Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Tong Caifeng was bitten by a snake

Because she had to go on a business trip today, before leaving in the morning, Meng Yufei specifically told Xia Junshan to remember to pick up the children from school at noon.

Xia Junshan readily agreed and told her to go out without any worries.

Sitting on the ferry with Xiao Zhang, Meng Yufei looked at the blue sky and felt a special kind of relaxation.

Xiao Zhang smiled and said, "Sister Meng, it's a lot easier now that you don't have to take care of the kids."

Meng Yufei nodded and said, "Indeed, every time I take Qinqin on a boat ride, my heart is always lifted unconsciously, and I look at her with my eyes. Today, I can finally enjoy the scenery of the sea with peace of mind."

"Then this business trip is worth it. If you have the chance to go on a business trip again in the future, Sister Meng, remember to take me with you."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "You are definitely indispensable. You are my right-hand man now. You are indispensable to my work."

The two of them chatted and looked at the scenery, and soon arrived in the city. They took a bus from the bus station to the city center. Meng Yufei had been to the cinema once and had some impression of it. Xiao Zhang was a frequent visitor, and he took Meng Yufei to the cinema with familiarity.

On a weekday morning, the cinema was only showing one movie, and the theater was only half full.

Meng Yufei and Xiao Zhang took their work ID cards and went to their administrative office. At first, they were quite enthusiastic when they heard that they were from the military family home, but after learning that they were going to Nanya Island to show a movie, their attitude became much colder.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhang emphasized: "We will reimburse your transportation costs to the island, and we will also provide you with a daily allowance."

The cinema's office manager looked a little embarrassed and said, "Well, during the May Day holiday, many companies will ask us to show movies, and we may not be able to spare the staff."

What he was thinking was that it was too troublesome to go to that remote place, Nanya Island, by both car and boat.

The most important thing is that they sent people there once last year, and the reception was terrible. Not only did they have to eat from the big pot in the cafeteria, but the subsidies were also the lowest level.

What’s even more infuriating is that their people went to show the movie on the first day, but when they came back at night there was no boat, so they rested there all night. When they came back, the other party only gave them a subsidy for one day.

Isn't this intentional bullying?

You know, in that era, movie projectionist was a very respected profession. They were very popular wherever they went and were treated to delicious food and drinks.

I felt so ignored all of a sudden, and that left a deep impression on me.

Out of consideration for the troops' reputation, the cinema accepted the decision reluctantly, but they were still holding a grudge.

Now that we heard that there were more people coming from Nanya Island, the attitude naturally became bad.

Meng Yufei and Xiao Zhang didn't know the inside story and just thought that the other party simply didn't want to go to Nanya Island. Xiao Zhang said dissatisfiedly: "We only invite you to go once a year, and you are still making excuses. Do you look down on us?"

"I didn't say that. We are indeed short-staffed. What can we do? There are so many units in Qiongzhou City. We can't just focus on you."

Meng Yufei pulled Xiao Zhang who was about to get angry, and said to the director: "This time we invite you to Nanya Island to show movies not only for our troops and their families, but also for the residents of the entire Nanya Island. The country is now promoting cultural activities in rural areas, encouraging and requiring cultural workers like you to bring spiritual food to the masses. The residents of Nanya Island haven't seen you this year. Those who know you think you are too busy and too few to come, and those who don't know you think you don't want to come because the island is remote."

The cinema director looked up at Meng Yufei, and seeing her looking at him calmly with a smile on her face, he knew that this was someone who was not easy to fool.

The director laughed and said, "How could we not want to go? We really just don't have enough manpower."

Meng Yufei said: "We understand your difficulties, but the people on the island may not understand. To serve the people, we must overcome all difficulties, don't you think?"

The director's mouth stiffened, and he nodded, "Yes. How about this, we will do our best here at the cinema and send two people over during the May Day holiday."

So, the two parties agreed on the specific time and the movie to be shown.

Meng Yufei and Xiao Zhang completed their task and walked out of the cinema with a smile.

"Sister Meng, you have a good temper. I just couldn't help but start a quarrel." Xiao Zhang was still a little indignant: "It's just showing a movie, it's just work. Why does he have to beg others to do it?"

Meng Yufei said: "There's nothing we can do about it. They are just popular. Not everyone can go to the cinema to watch a movie, especially in the countryside. It's such a rare thing to be able to watch a movie once a year."

Xiao Zhang nodded and said, "Indeed, now when we go back and announce this good news to everyone, everyone will be happy for a long time."

She also sighed, "It would be great if there were more movie theaters. I could watch a movie once a month, no, once a week."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "It will come true. Life will get better day by day."

