The moment Wang Chunhua heard the hospital clerk threaten to call the Public Security Bureau, her first instinct was to charge back into the hospital and continue the fight.
In all her years, when had she ever suffered such humiliation? Five whole yuan had gone into the hospital's hands, yet her son's severed fingers had not been reattached. The more she thought about it, the more her heart bled.
However, when she saw Li Guofu's frightened expression and the dark look on Li Changfu's face, she forcibly swallowed her anger. Even she understood that once public security officers became involved, the matter would no longer be so simple. Thus, she could only grit her teeth and follow her husband and son away from the hospital.
Behind them, Li Guosheng deliberately stayed behind. He kept several meters of distance between himself and the family, pretending not to know them. If he walked beside them now, people might associate him with their family. That would be too embarrassing.
Meanwhile, Wang Chunhua continued muttering resentfully as they walked down the dusty county road. Turning toward Li Changfu, she wailed pitifully, "Old man, tell me, what should we do now? Our son has become crippled, and on top of that, we couldn't even get our money back."
As soon as those words left her mouth, Li Guofu's expression darkened. The anger he had been suppressing since yesterday finally erupted.
His bloodshot eyes fixed on Wang Chunhua, "Money! Money! Money!" He raised his heavily bandaged hand. "Is money the only thing you care about?" His voice grew louder with each word. "Your son lost his thumb and index finger and you keep talking about five yuan, but have you ever thought about what will happen to me now?"
The veins on his neck bulged, "What kind of mother are you? When the doctor said I should be taken to a city hospital, why didn't you agree? Why didn't you take me there? If we had gone immediately, maybe my fingers could have been saved!"
Wang Chunhua was stunned by the outburst. Then her eyes instantly reddened, "Aiya! How can you say such heartless words, Guofu? Do you think your mother doesn't love you? My heart hurts more than anyone else's!"
She pointed at her chest dramatically, "When I saw your severed fingers, I wished I could cut off my own flesh instead! But going to the city... how easy do you think that is?"
"Train tickets, finding a place to stay, hospital treatment costs money and meals, all of them costs money. Our family simply doesn't have that kind of money anymore."
Then Wang Chunhua's face darkened, "In the past, when Li Guoqiang's allowance was still in my hands, life was different, every month there was money. But now, it has all been taken away by that little bitch. If not for her causing trouble, would our family be living like this today?"
The more she spoke, the angrier she became, "That little disaster star, unfilial thing. One day heaven will collect her debt."
Li Guofu listened in silence. Yet the moment he heard Li Shuying's name, his expression became even uglier. A vicious hatred flashed through his eyes.
Li Shuying... Again.
Yet despite his hatred, he knew now was not the time to deal with her. Slowly, his gaze fell upon his bandaged hand. The hatred in his eyes faded, replaced it was despair. He still couldn't accept reality that his hand was permanently crippled, he would never again possess a complete right hand.
Everything had happened too suddenly. The day before, he had carefully packed his belongings. He had even gone to bed early.
According to his plan, he would leave the village the following morning and lie low elsewhere for a few days until the trouble surrounding Li Jianhua settled down.
Everything had been arranged perfectly. Yet when dawn arrived, his world had collapsed.
Even now, he could remember the scene vividly. The thick smell of blood, the bright red stains spreading across the kang mattress. And then those two severed fingers lying quietly beside him.
At first, his mind had refused to comprehend what he was seeing. For a brief moment, he had thought he was still dreaming, then the pain arrived like a mountain crashing down upon him. A pain so intense that it nearly tore apart his soul. His scream had echoed throughout the entire Li family courtyard.
His face turned pale and cold sweat appeared on his forehead. The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. Because even until now, he still could not understand how it had happened.
Li Changfu intrupted his thoughts, "Didn't you hear what the doctor said?" he said in an irritated tone. "Even if we had taken you to the city, there was no guarantee your fingers could have been saved. It would have been nothing more than a gamble. And for a gamble, we would have had to spend a fortune."
Li Guofu clenched his jaw but remained silent. Deep down, he knew his father was not entirely wrong. The doctors in the county hospital had indeed said there was only a slim chance of success. Yet understanding it and accepting it were two different things. No matter how small the chance had been, it was still a chance.
Beside him, Wang Chunhua immediately changed the subject, "But we still don't know who harmed our Guofu. We can't simply let the bastard run free after crippling my precious son!"
She turned toward Li Guofu and grabbed his sleeve, "Guofu, think carefully, is there really nothing you remember from that night?"
Li Guofu felt another headache coming. He had already answered the same question countless times since yesterday. His patience was long gone.
"I already told you, I don't know. I was asleep. When I woke up, my fingers were gone. What else do you want me to say?"
Li Changfu immediately glared at him, "Were you dead that night? A living person entered your room, cut off two fingers, and you didn't notice anything?" The old man's face darkened. "The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it sounds."
