My father-in-law quickly went to the Second Light Industry Hospital, and returned with a face full of disappointment. It turned out that the roads in the north are slippery in winter, and many people fall and get injured. At this time of year, the orthopedics department is overcrowded and there is no room for anyone else. He could only stay for conservative treatment.

Qin Xiaoyu's mood turned heavy. She understood the quality of life for an elderly person after they became bedridden. No matter how well their relatives took care of them, their life was ruined.

She went to school in a daze; there were many things to do there, and things couldn't function without her, so she needed to make some arrangements.

"Little Fish, your Aunt Feng and I have been waiting for you for ages. Our unit has a performance, so hurry up and style my hair!" Commander Wang shouted as soon as he saw Qin Xiaoyu.

"Aunt Wang, Aunt Feng," Qin Xiaoyu forced a smile.

A few days ago, she sent a card to Qi Si. She made a tough decision and drew a few more, asking Commander Wang to send one to Director Feng as well. If it were for Jing Tian's sake, she would never have given one. But from Commander Wang's perspective, they were best friends. Everyone else had one, and it would be against the rules to leave one out.

"Xiaoyu doesn't look well, her eyes are all dark. Is she working too hard?" Commander Wang asked with concern.

"My master's grandmother fell and was hospitalized," Tian Tian chimed in from the side.

"Ugh, I just got back from the hospital, so frustrating," Qin Xiaoyu sighed.

"He fell and was hospitalized? He must be in the orthopedics department. The orthopedics department at the Second Light Industry Hospital is the best." Commander Wang knew perfectly well.

"It's good, but I can't get in. There's no room to add a bed in the corridor. It's driving me crazy," Qin Xiaoyu sighed again.

"You seem pretty clever usually, but you're such a goofball when it really matters. Why didn't you call your Aunt Feng?" Commander Wang nudged Qin Xiaoyu, and she suddenly realized what he meant.

"Of course! Director Feng in front of us is the director of the Second Light Industry Bureau. It's not like she can just make a phone call to get her hospitalized." Qin Xiaoyu cast a rescuing glance, but before she could speak, Commander Wang had already pulled Director Feng upstairs to make a phone call.

Don't let Director Feng's usual taciturn demeanor fool you; she's not stupid. She knows how great the benefits are of giving someone a VIP card and free haircuts for life. And she'll handle a small matter that can be resolved with a simple phone call—isn't that a piece of cake?

"Alright, it's all arranged. Xiaoyu, hurry home and get the transfer arranged. Have your hairdresser done, don't worry about it." Commander Wang was the most helpful. Qin Xiaoyu nodded with tears in her eyes. She didn't need to thank him in words; she would repay him slowly in the future.

Hearing that the Second Light Industry Hospital was now open for transfers, the Tang family, who had been feeling down, perked up and quickly sent their wife there.

Once admitted to the hospital, Qin Xiaoyu realized that while the regular wards were full, the VIP wards were still available. They were placed in a double room; the bathroom was to the left of the entrance, and facing them were a leather sofa and coffee table. The room was a suite, with one bed inside and one bed outside, and plenty of sunlight.

A man, who looked to be over sixty, lived in the outer room. He was thin and withered, his eyes closed, and he didn't look at anyone. He was accompanied by a plump woman in her forties.

Seeing the Tang family moving inside, the fat woman became curious and kept asking them about their background. However, the Tang family members were honest men who answered all her questions. Soon, the fat woman's face was filled with disappointment. She turned and left, never to return, her expression one of utter disdain.

Qin Xiaoyu looked for the doctor that Director Feng had arranged, and only then did she learn that he was on the operating table and wouldn't be out for at least ten hours, which meant he would die today.

The wife's condition has stabilized somewhat, but she has a gloomy face and doesn't say a word. She won't say anything no matter who asks her, and she only drinks a couple of sips of rice porridge.

"How much does this ward cost per day?" The mother-in-law was really worried and followed Qin Xiaoyu, who was washing towels in the bathroom, to ask.

"Mom, don't worry, I'll pay for it," Qin Xiaoyu reassured her. She knew the family's situation perfectly well.

The eldest uncle is not in charge of the household; all the money is in the hands of the eldest aunt, and she certainly won't take it out. Hanhan's grandparents' family is dirt poor.

My cousin's family had just turned their lives around, and Tang Long was going to take the college entrance exam, which would be a big expense.

Although his wife was awake, she just turned her back to them, remained silent, and kept sleeping. They couldn't very well chase after her for hospital fees.

Qin Xiaoyu has already paid the 2,000 yuan deposit, and she doesn't know where she'll get the rest of the money back. Let's leave it at that for now.

Hearing Qin Xiaoyu's words, Grandma Hanhan was filled with emotion and could only sigh. Who would have thought that the entire Tang family would now be relying on this jinx?

Unable to contact the attending physician, Qin Xiaoyu made arrangements at the hospital and rushed home. She was simply too worried about leaving her two children at home.

The house was quiet. Qin Xiaoyu listened for a moment and heard movement coming from her cousin's room. Her cousin was the main breadwinner; everyone relied on her, both inside and outside the house. Now that most of the family was in the hospital, she had to take care of the logistics, sending meals over continuously.

Hospitalization is already very expensive. If a family of several people eats in the cafeteria, it will really cost them a fortune. Ordinary families would not be willing to do that.

Qin Xiaoyu pushed the door open and went in. Tang Long was sitting at the table with his back to the door, reading a book. Xiaomei and Hanhan were playing on the kang (a heated brick bed). When Xiaomei saw Qin Xiaoyu come in, she jumped to the edge of the kang.

"Little sister, stop jumping." Tang Long coaxed her gently, then looked up and saw Qin Xiaoyu, and quickly called out to her, "Second Aunt."

"Why did you bring them here? How are you going to study?" Qin Xiaoyu hurriedly pulled her younger sister over to help her put on her shoes.

"It's alright, I don't feel comfortable leaving them alone at home." Tang Long pointed to the west room and whispered, "She's back."

"It's alright, go study at your classmate's house. There's less than half a year until the college entrance exam, you have to do your best." After giving these instructions, Qin Xiaoyu took the two children home.

She still had to go to the hairdressing school to bring the coal bucket from the doorway into the house, ask Hanhan to watch the stove, and then, with a heavy heart, she locked the door from the inside.

The old lady is back; it's best to be careful.

Everyone at the school knew about her family situation and was being extremely careful, afraid of causing her any trouble. Now, there was only one thing left: to provide psychological counseling for his wife.

Qin Xiaoyu completely understood her feelings. It was the strength of an elderly woman who had been independent and strong all her life, and she was defending her last shred of dignity. Qin Xiaoyu felt the pressure from her; she also feared that her wife would spend the rest of her days bedridden, leading a life devoid of quality—she couldn't even bear to think about it.

She entered the ward and saw the lady glaring at her. Hanhan's grandparents were not there, and her cousin-in-law was nowhere to be found.

Upon seeing Qin Xiaoyu enter the room, the lady's eyes relaxed, and she almost burst into tears. She sighed silently and closed her eyes quietly.

"Madam, are you feeling unwell? Should I call the doctor?" Qin Xiaoyu noticed something was wrong and quickly asked.

The woman shook her head, her withered hands clutching the corner of the blanket tightly. Qin Xiaoyu then noticed that the room smelled strange. She reached under the blanket and found it wet and hot; the woman had urinated on the bed.

Presumably because there was no one around and she didn't have time to urinate, the wife simply couldn't hold it in any longer.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Grandma Hanhan rushed in, panting.