Chapter 12: Torn Apart

Seeing Lin Wan’s surprised expression, Lu Zhengting explained before she could ask, sparing her the trouble of writing: “I’ve saved this up over the years. I had nowhere to spend it, so I kept it here.”

But wasn’t his salary all handed over to Old Madam Lu? How could he have saved this much?

Lu Zhengting hesitated before giving her a simple explanation.

He had followed Instructor Zheng out at the age of twelve. At first, since he was being trained, he had no money. Six months later, he received a ten-yuan allowance per month, then twenty, then thirty. By the time he was fifteen, it was fifty. Later it rose to seventy or eighty, and by the time he retired it was 106 yuan. After retirement, since his medical expenses were covered and he was no longer in active service, he received 78 yuan a month.

Not all of this money had been given to Old Madam Lu. In the past, he’d given her only half. Later, when Lu Zhengqi and Lu Xinlian’s school expenses grew, he gave more.

In truth, during this period of material shortage, ration coupons were as important as money. Otherwise, one might have coupons but no money, or money but no coupons—either way, it was troublesome.

Although Lu Zhengting could send money home, he had no extra coupons to give them. Since the team provided for all his food, clothing, housing, and transport, he had none to spare.

As for money itself, he felt little attachment to it. He had few personal expenses, and what remained he sent to support the families of fallen comrades. Now that those children had grown and could support their families, they refused his help. That was how he managed to save this four hundred yuan.

Before Lin Wan could say anything, 999 had already started wailing, “Host, Xiao Tingting is so kind-hearted. Even though he’s disabled himself, he still helped others.”

Lin Wan set the envelope back on the table. “I can’t take this money,” she said, shaking her head firmly.

“Your parents’ health isn’t good, and both your brothers are sick. Use this money to send them to the hospital.” Lu Zhengting had learned about her family situation: both brothers had severe epilepsy. It couldn’t be cured, but with medication the seizures would be less frequent and less severe. Her father’s coughing of blood was due to years of overwork that damaged his foundation. He needed medicine and rest. With this money and ration coupons, they could go to a major hospital, and even if they couldn’t be fully cured, at least they could get medicine to prevent the illnesses from worsening.

But Lin Wan still refused. At this time, a farming family might earn thirty or fifty yuan in a whole year. Four hundred yuan was an enormous sum. They weren’t truly husband and wife—she had no obligation to him, nor he to her. On the surface it seemed he had gained by getting a wife, but in reality, she had been abandoned by Lu Zhengqi and was forced into a dead end, taking him as her shield.

It was his money, and it wasn’t right to assume it should be hers to use.

Seeing her refusal, Lu Zhengting said, “Look at me—I have nowhere to spend it. This money was meant to help those in need. If you need it, take it. Consider it a loan if you prefer.”

His support for his comrades’ families had been voluntary. No one had asked it of him, and he had no special ties to them—he simply helped where he could.

Lin Wan remained silent.

999: [“Host, Lu Zhengting is really sincere. He’s so thoughtful. You should accept it. Your father’s health is poor. In the original timeline, he dies in two years. If you treat him now, he can live a few more years. Then Xiao 9 will work hard to help you become a divine doctor…”]

Lin Wan shot back at the system, “Xiao 39, are you surnamed Lu now?”

[“Wuwuwu…”] 

Still, she knew 39 was right. Medical skills in this era couldn’t cure her father, but they could slow the progression of his illness, giving her the chance to one day cure him through the system.

Lu Zhengting, watching her hesitate, fixed his gaze on her. “What are you afraid of?”

Her heart jumped. Afraid? Me, afraid? What a joke.

He took her hand, pressing the envelope into it. “Be good. Take it.” He even patted the back of her hand lightly. “Good girl.”

Lin Wan: “…” She felt as if she had been jolted by electricity.

