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Chapter 149: Chapter 143 Recovery
A week later, the attending physician came to check on the patient and frowned upon examining Li Hongjun’s wound.
Shen Yunfang and Li’s elderly parents were all present, and their hearts tightened at the doctor’s expression.
Qiu Shuping was the most anxious, "Doctor, how is my son’s leg? Can he still be a soldier?" This was her biggest concern. If her son couldn’t be a soldier anymore, he would have to return home and farm, and there would be no more salary. The family would have to rely entirely on what they could grow, and how would they manage?
Her eldest son’s family had many children, and without her occasional help, they would struggle to get by. And her younger son, who was so bright; without money, how could he continue his education, and if he didn’t get an education, how would he ever make something of himself? Her own daughter wasn’t even married yet. If her second son stopped being a soldier, how could she expect to find a good family for her?
"It depends on his recovery in the future, but his wound is not healing well right now. If it’s still like this next week, he might need another surgery," the doctor said, furrowing his brows. "Family members should prepare nutrient-rich food for him and ensure the patient maintains a good mood, as that is crucial for recovery." The doctor had long heard about the turmoil in this ward, but since the one causing trouble was the patient’s mother, he couldn’t really intervene and pretended not to notice it.
Although the doctor’s words were not particularly helpful, they were enough to devastate Qiu Shuping, the elderly lady from the countryside.
After the doctor left, Qiu Shuping couldn’t hold back her tears. "Oh my heavens, what are we going to do? My poor son has become disabled. How are we going to live?"
Li Wangcai, who was sitting beside her, also had a worried look, pondering over the doctor’s words.
Li Hongjun, the patient, was quite calm; he had anticipated this outcome. He just looked at Shen Yunfang.
Shen Yunfang was also very composed. She had made it clear from the beginning that she didn’t mind whether Li Hongjun became disabled or not, and she would be even happier if he stopped being a soldier.
"Enough now, there will be someone tall to support the sky if it falls. The doctor said as well, don’t carry such a heavy burden in your heart. Eat and drink what you should, take good care of your body. We will do what we can and leave the rest to fate." After saying this, Shen Yunfang stood up and poured another bowl of pigeon soup for Li Hongjun.
In fact, Li Hongjun had been well-nourished during this period, but his mood was indeed not cheerful. With Qiu Shuping constantly looking for trouble and watching his mother and future wife at odds every day, it was no wonder he couldn’t feel happy.
"Eat, eat; are you still thinking about eating at a time like this? Do you even care? My son is going to be disabled, my son won’t be able to be a soldier, my son will have no salary in the future, and you’re still eating? You are destroying our family. Oh, my heavens, what will we do? My younger son still needs to study, my daughter isn’t married yet, my eldest son..."
"Shut up! It’s no use going on about this now." Li Wangcai finally managed to silence Qiu Shuping. He wiped his face and said to Li Hongjun lying in the hospital bed, "Hongjun, I’m taking your mother back to the guesthouse to rest. She’s a little disturbed right now. Yunfang, can you take care of Hongjun by yourself?" This was a rare moment of firmness from Li Wangcai outside the house.
"Yes, I can manage." Shen Yunfang couldn’t wait for them to leave.
Once the elderly couple left, the hospital room fell silent for a moment.
Shen Yunfang took the spoon and began feeding Li Hongjun the soup one spoon at a time.
Finally, somewhat bothered by his lack of expression, she said, "If you’re disabled, then so be it. I don’t mind."
Li Hongjun still didn’t speak. Thinking was one thing, but when faced with such a cruel reality, anyone would need time to adjust.
"Do you like being a soldier that much?"
Still silence.
"Fine, I understand." Shen Yunfang sighed. It wasn’t easy for someone to be so dedicated to something.
As for the elderly couple, when they returned to the guesthouse, Qiu Shuping lay on the bed and cried while Li Wangcai sat on a chair and smoked.
"What are we going to do, old man? If Hongjun can no longer be a soldier, how are we going to live?"
"We’ll live however we have to live. You didn’t starve in all those years when Hongjun wasn’t a soldier, did you?"
Qiu Shuping was momentarily stumped, and then she turned her head and began to sob.
"Alright, let’s pack up and go home, and get Hongjun and Yunfang’s wedding arrangements started as soon as possible."
"No way, I don’t agree. You saw how that woman treated me these past few days. If she marries into our family, won’t she turn it upside down?"
"You don’t agree? Fine, if you don’t agree, then you, his mother, can take care of your son yourself."
Qiu Shuping didn’t understand.
"If Hongjun can’t be a soldier anymore, he’ll just be a farmer, but we still don’t know what will become of his leg. If he can’t work, where are you going to find him a wife? He might as well continue living with you, his mother."
In the afternoon, the elderly Li couple came over again and Shen Yunfang went back to the guesthouse to cook. When she returned to the ward with the thermos, there was a slight change in the situation.
Li Wangcai finally took charge of the house—which should count as a big deal for the Li Family—"Yunfang, Hongjun and I have discussed it, and tomorrow we’ll go back home with your aunt."
Shen Yunfang was quite surprised.
"We’re not much use here. I think you can handle everything on your own, so we won’t add to your troubles."
Shen Yunfang almost agreed immediately; these two really hadn’t been much help, in fact, they had caused her quite a lot of trouble.
"Mainly, it’s because the New Year is just around the corner, and there’s a lot to do at home; your aunt and I need to get busy too. We also need to get your marriage preparations started. Hongjun says he’ll be able to come home before the New Year, so it’s a good time to get your wedding done. It’s not good to keep dragging it on."
Shen Yunfang glanced at Li Hongjun, who was staring straight at her, probably worried she might change her mind.
"Okay, then I’ll trouble you, uncle. Don’t worry about here; I’ll definitely take good care of Li Hongjun."
Li Wangcai nodded with relief and then went back to the guesthouse with his wife to pack their things.
The next day, the couple got up early, visited Li Hongjun in the hospital, and then rushed to catch a ride back to Taoshu Village.
Now, it was just Li Hongjun and Shen Yunfang left in the ward, which made them even more at ease. The old lady was either troublemaking for her or crying to Hongjun, which was distressing for her and disrupted Hongjun’s rest. Now that the old couple had gone, and Shen Yunfang had sold all the things she had, she didn’t need to keep running out every day, so she spent both day and night in the hospital taking care of Hongjun, occasionally borrowing a kitchen at the guesthouse to make him some nutritious soup.
A week later, the doctor was quite surprised during a check-up.
"Hmm, the recovery this time is good. If it continues like this, there’s still hope for recovery."
Shen Yunfang could clearly sense Li Hongjun’s happiness; his eyes were shining much brighter than the week before.
Suddenly, Shen Yunfang felt her efforts had not been wasted. If Hongjun recovered so well, it was largely thanks to her. She had given him several of her "Essence of Life" sweets to eat, after all.