"Yeah, that's right! When I was young, it was a rare thing to be able to listen to the radio. Now at least we can watch movies a few times a year. In a few years, maybe we will have a cinema on our island." Xiao Zhang said with anticipation.

Meng Yufei said: "Then I will treat you to a three-day and three-night movie."

"Hehe, then I'm looking forward to it." Xiao Zhang said with a smile.

"Okay, let's go eat now," Meng Yufei patted her bag and said, "I'm on a business trip today and I got a subsidy. What do you want to eat?"

Xiao Zhang thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we go get some noodles? There's a state-owned restaurant in the east that serves delicious eel noodles, but it's quite a distance from here, and it takes more than ten minutes to get there by bus."

"Okay, today's mission has been completed, let's go." Meng Yufei nodded.

Xiao Zhang said, "When we finish eating and take the bus to the pier, we will pass by a grocery store. They sell egg cakes, which are delicious. Let's take some back for Qinqin to eat."

Meng Yufei nodded and said, "Okay, Xiao Zhang, you know all the stores in the city very well."

Xiao Zhang shrugged and said, "When I first came here, I liked to go to the city every weekend. The island was too boring. But now I feel I'm used to it, and I don't come to the city very often."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Then you can accompany me for another stroll today."

"Okay, I'll be your guide this time, Sister Meng."

The two chatted and laughed as they went to the bus stop to take the bus. After sitting for more than ten minutes, they arrived at the hotel that Xiao Zhang mentioned.

The shop is not big, but very clean. The noodles are the thin noodles eaten in the south, topped with plenty of stuffing and freshly fried eel shreds, all of which are boneless.

As soon as the noodles come up, you can smell the aroma of the noodles. The delicious and tender eel shreds are paired with the strong noodles. The taste is rich and the flavor is excellent.

The first thing Meng Yufei thought as soon as she took the first bite was: I will bring Qinqin here to eat next time.

Then she smiled again. After becoming a mother, the first thing she thought of was her daughter.

After eating the noodles, I went to buy some egg cakes. The soft and yellow egg cakes were fresh out of the pan and were still steaming. The air was filled with the aroma of the egg cakes.

Many people were queuing up with eggs and flour in their hands. For those who prepare their own ingredients, the store only charges a processing fee. If you buy it separately, it costs 98 cents per pound.

Xiao Zhang only ordered half a pound. "It's hot here, and the air is humid. The egg cake will go bad in two days."

Meng Yufei thought about it and agreed. Although it was a rare opportunity to come here, she only weighed a pound. If it tasted good, she would come again next time.

After buying the cakes, the two of them boarded the bus to the pier, traveling through the center of Qiongzhou City. Meng Yufei leaned back in her chair comfortably, looking at the scenery outside the window.

When passing a residential area, I saw a familiar figure.

Squinting her eyes, Meng Yufei was somewhat puzzled: Why was Tong Caifeng here?

I watched her disappear into an alley.

Does she have relatives here?

The car continued to move forward, and Meng Yufei saw a sign in front of her that read 'Qiongzhou People's Hospital Employees' Family Area'.

"Sister Meng, what are you looking at?" Xiao Zhang opened his mouth and interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, nothing. I just seemed to see Tong Caifeng going to the alley over there." Meng Yufei said.

Xiao Zhang looked behind the car window and recognized that this was the family area of ​​the hospital. He said, "Maybe they are visiting relatives. I seem to have heard that Tong Caifeng's mother's family is in a county under Qiongzhou City."

Meng Yufei nodded and said, "That's probably it."

After arriving at the pier, the two boarded the ferry back to Nanya Island. There was a slight breeze on the sea today, which was quite comfortable.

It was almost four o'clock in the afternoon when they arrived on the island. After the two returned to the family area, Meng Yufei said to Xiao Zhang: "You should go back and rest first. See you tomorrow."

Xiao Zhang nodded and said, "Okay, see you tomorrow."

After returning home, Meng Yufei placed the cake she had bought on the dining table, put down her bag, and poured herself a glass of water.

After sitting on the sofa and taking a rest for a while, Meng Yufei got up and went to collect the clothes in the yard. It had rained for the past two days and the clothes had not been washed. Before going out this morning, Xia Junshan saw that the weather was good and washed all the clothes at once.

After folding each piece of clothing and putting it in the closet, Meng Yufei cleaned the house again. Seeing that it was almost time, she took her lunch box and went out to pick up Qinqin.

After school, Xia Qinqin ran out impatiently, staring at the gate of the courtyard. Finally, she found Meng Yufei. Her eyes lit up and she rushed over happily.

