"The return tickets are booked. I'll leave early the day after tomorrow with the doctors from the city. As for Gui Xiang and the others, I’ll have to trouble you with them," the team leader said to Yang Yufen.
"Alright. I’ve cleaned up the place where I’m staying—there are two rooms. You can stay there these next couple of days and cook for yourselves. Do the doctors have somewhere to stay?"
"Not sure yet. The doctor followed them into the operating room."
Such a rare learning opportunity was something the accompanying doctor naturally didn’t want to miss. The surgery also required understanding the patient’s condition, so his presence was necessary.
Shen Xianjun paid the fees and then waited outside the operating room.
His father had passed away early, and his mother was busy earning work points. He knew his grandmother often gave his mother a hard time, so he preferred to run around outside. The old man had been good to him, calling him "third boy," even though they weren’t of the same family name—yet he had given him the love of a father.
When he married Qin Nian, he was afraid of seeing the same conflicts between his grandmother and his mother, so he didn’t let his mother come. He just never expected that right after the wedding, he’d be sent on a mission and disappear for so long.
Qin Nian finished work, picked up the kids, and returned home to find no one there, but food had been left in the pot.
"The surgery went fairly smoothly, but we’ll have to monitor the recovery," Zhou Ang said as he came out of the operating room.
"That’s good, that’s good."
Yang Yufen let out a relieved sigh, while Gui Xiang’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees. Yang Yufen quickly helped her up.
"It’s alright, it’s alright," she reassured her.
"As long as he survives, it’s enough. I don’t care if he’s crippled or paralyzed, I really…"
Gui Xiang broke down sobbing on Yang Yufen’s shoulder, who gently patted her back.
Zhou Ang listened quietly. For injuries like these, paralysis or lameness were the most common aftereffects. If the family could accept that, then their efforts to save the patient wouldn’t be in vain.
"Mom, take Auntie home first. I’ll stay and help look after things here," Shen Xianjun said.
"No, no, I can manage. Your mother said you were injured before—you’re still recovering."
"Auntie, I’m fine. Lying around here is no different."
Shen Xianjun insisted.
"Let him stay. The patient won’t wake up right after surgery, so there’s not much to do. I’ll take you back first—the team leader also needs to find a place to rest. I’ll bring you back tomorrow."
Some procedures would be easier for Shen Xianjun to handle, and the money was also in his hands.
The accompanying doctor also came out and arranged to stay in the hospital dormitory, so Yang Yufen didn’t need to make arrangements for him.
Yang Yufen first took the two to the house outside the residential compound.
"Once the team leader leaves, you can stay here. It’ll be easier to take care of the father and son. They shouldn’t go straight home after being discharged—it’s not good if they don’t recover properly and end up with lasting problems."
"This is too much trouble for you."
"What trouble? Don’t be so polite. Team leader, there’s rice, flour, and vegetables inside. Just cook whatever you like. Oh, and there’s a piece of meat—remember to cook it so it doesn’t spoil."
After saying this, Yang Yufen took Gui Xiang back to the residential compound.
"Mom, Auntie Gui Xiang, have you eaten yet?"
"This is my daughter-in-law, Niannian. Dabao, Erbao, say hello to Grandma Gui Xiang."
Yang Yufen called the two children over.
"Grandma Gui Xiang."
"Oh, good children. I didn’t bring anything for you…"
Gui Xiang couldn’t help feeling awkward.
"You sent so much cotton for them. Their winter clothes and quilts were all made from the cotton you mailed."
Yang Yufen comforted her.
"Niannian, put the kids to bed. Auntie and I will just make some noodles. You have work tomorrow."
"Yes, yes, don’t trouble yourself."
Gui Xiang quickly agreed.
"This courtyard is so nice. Your daughter-in-law is wonderful too—you’re truly blessed."
Gui Xiang couldn’t help sighing in admiration.
"Absolutely. She didn’t even wait for me to ask—Niannian took out the money right away, saying saving a life was more important. Let’s eat something first. Later, I’ll get you some clothes for a bath."
When the two lay down on the same bed, Gui Xiang sighed heavily, unable to sleep.
"What’s wrong?"
"Thinking about how to repay all this… and what to do from now on."
Now that the person was saved, the practical problems had to be faced.
"Don’t worry. Making money is easier now than when we were earning work points. Later, I’ll show you the ropes. I was actually planning to visit you all soon—I never expected something like this to happen."
"I’ve already caused you so much trouble."
"Aren’t we old sisters? Back when I was struggling, didn’t you help me too?"
"Thank goodness you’re still here. Otherwise, I…"
Gui Xiang covered her face, not wanting to cry, but the tears came anyway.
The team leader and the doctor left. On the third day, the patient finally woke up, but the situation wasn’t good.
"Second Brother’s mental state is now like that of a seven- or eight-year-old child. But if he recovers well, his limbs should return to normal. The old man’s foot injury is more serious—he’ll need a cane from now on. His hand… his hand can’t lift heavy things. He won’t be able to do farm work."
Shen Xianjun spoke with difficulty.
"It’s fine. It’s fine."
Gui Xiang said this, but her hands trembled.
"The doctor also said that maybe medical technology will improve in the future, or one day the blood clot in Second Brother’s brain might dissolve, and he could recover."
But no one could say for sure.
"Surviving is enough. Having all his limbs intact is already a blessing."
Gui Xiang turned the words around to comfort Shen Xianjun.
"Old man, you focus on recovering. Our son still needs us."
Gui Xiang held her husband’s hand tightly. She was afraid—afraid that the person they’d fought so hard to save might give up. After so many years together, she knew his thoughts best.
"Alright, don’t worry. I won’t do anything rash. The family will depend on you now."
Their eldest son was married but had two children to raise. The second son’s family only had a daughter, but with Second Brother in this state, his wife might not stay.
Yang Yufen stayed silent. There was nothing useful to say at a time like this.
After the team leader left, Gui Xiang refused to let Shen Xianjun keep helping at the hospital and sent him home.
For the first time in days, the family sat down together for a meal.
"Niannian, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you," Yang Yufen said after dinner, stopping Qin Nian as she moved to clear the dishes.
"Go ahead, Mom."
Qin Nian sat back down.
"I originally planned to stay until the kids were a little older before moving out. But with what’s happened to Auntie Gui Xiang, I’d like to move out sooner. But don’t worry—I’ll be just outside the residential compound, in that same house as before."
"Mom wants to move out? Why?"
Qin Nian had never imagined her mother-in-law would leave. The idea was too sudden.
"I want to help Auntie Gui Xiang start a business. There’s so much debt, and they’ll need money for the future. Farming the land and scraping by on savings won’t be enough."
"Mom wants to do business? But you don’t have to move out for that."
Her mother-in-law wasn’t new to business. Qin Nian didn’t see anything unusual about it.
