Chapter 112 : Rescue

Su Xieqiu said those words with a smile, but it was clear to everyone that she was not someone to be trifled with.

People often have the tendency to bully the weak and fear the strong. Realizing that Su Xieqiu was not one to be easily intimidated, no one dared to speak up for Su Xieyun.

They didn’t know Su Xieqiu well, although they were all from Hai City, they had only met on the train to the countryside. After some awkward glances among themselves, they decided it was best not to get involved. Quietly, they turned and headed to the brigade headquarters.

Su Xieqiu chuckled lightly, her expression one of faint amusement. She knew that Miao Lili and Shen Wanxia were behind the rumors, but she wasn’t planning to deal with them just yet.  

Let the guilty feel secure for a while. A knife hanging above one’s head is most effective before it falls.

She intended to wait until the rumors had spread far and wide before showing up at the Youth Hostel to make a grand scene. When she did, she’d ensure everyone who had bullied her or underestimated her saw her strength. It was important to make it clear she was not a pushover, someone anyone could slander without consequences.

—

Later, Su Xieqiu rode into town on an ox cart. Her first stop was the supply and marketing cooperative, followed by the county department store.

The department store was better stocked than the cooperative. The first floor offered non-staple foods and daily necessities, while the second floor showcased finished clothing, fabrics, shoes, and more.

She carefully browsed the counters, comparing the goods to the ones she had stored in her personal space, assessing whether anything matched in quality or utility.

While she was absorbed in her search, a commotion nearby caught her attention. An old woman suddenly slapped a little boy on the back and shouted anxiously, “Guangming, Guangming, what’s wrong with you? Did something get stuck in your throat?”  

At first, Su Xieqiu paid little attention, but as the shouting grew louder, she glanced over.

The boy was clutching his throat in pain, his face red and contorted. He couldn’t speak, only letting out strained, whimpering sounds.

“Guangming, my dear grandson! What’s happening to you? Don’t scare your grandma like this!” The old woman’s voice cracked with desperation as tears streamed down her face.

Two salespeople and a manager from the department store rushed over. One of them asked, “Aunt Chang, what happened to the child?”

The old woman cried, “I think he’s choking on the candy he was eating!” She continued to pat the boy’s back forcefully.

The department store staff joined in, trying to help by patting the child’s back as well, but his condition worsened. His face grew redder, and his movements became weaker as his body started to go limp.

Panic spread among the group as no one seemed to know what to do. The manager quickly made a decision. “Xiao Liu, I’ll carry the boy. You take my bike and get us to the hospital as fast as you can!”

“Yes, Director Huang!” Xiao Liu ran out in a hurry.

Su Xieqiu initially thought the child might be suffering from an illness, and since she wasn’t a doctor, she didn’t think she could help. However, when she overheard that the child was choking, she rushed over, pushing through the crowd.  

“Is the child choking on something he ate?” she asked urgently.  

The elderly woman, desperate for any help, clung to hope. “Yes, he choked on a piece of candy!”  

Without hesitation, Su Xieqiu pulled the child toward her, turned him so his back was facing her, and began performing the Heimlich maneuver.  

Wrapping her arms around the child’s abdomen, she made a fist with one hand and placed it above the navel, just below the ribcage. With her other hand, she applied inward and upward thrusts, trying to dislodge the candy.  

She repeated the process several times, but the candy remained stuck. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she grew increasingly anxious. This was a technique she had learned online but had never practiced in real life, and she feared it might not work.  

Still, she decided to persist a little longer before giving up and heading to the hospital.  

The grandmother stood frozen in fear as the boy’s face turned blue, while the crowd around them held their breath.  

Finally, the child let out a loud cough, followed by several more, and a piece of candy popped out of his mouth.  

Relieved, Su Xieqiu handed the boy back to his grandmother and leaned against the counter, panting to catch her breath.  

“Guangming! Are you okay?” the old woman cried in relief.  

“Grandma!” The little boy, terrified, threw himself into her arms and began to sob.  

The onlookers, having witnessed the scene, burst into applause, grateful that the boy’s life had been saved.  

The department store manager stepped forward, addressing Su Xieqiu. “Comrade, thank you so much! If it weren’t for you, this child might not have made it. You’ve saved his life.”  

Embarrassed by the attention, Su Xieqiu waved a hand dismissively. “It was nothing, just a small favor.”  

The old woman, however, wouldn’t hear it. “No, no, to you it may be a small favor, but to me, you’ve saved my grandson’s life. That’s like saving me and my entire family. From now on, you are our family’s greatest benefactor.”  

She placed the boy down and firmly grasped Su Xieqiu’s hands, her voice warm and sincere. “You must come to my house for lunch today. Let me thank you properly. Tomorrow, I’ll have my son and daughter-in-law visit your home to express our gratitude in person.”  

“Auntie, you’re being too polite. There’s really no need,” Su Xieqiu replied with a smile, trying to decline. “I was just helping because I could.”  

But the old woman was insistent, holding her grandson with one hand and pulling Su Xieqiu with the other.  

Turning to the department store manager, she said, “Director Huang, thank you for your help today. I’ll have my son treat you and your staff to a meal another day.”  

Director Huang smiled and nodded. “Of course, Aunt Chang. Take care. Come back to the department store whenever you have time to shop.”  

“Oh, I will. Thank you!”  

Reluctantly, and despite her protests, Su Xieqiu followed the old woman out of the department store.