Su Tong could clearly see the delight in Xing Dongyang’s eyes – this was a young man with a kind heart and sincere disposition.
He genuinely cared about the original host, never hesitating to express his feelings. It wasn’t just because the original host had helped him once. Since coming down from the city to Yunshan Village as an Educated Youth, despite the backwardness and isolation here, he possessed thoughtful insights and warm enthusiasm. Over the years, the village’s elderly living alone, children unable to attend school, and struggling youth had all received his help in various ways.
She was just one among them.
However, Tian Qingrong’s expression changed slightly. She coughed nearby and teased:
“Brother Dongyang, Wu Tong just said one sentence to you, and look how happy you are! What you’re saying… she might not even understand it!”
“No! She can understand!”
Xing Dongyang laughed as he refuted Tian Qingrong’s words. “From the moment I heard she resisted an arranged marriage by hitting the pillar, I knew this girl had finally awakened. She finally stood up for herself!
Look, right after that she even made a contribution, risking her life to save that child.”
Xing Dongyang turned to glance at Su Tong again. “Seeing Wu Tong today, I feel like she’s been completely reborn! She’ll keep getting better and better!”
Su Tong also showed a smiling face. “Yes! Brother Xing! Hitting that pillar really woke me up, like being reborn. The me now will live well! Not just live, but live wonderfully!”
Tian Qingrong, however, was finding it hard to maintain her composure. Wu Tong had always been the most inconspicuous and least liked person in the village. Every time she saw her, she was bowing her head meekly and silently. You wouldn’t hear her speak more than a few sentences all year, especially when she encountered the village’s Educated Youth – she’d practically bury her head in the ground. She was a girl with deep-rooted inferiority.
Tian Qingrong had come today with ulterior motives. Although she hadn’t had much interaction with Wu Tong before, she thought Wu Tong would be easy to manipulate. She never expected that after hitting the pillar, this girl seemed to have become a different person – not only much bolder, but even her demeanor and speech had changed.
Though she was still that sallow-skinned, rough-complexioned little girl, Brother Dongyang had never shown such concern for her before. It was one thing for him to be nice to Zhang Yaping usually, but now he was paying so much attention to such an insignificant little girl.
She had seen every item in that bag of nutritional supplements clearly – brown sugar, malted milk powder, and canned fruit in syrup, none of which were cheap.
She herself hadn’t drunk brown sugar water in over half a year, let alone malted milk powder, which was hard to buy even with money. Yet Brother Dongyang had brought a whole bag of it. Just thinking about it made her feel stifled and uncomfortable.
Tian Qingrong subtly changed the subject. “Brother Dongyang, have you replaced the tractor parts yet?”
Xing Dongyang said: “Not yet! I came to the hospital first, planning to visit Wu Tong before going to the agricultural machinery station.”
“Brother Dongyang, after you finish replacing the parts, can I ride back to the village on your tractor? The bus won’t come until much later.”
“Of course you can.”
Xing Dongyang finished speaking but then hesitated. “But I don’t know how busy the agricultural machinery station will be. I’m not sure what time I’ll finish.”
“Brother Dongyang, why don’t I go with you? That way we won’t have trouble meeting up later.”
Hearing this, Xing Dongyang glanced at Su Tong, then at the book on the bedside table. “You—don’t need to keep Wu Tong company anymore?”
After Tian Qingrong finished speaking, she felt somewhat awkward. She had clearly stated earlier that she came to accompany Wu Tong, yet she didn’t want to give up the chance to be alone with Xing Dongyang.
Su Tong spoke up, “Brother Xing, why don’t you let Tian Qingrong go with you! I don’t need anyone to keep me company. When I have nothing to do, I can read. Don’t worry about me!”
Sister Dong finally seized the opportunity. From the opposite bed, she called out in her loud voice, “Go on, go on! I’ll keep an eye on her IV drip! I can call the nurse for her—my voice is loud enough!”
After some more concern and polite exchanges, Xing Dongyang and Tian Qingrong left together, and the ward finally quieted down.
Sister Dong, who had been observing for a while, thoughtfully summarized, “That girl likes that young man, but he doesn’t have eyes for her. She only came to see you incidentally—she was probably waiting for that young man specifically.”
Su Tong gave Sister Dong a thumbs-up.
As Xing Dongyang walked out of the inpatient building, he saw a man standing at the entrance wearing a military work uniform. The man had a tall, straight posture and an imposing presence, and he was talking to a nurse.
The nurse noticed Xing Dongyang and Tian Qingrong and said to the man, “Captain Qin, the visitors for Wu Tong have come out. You can go in now.”
Qin Yi nodded, glanced at Xing Dongyang and Tian Qingrong, and passed by them.
After taking just a few steps, he heard someone calling after him, “Captain Qin, is that you?”
Qin Yi turned around and saw the young man who had just walked out. Though dressed plainly, he was handsome and refined, with an air of scholarly grace.
“Captain Qin! Hello! May I ask if you’re handling Wu Tong’s case?”
Qin Yi’s gaze was scrutinizing. “And you are?”
“Oh! I’m from Yunshan Village. My name is Xing Dongyang. I’m a friend of Wu Tong’s. Could we… talk in private?”
Xing Dongyang? Qin Yi quickly recalled the name in his mind. It was the only young man’s name, aside from relatives, that appeared in Wu Tong’s investigation records.
Qin Yi nodded and led the way into the courtyard. Xing Dongyang asked Tian Qingrong to wait nearby and strode after him.
Tian Qingrong reached out to grab Xing Dongyang but was a step too slow.
The two stopped beside a holly tree in the courtyard.
Xing Dongyang began, “Comrade, hello! I know you have regulations to follow. Let me clarify first—I’m not here to inquire about the case. I just want to know if all the fugitives have been captured?
Are there any accomplices still at large?
Wu Tong stepped forward to save that child, and both the town and the village have publicized it. Her identity is already exposed. Will she face potential threats in the future?”
Qin Yi was somewhat surprised. It had been a while since the incident, and many people from the town and county had come, all thinking about how to expand the publicity and gain honors. This was the first time someone had genuinely considered Wu Tong’s safety.
Qin Yi narrowed his eyes and asked, “You care about her safety?”
Xing Dongyang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. “Yes! That girl has no status in her family. Due to some rumors, she’s also heavily discriminated against in the village and has always had a hard life. Even if we usually want to help her, there’s only so much we can do.
This time, she nearly lost her life. Surviving was already a miracle. Saving that child was probably the bravest thing she’s ever done. I don’t want her to face retaliation from criminals afterward. If that happens… she might completely lose faith in this world.”
“To be honest, I don’t wish for this matter to be repeatedly publicized. For Wu Tong, before she learns to protect herself, these honors might turn into pressure, all weighing down on her, and could even harm her.”
Qin Yi looked at the young man before him. This was someone who genuinely cared about Wu Tong—no wonder he appeared in Wu Tong’s nearly blank social connections.