Chapter 1: Choosing between Two, Being Left Behind

Winter 1970.

The first snow has arrived in the northwest of our country, and everything is covered in silver.

Xiao Qingru was a dancer in the literary troupe. She had a rare day off at home when she suddenly developed an emergency.

The symptoms came on quickly and suddenly, with pain in the lower abdomen, weakness in the legs and feet, fever, and nausea and vomiting.

Xiao Qingru had only one thought in her mind: she had to go to the hospital as soon as possible.

But there was no one at home, and it was difficult for her to even go downstairs.

He curled up helplessly on the bed, and because of the pain, a broken groan escaped from his mouth.

Jiangchuan came to Xiao's house to deliver dumplings. The door was open, but the house was quiet.

I wondered, are all the people gone?

That shouldn't be the case. That girl rarely gets a rest, so she must be staying at home listening to the radio.

"Qingru?"

"Are you there?"

Xiao Qingru responded softly, "I'm here."

Something is wrong with the sound!

Jiang Chuan put the aluminum lunch box in his pocket on the table and went upstairs in two steps.

Without caring too much, he pushed open Xiao Qingru's door and saw her curled up helplessly on the bed, looking extremely painful.

He knelt on one knee beside the bed, nervously touched Xiao Qingru's forehead, and felt a layer of sweat.

"Qingru, what's wrong with you?"

"stomachache."

It took so much effort to write just three words.

Girls have these few days every month, and Jiangchuan thought she was having her period.

I was confused. This kind of situation had never happened before. What happened this time?

His expression suddenly became serious. "Hold on, I'll take you to the hospital."

Xiao Qingru's face was pale, with beads of sweat on her forehead. At this moment, she could only nod and say nothing.

He picked up the military coat beside him and put it on Xiao Qingru, then wrapped a scarf around her and put a hat on her.

The family home was not far from the military hospital, so Jiang Chuan carried her on his back and ran there.

The snowy road was difficult to walk on. Jiang Chuan wanted to run faster, but he also had to pay attention to the person on his back to prevent her from falling.

Qingru has never suffered any hardship since she was a child. If she falls and gets hurt, she might lose some gold beans.

Besides, he couldn't bear to let her feel any pain.

Leaning on the man's broad back, the cold wind blew on her face, bringing a stinging sensation, but Xiao Qingru's heart was burning.

With Jiang Chuan by her side, she seemed to feel less uncomfortable.

She wrapped her arms around the man's neck and leaned on his back, "Jiang Chuan, thank you."

The man licked his lips in a soft tone full of dependence, "You are my crush, do you need to be so polite to me?"

Xiao Qingru grinned silently, "Just say this once."

"Hold me tight."

He weighed the person closer and quickened his pace.

Not far downstairs in the family building, Mrs. Wang was pacing anxiously. When she saw us, her eyes lit up.

He trotted over to us and said, "Comrade Jiang, Wanqiu is about to give birth! Everyone is in class right now, and I can't find anyone to help."

"Send her to the hospital quickly! If you go too late, it will be very serious."

Du Wanqiu is the widow of Jiang Chuan's good brother, and she is pregnant with a baby. Jiang Chuan is always willing to help whenever he can.

Send money.

Send tickets.

Send food.

Sometimes I go home to help with housework.

Because of this incident, Xiao Qingru had several conflicts with Jiang Chuan.

She thinks Jiang Chuan should keep his distance from Du Wanqiu and she should be the one to help if he needs help.

Secretly, she didn't want her fiancé to have too much contact with other women.

But Jiang Chuan thought that she was his good brother's widow, and it would be inconvenient for her to do anything with a child, so he was just helping her out, and there was no need to make a fuss.

Even if someone in the family courtyard gossiped, Jiang Chuan insisted that as long as he had a clear conscience, he would be fine.

Xiao Qingru and Jiang Chuan are childhood sweethearts who grew up together in a family compound. Although they had disagreements on this matter, Xiao Qingru finally compromised.

She was reluctant to part with Jiangchuan, reluctant to give up their childhood friendship, and reluctant to give up her budding love.

When Xiao Qingru heard Mrs. Wang's cry, her heart skipped a beat.

What will Jiang Chuan choose?

Is it possible that she will be abandoned again this time?

He pulled the corner of his mouth and said, "Sister-in-law Wang, we still have something to do. Please ask someone else to help. The sisters-in-law in the family courtyard are very enthusiastic and will definitely be willing to help."

"This..." Mrs. Wang hesitated for a moment, "Women's temper is not as strong as men's. We can't hold a pregnant woman. If we hurt her, we can't take the responsibility."

But sick people are fragile. Xiao Qingru wanted to be willful for once. "If there is really a problem, Jiang Chuan can't afford it. Otherwise, you should go and ask a doctor."

"Comrade Xiao, I have no choice but to ask Comrade Jiang for help. Wanqiu has lost her man and is all alone and pitiful. Can we just consider it a good deed?"

Xiao Qingru replied stubbornly, "We have urgent matters to attend to, so we can't help you."

Jiang Chuan turned his head to look at Xiao Qingru and said with embarrassment, "Qingru, I will take Comrade Du to the hospital first, and then come back to pick you up."

"Won't you take me there first?"

"Comrade Du's situation is very urgent."

A feeling of grievance swept through my body, my eyes became sore, and my vision instantly became blurred, "It hurts me too."

Jiang Chuan said anxiously: "Having a baby is a big deal, don't delay it. If there is a problem, it will be a double loss of life."

"Qingru, I'll be back to pick you up soon. I promise."

The water in the body turned into tears, rushing out from the eye sockets.

Xiao Qingru didn't want to cry, but she really couldn't control herself. Her body was in pain, and her heart was in even more pain.

"It's not that quick to give birth. Du Wanqiu is not alone. You are not a doctor, let alone her husband. What difference does it make whether you are here or not?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm just a widow who helps a friend take care of his wife."

Xiao Qingru tightened her arms, "I don't want you to leave! I want you to take me to the hospital first!"

"Don't be silly."

"I'm not kidding."

"sorry."

Jiang Chuan didn't dare to look into Xiao Qingru's eyes, for fear of seeing her tears.

Giving birth to a child is like going through the gates of hell for a woman. Compared with the pain of menstruation, it is obvious which is more serious.

Jiang Chuan put Xiao Qingru down, took off the scarf around his neck, and sat on the wooden bench beside him.

"Wait here for me, I'll be back soon."

The man left quickly and ran to the family building nearby. After a moment of chaos, he came downstairs carrying a pregnant woman with a swollen belly.

From beginning to end, he didn't even glance at his fiancée who was sitting on the bench with a pale face.

The hurried footsteps gradually faded away, and finally the back figure disappeared from Xiao Qingru's sight.

Xiao Qingru couldn't count how many times Jiang Chuan had left her for Du Wanqiu.

With more and more sweat on his forehead, Xiao Qingru stood up with great effort.

He took only two steps before he fell down and crashed into the pile of snow that had been cleared nearby.

It's so cold.

It hurts so much.

This time, she didn't want Jiang Chuan anymore.