Chapter 229: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 229: Discharge and Return Home

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Regarding his father's thyroid problem, Wang Xiaohua decided to keep it secret for now — not only would he not tell his father Wang Changgen, he wouldn't even tell his mother Li Xiulan.

He just thought he'd wait until his father's cerebral infarction recovered somewhat, then discuss going to a big city hospital for a check-up.

He was afraid that if he revealed this now, his father couldn't take the blow and his cerebral infarction would relapse — that would be disastrous.

Not telling him, keeping his mood cheerful, eating and sleeping well — that actually carried no risk.

This afternoon Wang Xiaohua and Wang Changgen took the bus back to town together; since today wasn't market day and it was already very late, there were no dedicated passenger three-wheelers in town, so they had to take a motorcycle back.

"If only our family had a four-wheeled vehicle — it would not only bring face, but also make travel convenient."

On the motorcycle ride back to Shanggou Village, Wang Changgen suddenly muttered this sentence.

"You care that much about face?" Wang Xiaohua's face showed a complex smile — part helplessness, part mockery, and a trace of disdain.

"Face is of course important; a tree without bark cannot live, a person without face cannot live either!"

"Then you deserve to suffer for face your whole life!" Wang Xiaohua couldn't help muttering.

Wang Changgen seemed not to hear Wang Xiaohua's words; the motorcycle noise was very loud.

He just talked to himself:

"I'm not expecting you to buy a car — you're still a long way from finishing school and starting work. What I can count on now is your eldest and second brothers; if they can buy a car next year, that would be promising."

Wang Xiaohua stopped responding to his words.

He could understand young people being vain, but for a middle-aged old man like his own father to be this vain, this obsessed with face, this concerned with so-called dignity — he really found it hard to understand.

One can only say human nature is often like this: the more one lacks something, the more one cares about it.

People don't necessarily become more clear-headed with age; on the contrary, most become more stubborn, more narrow-minded, trapped in their own cognition, unable to accept new things.

Wang Changgen had lived most of his life without much dignity or face, so naturally he cared deeply about dignity and face.

When they returned to Shanggou Village, it was already past six in the evening.

Mother Li Xiulan, seeing the father and son return, immediately set off firecrackers to worship the gods.

Then she busied herself making dinner.

Wang Xiaohua instructed Li Xiulan:

"Mom, the doctor said his cerebral infarction is related to high blood lipids — from now on use as little oil as possible when cooking. Also, I remember he used to love eating fatty pork — make him eat less of it from now on."

Li Xiulan nodded:

"Okay, okay — we'll use as little oil as possible, and we won't buy fatty meat anymore, just lean meat!"

Wang Xiaohua came out of the firewood room, only to see Zhang Zhongtian walking into the courtyard.

"Xiaohua, where's your dad? Is his health okay?"

Zhang Zhongtian asked with a smiling old face.

The matter of Wang Changgen's sudden cerebral infarction had spread throughout the whole Shanggou Village.

After all, Wang Changgen had been hospitalized for so many days, and that day an ambulance even came, making such a big scene — it was impossible to keep people from knowing.

"He's in the living room, much better than before."

Wang Xiaohua led Zhang Zhongtian into the living room.

"Party Secretary Zhang, what brings you here?"

Wang Changgen hurriedly greeted him.

Zhang Zhongtian took out cigarettes, habitually offering one to Wang Changgen:

"I heard you'd returned home, so I came to see you. Also, let me tell you — health comes first; the Cultural Room project can be delayed, no need to rush to finish it all at once!"

Zhang Zhongtian was still very reasonable; knowing Wang Changgen was ill, he came at the first opportunity after Wang Changgen returned from the hospital to tell him the project didn't need to be rushed.

But this is normal — rural masonry work is like this: no fixed completion date is specified, and even if a deadline was verbally agreed upon, if something unexpected comes up, everyone will reasonably push it back.

After all, everyone knows each other — you see each other every day — social obligations must be observed; handling things can't be too rigid.

Wang Changgen took the cigarette naturally and said:

"It's fine, I'll be able to start work in a few days. Besides, don't I still have two big workers working on it? The deadline should be met on schedule!"

Seeing Wang Changgen about to smoke right after discharge, Wang Xiaohua hurried to stop him:

"Don't smoke! The doctor said you can't smoke during recovery!"

Wang Changgen became displeased, feeling utterly disappointed:

"It's just one cigarette — what's the big deal?"

Wang Xiaohua said:

"You'd better think it through — this hospitalization cost over twenty thousand yuan. If you want those twenty thousand yuan to go down the drain, if you want to end up back in the hospital, then go ahead and keep smoking!"

At these words, Wang Changgen immediately dared not smoke anymore.

This wasn't because Wang Changgen listened to advice, but because he feared those twenty thousand yuan would be wasted.

During these days caring for this old man in the hospital, Wang Xiaohua had finally figured out this old man's weakness — although he was as stubborn as a stone in a latrine, as soon as money was mentioned, he could be firmly controlled, making him obey reluctantly but obediently.

For example, when he refused to take medicine, just telling him the medicine cost several hundred yuan a box and was very expensive, and that not taking it would mean throwing it away as garbage — he would feel such heartache he'd pinch his nose and force himself to swallow it.

Wang Changgen held the cigarette Zhang Zhongtian had given him; he was too embarrassed to slight Zhang Zhongtian's face, so he could only give Zhang Zhongtian an embarrassed, bitter smile.

Zhang Zhongtian quickly responded:

"Your son is right — health comes first. Since the doctor said no smoking, you should quit!"

Wang Changgen laughed dryly as if granted amnesty, hurriedly handing the cigarette back to Zhang Zhongtian.

Zhang Zhongtian casually put the cigarette back into the cigarette case and said:

"Right, didn't you say before that you'd hold a banquet on Lunar New Year's Eve? Is this banquet still happening?"

This was Zhang Zhongtian's main purpose for coming here tonight.

He wanted to ask Wang Zhanggen clearly whether the previously agreed-upon banquet was still happening; after all, such a big thing had happened, and he was afraid Wang Zhanggen wouldn't have the money or energy to hold a banquet anymore, so asking clearly in advance was better.

Wang Xiaohua actually wanted to take this opportunity to cancel the banquet.

But Wang Zhanggen answered without hesitation, very determinedly:

"Yes, of course! On Lunar New Year's Eve you all just come as usual!"

"Fine, then I'll definitely come then. I have other things to take care of, so I won't chat anymore!"

After Zhang Zhongtian left, a few more villagers came over to ask about the banquet.

They all came to confirm again whether the previously agreed-upon banquet was still happening.

Wang Zhanggen answered them one by one, saying the banquet would happen as scheduled.

Wang Xiaohua had quite a few complaints about this:

"There are only six or seven days left until Lunar New Year's Eve, and you're in this condition, still messing around like this — don't you want to live?"

Wang Zhanggen said:

"I've already paid a deposit of two thousand yuan to the Flowing Water Banquet people; if we don't hold it, this deposit won't be refunded!"

Wang Xiaohua said irritably:

"If you want to hold it then hold it, but I'm telling you in advance: the Doctor said you can't drink alcohol; drinking might cause a Cerebral Infarction relapse, or even a stroke and Hemiplegia! If you get a stroke and Hemiplegia, even Ten Thousand yuan might not cure it, and you'll spend the rest of your life lying in bed! When guests come to Toast you then, let's see how you handle it!"

Wang Zhanggen said lightly:

"I'll just use tea instead of alcohol, won't that work?"