Chapter 45 A Golden Phoenix Flies Out of the Village
Liaoning Province, Qingshan Commune, Qinghetun.
The sun was already high in the sky, but a persistent sense of anxiety and worry lingered in the Gu family's courtyard.
The chickens, ducks, and geese all seemed to sense the low atmosphere in their owner's house, and their calls were much quieter than usual.
Wu Guixiang sat on the threshold of the main room, holding a half-finished shoe sole for Gu Baobao. She didn't touch a single stitch for a long time, her eyes glancing at the dirt road at the village entrance every now and then, her eyes red-rimmed.
Gu Jianqiang squatted in the yard, puffing on his pipe. The smoke swirled around him, but couldn't hide his furrowed brows.
Li Fenfang wiped away her tears and muttered to herself:
"It's been so many days... why haven't we heard a word? Could something have happened on the road? How badly is Dong-guk injured? Can our baby manage alone...?"
The other members of the Gu family were also gathered in the courtyard, some sitting and some standing, all with gloomy faces.
Gu Baobao is the only girl in the Gu family's generation, and she is the apple of everyone's eye and the apple of their eye.
This was the first time in her life she had ever traveled so far, to a military camp on an unfamiliar island!
Who wouldn't worry about someone who's disappeared without a trace?
Grandpa Gu Dahe remained relatively calm, but he silently smoked his pipe, his cloudy eyes gazing into the distance.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar.
"Uncle Gu! Aunt Gu! Jianqiang! Good news! Great news!"
Captain Li Guoqiang shouted from afar and jogged into the Gu family's courtyard, sweating profusely but with an excited glow on his face.
The Gu family members seemed to have been switched on, and they all swarmed around the scene, bombarding him with questions:
"Captain! Is there any news about a baby?!"
"How is Dong-guk?!"
Where is he? By phone?
Wu Guixiang pushed aside her son and grandson who were blocking her way, grabbed Li Guoqiang's arm, and her voice trembled:
"Guoqiang, tell me quickly! Is it our baby calling?!"
Li Guoqiang, panting heavily, waved his hands repeatedly:
"Auntie, don't worry! Don't worry! It wasn't Bao Bao who called, it was Dong Guo! Dong Guo had someone call the commune from the island, and the people at the commune just notified me to come and tell you right away!"
Upon hearing that it was Gu Dongguo, the Gu family breathed a slight sigh of relief, but their hearts were still hanging in suspense.
"What did Dong-guk say? Is his leg alright? Has the baby arrived yet?"
Gu Jianqiang asked urgently.
"We've arrived! We've been here for several days!" Li Guoqiang said with a broad smile, his voice booming.
"Dongguo said that the baby arrived at the island safely and smoothly. He is currently in the hospital. He injured his leg, but nothing serious was hurt. He just needs to rest and recover! He told you not to worry!"
"It's good that we've arrived! It's good that we've arrived!"
Wu Guixiang patted her chest, and tears finally streamed down her face—tears of joy.
"That brat! She didn't even send a message home when she arrived! She scared me to death!"
The other members of the Gu family also breathed a sigh of relief, and smiles appeared on their faces.
It's good that everyone is safe and sound!
But Li Guoqiang's next words froze everyone's smiles, replaced by immense shock and bewilderment.
"And there's more!"
Li Guoqiang's tone became even more excited, filled with a sense of pride and honor.
"Dongguo said on the phone that when the baby arrived there, it was incredible! He didn't know how, but he just showed off his amazing medical skills."
They saved a very important person in the hospital! Now the entire hospital, including the higher-ups, values the baby highly!
He paused, looking at the stunned expressions of the Gu family, and then dropped another bombshell:
"Dongguo also said that the baby might... might have to transfer his household registration there and stay at the island's military hospital to become a full-fledged doctor!"
It's the kind of legitimate job with a government job, a salary, and easy residency registration! My goodness, a golden phoenix is about to fly out of our Qinghetun!
silence.
A deathly silence.
In the Gu family's courtyard, apart from the rustling of leaves in the wind and the faint sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking in the distance, there was no other sound.
Everyone seemed to be frozen in place, their eyes wide open, mouths slightly agape, their faces filled with disbelief.
Their baby... just a few months ago she was a chubby, dark-skinned little girl, but after bumping her head, she suddenly became very clever.
Having learned a bit about herbal medicine, how... how is it that I'm suddenly becoming a formal doctor at a military hospital?
They also want to transfer their household registration to an island thousands of miles away, to a military hospital.
The news was so sudden and fantastical, like something out of a fairy tale, that it left the Gu family dizzy and unable to react for a moment.
Golden Phoenix?
Their baby?
Are you proud?
Of course I'm proud!
If your child is successful and gets accepted by a major hospital, it's an extremely auspicious occasion!
But... the sense of unreality is even stronger.
There was also a deep sense of reluctance and worry.
So far away, the baby is all alone, with no relatives or friends except Dongguo. Will he be able to get used to it?
Will I be bullied?
Can you get used to the food?
Are you used to living here?
Will we have a hard time seeing each other in the future?
A mix of emotions churned within the Gu family members, leaving them speechless for a moment.
Finally, it was Old Master Gu Dahe who came to his senses first. He coughed heavily, tapped his pipe, his voice a little hoarse, yet carrying the composure of the head of the family:
"Good...good! It's good that you arrived safely! As long as you're alright, that's the most important thing!"
He looked at his still somewhat bewildered family members and continued:
"As for the baby's job... that's the child's ability and her destiny! Our Gu family's daughter has this ability, which is a great honor for the family!"
Staying there as a doctor, saving lives and healing the wounded, is a contribution to the country! As elders, we should support him!
The old man made the final decision, setting the tone.
Wu Guixiang wiped away her tears and nodded repeatedly:
"Yes, yes, yes! The old man is right! We're so happy that our baby is doing so well! It's just... it's just that we can't bear to part with him..."
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again.
Gu Jianqiang and Li Fenfang exchanged a glance, both seeing the same pride and reluctance in each other's eyes.
Our daughter has grown up and is capable of flying away on her own. As parents, we feel both gratified and heartbroken.
"Alright, stop standing there!"
Gu Dahe waved his hand.
"Guoqiang, thank you for your trouble! When Dongguo or Baobao calls again with any specific news, please let us know!"
"Uncle Gu, you're too kind! It's nothing!"
Li Guoqiang quickly agreed, offered a few words of comfort and congratulations, and then left.
The Gu family slowly processed this astonishing news. The courtyard was filled with conversation again, the topics revolving around "the baby becoming a doctor," "what's an island like," and "what about transferring the household registration"...
The worry was gradually replaced by a mixture of pride, curiosity, and a faint expectation for the future.
Their precious child, who they cherish, is truly different now.
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