School starts
In March, when the north was still swept by a cold wave, the willows on both sides of the main road in front of Hongxing Primary School in Meixiang Village had already sprouted tender buds.
The school gate was buzzing with chatter; a group of students in brightly colored clothes chattered incessantly like little bees. Spring had only just arrived, the sky was clear but the wind was cold, and many children were still suffering from colds. They wore shirts that reached their bottoms, and when they wiped their noses with their overly long sleeves, they left white streaks.
Xu Tangmian parked her car in front of the stall, and before she could lock it, she rushed to the front of the line.
The previously noisy children suddenly became orderly, saluting as Young Pioneers and shouting loudly, "Hello, teacher!"
"Hey, hello everyone! Hello everyone!" Xu Tangmian hurriedly greeted them and took out her keys from her pocket to open the school gate.
Fortunately, not many teachers had arrived yet, so Xu Tangmian quickly opened the door and let the students in.
The children, each carrying a small shovel, and the older children carrying spades, all walked together toward the open space. This was a long-standing tradition on the first day of school—weeding.
Xu Tangmian borrowed a shovel from a nearby villager and joined the weeding team. But before they'd even worked for five minutes, several students rushed over, chattering, "Teacher Xu, Shi Darong is fighting with a sixth-grader in the back playground!"
"What?" Xu Tangmian dropped the shovel and ran towards the back playground.
Shi Darong is a fourth-grade student in her class. She is usually a troublemaker, does not do her homework seriously, and talks during class. She is a bit naughty, but she has never fought with her classmates!
When they arrived at the scene, the sixth-grade student had already been subdued by Li Yutao and Teacher Geng. Because they didn't know Shi Darong, they didn't dare to intervene directly.
Even with a male teacher present, Shi Darong continued to curse and swear, his younger brother, Shi Erhua, a third-grader, also pouting and sulking.
Xu Tangmian stepped forward and grabbed his arm, questioning the furious Shi Darong with a serious expression: "What's wrong with you? Who taught you to swear? Who gave you permission to hit people?"
"He insulted my mother, so I'm going to hit him!" Shi Darong bared his teeth and was about to step forward when Xu Tangmian reacted quickly and grabbed him from behind.
Cursing? That's certainly infuriating, but could it be that the child is just talking nonsense? Xu Tangmian glanced at Li Yutao across from her.
Li Yutao instantly understood what she meant, and looked down at her students to ask, "Did you swear?"
"I didn't curse!" the tall boy said with a grin. "I'm just stating the facts. His/his mother is a slut. That's what everyone in the village says."
Shi Darong was even angrier after hearing this, and he tried to kick the boy by forcefully pulling at Xu Tangmian's hand. How dare he say such things in front of the teacher? Why didn't the teacher blame him but instead stopped him?
Xu Tangmian frowned deeply, and even though his hand was almost raw from being scratched, he dared not let go, for fear that he would cause some trouble.
Li Yutao was startled by the boy's words, then frowned and glared at him with displeasure. Teacher Geng, standing nearby, was even more direct; he lightly kicked the boy in the backside and muttered, "What nonsense are you spouting! Go stand over there!"
Shi Darong gritted his teeth and glared at the tall boy's retreating figure, while Shi Erfu sobbed beside him. Shi Darong glared at him, raised his foot to stomp on him, and cursed, "What are you crying for? I told you to hit him, but you didn't!"
"Alright." Xu Tangmian released him and bent down to comfort his younger brother, only to see him dart out like an arrow, delivering a flying kick that sent the tall boy tumbling and scrambling several steps before crashing into a rock. The tall boy slowly got up, his mouth covered in blood, and half of his front tooth knocked out.
Some students were so frightened they cried, and several teachers were also startled. Teacher Geng quickly pushed the cart and took the male students to the nearest clinic.
This happened because she wasn't watching him closely enough. Xu Tangmian was trembling with anger, and she gritted her teeth and said, "Shi Darong, go back and call your parents over now! Otherwise, you don't need to come back tomorrow!"
