The young nurse was still chattering away.
“You know, you were already so badly injured—how did you find the courage to exchange that child from the criminals…”
“Everyone here feels ashamed compared to you. They say we should learn from your fearless, self-sacrificing revolutionary spirit.”
“Oh! Look at me, I got carried away talking. Wait a moment, I’ll go call the doctor!”
Before Su Tong could say a single word, she saw the nurse dash out like a gust of wind.
Thinking back on what the nurse had said, it seemed she was only talking about the hostage exchange. As for what happened after that…
While she was still thinking, the door opened again. A group of people walked in. Leading them was a middle-aged female doctor with short ear-length hair and black-framed glasses—a very typical 1970s-style doctor. She looked somewhat stern, but spoke gently.
“Girl, how are you feeling? Anywhere uncomfortable?”
Su Tong was very clear about the condition of this body. It was mainly severe malnutrition combined with blood loss from hitting her head against a pillar—conditions that required recovery and rest.
At the moment, aside from hunger, she actually felt alright. After enough sleep, the dizziness had improved and the fever had gone down.
The IV drip in her hand was glucose and other nutritional fluids, so her body functions would not be a problem for now. Just as she was thinking about how to express her hunger, the doctor spoke again.
“Starving, right? Xiao Li, go bring the rice porridge!”
The doctor seemed afraid of frightening her and sat down by the bedside, softening her tone as much as possible.
“My surname is Zhao. I’m your attending physician. You can tell me anything. We’ve heard about your situation! It wasn’t easy at all! To still selflessly save someone in that kind of situation! Don’t worry! The government will stand up for you!”
Su Tong was completely confused. What exactly had they heard?
How much had they heard?
What would the government stand up for her about?
After speaking, the doctor stood up with a kindly understanding expression and continued comforting her.
“Alright, it’s good that you’re awake. Nothing serious. Your head injury still needs dressing changes for a few more days. Just stay here and recover. You’re very weak, but still young—you’ll recover.”
The doctor finally left with a group of people bustling out, and Su Tong could only sigh inwardly: the hospital staff here were really enthusiastic—and really talkative.
Nurse Xiao Li finally arrived late with a bowl of porridge. She smiled as she entered.
“Starving, right? The porridge got a bit cold, so I reheated it.”
Su Tong declined Xiao Li’s offer to feed her, and trembling slightly, she managed to bring the spoon to her mouth. She didn’t even remember how many days this body had gone without food. Nothing else mattered right now—getting something into her stomach was the priority.
After only a couple of mouthfuls, her stomach still felt nothing, when Xiao Li pulled up a chair at the foot of the bed, holding a clipboard and said seriously:
“While you’re eating, I’ll explain something. When you arrived, you were unconscious, so there are several sections here needing your personal information. I’ll read them first, then help you fill them in.”
She cleared her throat and began reading solemnly:
“Jiangping County People’s Hospital Admission Record. Name: blank. Age: blank…”
Su Tong immediately felt a headache coming on. She quickly waved her hand.
“Xiao Li nurse, I… I can read. Can I fill it in myself later?”
She remembered the original owner had gone to middle school.
Xiao Li’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh! You went to school? That’s great! I didn’t expect people like your parents to actually let you study!”
Then she quickly became embarrassed.
“I mean… I’m not trying to talk about your family…”
She seemed unsure how to phrase it.
“It’s fine… I didn’t even finish junior high school anyway,” Su Tong said casually, taking another couple of spoonfuls of porridge.
Xiao Li looked apologetic and quickly stood up.
“Then you eat first. I’ll come back later.”
With that, she dropped the clipboard and hurried out again.
Su Tong finally finished the bowl of porridge in peace. Her stomach still didn’t feel much, but after severe starvation, eating too much at once wouldn’t be good anyway. She would take it slowly.
She picked up the clipboard on the bedside table—it was an admission record. After reading for a while, she picked up a pen, but hesitated when she reached the “Name” field…
In this world, her name was “Wu Tong.” Su Tong had already died on the battlefield of her own world. Her life, though short, had been without regret.
It was Wu Tong in this world who had given her a second life, allowing her to live again in this era, to struggle, and to start a new life.
Fate had arranged this for her. She could not fail it.
From today onward, she would continue the life of that desperate girl in her place.
She firmly wrote the two characters “Wu Tong” after the name field.
She quickly finished filling out the forms. The admission record listed medications used—anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs—but due to the limitations of the era, the medicines were outdated and limited, so recovery would not be fast.
She touched her forehead; a large bandage was still there. She hadn’t seen the wound yet and didn’t know whether it would leave a scar.
At that moment, the ward door opened again. Xiao Li walked in front, followed by two people she recognized.
The first was Ma Daming, the militia captain of Yunshan Village, commonly called “Ma Bold.”
Behind him was Jiang, the station chief of the town police station, someone villagers had seen during legal education sessions. He had also been present at the pursuit operation days ago.
As soon as Ma Daming saw that Su Tong was awake, he quickly rushed forward excitedly.
“Oh! Tong girl, you’re awake! I came yesterday afternoon, and I came again today on purpose!”
“Oh my, you girl—usually so quiet, but at the critical moment you actually stepped forward to exchange the child! You really helped the police a lot!”
That night, Ma Daming had seen Su Tong get into Ma Liu’s vehicle. Afterwards, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like her. Even though it was dark and her face was covered in blood, Li Youshun would know!
After the operation ended, he interrogated Li Youshun and Wang Lao’er and confirmed that the girl was indeed the eldest daughter of the Wu family. He also learned about how Wu Dashan and Wang Guilan had forced their daughter into marrying an old widower for fifty yuan…
He immediately returned to Yunshan Village and told the village secretary everything, asking him to confront the Wu family. This was the new society—how could they still practice those “old four evils,” arranged marriage, treating their daughter like she was nothing…
Ma Daming then went straight to the town police station. Partly to check on “Wu Tong’s” condition, and partly because she had bravely stepped forward at a critical moment to save an important hostage. Now that the fugitives had been caught, it was time to recognize her contribution.
He had to keep an eye on it—this was a life-risking act by a village girl and also the honor of Yunshan Village. As the militia captain, it would bring him pride too, and he couldn’t let anyone take credit for it.
After hearing about Wu Tong’s family situation, Station Chief Jiang was also deeply moved. His thinking was similar to Ma Daming’s: the police station had contributed greatly in this operation, and Yunshan Village’s honor was also the honor of Qingfeng Town Police Station…
So they immediately went to the county and reported Wu Tong’s situation in detail to the county public security bureau leaders.
Then they went to the county hospital to see Wu Tong. She was still unconscious then, but that didn’t stop Ma Daming from loudly promoting her heroic deeds throughout the hospital.
Only this morning did they come again.