Chapter 376: Having to Acknowledge

"Dad, are you well out there?

You didn't come back for the New Year, and Mom was a bit sad. Before the New Year, she bought out everything on the non-staple food ration book, and Brother Yan's ration book was also bought out by her. She bought a large pile of food and drink, so that you, my big brother, and my sister-in-law could eat and drink well when you came back. But you went to my sister's place, and my big brother didn't come back because of some things, and got married with Hao Dongmei and their comrades in the production corps.

Knowing that you forgave my sister, plus the fact that my big brother got married, Mom was a bit sad, but she felt much better. She just hasn't seen you for several years and missed you.

Dad, I want to confess something to you. First, I want to say I'm sorry. After reading this, I hope you won't be too angry, control your emotions, and save your strength to beat me when you get home.

I had a co-worker at the lumber mill named Tu Zhiqiang... Zheng Juan didn't marry Tu Zhiqiang, she is still a pure girl... Zheng Juan is a very good woman, beautiful and virtuous, no less than my mom. She is five months pregnant now, and I can't let her down. Dad, you taught my big brother and us since we were young to be brave and take responsibility. I'm sorry, Dad, I didn't do it this time. I'm a weak coward, only saying it when she was five months pregnant.

I know that after marrying Zheng Juan, the neighbors will definitely gossip. This is bad for our old Zhou family's reputation, it's all my fault. But Dad, I really like Zheng Juan, to the point of not thinking about tea or rice. Things have already reached this point, and it can only be like this. I'm sorry, Dad, I've smeared and shamed our Zhou family.

When Mom knew about the matter, she slapped me hard and gave me a big slap, and my face was swollen for a day. It was the heaviest beating I've had since I was a child. I know Mom was really anxious. That night, Mom decided to meet Zheng Juan and her family.

That day I asked for a day off, and Mom also asked Brother Yan to ask for a day off to help her advise. At noon... In the evening, Mom told me that she was very satisfied with Zheng Juan. She said Zheng Juan is a good woman who can live a life, and told me to treat Zheng Juan well and live a good life in the future. Brother Yan gave his house to Zheng Juan and me to live in. He said that young couples always have some intimate words to say, and it would be fine if there were no conditions to live together, but since there are conditions, there should be some distance.

Mom also thinks so, so Zheng Juan and I moved into Brother Yan's house after registering the day after Mom met her. Mom sleeps on the kang in the east room, and Brother Yan sleeps on the bed in the west room of our house. Mom always felt he was cold, and he said, "Auntie, I've practiced martial arts since I was a child, and my body is stronger than the average person." But Mom insisted, and finally he got a few radiators and connected them to the stove. The room is very warm, and Mom is relieved.

Zheng Juan and I didn't hold a wedding banquet. Mom said this matter is not a good thing after all, and people coming would just be watching our family's joke. I know, Zheng Juan knows, Zheng Juan's mother and brother all know, and they all understand, so that's that.

Because of Zheng Juan and me, she fell ill the day after she moved in. Brother Yan said it was because of great anxiety and exhaustion, which lowered her body's immunity, and plus Mom is old, so she caught a cold and fever.

Brother Yan said he had a breakthrough and his medical skills had greatly improved. It is indeed the case. Since after the New Year, he has treated a paralyzed person who can now walk on the ground, and I heard he also cured a man who couldn't have children, and other illnesses. I don't understand, but in short, he is very powerful now. His reputation has spread very far, and the Guangzipian health clinic has many people every day, all coming to find Brother Yan for consultations.

He prescribed two prescriptions for my mom, one for illness and one for body conditioning. When I wrote this letter to you, Mom is already very energetic, and her illness is basically cured.

In addition, when Zheng Juan's family came, Brother Yan also looked at Zheng Juan's brother, who is also my brother-in-law. He said that Western medicine surgery can cure it, but we don't have the conditions in our country, and even if we did, it's not something we can afford. He said that according to his treatment methods, there is a certain chance of curing it, but he didn't dare to guarantee it. However, he said he could guarantee that my brother-in-law's eyes would not deteriorate, preparing for future surgical treatment. My brother-in-law is a sensible child, and we are all very happy that he has a chance to see the world again.

Mom asked me to tell you that children have their own blessings, don't be too angry, and said that the child is about to come out, so being angry is useless, just digest it yourself.