In the end, she took one hundred yuan and the meal coupons, slipping them into her pocket, and left the rest in the envelope. She wrote: “I’ll first use this hundred yuan to take my father to a major hospital, and to buy my brothers their epilepsy medicine. The rest you keep. Once I earn money, you can hold on to it for me. I’ll pay you back.”

Lu Zhengting felt a warm fullness in his chest. The way she spoke sounded just like a wife. He couldn’t help but smile at her.

She found that his smile was truly handsome—it was just too rare.

Since Lu Zhengting still had matters to attend to, Lin Wan took Lu Mingliang home, packed up, and prepared to return to her parents’ house for a couple of days.

At home, Old Madam Lu was sulking. She had thought Lin Wan was useless, but who could have guessed she would actually qualify as a barefoot doctor? What dogshit luck! She brooded that this should have been Xinlian’s position. When she heard Lin Wan was going back to her parents’ house, she loudly demanded the fifty yuan back and sent Bao’er to fetch Second Uncle to escort Lin Wan there.

Lin Wan rolled her eyes and didn’t even bother responding. Who ever asked an elder brother-in-law to escort his younger brother’s wife back to her parents’ home? Did she want people gossiping?

After telling the children, she slung a cloth bag over her shoulder and set out. At the alley entrance, she ran into Lu Zhengting.

He offered to send her—he could borrow a donkey cart from the production team. Though it would take a longer route, it would spare her the hard trek over hills. The shortcut from Dawen Village to Linjia’gou was only seven or eight li, but it was all rough terrain and even required crossing a ditch. The main road was farther, at least fifteen or sixteen li.

Lin Wan smiled. “It’s only a few li. Don’t worry, I’m a fast walker.”

Just as he was about to reply, a jangling bell sounded from afar, accompanied by a booming voice: “Lin Wan—” He instinctively turned his head.

Lin Wan was also startled. “Who is that?”

999 instantly reminded her, [“It’s Zhou Ziqiang, your childhood friend.”] 

Her memories sharpened, and a figure rose in her mind: a tall young man with a bright smile, bronzed arms, Zhou Ziqiang, who had always treated the original host like a little sister. It was thanks in part to him that she had managed to cling to Lu Zhengqi and marry into the Lu family—his father was a production team leader in Linjia’gou, and his uncle, the commune’s deputy secretary, doted on him like a son, even making him the militia captain and promising him a company commander position in a few years.

He hadn’t attended her wedding, but later, when trouble arose, he had sought out cadres on her behalf. By the time she wanted to thank him, he was long gone.

Lin Wan introduced him to Lu Zhengting.

Zhou Ziqiang rushed over like the wind, braking suddenly before her, his teeth flashing in a wide grin. “Wanwan, I just happened to be passing by. When are you heading home?”

Basking in the sun, his face glistened with sweat, shining with a warmth and brightness like the sun itself.

“I’m heading back now. What brings you here?” she asked, patting her bag.

“I’ve been busy escorting the public grain these past few days. Just got back to the commune today, and thought I’d stop by. So I came to ask you.” As he spoke, his gaze slid toward Lu Zhengting in his wheelchair.

Lu Zhengting sat quietly at the roadside, the setting sun casting shadows from the parasol tree over him. Silent and aloof, his deep eyes were shadowed by his brow and nose, their cold gleam barely visible.

Lin Wan introduced him as well.

Zhou Ziqiang planted one foot on the ground and the other on his bicycle pedal, towering over Lu Zhengting. His face darkened, brows furrowing. With a grunt, he said discontentedly, “Is Lu Zhengqi dead yet? If he dares come back, I’ll break his legs!”

Hot-tempered, Zhou Ziqiang had fought with people since he was young and, after becoming militia captain, was even more so. This temperament had cost him dearly before, and according to the plot, would cost him even more.

Since she saw him as her family’s brother, Lin Wan naturally didn’t want him continuing this way. “Brother Qiangzi, don’t be like that. Lu Zhengqi is a bastard, but Third Brother is a good man.”

