Chapter 20: Treating Grandma Qin

As they returned home, they could smell the aroma of food filling the courtyard.

An’an immediately perked up.

“Mom, it smells so good. Is Dad cooking?”

Bai Ruojiao smiled and carried him into the house, “Yes, dinner will be ready soon. An’an, sit on the bed first. Mom will tidy up, okay?”

“Okay, An’an is a good boy.” An’an nodded solemnly, then tilted his little face up and smiled sweetly, seeking praise.

Bai Ruojiao chuckled and rubbed his little cheek, “Yes, An’an is the best.”

Seeing that he was more energetic now and his complexion had improved, she felt a little relieved.

“You’re back. Dinner will be ready soon.” Zhao Sihai said with a smile, waving his spatula.

“I’ll tidy up first. No rush.”

There were several baskets of things still in the kitchen. She took out some and put them in the basket.

Seeing that she was struggling to carry them, Zhao Sihai quickly said, “Put them down first. I’ll do it.”

“Watch your food, don’t let it burn. You’re not a porcelain doll.” Bai Ruojiao glared at him.

But there was a smile on her face. The glare was more like a playful scolding.

Zhao Sihai laughed along, “Okay, be careful.”

“I know.”

It took three trips to move all the things into the house.

But there were no shelves yet, so they could only be placed in the corner for now.

“Wow, Mom, these are canned goods!”

Seeing the two jars of juicy yellow peaches and hawthorn preserves, An’an exclaimed in delight.

Bai Ruojiao smiled and rubbed his head, “Yes, but we’re having dinner now, so you can’t eat them. We’ll eat them tomorrow.”

“Mom will eat too.”

“Yes.”

“Dad will eat too.”

“He’ll get his share.”

An’an immediately smiled, revealing eight little teeth, like a child who had received candy.

Of course, he did have a lot of candy in his pocket.

“Dinner’s ready.” Zhao Sihai walked in with two large porcelain bowls.

“Dad, it smells so good.” An’an immediately ran to the table, his eyes watering as he looked at the two steaming bowls.

Zhao Sihai smiled and carried him onto the long bench, “There’s more. It’ll be ready soon.”

He then ran back to the kitchen.

Bai Ruojiao also went to help get the bowls and chopsticks.

Zhao Sihai had made two dishes and a soup: tomato scrambled eggs, pork stir-fried with salted vegetables, and radish, corn, and pork soup. He had also made corn pancakes.

The pork was secretly taken from her space before she went out this afternoon.

A long, beautiful piece of five-flower pork, all from high-quality pigs, was incredibly fragrant.

—

In the labor camp, there were constant, suppressed coughs.

It was called a labor camp, but it was actually just a makeshift shack.

It used to be for the “cow demons and snake spirits,” but after the “cow demons and snake spirits” were abolished, it became a labor camp.

It was called a labor camp, but it was just a name. It was usually called the “cow pen,” and the people living there were treated like “cow demons and snake spirits.”

There used to be several shacks in the labor camp, but now only one was left with people living in it. The others hadn’t survived.

In the shack, an old lady with white hair, covered in a patched quilt, lay in bed. Her dark, aged face had an unnatural flush.

Old Man Qin came over with a bowl of dark, murky medicine.

“Xiao Lan, get up and take your medicine.”

The old lady coughed a few more times before she could open her eyes with effort.

It seemed to take her a while to see clearly. She sighed weakly and shook her head with effort.

“You went to dig herbs again. Stop wasting your energy. There’s nothing you can do.”

“What are you talking about? You’re the doctor, or am I the doctor? Get up and drink it. You’ll be fine soon.”

Old Man Qin pretended to be angry and helped her up.

The old lady couldn’t resist him. She sighed helplessly.

She knew her own body best. She was afraid she wouldn’t last much longer.

She was just afraid that if she left, the old man would lose his mind.

She never thought that after a lifetime of saving lives and healing the sick, they would end up living a miserable life, only to die in a foreign land.

At that moment, the wooden door was gently knocked.

“Who is it?” Old Man Qin put down his bowl, got up, and went to the door.

“Grandpa Qin, it’s me, Ruojiao.”

As soon as the old man heard this, he quickened his pace, quickly opened the door, and pulled her in. He then looked out again.

“Why are you here again? If others find out you’re with us, these “cow demons,” you’ll be in trouble.”

The old man scolded her sternly, but his eyes were gentle.

Bai Ruojiao didn’t mind at all. She was very familiar with the place. She put the basket on the table, lifted the cloth covering it, and took things out as she spoke.

“Don’t worry, I’m being careful.”

“Qiaoqiao is here.” The old lady also greeted her in a low voice.

“Grandma Qin, Sihai has returned from the army. He brought back a lot of things. I brought some food for you.”

She said, taking out a small package from the basket and handing it to the old man.

“Grandpa Qin, this is the medicine I asked Sihai to find someone to get.”

The old man was about to lecture her, telling her to stop sending things over.

He was already struggling to get by.

But when he heard the word “medicine,” he froze, then reached out and took it, opening it.

Old Man Qin was an old expert in medicine. He could tell what the pills were, and he was so excited that his hands trembled.

“How did you get this? Is it dangerous? You’re being so reckless.”

The old man’s eyes were red, and he said this, but his eyes were full of excitement and joy.

“Don’t worry, it’s all legitimate. It won’t leave any evidence.” Bai Ruojiao smiled, her eyes also a little red. She felt a little heartache.

In her previous life, Grandma Qin hadn’t survived October.

She was only half a month away, but she didn’t make it in the end.

She didn’t bring out any more advanced medicine because that would definitely be noticed by the old man.

So, she only brought out some medicine that could treat or alleviate tuberculosis.

She hoped it would help Grandma Qin hold on a little longer.

As long as they were taken back to Beicheng by next March.

With the old man’s skills, he would definitely be able to cure Grandma Qin.

“Thank you, Comrade Qiao.” The old man wiped his eyes and said in a hoarse voice.

Grandma Qin also wanted to say something, but before she could, she coughed violently.

Bai Ruojiao bit her back teeth hard and slightly raised her eyes, holding back her tears.

She took a deep breath and said seriously, “Grandpa Qin, Grandma Qin, hold on a little longer. The sun will rise, and everything will change. This is the news Sihai brought back.”

The two of them were stunned, then their eyes widened in shock.

The old man asked excitedly, his voice trembling, “What news? Is there any news?”

Bai Ruojiao shook her head, “I don’t know the details yet, but Sihai said there are changes in Beicheng. Maybe it won’t be long before the clouds clear and the sun shines.”

The old man opened his mouth and gasped for breath. He then walked to the bedside, his eyes filled with tears, and squatted down.

“Xiao Lan, did you hear that?”

“I, cough, cough, I heard. It’s great.”

Watching the two old people holding hands and crying, Bai Ruojiao wiped away her tears and turned to leave.

In her previous life, after Grandma Qin passed away, the old man relied on his dedication to the country and only lived for another ten years before he passed away at the age of 71.

But in those short ten years, he made an unparalleled contribution to China’s medicine.

She walked to the door, her heart heavy.

A beam of light shone on her.

It was Zhao Sihai, who had been waiting outside the courtyard.

Seeing her return, Zhao Sihai ran forward with a flashlight, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” She looked up at Zhao Sihai.

She couldn’t see his expression in the dark, but she could imagine that it was full of concern.

She chuckled softly, the heaviness in her heart suddenly dissipating. She reached out and took his hand, “Let’s go home.”

The gloom will always dissipate, the sun will always shine, and there is still hope for everything.