The young nurse kept chattering away, “With injuries this severe, I can’t imagine how you found the courage to swap yourself for that child in the criminal’s hands…”
“We all feel ashamed compared to you. Everyone says we should learn from your revolutionary spirit of fearing no danger and being willing to sacrifice yourself.”
“Oh! Look at me, just going on and on. Wait a moment, I’ll go get the doctor!”
Before Su Tong could say a word, she saw the young nurse dash out like the wind.
Mulling over the nurse’s words, it seemed she was only talking about the hostage exchange. What about what happened after that…
As she was thinking, the door opened again and a group of people entered, led by a middle-aged female doctor with ear-length short hair, black-rimmed glasses – the very image of a typical 1970s doctor. She looked somewhat stern, but spoke with kindness.
“How are you feeling, young lady? Any discomfort anywhere?”
Su Tong was well aware of this body’s condition – mainly long-term malnutrition combined with blood loss from hitting the pillar. These were illnesses that required recuperation…
Right now, aside from hunger, her condition wasn’t bad. After sufficient rest, the dizziness had greatly improved and the fever had subsided.
The IV drip contained nutrients like glucose, so bodily functions shouldn’t be problematic. Just as she was thinking how to express her hunger, the doctor spoke again.
“You must be starving! Xiao Li, quickly bring the congee!”
The doctor seemed afraid of startling her, sitting by her bedside and speaking as gently as possible:
“My surname is Zhao, I’m your attending physician. You can tell me anything. We’ve all heard about your situation! Truly remarkable! To still sacrifice yourself to save others in such circumstances! Don’t worry! The government will stand up for you!”
Su Tong was completely baffled. What exactly had they heard?
How much did they know?
What was the government going to stand up for?
After speaking, the doctor stood up, appearing quite understanding, and continued comforting her:
“Alright! Now that you’re awake, everything’s fine! No major problems! We’ll need to change the dressing on your head wound for a few more days. Just rest peacefully here to recover. Your body is too weak, but you’re still young – you can build back your health…”
The doctor finally left with the large group in a flurry. Su Tong had only one thought – the hospital staff were really enthusiastic, but also really talkative.
Nurse Xiao Li finally arrived belatedly with the congee, wearing a smile as she entered. “You must be starving! The congee had cooled down, so I reheated it.”
Su Tong declined Nurse Xiao Li’s impulse to feed her, tremblingly bringing the spoon to her own mouth. She couldn’t remember how many days it had been since this body last ate. Nothing else mattered right now – getting some food in her stomach was urgent.
After just two bites, before her stomach even registered anything, Nurse Xiao Li brought a chair and sat at the foot of her bed, holding a small clipboard, speaking seriously:
“Um, you keep eating, and I’ll explain. When you arrived, you were unconscious. There are several sections here that need your personal information. Let me read them to you first, then I’ll help you fill them out.”
Then she cleared her throat and began reading officiously: “Jiangping County People’s Hospital Admission Record. Name, blank. Age, blank…”
Su Tong immediately felt a headache coming on. She waved her hand and called out, “Nurse Xiao Li, I… can read. Can I fill it out myself later?” She remembered the original host had attended junior high school.
Xiao Li widened her eyes in surprise, “Oh! You’ve been to school! That’s wonderful! I never expected parents like yours would let you attend school!”
Then she seemed slightly embarrassed, “Well… I’m not trying to comment on your family matters… It’s just…”
She appeared unsure how to phrase her words.
“It’s fine… Actually, I dropped out before finishing middle school!” Su Tong said casually, taking advantage of the pause to stuff two more mouthfuls of porridge into her mouth.
Nurse Xiao Li looked somewhat apologetic and quickly stood up, “Then you keep eating, I’ll come back later.”
After saying this, she put down the small clipboard and hurried out.
Su Tong finally finished the bowl of porridge in peace. Truthfully, her stomach still felt numb, but eating too much at once after extreme hunger wasn’t good either – better to take it slow.
She picked up the small clipboard from the bedside table. It was an admission record. After studying it for a moment, she picked up the pen, but the tip paused after the words “Name”…
In this world, she was called “Wu Tong.” Su Tong had already sacrificed her life on the battlefield of that other world. Though her life had been brief, she had no regrets.
It was this world’s Wu Tong who had given her a second chance at life, allowing her to live properly in this era, to strive, and to continue forging a new life.
Fate had arranged things this way – she couldn’t let it down.
From today onward, she would continue living the life that desperate young girl couldn’t.
She lifted the pen and solemnly wrote “Wu Tong” after the name field.
Su Tong quickly completed the forms. The admission record specified the doctor’s medication – both anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs had been administered. However, limited by the era, the medications were relatively outdated and limited, so they wouldn’t take effect quickly.
She touched her forehead where a large bandage was placed. She hadn’t seen the size of the wound yet and didn’t know if it would leave a scar.
Just then, the hospital room door opened again. Nurse Xiao Li entered first, followed by two people she recognized.
The one in front was Ma Daming, the militia captain of Yunshan Village, whom villagers usually called “Ma Dadan.”
Behind him was Director Jiang from the Town Police Station, whom everyone had seen during legal education sessions in the village. He also seemed to have been at the pursuit scene the other day.
Seeing Su Tong awake, Ma Daming rushed forward excitedly, exclaiming, “Ah! Tong girl, you’re awake! I came by yesterday afternoon and made a special trip again today!”
“Oh, you girl! Usually so quiet, but at the critical moment you dared to step forward and swap places with the child! You’ve been a great help to our public security comrades!”
That night, Ma Daming had seen Su Tong get into Ma Liu’s vehicle. Later, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like her. Although it was dark and Su Tong’s face was covered in blood making it hard to see clearly, Li Youshuan knew exactly what happened!
As soon as the operation ended, he questioned Li Youshuan and Wang Lao Er and confirmed that the girl was the eldest daughter of the Wu Family. He also learned about how Wu Dashan and Wang Guilan had forced their daughter to marry an old widower for fifty yuan…
He immediately returned to Yunshan Village, found the village secretary and explained the whole story, asking the secretary to confront the Wu Family. This was a new society now – how could they still practice these “old four customs,” treating their daughter as less than human through arranged marriage? How could they be so heartless…
Ma Daming then went straight to the Town Police Station, partly to check on “Wu Tong’s” condition, and partly because “Wu Tong” had stepped forward at the critical moment to replace an important hostage. Now that the fugitive had been captured, wasn’t it time to discuss rewards for her merit!
He had to keep a close watch—this was something the girl had exchanged with her life, and it was also the honor of Yunshan Village. As the militia captain, he too would share in the glory, so he couldn’t let anyone secretly take it away.
After hearing about Wu Tong’s family situation, Director Jiang was deeply moved. His thoughts aligned with Ma Daming’s: the Town Police Station had contributed significantly to this operation, so the honor of Yunshan Village was also the honor of Qingfeng Town Police Station…
Immediately, he and Ma Daming rushed to the county town and reported Wu Tong’s situation truthfully to the county Public Security Bureau leadership.
Then they hurried to the county hospital to see “Wu Tong.” Though she hadn’t regained consciousness, it didn’t stop Ma Daming from thoroughly publicizing her heroic deeds throughout the hospital!
It wasn’t until this morning that they made another trip there.