C4 Something Happened
Liu Xue spoke as if she was concerned for Shen Shuling, but her face showed not a hint of worry. Instead, there was a touch of schadenfreude.
Shen Shuling thought for a moment and understood. This girl was here to vent her frustrations. After all, a while back, the folks in the village thought she and Lim Fuqing made a perfect pair. Now that Shuling had fallen on hard times, Liu Xue seized the chance to throw in a few jabs.
“How old is this man?” Shen Shuling asked.
Liu Xue paused. “He’s fifty-five. But he’s hardworking and reliable, quite decent.”
“He does have a son and a daughter, but Ms. Shuling, your situation isn’t great either, so…”
Widowed and pregnant, what man would want that? Only an older man would be interested, Liu Xue maliciously speculated, imagining how miserable Shuling’s life would be if she married him.
If Shuling had a tough time, Liu Xue would feel better.
Shen Shuling tugged at the corners of her mouth. Was this girl hinting that she shouldn’t be picky?
“No, thanks. I’m doing just fine now, no need for your concern. You know I have high standards; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been interested in Fuqing. Besides, I’m doing well—nothing lacking here. I’m attractive and capable, and I’ve always had plenty of admirers.”
Shen Shuling gave a shy smile, her features becoming even more lively, while Liu Xue’s smile froze on her face.
"Hey, by the way, didn't you borrow five bucks from me three months ago to buy clothes? I'm a bit short on cash now, so how about you pay me back today?"
Liu Xue was taken aback, her eyes wide with surprise. "I... I only have three dollars on me today."
Shen Shuling didn't mind and held out her hand. "Then just pay back the three dollars for now, and you can return the rest later."
Just growing mushrooms doesn't bring in much money; she needed to plant some pricier seasonal vegetables. She was short on seeds and would need to buy them.
Liu Xue, looking quite reluctant, pulled out three dollars from her pocket and handed it to Shen Shuling before turning away with a sullen face.
The air felt a bit fresher, and Shen Shuling continued on her way. She reached the farmers' market and sold four pounds of mushrooms to a small restaurant. Mushrooms were still a novelty at the time, fetching fifty cents a pound. With the money from Liu Xue, she had a total of five dollars.
When had she ever been this strapped for cash? Shen Shuling sighed. She made a trip to the grocery store, bought three pounds of rice, and spent the remaining two dollars on two packs of chive seeds, leaving her with no money left.
Shen Shuling planned to grow some yellow chives. She had just asked the restaurant, and yellow chives were a hot commodity. They were imported from the neighboring city and sold for over a dollar a pound, but when cooked, they were both fresh and nutritious, a favorite among many restaurant owners.
She quietly worked behind the house, hoping to sell some goods so she could take Lim Shan to see a doctor. This illness couldn't be ignored, and they needed an elder at home to help her manage things, especially with her being pregnant. But no matter how well she planned, fate had its own ideas.
Shen Shuling was crossing the bridge, full of hope, carrying her things when she looked up and saw her little nephew, Lim Tianyang, crying desperately at the door. His face was dirty, like a little raccoon, and a crowd had gathered around, watching but not helping.
"Please, help my grandpa! I can't move the cart by myself. I need to get him to the hospital! Please..." he pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "Grandpa has a fever and is talking nonsense. Aunt and Uncle, please help!"
Shuling's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and a sudden pain shot through her belly. She took a deep breath, waiting for the pain to subside, then hurried toward her house, trying to protect her belly while moving as fast as she could, waddling awkwardly like a penguin.
When Lim Tianyang saw Shuling approaching, he cried even harder, his voice filled with fear and desperation.