Shi Darong gritted his teeth, groaned twice, patted his behind, and left.
Meanwhile, at the Meixiang Village Health Clinic, the village chief was introducing Song Weidong to the medical student who had just been sent from above.
Song Weidong showed him the arrangement of various medicines and some precautions, and then continued to organize the medical records.
Suddenly, a bicycle bell rang, and a middle-aged male teacher, around forty years old, hurriedly ran in, holding the hand of a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy.
Just as Song Weidong stood up, the new male doctor strode out in a few strides, asking, "Were you in a fight? Why are you bleeding so much?"
Song Weidong's eyes darkened, and he sat back down.
Teacher Geng looked anxious. "He bumped into a rock and lost half a tooth. Can you check if he's hurt anywhere else? The child's parents don't even know yet! I'm so worried!"
"It's alright, don't worry." The male doctor took a cotton swab from the table, skillfully dipped it in medicine to disinfect the child, and comforted him in a seemingly relaxed manner: "It's nothing~ We men are all grown men, this little injury is nothing, does it hurt?"
The child didn't utter a single cry of pain until the wound was treated, and obediently followed Teacher Geng away.
Although Song Weidong felt a little envious watching the male doctor jog to see them off, he still praised him truthfully when the male doctor returned: "You did very well just now, you adapted very well."
The male doctor scratched his head and said, "I still have a lot to learn from you, brother."
"You're too kind to ask for my advice. We're learning from each other," Song Weidong replied with a smile, concealing his inner thoughts.
Around 10:30, seeing that there were no patients that day, Song Weidong gave some instructions to the male doctor and then limped out.
He used to suppress his inferiority complex, but after confirming his relationship with Li Yutao, this feeling intensified. He became increasingly concerned about his appearance. Sometimes, when he looked in the mirror and saw his lifeless face, he would ask himself, "Am I good enough for Li Yutao?"
The arrival of this male doctor today amplified his anxiety to an unprecedented level. The ideals he was so proud of seemed so vulnerable in the face of his own kind.
He even wondered if Li Yutao had met this male doctor back then, and if she had fallen for him because of his handsome features, tall stature, and brisk gait.
He felt uneasy and desperately wanted to see Li Yutao.
Previously, Li Yutao had complained to him several times that he wouldn't go shopping or have fun with her. Today, a new doctor who seemed reliable finally arrived, so Song Weidong decided to go to the movies with Li Yutao this afternoon. He knew that the school would only arrange a cleaning duty today, and classes would start tomorrow.
His legs are weak, so he has to stop and start walking, which takes him longer than others to get to school.
When he arrived at the school gate, he didn't dare to go in, fearing that the school teachers, who were also Li Yutao's colleagues, would see him like this and embarrass her.
Song Weidong beckoned to the nearest student, took a White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket and handed it to her, "Do you know Ms. Li Yutao, the sixth-grade teacher?"
The girl nodded, unwrapped the candy, and ate it in one bite.
"Do me a favor, go find Teacher Li and tell her that a doctor surnamed Song is waiting for her."
The girl skipped away, swinging her two long braids. Song Weidong retreated to a shady spot near the school gate and stood against the wall, trying his best to maintain a normal posture.
In the other office, Shi Darong, whose parents had already been summoned, looked up with a resentful expression, his hands behind his back, clearly unconvinced.
His mother, Ms. Yan Xianglan, stood beside him, her face pale, like a withered blade of grass that could be blown over at any moment. She didn't even have time to drink a sip of the tea that Xu Tangmian offered her.
After listening to the teachers' explanations, her eyes didn't show the joy and relief of being protected by her son; instead, they seemed to be enveloped by immense shame and panic. She took a deep breath, suddenly grabbed Shi Darong, and her nails seemed to dig into his flesh.
"How many times have I told you to behave yourself at school? Are you ignoring me? Are you trying to drive me crazy? Say something! Why are you fighting with him?!"
