Zhang Ling pulled out her marriage certificate.
"Mom, look. Your son-in-law is very handsome."
She handed the certificate to her mother. Mother Zhang took it and opened it to look inside. Since Zhang Ling and Mu Lingfeng were complete strangers before their impulsive marriage, both appeared incredibly stiff in their wedding photo, their expressions solemn and devoid of a single smile. Anyone looking at it would instantly assume this marriage had been entered into with great reluctance.
"Lingling, this man looks like trouble. Since your father was the one who arranged him, what kind of good man could he possibly be? Take a look and see if you can get a divorce. I’d rather not have the surgery than sacrifice your happiness for the rest of your life."
Zhang Ling took the certificate back from her mother’s hands and stuffed it back into her pocket.
"Mom, don’t talk about not having the surgery. I have the money now. There’s enough to cover your kidney transplant and all the follow-up medication. You just need to focus on getting better."
"Don’t think about anything else. Having a father is no different than having none at all. You are the most important person in my life. Didn’t you say you were waiting for my brother to return? You need to live a long, healthy life."
"Your son-in-law... is the eldest young master of the Mu Group in the city. My father intended him for Zhang Qing, but Zhang Qing didn't like him. She looked down on him for growing up in the countryside. My father probably has something he needs from the Mu Family and wants to collaborate with the Mu Group, so he couldn't bear to let this match go. That’s why he made me take Zhang Qing’s place to marry Mu Lingfeng."
"The important thing is, Mu Lingfeng likes men. So, our marriage is just for show—we’re only partners on paper."
Thinking of how Mu Lingfeng had mentioned he rarely came into the city and mostly stayed in the countryside, Zhang Ling added, "We aren't even really partners, honestly." Because the married couple wouldn't even be living together.
Mother Zhang’s eyes reddened. "Lingling, it's Mom’s fault. You’re essentially destined to be a widow. Your father is too cruel. It’s true what they say—once there’s a stepmother, there’s a stepfather. It’s all because I’m useless and a burden to you."
Zhang Ling comforted her mother. "Mom, I never held out hope for love or marriage anyway. I never really looked forward to it, so this is actually quite fine. I’m married to him, we’ll leave each other alone, and I managed to get a large sum of money from my father. Now, we can finally catch our breath."
"Mom, you are the most important person in this world to me. I would do anything for you."
"Don't be sad. He and I have no feelings for each other. If I weren't looking at this certificate, I wouldn't even remember what he looks like. There’s no pain in having no feelings, but there are benefits. He has an apartment in the city, and we can move in there."
"It’ll save on rent, and the place is very close to my shop. I can just ride my electric scooter to work every day."
Mother Zhang remained distressed, hating that her body had failed her. She had been diagnosed with such an illness. Her daughter had been so capable—building her own business without relying on her parents, and during the good times, she earned more than most white-collar workers. But because of her illness, her daughter had spent all her savings, selling off her house and her car.
"Mom."
Zhang Ling reached for a tissue to wipe her mother’s tears, but her mother took the tissue and wiped her own eyes.
"Mom, who’s to say this is a misfortune? Maybe this flash marriage is a blessing in disguise. Everything has two sides. You saw it yourself—Mr. Mu is very handsome. Even if I just look at him as a piece of beautiful scenery, that’s not bad, is it?"
Mother Zhang choked back a sob. "That’s your lifelong happiness... Once Mom is out of the hospital, you should try to get along with him. See if you can change his sexual orientation. If it really doesn't work out, then get a divorce."
Zhang Ling smiled. "Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you. Don't worry about it anymore. As long as I feel it’s worth it, that’s all that matters. You just focus on recovering."
Mother Zhang knew that things had reached this point, and being sad wouldn't change anything. She had to look ahead. She had to recover well, have the surgery early, and get better so her daughter hadn't sacrificed her happiness for nothing.
"Lingling..."
Zhang Ling’s phone rang. It was her good friend, Tang Shiyu. Zhang Ling answered.
"Lingling, are you at the hospital? I want to come see your mother."
"I'm here. My mom just finished dialysis."
Tang Shiyu replied, "Okay, I'm coming up. I'm at the hospital entrance."
With that, Tang Shiyu hung up. A few minutes later, she appeared at the doorway of the ward, carrying a bag of fruit and a box of supplements suitable for Mother Zhang.
"Aunt Tang, Lingling." Tang Shiyu knocked and entered.
Zhang Ling hurried over to take the fruit and supplements. "Shiyu, it’s enough that you came to see my mom; there was no need to bring anything."
"It’s just a little fruit and some supplements." Tang Shiyu walked to the bedside. When Mother Zhang tried to sit up, she quickly stopped her. "Aunt Tang, just lie down."
"Shiyu is here. Sit down quickly."
Tang Shiyu was Zhang Ling’s best friend and their former neighbor. They had known each other for over a decade. Mother Zhang had practically watched her grow up and loved her like a second daughter. Zhang Ling brought over a chair for her friend.
After asking about Mother Zhang’s condition, Tang Shiyu reached into both her pockets and pulled out two stacks of cash. She handed them to her friend. "Lingling, Aunt Tang, this is the money my family managed to scrape together. Please, use it for the surgery first."
Back before Zhang Ling had sold their home, the two families were neighbors, and she had borrowed quite a bit from the Tang Family. After she sold the house and moved, she had borrowed money from her friend a few more times. The Tang Family had helped them so much. In this day and age, with jobs hard to find and life difficult, anyone willing to lend money was a benefactor.
"My big brother got his paycheck today. He kept a little pocket money and brought the rest home. He went back to the city with his boss today but didn't stay long. He said one of the mares on the farm is going to give birth to a foal."
Tang Shiyu’s brother wasn't much for school, but he loved caring for horses, cattle, and sheep, and worked on a large farm. After a few years, he had earned his boss’s trust and was now the farm manager, the boss’s right-hand man.
Zhang Ling and her mother were filled with gratitude. Zhang Ling pushed her friend’s hand back. "Shiyu, thank you and your family. Next time your brother is back, I’ll treat him to a meal. We can’t take this money."
Because of her mother’s illness, the Tang Family had been cutting back on their own expenses, lending her any spare money they had. The two families had been so close that her mother and Aunt Tang were like sisters. Zhang Ling felt both guilt and gratitude—guilt for involving her friend’s family in her problems, and gratitude that they were so loyal and supportive, helping her without a single complaint.
"Lingling, take the money. Use it for the surgery. Didn't you say the kidney donor is almost ready? Just have the surgery first. Money is just a material thing; we can always earn more." Tang Shiyu tried to push the money toward her again.
Zhang Ling explained quickly, "Shiyu, I really don't need it. I borrowed money from my father, and he gave me two million. It’s enough for my mother’s surgery and all the follow-up costs."
She had looked into successful kidney transplant cases; the total costs hovered around a million. Two million was plenty. Once her mother recovered and her shop reopened, life would only get better. She would pay back the money she owed the Tang Family, little by little.