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Chapter 6
In a flash, Autumn associated it with her rebirth. It seemed that a rebirth usually came with some special skills. Repairing things was her special skill? …Could it only repair objects or could it treat people as well? Like the nanny in the game, who could refill blood and energy with a skill…
“Autumn, take this new jar and give me back the old one if it still works. If it doesn’t, forget it… Hey, Autumn! Wait!”
Dr. Hu’s voice awakened Autumn. Seeing that Dr. Hu was going to stuff the new jar into her hand, Autumn waved her hands away and ran out before the former could say anything.
She couldn’t return the jar… Moreover, it belonged to Dr. Hu in the first place and it was not a new one she bought.
After going out of the tent, she went to wash the feeder bottle on the tap outside the kitchen. Even though the tap had not frozen, the water was cold. Autumn felt a chill when the water touched her hands and completely cooled down her now fried brain, caused by this fact: she was reborn with a special skill. No big deal, right? After going out of the tent, she went to wash the feeder bottle on the tap outside the kitchen. Even though the tap had not frozen, the water was cold. Autumn felt a chill when the water touched her hands and completely cooled down her now fried brain, caused by this fact: she was reborn with a special skill. No big deal, right?
Calming down, she patted her forehead and emptied the water in the feeder. She turned back and saw a 50’s tractor suddenly stopping at the gate of the hospital. Four or five strong youngsters carried a wounded person on a stretcher off the tractor and hurried into the tent.
The situation looked like the one when the kid of the Wu family was sent here, but they made no sound—Except the sounds of the tractor engine; those people were quiet as in a silent film. It looked weird even under the sun.
Autumn was wondering about this while a burly middle-aged man in a military coat got off from the tractor’s cab and strode through the gate.
Autumn was surprised to see the man coming in and immediately rejoiced, saying, “Great Uncle!” Autumn was surprised to see the man coming in and immediately rejoiced, saying, “Great Uncle!”
Her great uncle, Wang Zhaoguo, was the elder brother of Autumn’s grandfather. He participated in the Three Major Battles in his early years and then transferred to the Beihai Farm as the chief of the farm. He was also the supreme officer in Sanhe Village.
Since her great uncle came by the tractor, could she take advantage of that and ask him to take them home?
Hearing Autumn’s call, Wang Zhaoguo seemed not surprised. He calmly said, “You are Limin’s eldest daughter? Are you living with your maternal grandmother? It’s chaotic everywhere and you shouldn’t be running around. Go back to the house early!” Hearing Autumn’s call, Wang Zhaoguo seemed not surprised. He calmly said, “You are Limin’s eldest daughter? Are you living with your maternal grandmother? It’s chaotic everywhere and you shouldn’t be running around. Go back to the house early!”
After that, he didn’t wait for Autumn’s reply and went into the tent hurriedly.
Autumn remained smiling, but her smile slowly lost heat in the cold wind. She stood still for a moment and then turned back to the ward tent. Forget it; Great Uncle was not the one who she could turn to… Whatever, she still could beg Aunt Yuhua to send her mother and brother back… Anyway, she owed her and Grandma Wang a lot of favors. Autumn remained smiling, but her smile slowly lost heat in the cold wind. She stood still for a moment and then turned back to the ward tent. Forget it; Great Uncle was not the one who she could turn to… Whatever, she still could beg Aunt Yuhua to send her mother and brother back… Anyway, she owed her and Grandma Wang a lot of favors.
They would not mind if she bothered them a little more. She would pay them back later.
However, before Aunt Yuhua returned, Wu Haigang came to the tent. “Girl, I heard that your mother could be discharged. I am available; let me send you back!”
“Ah? That… would be great! Thank you, Uncle Wu!” Autumn was surprised and said as she nodded happily.
Not to mention that Wu Haigang’s car was more comfortable and warmer, it would spare Aunt Yuhua the great effort of sending them back with the current cold weather. After all, Aunt Yuhua was very tired, taking care of Grandma Wang alone.
Song Xiulian was very embarrassed by this, but Autumn insisted. She had to agree with Autumn at the last second because she was used to compromising. After they packed up their luggage and Autumn went through the discharge procedure; Aunt Yuhua came back with the pushcart. Upon hearing that they could go home by jeep, she felt happy for them.
She said, “It’s very nice to know that sister Xiulian and the baby will not suffer.”
If someone else said this, it would sound sarcastic. However, Yuhua was a straightforward person. Autumn and her mother both knew she meant it.
Moreover, Yuhua remained enthusiastic, helping Song Xiulian and the baby onto the jeep first, before going to pack up their own luggage!
Autumn noticed that there was a piece of paint missing on the door of the jeep, when they were getting in. Autumn put her hand over the door, pretending to touch it, and secretly recited: ‘repair!’
After a while, she slowly moved her hand away—and it happened! The paint had been restored as new, leaving no traces of having been mended!
With a little guilt, Autumn immediately turned her eyes away and never looked at that place anymore.
Song Xiulian, holding her child, nervously said to Wu Haigang who sat in front, “It’s very kind of you to send us back home…”
Wu Haigang smiled and said, “Sister, you don’t have to be courteous with me. Autumn helped my son a lot when he was injured that day… Besides, your home is located on my way to the project. My car is old, but it is warmer than the large handcart. Today is cold and your child is so small, so we should be careful.
Song Xiulian smiled and said, “So kind of you. How can a handcart compare with your car? We are truly benefiting from this favor!”
Noticing that her mother was nervous, Autumn quickly said, “Uncle Wu, how is your son doing now? Is he better?”
Wu Haigang looked back at Autumn and said with a smile, “There are many wounded people in the county hospital and no empty beds. His mother was too busy to take care of him, so we have to send him to the urban area… His grandparents are taking care of him there. In fact, his injury was not severe. He just lost too much blood. After the timely blood transfusion, his injury was no longer a problem. He will be better at the end of the year…”
Song Xiulian continued asking him how old his son was, then both continued praising each other’s children…
As they spoke, the jeep arrived at Sanhe Village. They entered the village and saw a bunch of rowdy boys running around. Seeing the jeep, the boys shouted and then many little kids—who either had snot-dangling noses or were dressed in worn out coats—ran after the car like beggars.
In this era, having a jeep was something quite remarkable. This was the first time that they saw a jeep in the village.
Soon, the news that Wang Limin’s wife and his children came back in a jeep had spread throughout the village, as if it had wings.
Autumn helped her mother into the house and settled her down on the kang. When she turned back, she saw Wu Haigang carrying their baggage and coming in. His driver, who followed him, was carrying a woven bag on one hand and a bag of flour on the other.
“Uncle Wu, I can carry them myself. You are too thoughtful…” When she saw the things in his driver’s hands, she was about to refuse, but Wu Haigang stopped her and said, “I know about the situation of your family. These are what your mother and brother need. You don’t have to be so courteous with me.”
Autumn opened her mouth and then solemnly bowed to Wu Haigang to thank him.
Wu Haigang patted her shoulder and said, smiling, “Stop! Don’t do that. You should take care of your mother and brother. I’ll be leaving now!”
Autumn sent him to the gate. Seeing Wu Haigang leaving the village, she turned back and found several of her neighbors who had come to ask about their arrival.
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