"Mom, I missed you so much. You didn't come back for lunch." Xia Qinqin hugged Meng Yufei's thighs and acted coquettishly.

Meng Yufei squatted down and kissed her little face, then said with a smile: "Mom is on a business trip, but I brought you some delicious food. Do you want to come home and see her?"

"Yes!" Xia Qinqin nodded happily.

Meng Yufei looked at Lu Yannan who was following behind her and said with a smile: "Yannan, let's go home together."

Lu Yannan nodded: "Yeah, okay."

Meng Yufei held one child in each hand and went to the cafeteria to get food. Along the way, Xia Qinqin jumped and talked non-stop, happily sharing what happened today with her mother.

"Mom, Teacher Zhou praised me today. She said I dance very well."

"Sister Fangfang is amazing. She is the best dancer in our class."

"At noon, my father took us to the cafeteria for lunch. There was meat, scrambled eggs, and vegetables. I ate a lot of vegetables."

"Really? Qinqin is awesome." Meng Yufei listened and agreed with a smile.

Lu Yannan, who had been silent the whole time, looked up at Meng Yufei's smile, then looked at Xia Qinqin who was chattering non-stop, and wondered: Is it so great to just eat some vegetables?

After returning home, Meng Yufei took the two children to wash their hands in front of the faucet in the yard before entering the house. Xia Qinqin noticed the bag on the dining table with her sharp eyes and trotted over. Before she saw the bread wrapped in the oil paper, she smelled the delicious smell.

"Wow, it smells so good~" She turned her head and asked, "Mom, what is it?"

Meng Yufei walked over with a smile and opened the wax paper. "It's an egg cake. Come on, try it and see if it tastes good."

Xia Qinqin said happily: "Thank you, Mom."

Meng Yufei took another one and handed it to Lu Yannan, "Yannan, you try it too."

Lu Yannan took the cake and said, "Thank you, Aunt Meng."

Xia Qinqin couldn't wait to eat a bite of the cake. Her round eyes lit up and she nodded her head repeatedly, saying, "Wow, it's delicious! It's fragrant and soft, just like the cream cake my grandma took me to eat at Ruby."

She walked up to Meng Yufei, held up the cake, and said, "Mom, try it too, it's delicious."

Meng Yufei broke off a piece of egg cake and put it into her mouth, nodding and saying, "Yeah, it's really delicious."

Xia Qinqin grinned. Lu Yannan looked at the two of them and walked over to hold up the uneaten cake in his hand and gave it to Meng Yufei.

Meng Yufei smiled and touched his head and said, "You eat, Auntie has already eaten."

After Xia Qinqin finished the cake in her hand in a few bites, she said, "Mom, I want to eat another piece of cake."

Meng Yufei refused: "No, we have to eat soon, let's eat tomorrow." Then she turned and went to the kitchen to wash the lunch box.

"Oh..." Xia Qinqin said a little disappointed.

She turned around and saw that Lu Yannan hadn't touched his cake yet, so she urged him, "Brother Yannan, eat quickly."

Lu Yannan looked at her. Although he was talking to her, his eyes were fixed on the cake. He broke half of it and passed it to her.

Xia Qinqin said in surprise: "Brother Yannan, give me half."

"Well, it's time for dinner, let's eat quickly."

"Okay, thank you, Brother Yannan."

…

After the training, Han Jianhong had his meal at the training camp in the town before going home. By then, it was already dark and most of the families in the family compound had already eaten.

When I pushed open the gate, I saw Wei Shufang squatting in front of the faucet brushing her shoes. When I got closer, I saw that she was brushing Captain Han's shoes.

Wei Shufang looked up and saw her, then lowered her head with a displeased look and continued brushing her shoes.

Han Jianhong ignored her and pushed the door open. Captain Han was sitting on the sofa fiddling with chess pieces. When he saw her come back, he asked, "Did Captain Xia come to watch you practice today?"

Han Jianhong nodded: "Yes, I went. Uncle Xia also taught us how to shoot. He is a very good shooter and always hits the bull's eye."

Captain Han smiled and said, "Of course. Your uncle Xia's marksmanship is the champion of the military competition. The soldiers he leads are all masters of marksmanship."

He pointed to the sofa in front and said, "Come, I'll teach you how to play chess. You've grown up now, and you can play with your friends in the future."

Han Jianhong looked at the chessboard on the coffee table and his father's smiling face. He was silent for two seconds and said calmly, "No, I've been sweating today. I'm going to take a shower first."

After saying this, without even looking at Captain Han's expression, he turned and walked into the room.

Late at night, everyone in the family compound fell into deep sleep.

