Chapter 36: The Visit
The Fire Durian too—she had been so busy lately that she hadn't checked on its growth. That tree was her lifeline to turning things around.
Su He decided to take a nap and head up the mountain afterward to check on the durian tree. She could also check for any mushrooms that might've sprouted, which could be exchanged for points later.
But Su He wouldn't get to check the durian tree that afternoon because someone came looking for her.
She never expected that, after living in the village for so long, the first city person to track her down would be Dr. Xie—the same woman who'd accused the original Su He of stealing, forcing her to move back to the countryside.
Dr. Xie worked at the same hospital as Fu Tinghua. Her name was Xie Yunxin, the head of the obstetrics and gynecology department. She also had a unit apartment, living right next to Fu Tinghua's.
Su He had always felt that Xie Yunxin had feelings for Fu Tinghua, which was why she gave Su He the cold shoulder whenever they met.
Xie Yunxin, on the other hand, believed that Fu Tinghua—with his looks and talent—was like a prize rose stuck in Su He's mud. They'd been at odds from day one.
Of course, Xie Yunxin wasn't the only one who disliked the original Su He. Probably everyone in that apartment building felt the same way, but out of respect for Fu Tinghua, they bit their tongues.
Still, behind closed doors, Su He was definitely the talk of the town.
Everyone knew that the hospital director had originally intended to introduce his own daughter to Fu Tinghua. No one saw someone like Su He snatching him up.
No one understood why Fu Tinghua had agreed to marry Su He, but his decision had everyone shaking their heads.
Honestly, at the hospital, there were plenty of doctors and nurses who had a crush on Fu Tinghua. Any of them would've suited him better than Su He.
So when Xie Yunxin knocked on Su He's door and the two came face to face, they both froze.
"You—" Xie Yunxin stared at Su He in disbelief. It hadn't even been that long since they last met, yet Su He had slimmed down so much.
"You're… Dr. Xie?" Bumping into Xie Yunxin here was the last thing she expected, so Su He, despite recognizing her, hesitated to confirm.
"Su He, you look completely different," Xie Yunxin muttered.
"Haha, guess I've been hearing that a lot." Su He had slimmed down a bit, and now when she smiled, dimples showed?
Before, her face had been too plump for them to show.
Xie Yunxin stared at Su He, staring in shock. Even though Su He looked very different now, she still wasn't as thin as an average person. Yet, her features had become more defined, giving the impression that if she kept losing weight, she'd turn heads.
"Did you come to see me for something?" Su He asked.
Before arriving, Xie Yunxin had imagined many possible scenarios—Su He pointing at her and screaming, accusing her of framing her, asking how she dared show her face here.
But she never expected Su He to calmly ask why she had come.
"That bracelet… I found it. I'm sorry. I misunderstood—you didn't steal it," Xie Yunxin apologized, her voice heavy with guilt.
Su He took a moment to process her words before remembering that the original Su He had been forced to move back to the countryside because of that very accusation.
"When it comes to criminal accusations, it's best to investigate thoroughly before speaking. Because of your misunderstanding, I was forced to return to the countryside, and my reputation in Ting Hua's circle was ruined." Though Su He's tone was calm, her words made Xie Yunxin burn with guilt.
If Su He had yelled at her, she might have felt better.
"I'm sorry. I'll explain everything to all the neighbors when I go back. I really will," Xie Yunxin said earnestly.
Now it was Su He's turn to be surprised. Even though there had been no proof that the original Su He had stolen anything, her fleeing the city with her child had made her look guilty.
Even if Xie Yunxin later discovered Su He hadn't taken the bracelet, she could've just stayed quiet.
But she not only went out of her way to apologize to Su He in person but also offered to help clear her name, which shows what kind of person she is.
At this thought, Su He couldn't stay mad at her.
"I'd appreciate your help with this. After all, I'll have to go back eventually. I can handle it myself, but I don't want my two children to have people thinking their mom is a thief."
Hearing this, Xie Yunxin felt even more ashamed.
She took out fifty yuan from her pocket and said, "This is something for the trouble I caused—a small token."
To be honest, Su He was strapped for cash at the moment, and she could really use the money.
But still—
"Don't worry about it. It was just a mix-up, so getting it straightened out is enough." Su He reluctantly declined.
"Please take it. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease. I judged you too harshly, and I've reflected on myself. I'll change," Xie Yunxin said sincerely.
Su He's earlier words had left Xie Yunxin deeply ashamed. As an obstetrician who delivered babies daily, she knew well how hard life could be for women.
Moreover, Fu Tinghua had asked her to look after Su He and her two children before he left. Instead of helping, she'd pushed them out to the countryside.
Back then, Xie Yunxin had merely suggested that Su He might have taken her bracelet. But Su He reacted fiercely, cursing her out. The next day, rumors spread among the neighbors that Su He was a thief who stole from others.
Rumors cut deep, getting worse the more people talked. Xie Yunxin had been too busy at the time, and by the time she realized the damage and wanted to explain, Su He had already vanished with her two children.
After finding the bracelet at home, Xie Yunxin grew even more uneasy. Where could a woman with two children go? Would she hurt herself?
She searched everywhere, even visiting Su He's parents' home, but came up empty.
In this era, transportation was underdeveloped, and there were no cell phones back then—finding someone was incredibly difficult.
It wasn't until she asked the hospital administration to dig up Fu Tinghua's file and locate his hometown that she managed to find them in Shangyao Village.
"What kind of person would I be if I took your money? Just resolving this matter is enough."
Su He refused the money, leaving Xie Yunxin no choice. She sighed and said, "Then let me owe you one. If you ever need help in the future, just ask."
Now that was a win—having a doctor owe her a favor.
"Alright, Dr. Xie. I'll remember that." Su He smiled.
Seeing how much Su He's appearance and temperament had changed, Xie Yunxin felt all kinds of feelings. But she attributed it to the immense hardship Su He must have endured, which had reshaped her personality.
That just made her feel worse.
"By the way, while searching for you, I visited your family. Your father is ill. You should go see him when you have time," Xie Yunxin suddenly mentioned.
This body's father was sick!
The news hit Su He like a punch to the gut.
Now that she possessed the original Su He's memories, she knew just how much this body's parents had doted on their daughter.