Su Yun and Xia Ying spent the evening reviewing Chinese and stayed in the room for over an hour.
When it was time for Xia Ying to go home, Su Yun had just walked her out of the room when she saw her second aunt, Zhao Manfen, rushing into the courtyard in tears. She ran straight into the main room and cried out:
"Elder Brother, this time you have to save my husband—someone's life is at stake!"
Su Yun followed her inside and saw Zhao Manfen kneeling on the ground, wailing. "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Yonghe has been beaten and his head is broken. The doctor said if he's not treated immediately, he won't make it! Please, you have to save him…"
Su Wenshan dropped his pipe in shock.
Chen Xiue asked in surprise, "How could this happen? How did your second uncle get his head broken like that?"
Gu Hai stepped in to calm them. "Dad, Mom, don't panic. Why don't we go to the hospital first and see what's going on? Which hospital is Second Uncle in?"
The last question was clearly directed at Zhao Manfen.
Hearing this, Zhao Manfen seemed to find her backbone again and immediately replied, "He's at the City People's Hospital. Xiu'er and I just took him there. The doctor said he's lost too much blood—if they don't treat him now, it'll be too late!"
At a moment like this, Su Wenshan and Chen Xiue had no time to think about past grudges with Zhao Manfen's family.
Chen Xiue immediately told Su Wenshan to get on his bicycle and take her and Zhao Manfen to the hospital.
Su Yun didn't even have time to question who Gu Hai had just called "Dad and Mom." She simply urged him to ride the bicycle and take her along as well.
As usual, Su Baoguo was tasked with escorting Xia Ying home.
The group hurried to the City People's Hospital.
---
Outside the emergency room, Su Xiu was crying, her face covered in tears.
When she saw Zhao Manfen bringing Su Wenshan and his family, she frowned and said, "Mom, didn't I tell you to go home and get money? Why did you bring Uncle and the others here?"
Zhao Manfen had lost her usual sharpness and cried, "There's no money left at home! We finally saved a little, but your father used it all to buy bricks and materials to build you a new house. If we don't come to your uncle, are we just supposed to watch your father die?"
Just then, a doctor in a white coat approached and asked, "Are you the family of Su Yonghe? Who's going to pay the surgery and hospitalization fees?"
Hearing this, Zhao Manfen looked at Su Wenshan with pleading eyes.
Su Wenshan instinctively patted his pockets, then froze—he suddenly realized that his pockets were always emptier than his face!
Seeing his helpless look, Chen Xiue felt exasperated. She had rushed over in a hurry and hadn't brought any money either. How could she have known Zhao Manfen came to them for payment?
Noticing the situation, Su Yun quickly signaled Gu Hai with her eyes and said to the doctor, "We'll pay!"
Gu Hai took out the fifty yuan prize money and handed it over. "Is fifty yuan enough?"
The doctor replied, "I'll deposit it into the patient's account first. We'll settle the final amount later—any extra will be refunded, and any shortfall will need to be paid. Also, the blood the patient's daughter donated earlier isn't enough. If any of you have type B blood, please come donate."
Su Wenshan immediately raised his hand. "Me! I'm type B. I'm the patient's elder brother—I'll donate blood!"
The doctor took Su Wenshan away.
---
Only then did Chen Xiue find the chance to ask, "Xiu'er, what exactly happened? Did your father get into a fight?"
Zhao Manfen shot Su Xiu a warning look, signaling her not to speak.
But Su Xiu ignored her mother and explained everything clearly. "My dad was beaten by He Qiang. Tonight, when I was coming home from work, just as I entered the alley, He Qiang covered my mouth from behind and tried to assault me. Luckily, my dad happened to pass by with coal briquettes and heard me calling for help."
"My dad rushed over and fought with him, but He Qiang hit him on the head with a brick…"
Zhao Manfen couldn't hold back and interrupted angrily, "After hitting your father, that He Qiang ran off without a trace! I don't have the time to deal with him right now, but once your father is out of danger, I'll make sure to deal with his whole family!"
He Qiang again.
Su Yun thought to herself: Is Su Xiu really destined to keep running into him in this life?
Clenching her fists, she said angrily, "We must report this to the police and have He Qiang arrested!"
"We can't report it!" Zhao Manfen said urgently. "If we do, everyone will know that Xiu'er was almost… No, we can't let people find out!"
Chen Xiue strongly disagreed. "Zhao Manfen, your daughter is the victim here. If you don't report him, what's to stop that man from coming back and hurting her again?"
Zhao Manfen's fighting spirit flared up. "Do you think I'll give him that chance? When I get back, I'll turn his house upside down and drive his whole family out of the coal workers' compound!"
Su Yun believed Zhao Manfen was capable of that. But even if He Qiang was driven away, he still knew where Su Xiu lived and could come back anytime. It wouldn't solve the root problem.
Gu Hai then suggested, "You don't have to report it officially. Just find a few trustworthy police officers to scare He Qiang properly—that should be enough to handle this."
Zhao Manfen's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's a great idea! Xiu'er works in the police department—she can definitely find colleagues to help, right?"
Su Xiu opened her mouth but didn't dare respond to her mother's confidence.
She had only been working there for a few days.
Gu Hai said, "I happen to know a few reliable officers. Leave this matter to me."
Hearing this, Zhao Manfen was deeply impressed. "Oh my, your aunt-in-law is so stingy, yet she managed to find such a warm-hearted and helpful son-in-law like you. Heaven really has no eyes!"
Chen Xiue: "..."
Su Yun: "..."
Su Xiu: "..."
Gu Hai: "..."
This second aunt really had a sharp tongue.
---
An hour later, the emergency room doors opened, and Su Yonghe was wheeled out by doctors and nurses.
Zhao Manfen immediately rushed forward, crying loudly, "Husband! Are you okay? If you die, what will Xiu'er and I do?"
The doctor, clearly a bit annoyed by her loud voice, said helplessly, "The surgery was successful. The patient is out of danger. As long as he rests well and maintains proper nutrition, he should recover in two to three months."
Hearing this, Zhao Manfen and Su Xiu broke into relieved smiles through their tears.
Su Yun also let out a sigh of relief.
They escorted Su Yonghe to his hospital ward.
---
Once they knew Su Yonghe was no longer in danger, Zhao Manfen reverted to her usual attitude toward Chen Xiue—cold and unfriendly.
Seeing this, Chen Xiue snorted and pulled Su Wenshan away.
Meanwhile, Su Yun and Su Xiu stood in a corner of the corridor talking.
Su Xiu said gratefully, "Xiao Yun, thank you so much for today. You helped clear the rumors in the office and even paid fifty yuan for my dad's medical expenses. I don't even know how to thank you. I'll repay you as soon as I get my salary."
Su Yun smiled. "We're family—what's something like this? Right now, the most important thing is for Second Uncle to recover properly. And you should keep an eye on Aunt Zhao. Don't let her go to He Qiang's house to cause trouble, or you'll lose the moral high ground even if you're in the right."