Qin Jingru hurried out and saw that it was Xu Damao.
She said disappointedly, "Oh, it's you. What is it?"
Xu Damao smiled. "What's with that? Why are you unhappy to see me so early in the morning?"
Qin Jingru smiled. "I'm not unhappy. I just remembered how timid you were yesterday."
Xu Damao glanced at the roof ridge of Lin Zhen's house.
He said resentfully, "If I had four sons to bolster my standing, I'd swagger around the courtyard too. Sister Jingru, you have no idea about that Lin... Forget it, I won't mention him."
"Then what did you come to see me about?"
Xu Damao smiled. "Nothing much. I just wanted to ask if you ate the eggs last night. Those thirty eggs were specially bought for you."
Qin Jingru shook her head. "My sister said we should wait until my brother-in-law gets out of the hospital before eating them."
"See? I knew it. Sigh! Some things are hard to say. How about this? I'll treat you to hotpot tonight."
Qin Jingru's eyes widened at once.
"Huh? But wouldn't that require ration coupons?"
"Hey! I can tell you're from the countryside—so innocent. Hotpot and roast duck only cost money, no coupons needed. It's settled, then. I'll get back early this afternoon and buy you a new outfit too."
Qin Jingru shook her head. "That won't do. I can't just take your things for nothing."
"It's fine, listen to me. I really do think of you as a younger sister. It's settled, all right? Don't let Grandma Jia know, and don't tell your sister either. There are some things I need to explain to you alone."
"Then... all right!"
Xu Damao pushed his bicycle off to work.
Watching his retreating figure, Qin Jingru secretly rejoiced.
Xu Damao wasn't so bad after all. At least he was very generous.
Inside the rolling mill workshop.
Yi Zhonghai had Liu Haizhong help him request half a day off.
He did not dare delay production, so in the afternoon, he dragged his weakened body to the workshop.
The moment he saw Lin Zhen, he said with a grim face, "Xiao Lin, that was really underhanded of you!"
Lin Zhen pretended not to understand. "First Elder, where is this coming from?"
"Stop pretending! Let's put that matter behind us. Jia Dongxu has been lying in the hospital for several days, and you still haven't properly gone to visit him. Shall we go together after work? I've already told everyone in the courtyard. Your wife, Lou Xiao'e, said she would listen to you."
Lin Zhen thought it over, and it was true.
Ever since Jia Dongxu had been hospitalized, apart from the arrangements made by the factory on the first and second days,
he really had not gone to see him even once.
And aside from Silly Zhu, none of the courtyard residents had gone either.
They were all neighbors. Even if they disliked the Jia family, they should at least make an appearance.
Since Yi Zhonghai had organized it, he definitely had to go, lest the neighbors point fingers behind his back.
"Hey, First Elder, as the head of the courtyard, you should have organized this sooner. I've wanted to visit him for ages; I was just afraid Grandma Jia would glare holes into me. I'll definitely go this afternoon!"
"All right. I'll go notify Silly Zhu and Xu Damao in a bit."
"Don't. Look at you, your face is sallow as wax. Even a strong man can't withstand three bouts of diarrhea. Don't go running around—I'll do it for you."
Yi Zhonghai gave Lin Zhen a complicated look.
You really are impossible to figure out. Now you're suddenly so eager.
If you hadn't set me up, everyone would have gone yesterday, when they had the day off!
Yesterday really had been a good opportunity to visit Jia Dongxu. Everyone in the courtyard had been off work and had time.
But Yi Zhonghai had sulked all day yesterday.
Since he did not organize it, Second Elder Liu Haizhong could not be bothered to take charge.
Third Master Yan Bugui was more than happy not to visit, so he would not have to spend money again.
Lin Zhen strolled over to the cafeteria and told Silly Zhu. Silly Zhu nodded. "Fine, I'll leave early this afternoon."
Then he strolled over to the Propaganda Section and told Xu Damao.
