News Arrives
Old Woman Fan desperately grabbed the arm of the public security officer, refusing to let them take Fan Xiaohua away.
She cried and made a scene, nearly resorting to the full theatrics of weeping, wailing, and threatening suicide.
“You can’t take her away!”
However, since the police station had accepted the case, they naturally needed to take the person in for investigation.
After all, the crime of attempted murder was too severe; even if it was unsuccessful at the time, it remained an extremely serious matter.
In the end, she was still taken away. The public security officer had also stated, “Please cooperate with the investigation. The government will not wrong an innocent person, nor will it let a guilty one go unpunished.”
If she was wrongfully accused, she would naturally be released once the investigation was concluded.
But if she was not wrongfully accused, then unless the person who filed the report withdrew the complaint, Fan Xiaohua was certain to serve time in prison.
Fan Xiaohua was both terrified and panicked, completely losing her composure and unable to think clearly. She kept shouting toward Old Woman Fan, “Mother, save me! Save me!”
Her voice was hoarse from fear.
Old Woman Fan chased after them, shouting, “Don’t be afraid, daughter! I’ll go tell your brother right away and have him come save you.”
Fan Xiaohua screamed, “It was Fan Tietou who reported me! How could he possibly save me?” Yet, in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to say she didn’t want his help. Deep down, she still held onto hope that this half-brother might withdraw the complaint for the sake of their parents.
The public security officer had said that as long as the complaint was withdrawn, she could return home and avoid prison.
“Believe me!” Old Woman Fan stumbled as she chased after them, trying to reassure her.
But how could Fan Xiaohua find any reassurance when her heart was in such turmoil?
“Mother, I don’t want to go to prison! Save me, you must save me!” Fan Xiaohua cried. “Make Iron Head agree to withdraw the complaint…”
Her voice grew fainter and fainter.
Until Old Woman Fan could no longer keep up.
Under the watchful eyes of the villagers, she was taken away by the public security officers.
Instantly, she became the talk of Jiangtaiba.
Jiang Youliang stood far away, watching the scene unfold but did not step forward to intervene.
Some people deserved to be taught a lesson.
Otherwise, trouble was bound to arise sooner or later.
…
Fan Minghua had no idea about the commotion in Jiangtaiba.
Nor did he know that his actions had prompted Old Man Fan and Old Woman Fan to decide to contact their biological son, who was thousands of miles away.
Of course, this was also within his expectations.
Because he had planned it all along.
When he returned, he was holding a large can of milk powder, weighing 900 grams.
There was also a bag of loose milk powder, weighing one kilogram.
Ning Zhi looked over curiously. She knew that her husband would likely bring back some milk powder from this trip.
After all, he had about ten milk powder ration coupons with him.
The denominations were generally low, ranging from a few ounces to half a pound each.
She hadn’t expected him to return with nearly two kilograms of milk powder—a full four catties.
The coupons weren’t enough for that.
“Before I left, I went to the hospital and managed to get an allocation for two catties.” Here, “two catties” referred to kilograms.
Ning Zhi was surprised. “The hospital can allocate milk powder? Isn’t it purchase with ration coupons?”
Fan Minghua explained that the hospital had special allocations that didn’t require coupons. With a referral letter signed by a chief physician or higher, one could apply directly at the milk powder factory.
Yes, at the milk powder factory, not the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Not every place had a milk powder factory, but coincidentally, their county had one, though it wasn’t particularly large.
Moreover, it was specifically for special supply. If it weren’t for the referral certificate issued by the hospital, even if Fan Minghua had the milk powder ration coupon, he wouldn’t have been able to obtain this milk powder.
Ning Zhi didn’t know how Fan Minghua managed to get the hospital to issue this certificate. After all, obtaining such a certificate was no easy task.
She wasn’t truly a rural person either. She had attended school and was a Zhiqing sent down to the countryside, so she was well aware of many things.
“How did you manage it?” Ning Zhi’s eyes were filled with curiosity.
Fan Minghua smiled and said, “Do you remember Dr. Zhai, who performed your surgery?”
Of course she remembered. Ning Zhi might forget others, but she would never forget Dr. Zhai, who had saved her from the brink of death. If it weren’t for her, not only would it have been difficult to ensure the safety of both mother and child during the difficult delivery, but even her kidney hemorrhage would have been fatal without Dr. Zhai’s intervention.
Fan Minghua explained, “This certificate was issued to me by Dr. Zhai. She isn’t a permanent doctor at the County Hospital but an expert physician from the provincial level. She already had her own allocation quota. You were her first surgery case here, and the one that left the deepest impression on her. Knowing you had no breast milk, she issued this certificate for me and even promised that we would have a monthly allocation of one kilogram of milk powder.”
This time, he hadn’t used the entire allocation.
