The boiler room finally stopped operating when it got dark.
After washing her hands, Wang Guihua took out a small jar of lard. She didn’t use it on herself, but scooped out a fingertipful for Lin Yuqiu, saying with a smile, “Don’t mind the coal dust on it. This lard was rendered by your older sister using the best lard. She doesn’t even use it herself.”
After scalding her hands with hot water, Lin Yuqiu rubbed lard on them. The rough, oily texture enveloped the broken skin, providing a cool sensation that effectively relieved the stinging pain of the blisters.
“Not at all, thank you, Sister Wang,” she said gently.
Wang Guihua is a kind-hearted person. She feels satisfied when she can bring warmth to others. She patted Lin Yuqiu on the shoulder and said, “This world is tough. We are all suffering people. Helping each other out is nothing.”
Just as the two were chatting and laughing, Master Wang came over and paid them their wages.
This is when Wang Guihua is happiest every day.
She counted the small bills and whispered in Lin Yuqiu’s ear, “I only made one dollar and fifty cents today. That Wang Guimao, girl, how much money did the old man give you?”
When Lin Yuqiu thought about receiving her wages today and being able to pay off part of her mother’s medical expenses, her heavy heart, which had been weighing on her for days, finally relaxed, and the corners of her lips turned up slightly.
But when she finished counting her wages, the smile on her face froze, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over her head.
A surge of shame and indignation rushed to her cheeks, turning her face red from her ears to her neck.
Under Wang Guihua’s expectant gaze, the injustice and anger that had been building up in her chest surged up and she couldn’t suppress it. Clutching the small bills tightly, she steeled herself and walked up to Master Wang to question him: “Master Wang, you said it was one yuan and fifty cents, why is it only seventy cents?”
Wang Guihua was also taken aback and said in defense, “Yes, that young lady has been busy all day. You’re just bullying her.”
Without offering a single explanation, Master Wang waved his hand with a cold laugh: “Take it or leave it. If you don’t like it, get lost!”
Lin Yuqiu guessed that perhaps Master Wang withheld her wages because of her family background, or perhaps it was for other reasons.
She had no way of knowing, and could only swallow her anger.
She knew she wasn’t as fast as Sister Wang at work, but she never dared to stop. Even if she couldn’t get a dollar and fifty cents, she should at least get a dollar or two.
She swallowed her bitterness and didn’t argue too much. She didn’t want to offend anyone and give them the opportunity to bring up her capitalist background, causing her to be sent to the countryside for labor reform and leaving her mother without anyone to take care of her in the end.
She dragged her aching body back to the ward, and before she could even sit down and catch her breath, she was exhausted.
The ward door opened, and the nurse on duty knocked again, saying, “Lin Yuqiu, come out here.”
Lin Yuqiu walked into the corridor, took out the crumpled few cents, and said in her mind, “Comrade, this is all I have. Could you give me a few more days?”
Before she could even speak, the nurse on duty gave her a once-over and said in a cold tone, “Your mother’s medical bills have been settled. Our hospital can’t treat her, and the higher-ups are considering transferring her to the General Hospital of the Military. It’s up to you whether you want to go there.”
Then, in a mysterious tone, he asked, “Do you know Commander Zhou?”
Lin Yuqiu hadn’t yet recovered from the huge surprise and immediately looked puzzled: “Which Commander Zhou?”
The nurse on duty gritted her teeth and said, “Zhou Runqing, Commander Zhou.”
He then slammed the transfer notice in front of her: “If you agree, sign it here.”
Lin Yuqiu’s mind drifted to the image of that aloof figure seen through the car window. Her heart stirred slightly, but she didn’t understand why. Remembering her mother’s increasingly gaunt face, she picked up a pen and signed the transfer papers.
After signing the papers, Lin Yuqiu returned to her ward and saw that the kind soldier who had given her a ride was already waiting at the ward door.
She was surprised, but smiled and said, “Comrade, you were looking for me?”
