Chapter 203 Gu Baobao's Emotions Collapse
The lights in the surgical ward of the military region's general hospital appeared particularly pale and cold on a cold winter night in 1965.
The corridor was filled with the mixed smell of disinfectant and old walls. Occasionally, the footsteps of nurses carrying treatment trays would rush by, tapping on the terrazzo floor and also on the hearts of the night watchmen.
This night was exceptionally long for Gu Baobao.
She was like a tireless spinning top, shuttling back and forth between two intensive care units and two observation units.
In Grandpa Gu Dahe's intensive care unit, the bloody fluid in the chest drainage bottle fluctuated slightly with his weak breathing, and the numbers on the monitor looked like they were walking a tightrope, making people anxious.
Grandma Wu Guixiang's ward is even more critical. She is recovering from a comminuted fracture of the femoral neck and hemorrhagic shock. Any infection or complication could undo all her previous efforts.
She would check the drainage tube from time to time, adjust the infusion rate, touch the old man's forehead, and feel the weak but gradually stabilizing pulse.
The hospital rooms for Gu Jianqiang's parents and Li Fenfang were slightly better, but both of them had multiple fractures and concussions. Li Fenfang also vomited several times and her face was sallow.
Gu Baobao fed them warm water mixed with spiritual spring water, checked the splints, and gently comforted them.
Her movements were professional, calm, and methodical.
Her face was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes, but her eyes were clear and focused, as if the thrilling and skillful surgery she had just performed had not taken her to heart.
Only when he occasionally stopped, the way he leaned against the wall and breathed heavily betrayed his extreme exhaustion.
Lu Zhanming followed half a step behind her, like a silent shadow.
He didn't disturb her work, but simply handed her a stethoscope, a notebook, or helped her up when she needed it.
His gaze remained fixed on her, watching her forced composure, his heart felt like it was being slowly cut by a dull knife.
The last stop was Gu Dongguo's hospital room.
He was the least injured, with a few stitches in his head and soft tissue contusions in his arm. He was placed on an extra bed near the door so he could take care of his fifth uncle and aunt next door.
When Gu Baobao walked in, Gu Dongguo was awkwardly trying to pour himself water with his uninjured left hand.
Hearing footsteps, he quickly put down the thermos and forced a smile:
"Baby, what brings you here? How are Grandpa and Grandma? You should go and rest, you look terrible."
Gu Baobao didn't say anything, walked to his bedside, and looked at his right arm that he was trying to hide behind his back.
In the chaos just now, she only had a cursory look at his head injury. Now, under the light, she keenly noticed that the position of his right forearm was unnatural and there was a barely noticeable swelling at his wrist.
"elder brother,"
Her voice was slightly hoarse, carrying an undeniable sternness.
"Stretch out your hand."
Gu Dongguo instinctively wanted to shrink back, but when he met his sister's clear, all-seeing eyes, he stopped in his tracks.
He smirked:
"It's nothing, I just brushed against it. It feels a little uncomfortable, but it'll be fine in a couple of days. Go sit down and rest..."
"Gu Dongguo!"
Gu Baobao suddenly raised her voice, and the calm exterior she had maintained all night finally cracked for the first time.
Her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice trembled with suppressed anger.
"Why didn't you say you were injured?! Did you think this was the time to play the hero?! Let me see!"
The last sentence was almost shouted out, with a sob in his voice.
Gu Dongguo was stunned by her shout.
From childhood to adulthood, this younger sister has either been a soft and cuddly little tail following him around, or she has become calm, sensible, and opinionated. She has never spoken so harshly or lost control of her emotions like this before.
Lu Zhanming stepped forward and gently put his arm around Gu Baobao's trembling shoulders. He could feel the string inside her body, stretched to its limit, buzzing and on the verge of breaking.
"Brother, let the baby see."
Lu Zhanming's voice was calm and steady, carrying a reassuring quality.
"Don't let her worry."
Looking at his sister's red eyes and pale face, Gu Dongguo felt a sharp pang in his heart, and the forced "I'm fine" slipped out of his mouth. He obediently extended his right arm, awkwardly offering words of comfort:
"It's okay, baby, don't worry, I'm tough..."
Gu Baobao pursed her lips, her fingers trembling yet precisely pressing on his wrist and forearm, gently moving the joints. When she touched a point in the middle of the ulna, Gu Dongguo couldn't help but hiss.
"Ulnar fissure fracture with wrist dislocation."
Gu Baobao's voice was as cold as ice, but large tears rolled down her cheeks, landing on Gu Dongguo's arm, scalding hot.
"Don't you know that if it's not secured in time, it might grow crooked and affect function?! Don't you know how many members of our family have already fallen ill? If something happens to you, I..."
She couldn't continue; her voice choked with sobs.
All the lingering fear, anger, self-blame, and heartache at seeing loved ones covered in wounds surged forth like a flood bursting its banks at that moment.
She was no longer the calm and collected genius doctor on the operating table, but a young woman on the verge of collapse after being hit by a series of blows.
"Don't cry...baby, I was wrong, I'll show you, I'll heal you! Don't cry, be good..."
Gu Dongguo panicked, wanting to wipe her tears with his left hand, but awkwardly pulled it back. He was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead, and could only repeat himself over and over.
"It's my fault, I made you worry..."
Gu Jianqiang and Li Fenfang, who were in the next bed, had already woken up. Seeing their daughter crying like this, they felt heartbroken.
Gu Jianqiang struggled to sit up slightly, his voice weak but carrying the authority of his fifth uncle:
"Dongguo! You little rascal! Why did you hide your injury? Look how worried your sister is! Hurry up and let Baobao get you fixed! Baobao, don't cry, Daddy's here, okay?"
Li Fenfang also wiped away her tears, feeling sorry for her daughter, angry at her son for being so irresponsible, and even more resentful of the person who had done this behind the scenes.
"What a disaster... What kind of mess is this... The baby's big day is almost here, and then this happens... Isn't this just deliberately trying to ruin everyone's peace..."
She felt even more choked up when she thought of the customs and traditions of her hometown.
While crying, Gu Baobao deftly retrieved bandages, splints, and medication from the treatment cart beside her. Tears blurred her vision, so she wiped them away forcefully with the back of her hand, but her movements remained perfectly composed.
She cleaned, covered the affected area, applied her own specially made ointment containing potent spring water and medicinal herbs to reduce swelling and relieve pain, then secured it properly with a small splint and bandages wrapped with just the right tightness.
Several doctors and nurses who rushed over to see if Dr. Gu needed help found this scene at the door:
The young female expert had tears on her face and her nose was red, yet she treated the wound with precise skill.
She cried silently, with only the slight trembling of her shoulders and the occasional suppressed gasp, but the intertwined sorrow and resilience made everyone unconsciously stop and step back, leaving the family alone.
After tending to Gu Dongguo's injuries, Gu Baobao hastily wiped her face and said in a hoarse voice:
"Brother, you can't put much weight on this hand lately, so change the dressing regularly. I'll go and look after Grandpa and Grandma."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com