A scream rang out in the silent night. Xia Junshan opened his eyes and listened carefully to where the sound came from.

Meng Yufei moved her body and woke up. Xia Junshan patted her on the back and said, "Did I wake you up?"

"What's wrong?" Meng Yufei asked in a daze.

Xia Junshan said: "It seems to be the sound coming from behind the house."

The couple listened again and heard some tiny noises coming from behind the house, and a woman's screams.

Xia Junshan stood up and said, "You go to sleep first, I'll go out and take a look."

Meng Yufei also stood up and said, "I'll go to Qinqin's room to check."

After opening the door, fortunately Xia Qinqin was not woken up. Meng Yufei walked quietly to her daughter's bed, sat down and pulled the quilt for her.

It was a long time before Xia Junshan came back.

Meng Yufei left her daughter's room and closed the door.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Meng Yufei hurriedly walked up to Xia Junshan and asked.

Xia Junshan took Meng Yufei back to the room and said, "Tong Caifeng was bitten by a snake. It happened that Lao Fang led the team out on a mission these few days and was not at home. Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang, who lives next door to his house, and I took her to the military hospital."

"How is she now?" Meng Yufei asked, her eyes lowered so that her emotions could not be seen.

Xia Junshan said, "Fortunately, there is no danger to life. The doctor said to stay in the hospital for two days for observation. Tong Caifeng is also very courageous. When the snake bit her, she threw the snake to the ground in one fell swoop, and it almost died. I took the snake to the hospital for the doctor to check, and he said it was slightly poisonous and would not endanger life."

Meng Yufei said: "She is lucky, she was only slightly injured. By the way, how are her children?"

Xia Junshan said, "They were a little frightened. When I went there, the two little ones were crying. Fortunately, the older one was calm and not only comforted the two sisters, but also thanked me. Before I left, Deputy Commander Zhang's family took the children home to take care of them."

Meng Yufei nodded gently and said, "That's good."

Xia Junshan said: "Go to sleep first, we have to go to work tomorrow."

The two of them turned off the lights and went to sleep. The family compound returned to silence and no one spoke that night.

The next day, after Meng Yufei sent her child to kindergarten, she returned to the office and took care of some work. Then Director Wang hurried over.

"Xiao Meng, come with me to the city today."

Meng Yufei asked: "Director Wang, what's the matter?"

Director Wang said, "It was Tong Caifeng. Wasn't she bitten by a snake last night? I heard about it this morning and went to the military hospital to see her. Guess what happened..."

As the director of the Women's Committee, if something happened in the family compound, she would definitely go over to take a look.

Meng Yufei shook her head and asked, "What's wrong?"

Director Wang said angrily, "She insisted on transferring to a hospital in the city. Isn't that infuriating? When I went there, she had already left on the ferry early in the morning. The city hospital asked her to pay the hospitalization fee, but Tong Caifeng insisted on putting it on the military account. How could the hospital dare to put it on her account? Now the phone call came."

"You said that Tong Caifeng was obviously fine. She could have been observed in the military hospital for two days. Why did she have to go to the city hospital with all the trouble?"

Meng Yufei said, "Then I'll go with you to take a look. I was woken up in the middle of the night last night and was startled. I heard that there was a snake, and then I remembered that my Qinqin also encountered a snake last time. It's really strange. Didn't we just clean up the grass in the family yard some time ago? How come there is still a snake?"

Director Wang said: "It's probably because of the rain in the past two days."

Meng Yufei picked up the bag, explained something to Xiao Zhang, and went to the Publicity Department to call Xia Junshan, asking him to pick up the child after get off work at noon.

The two took the ferry and then the bus to the hospital. After asking the nurse, they found Tong Caifeng's ward.

Tong Caifeng lived in a single room. She was lying on the bed with an IV drip on her arm, eating a piece of peach cake in her hand. She looked like she was enjoying it.

Director Wang knocked on the door unhappily. They had gone through the trouble of taking a boat and a car for quite some time, but she was just lying comfortably on the bed.

Hearing the knock on the door, Tong Caifeng turned around, which startled the two people at the door. They saw that half of Tong Caifeng's face was swollen, and the other half was fine, but it looked weird no matter how they looked at it.

Director Wang frowned and said, "Didn't you say the snake's venom wasn't serious?"

When Tong Caifeng saw them coming, she opened her mouth and started wailing: "Oh my god, I'm so unlucky. I was almost bitten to death by a snake..."

As she spoke, the peach cake residue in her mouth spurted out and landed on the white sheets of the hospital bed.

The nurse who was changing the medicine came in at this time and said hurriedly, "Hey, don't put anything on the bed."