Milk powder, if bought and not consumed quickly, could easily expire and spoil.
Dr. Zhai had said that as long as he needed it, he could come to them anytime.
So, he only bought one can. As for the other bag of loose milk powder, he didn’t use the allocation for it. Instead, he spent a little extra money to buy it from a procurement officer at the milk powder factory.
That was the officer’s own personal allocation, which he sold for cash.
Loose milk powder might not be as sterilized as canned milk powder, so it definitely wouldn’t be suitable for their daughter. A baby’s digestive system is weak, and their daughter was also premature.
But this loose milk powder could be given to his wife. His wife also needed to replenish her nutrition, and what could be better than milk powder? Perhaps she might even start producing breast milk after drinking it?
Besides the milk powder, he also bought half a catty of brown sugar, some dried longan, and a few ounces of red dates.
This single purchase cost him dozens of yuan. If the Supply and Marketing Cooperative hadn’t run out of stock, he would have bought even more.
He wondered whether he should try his luck at the Black Market later, hoping to find fish or chicken that didn’t require ration coupons.
Especially crucian carp, which was best for promoting lactation, and chicken soup, which was ideal for nourishing the body—both were things he needed.
“Darling, I specifically bought this loose milk powder for you. It’s good for nourishing your body and can also help with lactation. It’s perfect,” Fan Minghua said as he opened the bag, intending to make a cup for his wife.
But Ning Zhi stopped him, saying, “We should save this milk powder for Nannan.”
The baby had just been born and didn’t have a name yet, so she simply called her Nannan.
Fan Minghua replied, “This milk powder was bought for you. You also need to replenish your health. Don’t worry about the milk powder. Dr. Zhai said we can come to the hospital to collect our allocation when needed. We won’t run short.”
Pausing for a moment, worried that Ning Zhi might insist on giving the loose milk powder to their daughter, he added, “I heard from Dr. Zhai that newborns have weak digestive systems. It’s best for them to drink the special supply canned milk powder. This loose milk powder isn’t suitable for her.”
Hearing that their daughter couldn’t drink the loose milk powder, Ning Zhi immediately stopped feeling reluctant about it.
But she still said, “Don’t waste money and ration coupons like this in the future.”
Fan Minghua also knew that Ning Zhi was simply accustomed to being frugal. He said, “Spending on you and our daughter can’t be called wasteful.”
Only spending on himself would be considered wasteful.
But he didn’t say that.
“I’m not short on money, and as for ration coupons…” He paused, then continued, “I’ve always had the habit of collecting ration coupons. If necessary, I can exchange for them through the newspaper office, or try my luck at the Black Market.”
Often, people at the Black Market would exchange ration coupons for money or trade coupons for other coupons.
Ning Zhi felt distressed. “I don’t need such good milk powder…” Seeing her husband insist on giving it to her, she knew he was concerned about her and wanted to help her regain her strength. So she said, “I… I’ll listen to you.”
Only then did Fan Minghua’s face light up with a smile, and he happily went to make milk powder for his wife.
He also told her his plan to visit the Black Market that evening.
Ning Zhi knew he had other channels to exchange for milk powder coupons.
Not just milk powder coupons, but also brown sugar coupons and special ration coupons for other nutritional supplements.
These were all sent by the newspaper offices to which he contributed articles.
Others thought Fan Minghua was illiterate, having never attended a day of school. Who would have known that he was actually highly educated and had regular commissions from specific newspaper offices?
Even Xinhua News Agency had commissioned articles from him.
Of course, only Fan Minghua himself, Ning Zhi, and the professors who taught him knew about this. Everyone else was kept in the dark.
Even the Da Duizhang didn’t know.
As for the reason, Fan Minghua said he didn’t want the Fan Family to find out.
He feared it would cause trouble.
Ning Zhi naturally followed whatever her husband said. If he said not to mention it to anyone, she wouldn’t utter a word, not even to her own elder brother.
Fan Minghua had already handed an envelope to Ning Zhi.
This was the remittance and letter he had casually picked up at the post office when he went to buy milk powder.
Inside was not only 126 yuan in manuscript fees but also a letter.
The letter not only commissioned an article from him but also addressed the matter he had inquired about.
—Comrade Minghua, there’s progress regarding the matter you inquired about.
There are many senior officials with the surname Gu nationwide, but only one whose son’s name contains the character Jian…
Fan Minghua finished reading the letter with a slight frown, then took a deep breath and slowly exhaled:
“Wife, there’s news.” He handed the letter over.
【Author’s Note】
Old Woman Fan: My son is a regiment commander, you ungrateful wretch, I’ll make you pay!
Old Man Fan: We must crush him completely, leaving him no chance to rise again. Even in death, he can only remain a farmer of the Fan Family!