Today, Qi Dage had specifically taken leave to accompany Qi Ziyue to the hospital for a check-up.
He had said they would go at noon, but in reality, the time he mentioned was even earlier than what Qi Ziyue had heard the day before. Just after breakfast, her elder brother said he would take her to the hospital.
The distance from the Qi family alley to the hospital wasn’t far—about a 30-minute bicycle ride. They lived in the western district, while the People’s Hospital was in the central area of the eastern city.
When Qi Ziyue saw her elder brother roll out his “28-inch bicycle,” she couldn’t help feeling a bit intrigued. It was the legendary “28 big bar” bicycle, a symbol of status and identity.
It was said that in the 1970s and 80s, owning a bicycle was enough to make neighbors envious. Children would even chase after one for kilometers just to get a closer look.
In modern times, Qi Ziyue had a weak constitution, and her family rarely let her ride a bicycle. So she had never experienced sitting on the back seat like this before.
But she was quite bold.
Once she got on, she kept touching here and there on the bicycle, curious about its structure. She even asked her brother about parts she didn’t understand. After fully figuring out how it worked, she finally sat down satisfied on the back seat.
She was thinking further ahead—this era required both money and ration coupons to buy things. Money was one thing, but coupons were limited and strictly issued. In some families, it took a whole year just to save a bicycle industrial coupon.
Once she went down to the countryside as an educated youth, her family would likely be affected too. Getting a bicycle coupon then would be even harder.
So she might as well just draw a bicycle instead.
Qi Dage was a skilled rider. After she got on, she instinctively hugged her brother’s waist.
He didn’t resist her closeness. Instead, he gently reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let you fall.”
Even so, he deliberately avoided potholes and gravel along the road. By the time they left the alley, Qi Ziyue barely felt any bumps at all.
Leaning against her brother’s back, listening to the wind rushing past, she suddenly asked, “Brother, when I go back… will I still be locked up?”
Her voice was soft and pitiful.
Qi Ziheng paused slightly, glanced at the sky, then gently replied, “As long as you’re normal again, you’ll be allowed out.”
Qi Ziyue understood from this.
As for the child, the family still didn’t accept him. So letting him out was basically impossible.
She cautiously asked, “Then what about An’an? I want to take him out for a walk. He’s so big already, and I’ve never properly taken him out shopping.”
The sky wasn’t snowing, just a light drizzle. Even though her voice was softened by the wind, her brother definitely heard her.
But this time, he didn’t answer.
Qi Ziyue was tactful. Since he didn’t want to continue that topic, she changed it.
She tightened her hold on his waist slightly and said, “Brother, when I was… not well, I could still feel things outside. I knew when I couldn’t control myself and hurt myself. It was always you who held me, or An’an who held me. I’ve been like that for years. Luckily, you never disliked me. Thank you for taking care of me.”
This was true.
Qi Ziheng truly cared deeply for his younger sister.
After all, it was rare for someone to maintain such patience toward a mentally ill family member for so many years. That alone made Qi Ziyue admire him.
In most families, such pressure would already be overwhelming.
Especially for a family like the Qis—logically, someone like her should have been sent away rather than kept at home.
Because of this, Qi Ziyue was willing to put more effort into understanding the Qi family situation.
As the eldest son, Qi Ziheng rarely showed emotions, but her words still softened him. He smiled faintly and said only one thing: “You’re my little sister. I won’t ignore you.”
Just that sentence—you’re my little sister—was genuinely moving.
Qi Ziyue almost forgot her goal for a moment, then quickly shifted back.
“Brother, I want to help you too now that I’m better.”
She continued, “I know our family is in a difficult situation. Many professors and teachers outside have been sent down. Even though our family has avoided it so far, the movement is still ongoing. We don’t know when it might reach us.”
Qi Ziheng responded softly, “Mm. Don’t worry about these things. Your brother and father will handle it.”
Qi Ziyue nearly got derailed again, but she pressed on.
“But brother, this situation can’t be underestimated. Especially our family… if I was once locked up, and then there’s also a child being hidden, people might use that as leverage against us.”
She lowered her voice. “They might say we’re hiding something. That we’re suspicious. Then what if someone reports us and the Red Guards come to investigate?”
“If they really come… wouldn’t they dig up old issues? Wouldn’t that implicate you too?”
Qi Ziheng suddenly braked hard.
Partly because of a stone ahead, and partly because her words made him alert.
But he still reassured her, “Don’t worry. Your brother isn’t afraid.”
“But what about your opponents?” she asked lightly. “Wouldn’t they be happy?”
That made him fall silent.
She didn’t push further and instead changed tone, tugging his clothes slightly in a spoiled manner. “Brother, if I’m cleared after the check-up, can I go buy clothes?”
“You’re not safe alone.”
Just when she thought she might need more persuasion, he added, “If you’re really fine after we go back, I’ll let your sister-in-law go with you.”
That seemed to be the limit.
Qi Ziyue immediately smiled sweetly. “Okay, thank you brother.”
That “brother” was soft, sweet, and coaxing. By the end of the ride, she had nearly convinced him to give her anything she asked for—except releasing the child.
He even gave her money and ration coupons, though she didn’t accept them.
The hospital examination included psychiatric evaluations, brain checks, and general assessments. Qi Ziyue’s performance was completely normal.
The doctor concluded that she had fully recovered.
Her brother, overjoyed, bought a large carp from the market on the way home to make fish soup.
Her mother was also happy and gave her money, ration coupons, fabric coupons, and food stamps to buy clothes and take care of herself.
Her brother also gave her money and an industrial coupon. This time, she didn’t refuse.
The next day, her sister-in-law accompanied her to buy clothes.
Since the supply and marketing cooperative and department store weren’t far, Qi Ziyue declined the offer to send them by bicycle.
On the way, she naturally took her sister-in-law’s arm, appearing close and friendly.
In truth, her sister-in-law had some resentment toward her, since her husband had spent so much time taking care of this “sick” little sister, leaving less attention for his wife.
Who wouldn’t mind that?
But now that the “sick” sister had recovered, the sister-in-law had also adjusted her attitude. There was no point arguing with someone who had been ill.
Qi Ziyue, unaware of her thoughts, began casually talking about the second sister-in-law.
Her pale, thin face still looked weak, but she smiled often, and her words had a calming charm that made people instinctively listen.
The elder sister-in-law naturally didn’t get along with the second sister-in-law. In a family that hadn’t been divided, conflict was inevitable.
Qi Ziyue pretended not to notice and said casually, “Sister-in-law, do you think once I recover, my second sister-in-law will try to marry me off?”
The answer was obvious—of course she would.
But the sister-in-law only comforted her, “No one in the family would harm you. Don’t worry.”
Qi Ziyue responded quickly, “If it’s you and brother, I believe that. But second sister-in-law… I’m not so sure.”
She continued, “I’m just a burden who used to be sick. If I marry off, especially if it’s arranged by her, it might actually be bad for you.”
The sister-in-law frowned, not understanding.
Qi Ziyue explained calmly, step by step, implying that the second sister-in-law was likely to use her marriage for personal gain—possibly even leveraging connections for herself.
She spoke gently, but every word struck deeper.
By the end, the sister-in-law was already feeling uneasy and angry.
If the second sister-in-law really tried to use this to gain advantage and suppress her in the household…
She absolutely wouldn’t allow it.
She might not be able to tolerate it at all.
Before anything even happened, she was already ready to confront her.