Dad, I want to say that things have already happened. When you come back, whether you beat me or scold me, I will accept it. Anyway, if you kick me out of the house, I won't accept it, I'll just hang on.

Everything at home is fine, with me and Brother Yan, Dad, you can rest assured. I also wrote to my big brother and sister about Zheng Juan and me.

The wedding photos of Zheng Juan and me are attached to the letter. Look at your daughter-in-law, don't not recognize her when you come back.

You are also old, you must pay attention to your health, so you have the strength to beat me when you come back.

Looking forward to your reply.

Bingkun,

February 28, 1973."

"Little bastard, your wings are hardened..."

In a big mountain in Shancheng, Zhou Zhigang, covered in dust, looked at the family letter in his hand. The shameless tone made him want to laugh, but the things said in the letter made him furious. He let out a few long breaths and finally slapped the table in front of him.

With a bang, it shook the hot water on the table.

A young man sitting opposite him was startled, hurriedly wiped the water with his sleeve, and picked up the letter on the table to avoid it getting wet: "What's wrong, Master? Why are you so angry?"

His name is Guo Cheng, and he is Zhou Zhigang's apprentice. He is the one who was taken away because Feng Huacheng wrote a poem later, and he was the one who sent Zhou Rong's daughter, Feng Yue, to the old Zhou family alone.

"What's wrong? See for yourself, the little brat is turning the world upside down, doing animal things, it's really creating evil." Zhou Zhigang let out a long breath and drank another cup of water poured by his apprentice to suppress his anger: "Give me the other letter."

Guo Cheng hurriedly handed over the other unopened letter, and then read the one in his hand.

At this time, the master and apprentice are like father and son. The master is a real master, so Guo Cheng knows about the messy things in the Zhou family, and it's no big deal. Moreover, it was Zhou Zhigang who let him see it. Finding an apprentice, he must have looked at his character, and Zhou Zhigang certainly believes that this apprentice will not spread his family affairs everywhere.

Zhou Zhigang didn't bother with him and opened the second letter to read.

"Uncle, are you healthy?

I read Bingkun's letter, and what he said about medical skills greatly improving is true. Although you are far away in Shancheng, I cannot see the specific situation. But the country's Third Front construction is definitely hard and tiring, and you are still in the important Bashu area, and you are also a level eight master worker. After these few years, you must have hidden illnesses in your body. So I prescribed a warm tonic formula, which can be drunk by men, women, old, and young. The precautions are all attached, and it doesn't matter if others drink it. It's all for the safety of New China, so you must pay attention to your health.

Bingkun doesn't know about this letter; it was Auntie who asked me to write it for you. She was afraid that you would hurt your body from anger, so after thinking about it, she specially wrote a letter, and the following is Auntie's original words.

"Father, Zheng Juan is a good girl, and she is also a person with a bitter fate. She didn't originally intend for anything to happen, and I can tell that it wasn't Zheng Juan who seduced Bingkun; it was Bingkun who first took a fancy to her beauty and insisted on pursuing her. Later, she felt that Bingkun was a good person, a kind-hearted person, and it was only after this back-and-forth that today's situation came to be."

I know your donkey temper, but this matter, in the final analysis, it's our old Zhou family who let Zheng Juan down. Now her belly is big, and she will give birth in June, which is for your old Zhou family. No matter what, I acknowledge Zheng Juan as a daughter-in-law. I understand your anger, and I won't say anything about beating Bingkun, but if you dare to give Zheng Juan a cold face, see how I deal with you old thing.

Zheng Juan's family conditions are not good, and Bingkun's burden is very heavy. They have only lived together for a few days, although Bingkun is happy every day, I can see he is also a bit anxious, the child is not easy either. We as parents all hope for our children to be well, and it's fine if we don't understand, but we can't make things difficult for the children. I was indeed very angry at the time...

I've listened to you for half my life, this time listen to me, I'll make the decision on Bingkun's matter, you have to agree even if you don't agree, and you have to reserve your opinion if you have any, this matter is settled.

Uncle, although I am not a member of

"Uncle, although I am not a member of the old Zhou family, after all these years, I feel that I am also a part of the Zhou family. Bingkun was indeed a bit reckless this time, waiting until she was nearly five months pregnant to say anything. But since things have reached this point, saying anything else—whether beating or scolding—is of no use."

