Both Dr. Wu and Dr. Chen wholeheartedly supported continuing the treatment.
For the two of them, being able to personally participate in and document such a rare and successful case of childhood trauma intervention was an extremely valuable learning and research opportunity that will greatly benefit their future work.
As for Shen Huaichuan, Zhou Qiqi made a special trip to the regimental headquarters in the afternoon to explain the whole story, including the pros and cons, to him in detail.
After listening, Shen Huaichuan did not hesitate at all and immediately expressed his opinion:
"Get him cured! He must be completely cured! A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one! You can make the decision, I'll fully support you! Let me know anytime if you need anything from the family!"
Back home, Zhou Qiqi didn't bring up the treatment directly, but instead subtly asked Zhouzhou if she remembered some things from her time in Y Province.
Sure enough, Zhouzhou looked completely bewildered.
Clearly, her brain's protective mechanisms are still at work, deeply sealing away that most painful memory.
The next day, Zhou Qiqi and the two doctors first took Zhouzhou to the military hospital for a comprehensive physical examination. After confirming that the child's physical indicators were all normal, they were relieved and began to prepare for the second round of scene recreation therapy.
This time, Zhouzhou was able to communicate and felt much safer in her environment, so there was no need to go outdoors to simulate scenarios anymore. Staying at home made her feel more at ease.
The participants were also simpler, consisting only of the core family members: Shen Zhenbang, Qin Peilan, Zhou Qiqi, and the leading doctors, Dr. Wu and Dr. Chen.
Zhou Qiqi politely declined the offers of help from Zhu Yingying and Deng Cuixiang, who had previously offered their assistance.
Especially Jiang Xiangyang, the little rascal from Deng Cuixiang's family, has been extremely busy these past two days ever since he found out that Zhouzhou can talk. He spends all his time circling around Zhouzhou, trying every possible way to coax and beg her, insisting on hearing Zhouzhou call him "brother" in person.
Jiang Xiangyang was convinced that he was three months older than Zhouzhou, so calling him "brother" was only natural!
But Zhouzhou called Zhu Yingying "Auntie", Deng Cuixiang "Auntie", and even Jiang Xiangyang's brother Jiang Xianghai, she obediently called him "Brother".
But when it comes to Jiang Xiangyang, she purses her lips and refuses to speak, or she deliberately does something else, making Jiang Xiangyang so anxious that she scratches her head and jumps around her.
In the end, it was only when his father, Battalion Commander Jiang, couldn't stand it anymore that he grabbed the boy by the ear and dragged him home.
With this little rascal gone, the house became much quieter.
Everyone composed themselves, and the treatment began quickly.
With her previous experience, and the fact that Zhouzhou's subconscious defenses seemed to have loosened somewhat, she entered the treatment state much faster this time.
When Dr. Chen's narration touched upon those bloody and horrific scenes again, Zhouzhou's body inevitably began to struggle, and she screamed.
Shen Zhenbang, Qin Peilan, and Zhou Qiqi sat close together on one side.
Seeing their child suffer, the three adults felt their hearts clench with pain and heartache.
Qin Peilan was so distressed that she buried her face in her daughter-in-law's arms, unable to bear looking closely, her shoulders trembling slightly.
But they remembered the doctor's words and knew that they should not disturb each other at this moment. They could only lean on each other and hold hands tightly, conveying silent support and strength in this way and sharing this heartache together.
Fortunately, Zhouzhou performed much stronger than they had expected.
Although the fear and struggle persisted, the intensity was much less than before, indicating that the child's emotional resilience was quietly growing with each confrontation with trauma.
What gives people even more hope is that in the past, Zhouzhou would often faint halfway through the treatment because she could not bear it.
This time, though she trembled and cried, she persevered, her mind clear as she followed the doctor's guidance, step by step, toward the deepest recesses of her memory.
The village was set ablaze, and the towering flames eventually spread to the dungeon where they were imprisoned.
Dr. Chen said softly:
"Zhouzhou, look, the fire is getting closer and closer, isn't it? It's burning the house where your mom and dad are locked up. They're tied up and can't move. They're very anxious and scared, but they're even more worried about you. They're watching you, and they hope you'll get better and grow up safely and happily..."
However, no one expected that Dr. Chen hadn't finished speaking.
Zhouzhou, lying on the bed, suddenly cried out urgently:
"Fire! The fire is coming! Help... hurry and save them!"
Immediately afterwards, she kicked her legs rapidly on the bed, as if she were running.
Then, she began to make several movements with her two little hands repeatedly. She used so much force that her face turned red and she made "hmm" sounds in her throat.
Qin Peilan, who had been too heartbroken to look closely and had buried her face in Zhou Qiqi's arms, heard the noise and asked in a low voice, both nervous and bewildered:
"Zhouzhou, what...what are you doing? What's wrong with her? Why is she moving around so much?"
Shen Zhenbang, however, saw it clearly.
Having served in the military for many years, he was extremely familiar with various tactical maneuvers and techniques for restraint and release.
His eyes suddenly lit up, and he said excitedly in a low voice:
"She's not moving around!"
Shen Zhenbang suddenly grabbed his wife and daughter-in-law's arms, mimicking Zhouzhou's movements as he explained:
"She's untying the ropes! This is the action of untying ropes! I understand now! I understand now! Back then... the ropes binding Huaiyue and Weiwei weren't broken by their own wear, nor were they burned by fire! It was Zhouzhou! It was our granddaughter Zhouzhou who risked her life to untie them in such a dangerous situation!"
Before Shen Zhenbang had even finished speaking, Zhouzhou seemed to be confirming what he had said.
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