Chapter 231: Dinner Invitation
After arranging everything at home and his in-laws’ place, Ding Ancheng left home with his luggage, taking the students to Jing City. With Ding Weihuo and Li Hongying at home, Ding Ancheng felt at ease. He just reminded Yi Roujing to be careful when going out on the eleventh, and that he would call home once he reached Jing City.
Since Ding Weihuo and Li Hongying moved to the city, Yi Roujing and the others found their lives even more enjoyable. They no longer needed to take turns cooking. Every day, when they got off work at noon or in the evening, a skilled cook was already home, preparing meals that changed every day, leaving everyone full and satisfied.
"How was your visit to the scrap yard?" After sending the children off to work, Li Hongying asked Ding Weihuo.
"I went and made the introductions, gave Brother Huang a pack of cigarettes and a pound of fruit candy. The good stuff should be set aside for us," Ding Weihuo replied.
"Let’s go take a look now while we’re free. Anything good can be transported there and stored first. I’ve talked it over with our relatives, and they’ll help pick some decent furniture before moving to the city." Li Hongying smiled and flashed her keys. Liu Huilan trusted her completely, and she intended to live up to that trust.
"I know, I know. We’re heading over there now," Ding Weihuo nodded and smiled.
Ever since his job was confirmed, Ding Weihuo hadn’t stopped smiling. He walked straighter on the streets, which amused Li Hongying. She knew her husband well—when he had work to do, he was confident and meticulous.
"Brother Huang." As soon as Ding Weihuo arrived at the scrap yard, he warmly greeted Huang Atu, who was sitting at the entrance, "Is Tangyuan here with Grandpa today? Come to your little grandfather for some candy."
Digging in his pocket, Ding Weihuo pulled out a piece of candy. Huang Tangyuan looked back at his grandfather and then joyfully ran over to accept it, thanking him, "Thank you, little grandfather."
"Such a good kid." Ding Weihuo patted Huang Tangyuan’s head with a friendly smile.
"Is this little grandmother?" Huang Tangyuan asked curiously, looking at Li Hongying.
Hearing this, Ding Weihuo burst into laughter. "So clever! You’re going to do great things one day."
"Brother Huang, this is my wife, Li Hongying. Hongying, this is Brother Huang," introduced Ding Weihuo.
"Brother Huang,"
"Sister-in-law," Brother Huang stood up and smiled.
"You’re here for furniture, right? I’ve organized everything in that room," Huang Atu said, leading them to open a door full of furniture.
"Feel free to look around and choose. I’ll be back at the entrance,"
"Alright, thank you for the trouble, Brother Huang," Ding Weihuo said with a smile.
"This wardrobe is nice." Li Hongying immediately liked a solid wood wardrobe placed outside. It looked fairly new, except one leg was later attached, but who would notice once it’s against the wall?
"I knew you’d like it," Ding Weihuo said mysteriously. "I’ve been here several times recently, repairing the ones that looked decent."
"I recognized your handiwork," Li Hongying laughed, "This wooden bed looks very new, even though the wood seems old."
"I patched it anew," Ding Weihuo chuckled. "I was thinking of inviting Brother Huang’s family over for dinner tomorrow. We’ve troubled him a lot this time."
"And with the eleventh coming up, since we’re going away, I thought I’d finish tidying up before we leave. Our relatives can use this right away when they arrive."
"Honestly, there’s only so much here. We used everything usable. The rest our relatives might have to figure out on their own."
"Our relatives are pretty handy, and with the three Weiliang brothers, they’ll surely move in during the National Day holiday," Li Hongying said.
Once Ding Ancheng left for Jing City, Yi Roujing moved to Bright Alley, and the three Yi brothers moved to County First Middle School. Lately, the brothers had been very busy, not only working but also repairing their courtyard wall. They handled these small tasks well. Ding Weihuo occasionally helped out, and now the courtyard wall was repaired, the front gate repainted, ready for furniture to be set up for their move-in.
Having selected the furniture they needed, Huang Atu helped them load it onto a cart from the scrap yard, letting the couple push it home.
Two beds, one wardrobe, three trunks, three chairs, and two tea tables, all for thirty-five yuan—a real bargain, and no receipt required.
As Li Hongying paid, she extended an invitation, "Brother Huang, bring your family over for dinner tonight. I’m pretty good at cooking."
Huang Atu was momentarily taken aback.
"Yes, yes, Brother Huang, you must come over. We’re friends now and will be colleagues in the future, working just the two of us. We’ve already become good friends, and I’ve even been to your house to get acquainted," Ding Weihuo quickly added.
Hearing this, Huang Atu nodded with a smile, "Thank you, Weihuo, and sister-in-law."
At the hospital, Yi Roujing’s day was mostly idle, chatting while yawning. But finally, there was some work. She was in charge of distributing medical equipment for the surgery room’s medical staff. Of course, not much equipment was used up, and every few days, she’d check and replenish some supplies.
Nurses often came to ask her questions—so much so that the surgical nurses found her very approachable. Not many shared knowledge so openly. Typically, people kept skills to themselves as a means of elevating their status. Everyone praised Yi Roujing as a true comrade willing to help others.
Some doctors even humbly asked her about the principle behind her needle insertion technique. She patiently explained it repeatedly.
Of course, a few doctors, who thought highly of themselves, didn’t like her for it. But none of that bothered Yi Roujing; she was unaffected.
"Roujing, someone’s here to see you," Fan Yuanrong, who now admired Yi Roujing, said. Previously, she knew of her competence but hadn’t realized how outstanding her character was.
Recently, the surgical nursing team had often been praised by hospital leaders for being the best team. She, as the head nurse and representative of this team, had been invited numerous times by the leadership to lecture on teamwork and maximizing collective effort.
"It’s from the bicycle incident you assisted with earlier. The family of the bicyclist came to see you," Fan Yuanrong said with a smile. "They’re here to give you a gift."
Yi Roujing was a bit surprised, having thought it was from the patient’s family.
"Comrade Yi Roujing." The young man who rode the bicycle came with his wife, carrying a small cloth bag, his face filled with gratitude.
"Hello," Honestly, Yi Roujing didn’t really know the visitor’s name.
"Comrade Yi Roujing, I’m Dai Shuhao, and this is my wife Jiang Yuhua. We specifically came before the National Day to thank you. You not only saved the patient but also saved me," Dai Shuhao expressed with continued emotion.