Chang Ying’s smile stiffened.

Why was Zhenzhu being so serious in front of Xia Xiaolan, an outsider?

What if Xia Xiaolan misunderstood her intentions?

Anxious, Chang Ying felt she needed to clarify things, especially in front of Xia Xiaolan!

She gestured for Bai Zhenzhu to move toward the stairway, away from Gao Huabin in the ward, but Bai Zhenzhu stood firmly in place, refusing to move.

Xia Xiaolan maintained an innocent expression.

Chang Ying had no choice but to lower her voice:

“Zhenzhu, you’re already 26. Look at Xiaolan – she’s younger than you and already married. I know you’re busy with business, but can you do business forever? A woman’s life is incomplete without marriage, children, and a happy family! You’ll have to find someone eventually. It’s better to go on blind dates while you’re young. Finding someone like Young Gao is lucky – if you wait a few more years, you won’t find someone like him. You’ll only find men with poor conditions, or divorced men, or widowers… What decent man would wait for a woman in her thirties who’s never married?”

Ah, even standing silently on the side could get one caught in the crossfire?

Xia Xiaolan felt she needed to explain:

“Sister Chang, my marriage isn’t about age. I married because I wanted to, and Zhou Cheng was someone I wanted to marry. We dated for several years, and marriage came naturally. I wanted to marry, but Zhenzhu might not. Why not listen to Zhenzhu’s thoughts?”

Chang Ying choked.

How could it be the same?

If her sister-in-law could find someone like Zhou Cheng, the family wouldn’t need to push her.

But Bai Zhenzhu and Xia Xiaolan had different circumstances – how could they be compared? Chang Ying believed people should be realistic about themselves. Zhenzhu wasn’t from a prestigious university and didn’t have Xia Xiaolan’s beauty. If she set her standards as high as Xia Xiaolan’s, she’d remain single forever!

Chang Ying misunderstood Xia Xiaolan’s words, thinking she’d found the reason for Bai Zhenzhu’s resistance:

“You think Young Gao’s conditions aren’t good enough?”

That was quite hurtful.

With his conditions, Young Gao could find prettier women than Zhenzhu, but he wasn’t that picky.

Chang Ying counted on her fingers:

“Young Gao’s family is from Guangdong Province too, just not in Yangcheng city, but it’s only about a hundred li away. He’s assigned to work in Yangcheng, so naturally, he’ll settle here – you won’t have to live apart, right? Plus, he’s educated, a university graduate with a government position. Don’t judge by his current salary – young people’s salaries aren’t high, especially compared to your business income, but his prospects are bright! Also, I’ve checked – he’s the only son among daughters, his parents are healthy, and they’ll likely move to Yangcheng with him. When you have children, his mother can help. With Young Gao’s conditions, he could find… anyway, I can’t find any fault with him in any aspect.”

“…!”

Xia Xiaolan and Bai Zhenzhu exchanged glances, their eyes saying: Your sister-in-law is impressive – what a waste she’s not working at the neighborhood committee!

Bai Zhenzhu had a headache listening to this.

In Chang Ying’s words, Gao Huabin was perfect in every way.

Bai Zhenzhu admitted that if she wasn’t running her own business, with her conditions from a few years ago, nobody would have introduced someone of Gao Huabin’s caliber to her.

Just his looks and university degree alone meant he had no shortage of interested women.

But no matter how good his conditions were, she didn’t like him.

She wasn’t requiring him to beat her in martial arts to qualify as her partner.

She couldn’t find fault with Gao Huabin, but she knew she didn’t like him.

Not liking someone was simply not liking them. His frequent hospital visits after her rejection might show good manners, but Bai Zhenzhu saw it as the calculated behavior of a young bureaucrat… She preferred dealing with straightforward people, not complicated men.

She had enough people to guard against in business – how exhausting would it be to face such a person at home too!

Far from being swayed by Chang Ying, Bai Zhenzhu became more determined.

Chang Ying wanted to speak quietly, but she wanted Gao Huabin to hear:

“Sister-in-law, I know you mean well and care about me, but I have my thoughts. Comrade Gao and I aren’t suitable. Don’t waste effort matchmaking – I’ve made up my mind. If Comrade Gao keeps coming to the hospital, I’ll have to stop visiting for now. Also, I’ve decided to hire two caretakers for Grandmother, working in shifts around the clock to prevent such incidents in the future.”

Chang Ying became anxious, “I feel so guilty about Grandmother’s fall. I didn’t mean to leave her alone at home—”

Bai Zhenzhu interrupted, “Sister-in-law, I know! You married my brother who’s always at his classified workplace. Other couples share childcare, but you’re alone and working. You often have to leave my nephew with your parents. Sister-in-law, you’ve worked hard for this family. We’re family – why differentiate so much? The matter of hiring caretakers is settled!”

Bai Zhenzhu’s words brought tears to Chang Ying’s eyes.

Being a family member wasn’t easy, and fortunately, the Bai family understood her efforts.

That day, the child had a fever. Not wanting to burden elderly Grandmother Bai, she left the child with her parents and stayed there for two days.

Grandmother Bai was usually healthy – no one expected she’d slip while bathing alone. If Chang Ying hadn’t returned home for the child’s clothes, it could have been an irreversible tragedy!

Chang Ying had been quite panicked then, afraid of both her sister-in-law’s blame and worrying her husband Bai Zhiyong. That’s why she didn’t notify the martial arts school people – she wanted to stabilize the situation first. But did her sister-in-law’s understanding words mean she truly didn’t blame her for inadequate care?

They’d agreed not to hire caretakers before, but now she was so determined to hire two.

How could ordinary families afford two caretakers?

Before Chang Ying could say more, Bai Zhenzhu had entered the ward.

Gao Huabin awkwardly said, “Zhenzhu, I just wanted to visit Grandmother Bai, not…”

“Comrade Gao, what you want to do is your freedom, and what I want to do is mine. I won’t interfere with you – would you please respect me too? Grandmother, Xiaolan and I have something to do. We’ll visit you again after we’re done.”

Bai Zhenzhu informed her grandmother and left the hospital with Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan thought Bai Zhenzhu handled it decisively. In the ward, Chang Ying didn’t know how to face Gao Huabin.

Grandmother Bai kept apologizing, saying Bai Zhenzhu was inconsiderate.

“Young Gao, don’t take her words to heart!”

Gao Huabin hesitated, “…Then I should reduce my hospital visits. Perhaps I was too eager and scared Zhenzhu.”