Chapter 41: Falling Under the Bridge

The girl quickly wiped away the tears on her face. At this moment, Luo Qiao also jumped down from the dam and roughly helped check her. Finding no signs of bleeding, but it seemed the aunt’s arm might be fractured.

Luo Qiao said, “Don’t move her. I’ll go to the commune health center to call a doctor. It’s better to find something to carry her with, in case there are injuries we haven’t noticed, to avoid causing further harm.”

The girl could only cry now, and upon hearing Luo Qiao’s words, she nodded tearfully.

Struggling to climb up the dam, Luo Qiao hurried towards the commune health center. Upon hearing that someone had fallen below the bridge, the doctor forgot about eating and two medical personnel prepared to accompany Luo Qiao to help the person.

Upon asking, Luo Qiao found out that the commune health center didn’t have a stretcher and used only a door panel for carrying people. Luo Qiao was amazed but considering it was the early 1980s, she didn’t dwell on it further. With the injured person in tow, she ran towards the bridge.

After a doctor’s examination, it was confirmed that apart from a fractured forearm, there were only minor abrasions elsewhere. As for why she had fainted, it was likely due to hitting the back of her head when falling.

After they lifted the person from the riverbank, Luo Qiao was initially planning to leave, but the girl kept holding onto her, saying, “Sister, um, thank you so much for today. I’m feeling scared now. Can you accompany me to the health center?”

Zhang Xiao was truly frightened and completely at a loss. She didn’t understand why she was suddenly relying so much on Luo Qiao, despite being older. She just desperately wanted Luo Qiao to stay with her.

Luo Qiao noticed that the girl was quite shaken and said, “Which village are you from? You should find someone to go back and inform your family. It’s hard for you to manage alone here, especially since you’re injured and need some bandaging.”

Zhang Xiao was still in shock and tightly held onto Luo Qiao’s hand. Upon hearing Luo Qiao’s suggestion, she replied, “Yes, yes, you’re right. I need to inform my father.”

Luo Qiao noticed she referred to him as “father” rather than “dad,” indicating they were probably urbanites. She continued, “If there’s a phone available to contact someone, that would be best. Otherwise, sending a message might not reach anyone conveniently.”

Zhang Xiao asked, “Could you please go to the post office for me? Call my father and let him know our situation. Please, I beg you.”

While speaking, she also made a gesture of clasping her hands together in greeting. Zhang Wan’s mind was filled with the image of her mother fainting, so she was really afraid to leave.

Luo Qiao said, “Then give me the phone number, and I’ll go for you.”

Zhang Xiao replied, “My name is Zhang Xiao, phone number is XXXX, my dad is Zhang Jianjun, he works in the army. Thank you.”

Luo Qiao escorted the person to the health center, then turned and ran towards the post and telecommunications office: “Comrade, I need to make a call.”

At this time, calls still required operator assistance. When someone picked up on the other end, a deep voice came through, “This is Zhang Jianjun, who’s this?”

Luo Qiao quickly said, “Hello, your daughter Zhang Xiao asked me to call you. They are now at Chaoyang Commune Health Center. Please come over quickly.”

Zhang Jianjun asked, “What happened? Why are they at the health center?”

Luo Qiao replied, “She fell off her bicycle under the bridge.”

Zhang Jianjun became anxious and asked, “How is she? Is she seriously injured?”

Luo Qiao thought to herself, this call is expensive, “Auntie arm is fractured. Please come over quickly, they are waiting.”