The other teachers in the classroom, including Xu Tangmian, quickly came to stop her. Suddenly! Ms. Yan Xianglan's mouth trembled and she couldn't say a word. Her chest heaved violently, like an autumn leaf drifting down to the ground.
Just then, a student with pigtails ran up to Li Yutao, saluted her with a candy in her mouth, and said, "Teacher Li, a doctor surnamed Song has come to see you."
"Wei Dong?" Li Yutao and Xu Tangmian exchanged a glance, then said, "I'll go call him over," and hurriedly ran out.
Xu Tangmian wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that when Li Yutao called out "Weidong", the woman lying on the ground seemed to twitch her eyelids.
Li Yutao ran ahead of the female student and soon arrived at the school gate, where she saw Song Weidong standing by the wall.
"Weidong, hurry!" she gasped, grabbing Song Weidong's hand and running. Song Weidong limped after her, anxiously asking, "Has something happened?"
"A student's parent has fainted, you need to go and check on them!"
Hearing this, Song Weidong also became anxious. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain, following closely behind Li Yutao, hoping to go even faster.
Pushing through the crowd in the office, Song Weidong froze when he saw who was lying on the ground. With trembling hands, he took Yan Xianglan from Xu Tangmian's arms, pressed her philtrum to wake her up, and then, as if forgetting his leg ailment, he carried her out like the wind.
Not only Li Yutao, but the onlookers were also stunned. Was this still the same village doctor Song Weidong, who had a chronic leg ailment, remained calm and composed, and never showed his emotions?
Li Yutao didn't have time to think about why Song Weidong was acting this way, and she and the other teachers followed him and ran towards the school gate.
Song Weidong was very fast. When he arrived at the school gate, villagers who had received the news were already waiting outside, pushing their own carts to meet him. He carefully placed Yan Xianglan on the cart and patiently comforted her, "Don't be afraid, Xianglan. Go with them. I'll be there soon."
Yan Xianglan's eyes were red, and she turned her face away from him. The man pulling the cart also bent over and ran away, dragging the cart along.
Seeing that Yan Xianglan had regained consciousness and had been taken to the clinic by the villagers, Song Weidong breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately afterward, a piercing pain shot through his left foot, making him almost unable to stand, and he staggered to one side.
Xu Tangmian quickly caught him, then glared at Li Yutao in the crowd and urged, "Xiaotao!"
Song Weidong then remembered the purpose of his trip and that he had a girlfriend at school. He turned to look at Li Yutao, and their eyes met in shock and confusion. At the same time, the villagers' chatter reached their ears.
"I knew Xiao Song couldn't forget that female doctor."
"What a pity. If it weren't for that accident back then, these two kids would be in third or fourth grade by now."
"What's a pity? Little Song has a young and beautiful female teacher pursuing him now, isn't he happy?"
"Sigh, even in this situation, they still keep trying to get close. This teacher is really something..."
Song Weidong's face was deathly pale, his mouth slightly open, unable to speak. Only after Li Yutao, with tears in her eyes and gritting her teeth, pushed the cart away did he manage to utter a helpless "Xiao Tao..."
With things having escalated to this point, Xu Tangmian had no heart to help the children weed. She quickly entrusted her and Li Yutao's students to other teachers, and then left with Song Weidong in a cart.
Li Yutao probably had something to say to her. Her direction wasn't home, but rather to the Fifth Team. Her car turned into the wheat field at the intersection near Xu Tangmian's house, while Xu Tangmian led Song Weidong straight ahead.
Song Weidong panicked, "Stop parking! Xiao Tao went to your house."
“I know,” Xu Tangmian said calmly. “Xiao Tao probably doesn’t want to see you right now, and the clinic seems to need Dr. Song’s help more.”
Song Weidong pursed his lips, sensing the barbed meaning in her words, and quickly explained, "A new doctor has come to the clinic, so don't count on me. Take me to see Xiao Tao right away!"
The bicycle continued straight toward the main road. Song Weidong gritted his teeth and jumped off. He had an old injury in one leg, and even someone else would easily fall if they jumped off a bicycle like that, let alone someone like him in his current condition.
