Chapter 33 Thinking about the first time I went to the city in my previous life,...

"If no one had asked us about this, we could have chosen not to go. But since everyone has asked us, how could we not go?"

"Indeed, if that doesn't work, let Panpan make the trip."

Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen had a discussion in the evening, and the next day Chen Pan followed a few familiar neighbors to Longcheng First Hospital.

Among their group, five were renting Qin's shop, and the other two were representative tenants in the house.

Among all the people, only Chen Pan and a high school student tenant are minors, and the others are so-called adults.

So along the way, you should take that bus and go to that hospital.

Even after arriving at Longcheng First Hospital, Chen Pan and the high school boy didn't have to worry about how to find the inpatient department or who should go to the front desk to inquire. They just had to carry their own things and follow the others along the way.

Of course, during the half-hour bus ride with everyone, Chen Pan also got to know more about the neighbors around him.

The first person to lend them the scale yesterday was a young couple from Xinzhao. They rented the Qin family's shop to open a vegetable and meat shop.

Next to the vegetable shop is a ramen shop, and to the right of the ramen shop is a clothing store, which supposedly sells both shoes and clothes.

The Qin family's square courtyard shared one wall with a neighbor, so the Qin family had shops on three sides. The last shop, a bicycle repair shop, was actually just to the right of Qin Yang's main entrance and was the smallest of the bunch.

Chen Pan, who rarely used the main entrance, only discovered this shop later. Initially, she thought the two shops to the left and right of the Qin family's main entrance were like dark rooms rented out for storage, or perhaps used by the Qin family as a utility room or garage. After renting from the Qin family for almost a month, Chen Pan discovered there was also a car repair shop just outside the front door. The owner's hometown was quite far away, and he'd been there for the Lunar New Year for a month before returning.

Anyway, the people who came today were the male owner of the vegetable shop, the female owner of the ramen shop next door, the male owner of the clothing store on their far right, Chen Panjia, and the owner of the auto repair shop.

The other tenants were also among those who had rented at the Qin family for over three years. For example, the high school boy reportedly lived with his parents at the Qin family for his entire three years of high school, and his mother had arranged for him to come this time. Another woman in her fifties, reportedly a cleaner at a nearby restaurant, reportedly rented at the Qin family with a coworker and had been there for nearly four years.

Through understanding these people, Chen Pan also roughly understood why Qin Yang handed over the house keys and the big yellow dog to his family, whom he had only known for more than a month, when he left.

Because all the tenants of the Qin family, except for their family, seemed to be from outside the area. Even if there were some who were not from outside the area, they were from other counties nearby.

So compared to those people, their house seemed to be the only one closest to his, and he could know exactly where they lived just by hearing their name.

"Here we are, it's the one in front!"

Boss Zhao, who led the team, pointed excitedly to the front.

Soon afterwards, Chen Pan, carrying a box of milk and a bag of sesame cakes, followed the crowd into the ward in front, and through the crowd saw Aunt Qin on the innermost bed.

"Aunt Qin——"

"Xiao Qin——"

"Mrs. Yang, Brother Zhao, Sister Wang, Brother Ren, Xiao Li, Panpan—how did you get here?"

Then everyone exchanged greetings. There were many adults present, so it was almost impossible for Chen Pan and the other two children to speak.

After the initial greeting stage, Chen Pan and the child surnamed Li sat on the benches by the window, holding the hot water brought by Qin Yang, and listened to everyone chatting with Qin's mother and Qin Yang.

"The early stage is better, the early stage is better. Once you are discharged from the hospital this time, you won't be afraid anymore!"

"Yes, for this kind of disease, as long as the hospital can perform surgery on you, then you will basically be fine."

"You didn't even tell us you were having such a major surgery. I only found out about your surgery here when I bumped into the young woman from your lower courtyard the day before yesterday!"

"Sister Qin, how long does the doctor say it will take for you to be discharged from the hospital?"

"It'll probably take another week!"

"That's great. When you get better, you must come to my shop. I'll make you some hot noodles. I'll put lots of meat and beef in it and make sure you gain weight again. Look how thin you are!"

"No—"

"You've lost weight, and now you have a pointed chin!"

