Just as Ruan Qiu finished speaking, a young soldier beside her began to sob, “It is all my fault. I am the one who harmed the battalion commander.”
The soldier had injuries on his body as well, though they were not severe.
Ruan Qiu was in no mood to comfort the soldier and walked straight into the emergency room.
“Doctor, the shrapnel in his arm can wait. Please take the shrapnel out of his abdomen first!”
The shrapnel in the arm would not pose an immediate threat, but the shrapnel in the abdomen had struck his intestines. If he was not rescued in time, it would be life-threatening.
Fortunately, the doctor on duty today was not Dr. Qin, but another doctor with the surname Zhong.
Doctor Zhong, who was in middle age, spoke very little, but he was very good at listening to other people’s suggestions. After a quick diagnosis, he confirmed Ruan Qiu’s assessment: there was indeed shrapnel in Zhou Yishen’s abdomen, and it had injured his intestines.
“Prepare for surgery immediately!” Doctor Zhong said, casting a glance at Ruan Qiu. “Put on a mask and assist on the side.”
“Okay!”
Although Ruan Qiu could not perform surgery, she could observe the patient’s condition and report it to the doctor.
The anesthesiologist moved to administer the injection, but Zhou Yishen refused.
“There is no need for anesthesia.”
“That will not do. In your condition, it will be very difficult to endure without anesthesia,” Doctor Zhong instructed.
Zhou Yishen raised his finger and pointed at Ruan Qiu, “It is fine. I will hold her hand. I can manage.”
Ruan Qiu stepped closer to Zhou Yishen and reached out her hand for him to hold.
Zhou Yishen did not want anesthesia because he worried that the side effects of the anesthetic would affect his future quality of life.
“Doctor, let’s just listen to him.”
Doctor Zhong did not hesitate any longer and quickly began the surgery.
After four grueling hours, all the shrapnel was finally removed from Zhou Yishen’s body.
The patient was then transferred to the ward.
The other injured men had also received treatment for their wounds from the nurses.
When Ruan Qiu came out, that young soldier was still crying.
“Stop crying. Your battalion commander is fine.”
The soldier stood up, “Sister-in-law, it was my fault. I did not know that was a real bomb; I just pulled the safety pin. If not for the battalion commander, I would have been blown to pieces.”
Ruan Qiu patted the young soldier’s shoulder, “He is your battalion commander. Protecting you is his duty. Do not feel guilty, and besides, he is fine. You need to get your own injuries treated as well; do not take them lightly.”
Only then did the soldier obediently go to have his wounds dressed.
Ruan Qiu walked into the ward. Zhou Yishen had fainted from the pain and had not yet woken up.
His waist was wrapped in bandages, and his arm was bandaged as well.
Ruan Qiu knew that being a soldier was very hard, involving not only grueling training but also unpredictable dangers.
Yet, this act of protecting his soldiers clearly demonstrated his capability. No wonder he had become a battalion commander at such a young age.
He was not afraid of sweat, blood, or even sacrifice.
Ruan Qiu respected and admired soldiers, and after becoming a military wife, she felt even more deeply how difficult a soldier’s life was.
However, when she saw Zhou Yishen injured, a question arose in her heart: when he chose to save that soldier, did he think of the family waiting behind him? Did he ever think that she would worry upon learning he was injured?
Worry, she was truly worried, even if they were only a contract couple, she would still worry.
Ruan Qiu sat beside the hospital bed, gazing at the sleeping Zhou Yishen, her heart inexplicably stirred.
She seemed to have unconsciously placed herself in the position of his family member.
Ruan Qiu kept vigil by his side through the night. As day broke, she went home to change her clothes and pack some of Zhou Yishen’s clean underwear.
A patient could wear the hospital gowns, but the hospital certainly could not provide underwear for you.
Judging by Zhou Yishen’s injuries, he would not recover in less than half a month or ten days.
