Friends Are the Greatest Blessing

A chill ran down Annette's spine. What if Stuart took the receipt and asked why the handwriting didn't match? How would she explain it?

How had she been so careless just now?

After quickly telling Louise and a few others, she hurried toward the ward. When she reached the door, she stopped, took a deep breath, and calmed herself. Then, with deliberate ease, she walked inside.

Stuart was folding clothes. On the bedside table lay the rolled-up money and receipt she had given him earlier. Judging by its curled state, it looked just as she had handed it over.

Annette glanced briefly but wasn't sure if Stuart had looked at it. Smiling softly, she approached. "I remember I just folded these clothes for you."

Stuart nodded. "I took them out again while looking for something."

Annette said "Oh," then pointed at the money on the bedside table. "Don't forget to pack this. Maybe your workplace can reimburse you."

Stuart glanced over, surprised. "Spent a lot? How much is left? I'll check later. If it's under five francs, no need to file for reimbursement."

Annette sighed with relief — he hadn't seen it yet. She quickly grabbed it. "I checked. It cost two francs eighty-three centimes, and they refunded over seven francs."

Stuart seemed not to notice her action and grunted. "Keep it then. Later, buy some candy. When we get back to the village, give it to the kids."

Annette had no time to ask why candy, so she nodded repeatedly. "Okay, I'll buy two pounds of fruit candy."

Stuart looked up at Annette, then returned his head to folding clothes.

Apparently, Annette really didn't understand the customs here — a new bride had to bring candy the first time she visited her in-laws, to hand out to children who might come by.

Relieved, Annette's smile brightened. She busied herself packing the enamel basin and lunchbox.

Just as she finished tidying, Sean strolled in. Seeing Stuart and Annette ready to leave, he offered to help carry things. "We'll leave now. We should reach the town by noon. I'll stay at the guesthouse tonight, and tomorrow I'll take you to the county by bus."

Annette had no concept of Hequan Village; the original Annette didn't either.

She had assumed it was just a nearby village, but hearing Sean mention a bus ride, she was surprised — was Hequan Village that far?

On the way back, Annette didn't feel any bumps or jolts — maybe she'd adapted, or Sean's driving was just good.

At the residential compound, near their doorstep, a few women gathered, chatting while watching children play.

They looked curiously as a jeep pulled up.

When they saw Annette helping Stuart down, everyone froze, then quickly swarmed them with questions.

"Captain Stuart, are you feeling any better?"

"I heard from Dr. Charlotte that your injury was serious. How did you get discharged so quickly?"

"I have a hen at home; I'll catch it for you to help you recover."

"I have two packs of milk powder. I'll bring it to you."

Before Stuart could refuse, the group scattered, each heading home to fetch their gifts.

Annette was a bit shocked — Stuart was quite popular in the residential compound.

Sean carried the bags inside without hesitation, placing them on the stool beside the bed.

Stuart said nothing, so Annette kept quiet too, letting Sean sit while she went to light the stove.

Stuart knew Annette's capabilities and glanced at Sean. "Let him go. He's familiar with the compound. Ask him to borrow some fire tinder."

Annette heard "borrow fire tinder" and immediately shut up. Given her status in the compound, she would surely get cold looks — better not to put herself in that awkward position.

Sean was cooperative and took the fire tongs to fetch the tinder.

Annette didn't want to bring out Stuart's luggage directly either, so she told him to rest on the small bed. "Once the fire's lit, I'll cook."

Stuart shook his head. "No need to cook. Let Sean get some food from the cafeteria."

Annette hesitated. "Isn't that a bit much? Leaving everything to someone else."

Sean returned with the fire tinder. "Sister-in-law, don't feel bad. Stuart seems honest but is actually pretty cunning."

Annette smiled awkwardly. She wasn't close with Sean, feeling more comfortable with Stuart.

Once Sean had the fire going, there was a knock on the door.

Annette opened it to find a pile of goods left at the doorstep. The donors hurried off toward their own homes.

Looking down, she saw a speckled hen, a basket of eggs, canned goods, cake, milk powder, and two bags of cube sugar.

She glanced quickly, unable to remember everything, and turned to Stuart. "What should we do with all this?"

Sean craned his neck. "Keep it. Sister-in-law, don't be embarrassed. That's how life is in the compound. If anyone has a problem, everyone helps."

Stuart looked at Sean, noticing how natural it was for him to call Annette "sister-in-law."

Then he said to Annette, "Bring it in for now. We'll figure out what to do later."

Lunch was what Sean brought back from the cafeteria: cabbage soup, cornmeal steamed buns.

The soup floated with a few slices of pork fat, but Annette ate heartily.

After lunch, the room warmed up. Sean still showed no sign of leaving and comfortably sat on the small bed, waving. "You guys rest. Don't worry about me."

Stuart knew exactly what Sean was up to. This guy had known since the door that the couple slept separately and was deliberately stirring things up. Stuart glared. "Go stay at the guesthouse."

Sean was not so easily dismissed. He looked at Annette. "Sister-in-law, after a whole day of travel, I'm exhausted. Let me sit here a while."

Annette couldn't forbid him, so she smiled and agreed, "Alright, you sit."

Then she looked at Stuart. "You should lie down for a bit. I'm going to visit Martha to return her knitting needles — they're too thick for me to use."

Once Annette left, Stuart hastened Sean's departure. "If you're fine, don't cause trouble."

Sean clicked his tongue. "Trouble? I don't think so. I see Annette's different from the rumors. You two live well, alright? I heard you got a spot for that training."

He wasn't really praising Annette but hoping Stuart's family would be stable, so he could get a good future — leave this dreadful place and escape that vampiric family.

Halfway down the hall, Annette met Martha hurrying over with a basket.

Martha smiled from afar as she saw Annette. "Annette, you're finally back! I wanted to talk to you about something."