“Third Brother?” Zhou Ziqiang scowled. “I’m your Third Brother. How come there’s another one?”

“You’re my family’s Third Brother, my real brother!” she said quickly, then turned to smile at Lu Zhengting as she wrote: Brother Qiangzi came to fetch me, so don’t worry. You go back.

His restless heart calmed at her words “my real brother.” He gave her a look, signaling her to go.

She waved goodbye and hopped on the back of Zhou Ziqiang’s bike, urging him to set off.

Zhou Ziqiang had no fondness for the Lu family, but since Wanwan liked Lu Zhengqi, he had supported her. Now she had married the disabled Lu Zhengting, and though he didn’t understand why, he still supported her unconditionally. He had always acted on impulse, following his whims without needing reasons, so he didn’t question whether her decisions made sense.

With youthful strength, even carrying a passenger, his bicycle flew down the road.

Lu Zhengting watched their departing backs for a long while before looking down at her note, lost in thought.

He reminded himself: they weren’t truly husband and wife. She had only taken him as a last resort. They were helping each other, nothing more.

He wanted to help her—not because he was jealous of Zhou Ziqiang. No, it wasn’t that…

He just wished he still had healthy legs, so he could walk beside her to her parents’ home. He wished he could hear her voice—the sound of her laughter, her speech, even her breathing…

He had been deaf for twelve years. Only in the first year had he been utterly miserable. Later, he accepted reality and never felt inferior because of it.

But now, he found himself longing to hear her voice again—especially when her eyes sparkled with laughter, or when she slammed the table in anger and declared, “Lu Zhengting is my man!”

Though his emotions churned like waves inside, his face remained calm and aloof as he pushed his wheelchair slowly forward.

Just as he reached the alley, Lu Mingliang came running out, shouting, “Third Uncle! Third Uncle! Grandma’s gone crazy—she’s tearing up Third Aunt’s notebooks!”

Lu Zhengting’s brows furrowed, and he immediately quickened his pace back home. Sure enough, as soon as he entered, he heard Old Madam Lu’s cursing and wailing.

She was livid. Hearing Lin Wan had qualified as a barefoot doctor made her jealous and furious. That wicked daughter-in-law had really struck it lucky! If she became a doctor, she’d hold status in the village—wouldn’t she then trample all over her mother-in-law at home?

She had gone to the brigade to demand answers, only to run into Lu Zhengxia. There, she heard gossip: that Lin Wan wasn’t qualified to be a doctor at all, that Lu Zhengting had pulled strings, and that the brigade had only agreed out of respect for a disabled veteran. She also “accidentally” overheard that he had secretly given Lin Wan money to take to her parents’ home. Though she didn’t know how much, Lu Zhengxia deliberately exaggerated it.

Nothing enraged her more than family hiding money from her. For her son to give money to his wife and not her—this was outrageous! She had stormed home to confront them, but was too late: Lin Wan had already left with Zhou Ziqiang.

So she ransacked their boxes. Finding no money, she grabbed Lin Wan’s study notes and began tearing them apart.

Lu Zhengting rushed in to see her ripping Lin Wan’s notebooks to shreds. She had even picked up Doctor Jin’s notes, ready to tear them too.

He sped forward, seized her wrist, and squeezed hard enough to make her cry out and drop them.

He caught the notebook, tucked both away in his side pocket, and gathered the torn pages from the floor. Some were shredded beyond repair, and the sight pained him deeply. The ruined notes brought back the memory of when he was eleven, when Old Madam Lu had torn up his books and told him he would never study again.

He had thought he’d forgotten, but it resurfaced so easily. Just like he thought he had no resentment over her beating him deaf—yet now, unable to hear Lin Wan’s voice, he realized he still felt bitterness. What he called “no resentment” had only ever been self-deception.

Old Madam Lu froze, staring at him in disbelief, as if seeing some kind of monster.

He had dared to strike her—strike his own mother!