Chapter 76: Peng Zhihua’s Request

“Don’t let others defeat you… save yourself countless times… every dead end leads to a new path…”

Gu Yunzhou repeated Qiao Jiangxin’s words in his mind.

Watching her leave, a flicker of emotion appeared in his vacant eyes.

That evening, after dinner, Qiao Youfu washed his hair with the herbal powder as instructed.

Qiao Jiangxin held the iodine bottle, disinfecting his scalp with a cotton swab.

“Jiangxin, it works! I feel so much better; my scalp is refreshed,”

Qiao Youfu’s voice was filled with excitement.  Years of suffering had led to this moment of relief.

Qiao Jiangxin felt a pang of sympathy, “Then follow the doctor’s instructions. Take your medicine, watch your diet, get enough rest, and keep it clean. Don’t scratch it.

It will get better.  Once it clears up, you’ll be like everyone else.”

Qiao Youfu nodded, his eyes full of hope, “I will. I’ll remember everything.  Even if it doesn’t flare up in the cold winter, I’ll still be careful.”

Qiao Jiangxin tightened the bottle cap and brought up another matter.

“Uncle, you came to town with me today. You know how much money I have.  Should you visit Aunt Qin in Xujiadong?”

Qiao Youfu slumped his shoulders, silent.

Qiao Jiangxin said, “I heard she’s still looking for a partner. If you’re interested, go visit her.  Don’t leave yourself with regrets.

If you keep hesitating, and she marries someone else, you’ll regret it later.”

Qiao Youfu panicked, “I… I…”

He was interested, but lacked the courage.

Qiao Jiangxin encouraged, “We can afford 200 kuai. We’ve split up, built a new house, and you’ve seen a doctor.  Things will get better.  Be confident.

Can things be worse than before? We don’t want you to have regrets.”

Determination flashed in Qiao Youfu’s eyes, “Okay. I’ll go to Xujiadong tomorrow.  Regardless of the outcome, I won’t regret it later.”

Liu Afang and Qiao Youcai, hearing this, offered suggestions.

“Brother, borrow Uncle Cheng’s oxcart tomorrow, buy some food in town.  Doesn’t Xujiadong have a child?” Qiao Youcai said.

Liu Afang nodded, “Yes, ask her privately, find out her conditions. If she agrees, then we’ll formally propose.”

Liu Afang looked at Qiao Jiangxin, “If you’re uncomfortable going alone, take Jiangxin with you.  People might gossip.”

Qiao Youfu looked at Qiao Jiangxin pleadingly.  Gossip surrounded widows; Jiangxin’s presence would be best.

Qiao Jiangxin, seeing her uncle’s childlike expression, chuckled, “Okay, I’ll go with you.  Tell her Aunt Qin helped me at the market, and you’re thanking her.”

Someone arrived.

“Brother Peng?” Qiao Jiangxin called.

It was late at night.

Qiao Jiangxin wondered why he was here.

Peng Zhihua nodded, “Comrade Qiao, I need to talk to you privately.”

Qiao Jiangxin nodded and went outside.

Qiao Youfu, worried, watched from the doorway.

Liu Afang asked, “Brother, isn’t that Uncle Cheng’s guest?”

Qiao Youfu nodded. “Yes, Jiang Xin and I came back in his car this afternoon. He should be a good person.”

Qiao Jiangxin went to an open space outside and stopped. “Brother Peng, what’s up?”

Peng Zhihua whispered, “It’s about Yunzhou.”

“You’re close to Xinyan, you must know something about Yunzhou’s situation?”

Qiao Jiangxin nodded. “I know.”

Peng Zhihua said, “This afternoon, you said you’d met someone like this before?  Can you tell me about her, her treatment, and what happened afterwards?”

Peng Zhihua’s voice was slightly agitated, as if he was a little anxious.

Qiao Jiangxin looked up. “She… she died.”

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

After ten or so seconds, Peng Zhihua asked in a hoarse voice, “You… didn’t you say she was in perfect health? How… how did she die?”

Qiao Jiangxin sighed.

“You saw the doctor today, and you should know that if someone like Brother Gu can’t control it and can’t pull himself out, he’ll become more and more negative, lose interest in everything, and even have thoughts of ending his own life.

The person I knew before was like that. Her situation was similar to Brother Gu’s. She was abandoned and despised by her family, even forced.

Her husband and son, the family she wholeheartedly devoted herself to, all stabbed her in the back.

Her only relative also left her, her whole world collapsed, and she felt that there was no point in living.

So she and her whole family died together.”

Peng Zhihua gasped. “Yunzhou, Yunzhou wouldn’t do that! His weapons are only aimed at the enemy!”

Qiao Jiangxin said, “Yes, that’s the most frightening thing. Brother Gu’s illness is the gentlest illness in the world because he doesn’t hurt others, only himself.

Therefore, the companionship and encouragement of your friends are very important.”

Thinking of Qiao Jiangxin’s words from the afternoon and Gu Yunzhou’s reaction, Peng Zhihua whispered.

“Comrade Qiao, I have a request. You’ve encountered this kind of patient before, and the words you said this afternoon, I felt, were helpful to Yunzhou.

I’ve also advised him a lot before, but it was useless, and I feel he’s becoming more and more irritable and restless.

Although he didn’t show it, I’ve known him for so many years, and I can feel it.

I can’t stay here too long, I have to return to my unit tomorrow morning, and I’m very worried about him in this state.

Could you, could you come over from time to time, talk to Yunzhou, and help us guide him?”

Qiao Jiangxin didn’t speak. She wasn’t a doctor, how could she guide him?

Peng Zhihua thought Qiao Jiangxin was unwilling, after all, a girl from a farming family is basically never idle, she has to do all the farm work.

He hurriedly took a wad of money from his pocket and stuffed it into Qiao Jiangxin’s hand.

“I’m not asking you to work for free. Don’t do your farm work during this time, consider it as employment by me.”

Qiao Jiangxin was startled and quickly pushed the money back. “Brother Peng, that’s not what I meant.”

Peng Zhihua pushed it back again. “You’re right, Vice President Wang said the same thing today, saying that Yunzhou should go out more and cheer up.

He can’t sleep at night, his spirit is getting worse and worse, and he’s becoming less and less talkative.

We know his pain, but we don’t know how to help him.

Xinyan can only watch anxiously, and I can’t always be here, so just help me out.”