Chapter 80: Seeking Help at the Door

It was lunchtime, and Zhang Er was slowly packing up his things.

His family hadn’t come to pick him up because Jiang Nian had made the decision to send him home yesterday, and they didn’t know he was going back today.

Looking at the large bag of cotton on the table, along with the fifteen yuan and some cloth coupons that Ye Zhiqiu had given him, enough to buy a new bedsheet and make a new quilt, he felt like he had gotten a good deal.

He reluctantly walked out the door, and Ye Zhiqiu urged him, “Hurry up. I have to come back and work after I send you home.”

Zhang Er grumbled, “You have no heart. I knew it. I’m in your way even when I stay a little longer.” He felt like he had been at her beck and call all this time.

“Well, I don’t want you to leave either,” she said. After all, she would have less help, and she would have more to do. “But I don’t have a say in this. It’s not appropriate for you to stay after you’re better. Besides, it’s almost New Year’s Eve. You have to go home for the holidays. You won’t be able to stay for long even if you don’t leave.”

He wished he could stay a few more days, but as Ye Zhiqiu said, no one had a say except Jiang Nian.

He wished that Dr. Jiang was in charge of the Yanjiazhuang Health Center. He would be happy to be her errand boy.

Ye Zhiqiu didn’t know whether she should be jealous of Zhang Er. She was the one learning to ride a bicycle, but he learned it in less than a day, and she still hadn’t mastered it.

Zhang Er said that men had a natural advantage in this area, but Ye Zhiqiu was still disappointed. She wasn’t as good as she hoped she would be.

Watching them two bicker and laugh, full of youthful energy, Jiang Nian couldn’t help but smile.

She didn’t turn around until their figures disappeared from sight.

The tabby cat jumped onto her leg, but because it was so heavy, its claws scratched her clothes, tearing them. The clothes didn’t rip, but the cat rolled onto the ground, dazed.

“Tsk, stupid cat!” Jiang Nian scoffed at it.

Back in her room, she took out the things she had bought in the city, including four wolf pelts and some pork fat and lard.

That was why she had asked Ye Zhiqiu to send Zhang Er back. She didn’t want to go out again.

Zhang Er could take Ye Zhiqiu back, but she hadn’t learned to ride yet. She would probably have to push the bicycle back or try to learn to ride. No matter what, the journey was long, and there was enough time.

Jiang Nian packed up the wolf pelts and took them out.

The old man in the next village who was good at woodworking also knew how to tan hides. She was going to take these wolf pelts to him to be tanned. It was too cold, and she and Zhiqiu each needed one as a mattress. She also had two to send back to Su City for Jiang Qinghe to arrange.

She had thought about it carefully. She had more wolf pelts, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to give too many. After all, she was a girl alone in a foreign land. If she had a few, she could say she had bartered for them, but if she had too many, she wouldn’t be able to explain where they came from.

As for why she was taking this risk, it was because she had been here for so long, and they had been sending her money, clothes, and food every month. She couldn’t just take without giving.

The old woodworker had just taken on a job and was making stools for someone. Wood shavings were flying everywhere.

When he saw Jiang Nian coming, he quickly stopped. “Dr. Jiang, come sit here. It’s dirty over there. Don’t get your clothes dirty.”

The main dirt was the wood shavings, which were unavoidable.

Jiang Nian walked over and handed him the wolf pelts she had wrapped up. “Old man, I’m asking for your help again.”

“Don’t say that. Those free medicines you gave me really helped me get through this winter. I’m grateful to you, young lady!” The old woodworker took the bundled sack and opened it. He was surprised. “Wow, these are good hides. They look smooth and shiny. It’s not like you could get them this time of year.”

After all, winter was a time of depletion. Even fierce wolves would lose weight.

The old man leaned in and whispered, “These must cost a lot, right? I don’t mean anything by it. I just want to ask about the price. I want to see if I can afford it. My old bones can’t stand the cold in winter. If I had a good pelt like this, I wouldn’t suffer so much.”

“I don’t really know the price. I saved a seriously injured man yesterday, and his family paid for it. How much can you afford, old man? Should I ask for you?” Jiang Nian said half-jokingly.

She didn’t need the money. She just thought the old woodworker was a good person and knew how to do things right.

He actually knew about Jiang Nian saving the man. The ambulance had come to his house to pick up the man, and it had been the talk of the town. It was hard not to know.

He looked a little embarrassed. “Forget it. I don’t have that much money. I don’t want to make you lose face.”

Jiang Nian didn’t say anything else and left the pelts there.

The old woodworker took out the pelts and saw something at the bottom of the sack.

He pulled it out and saw two large pieces of white, greasy lard.

No wonder. She had been very polite on her two previous visits. This time, she didn’t even mention paying for the work before leaving. She was waiting for him here.

The old woodworker hadn’t expected that when Jiang Nian had first come to his door, he had wanted to make a good impression because of her medical skills. He hadn’t even charged enough for his labor, let alone the fact that he had also provided the wood.

Later, Jiang Nian had given him free medicine. Although he didn’t feel sick, the medicine did make his old body feel much lighter.

All things considered, he had taken advantage of her.

Now, he was just tanning a few pelts, and he had gotten these two large pieces of lard. This was a treasure that people would fight over.

If he saved it, he would have enough oil for the next year or two.

Director Qi and Yan Jin had been waiting for a long time. They finally saw Jiang Nian come back.

From afar, they saw the two figures, and their initially relaxed mood instantly turned gloomy.

They didn’t know how these two got together, but they were here, and they looked like they were up to no good.

Could it be that… the man from yesterday died?

Jiang Nian entered the courtyard, puzzled. “Director Qi, Director Yan, what’s going on…”

“Jiang Nian, we need your help urgently. Come with us to the city hospital.”

Yan Jin was about to grab her, but Jiang Nian quickly put her hands behind her back. Yan Jin’s outstretched hand fell empty. He was stunned for a moment and then lowered his hand, disappointed.

Director Qi watched this scene, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

“I’m just a little girl. I can’t help you with anything. Director Yan, are you overestimating me?” Jiang Nian calmly opened the door to her room.

“No, it’s just that you’re the only one who can help. Jiang Nian, this is urgent. We can’t afford to waste time. Come with us first. We’ll explain on the way, okay?” Yan Jin’s expression showed that the situation was indeed urgent.

But, “Director Yan, if I’m not mistaken, you’re looking for my medical skills. You need to explain the situation before I know what to bring.”

“The man you operated on yesterday woke up,” Director Qi said in one breath. “But he has amnesia. He doesn’t even remember his name or if he has a family.”

Fortunately, Director Yan knew him. Otherwise, they might have mistaken a hero for a spy.