At this moment, Xiao Mandong and the other two also returned to the hospital. After the commotion caused by the Wang family, they actually forgot to change Shen Linzhou's dressing, not to mention having a meal. She quickly turned around and instructed, "Deputy Commander Shen, you go back to the ward and rest for a while. I'll go get the medicine and bandages and bring you some food by the way. It's already noon. You must be hungry."
"Okay," Shen Linzhou agreed. Watching Xiao Mandong and Xiao Manxue walk away, he then walked in the direction of the ward. The wound on his back felt a bit painful, probably because he had stretched it when holding down Xiao Zhenyu.
Xiao Mandong returned to the doctor's office. There was no one inside. It was estimated that everyone had gone for their lunch break. Fortunately, her current task was just to take care of Shen Linzhou. Otherwise, with all these things happening to her every day, she would surely be fired by the hospital sooner or later.
Xiao Mandong took out three lunch boxes, gave Xiao Manxue some money and food stamps, and asked her to buy three servings of food. After sending Xiao Manxue away, she prepared some medicine for Shen Linzhou with the spiritual spring water, put the medicine and bandages in an enamel medicine tray and arranged them properly. Just as she finished tidying up, the brisk footsteps of Xiao Manxue came from outside the door.
"Sister, I'm back," Xiao Manxue pushed the door open and came in, holding three lunch boxes in her hands. The steamed buns wrapped in rough paper were placed on top of the lunch boxes, and there was also a thick newspaper under the lunch boxes. Xiao Manxue explained with a smile, "I went early today. The food was too hot. The auntie in the canteen was so kind and helped me find a newspaper to put under it, so that I wouldn't get my hands burned."
Xiao Mandong quickly took the lunch boxes from Xiao Manxue and put them on the table. When she opened one, she saw a full lunch box of cabbage stewed with tofu, with a few scattered oil droplets floating on top.
Xiao Mandong closed the lunch box, put it together with the steamed buns wrapped in rough paper into the tray, and said, "You eat first. I'll go and send the meal to Deputy Commander Shen and change his dressing by the way."
After saying that, Xiao Mandong carried the tray and walked quickly towards the ward.
Just as she reached the ward door, the voice of a woman came from inside.
"Linzhou, it's almost early September now. Jiabao, the son of your eldest brother, is going to school this year too. You haven't sent back your monthly allowance yet. What will your nephew use to pay for his school fees?"
Before, this second son would send the money back home before the fifteenth of each month. This time, since her second son was injured, she thought she'd wait a little longer. But it was already the end of the month and she still hadn't received the money. So she and her husband were a bit anxious and came to have a look today to find out what was going on with this second son.
This voice was very familiar. It was Shen's mother. Xiao Mandong curled her lips. So she came here to ask for money. Since Shen Linzhou was injured, she only came to take a look that day. When she knew he wasn't dead, she left disappointed and hadn't shown up again. And now she came asking for money as soon as she arrived. This family was really on a par with the Wang family.
Xiao Mandong's gossipy nature flared up, and she moved a little closer to the door.
Seeing Shen Linzhou with a gloomy face and not saying a word, Shen's mother felt a bit uncertain. She secretly glanced at her husband. Shen's father was always the one who came up with ideas behind the scenes, while Shen's mother charged forward. Shen's mother got an indication from Shen's father's eyes and then continued to press on.
"Linzhou, you know that Shen Jiabao is the only grandson in our family. You can't just ignore him. He's your own nephew. You should support your nephew's schooling."
Finally, Shen Linzhou spoke up. "What does his schooling have to do with me? He has parents. Why should I support his schooling?"
Hearing Shen Linzhou's words, Shen's mother got a bit angry. In the past, he would just do as she said. Why did he learn to talk back today?
"How can it have nothing to do with you? He's your own nephew. Isn't it right for an uncle to support his nephew's schooling?"
"Mom, you said it's right for an uncle to support his nephew's schooling. Then my great-uncle passed away early. Did my dad ever give my cousin a single meal? I remember my cousin was so hungry that he ate tree bark. When my grandma took him back home for a meal, you even chased after and scolded her. Well, isn't my dad an uncle?"
Shen's mother was left speechless for a long time by Shen Linzhou's words. How could she respond to this?
"That's because there were so many children in our family. The conditions didn't allow it. If your dad had your conditions, how could he not have taken care of his own nephew?"
Then she changed the subject. "Alright, alright. You don't have to support your nephew's schooling. But you have to give us our pension money, right? What day is it already? You still haven't sent the money. I see you're recovering well and can even walk around. It should definitely be no problem for you to go to the post office. Besides, you have a servant soldier. Why haven't you sent the money to me yet, making us have to come here?"
Shen Linzhou was really heartbroken. He had only been promoted to deputy commander for a year. He earned 68 yuan a month and sent 60 yuan home, only keeping 8 yuan for himself. What had he gotten in return?
Although he had been in a coma that day, Xiao Ding, his servant soldier, had told him everything that had happened. As a mother, when she came to the hospital, the first thing she asked wasn't about his injury, but how much the pension would be. He wasn't even dead yet, and his mother was so impatient. Since they didn't care about him so much, he didn't need to treat his parents the way he used to either.
"I'll just consider the money I sent home before as filial piety to you. Since I was promoted to deputy commander, I've sent 60 yuan home every month. That's a total of eleven months. The highest pension in our village is only five yuan. I'll just calculate it at ten yuan. Come and ask me for money again after five years."
Hearing Shen Linzhou's words, Shen's father also became restless. "Second son, do you really have to calculate things so clearly with the family? Is it easy for us to raise you three brothers? Now you're an official and can earn money. It's normal to support the family a bit, isn't it? You're the most promising child in the family and the only hope of the Shen family. Shouldn't brothers help each other?"
"Dad, do you have some misunderstanding about 'helping each other'? I only saw that I've been helping them all the time. I didn't see them helping me. I've been sending my monthly allowance home all these years. The family used the money I gave to build a new house, but I didn't even have a room when I went home for the Spring Festival. Is this what you call 'helping each other'?"
"When I was seriously injured and on the verge of death, you didn't even bother to take a look at me. You only had the pension in mind. Is this the so-called family affection you're talking about?"
Shen's father was so angry that he pointed at Shen Linzhou's nose and scolded, "You're really heartless and petty. How didn't your brothers help you? You've been getting promoted and making money outside, and your brothers have been filial to us at home. Isn't this the greatest help to you? Have your brothers held you back in taking care of your parents?"
Shen Linzhou was really amused by the anger. He knew his parents were partial, but he didn't expect them to be so bottomless. The eldest brother was the first child in the family and was deeply loved by his parents. The youngest brother was the youngest son in the family and was also especially favored. So was he, the middle child, just supposed to be exploited by them?
"No matter what you say today, I won't give you any more money. Come and talk to me again when the living expenses I gave have been deducted."
"No, I don't agree. In any family, before a son gets married, the money he earns should be handed over to the family. Even after getting married and not separating from the family, he should still hand the money over to the family. This is the rule. You can't just decide not to give it. How can that be okay?"
