Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Master Li’s Intentions

“Zhang Cui, what’s going on?”

Mai Sui’s eyes sparkled as she smelled the fragrant aroma, looking at her mother with longing.

Zhang Cui’s heart ached. She forced a smile and settled her daughter onto the stool. “Go on and eat.”

Li Haixin rubbed his hands, smiling good-naturedly, and looked like he wanted to say something.

Zhang Cui took a deep breath, as if mustering all her courage. Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was spoken with clarity.

“Master Li… thank you for always looking after me and my daughter. This steamed egg… please don’t save it for Mai Sui anymore. I… I don’t want people to gossip, and I’m even more afraid it will upset my child if she hears it.

“You… you’re a good man. You should find someone better in the future.”

After she finished, she lowered her head, not daring to look at Li Haixin’s face, which had frozen in an instant.

The smile on Li Haixin’s face solidified, then slowly faded, replaced by a look of helplessness and dejection.

He looked at Zhang Cui, who kept her head down in silence, then at Mai Sui, who was taking small bites of her steamed egg, completely unaware of what was happening. Finally, he turned a pleading gaze toward Su Tang.

Su Tang sighed inwardly and gave him a slight shake of her head.

Li Haixin was silent for a long moment. He didn’t say anything, just let out a heavy sigh and turned back to cleaning the stove. His figure looked somewhat stooped from behind.

After Mai Sui finished her steamed egg, Zhang Cui grabbed her hand and practically fled the cafeteria.

A couple of days later, Su Tang had just gotten home from work and was about to start a fire to cook when there was a knock on her courtyard gate.

When she opened the gate, she was surprised to see it was Li Haixin.

He had changed into a clean, blue cloth jacket and was holding a mesh bag filled with bright red tomatoes and two prickly cucumbers, still with their blossoms attached. It was clear they had just been picked from his personal garden plot, fresh and vibrant.

“D-Doctor Su?”

Li Haixin stood at the gate, looking a little awkward. His dark, weathered face was flushed red.

“Um… I… can I come in and talk?”

Su Tang quickly let him in. “Master Li, please, come in and sit. What brings you here?”

Li Haixin placed the mesh bag on the table and wrung his hands, looking very anxious. “Doctor Su, I… I know I shouldn’t be bothering you. But… but I really… AIH!”

He sighed heavily, his heart aching.

“Zhang Cui… what she said the other day… I’ve been mulling it over for days. I can’t sleep. I know she’s afraid of gossip, afraid that Mai Sui will be wronged.”

He looked up, his eyes filled with genuine anxiety and frustration. “But I, Li Haixin, am not that kind of person! I just… I just feel that it’s not easy for her, raising a child all by herself.

“She’s a good person—hardworking and kind-hearted! And that child, Mai Sui, is so well-behaved it makes your heart ache just looking at her! I… I sincerely want to be good to them, mother and daughter. I’m not after anything, and I certainly don’t want to give people reason to wag their tongues!”

He grew more agitated as he spoke. “Doctor Su, you know Zhang Cui well. Can you help me talk to her? I, Li Haixin, have worked in the cafeteria for over a decade. I can’t boast about much, but there’s one thing I can promise: I’m dependable!

“I promise I’ll be good to her and good to Mai Sui! I’ll cherish her like my own daughter! As for all that gossip…”

He gritted his teeth, a stubborn glint in his eyes.

“I, Li Haixin, have a clear conscience, so I’m not afraid of what people say! You live life for yourself, not for others to watch! As long as she and her daughter are willing, I’ll… I’ll throw my pride to the wind. If anyone dares to spread rumors, I’ll go and confront them!”

Looking at his face, flushed from agitation, and listening to his simple yet sincere words, Su Tang felt a little moved.

’This Li Haixin… he looks like a simple, honest fellow, but he’s actually got his own mind and a sense of responsibility.’

“Master Li, I understand your intentions.”

Su Tang poured him a glass of water. “Sister-in-law Zhang Cui… she’s mainly worried about Mai Sui. You know, her ex-husband… Aih, he really hurt the child a lot.

“She’s incredibly skittish now, terrified that Mai Sui might suffer even the slightest bit more.”

“I know! I know!”

Li Haixin nodded repeatedly. “That’s why I have to step up even more. I can’t let her carry this burden alone. Doctor Su, I’m begging you, please put in a good word for me. She’ll listen to you! Zhang Cui… she trusts you!”

Just as he was speaking, there was another knock on the gate.

Su Tang opened it, and what a coincidence—Lu Xiao was back. He happened to be on leave this week.

Lu Xiao looked travel-worn. When he saw Li Haixin in the room, he paused in surprise. “Master Li?”

Li Haixin shot to his feet as if he’d seen his savior, wringing his hands and stumbling over his words. “D-Deputy Commander Lu, you’re back!”

Su Tang quickly explained the situation to Lu Xiao.

After listening, Lu Xiao looked at Li Haixin’s earnest and anxious face, then at Su Tang, and pondered for a moment.

He gestured for Li Haixin to sit, then pulled up a stool for himself. “Master Li, everyone in the compound has seen what kind of man you are. The key to this matter lies with Sister-in-law Zhang Cui and Mai Sui.”

He spoke directly, and his words carried weight. “I can understand Sister-in-law Zhang Cui’s concerns. It’s truly not easy raising a child alone.

“But as you said, you live life for yourself. Since you have the intention and the sense of responsibility, that’s a good thing.”

Lu Xiao looked at Su Tang. “How about this: let Su Tang find a chance to have a good talk with Sister-in-law Zhang Cui. She can convey your feelings and your promises.

“The most important thing is Mai Sui. The child needs time to accept it.”

He then turned back to Li Haixin, his tone steady and strong. “As for the gossip, Master Li, just ’throwing your pride to the wind’ isn’t enough. You have to use your actions to shut people’s mouths.

“Be good to them, mother and daughter, sincerely and openly. Over time, everyone will naturally see it for themselves. Su Tang and I will also put in a good word when the time is right.

“A clear conscience fears no accusation. If you two can build a good, stable life for yourselves, that will be more powerful than anything else.”

Listening to Lu Xiao’s words, Li Haixin felt instantly reassured, as if he’d taken a calming pill. His eyes lit up, and he nodded again and again.

“Yes, yes, yes! You’re absolutely right! I understand now. I’ll definitely do my best! I’ll put Zhang Cui’s mind at ease and make Mai Sui happy!”

He stood up excitedly and gave Lu Xiao and Su Tang a deep bow. “Thank you! Thank you both so much!”

After seeing off the profusely grateful Li Haixin, Lu Xiao closed the gate and looked at Su Tang. “What do you think about this?”

Su Tang sighed, then smiled. “Master Li is truly a good man. The key is Sister-in-law Zhang Cui… She needs someone to give her a little push, and she needs to see Master Li’s determination.”

“I’ll go talk to her. But…”

She looked at Lu Xiao with a teasing glint in her eye. “I never thought our Deputy Commander Lu would be managing not only training but matchmaking as well.”

Lu Xiao gave a rare smile and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “If I have to, I have to. It’s a good thing to see people who care for each other get together and live a good life. Things haven’t been easy for Sister-in-law Zhang Cui. If we can help, we should.”

He paused, his voice growing a little deeper. “She’s your friend, and she took such good care of you before. We have to help with this, no matter what.”

Su Tang leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth from his body spread to her heart.

’Life is just more hopeful when you have people to support you and share your burdens.’

“Oh, right. I have something to tell you. I heard your hospital is getting a new chief physician.”

“I think her name is… Su Xinyao?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep