Chapter 65

Doctor, how is Master Yi? Guo Da Piezi also ran over.

Section Chief Guo, the patient's injury is quite serious; we can't handle it here, you'd better send him to the hospital quickly, the doctor said with a solemn expression.

Alright, I'll go tell the leader and have him arrange a car, Guo Da Piezi said and then ran out.

Factory Director, Yi Zhonghai from our workshop is injured; the infirmary can't handle it, so we need to send him to the hospital—could you arrange a car? Guo Da Piezi said upon arriving at Factory Director Yang's office, after all, Factory Director Yang oversees production.

Fine, I'll notify the driver to send him to the hospital right away, and you go along to check the situation and report back promptly, Factory Director Yang said, then picked up the phone on the desk and started cranking it.

Guo Da Piezi and Jia Dongxu helped Yi Zhonghai onto the jeep; the vehicle was Factory Director Yang's assigned car, showing that he also attached great importance to this matter. Even if he usually didn't take a liking to Yi Zhonghai, Yi Zhonghai was after all a Level 8 Worker, a senior technician at Yagangchang. If a Level 8 Worker had a safety accident and he didn't take it seriously, higher-ups would also criticize him. In those days, a Level 8 Worker was quite a formidable presence. Legend has it that a Level 8 Worker could assemble an aircraft carrier with his bare hands. Although the saying is a bit exaggerated, it shows that Level 8 Workers were indeed extraordinary. Especially in an era when industrial foundations were relatively backward, talent was all the more important.

Brother Dongxu, what's going on? Li Qiang, who happened to be patrolling the main gate, saw Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu in the car and asked.

Section Chief Li, Master Yi is injured; we're taking him to the hospital now, Guo Da Piezi explained.

Open the door quickly, Li Qiang said to the Security Section guard on duty.

Qiangzi, please go back and let my wife know, Yi Zhonghai said, sticking his head out.

Sure, you go to the hospital first; I'll head back and tell her right away, Li Qiang said, not refusing Yi Zhonghai's request.

Thank you for the trouble, Yi Zhonghai said gratefully.

It's fine, but you should still go to the hospital first, Li Qiang waved his hand, urging the driver to drive off quickly.

After the car left, Li Qiang also rode his bicycle out of Yagangchang.

Qiangzi, why are you back at this hour? Seeing Li Qiang return, Yan Butgui warmly greeted him.

Master Yi is injured; I'm coming back to let Big Ma know, Li Qiang said, then headed toward the central courtyard. In these famine years, neither teachers nor students get enough to eat; students often faint from low blood sugar during class, and the school can only cancel lessons, so Yan Butgui is idle these days.

You said Old Yi is injured—how serious is it? Yan Butgui asked, walking behind Li Qiang.

I don't know the exact situation; he's already been sent to the hospital, and Master Yi asked me to come back and inform Big Ma.

Li Qiang went to Yi Zhonghai's home, found Big Ma not there, so he went straight to the back courtyard; usually, besides her own home, Big Ma would be at the Deaf Old Lady's place in the back courtyard.

Old lady, is Big Ma here? Li Qiang asked at the doorway.

It's you, Qiangzi—I'm here; what do you need? Big Ma came out upon hearing Li Qiang was looking for her.

Big Ma, Master Yi was injured at the factory and has been sent to the hospital; he asked me to come back and let you know.

Qiangzi, you're saying our Old Yi is injured? How serious? Upon hearing that Yi Zhonghai was hurt, Big Ma immediately grew anxious.

I'm not entirely sure of the details, but rest assured there's no danger to his life—I saw the injury is on his hand, Li Qiang explained briefly.

Oh dear, Old Yi is a fitter; injuring his hand—how will he work in the future? Yan Butgui couldn't help blurting out after hearing Li Qiang say Yi Zhonghai's injury was on his hand.

Little Yan, say a bit less, the Deaf Old Lady also came out; since Yi Zhonghai was her adopted son, and now her adopted son was injured, how could she not worry?

Qiangzi, could you please take me to the hospital? Big Ma looked at Li Qiang with eyes full of pleading.

Sure, Li Qiang said, still willing to help with this small favor among neighbors.

Little Yi's wife, go check on the situation and have Qiangzi come back to tell me, the Deaf Old Lady said, truly concerned about Yi Zhonghai.

Got it, old lady, Big Ma replied and then walked out with Li Qiang.

Li Qiang brought Big Ma to the hospital and found Jia Dongxu at the emergency room entrance.

Dongxu, how is your master? Big Ma hurried up to Jia Dongxu and asked anxiously.

The doctor is bandaging the master, Jia Dongxu said, also looking worried.

Are you Yi Zhonghai's family? the doctor said, then stepped out.

Yes, Big Ma replied.

Yi Zhonghai's right thumb was sliced off by the machine; with our current medical conditions we can't reattach it. Rest assured, there's no danger to his life, but his future work and life will certainly face many inconveniences, the doctor briefly explained the situation.

We understand, thank you, Doctor, Big Ma said; hearing that only a thumb was missing made her feel much better.

But hearing this, Guo Da Piezi, Jia Dongxu, and Li Qiang felt differently—Yi Zhonghai is a Level 8 Worker, engaged in technical work, and moreover in precision-parts technical work. Now missing a thumb, especially the right thumb, changes everything; the thumb accounts for fifty percent of hand function, so he's essentially ruined.

For now, let's arrange his hospitalization; he can be discharged after the stitches are removed, the doctor continued.

Okay, okay, Big Ma said, only concerned about Yi Zhonghai's physical condition. She hadn't yet considered what impact this would have on his future work, and besides, she didn't really understand these matters; as long as Yi Zhonghai was safe, that was enough.

Sister-in-law, rest assured, Yagangchang will cover all of Master Yi's medical expenses, Guo Da Piezi said.

All right, thank you, Big Ma said gratefully.

After Yi Zhonghai was settled in the hospital, Big Ma stayed to look after him, while Jia Dongxu and Guo Da Piezi returned to Yagangchang.

Qiangzi, please go back and tell the old lady—just say Old Yi is fine, so she doesn't need to worry, Big Ma said to Li Qiang before he left.

Sure, you first take good care of Master Yi; I'll let the Deaf Old Lady know, Li Qiang promised and then headed out.

Factory Director, Yi Zhonghai's right thumb has been cut off; otherwise he's fine, Guo Da Piezi said, upon returning to Yagangchang he immediately went to Factory Director Yang's office to report Yi Zhonghai's condition.

Yi Zhonghai is a senior technician; losing a thumb means he's basically useless, Factory Director Yang sighed, saying that Yagangchang already had few senior technicians, and now there's one less.

Hmm, even if he recovers, many tasks will still be impossible for him, Guo Da Piezi could understand Factory Director Yang's meaning.

Has the cause of the accident been clarified? Factory Director Yang asked.

Just now I heard from the Security Section personnel that the machine was fine; it was Yi Zhonghai's improper operation that caused it. This morning I noticed he wasn't in good spirits, and I had originally wanted to give him a day off to rest, but he refused.

All right, I understand; we'll talk about it after he leaves the hospital. When you go back, you must definitely step up safety education, Factory Director Yang said, then waved his hand to signal that Guo Da Piezi could leave.