"Alas—how could such a healthy person get sick? Luckily, you are in the early stages and have already had the surgery, otherwise I would have doubted God."

"Yes, you are such a good girl. That year when we deducted your salary, you made us owe you three months' rent!"

"You often bring us delicious homemade food—"

"Yes, you should get better soon and be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible. Look at you, not only have you lost weight recently, but Xiaoyang has lost weight too."

"Auntie, I'm not thin, I've even grown taller recently."

"Really? Why do I only see that you seem to have become thinner?"

"Sister-in-law, you're mistaken. Xiaoyang has always been this thin, but he does seem to have grown a little taller—of course, it could also be because I've been out for too long this time and haven't seen him for a while."

"He's grown a little bit taller, probably because we were away for the New Year. Others haven't noticed, probably because they've been around him the whole time and haven't noticed."

Everyone chatted away, some asking about the patient's condition, some about the hospital environment, some changing the subject to talk about Qin Yang's height, some asking how they'd been eating lately. Some said that after returning home, they discovered a relative had also fallen seriously ill, but like them, in the early stages, and had also been in the hospital.

Everyone was chatting about all sorts of things, and there would be inexplicable silence in the middle.

But fortunately, there were many people at home and a lot of topics to talk about. Basically, if there was a lull in the atmosphere, someone would quickly start talking again, so the lulls were not many and did not last long.

Everyone stayed for over an hour, waiting for the doctor to come over and examine Qin Yang's mother. He asked why there were so many people and asked everyone to leave as soon as they saw the patient. Only then did everyone seize the opportunity to say goodbye.

"So quick, Yangyang, give everyone some of the yogurt you opened at the bottom, as well as the apples and oranges!"

Qin Yang's mother's face was actually not right. She looked very pale, and even a little blue. She had many tubes and instruments inserted into her body. When she heard that everyone was leaving, she perked up and quickly gave her son instructions.

"good!"

Qin Yang was reporting his mother's urine volume and morning blood sugar to the doctor. After quickly answering the doctor's questions, he immediately bent down and picked up something under the bed.

Then he came over to show off his skills. Chen Pan, who hardly spoke, soon got three yogurts and three big apples from Qin Yang.

He would take two for everyone else, but maybe considering there were three people in her family, the other party put three of each in a small plastic bag for her.

Looking at the things in his hand, when he came out with everyone, Chen Pan finally couldn't help but whispered to the other party: "Qin Yang, don't worry, I feed Wangcai every day, and your shop is fine. No one has sneaked in these days."

"Thank you!" Qin Yang, who was busy seeing people off, said thank you to her sincerely.

As Chen Pan was about to leave the ward, he took one last look inside and said to the other party, "Auntie must want to go to the bathroom. Don't send us off. Go in quickly!"

"Okay!" Today was actually the first day that his mother had her urinary catheter removed. He looked at Chen Pan deeply, then Qin Yang quickly said a few words to others to be careful on the road and thank you, then immediately turned around and went into the ward to take care of his mother.

"This girl is really thoughtful."

"Yeah, if she hadn't told us, we wouldn't have noticed that Sister Qin wanted to go to the bathroom!"

After hearing Chen Pan's words and watching Qin Yang return to the ward and carefully help his mother, everyone subconsciously praised Chen Pan as they walked out.

"No, I just guessed it!" Chen Pan smiled embarrassedly, but he felt emotional again in his heart.

*

We all came together, but after seeing the patients, everyone had their own plans.

It was a rare trip into the city, and some people wanted to visit the big department stores. Some said they wanted to go to the small commodity market to buy some wholesale goods, some said they wanted to go to the pedestrian street, and some said they had plans to go to the movies. No one was a child anymore; even Chen Pan and high school student Xiao Li were old enough to come back on their own after going out.

So soon, everyone separated at the entrance of the First Hospital.

After everyone went their separate ways, Chen Pan also did not go back immediately.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time she had actually entered the city since her rebirth.

Although Longcheng is a small city, it is still the best and most prosperous city in their province.

