Wu Chunmei and Zhang Qin arrived at noon, and Gu Xingdong drove to the train station to pick them up.
"Mom, Sister-in-law, why did you bring so many things?" Seeing that each of them was carrying something, Gu Xingdong hurried to take the bags.
"I heard your in-laws say that things here are particularly expensive. The potatoes and green onions are all grown in our own fields, and there's also millet, eggs, and dates. Lishu can use them when she's confined after childbirth."
Wu Chunmei wiped the sweat from her forehead. Ever since she knew Chen Lishu was pregnant before the Lunar New Year, she had been preparing. She had suffered a lot during her own confinement, and now that times were better, she didn't want her daughter to go through the same.
Soon, the three got into the car. It was the first time Wu Chunmei and Zhang Qin had ridden in a car, and they felt both novelty and a sense of awkwardness, not knowing where to put their hands and feet.
They sat stiffly all the way. Upon arriving and seeing that the new house was a standalone two-story building, they were even more taken aback.
"Mom, Sister-in-law, come in quickly."
Gu Xingdong led the way with the bags.
"Where is the baby? We want to see," Upon entering the house and seeing Li Xiulan, Wu Chunmei and Zhang Qin relaxed considerably, eager to see the child.
Li Xiulan replied, "On the second floor. Lishu just finished feeding them, and both babies are asleep."
They were only a couple of days old, and the little ones didn't have much energy yet, so they slept a lot.
Chen Lishu was very happy to see Wu Chunmei and Zhang Qin arrive. After the adults greeted each other, everyone gathered to look at the babies.
"Her eyes look exactly like Lishu's when she was little," Wu Chunmei said, smiling as she looked at the baby.
Unlike Li Xiulan, Chen Lishu was her first child, making this her first time seeing her grandchildren. Her eyes were reluctant to move away.
"Are my father and younger sister at home doing well?"
Wu Chunmei smiled, "They're fine. Lǐfēi graduated from junior high school this year and can help out at home. That's why I felt at ease coming out. She's been taking care of the melons on the mountain with your dad. They planted a lot this year, and I heard many people have bought them. They've already sold the first harvest."
Chen Lishu nodded; it was good that everything was well.
With two more people to help, there was no need to worry about the children, and dinner was prepared quickly.
The family ate a lively dinner together. Chen Lishu, however, could only eat salt-free confinement meals.
Chen Lishu's milk was now basically enough for both babies, and Gu Xingdong helped at night. Therefore, Wu Chunmei and Zhang Qin were also arranged to stay on the first floor, living with Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue.
Considering the two had a tiring day of travel, everyone went to rest early.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
In the middle of the night, the bedroom door was suddenly knocked upon urgently. Gu Xingdong, always alert, immediately opened his eyes, rolled out of bed, glanced at Chen Lishu sleeping soundly beside him, grabbed his clothes, and quickly went downstairs.
"Are you Gu Xingdong?"
The visitor, holding a flashlight and panting, spoke breathlessly.
"I am."
Seeing him confirm, the person anxiously said, "Is Gu Xingye your brother? He was in a car accident and is at the People's Hospital. You need to go there quickly."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xingdong's expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a cry from behind him, "What did you say? What happened to Xingye?"
Li Xiulan had also come out to check upon hearing the commotion. When she heard the words, her vision darkened, and she almost fainted. Fortunately, Wu Chunmei supported her. "In-law, are you alright?"
"Mom, don't worry. We don't know the situation yet. I'll go and see right now." Gu Xingdong quickly comforted her.
Li Xiulan grabbed his arm, "No, no, Xingdong, Mom will go with you."
She couldn't just wait at home while her son's condition was unknown.
Gu Xingdong hesitated, then nodded. He turned to Wu Chunmei and said, "Mom, if we're not back tomorrow, please tell Lishu not to worry."
After a brief instruction, the mother and son quickly left, taking the messenger with them and rushing to the People's Hospital.
"...I was driving a truck to deliver goods. It was dark, and the streetlights were dim. Who knew a bicycle would suddenly rush out from the opposite direction? It was too late to brake..."
The man was also experiencing this for the first time and was very flustered, rambling to explain that it wasn't intentional.
The traffic police would determine fault. Gu Xingdong was most concerned about Gu Xingye's injuries, so he drove very fast. They arrived at the City People's Hospital not long after.
Ding Chen's forehead and arm wounds had already been bandaged. He was sitting in the back seat, so his injuries were only abrasions. However, Gu Xingye had fainted at the time, and doctors were still trying to save him.
"Brother-in-law, Auntie." Seeing Gu Xingdong and Li Xiulan arrive, Ding Chen stood up from his stool.
"What's the situation now? Are you alright?" Gu Xingdong asked, noticing Ding Chen's multiple injuries.
"My injuries aren't serious. It's just that Fourth Brother is still in emergency treatment."
Hearing the word "emergency treatment," Li Xiulan's legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground. Tears immediately welled up.
Gu Xingdong quickly helped her to sit down. "Mom, don't worry too much. They were riding bicycles, and the speed wasn't fast. It shouldn't be too serious."
As they were talking, the emergency room door opened, and Gu Xingye was wheeled out.
"Who is the patient's family?"
Gu Xingdong quickly stepped forward. "I am. I'm his brother."
"The patient has a head injury, causing a concussion, and a fractured leg. He is currently still unconscious, but his life is not in danger. He will need observation for the next few hours. If he wakes up, please notify us immediately."
Hearing that his life was not in danger, everyone present collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
"What exactly happened? Why was he riding a bicycle out so late at night?" After settling the patient, Gu Xingdong asked Ding Chen.
"When Fourth Brother called me, he said there was a collapse at the construction site and people were trapped inside. I don't know the specifics. The feed mill and the design unit are all at the scene, and they want to ask questions, so Fourth Brother urgently called me to go. Who knew he was in such a hurry that he didn't watch the road and was hit by a car."
As the company's technician, Ding Chen was naturally needed at the scene to explain things better, which was why Gu Xingye had rushed to the school to find him in the middle of the night.
Gu Xingdong's brow furrowed unconsciously after hearing his words. A construction accident was no small matter, and if lives were lost, it would be even more serious.
"Was the collapse severe? How many people were trapped?"
Ding Chen shook his head. "I don't know the specific situation. Now that Fourth Brother is in this condition, and Sister Chen is in confinement..."
"You absolutely must not tell her about this," Gu Xingdong interrupted him. "Wait for me here. I'll inform someone inside and then go with you."
Ding Chen nodded upon hearing his words. With the current situation, he had completely lost his composure.