It's almost the end of the year, and the military is getting busy, as is customary. Gu Ye can't take care of his family again.
Aside from occasionally visiting her parents' home, Bonnie would just wander around the family compound and visit Zhao Yuan's house.
The newcomer, Ge Honghua, often visits Bao Ni. Whether it's because it's her first time in an unfamiliar place, or because Bao Ni gives her a sense of security, she feels comfortable wherever Bao Ni is.
Ge Honghua's two sons, one six years old and the other four, were quite lively after getting to know each other and liked to follow Liu Jiu around. Liu Jiu led his new friend and ran rampant through the family compound, causing the group of boys to complain endlessly.
Liu Jiu is young, and a little girl at that. She didn't hit anyone intentionally; it was all accidental during a game. She didn't complain to anyone. She was scolded by her family for going to Aunt Bao Ni's house to get candy.
Ge Honghua is an excellent cook, something Bao Ni can't match, while Duan Xiaohua is quite skilled at needlework, making clothes with fine stitches and nice designs.
Back then, Duan Zhigang's father passed away unexpectedly, and his mother fell ill. Ge Honghua was the only one taking care of things at home. Xiao Cao had just graduated from elementary school and refused to go to junior high school. She stayed home to help her sister-in-law with housework and take care of the children.
Duan Zhigang's younger brother is frail and still young, and has been in school all his life, now having graduated from junior high. Over the years, apart from living expenses, the family's savings have been mostly spent on Duan's mother, for medical treatment and medication.
Ge Honghua came to see Bao Ni for two reasons. First, Bao Ni was the first person she met after arriving on the island, and even after getting to know many people over the past few days, she still found Bao Ni to be easy to get along with. Second, she needed to learn a lot from Bao Ni about things in the family compound, so she couldn't hold Duan Zhigang back.
Bonnie didn't dislike Ge Honghua's family; they were a very considerate family. The two younger children played with Liu Jiu, and when it was time to eat, they would hurry home; they never ate at other people's houses. Duan Xiaocao was very diligent and was very close to and respectful to her sister-in-law.
Bonnie also took them to her parents' home to learn how to cook and eat seafood from her grandmother and the others. The family of six relied solely on Duan Zhigang's allowance, which was barely enough to make ends meet, especially since the family compound, unlike the countryside, didn't have private plots of land.
Learning how to eat seafood means you can at least go beachcombing, which can enrich your meals, allow you to eat more, and fill your stomach.
Watching the adults and children in the family compound calculating their meals, Bonnie thought that she should try to get on that island next year to grow some food, even if it's just some sweet potatoes or corn.
Not only was the food in the family compound poor, but the soldiers in the army were also only given enough to eat, not anything good.
Before you know it, the Lunar New Year is just a few days away. Bao Ni is going back to her parents' home, while her father and older brother have gone out to sea for the last time before the New Year. They will be resting when they get back.
"Mother, are Father and the others going to the distant sea this time? They've been gone for a few days, will they be back soon?"
"We've been gone for more than ten days, so it'll only be a few more days."
"Fortunately, this is the only one before the New Year, so it's time to rest. Has Lin Bo written to me recently?"
Bonnie thought of Lin Bo and Lin Hui, who had left together, one in the navy and the other in the army.
Lin Bo is doing alright, as he's within their military region. Lin Hui, on the other hand, is in the Northeast and has been gone for over three years; no one knows when he'll be back. His third aunt has mentioned it several times. Luckily, she has two younger children to look after, otherwise, she'd be even more worried.
My uncle's house is built quite far away, on the other side of the same team. The three children in the family are all young; the eldest has just graduated from elementary school, and the youngest is not much older than the eldest. My uncle is considered the youngest child, only six or seven years older than his eldest brother, Lin Yu.
The Lin family had lived on the island for over a hundred years, with a large population. At that time, there was no family planning or awareness of contraception; people simply gave birth to whatever they could get pregnant with. Many mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law were pregnant at the same time, and quite a few nephews were older than their uncles.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside, and no one knew what had happened.
"What's wrong? I'm going out to check. Mother, keep an eye on Sanqi and Liujiu."
"Okay, go ahead. It's almost Chinese New Year, so please don't let anything happen to you!"
Bonnie put on her coat, pushed open the door, and went out. She saw her older brother passing by the front door.
"Big brother, what's wrong?"
“Bonnie, you’re back. When we were returning to port, the third team’s boat somehow crashed into our first team’s boat. Han Zhiqing was standing on the side of the boat when he fell into the sea and broke his arm.”
Bonnie didn't expect that something really happened, and told her older brother to hurry up and get to work.
Bonnie didn't know where the person had been taken for treatment, and she needed to let Gu Ye know, since Gu Ye had asked her to take care of him.
Bonnie went inside and told her mother about it, saying she would go back and tell Gu Ye herself.
"Okay, go ahead. Leave the baby here. Sanqi just finished nursing a little while ago, so she can't be fussy."
Bonnie rode her bicycle to the military base, registered at the gate, and asked them to notify the Second Regiment Commander, Gu Ye.
Bonnie waited at the door for a while, and then Gu Ye ran over.
"Bonnie, what's wrong?"
Gu Ye was terrified. Bao Ni had never come to the military base to see him before. What urgent matter could it be?
"It's about that educated youth, his classmate's younger brother, whom your older brother asked you to take care of. He just came back and said that they had an accident on their way back to Hong Kong, and Han, the educated youth, broke his hand. I was thinking I should tell you, since your older brother asked me to."
"Ah! I understand. I'll go check during my lunch break to see where he is."
Gu Ye didn't expect Han Weidong to be injured. He had to go and see him, since his brother rarely bothered him.
"Then I'll go back. Sanqi will be hungry soon."
"Slow down, don't pedal too fast on the bicycle."
"Okay, I know, stop nagging."
Bonnie sped by, making Gu Ye shout from behind to tell her to slow down.
She went back to her parents' home. Liu Jiu and Er Bao were playing with San Qi on the kang (a heated brick bed). Bao Ni saw that the three children were having a good time, so she didn't go in.
"What did Gu Ye say?"
"He'll go check on it at noon, but we don't know where he'll be receiving treatment yet."
Bonnie figured she probably went to the clinic in the family compound, where the doctors were quite skilled.
“I heard from your father that a large hospital will be built on the island next year. It will be much more convenient to see a doctor in the future, so that we don’t have to leave the island when something happens and cause delays.”
“I know, it’s a military hospital under the jurisdiction of the military. I’ve heard Gu Ye mention it.”
With so many soldiers stationed on the island, the clinic in the family compound is insufficient. This issue has been discussed for a long time, but a solution has finally been decided. Construction will begin next spring, and most of the doctors and nurses will be transferred from outside. After that, the island will be bustling again.
Bonnie had lunch at her parents' house. She wrapped up Sanqi (a type of medicinal herb), carried it on her back in a sling, and put Liujiu (another type of medicinal herb) on the front bumper of the car. The little seat that her grandfather had woven was so comfortable.
When Gu Ye returned that evening, Bao Ni learned that Han Weidong was staying at the clinic in the family compound and would not be discharged for two days.
Bonnie isn't good at cooking and can't bring food, so she's just trying to show her concern. Gu Ye said it's okay, and that he can eat at the cafeteria himself; they can talk about it after he's discharged from the hospital, and Bonnie doesn't need to worry about it.
Upon hearing this, Bonnie was relieved that she didn't need to worry about it. She was really not good at cooking, nor was it convenient for her to take care of a patient. Since Gu Ye had already made the arrangements, she wouldn't concern herself with it anymore.
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