He Yuhan took out several sets of clothes, some cotton and some light-colored.
Liu Jin picked up a light red little dress and said, "Oh my, this little dress is so pretty! The color and style are both lovely. It even has little animals embroidered on it. Oh my, girl, your craftsmanship is really excellent."
In her delight, Liu Jin used a more intimate term of address for He Yuhan.
He Yuhan also felt closer to Dr. Xiaohe than to her.
He Yuhan said, "These are all clearance items I bought at the department store before. They are mostly scraps of fabric, which can be used to make clothes for the children. I hope you don't mind."
Liu Jin said, "How could I possibly dislike such fine clothes? To be honest, I'm really worried about making clothes for my child. The cloth ration coupons we get each year are pitifully small, and this year's are all used up. I really don't have any more coupons to make clothes for the child. I was even thinking of using my old clothes to make clothes for him."
"Now the child has all the clothes he needs, Dr. He, you've thought of everything!"
He Yuhan said, "Aunt Liu, please don't call me Dr. He anymore, just call me Yuhan, that's what my family calls me."
Liu Jin nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll call you Yuhan from now on."
He Yuhan then took out milk powder and other items, saying, "This milk powder is for the baby. You should let the baby drink milk powder as much as possible until he is one year old. These pastries are for you and Uncle Liu. You and Uncle Liu can enjoy this bottle of oil and these dried goods slowly."
Liu Jin looked at He Yuhan and declined, saying, "Yuhan, why did you bring so much stuff? These days, no one is rich. You don't need to worry about us. It's already our good fortune to know you."
I've reluctantly accepted the formula you gave the child, but please take everything else back. We can't accept it.
He Yuhan said, "These mushrooms and wood ear fungus are all things I brought back from the mountains myself. These eggs are from my own chickens; they weren't bought. The other things are things that some patients gave me when they came to see me but didn't have money."
You know that the herbs I gather are for treating patients. Those who don't have money will use other things to pay for the medicine, and I haven't bothered to get them myself. You've given me such valuable medical books; what I have is nothing."
Liu Jin said, "That's nothing at all. That medical book would be a waste in my hands, but it can be useful in yours. So don't keep bringing it up."
He Yuhan said, "I consider you and Uncle Liu as elders, and we should visit each other as relatives from now on, so please don't refuse. I went to great lengths to bring it here, are you going to make me take it back? Please accept it."
Liu Jin laughed and said, "Alright, I'll accept it. But you can't do this again, girl."
He Yuhan turned her head and looked at the little boy who had finished eating his noodles. His complexion was much rosier and he was sweating. She took the child's pulse and it seemed that he would not get sick.
He Yuhan asked, "Your name is Li Zhu, right?"
The boy was silent for a moment and then nodded.
He Yuhan said, "You're dressed so lightly, so stay home when it's cold. Don't go out. Stay with Aunt Liu until you've cooled down before going back, otherwise you might catch a cold from the wind."
I'll leave you a packet of snacks; hide it and eat some when you're hungry. If there's anything you really can't solve, you can come to me. If you're really hungry, you can also go to your sister. I work as a doctor at the village clinic in Laogewan."
The boy nodded, his eyes blurry with tears.
He Yuhan didn't stay any longer and said to Liu Jin, "Then Aunt Liu, I'll head back now."
Liu Jin said, "You should go back now, don't keep worrying about us."
Liu Jin saw He Yuhan out of the courtyard. The boy, meanwhile, lingered by the door of the main room, watching He Yuhan leave.
When Liu Jin returned, she saw Li Zhu standing by the door and said, "Zhu Zi, come inside quickly and go home after you've cooled off. From now on, be more careful and fight for your food. If you're hungry, ask your mother for food. If she really won't give you anything, ask Aunt Liu for help."
After He Yuhan rode her bicycle home, it was time to prepare lunch.
Han Yixian had already returned from teaching the children. Seeing He Yuhan riding back on her bicycle, he asked, "Where did you go?"
He Yuhan replied, "I went to Liujiatun. Didn't I tell you last time that I saved an aunt in Liujiatun? I went to deliver some things to them."
Aunt Liu found a baby and decided to adopt her. I wanted to do my part, so I gave her some things that the child might need.
Aunt Liu gave me two very valuable medical books, and I want to return the favor. Otherwise, I'd feel bad accepting such expensive gifts for nothing.
Han Yi nodded and said, "Then we should make up for it."
He Yuhan said, "I also saved a little boy who had collapsed by the roadside today. In this cold weather, he was only wearing a tattered single layer of clothing and straw sandals, and his feet were covered in frostbite. Moreover, the child had collapsed from hunger. If I hadn't found him, he would have died."
I took him to Aunt Liu's house and gave him brown sugar water, which revived him. Aunt Liu also made him a big bowl of hot noodle soup, which helped the child recover.
I felt so sorry for that child. He had been mistreated in his stepfather's home after his mother remarried; he was always hungry and cold, and very thin. It was truly pitiful. It made my heart ache.
Han Yixian said, "It's common for ordinary families to go hungry these days, but they don't usually starve to death. I guess he's really being mistreated at his stepfather's house. But there's nothing we can do about it. The child's mother doesn't care about the child, and there's nothing anyone else can do. It's their family matter, and we outsiders shouldn't interfere."
He Yuhan said, "That's what I think too. The child has a mother, and we outsiders have no right to blame her. After all, there are too many families who don't have enough to eat these days, and families with many children will definitely take care of the younger ones first. All I can do is give him some food and help him out."
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