy like you would’ve been single forever. Only Nian puts up with you, even giving you two kids."
Yang Yufen directed her words at Shen Xianjun but kept an eye on Zhang Lingling, hoping the girl would take the hint.
She understood admiration for strength, but meddling in a marriage was wrong.
Zhang Lingling’s grip on the net bag tightened. She tried to smile but couldn’t.
"If Auntie knows best, I’ll take my leave."
With that, she turned and fled.
"Why didn’t she leave the food? Didn’t she bring it for me? I could’ve eaten more!"
Shen Xianjun lamented the lost lunchbox.
"Eat, eat, eat—aren’t you worried about bursting? The doctor said not to overeat. Did you forget?"
Yang Yufen was fed up. Lately, it felt like she and her son were clashing constantly. Maybe it was fate. With a sigh, she snatched the lunchbox away, done with him for now.
See? This was why he hadn’t wanted his mom around—always losing her temper. His wife must’ve suffered in silence. Yesterday, she hadn’t even dared to speak up. From now on, he’d shield her more. He was used to weathering storms anyway.
Just then, he remembered—he still hadn’t given his mom the commendation she deserved. Well, he’d see her tonight.
As Yang Yufen was about to leave, she ran into Zhou Ang.
"Auntie, what’s wrong? You look upset."
"Lately, I’ve been irritable for no reason."
She couldn’t very well admit she wanted to throttle her son.
"We have a female TCM doctor here. Let me take you to see her. It’s lunch break now—won’t disturb other patients."
Zhou Ang linked arms with Yang Yufen and guided her to the office.
"Have you been feeling hot flashes, sweating easily, trouble sleeping, or mood swings lately?"
The doctor asked after taking her pulse.
"Yes."
"I’ll prescribe some medicine to regulate your system. Your qi and blood are strong, but don’t bottle up your anger. Talk to people more."
After writing the prescription and exchanging a few words with Zhou Ang, the latter led Yang Yufen out.
"Auntie, you’ve been overworking yourself. The hospital food is nourishing—no need to run back and forth. I’ll arrange for meals to be delivered by the nurses so you can rest."
"Alright, thank you, Xiao Zhou."
Yang Yufen agreed, feeling she needed the break. She left with a bag of medicine.
That afternoon, Shen Xianjun waited for his mom’s usual meal delivery—only to be met by an unfamiliar female doctor.
"I’m Nian’s sister-in-law. You can call me Sister-in-law like she does. Auntie isn’t feeling well, so she won’t be bringing meals for a few days. I’ll have someone deliver your food instead. Just leave the lunchbox when you’re done—someone will collect it. I have work to attend to, so I’ll go now."
Since it was the first meal, Zhou Ang had made the effort to deliver it personally before her shift ended.
Shen Xianjun stared at the food—plain pumpkin millet porridge, two eggs, some staples, and greens.
It would fill him up, but how could it compare to his mom’s hand-pulled noodles?
When Qin Nian returned home, the smell of medicine hit her instantly. Forgetting about the two kids behind her, she rushed inside.
"Mom? Mom?"
"Nian, you’re back. I’m in the backyard."
Yang Yufen’s voice carried from behind the house.
"Mom, are you okay?"
Qin Nian hurried to the backyard, finding Yang Yufen busy in the vegetable patch.
"I’m fine. Auntie Wang gave me some bean seeds, so I planted them. The beans have gone wild—needed trellising. I hadn’t gotten around to it before, so I took care of it today."
Yang Yufen brushed the dirt off her hands and legs, realizing she’d lost track of time.
"Then why do I smell medicine in the house?"