In her hometown, aside from the three-story building built by the wealthy Li family, everyone else in the village, even the supply and marketing cooperative and the village committee, are still one-story brick and tile buildings. Aside from the better-built supply and marketing cooperative and village committee, everyone else's house is considered a good one if it has red brick exteriors, tiled roofs, and a cement floor. Those with less means still have walls made of yellow mud and windows made of old, wooden ones.

In their Qingshui Village, only the richest family built a three-story building that looked high-end.

However, in Liuping Town, almost every household lives in a two- or three-story building, and it is rare to find people still living in bungalows.

As for Longcheng, there are already many real buildings. Although the buildings are not as tall as in the previous life, they already look quite prosperous and modern.

Thinking about the first time I went to the city in my previous life, I carefully got on the escalator, carefully watched how others pressed the elevator button, carefully used the sensor faucet, and the embarrassing scene of not knowing how to turn on the hot water in the bathhouse for the first time.

Chen Pan walked slowly on the streets of Longcheng, feeling mixed emotions.

"Chen Pan, you still have to work hard!"

Because of the illness in his previous life, Chen Pan always felt that he was now particularly indifferent, open-minded, and not the kind of person who had too much material desire.

But looking at Longcheng, which was obviously more prosperous than Qingshui Village and Liuping Town, the materialistic side of Chen Pan's heart emerged again.

To be honest, Chen Pan is more urban than rural.

Everyone talks about the simplicity of the countryside, and many envy the life of a small courtyard with three large tiled houses. Living in such a place, with a dog and a cat, feels like the best life ever. Even the days when everyone in the village often helps out, chats, and works together are considered beautiful.

But to be honest, deep down in his heart, Chen Pan didn't actually like that beauty and simplicity.

In the eyes of others, the countryside is the barking of puppies, the crowing of roosters, the chirping of cicadas and birds, the waves of wheat and the breeze, the countryside and comfort.

But in Chen Pan's view, the countryside is full of sickle sweat, frostbite and coal balls, endless farm work and the ever-present gazes and attention.

Compared with the simplicity and mutual help in the countryside, Chen Pan actually prefers the convenience and mindfulness of the city.

So now, Chen Pan has nothing and has not earned anything, but he really wants to have a house in the city.

She surveyed her surroundings with a serious eye, facing her ambitions with an open mind. That day, Chen Pan walked for a long time. When she returned home, she brought her grandmother some of the best herbal roast chicken from Longcheng Chengbei Street, along with two pounds of her grandparents' favorite soft, glutinous egg cake. As for herself, Chen Pan bought herself some stationery, a few envelopes, and a few old stamps.

Then, that evening, after finishing dinner and washing the dishes at home, while the grandparents next door were closing up the shop and calculating the day's earnings, Chen Pan lay on his little bed and began to write a letter seriously.

"Dear Xiaomei, it's been almost a month and a half since we last met. I'm so sorry for not telling you in person about my transfer. The last time I went home, I thought I could find time to go to your house and see you, but time was tight, so I didn't go.

Meimei, you're my best friend. If I were to say who I miss most in Qingshui Village right now, it would definitely be you. Meimei, my best friend, please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. If possible, I'd also like to stay in the village, but unfortunately, reality doesn't allow it.

By the way, Meimei, Liuping is really a great place. If you consistently rank in the top three in your grade, the high school here will waive tuition and accommodation fees. It's much better than No. 4 Middle School. If you can, you can try applying here in the future. If you come here in the future, we can continue to study in high school together and take the college entrance exam together—"

While writing seriously with a pen in hand, Chen Pan actually wanted to ask the other party if there were any other rumors about him in the village.

But after a little thought, Chen Pan finally didn't ask. She just tried her best to convey her thoughts and all the good things about No. 6 Middle School to her good friend.

In this era, information is very precious and closed.

Chen Pan now wants to tell the other party through her description that even if she does not have tuition and accommodation fees in the future, she will still be able to study in No. 6 Middle School.

Even if you really can't go to high school, you can still go out and work to earn money. It's not that you have to get married early if you don't study.

Anyway, from now on, Chen Pan will plant a different seed in the hearts of the other person and his family.

In this life, she would never let her best friend get married at the age of sixteen or have a difficult childbirth at the age of seventeen.