Chapter 79

Lu Qiaoge didn't know that Old Hu had applied for rewards. She held a meeting for the volunteers, telling them to continue repairing the broken tables and chairs at the night school. In their spare time, they could weave baskets or form teams to dig for Chinese medicinal herbs outside the city. They didn't need to go to the pharmaceutical factory; the supply and marketing cooperatives and collection stations everywhere would buy them.

This was one of them, and also a way to generate income openly.

Lu Qiaoge said: "I won't focus on weaving baskets. Currently, the night school is temporarily used by our service station. Once woven, feel free to leave them at the night school, but you can learn to weave straw hats from Chang An. The weather is about to get hot, so you can try making a batch of straw hats. As for the Chinese medicinal herbs..."

Speaking of this, Lu Qiaoge paused: "I know a place with a large patch of honeysuckle. Let's go into the mountains to pick them this Sunday."

Meng Qingshan asked hurriedly: "Where is the mountain? If it belongs to the local commune, can we go?"

Lu Qiaoge: "I've asked; it belongs to our military factory. We just need to report it to Director Hu."

Before she could report to Director Hu, Director Hu came to find Lu Qiaoge, happily telling her to gather all the service station personnel immediately. They were holding an awards meeting today; he had secured the bonus and was going to distribute it to everyone.

This news came quite suddenly, but everyone was very excited.

This time, the bonus Director Hu secured totaled 120 yuan, which was quite a generous move by the factory's comprehensive office. Lu Qiaoge decided to give each of the twelve people ten yuan.

The people Lu Qiaoge chose were all of very good quality.

No one haggled over how much they did compared to others.

Besides, that was ten yuan.

Meng Qingshan's eyes were red. He was the oldest and vaguely guessed Lu Qiaoge's purpose.

Don't say anything else; just work hard!

When it was Lu Qiaoge's turn to speak, the twelve volunteers were all looking at her eagerly.

Unexpectedly, Sister Hua shouted to Lu Qiaoge at the conference room door: "Qiao Ge, come out for a moment, there's something here."

This was her primary job, so Lu Qiaoge hurried out.

This time, Lu Qiaoge went to Building 12 in District 1 by herself.

Standing downstairs, she indeed saw a mop head sticking out of a second-floor window, dripping water down.

The tenement buildings in District 1 had no balconies, so the mop water flowed directly down along the first-floor glass windows.

The dripping water looked quite dirty.

Auntie Fatty, who lived on the first floor, was furious and pulled Lu Qiaoge: "Comrade Xiao Lu, look, look. Not only do I not dare to hang anything out to dry, but I also have to wipe the glass. We are all in the same unit; I thought this little matter wouldn't need to trouble the comrades at the neighborhood office, but I've told her family several times, and my husband even went upstairs to talk about it. They promised well, but when they wash the mop, it's still like this. Isn't this bullying people too much?"

Lu Qiaoge looked up, but couldn't see anyone at the open window. Lu Qiaoge asked: "How long has this been going on?"

Auntie Fatty said angrily: "About half a month."

"Auntie Fatty, please calm down first." Lu Qiaoge took out her notebook: "Let's clarify the situation first. It's Wei Qiang's family living on the second floor, right?"

"Who else but them!" Auntie Fatty pointed at the dirty water marks on the glass window, suppressing her anger and lowering her voice: "Last month, his wife was paralyzed in bed due to a work injury, and everyone took turns helping to deliver meals to the hospital. Now they turn around and bully people like this!"

Lu Qiaoge's pen tip paused, and the general situation of the residents in District 1 flashed through her mind.

The head of household at 207, Wei Qiang, is a transport worker in the materials department. His wife is indeed paralyzed in bed due to a work injury.

"Which day did your husband go up, and who was at home in the Wei family?" Lu Qiaoge also asked in a low voice.

Auntie Fatty said: "He went three days ago. Old Man Wei and Mother-in-law Liu were both at home. Wei Qiang is said to have gone to the mining area; I haven't seen him for several days either."

Lu Qiaoge was about to speak when she saw a small head poke out from the second floor, followed by a small hand pulling the mop down. Lu Qiaoge frowned tightly. Suddenly, the small head disappeared, and a dull thud of a heavy object falling to the ground came from the room, followed by a child's sharp cry.

Lu Qiaoge rushed to the second floor in two or three steps. The cramped tenement corridor was piled with honeycomb briquettes and sundries. She nimbly avoided the obstacles and ran to the end of the corridor. The innermost room was 207. She pushed the door open and saw that the room was a mess, as if it had been robbed. The paralyzed Zhang Quan was slumped on the edge of the bed, her bedding soaked in an overturned chamber pot. There were puddles of water on the cement floor.

A child was sitting on the floor crying, next to an overturned chair. Zhang Quan's eyes were tightly closed, her face flushed, and her hands were hanging limply on the edge of the bed.

Lu Qiaoge didn't have time to look at the wailing child; she went to check on Zhang Quan first. She was breathing, but her forehead was burning hot. She was sick.

Auntie Fatty, who followed closely, was startled: "Heavens, how did it become like this?" Then she shouted: "Old Man Wei, Old Man Wei, Mother-in-law Liu, Mother-in-law Liu..."

But no one answered. Lu Qiaoge hurriedly said: "Auntie Fatty, you go look after the child, I'll take Zhang Quan to the hospital."

Lu Qiaoge immediately picked up the unconscious Zhang Quan and ran downstairs.

At this time, others were also running out behind them. Someone hurriedly asked: "What happened to the Wei family? Did something happen or were they robbed?"

"Not sure. I saw Comrade Xiao Lu from the neighborhood office running out carrying Zhang Quan."

"Speaking of which, I haven't seen Mother-in-law Liu for several days."

"Now that you mention it, I suddenly remember. The day before yesterday, I saw Mother-in-law Liu carrying a large bundle out. It was already dark, and she didn't speak when she saw me, so I didn't ask."

"Production tasks have been tight these days, so we've been working overtime and haven't paid attention to her family. Could it be that Old Man Wei and Mother-in-law Liu abandoned their daughter-in-law and grandson and ran away?"

Neighbor Sister Zhu slapped her thigh in regret: "If only I had gone in to take a look, wouldn't that have been better?"

Lu Qiaoge scanned left and right and shouted: "Quick, someone come help me support her, I'm taking her to the hospital."

Several people who weren't at work ran over and placed Zhang Quan on the back seat of Lu Qiaoge's bicycle, supporting her.

She pushed the bicycle and ran towards the hospital.

Several people who were helping followed behind.

Lu Qiaoge arrived at the hospital covered in sweat and sent the person into the emergency room. Lu Qiaoge called the neighborhood office and reported the situation to Huang Juan.

Huang Juan said: "I will call Wei Qiang's unit immediately."

Zhang Quan was out of danger. She had a cold, and because her constitution was weak, she had a persistent high fever.

She had fallen unconscious in the middle of the night yesterday. They discovered her just in time; if it had been any later, she would have been gone.

After Zhang Quan woke up, Lu Qiaoge helped her change into a hospital gown, cleaned her up with the nurse, and then hung an IV drip.

Wei Qiang arrived quickly, his face gloomy, clearly in a very bad mood.

Before figuring things out, Lu Qiaoge didn't know what to say.

She just explained the ins and outs of the matter to him.

She told Wei Qiang that only his son, Xiaobao, was at home, and he hadn't seen the child's grandparents.

Wei Qiang gratefully thanked Lu Qiaoge.

Lu Qiaoge waved her hand: "This is what I should do, but I have to go back to the unit first and report your family's situation to our director."