Chen Xingling hurriedly helped Zhao Xiaoxing sit down and asked, "Did something happen to your mother's family? Did your father-in-law fall and get hurt?"
"...Yeah." Zhao Xiaoxing burst into tears: "I...I received a telegram this morning saying that my father went out to chop wood, and the mountain road was too slippery with ice...and broke his left leg. My eldest brother asked me to go see my father, and he also said something about 'hospital debts'."
Gu Yi's face was not very happy, and he whispered: "It happened a few days ago. She said that she fell pretty hard. The telegram this time was long and a bit confusing. After she told me, we went to the train station to buy tickets. Who knew... there were no tickets to the north today. Tickets will be available tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. They said that tickets are very tight during the New Year. Moreover, train tickets are very expensive."
"Train tickets are always expensive." Ma Dali said, "It costs at least thirty yuan to go from Yucheng to Shangjingcheng."
In this era of underdeveloped transportation, unless you take the small bus in the city, which costs five or three cents a trip, it can be considered cheap, all other fares are very expensive.
Train tickets are very expensive, and even a slightly longer trip costs 10 yuan. The distance between Shangjingcheng and Chongqingcheng is quite far, and a two-day and one-night train ride costs at least 30 yuan, and a hard seat costs 28 yuan.
A long-distance train ticket is equivalent to nearly a month's salary for an ordinary worker, which is definitely not something that ordinary people can afford.
Gu Yi frowned and nodded: "Yes! A hard seat ticket costs twenty-eight yuan. In the past, our sister-in-law bought the tickets for us when we went there, and we had no idea it was so expensive. The last time we came here by ourselves, we bought standing tickets, and it still cost more than ten yuan."
Ma Dali whispered: "There is no way, the journey is long...it's expensive."
Zhao Xiaoxing begged her husband Chen Xingling, choking with sobs: "Sister-in-law, can I get an advance on your salary? Can I get half a year's salary? No - eight months. My father must have been seriously injured. It's not necessary for him to stay in the county hospital. I have to go see him first."
Chen Xingling patted the back of her hand and was about to speak - but Gu Yi spoke first.
"If you want to go, you can only do it yourself! I can save at least 70 yuan from the ticket and other travel expenses. You take care of your father, and I will send you money to buy a ticket."
Zhao Xiaoxing just cried and ignored him.
Gu Yi hurriedly explained to Chen Xingling: "Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't want to go with her, but there is really no other way. If I go alone, it may cost me nearly two months' salary. My father-in-law owes hospital bills, and we will probably have to pay for it, which may be dozens or even hundreds of dollars. We only have 120 yuan, which is not enough! Isn't it my idea to save as much as possible? She-she blames me for not going with her!"
Zhao Xiaoxing argued loudly: "I don't even know the way there! How can I get there? If I can do it alone, I don't need to ask you to go with me!"
"Ask for directions!" Gu Yiyu: "At worst, you can send a telegram to your brother and ask them to pick you up at the train station - that's it, right?"
Zhao Xiaoxing screamed: "I don't even know how to get on the train! I don't even know which train to get on! How do you expect me to go?!"
Gu Yi was not angry: "Then don't go! You can't even go to your own parents' home, so forget it!"
"Do you still have any conscience?!" Zhao Xiaoxing cursed: "Gu Yi, you bastard! My father fell badly, and you still said such things! Are you still a human being?! He is my biological father!"
Gu Yi yelled angrily: "I don't think I'm a human being! But I'm poor! I don't have money to buy a conscience! Because I don't have money!"
Chen Xingling felt a headache and ear pain after hearing this, and his brows were furrowed.
"Okay, if you have something to say, just say it. Don't quarrel. Some things can't be solved by shouting. When something big happens at home, you should first calm down and think about how to solve it best, instead of quarreling before discussing it. What's the point of quarreling except delaying things and affecting each other's feelings?"
Gu Yi turned his face away, still furious.
Little Huzi didn't dare to get close to his angry uncle and hid beside Ma Dali.
Ma Dali held the little guy in his arms and quietly walked to the study, away from the quarreling "disaster area".
