After sitting in the ward for a while and again reminding his cousin to have a good rest, Li Zheng got up and left.
Leaving the ward, Li Zheng went to the hospital's public telephone booth. Back then, communications were still very backward. Even within the hospital, clinical departments, with the exception of the emergency room and operating room, didn't have dedicated landlines. Calls had to be made through the inpatient department's switchboard, which would then be broadcast to the department, prompting someone to answer the phone.
The phone booth was a small glass booth, covered with a thin layer of dust, and looked a little old under the dim streetlight. Inside was a black rotary dial phone with some worn buttons.
Li Zheng took out the only two 5-cent coins from his pocket, put them into the coin slot, then picked up the receiver, and a "buzzing" sound came from the receiver.
He dialed the switchboard at Chen Dayong's residence.
The switchboard operator's voice came from the other end of the line: "Hello, who are you transferring to?"
Li Zheng said, "Please go to Chen Dayong's dormitory."
"Okay, please wait."
Ten minutes later, Li Zheng called again, and Chen Dayong's familiar voice came from the receiver: "Hello, who is this?"
Li Zheng said: "Xiaopang, it's me, Li Zheng."
"Brother, I have good news for you. Dean Zhang and my parents have already made arrangements. I can come and join you tomorrow!" Chen Dayong said excitedly.
Li Zheng chuckled and said, "Congratulations, brother, you found the organization!"
Chen Dayong's hearty laughter came from the phone.
The two coins couldn't hold out for long, so Li Zheng quickly got to the point.
"Xiaopang, I have something to ask you. Can you bring me a thousand yuan tomorrow to lend it to me? I need it urgently!" Li Zheng said in a deep voice.
Chen Dayong didn't hesitate at all. His voice was loud in the receiver. "No problem, brother. I'll give you whatever you want. I'll be there early tomorrow morning!"
Li Zheng felt warm in his heart. One thousand yuan was not a small amount of money in this era. His monthly salary was only four hundred yuan. He would have to tighten his belt for three months to pay it back.
Li Zheng laughed and said, "Aren't you afraid that I'll use it to buy alcohol again?"
"Hey, brother, when have you ever asked me to borrow money? Don't I understand your character? The fact that you can ask me to borrow money means that you treat me as a brother, and you never treat your brothers unfairly!" Chen Dayong said loudly, his voice full of trust in Li Zheng.
"Good brother, thank you!" Li Zheng said seriously.
"No need to thank me if I'm a good brother!"
After hanging up the phone, Li Zheng walked out of the phone booth and looked at the starry night sky of the hospital. He took a deep breath.
Although I was brilliant in my previous life, I was very lonely inside. Everyone around me wore a mask when interacting with me. In this life, in this era of materialism, Chen Dayong and Lin Xiaomei made me feel warmth and hope.
The spring breeze blew by, bringing with it the sound of a train whistle from a distant train station, melodious and profound, as if telling Li Zheng that this era will not let you down!
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