Xu Damao shook his head. "Why didn't Old Yi say so earlier? Yesterday was such a good opportunity, but he didn't organize anything. Today won't work—I have something to do this afternoon."
Lin Zhen smiled. "What is it? Going on a date?"
Xu Damao's eyes went round. "You, you, you—don't talk nonsense. You're amazing. What are you, Zhuge Liang? Can you predict the future?"
"With that petty little mind of yours, I can tell what you're up to the moment you stick your ass out. You usually leave work early, but today Silly Zhu, Liu Guangtian, and I had all left while you still hadn't gone out. Tell me, are you trying to seduce some little village girl?"
Xu Damao immediately plastered a fawning smile across his face.
"Master Lin! That's what I'll call you from now on. You're incredible. I finally found someone who caught my eye, so of course I have to take the initiative, right? You already have four sons, but I want a child waiting for me when I get home from work too. Master Lin, dear brother, give me a break this time. Don't sabotage me, all right?"
"Go to hell! What kind of seniority are you calling that? Don't just make up titles. And you want a son? You... Forget it. Your business has nothing to do with me."
At the hospital.
Qin Huairu was in a difficult spot.
No matter how she tried to care for Jia Dongxu, nothing pleased him.
"Dongxu, which radio station do you want to listen to?"
"Turn that radio off! Every station gets on my nerves!"
"Let me help you turn over?"
"Get away from me, don't touch me! Don't you know my wound hasn't healed yet?"
"Then... I'll put a pillow under your head?"
"I told you to get away from me. Can't you hear?"
Qin Huairu's eyes reddened with grievance as she left the ward.
She squatted down in the corridor and began to cry again.
Why is my life so miserable?
Lin Zhen has never cursed at Lou Xiao'e.
I've cared for you so attentively and never abandoned you, so why won't you stop yelling at me?
I... I...
Why did I look down on Lin Zhen back then and insist on following you!
She cried in the corridor.
Jia Dongxu was crying in his hospital bed as well.
But Jia Dongxu's tears were not from sadness. He was in pain, furious, and frantic.
He could not feel anything from his waist down to his toes.
Yet the pain in his lumbar spine felt like fiery venom ants crawling through his bones.
His whole lower back hurt so badly that he could not sleep.
He had been hospitalized for several days already.
Yet not a single neighbor from the courtyard had come to visit him.
The resentment in his heart made Jia Dongxu feel even more stifled.
"Everyone in that courtyard is a beast! Not a shred of human feeling!"
"I've been in the hospital for days, and none of them came to visit me. No one even volunteered to take turns keeping my mother company at night."
"When any one of your families ends up in the hospital, I'll set off firecrackers in the courtyard to celebrate!"
"When I get out of the hospital, I don't care if you're the First Elder, Second Elder, or Third Master—I'll call every one of you by name!"
And so, Jia Dongxu muttered curses all day long.
He cursed even the floor tiles in the hospital courtyard.
He cursed until Qin Huairu felt dizzy and the nurses frowned.
If they had not considered that his illness had left him depressed and irritable, they would have disciplined him.
Near six o'clock, Jia Dongxu was still cursing.
Jia Zhangshi arrived to take over the shift, with more than ten people following behind her.
They were representatives from every household, there specifically to visit Jia Dongxu.
Each of them had brought something, more or less.
Jia Dongxu, who had been fuming moments ago, immediately cheered up.
He smiled. "Oh! Old Lady, three Elders, thank you for coming to see me!"
Yi Zhonghai said, "Rest well and get discharged soon."
"Mm, thank you for thinking of me, First Elder. I'm recovering well. I should be able to return to work after the New Year."
Second Elder Liu Haizhong smiled. "No need to rush. Your position has already been arranged for. Lin Zhen found a kitchen apprentice to fill in, and Qin Huairu can go to work after she finishes her confinement. From now on, you..."
Liu Haizhong was still going on when Yi Zhonghai hurriedly covered his mouth.
"Old Liu, what are you saying?"
Jia Dongxu, whose smile had just returned, froze on the spot.
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