Li Guofu's expression became ugly. He wanted to argue, but he could not. Because he himself found the entire situation absurd. He truly could not understand what had happened. His room had been locked. No one should have been able to enter unnoticed.
Yet somehow someone had entered, severed two of his fingers, and left without waking him. The entire thing felt like a nightmare.
Seeing her son being scolded, Wang Chunhua immediately became unhappy.
"Aiya, can you stop cursing our son for once? Our Guofu has already suffered enough. How can a father speak such unlucky words? Look at his condition, my heart is breaking just looking at him."
Li Changfu merely snorted. He did not continue the argument. The three continued walking along the dusty county road.
Meanwhile, Li Guofu gradually fell into deep thought. Who could it have been? Over the years, he had offended quite a few people in the village. But most of those disputes were small matters. Nothing serious enough for someone to cut off his fingers.
Suddenly, one name surfaced in his mind, Li Jianhua and his footsteps slowed. Among all the people he had offended recently, Li Jianhua was undoubtedly at the top of the list. The things he had done to him, even he had to admit they were ruthless.
For a brief moment, Li Guofu's pupils contracted. Could it have been Li Jianhua? The thought startled him. But almost immediately he shook his head. That boy did not have such courage.
If Li Jianhua had possessed that kind of ruthlessness, he would not have fallen into his schemes so easily. Nor would he have endured humiliation. Yet despite rejecting the idea, the name refused to leave his mind.
Just then, a familiar voice sounded from behind them, "Mother! Father!"
The family turned around and saw Li Guosheng running toward them from the direction of the county gate.
When he finally caught up, he bent slightly to catch his breath.
Li Changfu immediately frowned, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the fields? Today is the first day of planting, the entire production brigade is working. Don't tell me you've abandoned your work and ran all the way here."
Li Guosheng quickly waved his hands, "Father, calm down, the planting won't be delayed. I'm not here because of that. There is something important I need to tell you."
The seriousness in his tone immediately caught everyone's attention.
Li Changfu narrowed his eyes, "What happened?"
Li Guosheng swallowed and said, "Li Guoqiang has returned to the village."
"What?" Both Wang Chunhua and Li Changfu exclaimed at the same time. Their expressions changed instantly.
Li Changfu's brows furrowed tightly, "Why is he suddenly back?"
Li Guosheng quickly shook his head, "I don't know either." He paused before continuing, "But I saw him entering the village with my own eyes. He was carrying luggage, and there were several large grain sacks and baskets with him. Li Shuying was walking beside him."
"At first, I wanted to follow them and see what was going on, but then I thought it would be better to come and inform you first." His voice gradually weakened toward the end.
Li Changfu glanced at him and immediately understood. He snorted coldly, "It was your wife who told you to come, wasn't it?"
Li Guosheng's face stiffened, he instantly felt awkward. After all, his father had guessed correctly. The moment Zhang Xiuli learned that Li Guoqiang had returned, she had urged him repeatedly to hurry to the county and inform Wang Chunhua and Li Changfu.
Seeing his reaction, Li Changfu immediately knew he was right, "Hmph." He spat lightly onto the roadside.
However, before he could say anything else, Wang Chunhua interrupted impatiently, "Enough. What does it matter who informed whom? The important thing is that Guoqiang is back." A calculating expression slowly appeared on her face.
When her gaze landed on Li Guofu's bandaged hand, her expression darkened further, "Look at our Guofu, he has already become crippled, and we couldn't do anything about it. And why did this happen? Because of that little disaster star from the second branch. If Li Shuying hadn't caused all those troubles, would our family have ended up like this?"
The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, "Now that Guoqiang has returned, it is time he remembers his duties. He is still a son of the Li family. He must hand over his monthly allowance again. He cannot simply watch his younger brother suffer."
Li Changfu remained silent for a moment, then he slowly nodded, "You're right, no matter what happened before, Guofu is still his younger brother. As the second eldest son of the family, it is his responsibility to help."
His voice carried the unquestionable authority of a patriarch.
After thinking for a moment, he continued, "Moreover, Guoqiang is a soldier, he has connectiona, he also gets along quite well with Brigade Leader Liu Zhensheng. If he is willing to speak on our behalf, securing a residential plot within the village shouldn't be difficult. Once we obtain a piece of land, we can build a proper marital house for Guofu. After that, finding him a wife will become much easier."
Then his gaze landed on Li Guofu's bandaged hand. The old man's expression softened slightly, "As for going to the city..." He shook his head. "We should stop dreaming about that."
The words struck Li Guofu like a hammer. His entire body stiffened. The reality he had desperately avoided finally surfaced before him. He was disabled now with a missing thumb and index finger, so no factory would willingly hire a worker like him.
