Shen Dajun understood her meaning all too well and caught her hand at once.
“No, Niannian—truly there is no need! It is healing already, my leg… it is fine! Besides, today is your homecoming day. You must both come inside and share a meal with the family!”
He spoke with such firmness that even Gu Yanzhi looked concerned.
“Father—please understand: Niannian and I do not care about custom or formality. Our happiness depends only on us being well together. But when we see you unwell and in pain, we cannot help but worry. Let us simply go to the town clinic, have your leg seen to, and then walk back together. We shall not be late.”
Shen Niannian was determined—she would not let this go. Shen Dajun could not hold out against both of them. He glanced up at the sun: roughly one in the afternoon. The town was not far; the round trip would take barely an hour. It should be manageable.
He had no wish to go, yet seeing the genuine worry in his daughter and son-in-law’s eyes, how could he sit comfortably through a feast? He patted the few coins tucked in his clothing. Very well, he told himself. Let the doctor take a look and prescribe some medicine. That is all.
“Very well. We shall go quickly and return quickly!”
Gu Yanzhi brought the bicycle, and seated Shen Dajun on the rear frame. As they passed the village head’s home, Shen Niannian borrowed a second bicycle from him and left all their gifts and parcels in his care. The household was busy preparing the midday meal; she had no intention of imposing without repayment—and she had a plan of her own.
The village head, Shen Youtian, shared their clan name and was a kinsman. Shen Niannian’s blood burned when she pictured her grandparents and Second Uncle’s family—greedy, grasping, and utterly without decency. That five-pound slab of pork she had brought home? If she took it to the Shen house, who knew whose belly it would end up feeding! She would sooner benefit a stranger than hand it over to them.
“Uncle Youtian—my father has injured his leg. We must take him to the clinic. May I borrow your bicycle?”
Without waiting for an answer, she turned and called toward the kitchen where the village head’s wife worked: “Auntie—on this visit I brought fresh pork. My father does not know how to prepare it, and as you are aware, our family kitchen is entirely managed by my Grandmother and Second Aunt. Would you do me a great kindness? Stew this pork in braised sauce—you may keep half as payment for your trouble!”
Shen Youtian began to protest; as village head, how could he accept gifts from a household? But his wife knew his scruples all too well. She emerged from the kitchen beaming, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the rich, marbled pork. Before Shen Youtian could speak, she shot him a sharp, warning look and stepped forward to take the meat.
“Leave it to me! Braised pork is my specialty. It shall be tender, fragrant, and perfectly seasoned—you shall see!”
Shen Niannian smiled. “Thank you so much, Auntie! We shall go on ahead and have my father’s leg seen to!”
As she reached the gate, she heard Shen Youtian speaking to his wife, sounding perplexed.
“Really now—borrowing a bicycle is one thing! How could you accept half her meat? Pork is precious! It cost her dearly!”
His wife answered plainly: “I am not taking it for nothing! I shall spend fuel wood, soy sauce, sugar, salt, and all my labor besides! And more than that—my heart goes out to this old gentleman and his daughter. You know well enough how Li Guihua and her household treat them! If that pork went to the Shen house, do you imagine Shen Dajun would taste so much as a morsel? Between Li Guihua and that sharp-tongued Liao Chunmei, he would be lucky to sip thin broth! You are village head—see no evil and speak no evil, but do what you can to help them!”
Then came the sound of Shen Youtian’s long, heavy sigh.
Shen Niannian heard no more. The corners of her mouth lifted in quiet satisfaction. She turned to Gu Yanzhi and her father.
“Come—let us go to the town clinic.”
At the clinic, the doctor examined Shen Dajun’s leg and immediately chided them for coming so late. X-rays revealed a clear fracture. Worse still—over these two days he had walked and limped upon it, and inflammation had already set in.
“How could you be so careless?” the doctor said gravely. “If you had delayed even a little longer, infection would have spread. Gangrene might have set in—amputation would have been on the table. In the worst case, sepsis could have taken him!”
Shen Niannian and Gu Yanzhi fell silent, faces heavy with alarm. Shen Dajun himself looked bewildered—how could a simple fall lead to amputation or death?
“Doctor… surely it cannot be quite so serious?”
The doctor’s expression hardened.
“Comrade—when bone is broken, it is no small matter. You must rest and recuperate fully. The old saying holds true: ‘hundred days for injured sinews and bones.’ We shall apply a plaster cast today. Ideally, you will return daily for several days to receive anti-inflammatory injections. I am not speaking idly—if you neglect this leg, even should you keep it, you shall walk with a limp for the rest of your life!”
Shen Dajun was truly frightened now. But when he heard injections were required, he waved his hands in alarm.
“No injections! Truly—medicine taken orally will suffice! Doctor, please—prescribe me pills to take home!”
The examination and X-rays alone had cost him several days’ wages. Injections and hospital fees would far exceed the few coins he carried. When the doctor suggested admission for observation, he shook his head vigorously.
“No—no hospital stay! I am perfectly well otherwise! Niannian, Yanzhi—medicine alone will set this right, I promise you! I shall take them exactly as directed!”
Shen Niannian had hoped to have him admitted for proper care, but he would not hear of it—swore he would leave at once even if they signed him in. The doctor, seeing his resolve, did not insist.
“Very well. If you will not stay, I shall prescribe you stronger anti-inflammatory tablets. You must take them exactly on time—do not forget a single dose!”
Shen Dajun nodded rapidly, earnest as a pecking chicken.
“Certainly! I shall not miss one!”
The doctor looked at him, sighed, and added: “And mind this leg—rest it completely. Return in one month to have the cast removed. Even after that, take care—do not place weight upon it. Do you have crutches at home? You may collect a pair here as well.”
Shen Niannian nodded quickly. “We shall, Doctor—thank you!”
Gu Yanzhi had already stepped forward to settle every bill—fees, medicine, cast, and a pair of fine crutches—before his father-in-law could object. Shen Dajun reached into his pocket to offer his few coins, but Gu Yanzhi gently stayed his hand.
“Father—put your money away. You need concern yourself with nothing at all. As the saying goes: ‘A son-in-law is half a son.’ From this day on, I am your son. Treat me as one, and do not stand on ceremony.”
Hearing those words, and meeting his daughter’s encouraging gaze, Shen Dajun felt a warmth spread through his chest he had rarely known. A flush rose across his dark, weathered face. He nodded slowly, eyes glistening.
“Thank you… thank you, Yanzhi.”