"In the few days since Zheng Juan moved in, the news couldn't be kept hidden, and there has indeed been some criticism. But I believe that we live our own lives. If we live poorly, they gloat; if we live well, they are jealous. Therefore, one must not place too much weight on the eyes and criticisms of others. If we had to listen to what everyone else says about everything, we wouldn't be able to live our own lives."

"Aunt said that gossip is a knife that kills, but looking at it now, Bingkun and Zheng Juan, including Zheng Juan's mother and her younger brother, have all held up very well and have not been swayed by the rumors outside. Bingkun even said that since he did the deed, he isn't afraid of what others say. Bingkun has grown up; he has become a man who can stand on his own and has his own sense of responsibility."

"I think Aunt is right; children and grandchildren have their own blessings."

"Remember to drink the medicine, Uncle; health is the capital of revolution."

"Looking forward to your reply."

"Wang Yan,"

"March 1st, 1973."

"Hey, this little old lady..." Zhou Zhigang couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly. He then found the prescription written in small regular script with a brush inside the envelope, took a rough look at it, sighed with emotion at Wang Yan's literacy, and then carefully put it back into the envelope along with the letter. He asked for the other envelope from Guo Cheng's hand and took out several photos from it.

The first photo on the front showed Zhou Bingkun and Zheng Juan wearing red jackets, leaning their heads together. Zhou Bingkun was grinning foolishly, and Zheng Juan looked nervous, facing the camera. Zhou Zhigang ignored his foolishly grinning youngest son and carefully looked at Zheng Juan, who was smiling shyly with her dimples showing, focusing heavily on her belly.

After a long while, he finally put this photo at the back and looked at the second one. It was Li Suhua sitting on a stool, with Zhou Bingkun and Zheng Juan standing on her left and right. Looking at his wife's smiling face, he couldn't help but reveal a smile himself.

The third and final photo was of Li Suhua and Zheng Juan's mother sitting side by side, with Wang Yan and Zhou Bingkun behind them, along with Zheng Juan and Zheng Guangming together. Judging people by their appearance, Zhou Zhigang looked at Zheng Juan's mother and Zheng Guangming, feeling that they were quite decent.

At this moment, Guo Cheng also finished reading the long letter and couldn't help but ask, "Master, what do you plan to do about Bingkun's situation?"

Zhou Zhigang let out a long sigh and put down the photo in his hand: "This little brat, the child in the girl's belly is already five months along; what do you expect me to do? That girl is also quite decent; considering her reputation, she was even willing to give birth to the child and raise it herself without a name. How could our old Zhou family do such a thing? If that got out, how could our Zhou family show our faces?"

"Zhou Rong's situation before was enough for people to talk about, and now Bingkun has done it again; there's no telling what others will say. By comparison, this is the best outcome now. Little Yan wrote to persuade me, saying that we live our own lives and shouldn't place too much weight on the eyes of others. But how can I not think about it? Regarding Zhou Rong, although I wasn't home, I could still know what they were saying, and now Bingkun doesn't let me worry any less."

"This is great, out of three children, two have problems. They say that if a son is not taught, it is the father's fault; the neighbors will only say that I, Zhou Zhigang, have failed in teaching my son and daughter."

"I think Wang Yan is right; living your own life well is better than anything. Master, you should look on the bright side. Zhou Rong found a poet, and he's quite famous; Bingkun has now found a good woman to live his life with. Regardless of how the process went, the result is that you are going to be a grandfather. Besides, isn't the eldest brother, Zhou Bingyi, doing quite well in the military corps? He works in an office. As for children, how can they all make their parents worry-free? I am your apprentice; haven't I given you plenty to worry about over the years? Now that all three of your children have families of their own, and in the future, the Zhou family will branch out and flourish, isn't that wonderful?"

Zhou Zhigang snorted and packed up the letters and photos: "Enough, you don't know how to comfort people either. The children are all grown up, and I, as a father, can't control them anymore. Let them toss and turn; let them be. Here, this is the medicine Little Yan prescribed; he said men, women, old, and young can all drink it. You go to the pharmacy and get some according to the prescription, and later we two will try it."

