Chapter 12: Yu Maode

The next day was Sunday. Su Xinghui got up very early and practiced a set of boxing in the courtyard; this was a daily morning routine for him.

Today, Su Wenjun and Guo Suhua were both off work. Guo Suhua also got up early to buy a pile of vegetables and also bought pork ribs and lotus root to make soup—this was Su Xinghui’s favorite dish.

Guo Suhua always felt that Su Xinghui was suffering down there, so since he was finally on break, she naturally had to help him build up his strength. Besides, her daughter and son-in-law were coming home for dinner today, so she had to cook more dishes. ===== CHAPTER 23 =====

Su Xinghui took the initiative to wash the lotus root. Seeing him so sensible, Guo Suhua beamed.

While he was washing the lotus root, Zhang Cheng, Xu Xiaoguang, and Wu Jun arrived. After entering, they called out "Uncle, Auntie." Guo Suhua smiled and said, "Looking for Xinghui, right? Xinghui, your classmates are here. Stop washing, leave it there, I’ll wash it."

Su Xinghui came out, saw it was Zhang Cheng and the others, wiped his hands, and led them into his room.

Guo Suhua called out from outside, "Stay for lunch!"

Zhang Cheng agreed. Su Xinghui closed the door and turned on the electric fan.

Xu Xiaoguang laughed, "Xinghui, how did things go last night?"

Su Xinghui naturally understood what Xu Xiaoguang meant. He said irritably, "Don't you guys know? There’s nothing between her and me."

The three of them looked at each other and sang in a mocking tone: "Will you still love me tomorrow!"

Watching them laugh together after singing, Su Xinghui shook his head with a wry smile. Although he had been reborn, his romantic experience in his past life was also very limited, and he never knew how to respond to such topics.

After laughing for a while, Xu Xiaoguang said seriously, "No more jokes. Xinghui, why did you go to that ghost place, Meng Hu Ling? With your talent, where couldn't you go?"

Su Xinghui said, "It’s fine, you can achieve results anywhere."

Xu Xiaoguang said, "Meng Hu Ling is famous for being the most backward place in the whole county, a place where birds don't even lay eggs. What results can you achieve there? Did you offend someone?"

Su Xinghui hadn't expected Xu Xiaoguang to hit the nail on the head, but he couldn't admit it directly. He shook his head, "No, I requested to go there myself. The more backward the place, the easier it is to achieve results."

Xu Xiaoguang became anxious, "How could you request to go there? It’s a total pit! While it’s still early, either let Zhang Cheng’s dad help you transfer back, or come to my family’s construction company. We’re just short of educated people, and my dad likes you too. As long as you come, you won't be treated unfairly."

Su Xinghui knew Xu Xiaoguang wasn't lying. In his past life, when Su Xinghui wasn't doing well, Xu Xiaoguang had invited him several times, but Su Xinghui’s pathetic pride had made him refuse. This time he refused again, but not because of pride.

Su Xinghui said sincerely to Xu Xiaoguang, "Xiaoguang, thank you! But I feel I’m doing quite well in Meng Hu Ling, and the leadership thinks highly of me. Let me work there for now. If I really can't go on, I’ll definitely ask for your help."

Zhang Cheng said to Xu Xiaoguang, "See? I told you Xinghui wouldn't agree. I tried to persuade him yesterday."

Xu Xiaoguang shook his head helplessly, "Then if you’re not happy there, you must tell us brothers."

Su Xinghui nodded in agreement.

Wu Jun said, "How about we go to Meng Hu Ling to see Xinghui next time?"

Zhang Cheng nodded, "Sure, let’s go next Sunday."

Xu Xiaoguang also agreed, and the matter was settled.

At lunch, his sister Su Xingyun and brother-in-law Tan Mingcheng returned, bringing Su Xinghui’s little nephew, Tan Weisheng. They had heard Su Xinghui was back and came specifically to see him.

Su Xingyun was a nurse at the People’s Hospital, and Tan Mingcheng worked at the Health Bureau. Tan Weisheng was only three years old and in kindergarten. Su Xinghui had always had a good relationship with his sister and brother-in-law and was very happy to see them. The whole family, along with Zhang Cheng, Xu Xiaoguang, and Wu Jun, had a happy meal.

