Chapter 19 She suddenly pulled the thing she was clutching in her hand...
Platoon Leader Wang rushed in after them, grabbed Zhang Guifen, and hurriedly explained, "What nonsense are you spouting! It was Teacher Shu! It was Teacher Shu who risked her life to pull Dazhuang back from the brink of death! To cool Dazhuang down, she even tore off her own headscarf to use as a water spout! Without Teacher Shu, Dazhuang would be in grave danger right now!"
Standing to the side, Company Commander Ma Zhanshan's face was ashen. Pointing at Zhang Guifen, he said, "Zhang Guifen! Your husband, Li Dazhuang, suffered from heatstroke! If she hadn't discovered it early and handled it properly, your husband would be dead by now! You're not grateful, and you even dare to slander a good person?!"
Zhao Weidong also came to his senses. Although he was still concerned about the production progress, he had to speak up in the face of the situation. He quickly scolded, "That's right! Zhang Guifen! Have you lost your mind?! Apologize to Teacher Shu right now!"
Zhang Guifen was stunned. Her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word. Finally, she collapsed to the ground with a "waah," covered her face, and burst into tears.
"Quiet down!" Chen Yuanjiang shouted, silencing the wailing inside. His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Xu Junjun: "What's wrong with Li Dazhuang?"
“Severe heatstroke,” Xu Junjun said rapidly, her hands still wiping her body. “His body temperature is still high! We can only cool him down physically now, by replenishing his saline solution! We need a lot of warm saline solution! Ice… we don’t have any!”
"Karez! Go to the nearest well and fetch water; the water there is cold!" Chen Yuanjiang immediately gave the order, and Platoon Leader Wang responded and ran out.
Company Commander Ma quickly directed the men at the door: "Don't block the way! Go tell the mess hall to boil two pots of water and let them cool!"
Zhao Weidong then leaned closer to Chen Yuanjiang, lowered his voice, and said with the anxiety typical of a performance-obsessed person: "Officer Chen, look at this... Dazhuang's condition means he won't be able to work for at least a few days. The third row of irrigation canals..."
"Is your life more important or the canal?" Chen Yuanjiang coldly interrupted him.
Zhao Weidong was so choked up that his face stiffened, and he awkwardly shut his mouth.
Shu Ran leaned against the cold earthen wall, her body uncontrollably sliding down, Xu Junjun's busy figure swaying in her blurred vision.
After giving Li Dazhuang another mouthful of salt water, Xu Junjun quickly glanced at Shu Ran in the corner.
Seeing that she could barely stand, Xu Junjun pursed her lips, quickly grabbed a prescription from the table, scribbled a few lines, and then walked over to Company Commander Ma and Chen Yuanjiang.
“Company Commander, Officer Chen. Comrade Shu Ran’s injuries are quite serious. She has lacerations and contusions in her palms with a risk of infection, severe muscle contusions in her lower back, and is also exhausted. In this condition, let alone afternoon labor, she will have difficulty even standing to teach. I suggest,” she paused, handing the note to Company Commander Ma, “that she be given half a day of sick leave. She must rest, otherwise her injuries will worsen and further affect her subsequent work.”
Company Commander Ma took the note, glanced at it, then looked at Shu Ran, his brow furrowed, clearly weighing his options. Was a teacher on sick leave less of a concern than a strong laborer collapsing?
Zhao Weidong immediately tried to speak: "Company Commander, what about tomorrow afternoon's work..."
Chen Yuanjiang's gaze also fell on the note, then shifted to Shu Ran.
Her eyes were closed, her brows were furrowed, and her bandaged hand hung limply at her sides, the dark red seeping from the edge of the bandage particularly glaring.
"The injuries are confirmed." Chen Yuanjiang looked at Company Commander Ma. "Medic Xu is a professional. Follow her advice."
Company Commander Ma glanced at Chen Yuanjiang, then at the note, and finally signed his name on it before handing it to Xu Junjun: "Okay, do as Medic Xu says. Comrade Shu Ran, you don't need to go to labor tomorrow afternoon. As for tomorrow's classes, you can arrange them yourself."