As soon as Ruan Qiu stepped outside, she ran into Sister Lian.
“Xiao Qiu, is little Zhou alright?” Sister Lian was worried sick.
“Sister, he is fine. He is already out of danger.”
“That is good. In the military unit, little Zhou is called the daredevil. That boy not only holds himself to strict standards, but he is also very demanding of his soldiers. He cares so much about his men’s lives.” Sister Lian showered Zhou Yishen with praise the moment she brought him up.
“I can tell. He truly cares about his soldiers’ lives.” Ruan Qiu genuinely saw that Zhou Yishen was a battalion commander through and through.
“You have not eaten breakfast yet, have you? I cooked some congee. Have a little.”
Ruan Qiu shook her head, “Sister, I will not eat. I need to go to the hospital to take care of him.”
“That is true. Little Zhou cannot eat anything right after surgery either.”
“Thank you for your concern, Sister. I will go check on him at the hospital first.”
“Alright then. When little Zhou is discharged, make sure to cook him some good food to build his strength back up.”
“Understood.”
Ruan Qiu arrived at the hospital and first went to ask for leave.
Since Zhou Yishen was sick, it would not do for her to neglect him and go to work as usual.
Going to work could never be more important than Zhou Yishen’s illness.
Because of Zhou Yishen’s situation, the hospital had already notified the head nurse to grant Ruan Qiu an extended leave. Essentially, whenever Zhou Yishen recovered, she would return to work.
This was a special preferential treatment granted to military family members.
Ruan Qiu was quite satisfied with this privilege, and it was even paid leave.
Carrying her bag, Ruan Qiu arrived at the ward. Just as she was about to step inside, she heard a young girl speaking from within.
The voice was choked with sobs.
“Brother Yishen, you are hurt so badly. Does it hurt?”
The girl’s voice was soft and sweet, but it carried the grief and sadness of someone on the verge of tears.
“It does not hurt.” The injuries on Zhou Yishen’s body definitely hurt; his voice sounded weak and devoid of strength.
“How can it not hurt? Look at how bandaged up you are! When I heard you were injured, I was worried to death. Brother Yishen, please let me stay and take care of you, okay?” the girl pleaded.
“My wife can take care of me.” Zhou Yishen refused, his voice sounding rather weak.
Once the intravenous infusion wore off, the pain would follow wave after wave; no matter how tough a body was, it would still feel pain.
Ruan Qiu became intrigued. She stood at the doorway and pricked up her ears to listen clearly, seeing this as an opportunity to understand Zhou Yishen better.
Besides, the two of them had no romantic attachment; if Zhou Yishen had a favorable impression of the girl in front of him, she might even be able to help.
“What wife? She is just a means your adoptive parents used to tie you down. Do not think I do not know… that Ruan Qiu is completely unsuited to be your wife. Not only is she crude and uncultured coming from the countryside, but she also flirts around with other people without any sense of propriety. Why would you want such a wife?”
The girl’s words were blunt, but Ruan Qiu did not agree with them.
Flirting around? That was sheer slander.
“Yishen, have you forgotten everything? You acted that way toward me before, and you said you would take responsibility for me. You cannot marry that woman from the countryside. The person you should marry is me… only I am worthy of being your wife!”
Oh? The story behind this seemed quite interesting.
Ruan Qiu became even more curious.
“Xiang Zhuzhu, please leave.” Zhou Yishen no longer had the strength to argue and issued a cold order to leave.
“Are you in a lot of pain? I am going to call the doctor!”
Hearing the movement, Ruan Qiu quickly took a step back as the door in front of her was pulled open with a gust of wind.
Xiang Zhuzhu, dressed in a light blue dress, saw the plainly dressed Ruan Qiu standing at the door and immediately realized this must be Zhou Yishen’s wife from the countryside. With an irritable tone, she snapped, “You must be that woman from the countryside! Divorce Zhou Yishen immediately!”