Guo Cheng took the prescription filled with writing: "Master, aren't you going to write back to the family? There's a huge 'Looking forward to your reply' on the letter; Mistress, Bingkun, and the others are all waiting for your news."

"Your Mistress said, if you have opinions, keep them; if you have anger, digest it yourself. So I have to digest it, don't I? My heart is a mess right now; let's talk about it after a while. Let them make me angry; I'll make them anxious for a bit too."

Watching Zhou Zhigang's back as he walked away with his hat, Guo Cheng shook his head; he knew that his master was internally conflicted.

Zhou Bingkun had been quiet, waiting until she was five months pregnant to say anything, and that Zheng Juan had been with another man before. Although they didn't have a marriage certificate, they had factually cohabited before, so how could that sound good? Moreover, Zheng Juan's family conditions were poor, and there were many areas where the old Zhou family would need to subsidize them. If it weren't for the five-month pregnancy, he could guarantee that his good master would have set off for his hometown today.

Now he had no choice but to accept it, and the result was still good. Guo Cheng smiled happily as he looked at the prescription in his hand, sighed that it was written very beautifully, and then turned and left...

"This is this month's money."

It was another Saturday of the month. In a corner not far from the Guangzipian health clinic, Shui Ziliu smoked a cigarette and handed an envelope to Wang Yan, who was squatting to one side, wearing a white lab coat and holding a cigarette in his mouth.

Seeing him put it into his pocket without even looking, Shui Ziliu said: "You are now a famous miracle doctor in Jichun; I wonder if my leg can be cured?"

"You have quite a lot of nerve." Wang Yan glanced at him: "It's good enough that I don't break your other leg, and you still want me to treat you?"

"A doctor has a benevolent heart, after all."

"That's true, but do you know there are ten types of conditions that shouldn't be treated?" While speaking, Wang Yan reached out and grabbed his lame right leg, feeling it for a moment: "You need to see an orthopedist at the hospital for this leg, but there isn't much hope. Just stay lame."

Shui Ziliu didn't mind and asked: "How are Zheng Juan and Bingkun doing? They're doing well, right?"

"They're doing very well, no need for you to worry; just take care of yourself." Flicking away the cigarette butt in his hand, Wang Yan stood up, patted his shoulder, and turned to leave.

Actually, normally speaking, at this point, he shouldn't let Shui Ziliu come to the health clinic to deliver money anymore. After all, Shui Ziliu would be arrested later, and although Shui Ziliu and Luo Shibin wouldn't dare to link him to them, as a well-known figure in Jichun, and with this clinic being a place with many people and mixed eyes, it was inevitable that someone might say he knew them, which carried some risk.

But he wasn't worried at all; this was his confidence as an old Chinese medicine practitioner who had made a name for himself and was currently in a period of rising status. Because the hemiplegia of the Revolutionary Committee director's mother was cured by him. This guy was actually okay; he wasn't the type to strike hard, otherwise, he would have taken action.

It was now April, with spring returning to the earth. After two months, some major illnesses had already been cured by him. Legends are always told very magically; it is estimated that in more distant places, at the boundaries where his reputation spread, people there would say he could even cure cancer, idiocy, and mental illness. Now, the patients queuing up at the health clinic for consultations were basically those who had heard of his reputation and came with the hope of "what if this one works" for their difficult and complicated illnesses.

After all, if they could be cured, they would have been cured long ago; why drag it out until today? Of course, there were also many who couldn't afford surgery, were dragging it out until they died, and were seeking medical advice everywhere.

Because his medical skills had suddenly advanced, the number of consultations had suddenly increased, and the small Guangzipian health clinic couldn't handle it. Li Weiguo submitted a report to have him transferred to the city hospital, and the higher-level departments approved it without hesitation after investigating clearly. After all, his medical skills were beyond doubt; he could truly cure major illnesses, and the improvement to the hospital's reputation was obvious. No one would be stupid enough to make things difficult for a young person with such high medical skills. Next Monday, he would start working at the Jichun City First People's Hospital.

Regarding the arrangement to be transferred to the city, Wang Yan naturally wouldn't refuse. After all, he couldn't open his own clinic, and obeying the organization's deployment was the only choice.

When Shui Ziliu arrived, it was already past four o'clock. After treating a few more patients who were waiting, at past five o'clock, Wang Yan packed his things, greeted people, left the health clinic, and went home to eat...