Xu Junjun took the signed note and breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly walked to Shu Ran's side, stuffed the note into Shu Ran's uninjured hand, and whispered, "Take this, go back and lie down. You don't need to worry about things here. Remember to apply the red antiseptic when you get back, and also apply the medicine to your waist."
Shu Ran opened her eyes with difficulty and saw Xu Junjun's worried yet restrained gaze. Beyond her, she saw Chen Yuanjiang's profile, already turned away. Company Commander Ma was comforting Zhang Guifen, while Zhao Weidong paced anxiously at the doorway with his hands behind his back.
Shu Ran clutched the note tightly and slowly walked out of the clinic.
Shu Ran didn't know how she got back to her unit. Her clothes, soaked with sweat, clung to her back, and she felt alternating chills and fever. All she wanted to do was collapse onto the bed.
As she walked down the slope at the entrance to the women workers' dormitory dugout, she lifted the curtain, and a figure blocked her way.
She is Li Dazhuang's wife, Zhang Guifen.
She had clearly just run over from the clinic; her eyes were red, her face was streaked with tears and she looked anxious, clutching something tightly in her hand.
Upon seeing Shu Ran, she paused for a moment, then rushed over in a few steps.
She rushed to Shu Ran's side and knelt down with a thud.
"Teacher Shu! I'm sorry! I'm kowtowing to you on behalf of my Dazhuang!" Her voice choked with sobs, and she made a move to kowtow.
Li Xiulan and Sister Wang were both startled and quickly reached out to stop her: "Sister-in-law! Get up! You can't!"
Zhang Guifen was pulled back, preventing her from kowtowing. She tightly gripped Shu Ran's hand, sobbing uncontrollably, "Teacher Shu... I'm not human! I used to... I used to follow others and make a fuss, saying you were... a spoiled young lady... I deserve to die! I really deserve to die!"
She raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face. "If it weren't for you... if it weren't for you risking your life to save him... my Dazhuang... my family would have collapsed! Waaah..."
She suddenly shoved what she was holding into Shu Ran's hand—it was an egg.
In the livestock company where resources were extremely scarce, eggs were incredibly precious, usually reserved for the seriously ill, the elderly, or children to nourish their bodies. Zhang Guifen's family had been saving them for several days, originally intending to save them for their sick youngest son.
"Teacher Shu, please take this! Take it quickly! I... I don't have anything good to thank you with, just this..." Zhang Guifen stuffed the egg into Shu Ran's hand without saying a word, with great force and an urgent desire that was almost like atonement.
Shu Ran looked at the round egg in her palm, then at Zhang Guifen's tear-streaked face, and felt a mix of emotions.
She gently pushed it back: "Sister-in-law, really, there's no need. It's good that Brother Dazhuang is alright. The eggs... are for the baby to help him grow."
"No! You have to take it!" Zhang Guifen said urgently, trying to shove it back at him. "Look at your hands... your body... to save my Dazhuang, you..."
“Sister-in-law,” Shu Ran pressed her hand, her tone gentle, “I appreciate your kindness. But it’s really not necessary. Go back and take care of Brother Dazhuang; he needs someone.” She forced a smile.
Zhang Guifen's lips trembled, but she finally nodded forcefully, and tears streamed down her face again.
She clutched the egg tightly, gave Shu Ran a deep look, then turned and ran quickly toward the clinic.
Sister Wang and Li Xiulan immediately surrounded them.
Sister Wang quickly helped Shu Ran up, "Sit down, sit down! Your face is so pale! Your hands! How are your hands?"
Li Xiulan quickly brought over a basin of warm water: "Sister Shuran, quickly wash your face!"
Shu Ran practically collapsed onto her bunk, too exhausted to even shake her head.
She let Sister Wang and Li Xiulan help her take off her coat and shoes, which were covered in salt and mud, revealing her equally soaked shirt underneath.
She carefully removed her gloves, revealing bandages stuck together at the edges.
"Hiss..." Sister Wang gasped at the sight of the carnage. "This...this needs to be dealt with quickly! Xiulan, go and get the medicinal wine that Medical Officer Xu gave us! And get some clean cloths too!"
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