Reborn in '77, I have a job panel!

After five days, she had lost weight and had faint dark circles under her eyes.

"I'm going to take care of the formalities." Zhang Mingxi was about to leave with great enthusiasm.

Half an hour later, the discharge procedures were completed and the medication was picked up.

Zhang Mingxi started packing his things. Actually, there wasn't much to pack: a few changes of clothes, an enamel mug, and a pair of cloth shoes.

When Qian Cheng came, he was wearing a cotton-padded coat. The coat had been cut open, and Deng Jingshu sewed it up again, folding it neatly and placing it on the bedside table.

"You sit down first, I'll go back and call my dad. The tractor is parked in town, he has to drive it over."

Zhang Mingxi first went back to the village, then rode in a tractor that his father, Zhang Changtian, had borrowed from the town, to the county hospital, and then came to pick up Qian Cheng.

At this moment, Qian Cheng stood up and walked around idly.

"You've just been discharged from the hospital, don't wander around."

"It's alright, walking a few steps won't hurt."

Zhang Mingxi couldn't persuade Qian Cheng otherwise, so she had no choice but to help him slowly walk out.

People were coming and going in the hospital corridor.

There were caregivers pushing wheelchairs, women carrying children, and old men carrying lunchboxes. Qian Cheng, wearing a sewn-up cotton-padded coat and leaning on the cane that Nurse Zhou had found for him, moved out step by step.

Zhang Mingxi held his arm and walked very slowly.

"Are you tired?" Zhang Mingxi asked with concern, her eyes fixed on Qian Cheng the whole time.

"Not tired," Qian Cheng shook his head.

"Shall we take a break?"

"Need not."

The two of them slowly walked out of the hospital.

There's an old locust tree by the entrance, its leaves long gone, its bare branches stretching towards the gray sky. A tractor is parked under the tree, chugging and belching black smoke.

Zhang Changtian sat in the driver's seat, wearing a faded blue cotton-padded jacket and a cotton hat, his face reddened by the cold wind.

He saw Qian Cheng come out, but didn't say anything. He just jumped off the truck bed and opened the tailgate.

Qian Cheng walked over and called out, "Master."

"Hmm," Zhang Changtian responded, looking him up and down with some surprise. "You can walk now?"

"able."

"Then get in the truck," Zhang Changtian said, holding onto the edge of the truck bed and gesturing for him to sit down.

Zhang Mingxi helped Qian Cheng onto the truck bed, then climbed up himself and sat down next to him.

Zhang Changtian returned to the driver's seat, stepped on the gas, and the tractor sputtered onto the road.

The winter wind was cold, and it felt like knives on the face. Zhang Mingxi took off his scarf and was about to put it on Qian Cheng.

"I'm not cold."

"You've just been discharged from the hospital, don't catch a cold."

Qian Cheng didn't refuse anymore and let her put the scarf around his neck. The scarf carried her body heat, making him feel warm and cozy, and it also had a faint scent of soap.

Zhang Changtian glanced at the rearview mirror but didn't say anything.

The tractor drove out of the county town and onto the dirt road back to the village.

The road was still the same road, full of potholes and very bumpy.

But this time, Qian Cheng was lying in the truck bed with a cotton quilt that Zhang Mingxi had brought from home under him, which was much more comfortable than when he came.

After driving for a while, Zhang Changtian suddenly said, "Go back and rest well, don't rush to work."

"Yes, Master."

"You've fallen behind on quite a bit of carpentry work these days," Zhang Changtian said, his tone unusually relaxed. "Once you're healed, you need to catch up on your studies. You've only just begun to grasp the basics of dovetail joints; you still need to practice. After the New Year, I plan to teach you how to make cabinets, which are more complicated than stools."

Qian Cheng replied, "Okay, I will definitely study hard."

Zhang Changtian paused for a moment, then said, "Also, I've put away your fishing rods. You can go fishing again when you're better, so as not to waste them."

Qian Cheng smiled and said, "Thank you, Master."

Listening from the side, Zhang Mingxi couldn't help but say, "Dad, Qian Cheng's injury hasn't healed yet, and you're already thinking about making him do chores."

"I'm just telling him to rest and recover properly so he can get back to work."

Zhang Mingxi expressed strong condemnation: "He still needs to rest enough. The doctor said it takes three months for the ribs to heal properly."

Zhang Changtian felt wronged after being scolded by his daughter. He muttered under his breath, "I know, I didn't ask him to do it right now."

Zhang Mingxi wanted to say something, but Qian Cheng gently touched her hand. She glanced at Qian Cheng and said nothing more.

Seeing this subtle action in the rearview mirror, Zhang Changtian felt a pang of jealousy rise in his heart again.

This girl is becoming increasingly obvious in her bias towards outsiders.

She used to be more reserved in front of him, but now she's protecting Qian Cheng right in front of him, making him, the father, the bad guy.

He put on a stern face and stopped talking.

Qian Cheng found it amusing to see Zhang Changtian's expression change from relaxed to sullen.

This old man may not admit it, but in his heart he's already considered me his son-in-law.

But every time I see my daughter being nice to me, I can't help but feel jealous.

Fathers-in-law are probably all like this.

"Master," Qian Cheng spoke up first, "thank you for the hospital fees."

Zhang Changtian didn't turn around, he just hummed in response.

"I will pay you back. Once I'm better, I'll do more carpentry work and save up enough to pay you back."

Zhang Changtian frowned, somewhat uncomfortable: "What do you mean 'pay back'? Didn't I say I should pay for this?"

"I have to pay it back; you've had a tough time too."

Zhang Changtian remained silent for a while, then said nothing more.

The tractor continued to move forward.

The roadside was a familiar sight.

The poplar trees were bare, the irrigation ditches were frozen, the mud houses were gray and dusty, and occasionally a few chickens would be seen digging in the dirt by the roadside.

As we approached the village entrance, we could see a large, dark group of people in the distance.

Village Chief Li stood at the front, an unlit cigarette between his fingers. Next to him were Accountant Zhao and several village officials. Behind them were the village women, some holding children, some with their hands tucked in their sleeves, all looking out onto the road.

"They're here! They're here!" someone shouted.

The tractor stopped. Zhang Changtian jumped off, and Old Li stepped forward: "You brought him back? How are his injuries?"

"I've been discharged, but I still need to recuperate," Zhang Changtian replied.

Old Li nodded, walked to the side of the truck bed, and looked at Qian Cheng: "Qian Cheng, now that you're back, take good care of your injuries. The police will handle Wang Shoujun's matter, don't worry about it."

"Thank you, village chief."

The villagers gathered around, all asking questions.

"Chengzi, is your injury any better?"

"I heard you broke a rib? You need to take good care of yourself."

"Tell your aunt if you have any difficulties at home."

"..."

Qian Cheng responded to each of them, feeling a warm glow in his heart.

That's how it is in the countryside these days. When one family is in trouble, the whole village helps. They might bicker over trivial things, but when something really happens, no one hesitates.

Hou Yufen squeezed through the crowd, her eyes red-rimmed. She looked at Qian Cheng from head to toe several times, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that her son was in good spirits.

"Come home, Mom has cooked chicken for you."

Qian Lu and his sister-in-law also arrived. Qian Lu didn't say anything, but just patted Qian Cheng on the shoulder.

Zhang Mingxi helped Qian Cheng out of the car and they slowly walked home.

The villagers made way for them and watched them go.

Qian Cheng walked to his front door and looked back.

The crowd at the village entrance hadn't dispersed yet, gathering in twos and threes to talk, and wisps of smoke rose from each chimney, drifting away in the gray sky.