Chapter 38: The Injured Woman’s Relative

Zhao Liang slapped Jiang Chen on the shoulder, his eyes glowing with excitement, his voice full of joy:

"These pears of yours—I'll take them all."

Jiang Chen was a bit skeptical. Was Zhao Liang just bragging? He wasn't a fruit vendor, after all. Jiang Chen asked, "You'll take them all? Don't exaggerate, Uncle Zhao."

Zhao Liang grinned, his eyes sparkling like he'd found gold.

"You have no idea. I've got several five-star hotels in both the provincial capital and Jiang City, plus a few leisure resorts. Your pears are perfect for fruit platters in presidential suites and VIP receptions—absolutely premium quality. They'll amaze the guests!"

Jiang Chen's heart stirred. It wasn't a huge deal, but Zhao Liang buying in bulk meant stable, long-term income.

Still, business is business—even among close friends.

Jiang Chen rubbed two fingers together with a smile. "Well then... what about the price?"

"How about twenty-five each?" Zhao Liang offered right off the bat.

"Twenty?" Jiang Chen's face changed instantly.

Zhao Liang raised a brow. "What, too low? Fine—thirty if you want."

"You mean per pear or per pound?" Jiang Chen asked.

Zhao Liang burst out laughing. "Of course per pear!"

Jiang Chen immediately changed his tone. "Ten yuan per pear is great, great."

"Nope, it's gotta be twenty-five. Deal's done. I want 300 pears from you every week—more is fine, but never less."

Jiang Chen did the math: 300 pears a week meant 6,000 yuan weekly!

He was deeply grateful. He'd saved Zhao Liang's family, and this was how Zhao repaid him.

Nowadays, saving someone often brought resentment, not gratitude. But Zhao Liang was different. He was a real friend—loyal, worth befriending.

Jiang Chen quickly said, "Uncle Zhao, I really appreciate it."

Zhao Liang laughed heartily. "No need to thank me. I should be the one thanking you. My daughter still talks about you, says we need to find a way to thank you properly."

The comment was a feeler.

Zhao Liang wasn't entirely ready to give up. This Wen-xian woman didn't seem very educated. Her figure suggested she'd been with men for years.

But his daughter—pure, highly educated, from a good family—was far better than Wen-xian.

Who's to say Jiang Chen wouldn't change his mind one day?

What if they broke up?

But Jiang Chen only found Zhao Liang's daughter amusing, nothing more.

Wen-xian smiled politely throughout.

Zhao Liang glanced at her, unable to tell much from her reaction, but he was still thinking: Just how strong is their relationship? Does my daughter still have a shot?

After seeing Zhao Liang off, Jiang Chen and Wen-xian headed back to Jiangjia Village. They told Jiang Chen's parents that a friend would help sell the pears.

The parents helped pick out two big boxes—exactly 300 green pears—and carried them back to the clinic.

They shut the inner room door, opened the boxes. Jiang Chen touched the pears one by one while Wen-xian wrapped the fully ripened red pears. In under ten minutes, all 300 green pears had turned into glowing, ruby-colored fruit.

Wen-xian's eyes sparkled as she watched Jiang Chen's hand. She pulled it into her palm, lifted it to her lips, and gently licked it, even between the fingers. While licking, she mused, "Honey, if your magical hand can turn pears red... what if you used it to heal people?"

Jiang Chen squirmed from the ticklish sensation and laughed, "You mean I should touch patients until they blush like these pears? Hahaha..."

"Don't mess around. I'm serious. It might actually work."

Jiang Chen didn't take it to heart. The two borrowed a tractor, loaded the pears, and drove to Jiang City.

Zhao Liang inspected the goods and, seeing a box full of perfectly sized, glowing red pears—no green edges in sight—nodded repeatedly.

"Perfect! Just beautiful!"

He praised them over and over, immediately handed over 6,000 yuan, and reminded Jiang Chen, "I want all your pears, okay? Don't go selling to anyone else."

Jiang Chen grinned. "Do I look like that kind of person, Uncle Zhao?"

Zhao Liang patted his shoulder. "I'm just worried others will see and try to steal the business. Think about it—such bright red fruit hanging on the tree. The villagers and fruit dealers are bound to notice."

Jiang Chen chuckled quietly. Little does he know—they're still green on the tree. I only ripen them after picking them.

"You're a good kid. Uncle Zhao won't shortchange you."

After leaving Jiang City, Jiang Chen and Wen-xian headed back to the village.

Suddenly, Wen-xian said, "I don't want to just 'temporarily' stay in Jiangjia Village anymore. I want to stay here for good. I don't want to be apart from you. I'm not going back to Taohua Village."

Her eyes welled with tears.

Of course Jiang Chen wanted to hold her every night. They had originally agreed to live apart to save money—she'd run a shop in Taohua Village while he ran the clinic here.

But things were different now. With a stable weekly income of 6,000 yuan from pears, they could support a household. Why live apart?

"Alright, stay here. But don't regret it. Once you move into my place, you're family. I'm gonna wear you out every night—can you handle it?" Jiang Chen teased.

"Ugh, pervert." Wen-xian rolled her eyes and immediately called her Uncle Wen.

"Uncle Wen, it's me, Wen-xian... I'll be staying in Jiangjia Village for a while. Please help take care of the house for me…"

Jiang Chen was overjoyed. What he thought would be a temporary thing turned into something permanent—he could be with Wen-xian every day!

Driving home, he began to plan:

The inner room of the clinic was too small for two people—tight even for sleeping.

Once they had a kid, there'd be no space at all.

They needed to tear down the old house and build a five-room home!

He'd brought his wife home. A new house was a must.

But building a house takes money.

Thinking about money made him regret: he shouldn't have given up on that 100,000 from the town hospital so easily. That guy Lin probably skimmed plenty off the top—no need to show mercy.

Can't be that naive again.

Not earning money you should earn? That's a crime.

Lesson learned. From now on: "Follow the rules in business, uphold ethics in medicine."

Don't take what you shouldn't. But don't leave a cent behind if you deserve it.

Back in the village, Jiang Chen's parents were overjoyed to see their son and daughter-in-law return.

Jiang Chen and Wen-xian suggested staying at the clinic—it was more convenient.

The parents had originally planned to offer them the main room, but after thinking about it, they agreed. The couple was clearly in love, always "active," so staying apart from the main house made sense.

So, the two officially moved into the clinic.

That night, the new setting must've excited them. They held each other tightly and made love twice before finally drifting off to sleep—still holding each other even in their dreams.

Early the next morning, they were still asleep—

Suddenly, loud knocking startled them awake.

Bang bang bang!

The pounding was so violent it felt like the door would break.

Half-asleep, Jiang Chen cursed, "Who the hell is it? Did someone die?"

He got up and opened the door—and froze.

Standing outside were seven or eight men in black suits, a row of black sedans parked by the road.

The leader wore wide-rimmed glasses, neatly dressed—a meticulous type. He didn't look like a boss, more like an executive or a personal assistant.

Sure enough, the man said:

"I'm the Secretary-General of Red Earth Group in the provincial capital. I've come on the order of Chairman Liu Guanglin. Are you Mr. Jiang Chen?"

Liu Guanglin?

Jiang Chen immediately recalled a recent news headline: Red Earth Group had just purchased the most expensive land in the provincial development zone—2.4 billion yuan.

A major player.

Liu… Could that injured girl be related to him?