Rebirth in the 60s: A Path to Counterattack
Chapter 22 - 022. Going to the Provincial Capital Together

Chapter 22: 022. Going to the Provincial Capital Together

"Yes, Brother Liu, Second Brother Liu, and Sister Shuzhen are all right. It was me who was momentarily confused. Nothing is more important than saving the child as soon as possible. Well, I will accept these two hundred yuan and the food coupons. Thank you, thank you, Sister Shuzhen, and Brother Liu, Second Brother Liu, for your help. I will send the IOU to Lian Hai afterward. Although we certainly can’t pay it all back at once, our family will work hard to earn points and strive to pay it back as soon as possible..."

Lianshan choked up as he spoke, solemnly promising.

"Lianshan, what are you doing this for? If anyone should be thanking someone, it should be me thanking you for saving my life! The child is more urgent, let’s not waste time on idle talk, but hurry home to see the child, and then figure out how to get to the provincial capital!" Even though in this life they were only in a simple relationship of rescue and the rescued, with no ambiguity involved, the memories of the past life made Lianshan seem like her man in Shuzhen’s eyes!

She was too busy protecting and helping, unwilling to let him show such a vulnerable and helpless side to others.

She quickly changed the subject and led the way towards the Lian family’s second house where Lian Hai lived, based on her memories. Assuming his younger sister was just kind-hearted and mindful of the two life-saving favors Lianshan did yesterday, Liu Shouren and Liu Shouyi didn’t stop her. Instead, they followed her in unison, protecting her on both sides like guardians. They feared that there might be many idle and troublesome people at the Lian’s, and their sister might be unjustly blamed.

In rural courtyards, talkative and irresponsible women often gossiped about this household and that one as a daily routine. Besides, the Dai family was also populous in Liu’s village, with many relatives and friends! Now, as Dai Weiguo’s status rose, those hoping to trample on the Liu family and Shuzhen to curry favor with Dai Weiguo might not be few in number.

Their delicate sister among such a group of women was like a lamb entering a pack of tigers.

Even though a lot had happened since yesterday, everything showed that their little sister was not the purely harmless little flower they had imagined. These two brothers, who had been professionally protective for over twenty years, couldn’t change their habit of subconsciously shielding her.

Suhongying, seeing her elder brother-in-law and naive husband not only not stopping but also following the younger sister-in-law’s nonsense, stomped her foot anxiously and quickly followed them. She thought that since her sister-in-law’s mind wasn’t clear now and both her brother-in-law and husband were completely submissive to the sister’s wishes, if she didn’t stay close, she’d be the one facing the dilemma later: should she oppose her sister-in-law despite her displeasure, or watch her step from the wolf’s den into an endless pit?

It wasn’t far, and in just three to five minutes of quick walking, they reached Lian Hai’s house, hearing Qiu Fang’s heart-wrenching cries from afar.

Shuzhen paused, startled: for always strong Qiu Fang to cry so desperately, could they have come too late?

Luckily, neighbors in the yard who had come to help saw their group and hurried to console Qiu Fang, "Jiezi’s mom, stop crying and quickly pack some things for the child. Your brother-in-law Lianshan is back, he might have borrowed money from the team, maybe you can take the child to the provincial hospital!"

Hearing this, Shuzhen’s heart, which had reached her throat, finally settled down. It was good that they were not too late, good that the little butterfly didn’t flap away Little Lian Jie’s life because he couldn’t afford surgery and didn’t get timely treatment.

Originally hearing the barefoot doctor’s judgment and how desperate she felt with nothing to sustain the family who owed the brigade a lot due to her poor health, Qiu Fang looked up sharply when she heard that, full of hope, staring fixedly at her brother-in-law who came through the door. She hoped he would nod and say, as usual, "Da Hai and sister-in-law, don’t worry, as long as you live well, there are still big brother’s shoulders to lean on for any big matters!"

"Brother, I’ve arranged for a tractor from Nanling Village; they can drive directly to the city to catch a long-distance bus. On your side, did Captain Lin agree to loan us money?" Lian Hai, sweating all over, ran in, shouting as he ran. It was his son who was in trouble, and he, as a father, should have asked Lin Yuanzhi for approval to charge the team for his son’s medical expenses.

But as Nanling Village was the only place nearby with a tractor, and Lian Hai was close with the tractor driver Wang Jianguo. Also because his wife was a girl from Nanling Village, giving him some local connections. For others, asking for a tractor was just a daydream!

To gain more time to save the child, the brothers had to split up. Lian Hai went to ask for the tractor, and Lianshan was responsible for approaching the team for help. No matter if the family had to tighten their belts and eat wild vegetables for the last half-year, they had to get the child to the hospital to save his life.

"We got the money, but it wasn’t borrowed from the team. Captain Lin said our family already owes too much and that they have shown enough grace by not demanding repayment; borrowing more is out of the question. Everyone has it tough these days, not just our family, the brigade isn’t just supporting us..."

Once satisfied by the crowd’s clamor, blaming Lin Yuanzhi for being heartless, asking what nonsense he was spouting during such a life-or-death situation, who wouldn’t have already paid off debts early if they had money, as the reputation of being in debt wasn’t good, Lianshan continued, "But it was Sister Shuzhen who couldn’t bear it, saying saving lives is like saving a building on fire, and nothing is more important than a human life. She offered all her savings, and Brother Liu and Second Brother Liu also pooled together, which should be enough for Jie’s treatment."

In these times of scarcity, raising two younger siblings and peacefully surviving the three years of disasters and not to mention arranging a marriage for the brother and finding a good partner for the sister, Lianshan was not as simple and harmless as he appeared, and with a few words he decisively put a hat of indifference on Lin Yuanzhi, while portraying Shuzhen and the Liu brothers as exceedingly kind-hearted.

At least now, to Lian Hai and Qiu Fang, Shuzhen seemed no different than the bodhisattva of mercy who saves the suffering, and after listening to Lianshan explain the situation clearly, they both fell to their knees in front of Shuzhen, calling her their savior repeatedly.

Shuzhen hurriedly waved them off, saying that in matters of life and death, anyone with spare money and a conscience would not watch the child suffer. Everything else was empty words; taking the child to the hospital was what mattered. Of course, seeing the ready tractor, she expressed her intention to hitch a ride as she also had planned to go to the hospital.

Seeing as it was already a hassle to drive one sheep, two would also go unattended, and having just received a huge favor, Lian Hai could not refuse. He quickly turned back to fetch a few bundles of dry reeds to place in the truck bed, and then laid their bedding on top. Once the truck bed was arranged, he respectfully invited Shuzhen onto the truck, then carefully placed the still-unconscious Little Lian Jie on as well.

After receiving a few hastily packed changes of clothing from Qiu Fang, considering the situation at home and a daughter, Lian Jia, who also needed care, Lian Hai ignored his wife’s tearful and longing look and declined her wish to accompany him to the provincial city.

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