Fortunately, there were no cars on the road. Song Weidong fell hard to the ground. Although his face was pale, he got up without a sound and limped back.
"Song Weidong!" Xu Tangmian couldn't help but call out his full name. Without even setting up the car stand, she casually abandoned the car on the side of the road and ran over to stop him.
She raised her arms to block his path, her words firm: "Don't you think you need to calm down right now? Have you thought about how to explain that woman to Xiaotao?"
That woman… Song Weidong was taken aback, and slowly lowered his head, like a lonely warrior at dusk, before turning and walking away.
They're not even going to offer an explanation! Xu Tangmian snorted coldly and immediately helped the car head home.
From a distance, Xu Tangmian saw two people embracing in the yard. Puzzled, she pushed the cart into the yard and saw Yu Chunsheng with his arms outstretched in a gesture of surrender, his mouth opening and closing as if silently saying something to her, his eyes filled with panic and helplessness.
Li Yutao buried her face in Yu Chunsheng's chest, her shoulders twitching.
Even though she was holding her husband, Xu Tangmian felt a little reluctant to disturb her at this moment.
Despite her reluctance, she knew that if she didn't speak up soon, Yu Chunsheng might not be able to bear it.
“Xiao Tao…” She poked her shoulder helplessly.
With her soft call, Li Yutao finally released Yu Chunsheng, turned 180 degrees and buried herself in her arms, crying loudly.
"Sister Tangtang, sob sob... Song Weidong, that beast... sob sob sob..."
Yu Chunsheng walked to Xu Tangmian's side and silently mouthed, "What's wrong?"
Xu Tangmian pursed her lips and remained silent, shaking her head with a slight frown.
"Xiaotao, can we go inside and cry? If you cry outside and catch a cold, you'll have to go to the clinic."
"Yes! Yes!" Li Yutao suddenly raised her head and wiped away her tears. "I don't want to get sick, I don't want to see him!"
The two sisters went back into the house hand in hand, seemingly leaving no room for him. Yu Chunsheng stood in the yard, glancing in the direction of the house and then in the direction of the clinic, his gossip-loving soul burning brightly, but there was no one to talk to him about it!
He chose to contact the person directly, especially since he knew from the book "Song of Youth" that Song Weidong was related to him in his past life. He didn't dare to contact him directly last time, but this time he could ask him indirectly.
Before he even reached the clinic, just as he arrived at the convenience store, the owner, Junjun's mother, called out to him from afar.
"Xiao Yu! You didn't come to work today?"
"No," Yu Chunsheng replied simply and quickly rode away. The entrance to the convenience store was always a place of trouble; one shouldn't linger there.
Inside the clinic, the new doctor was frantically trying to manage the situation. There were villagers shouting and yelling as they came for treatment, and a mentally ill woman brought in from school crying and sobbing. No one had told him his first day on the job would be this difficult!
"Brother Song, please help me!" The new doctor, taking a break from his busy schedule, went out and pleaded with Song Weidong, who was idly wandering in the courtyard. Just as he finished speaking, the old man's voice came from behind: "New guy! No water!"
"They're here, they're here."
Song Weidong was annoyed by what he heard and was about to go in to help the new doctor when Yu Chunsheng's voice came from outside the courtyard gate again.
"Xiao Song!" he called out before the car even stopped.
Song Weidong was preoccupied with something and didn't have time to care about his form of address, so he coldly said, "What?"
"Xiao Tao is crying at my house, what are you doing..." Before she could finish speaking, Yan Xianglan struggled to run out of the clinic, leaning against the door frame and calling out sadly, "Wei Dong!"
"You really have something to say?" Yu Chunsheng's face suddenly turned serious as he looked at the woman at the door and said righteously, "Xiao Tao has always been so good to you, what are you thinking?"
"Are you here to lecture me?" Song Weidong glanced at him, turned around and walked towards the clinic without looking back, saying, "You have a wife, and I'm older and more experienced than you. You have no right to lecture me."
