Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

Jia Dongming pushed his bicycle out, his tone leaving no room for doubt, "Appendicitis flares up and can't be delayed; if it drags on, something serious will happen."

We've paid the fees at the People's Hospital first, so your father can have surgery as soon as possible.

He turned his head to Qin Huairu and said, "Get in the car."

Upon hearing that her father's condition was critical, Qin Huairu's heart clenched. She hurriedly told the second son of the Qin family, "Second Uncle, we'll go ahead first. Please come later."

After saying that, he turned sideways and sat on the back rack of the bicycle.

Jia Dongming started the bicycle and drove out of the alleyway of the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

Qin's second son stared blankly at the departing figures of the two, then turned to Yan Bugui, who was standing silently watching from the side, and asked in confusion, "Brother, who was that guy who rode away with Huairu on his bicycle just now...?"

Judging from his expression, Yan Bugui had already guessed what was going on and explained with a smile, "That's Huairu's uncle, Jia Dongxu's older brother, Jia Dongming."

"Uncle?"

The second son of the Qin family was even more confused, "I remember Dongxu is an only child, how come..."

"Well, there's a reason for this."

Yan Bugui waved his hand, "When Dongming was a child, it was during a time of war and chaos. The streets were very chaotic, and he easily got separated from his family."

Later, he joined the army and just returned from military service last week. The organization assigned him to be the head of the security department at a steel rolling mill, and he happened to be assigned to this compound as housing, which is how he reunited with his family.

Upon hearing this, the second son of the Qin family showed a look of realization and shock, muttering to himself, "So that's how it is... I thought it was Huairu..."

He swallowed the rest of his sentence, shook his head, and hurriedly headed towards the hospital.

A night breeze caressed my face, and the shadows of the houses on both sides of the street slowly swept past.

Qin Huairu sat on the back of the bicycle, watching Jia Dongming's tall figure stretch and shrink under the dim streetlights. The changes in Jia's family over the past few days quietly surfaced in her mind.

A sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time, like warm water, quietly washed over her anxious heart.

The sound of wheels rolling over the stone pavement was particularly clear in the quiet night.

Qin Huairu sat on the back of the bicycle, her fingers gripping the cold metal frame so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

The night breeze ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead, and she could see Jia Dongming's broad back rising and falling rhythmically in front of her. He was so close that she could almost feel the warmth emanating from under the fabric.

An impulse to lean closer surged like a tide, but was firmly suppressed by an even stronger force of reason.

She simply gripped her fingers tighter, the edge of the metal frame digging painfully into her palm.

The harsh white lights in the emergency room made my eyes sting.

Qin Huairu almost fell off the car seat, staggering into the light.

My mother and third uncle, their hunched figures huddled in a corner of the bench, looked like two leaves withered by the wind and rain.

"mom!"

Her voice was breathless, "How is Dad?"

Qin's mother raised her head, and tears instantly streamed down her face, leaving wet streaks. "Huairu..."

She grabbed her daughter's hand; it was icy cold and trembling. "It's appendicitis, she needs surgery, she needs surgery right now... but we only have a few dollars at home..."

Before she could finish speaking, a deep, steady male voice interrupted, carrying an undeniable force: "Where's the payment slip? Give it to me."

Qin's mother froze, her eyes blurred with tears as she looked toward the source of the sound.

A tall, unfamiliar man had appeared behind the daughter at some point, his expression calm yet exuding an imposing aura.

She didn't have time to think it through or ask any questions. She shakily pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket and handed it over.

Jia Dongming took it, glanced at it, and said to Qin Huairu, "You stay with your aunt, I'll go and handle the formalities."

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps swift, the incandescent light casting a long shadow of his straight back.

Only after the figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor did Qin's mother snap out of her daze, grabbing her daughter's arm tightly: "Huai Ru, who was that person? You... how did you all come together?"

Her eyes were filled with surprise and a vague guess.

Qin Huairu's cheeks flushed red, both anxious and embarrassed: "Mom! What are you thinking! That's Dongxu's older brother, Banggeng's uncle!"

"Dongxu's older brother?"

Mother Qin's mouth gaped slightly, as if she had heard something out of the blue. "The Jia family... doesn't the Jia family only have one son, Dongxu? Where did this older brother come from?"