Zhang Cheng and the others had played with Su Xinghui since they were children and had eaten at each other’s houses countless times, so the Su family didn't treat them like guests.

During the meal, Su Xingyun asked with concern about Su Xinghui’s situation in Meng Hu Ling. Su Xinghui naturally said everything was fine. After the meal, Su Xingyun secretly slipped Su Xinghui fifty yuan, telling him to buy more good food in the countryside.

Su Xinghui couldn't refuse no matter how he tried, so he had to accept it. He told himself that in the future, he would treat his sister’s family twice as well.

Xu Xiaoguang had originally planned to treat everyone to dinner tonight, but Su Xinghui said he wanted to spend time with his family, so he had to give up.

After spending Sunday at home with his parents, Su Xinghui took the bus to Jiangcheng on Monday morning.

Jiangcheng was over seventy kilometers away from Xinhe County, but the road between the two places was quite good—a secondary highway. Because the road administration department maintained it frequently, the road conditions were much better, and the bus only took a little over two hours.

Su Xinghui didn't get off in the Jiangcheng city center but at Qingyu Township, four or five kilometers away. His aunt Su Cuie and uncle Yu Maode lived there.

Qingyu Township was on the banks of the Changjiang. At this time, it was still a suburb, but in ten years or so, with the expansion of the city, it would become part of the city center, and its name would change to Qingyuzui.

Su Xinghui had been here countless times and was very familiar with the place. Even after being reborn, as soon as he arrived, he felt familiar. Moreover, there was only one road to Yujiawan, where the Yu family lived, so he couldn't get lost.

After getting off the bus, Su Xinghui walked for ten minutes to his aunt’s house. Here, every family raised dogs, and there was barking all the way. But Su Xinghui walked past as if no one was there. These were local country dogs that generally didn't bite and only served to alert their owners. Seeing Su Xinghui’s confident demeanor, they barked a few times and then stopped.

In Yujiawan, Yu was naturally a big surname. The Yu family had lived here for generations, practicing medicine for generations, and were highly respected by their neighbors. Their house was in the center of the village—three large tile-roofed houses—and could be seen at a glance upon entering the village.

As Su Xinghui walked toward the three tile-roofed houses, the Yu family’s dogs barked. But when Su Xinghui got close, the dogs stopped barking and started whimpering, circling around Su Xinghui’s legs. They still remembered Su Xinghui; he had been here before he graduated.

Walking into the middle house, he saw Yu Maode sitting at a square table taking the pulse of a middle-aged man. Behind him sat several people waiting to be seen by Yu Maode. On the other side of the square table, Su Xinghui’s third cousin, Yu Gaofeng, was sitting there recording medical records.

Su Xinghui didn't disturb Yu Maode while he was seeing patients. He walked toward Yu Gaofeng. Yu Gaofeng looked up, saw Su Xinghui, nodded, and gestured for him to sit. He sat down on a chair.

In fact, Yu Maode knew Su Xinghui had arrived, but he was always very serious when seeing patients. He focused on taking the pulse of the middle-aged man for a while and asked a few questions, while Yu Gaofeng kept recording with a brush.

Although Yu Maode was sixty years old, his mind was still sharp. Before long, he had seen all the patients sitting in the main room, prescribed medicine for each of them, and dispensed the medicine.

It was nearly noon, and the patients were all seen. Only then did Yu Maode say to Su Xinghui, "Xinghui, you’re here? Didn't you start working? Today should be a workday, why do you have time to come?"

Su Xinghui said, "The Party Secretary of our township sent me to Jiangcheng to handle some business..."

After hearing Su Xinghui’s story, Yu Maode said, "It shouldn't be a big problem to ask Gaoshan for help, but he’s gone to the city to sell fish and won't be back until tonight. You should stay here for the night."

Su Xinghui nodded and asked, "Where’s my aunt?"

Yu Maode said, "Still tending to her vegetable garden. She should be in the kitchen cooking now." ===== CHAPTER 24 =====