Yu Chunsheng stood there blankly, watching Song Weidong's limping figure, and couldn't help but feel sad, both for him and for himself.
Yes, he's only in his early twenties now, isn't he? But what has Song Weidong gone through in these eighteen years that has caused him to degrade himself to this state?
I originally wanted to ask him about his uncle, but things got rushed and I didn't get the chance. Yu Chunsheng pushed his cart slowly along the road, and he could hear the chattering from the convenience store from a great distance.
He had never liked listening to the gossip of these rural women, who often exaggerated and made up stories. But today, the village chief was also sitting in that group; with him there, he figured the others wouldn't talk nonsense.
Yu Chunsheng parked the car and pretended to buy something. After weighing out some snacks, he found a place to sit down and quietly listened to their discussion.
"Have you heard? Xiao Yan is back at the clinic!"
"She didn't come back, did she? I think she was pulled back on a cart; she looks sick."
"She had another abortion? But if she's sick, why would she come to our clinic? She knew Xiao Song was here, didn't she?"
"I don't know. Didn't you see that Xiao Song wasn't acting right today? His leg was even more limping when he walked over from the road."
A young woman, probably newly married into the village, was confused and asked, "I know Xiao Song, she's Dr. Song from the clinic. And who is Xiao Yan? Was she in this village before?"
"You don't know!" the old woman said fluently, "Xiao Song came here in 1975. At that time, another doctor from the city was assigned to us, Xiao Yan. I remember clearly that year my eldest son brought his wife."
"The following year they started dating. We said that city people are so fashionable. In our village, we always go through matchmakers to arrange a relationship before meeting in person. City people value free love."
"And then what? Why didn't they end up together?"
At this point, the woman sighed, "Ah, it's all fate."
"How so?"
"They dated for more than three months. One time, Xiao Song went to study in another city. Just then, someone from the next village came and asked her to come to her house for a house call, saying that his family member was dying. Xiao Yan got anxious when she heard this, and without saying a word, she packed her things and went with that person. When she came back, her hair was a mess, and she looked like she had lost her soul."
"After that, Xiao Song came back, and Xiao Yan and he weren't as close as before. They often argued. Then one day, everyone in the village started saying that Xiao Yan had actually been violated that day. It was someone from the next village who was drunk and bragging about it."
"Anyway, I don't know how the couple discussed it, but Xiao Song insisted on getting married. And then Xiao Yan threw up again. I was at the clinic that day, and the two of them were arguing..."
What are they arguing about?
"Xiao Song insisted that she abort the child, saying that the marriage would still take place. Xiao Yan refused, saying that she couldn't bear to part with the child and didn't want to delay him, which made Xiao Song furious."
"Xiao Yan didn't come to work the next day. After a few days of cold war, Xiao Yan suddenly came back. Xiao Song apologized to her, but Xiao Yan slapped her marriage certificate on her hand and said that she had already resigned."
"She...she married that...?"
The older woman nodded, tacitly acknowledging her guess, and continued, "What can we do now that they're married? If it weren't for Xiao Yan stopping her, Xiao Song would have called the police. Now that they're married, there's no grounds to arrest that person. We can only let this matter go."
“A few months later, she gave birth. That year, there was a torrential rain. The neighboring village was a flood discharge area. Xiao Song was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to escape, so he went to see her. But he found her at home with a high fever, in confinement. Her husband had already run away.”
"Xiao Song broke her leg when she slipped and fell down the slope while going back to get medicine for her. After the flood receded, that man came back with Xiao Yan, who was pregnant again, to provoke her. Xiao Song never contacted her again after that."
"Hey, look, speak of the devil and he appears."
Yu Chunsheng looked in the direction the old lady was pointing and saw a man wearing a Lei Feng hat and a worn-out military overcoat riding a bicycle toward the clinic.
Yu Chunsheng, no longer interested in listening to the story, quickly pushed his cart and chased after them.
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