"It's true."

Qin Huairu lowered her voice and spoke quickly, "When my eldest brother was a child, he went out with his father-in-law and got into trouble. They got separated and he injured his head. He can't remember anything. He was rescued by a kind person and then joined the army."

He just returned from military service last week and was assigned to the security department of the steel rolling mill. His house is also located in our compound.

My mother-in-law had her eye on that house before, but she accepted it after meeting the man.

Qin's mother was stunned, muttering, "Such a thing could happen..."

Suddenly, she remembered something, her expression changed, and she looked at her daughter with worry, "Oh no! I asked your second uncle to go to your house and ask for help, did your mother-in-law... give you a hard time?"

In the past, getting past Jia Zhangshi would have been no easy feat.

But this time… Qin Huairu shook her head, her expression somewhat complicated: “Ever since my eldest brother came back, he’s been the one who calls the shots at home.”

He'd reprimanded his mother a few times, but now... she's much more restrained.

"really?"

Qin's mother's eyes lit up, and she pressed on, "You said he's the head of security? Then... is he married? Are you living separately now, or are you both living together?"

"My older brother is in the military and isn't married yet. My mother-in-law is arranging a marriage for him."

Qin Huairu didn't realize the deeper meaning in her mother's words and replied, "My eldest brother is in charge of the family now."

He also transferred me to an office job, which pays thirty-five yuan and fifty cents a month.

"Thirty-five yuan and fifty cents?"

Qin's mother gasped, her shock quickly followed by anxiety, "So much money! Will your mother-in-law still make you hand it over?"

Qin Huairu shook her head, recalling Jia Dongming's calm yet unyielding arrangement: "My brother said that I should keep this money for myself and give it to Bang Gengcheng's family in the future."

As they were talking, hurried footsteps approached from afar.

Jia Dongming returned, holding a receipt stamped with a red seal, and handed it directly to Qin Huairu: "The money has been paid, and the receipt is here."

Go find a doctor quickly and arrange surgery; don't delay a moment.

Qin Huairu took the thin piece of paper, but it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

She looked up at the man who had suddenly appeared before her, yet seemed to have been born to stand there and preside over everything. Her throat tightened, and she finally managed to utter a low, yet emotionally charged, sentence: "Uncle... thank you."

After submitting the receipt for the surgery fee to the window, the emergency room quickly arranged surgery for Qin's father.

Watching her father being wheeled into the closed door by medical staff, Qin Huairu finally let out a long sigh of relief. Turning to Jia Dongming beside her, her voice trembled with emotion, she said, "Uncle, we really owe you a lot this time."

Jia Dongming didn't say anything, but took out five ten-yuan bills from his pocket and handed them to Qin Huairu. "Huairu, after the surgery you'll need to stay in the hospital for treatment. The follow-up medication and miscellaneous expenses will cost at least twenty or thirty yuan."

Take these to tide you over for now.

Jia Dongming had already paid for the surgery, so when he mentioned the subsequent expenses, Qin Huairu didn't refuse anymore.

She took the stack of money, her fingers gripping it tightly, and whispered, "Uncle, I'll pay you back slowly each month after I get my wages from the factory."

A hundred yuan is a considerable sum for an ordinary family, but for Jia Dongming, who has a sign-in system, it is just a regular income accumulated over ten days.

If Qin Huairu's family members hadn't been there, he wouldn't have bothered to even bring up this little matter.

Hearing that she wanted to repay the money, Jia Dongming smiled and waved his hand, saying, "The most important thing right now is to cure your father's illness. We can talk about the money later."

"His uncle,"

At this moment, Qin's mother stepped forward, her eyes still red, "We really didn't expect that Huairu's father's illness would cost so much money this time."

Our family will always remember your kindness in helping us.

"Don't worry, we'll pay it back even if we have to tear down our house and sell the tiles."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongming smiled casually, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing the weather: "Auntie, I earn a little over a hundred yuan a month, this amount is nothing."

Besides, Huairu is my brother's wife, and you are her parents. It's only natural for relatives to help each other out, isn't it? Please don't stand on ceremony with me."

These words stunned not only Qin's mother but also several of Qin's relatives who had come with her. They exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by the mention of "over a hundred yuan."

