Qin Huairu went to the payment window to pay the fees.
Jia Dongxu still had another surgery today.
After paying for the surgery, there would still be hospitalization fees waiting.
The 124.36 yuan donated by the hospital was nowhere near enough for the surgery and his subsequent stay.
She did not know whether the factory's compensation money would come through tomorrow, so she had to quickly find a way to raise more money.
"Comrade Huairu, what happened to your face?" a hospital worker asked with concern.
Qin Huairu touched her burning cheek and found it somewhat swollen.
She knew Jia Zhangshi, her mother-in-law, had hit her.
Tears of grievance welled up in her heart, but she forced a smile and said, "Oh, I fell asleep leaning against the hospital bed and pressed it."
"Your husband was seriously injured, but his life is no longer in danger. You need to get some rest too. You're nearly due, after all. You can't let anything happen to the baby."
"Thank you. I'll be careful."
Once Qin Huairu stepped out of the payment hall, she could no longer contain her emotions.
She crouched in a corner by the wall, tears streaming down her face.
Even the hospital staff knew to care about her and the child she was about to give birth to.
Yet her mother-in-law had slapped her twice in two days.
Her husband was injured, and she was hurting too. Wasn't the reason she had tried to get close to Silly Zhu for the sake of this family?
But her mother-in-law did not pity her in the slightest.
She never did any housework and never helped look after the two children.
Qin Huairu had to care for the children, do the chores, and wait on both her mother-in-law and husband.
In the Jia family, she lived like a servant.
Then she thought of Lou Xiao'e.
Her heart filled with even greater envy.
Although Lou Xiao'e's family had gone abroad and cut ties with her,
Lin Zhen doted on her as though she had fallen into a jar of honey.
The couple loved each other dearly and had never argued.
Meanwhile, her own husband, Jia Dongxu, spent every day being suspicious and accusing her of infidelity.
He cursed at her at the slightest provocation and had even hit her before.
No matter what happened, her mother-in-law always took her son's side and berated Qin Huairu.
It was painful enough that her family's living conditions could not compare to Lou Xiao'e's.
Emotionally, she suffered grievances every day as well.
She remembered that Lin Zhen had once asked someone to propose to her.
How had I been so blinded by greed that I looked down on Lin Zhen?
Back then, Lin Zhen had just arrived at the steel mill from the countryside with a letter of introduction, becoming First Elder Yi Zhonghai's apprentice.
Before he had even received his first month's wages, he had proposed to her.
Jia Dongxu had also sent someone to propose to her.
By comparison, Jia Dongxu had been a genuine city man at the time.
His family lived comfortably, and he had a plump, smiling mother.
She had thought that if she married Jia Dongxu, her mother-in-law would help care for the children after they were born.
Jia Dongxu would handle matters outside the home, while she would manage the household.
With a mother-in-law who loved her like a daughter helping hold the family together, wouldn't life be sweet as honey?
Surely that was better than following Lin Zhen, a poor boy without parents who had only just come to the city?
His place barely looked like a home, empty of everything, as though he had fled famine.
What good was being handsome?
It was better to settle down and live a practical life with Jia Dongxu.
Qin Huairu had analyzed everything thoroughly back then, but only from a material perspective.
She had overlooked the most important thing.
Character!
The character of Jia Zhangshi and her son was notorious throughout the entire alley.
Anyone who mentioned them could not help shaking their head.
Lin Zhen, on the other hand, was polite to everyone and had an excellent reputation.
But Qin Huairu had been unable to see Lin Zhen's strengths back then.
All she saw was the difference in material circumstances between the two families.
Not long after getting married, Qin Huairu regretted it.
That was not the life she had wanted.
She had not received her husband's affection, only his suspicion.
Her mother-in-law had not treated her like a daughter, but like a maid who had come from elsewhere to seek refuge.
More than five years had passed.
Qin Huairu had never truly smiled, nor did she know what happiness was.
She watched as Lin Zhen's family rose later on, their life growing better day by day until they gradually became the best-off household in the entire courtyard.
Qin Huairu had regretted it more than once.
She regretted being snobbish and favoring wealth over poverty.
She regretted failing to see Lin Zhen's good qualities.
She also regretted failing to see Jia Dongxu and Jia Zhangshi's flaws.
Now, all the suffering she endured could only be borne in silence.
After crying for a while, Qin Huairu wiped away her tears and returned to the ward.
"Mom, I've paid the surgery fee, but we don't have enough for the hospitalization expenses afterward."
With a dark expression, Jia Zhangshi cursed, "Are those factory officials all dead asleep? My son is already like this, and they still haven't approved the compensation money!"
Qin Huairu said, "It has only been one day since Dongxu's accident. The Finance Section has to approve it first. It'll probably come through tomorrow."
"So you're the only one who knows anything, huh? Showing off, are you? Then go ask at the factory!"
Qin Huairu lowered her head. "There's no need to go to the factory. Dongxu is having surgery at noon, and the factory leaders will definitely come visit him. I'll ask them then."
"Hmph! You think they're kind enough to come visit? Pah!"
"Well, what's this, Grandma Jia? Angry again?"
The moment Qin Huairu heard that voice, her heart thudded wildly.
Lin Zhen had come.
Jia Dongxu instantly opened his eyes as well.
Jia Zhangshi glared in fury and turned to start cursing.
But her face immediately broke into a smile.
"Oh my, the top leaders are here! Please, come in, come in! Huairu and I were just chatting about family matters!"
There really were major leaders among the visitors.
Director Yang, Deputy Director Li, the head of the health department, and the workshop director.
They had come specifically to visit Jia Dongxu and his family.
Besides the four leaders,
First Elder Yi Zhonghai, Second Elder Liu Haizhong, Lin Zhen, Silly Zhu, and Xu Damao had all come as well.
Director Yang said, "Comrade Jia Dongxu, focus on recovering. The factory will provide reasonable assistance with your medical expenses, and there will also be proper arrangements for your position."
Qin Huairu hurriedly asked, "Factory director, when will the assistance money come through?"
"It has already been approved. Considering your family's difficulties, we came today to deliver it."
Qin Huairu was overjoyed and repeatedly bowed.
"Thank you, leaders. Thank you, organization!"
The workshop director handed the assistance money to Qin Huairu. It was enough to cover the later stitch-removal procedure and hospitalization.
The four leaders offered more words of comfort before returning to the factory.
Before leaving, they instructed them
to have Lin Zhen and the other four return to the factory only after Jia Dongxu's surgery was complete.
Those five had been assigned by the factory specifically to help out.
First Elder Yi Zhonghai said, "Sister-in-law, you and Huairu have been up all night. Go get some rest. Leave this place to us."
Jia Zhangshi said, "No, I have to stay with Dongxu."
"His life is no longer in danger. This surgery is just to wrap things up. You don't need to stay."
"No, I can't leave even one step!"
Qin Huairu also said, "First Elder, we're not tired. Please make the arrangements."
Yi Zhonghai had no choice but to nod. "All right. Huairu, you and Lin Zhen go buy some daily necessities for the hospital stay. Dongxu will probably be here for quite a while, so we need to prepare everything."
The moment Jia Zhangshi heard that, she flew into a rage.
"No! She can't go. Yi Zhonghai, what are you plotting? My daughter-in-law is carrying such a big belly, and you want her to go?"
Yi Zhonghai's face turned livid.
"Sister-in-law, what nonsense are you thinking? Huairu knows best what daily necessities Dongxu needs. If she doesn't go, then you go. Can you buy everything?"
"I... I can. Isn't it just a chamber pot? Lin, you and I will go!"
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