The dream he had held onto for years, the dream of obtaining an urban household registration and becoming a state worker, was now a distant dream.
His jaw clenched tightly. Hatred and unwillingness churned violently inside him. Yet he could not refute his father's words.
Wang Chunhua, however, immediately became agitated, "What nonsense are you talking about? My Guofu will definitely become a city resident." She slapped her thigh. "Heavens above, how can you say such unlucky things?"
Her eyes suddenly lit up. As if remembering something important, she hurriedly said, "Didn't Xiuying return today as well? We can ask Xiuying for help. She works in a railway equipment factory in Anshan and also an urban resident. Maybe she can help arrange something for Guofu."
The moment those words left her mouth, Li Changfu's expression darkened. He looked at Wang Chunhua as though she had lost her mind, "Have you forgotten how your precious niece got that job? Or do you think everyone else has forgotten?"
The excitement on Wang Chunhua's face froze instantly. For a brief moment, embarrassment flashed across her eyes. Naturally, she knew exactly how Wang Xiuying had obtained her position.
That matter had never been discussed openly, but everyone involved understood the truth.
Seeing her silence, Li Changfu snorted coldly, "Daydreaming all day." Without waiting for anyone else, he adjusted the bundle on his shoulder and began walking toward the village.
Li Guosheng exchanged a glance with Li Guofu before quickly following behind. Wang Chunhua hesitated briefly before hurrying after them as well.
Meanwhile, Li Guofu remained standing in place for several seconds. His gaze fell once more upon his bandaged hand. The pain seemed to intensify and slowly, his eyes darkened.
At the Li family house, the atmosphere had finally settled down. Inside the living room, Widow He, Grand Aunt Li, Li Guoqiang, Li Jianmin, Li Jianguo and Lu twins sat together, chatting quietly while waiting for lunch.
Meanwhile, Li Shuying was busy alone in the kitchen. Earlier, Widow He had insisted on helping, but Li Shuying had politely refused.
After all, no one knew better than Li Shuying why she wanted to prepare the meal herself.
Today was a special day. Her father had finally returned after nearly a year away from home. Grand Aunt Li and Widow He were also present. For Li Shuying, these people were not merely neighbors, they were family. As she lightined the clay stove, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the living room.
Through the doorway, she could see the weathered faces of the two elderly women. Deep wrinkles marked their skin. One glance was enough to reveal how difficult their lives had been.
The years since Liberation had not been easy for ordinary rural families. Natural disasters, shortages, political campaigns, and endless labor had worn countless people down. And now, as the years grew harder instead of easier, old people like Grand Aunt Li and Widow He were among the most vulnerable.
Li Shuying sighed softly, she knew very well that surviving the coming years would not be easy, especially for the elderly.
More importantly, she trusted them. Grand Aunt Li was straightforward and protective. Widow He had a sharp tongue and loved gossip, but she was fiercely loyal to those she considered her own. If anyone dared to bully the people under her protection, Widow He would become the first person to charge into battle.
Li Shuying understood their personalities well. Because of that, she felt completely at ease treating them to a good meal. Especially considering everything they had done for her family.
She still remembered what her mother had told her after she reborn half a month ago. That night, when her fever had risen so high that everyone feared she might not survive, it had been Grand Aunt Li who rushed over with money. It had been her son who helped carry her through the darkness to the barefoot doctor's clinic.
So, although the original Li Shuying of this time actually died, without them, the outcome might have been very different.
Such kindness could not be forgotten. Li Shuying had always believed in repaying favors. Now that she possessed the Farm System, she naturally wanted the people she cared about to benefit as well.
With that thought, her movements became lighter. She began taking ingredients out one after another. Everything was still fresh and vibrant.
However, when she searched through the kitchen supplies, her good mood weakened slightly. The family's seasoning reserves were nearly exhausted.
There was only a small pouch of coarse salt remaining. A half-empty bottle of soy sauce sat in the corner and beside it was a tiny bowl containing a few spoonfuls of chili paste. That was all.
Li Shuying shook her head helplessly. It seemed another trip to the county would be necessary soon.
After organizing her thoughts, she quickly finalized the menu. Pork and Chinese cabbage dumplings. Chicken, eggplant, and cabbage stew. Stir-fried shredded white radish and finally Garlic pickle.
For an ordinary rural family, such a meal would be considered extraordinarily lavish and if outsiders saw it, they would probably think the Li family had suddenly become wealthy. Fortunately, everyone present was trustworthy.
After making her decision, Li Shuying quietly closed her eyes and her consciousness instantly entered the Farm System space. Inside the system kitchen she immediately spotted Poluo for making dumplings and a large iron wok for preparing the stew.