The monthly salary gave me a shock.

In the silence, a person rushed in from the other end of the corridor; it was the second son of the Qin family.

He stopped in front of everyone, panting, and asked anxiously, "Sister-in-law, Third Brother, how is Big Brother?"

Qin Huairu's eldest brother, Qin Huairen, answered before his mother could: "Second Uncle, Dad has already gone into the operating room, and the doctor is performing surgery inside."

Late at night, around 11 p.m., the red light above the operating room door suddenly went out.

The door opened with a click, and a nurse came out.

Qin Huairu immediately went to greet her, her voice tense: "Nurse, how did my father's surgery go?"

The nurse glanced at the family members who had gathered around and said calmly, "You were brought in just in time. The patient's appendix wasn't perforated; it could have been dangerous if it had been any later."

She paused, and seeing that everyone's expressions had eased slightly, she solemnly instructed, "Dr. Zhang is currently performing post-operative care, and the patient will be taken to the ward shortly."

Family members must remember that the patient must wait until after passing gas before eating or drinking anything; nothing should be given before that.

Qin's mother listened blankly and asked in a low voice, "What does 'ventilation' mean? How do we know if we've vented or not?"

Seeing that the family members were from the countryside, the nurse patiently explained, "Passing gas is the same as farting."

Only after the patient has passed gas can you give them some water. After that, give them some light and easily digestible food, such as millet porridge or soft noodles. Absolutely avoid anything greasy.

Fearing she might have missed something, Qin's mother quickly turned and tugged at Qin Huairu's sleeve: "Huairu, have you remembered everything the nurse said?"

Qin Huairu nodded: "Mom, I've remembered everything, don't worry."

Before long, Qin's father was wheeled out, and everyone followed the transfer bed into the ward.

Jia Dongming looked at the person on the bed who was still unconscious and said to Qin Huairu, "Huairu, your father is still under the effects of the anesthesia and won't wake up for a while."

"It's late now. Discuss who will stay to keep watch over the patient. The rest of you, come back to the courtyard with me to rest. Mingtian will make arrangements if anything else needs to be done."

After confirming that his father was out of danger, the second son of the Qin family turned to Jia Dongming and said, "Uncle Banggeng, we came by oxcart from the village. The third son and I will drive back to the village tonight. We won't bother you in the yard."

Jia Dongming waved his hand, his tone gentle but firm: "Huai Ru's second uncle, it's so dark, the road is difficult to walk on."

My yard is spacious, and the house is big enough; I can just bring the cow in.

After resting for the night, Ming ate breakfast early before returning to Qin Family Village.

Qin Huairu, who was listening nearby, also gently advised, "Second Uncle, there is indeed enough room at your eldest uncle's place."

Traveling at night is not a safe place; it would be better for Ming to set off earlier.

The reason why the second son of the Qin family was in a hurry to leave was that he was afraid that Qin Huairu's mother-in-law would be unhappy because of their group of uninvited guests, which would put his niece in a difficult position.

Hesitation crossed his face, and he asked Qin Huairu in a low voice, "With such a large group of us going, won't your mother-in-law...?"

Jia Dongming immediately understood the concerns in his words and promptly replied, "I'm in charge of things at home now."

My mother won't say much, so you can all settle in comfortably.

Qin's second son had already heard from Yan Bugui that Jia Dongming was the head of the security department at the steel rolling mill. Seeing how confident he was, he stopped insisting and nodded, saying, "Then I'll trouble you."

Seeing that her two uncles had agreed to stay, Qin Huairu turned to her mother and said, "Mom, why don't you go back and rest with your second and third uncles? I'll stay here and watch over Dad."

Qin's mother quickly stopped her: "Mingtian still has to go to work, how can he stay up all night? Go back with your uncle, I can handle things here."

Jia Dongming thought that Mingri would have to prepare breakfast early in the morning, so he said to Qin Huairu, "Mingzao, you have to get up and prepare breakfast, and you also have to deliver food to the hospital."

"Go home and rest tonight. There are doctors and nurses at the hospital, and my aunt is here to take care of things. Nothing will go wrong."

Qin Huairu pondered for a moment and thought it made sense, so she instructed her mother, "Mom, let's go back first."