Commander Shen stirred in bed, and Secretary Fang went over to him, watching him slowly open his eyes. "Is your headache better?"

Secretary Fang drew back the curtains! The sun was shining brightly outside. It was already dusk when Mingming started acupuncture. "How long have I been asleep?!"

Secretary Fang chuckled, "It's been more than ten hours!"

"I can't believe I slept for so long. My head feels so much lighter, it finally feels like my own again." Commander Shen said, sitting up. "My stomach is really empty too."

Zhou Gang fetched hot water for the army commander, who then ate breakfast after tidying up.

Commander Shen leaned back comfortably against the headboard. "Comrade Song is quite young, but his skills are really impressive."

"Commander, do you not know who her master is?" Secretary Fang was in the mood to joke with Commander Shen.

"Is Xiao Zhang back?" Commander Shen asked.

"Report!" Zhang's voice rang out from outside the door.

"Come in!"

Xiao Zhang walked to the bedside. "Commander, I saw Old Zeng yesterday. He's doing very well; that educated youth from the village has been taking care of him. That educated youth is Comrade Song. I saw that he not only has stored grain but also eggs; he'll definitely have enough for the winter."

Xiao Zhang explained Zeng Lao's situation in detail, including Song Yan's.

When Commander Shen heard that Song Yan had killed a wild boar with a single stroke of her knife, he was stunned. This woman was truly remarkable.

Secretary Fang's heart warmed even more. Wouldn't it be a waste not to nurture such a promising talent!

"This Xiao Song is indeed quite capable; even a strong laborer can't earn as much as she does. But even if she earns a lot, she can't possibly feed several people!" Commander Shen wondered.

"I also found out that her family sold a wild boar. Her husband sold it on the black market. Those people were quite stubborn; they wouldn't say anything. I had to trick them, and they finally let slip a little bit. That's what I found out; there's definitely more I haven't discovered. Comrade Song's income is truly incomparable to ordinary people." Xiao Zhang sighed. It's already remarkable for a woman to earn several work points, let alone sell game.

However, none of the people in the house felt there was anything wrong with her selling her game privately. Life was tough, and they had to find a way. Besides, Old Zeng had also benefited from it.

"When I asked about Comrade Song, I told him about Comrade Song's plea for help. He repeatedly urged me to help Comrade Song. He said he treated her like a daughter. Master Han took her in as his last disciple," Xiao Zhang said.

"Isn't it too early to say that? Old Han might not stay there forever!" Secretary Fang felt that Old Han was saying this to emphasize Comrade Song's importance.

"No, no, no. Old Han must be serious! If there's a future, it'll be teaching students, not taking on disciples. No wonder her skills are so good," Commander Shen said. Seeing Xiao Zhang's hesitant look, he asked, "Is there anything else?" Although Commander Shen slept well last night, yesterday's ordeal had exhausted him, and he half-closed his eyes.

Xiao Zhang: "Old Zeng and the others taught Comrade Song for less than half a year at most, and Old Zeng said that Comrade Song was a genius."

Commander Shen didn't look at Xiao Zhang, and therefore didn't see his conflicted expression. "If Comrade Song stays in the countryside, her talent will be wasted. Let's find a way to bring her back to the city in a few years and send her to the hospital!"

“I was even thinking of getting her into the army! We can talk about that later. Why don't you rest a little longer? I'll go see Comrade Song, is that alright? She said you need at least two more acupuncture sessions.”…

Secretary Fang then discussed the arrangements for the next few days with the army commander before going to find Xiao Zhang, who was still waiting for him.

Secretary Fang: "Is there something you can't say?"

"Old Zeng said there's a young man in the village named Wei Aiguo who looks remarkably like the army commander. He investigated, and not only did Wei's age not match, but Old Zeng also subtly inquired with the village elders, and they found out that Wei is indeed a member of the Wei family. Old Zeng didn't really want to tell me this, but this man looks so much like the army commander that he brought it up this time." Xiao Zhang said, glancing at Secretary Fang's expression.

"Just say what you have to say at once!" Secretary Fang felt irritated just thinking about it.

“Wei Aiguo is Comrade Song’s husband. I sneaked into his house last night and found his photo. He looks about 80% like the army commander when he was young. I didn’t dare say anything just now, for fear of upsetting the army commander.” Xiao Zhang was unsure if he had done the right thing and was a little uneasy.

"The commander also entrusted me with investigating these matters, so you don't have to say anything. I'll just arrange for someone to investigate directly. If it's someone without connections who just slips away quietly, the commander will have fewer headaches." Over the years, several investigations have come to nothing, only to be met with disappointment. "Go and rest! I'll arrange for someone right away."

…

Secretary Fang had already reached the outside of the ward but hadn't gone in. The ward was quite lively.

“We went to the commune hospital the next day, only to find out that you had gone to the county town. We were so worried.”

"Actually, it would be fine to deliver the goods in a few more days, but everyone is impatient and urging us to come and check it out as soon as possible. We're supposed to be reimbursed for our travel expenses when we deliver the goods, so wouldn't we be considered abusing our positions for personal gain?"

"Why did you bring so much stuff?" came Comrade Song's voice.

"If you buy one less item, you'll save the same amount of money, won't you?"

Secretary Fang left quietly.

Li Yuanzhao and Wang Wenjuan came to visit them in the ward. In addition, Wei An had not had a fever since last night. Song Yan and Sister-in-law Cheng were overjoyed and couldn't help but chatter.

Sister-in-law Cheng had a loud voice, but she knew to keep quiet in the ward. She kept reminding Wang Wenjuan to be quieter. But after only a few words, everyone's voices rose again, and she reminded them once more to be quiet…

After putting down their things, Wang Wenjuan and the others gave them a few more instructions before finally leaving.

Wang Wenjuan came to get an advance on Song Yan's wages from the brigade, worried that they wouldn't have enough money for the child's medical treatment. Song Yan touched the money in her pocket and the things in front of her, feeling a warm glow in her heart. Actually, Song Yan always brought back good things when she went to buy food. But unlike what Wang Wenjuan and the others brought, these things were filled with everyone's care. They brought plenty of delicious food: sticky rice cakes, boiled eggs, pickled pig's head, pickled vegetables…

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