Meng Yufei asked: "Hello, may I ask if the snake venom in her body has been removed?"

"It's nothing. The snake venom was almost cleared last night in your military hospital." The nurse said while changing the medicine.

Director Wang asked again, "Why is her face so swollen? Did a snake bite her face?"

The nurse said, "Originally, after the poison was almost cleared, she would have been fine after two days of intravenous drip in the hospital and resting. But who knew she had to take a boat and a car early in the morning. The bumpy ride caused the toxins to circulate in her body. Her face was swollen, but it went away in a few days. It's not a big deal."

Tong Caifeng rolled her eyes at the nurse and said, "You are not a doctor, you are just a nurse. What are you talking about? Who said my condition is not serious? Look at my face, look at my hands!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his right hand, on which there was an obvious snake mark.

The nurse snorted and said, "Okay, if you think it's serious, then it's serious. I'll go back and ask the doctor to give you an injection."

Tong Caifeng said angrily: "You damn girl..."

"Tong Caifeng!" Director Wang couldn't help but scold, "You should talk less. If you are sick, just rest well and stop talking."

I really can't understand how this person could quarrel with the nurse even on the hospital bed.

Before leaving, the nurse said, "Remember to pay the hospital bill today."

Director Wang walked to the bed and asked in a controlled manner, "How do you feel?"

Tong Caifeng said: "Ouch, it hurts so much! You don't know, I almost thought I was going to die at home last night, and Lao Fang was not at home..."

Meng Yufei glanced at the peach cake on the bedside table and asked, "Sister Tong, has anyone come to see you?"

Tong Caifeng paused and stammered, "Well, a relative came over and took a look for a while."

Meng Yufei said: "Your relative's news came really quickly, even before us."

"Oh, she happens to work in the hospital and knows that I'm here." Tong Caifeng obviously didn't want to continue this topic and said, "Well, go and settle my hospital bill."

Meng Yufei said, "You can get married. I have brought the money, but I have to make it clear to you in advance that all your expenses at the city hospital will be borne by you personally."

Tong Caifeng glared at this and asked, "On what basis? Didn't they say that all the people in the family hospital can see a doctor for free?"

Meng Yufei said, "That's seeing a doctor in the military hospital. The medical expenses are all free. If the military can't treat the disease, you can transfer to other hospitals and the medical expenses will be reimbursed. However, your disease can be cured in the military hospital. It was you who insisted on transferring to the city hospital, so we can't reimburse."

"You...I don't care. I don't have the money to pay anyway." Tong Caifeng said shamelessly.

Director Wang frowned and glanced at Tong Caifeng, then turned to Meng Yufei and said, "Xiao Meng, go settle the bill first. I'll talk to the troops when I get back, and the money will be deducted from Captain Fang's salary."

Meng Yufei nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go first."

"Hey, you..." Tong Caifeng was about to call for help, but Director Wang glanced at her and Tong Caifeng shut up.

After Meng Yufei paid the hospital fee, Tong Caifeng said, "I want to eat. Go buy me some food."

Director Wang said, "I'll go buy it. Xiao Meng, please sit down and take a rest."

Meng Yufei nodded, and after Director Wang left, she sat on the chair next to her and looked at the snake bite marks on Tong Caifeng's hand.

"What are you looking at?" Tong Caifeng asked unhappily.

Meng Yufei looked up and looked at Tong Caifeng's strange face and said, "How strange! How could she be bitten by a snake?"

"How should I know? What a pity!"

"I heard it was because of the recent rain. The snake lives in fresh water. If it wasn't washed here by the rain, could it have been taken here intentionally? How is this possible? There is no deep hatred between the people in our courtyard." Meng Yufei murmured.

Tong Caifeng fell into deep thought. Was it taken away by someone? On purpose...

"By the way, Sister Tong, did you notice anything when you slept at night?" Meng Yufei asked again.

Tong Caifeng thought carefully about whether she heard anything. She thought for a long time and the memory that left the deepest impression on her mind was the moment she was bitten.

"Should...should have heard it...Yes, I heard some noise, as if someone had entered my yard." The more Tong Caifeng thought about it, the more certain she became. "Yes, someone must have entered my yard and deliberately released the snake to take revenge on me!"

Otherwise, how could the snake get into her house when there are so many people in the courtyard?

Besides her, there are three other girls in the house. Why doesn’t the snake bite them? Isn’t their meat more tender?... Tong Caifeng didn’t believe that the snake would bite her specifically. It must be someone who did it on purpose!

When Director Wang came back, Tong Caifeng immediately complained: "Director Wang, I remember now, someone broke into my house last night and deliberately brought a snake to harm me?"