Xiao Liu walked over with a smile: “Comrade Lin, our regimental commander would like to meet you.”
Lin Yuqiu’s heart tightened. She couldn’t understand what the stranger she had only met once meant. Perhaps he knew her older brother’s identity and was offering his help?
She followed Xiao Liu downstairs and all the way to the parking lot, where she saw the figure sitting in the military jeep.
Xiao Liu opened the car door and gestured for her to get in.
Lin Yuqiu looked at the man in the back seat of the car, who was wearing a crisp Type 58 military uniform, which made his back stand as straight as a pine tree.
He wasn’t wearing his military cap today; his bangs fell naturally over his forehead, and his jawline was sharp and defined. His gaze had been fixed on her ever since she appeared, and his powerful and oppressive aura was like an invisible net, making it hard to breathe.
Lin Yuqiu didn’t dare to look up, only feeling that his gaze lingered on her, making her unable to understand him.
She instinctively clenched the hem of her clothes, only to realize that she hadn’t changed out of her worn-out work clothes yet. She even held her breath and forced herself to get on the bus, feeling very awkward as she worried about getting the coal dust on the seat.
The car door closed, and Xiao Liu walked away. The cramped interior of the car made it hard to breathe.
A deep male voice suddenly came from beside him: “Your mother’s condition would be better if she were transferred to the General Hospital of the Army for treatment.”
Lin Yuqiu expressed her heartfelt gratitude: “Yes, thank you, Zhou, Commander.” Then, unable to hide her doubt, she turned her head to look at him, “But why did you help us?”
Zhou Runqing also turned his head and glanced at the woman beside him. She was wearing oversized men’s work clothes, like a child wearing adult clothes, which made her petite body look even thinner.
Her once delicate and charming eyes now drooped, revealing an unconcealable weariness.
Just now, as she walked over, I could see her calves, wrapped in loose trousers, trembling incessantly, as if she had said a lot of harsh words. Her small, white hands, which were resting awkwardly on her knees, had white gauze wrapped around the base of her fingers and palms, and a faint red color could be seen through them.
His gaze swept over her bandaged hand, his eyes deep and serene as if they held no particular meaning, and he slowly opened his lips: “I am your elder brother’s comrade-in-arms.”
Lin Yuqiu suddenly realized that her guess was correct, and she instantly breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with even more gratitude.
The man reached into the front seat and handed over a paper bag: “This is your older brother’s pension. Take it. Families of martyrs receive preferential treatment. The military will cover your mother’s medical expenses, and you won’t have to do these heavy jobs anymore.”
Lin Yuqiu took the paper bag, a lump forming in her throat: “Then, what about my older brother’s ashes?”
Zhou Runqing looked down at her as her eyes gradually reddened and mist filled her eyes.
His voice also became slow and deliberate, with a hint of military restraint: “He was buried in the martyrs’ cemetery.”
Lin Yuqiu was sobbing uncontrollably, her throat choked with emotion, but she couldn’t lose face in front of outsiders: “Thank you for your care, Commander Zhou. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now.”
“There’s one more thing.”
A voice suddenly came from behind her. Lin Yuqiu paused in her hand as she opened the door, and turned around to look at him in confusion.
The man spoke in an authoritative, elder-like tone, “Your elder brother entrusted you to me before he died.”
“I will marry you. You won’t have to go to the countryside or do these heavy jobs anymore. I will take care of your mother’s follow-up treatment, and I will also investigate the whereabouts of your father and second brother.”
The man’s handsome face was unusually serious and earnest.
Lin Yuqiu felt a thud in her heart and was stunned for a moment, unable to recover for a long time.
Zhou Runqing’s cold and sharp face showed no warmth, and his tone was as calm as if he were simply stating a fact.
“Your elder brother has been kind to me, this is just to repay that kindness, you don’t need to feel guilty.”
“Think it over and give me an answer.”