Fang Yao felt something churning in her chest, surging upward. Covering her mouth, she rushed to the stove and spat out a mouthful of sour water over the cold stove, then gasped for air. Her pale face gradually regained its color, and she immediately dashed out the door.
Wang Hua stumbled out of the house, her legs weak from panic and fear. She fell to the ground just outside the door, crawling and grabbing the neighbor’s pant leg, crying as she asked, “Sister-in-law, what did you say? Our Qingzhou just returned to his unit a few days ago—how could an accident happen?”
“I don’t know either. My husband just told me to let you know. He said you should hurry to the Military District Hospital. Qingzhou is being resuscitated!” As she spoke, the neighbor tried to help Wang Hua up, but Wang Hua, already on the brink of despair, couldn’t stand steady.
Fang Yao immediately stepped forward, lifted Wang Hua, and helped her stand firmly on her feet.
“Mom!” she called out firmly, her resolute tone conveying strength to Wang Hua. “Qingzhou is still waiting for us at the hospital. I’ll go with you!”
What else could she do?
Fang Yao had been mentally preparing herself since yesterday, enduring a night of torment, but what was meant to happen had still happened.
She could only accept it and face it!
With Fang Yao’s support, Wang Hua regained her composure. She tightly gripped Fang Yao’s hand, just as she had on their wedding day when she discovered the bride had been sent to the wrong bridal chamber. But the blow they faced now was a thousand times worse than that day!
Fang Yao asked the neighbor to help bring a bicycle. After steadying Wang Hua on the seat, she pedaled toward the city.
The north wind howled. In their haste, neither she nor Wang Hua had worn headscarves, but they paid no mind to the cold. By the time they reached the hospital, both their faces were frozen blue-purple. Fang Yao helped Wang Hua to the service desk and informed them they were Xu Qingzhou’s family.
“Company Commander Xu’s family? You’ve finally arrived. He’s undergoing emergency surgery. The doctor issued a Critical Condition Notice and needs a family member to sign it.”
At the words “critical condition,” Wang Hua trembled all over, her hands too shaky to even hold a pen.
Fang Yao took the pen, quickly signed the notice, and the nurse led them to the Operating Room.
The corridor was filled with wounded soldiers, their military uniforms caked in mud. Some gathered at the door, others huddled in the hallway, squatting or sitting. Wounds covered their bodies, faces, and hands, seeping through the hastily wrapped bandages. It was hard to imagine what they had endured or how they had clawed their way back from the brink of death.
“These boys are all Qingzhou’s comrades…” Wang Hua choked out.
Her gaze lingered on the soldiers, filled with heartache, respect, and admiration.
Fang Yao slowly walked forward with Wang Hua, each step weighed down by a heavy, oppressive feeling. She suddenly remembered the day she had urged Xu Qingzhou to change professions. He had stood alone by the window, silent until late into the night.
Didn’t he know that being a soldier came with life-threatening dangers?
He not only knew but had experienced it time and again, just like the people in this corridor. Their flesh had been torn, their blood had flowed, yet they swallowed their pain and suffering, choosing to continue bearing this responsibility.
They had long since cast their lives aside—not because they didn’t value their lives, but because they sacrificed themselves to ensure the peace of their nation and the happiness of its people.
Therefore, even if Xu Qingzhou had known in advance that he would meet with an accident, for the sake of the greater good in his heart, he would not have retreated.
Fang Yao's eyes welled up with tears, the red light on the operating room door exploding into a vast expanse of brightness in her vision.
She found peace.
As long as he was alive, it didn’t matter if his legs were injured. She had confidence that by staying by his side, they could still live a good life.
Ding!
The light in the operating room went out, and all the soldiers in the corridor stood up, hoping the doctor would bring good news.
"Who is the patient's family?" A middle-aged doctor emerged, his surgical gown still stained with blood.
Fang Yao, standing at the back of the crowd, replied, "I am!"
The soldiers instinctively made way, and she supported Wang Hua as they walked to the front.
The doctor told them, "The surgery went relatively smoothly. The patient’s life is not in danger, but the bones in his lower limbs are severely shattered. It is highly likely that he will be left with a disability in the future, affecting his mobility. Both of you should prepare yourselves mentally for this."
Wang Hua had just been relieved that Xu Qingzhou’s life was spared, but the next moment, upon learning that his legs might be permanently disabled, she burst into sobs, tears streaming uncontrollably.
The soldiers behind them also found it hard to accept, speaking up one after another.
"Company Commander Xu is an exemplary model in our unit. He was injured while saving others. Doctor, please think of something!"
"Doctor, legs are a soldier’s second life. If Company Commander Xu’s legs are ruined, how will he manage in the future?"
"Doctor, please, think of a way!"
"Yes, doctor!"
How could the doctor not understand the importance of legs to a soldier? Not just soldiers—if possible, he wished all patients in the world could be restored to health.
But that was merely his wish. He looked at the crowd with regret, his voice choked with emotion, "We have done our best. From now on, we can only wait for Company Commander Xu’s wounds to heal before continuing with rehabilitation treatment."
After speaking, the doctor instructed the medical staff to take Xu Qingzhou to the ward.
Because he was injured while carrying out a mission and his condition was severe, the dean made a special exception and arranged a private room for him.
Fang Yao followed the moving bed all the way into the ward, watching as Xu Qingzhou was transferred to a fixed bed. His clothes had been cut open, and his limbs and various parts of his body were wrapped in bandages. Despite the effects of anesthesia, the pain still made him furrow his brows, his breathing weak, like someone terminally ill.
Wang Hua couldn’t bear to look at her son’s miserable state. She turned her face away, knocking her head against the wall repeatedly.
Fang Yao stood firmly by the bedside. Behind her, Xu Qingzhou’s comrades said something, but she couldn’t make it out. Her mind was filled with thoughts of what she could do next to make him more comfortable…
Upon learning that the surgery had ended, Xu Qingzhou’s superior came from the dean’s office to visit as soon as possible.
"Comrade Qingzhou’s performance has been outstanding. His accident is a loss to the entire unit, and all of us are deeply saddened…" The superior looked at Wang Hua and Fang Yao, who were reeling from the blow, and couldn’t bring himself to continue.
Yes, the accident had already happened. Once regret was sown, any words seemed hollow.
He left two of Qingzhou’s comrades to help, taking charge of Xu Qingzhou’s care and personally handling all expenses related to treatment and rehabilitation.
Fang Yao walked up to Wang Hua, hugged her, and gently patted her back, saying, "It’s alright, Mom. As long as Qingzhou is alive, we must not give up on ourselves."
"Yes, that's right…" Wang Hua nodded vigorously. Even though tears still flowed uncontrollably, she forced herself to stand and approach the hospital bed, keeping watch over her son.
On either side of the bed, Fang Yao and Wang Hua sat, waiting through the entire morning. As the anesthesia wore off, Xu Qingzhou, with his eyes tightly shut, shook his head in agony, muttering deliriously like someone in a dream.
"Come back, all of you, come back!"
"Pull them up, take them over there, hold the rope tight!"
"There are still people behind, you go first, don't worry about me!"
"Wife! I can't make it back… I'm sorry."