Outside, the atmosphere had become far lighter. Seated on small wooden stools beneath the eaves, Widow He, Grand-aunt Li, and Li Guoqiang chatted animatedly. The warm autumn sunlight spilled into the courtyard, and laughter could occasionally be heard.
Grand-aunt Li listened attentively as Li Guoqiang spoke about Baicheng. She sighed softly and shook her head, "This old woman has never crossed the Eastern Mountains in her entire life," she said with a chuckle. "I've only heard people talk about Baicheng. Hearing you describe it now, aiya, it almost makes me wonder whether I'll ever see such a place before I close my eyes."
Li Guoqiang smiled, "Grand-aunt," he said warmly, "you've always treated me like your own son. If you ever wish to visit Baicheng, you're welcome anytime. I will personally receive you." He paused before adding with a grin, "In fact, when I return, I could even take you along."
Grand-aunt Li immediately waved both hands, "No, no, no." Her laughter deepened the wrinkles around her eyes, "This old woman's legs aren't what they used to be. If I followed you, I'd only become a burden. Besides, what would I go there for? Seeing mountains is mountains, seeing buildings is buildings. Hearing your stories is enough for me."
Li Guoqiang laughed, "Grand-aunt, you always say that."
As the two continued talking, Widow He remained unusually quiet. Her fingers twisted nervously in her lap. Several times she opened her mouth only to close it again. Finally, gathering her courage, she spoke, "Guoqiang..."
Li Guoqiang immediately turned toward her, "Aunt He?"
Widow He hesitated, "You know my Baogen, don't you?"
Li Guoqiang nodded, "Of course I know him."
At the mention of her son, Widow He's eyes softened, "My Baogen is a good boy. He's strong, healthy, and can work in the fields harder than an ox." A trace of pride flashed across her weathered face.
"But this year he's already twenty-one." Her smile faded, "And still unmarried, you know how people talk. Although our country had spent years criticizing feudal customs, old habits remained deeply rooted in everyone. A widow raising a son alone would inevitably become the subject of gossip. Many claimed marrying into my household would bring bad luck."
"My son is also stubborn." She sighed, "He says he won't marry until he can leave the village and earn a proper allowance. He keeps saying that if he remains a farmer his entire life, no girl will willingly marry him."
She looked hopefully at Li Guoqiang, "So I wanted to ask, do you think my Baogen could join the army?"
Li Guoqiang was slightly surprised. After all, He Baogen was Widow He's only child. For most rural families, allowing their only son to leave home was not an easy decision.
After a moment's thought, he nodded, "It shouldn't be difficult."
Widow He's eyes immediately brightened.
Li Guoqiang continued, "The old voluntary enlistment system ended last year. Nowadays recruitment is usually organized through county mobilization campaigns and Youth League channels."
He thought briefly before adding, "Baogen meets the age requirement. His health is good, and his work record in the production team is excellent. If nothing unexpected happens, he should qualify."
Widow He's eyes became moist, "Really?"
Li Guoqiang smiled, "Really." Then, as if remembering something, his expression turned more serious, "However, Aunt He, there is one thing you must remember. When recruitment begins later this year, make sure Baogen only goes through official government channels." His voice carried unusual emphasis, "No matter who approaches him beforehand, don't let him believe random promises."
Widow He blinked, "Why?"
Li Guoqiang paused. Naturally, he couldn't reveal details regarding the mission. So he simply replied, "These days there are many people with ulterior motives. Better to be cautious."
Widow He nodded repeatedly, "Good, good. I understand." At that moment her heart was practically floating. If Baogen could truly join the People's Liberation Army, then perhaps his future would be completely different. The more she thought about it, the happier she became.
Just then... Creak. The rear door leading from the outhouse opened and Chen Meilan stepped into the living room, freshly washed and dressed in clean clothes.
Seeing everyone gathered together, a faint smile appeared on her lips. The heaviness weighing upon her heart had eased considerably after speaking with Li Guoqiang. For the first time in many days, she felt as though she could breathe freely.
"Grand-aunt Li, Aunt He," she called gently, "What are you all talking about?"
Widow He was the first to turn around. A broad smile had already appeared on her face, "You know what, Li Guo..." Her words abruptly stopped and eyes widened. She shot to her feet so quickly that the stool nearly toppled behind her. The gasp that escaped her mouth startled everyone.
Grand-aunt Li frowned, "What's wrong with you?" But when she turned and saw Chen Meilan standing there, her own eyes widened. For several seconds she simply stared. Then she muttered under her breath, "Heavens above..."
Across the room, Li Guoqiang, Li Jianmin, Li Jianguo, and even the little twins had already gone completely still. Nobody spoke or moved but just stood up one after one in shock and absolute horror.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on Chen Meilan.
Chen Meilan blinked in confusion. The strange silence made her increasingly uneasy, "What's going on?"
Her bewildered voice broke the silence. But no one answered immediately.