Gu Xuan still had a sluggish face as he sat there motionless, helplessly roasting the cabbage in his hands.
Zhao Xiaoxing threw herself into Chen Xingling's arms again and cried very sadly.
"Sister-in-law, I'm already sad enough... and he's so cruel... I'm really unlucky, why would I end up with such a bastard! It's all my fault for being useless... I'm blind... woo woo!"
Gu Yi turned his head and said in a gruff voice: "You are not the only one who is blind! I am blind too! If I knew that I could not support you with the salary of a regular worker, I should not have married you! You are unlucky, but I am not? I have no money! I can't listen to you! I can't give you everything you want, so I am a bastard!"
"That's enough!" Chen Xingling glared at Gu Yi and said in a deep voice, "Shut up! Get out of the way!"
Gu Yi's mouth was strangled and he could only roll his eyes in anger. His chest heaved up and down, and it was obvious that he was also extremely angry.
Chen Xingling patted Zhao Xiaoxing's back in his arms and said, "You haven't asked about the details yet, so you don't have to be so anxious. Did your father-in-law break his leg or something else? Was there anything else? Did you write everything clearly in the telegram? How is he being treated in the county hospital? How long will it take for him to recover?"
Zhao Xiaoxing hurriedly rummaged through her bosom, took out a neatly folded piece of white paper and handed it to Chen Xingling.
"Sister-in-law, I don't recognize any of these words... Can you take a look at it? I think my eldest brother asked someone to help him post it, otherwise there wouldn't be so many words. He looked at it this morning and said it was a bit messy."
Chen Xingling opened it and took a quick glance. It only said that the roads in the mountains were slippery due to the melting snow in spring, and his father fell down while chopping wood in the mountains. He had to be taken to the county hospital for treatment. The medical bills were very high and he had to pay the bills. He hoped that his sister would receive the letter and return home as soon as possible.
Zhao Xiaoxing asked anxiously, "Sister-in-law, did my brother let me go?"
"Yes." Chen Xingling nodded.
Zhao Xiaoxing started crying again, choking up: "Sister-in-law, I'd better take a car to go... I don't know how my father is doing now."
Chen Xingling couldn't help but ask: "Is there anyone in your family who can take care of your father?"
"That's not the case." Zhao Xiaoxing explained with red eyes: "My mother is still in good health. If anything happens to my father, my mother will definitely take care of her. My eldest brother and second brother can also take care of him. My oldest nephew and niece are in their teens, and my eldest and second sisters-in-law usually take care of the children and do housework."
Chen Xingling whispered: "Then you don't have to be too anxious. First find a way to contact your family and ask about your father's specific situation. If it's very serious, then you can go by car. If it's not serious and there are people around to take care of him, then you can send money."
"But...if I'm not strict, why would my elder brother let me go?" Zhao Xiaoxing hesitated and asked, "Do I really not have to go?"
Her mind is in a mess right now and she really has no idea what to do.
Chen Xingling shook his head: "I'm not sure. You should contact your mother's family and make a decision later. If your father is seriously injured, you must go there to see him. If it's not serious and there are enough people around to take care of him, you don't have to go there. The ticket and fees here may cost about 100 yuan. Save the money and send it over, and you will have the medical expenses for the old man."
It was very dangerous for a young woman to go out alone. In addition, the journey was too long, she was illiterate, and had a weak sense of prevention. If she was not careful, something bad would happen.
I can't go alone. If one more person goes, the cost will double, so I try not to go if possible.
Although we are not in financial difficulty or strapped for cash now, we are still financially tight. We have to save as much as possible and plan carefully.
"I think so too." Gu Yi at the side couldn't help but interrupt, whispering: "Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't have a conscience, but we have to do what we can, right? When the elderly are sick, as children we must care for them. We can contribute money and effort. We are far away and can't take care of them nearby, so we can contribute money. If the elderly need to be treated, it's a matter of life and death. Even if I have to sell everything I have, even if I have to borrow money from others, I can do it."
Chen Xingling nodded gently: "That's right. You, don't yell when you are impulsive. Sister-in-law knows that you have a kind heart and are filial. You will definitely not ignore such a thing."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
