"You ungrateful brat, you don't know right from wrong, you hopeless thing, you'll be like this your whole life." Old Mrs. Chen felt a pang of fear, but she spat heavily at her, "Who came to your house to cheat money? With your demeanor, you can't even scrounge up fifty yuan, and you still want someone to see a doctor? I'm telling you, bullying me, Zhao Pozi, just wait until I bring back the Great Immortal, your father won't make it through the year, just wait to die..."
Before she could finish, she felt a sharp pain on her lips. Chen Lishu had already slapped her foul mouth heavily.
"You bitch, how dare you lay a hand on me? I'll fight you to the death today!" Zhang Chunyan, seeing her mother-in-law being bullied and not getting the money, and being insulted by a mere girl, was furious and lunged at Chen Lishu.
Chen Lishu wasn't slow to react. She directly grabbed a stool beside her and swung it at Zhang Chunyan.
As the saying goes, the meek fear the fierce, and the fierce fear those who are fearless. Seeing the stool coming her way, Zhang Chunyan cried out in fear, "Mommy!" and ran outside with her hands protecting her head.
The others also looked very scared, especially at Chen Lishu's eyes, which didn't look like she was bluffing at all. If Zhang Chunyan hadn't dodged quickly, her head would have been split open.
"Didn't I say before that anyone who dares to target my parents again will have to deal with me?"
A cold voice followed. Old Mrs. Chen and Zhang Chunhua both shivered. When it came to Chen Lishu, they could only accept their bad luck and no longer dared to mention money. They hurried away with Zhang Chunyan.
Seeing everyone leave, Chen Lishu didn't pursue them. She threw the stool in her hand and walked towards the brigade headquarters.
...
Zhang Chunyan and Zhao Pozi came out of Chen Mantun's house. The more they thought about it, the more wronged they felt. They turned and went to Widow Liu's house.
Ever since Zhao Xiao'e and Liu Dabao started dating, the two families had become in-laws. As soon as she entered Liu's house, Zhao Pozi told Widow Liu about the incident.
Usually, when she went to see patients, people would beg her to come. Today, she was driven out. How could she swallow this insult?
Before Widow Liu could say anything, Liu Dabao jumped out. At this time, he definitely couldn't lose face in front of his girlfriend Zhao Xiao'e. To show his might, Liu Dabao cursed and said to Zhao Pozi and Zhang Chunyan:
"Grandma, Auntie, this matter cannot be let go. If that Chen woman dares to bully you, it means she doesn't put me, Liu Dabao, in her eyes. Just you wait, this matter is on me. Not only will I make her return that fifty yuan, but if she dares to lay a hand on you, I'll make her regret it!"
Zhao Xiao'e looked at Liu Dabao like this. Although he was not tall or strong, his actions were very manly. She had not mistaken the person.
...
Chen Lishu went to the brigade headquarters. Upon hearing that Chen Mantun was ill, the brigade leader Sun Yuzhu immediately hitched up a horse carriage and came over.
The family dressed Chen Mantun and helped him into the carriage. Soon after, they arrived at the county central hospital.
"Doctor, what illness does my father have?" After a series of examinations, Chen Lishu asked the doctor with some worry.
"Jaundice hepatitis. Fortunately, he was sent in time. If you had delayed for another two days, we wouldn't have been able to accept him. Some illnesses cannot be delayed. If you feel unwell, you must come to the hospital promptly."
The doctor looked at the mother and daughter with approval. "Now, many people endure their illnesses on their own. When they can't bear it anymore, they just take some Analgin for pain relief. A patient was sent in two days ago. They even invited a 'house guardian immortal' at home. A minor cold was dragged into pulmonary tuberculosis. Sigh."
Wu Chunmei listened to the doctor's words and felt a lingering fear. If Chen Lishu hadn't been decisive and discovered it in time, her child's father would have been delayed by her.
"Doctor, is my child's father's illness serious? Can he be cured?" Wu Chunmei's eyes turned red as she spoke.
"Although there is no danger to life, this is not a minor illness. He needs to be hospitalized for infusions for at least a week. After discharge, pay attention to your diet and take care of yourself slowly, and there will be no major problems."
After coming out of the doctor's office, Chen Lishu went to the ward to see Chen Mantun. He was still receiving infusions and still looked weak. After comforting him a few words, Chen Lishu turned to discuss with Wu Chunmei, "Mom, you heard what the doctor just said. Dad needs to stay in the hospital for a while longer. You are not feeling well, so don't rush back and forth. I'll go back with the brigade's vehicle later to pack some clean clothes for you and Dad."
"What about the family?" Wu Chunmei was worried about the children at home.
"Liyuan is also older and can definitely look after the younger ones. If necessary, I'll ask my mother-in-law to come over and keep them company for a few days."
As the year was drawing near, the security in the various brigades was not good. The poor, unable to get through the year, started stealing everywhere. Even more outrageously, they even set fires. Without an adult at home to look after them, especially all girls, if there was a sudden noise, it might frighten them.
"Alas, I'll have to trouble my in-laws again." Wu Chunmei sighed and nodded at Chen Lishu. "You go. I'll take care of your father."
Before leaving, Chen Lishu left her another ten yuan and then went downstairs to find the brigade leader Sun Yuzhu.
Upon returning to the village, she first went home to inform Li Xiulan and Zhang Qin. She would be busy for the next few days, and Ruirui couldn't be taken around. She could only trouble Zhang Qin to look after him more.
"Third sister-in-law, don't worry. Ruirui is a very sensible child. He plays well with Xiaosong and the others. If needed, I'll have him sleep in my room tonight."
Chen Lishu then explained a few things to Ruirui, then went back to her room to pack a couple of clothes and then went to Chen's house.
Just as she and Chen Liyuan had finished packing Chen Mantun and his wife's clothes and were about to leave, the door was suddenly kicked open from the outside.
Leading the way was a middle-aged man in a public security uniform, followed by Liu Dabao, Widow Liu, Zhao Pozi, Zhang Chunyan, and an unfamiliar young girl.
"Comrade Public Security, it's her. She owes money and doesn't pay, and she casually resorts to violence."
...
It was the slack farming season. Although it was freezing outside, there were always a few people who couldn't stand the loneliness and went around visiting.
Seeing public security comrades in uniform entering the village, everyone immediately widened their eyes and pricked up their ears to see whose house they were going to. When they saw them heading towards Chen Mantun's house, they immediately exploded.
"I haven't heard of the Chen family doing anything wrong. Didn't the team's car say that Chen Mantun was ill and the couple went to the county central hospital?"
Someone who knew the situation quickly explained, "You guys still don't know? Widow Liu has already announced this news to half the street. Chen Mantun asked her in-law to come and see a doctor, but he didn't pay the money. So, they reported it to the police station."
"No, I heard they were asking for a sky-high price, demanding fifty yuan for the consultation. My family's annual work points, after repaying the credit at the supply and marketing cooperative, are less than fifty yuan left."
Gu Xingye had just returned from outside and was about to go home for a meal. Upon hearing everyone's discussion, his expression changed, and he quickly pushed his bicycle and walked home.