Witty Wife, Better Life
Chapter 150 - 144 Hospital’s New Year

Chapter 150: Chapter 144 Hospital’s New Year

It was already February of ’75, and the new year was almost upon them, but Li Hongjun was still bedridden, unable to get up. Fortunately, due to the frequent visits from friends recently, with the help of Shen Yunfang, he now managed to at least put on pants.

Whenever comrades came to visit Li Hongjun, Shen Yunfang would automatically step aside to give space to these "brothers in arms." But this day, she knew all the visitors.

It was Wu Guoqiang, Xun Hui, and Xiao Yunfeng whom she had met during the last family visit. Li Mingyuan, the deputy company commander of the third platoon who was absent last time, had also come.

"Oh, it’s Xiaoshen taking care of you, huh?" Wu Guoqiang exclaimed as he entered the hospital room and saw Shen Yunfang sitting by the bed.

Seeing that she knew all the visitors, Shen Yunfang also stood up to warmly welcome them.

"How come all of you are here? The new year’s nearly here; isn’t the unit busy?" Li Hongjun smiled seeing the visitors and quickly asked Yunfang to help him sit up.

Shen Yunfang felt that Li Hongjun was more at ease in front of his comrades than with his own parents.

"We’re here to pay homage to a great hero. Well done, boy, you’ve earned another commendation for bravery," chuckled Xiao Yunfeng.

"Brother, that’s putting one’s life on the line," sighed Li Hongjun.

"Ha, others who want to risk their lives can’t even find a place to do so," Xiao Yunfeng teased, mocking the man’s pretense.

"Wow, you’ve got some really good food here, what’s this soup? It smells fantastic." Xun Hui had been looking around the room and spotted the thermos pot Shen Yunfang had placed on the table.

"Pigeon soup, it’s the best for healing wounds. Want a bowl? It’s not just fragrant; it tastes great too," said Shen Yunfang with a smile.

Smacking his lips, Xun Hui complained, "Ah, Xiaoshen, you’re not being fair, tempting me when you know I can’t resist. How can someone fit and active like me take soup meant for the injured? If word got out, I’d have no face left to show." He visibly struggled to tear his gaze away from the thermos pot.

Shen Yunfang chuckled and took out some apples a leader had left for Li Hongjun a couple of days ago when they visited. She washed them for everyone to eat. If they couldn’t have soup, at least he could offer them fruit.

The comrades chatted in the hospital room. Li Hongjun’s brave act of rescuing his comrades had been repeatedly cited as an exemplary deed in the unit. The authorities had already decided to award Comrade Li Hongjun with a third-class merit, though it would have to wait until he had recovered and returned to the unit.

That news was enough to make anyone envious and pleased. They all clamored about having Li Hongjun treat them once he got better. Li Hongjun was smiling but made no promises.

Looking at each other, the visitors fell silent for a moment until Old Wu coughed and broke the silence, "How’s your leg recovery going, what do the doctors say?"

Shen Yunfang jumped in to say, "The first week wasn’t so good, but the doctor checked again a couple of days ago and said it’s improving now, should recover well." She finished and gave Li Hongjun a reassuring smile.

Everyone relaxed and resumed chatting upon hearing her optimistic update.

"That’s good to hear, good to hear. I believe in Hongjun, he’ll definitely pull through. We’re all waiting for you back at the unit," Xun Hui said.

The topic was too heavy. For someone like Li Hongjun who was injured, although rewarded with a military honor, if he really couldn’t be a soldier anymore, what would all that amount to?

The friends had purposely avoided this subject upon arrival, fearing bad news might add to Li Hongjun’s pain.

Li Hongjun looked at Shen Yunfang and smiled, "That’ll have to wait a while. I’ve got to go home and get married first."

"You smart guy, I swear your leg injury must be fake, you’re still so quick," Wu Guoqiang also felt happy for his partner.

Li Hongjun was known in the unit for his decisiveness; while you were still hesitating whether to go for it or not, Li Hongjun would have already picked the peaches and returned to celebrate.

"Well, it’s convenient, isn’t it? My leg won’t heal in a short time, and I have to recuperate at home for a couple of months. Why not take the opportunity to get married?" Li Hongjun said with a laugh.

"Have you submitted your marriage report?" Li Mingyuan asked.

"Him? He did that ages ago." Wu Guoqiang revealed his secret. Just after Xiaoshen left for his family visit last year, this guy had already handed in his marriage report, and he was quick about it too.

A few people talked in low voices, considering that Li Hongjun’s body had not yet recovered and he should not be overly tired, they stayed for just over an hour before leaving.

"Won’t they be able to come to our wedding?" Shen Yunfang asked. These were all Li Hongjun’s best comrades.

"I guess they won’t make it, but once you get to the unit, it’ll be the same if we invite them over for a meal." Li Hongjun thought about how difficult it was to take leave at the end of the year, and even if he could, he would have to go home. His comrades were tens of thousands of miles away from his home, so the chances of them attending the wedding were slim.

Shen Yunfang nodded noncommittally. She had a long wait until she could join the unit, several years, in fact.

However, plans can’t keep up with changes. While they were still planning to get married upon his young return home and recuperate, they ended up getting approval from the doctor outright.

And it was made clear, Li Hongjun should not even think about getting out of bed unless he had lain there for a month.

With no other option, they would have to spend the New Year in the hospital. Shen Yunfang managed to send telegrams to both Grandpa Shen and the Li family, briefly explaining the situation.

Although they couldn’t return home, Shen Yunfang had plenty of supplies in her space. She did everything possible to make the New Year’s celebration warm and abundant. The New Year’s Eve dinner was also well-prepared.

Early on the thirtieth, leaders from the unit came to the hospital to visit the soldiers who were unable to return home or to their units due to injuries, specifically to express their concern for Li Hongjun. They reassured him to focus on his recovery, and to get well soon as the unit really needed his strong professional skills.

Li Hongjun solemnly leaned on the hospital bed and saluted the leaders. He promised them that he would overcome all difficulties, recover quickly, and return to the unit as soon as possible, asking the leaders to rest assured.

Once the leaders had left, Shen Yunfang hurried over to help Li Hongjun lie down. Sitting up for a long time at this point could pressure his legs. The leaders had been there for a while.

"Will you be okay by yourself for a while? I’m going to cook some food." Shen Yunfang asked.

Although the hospital also served a New Year’s Eve dinner, it certainly wouldn’t be as elaborate as what she would prepare. She still wanted to make it herself.

"No problem, go ahead."

Shen Yunfang then returned to the guest house.

She didn’t plan to make too much, just six dishes, which would be both a good omen and easy to manage.

Shen Yunfang thought about it and decided on the menu,

Chicken stew with mushrooms, Guobaorou (sweet and sour crispy pork), braised pork knuckle, deep-fried mushrooms, cabbage stew with tofu, and a simple cold dish. Plus, a carp soup. It would have chicken and fish, not too troublesome, and that would do.

Two hours later, she showed up in the ward with a basket in hand. At three in the afternoon, the New Year’s Eve dinner began on time.

In the evening, she brought in a plastic bag that had been frozen outside the window, containing the dumplings she had made a few days earlier. She picked out forty, with leek and egg fillings and celery meat fillings, took them to the canteen to boil, and they had their New Year’s dumplings as well.

Although simple, the New Year they spent in the hospital was exceptionally warm.

After the seventh day of the New Year, the doctor finally relented and allowed Li Hongjun to return home to recuperate, but he also stressed that Li Hongjun’s condition could not be taken lightly. Even back home, he needed to have a check-up at the hospital every week.

So the two of them prepared to return home, burden in tow.

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