Chapter 913: Chapter 786: A Corner Revealed

Outside a courtyard deep in an alley in the west of the city, under the distant streetlights, the face of a young man with handsome features appeared obscure as he listened to the low voice of a man opposite, who resembled a skinny monkey.

Before long, the young man pulled out two pounds of grain coupons and five yuan from his pocket and stuffed them into the other man’s hands. "Take a break for a couple of days and then come find me. Remember one thing, your brother is waiting for you to save his life."

The skinny monkey-like man bent over and respectfully took it with both hands, nodding repeatedly. Once the other man entered the courtyard, his expression immediately changed, and he spat towards the doorway with a "psh."

Leaving the alley, the skinny man quickly ran to the nearby bus stop. Just as a bus stopped, he hesitated as he looked at the passengers boarding and alighting, touched his pocket reluctantly, and continued to run forward.

Running and stopping, he wiped his sweaty forehead as he reached a hospital in front, stood there catching his breath, and familiarly headed to a ward.

Among the eight crowded hospital beds, the skinny man immediately spotted his brother, huddled up, hugging his knees and chest, gazing longingly at the children accompanied by their families on the opposite bed.

As he approached, his brother’s eyes revealed wild joy, unbelievingly saying, "Brother, you’re back?"

"Little Mao." The skinny man ruffled his brother’s hair, "Brother bought you a bowl of noodles, and added your favorite poached egg, happy now?"

Little Mao tightly clutched his brother’s cuff, his tears rubbing against the man’s chest, sobbing, "Brother, I want to go home, I don’t want to stay in the hospital."

The skinny man embraced his younger brother in his arms, yet before he could persuade him, a nurse came in shouting, "Hey, Xu Xiaojun’s family, it’s time to pay the fee."

At this moment, how could he not understand why his brother was making a fuss about being discharged? As he received the bill from the nurse’s hand, he smiled, "Comrade, I just got back, I’ll go pay right away, thank you, thank you..."

The middle-aged nurse had intended to say a few words but, seeing his ingratiating smile and his sweaty forehead, ultimately couldn’t bear to speak harshly, and merely said, "Spend more time with the patient when you can."

Watching her turn and leave, the skinny man patted his brother who was about to speak, "How many times have your elder sister and the others come by during this time?"

The elderly patient in the neighboring bed cast a sympathetic glance at the red-eyed child, "Don’t ask your brother anymore. Ever since you left last month, your two sisters haven’t come by once."

"Brother, I don’t need them. I have Aunt Lei and Brother Tianming."

The skinny man’s face turned unusually unpleasant upon hearing this. His blood siblings were less reliable than outsiders, and to think he had specifically gone to plead before leaving. Unexpectedly, the Lei Family extended their helping hand.

The boy suddenly thought of something, hurriedly leaned in and whispered in his brother’s ear, "Brother, Brother Tianming has started working now. He told me to tell you he has something important to discuss with you."

The skinny man’s eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly understood. This guy had reached the age to take over his late father’s position, nothing curious about it.

"Alright, I’ll go find him tomorrow." The skinny man let go of his brother, "Lie down first, I’ll step out for a bit and be right back." Saying this, he picked up the enamel cup from the bedside table.

"Brother, I’m not hungry..."

The skinny man winked at him, signaling him to keep quiet. Rarely getting to eat hospital food, if he hadn’t been previously broke, he wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

He went out and paid the overdue hospital fee of just over two yuan, and added another ten yuan. Looking at the twenty yuan left in his palm, he sighed.

This past month, working for others, he thought fifty yuan would be quite a lot, but it still wasn’t enough. If it weren’t for his parents’ passing, and his sister taking over the job, he wouldn’t need to be bossed around like a dog.

Thinking about the future, the skinny man steeled himself. It wouldn’t be long now; once his brother got better, they would both go to support the frontier construction. It’d surely be better than their current life.

In the doctor’s office, the skinny man took the payment slip to a middle-aged man.

Before he could speak, the doctor sighed, "Xu Dajun, without a unit to reimburse, do you really want to use imported medicine? It’s extremely expensive."

The skinny man, Xu Dajun, smiled bitterly and nodded. The issue wasn’t the cost, but could he get imported medicine for his brother? Why else was he working for that bastard from the Liang Family, besides hoping to earn money, wasn’t it for the promise of finding medicine?

"I’ll push for it again from above."

Grateful despite his disappointment, Xu Dajun said a string of kind words before heading to the canteen.

With a bowl of noodles in hand, smelling the aroma, Xu Dajun eagerly covered it with a cup lid, swallowing his saliva. He only realized he hadn’t eaten a bite since getting off the train when his stomach protested.

Removing two liang of grain coupons and seven cents to buy a black bun, he gnawed on it while walking back to the ward, planning to go home and steam some dry food once his brother fell asleep. If he didn’t start saving, the upcoming medical expenses might not be enough.

Just as he reached the ward, he saw several familiar figures inside and couldn’t help but tear up.

"Dajun, why are you standing there dumbfounded? Come on over. Where have you been all this time?" One figure, following the shout of the child on the sickbed, turned his head, grinned, and happily called out.

If Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao were here, they would surely recognize this silly young man. Wasn’t this Lei Tianming, who sold blood for his sister back then? Two or three years had passed, and the once skinny, dark boy had grown into a tall, sturdy young man.

Perhaps influenced by Zhang Guoqing, both his smile and the way he greeted bore his resemblance. Combined with his handsome face, who could tell he was once fighting with dogs for food?

Even if it had only been a month or two without seeing Xu Dajun, he was somewhat dazed when he saw him. Both were the oldest in their families, both had lost their fathers, the only difference was that Aunt Lei was still around, but it still wasn’t the same.

Lei Tianming stood up and pulled him in, "I was just about to go to the canteen to find you, glad you’re here, otherwise it would be a wasted trip."

"Aunt Lei, Tianming, thank you for your trouble all this time."

"What’s there to be polite about? We watched you grow up... you’re too polite," Aunt Lei took the enamel cup from him, waving her hand, "Alright, leave this to me, you two go outside and chat, don’t disturb the others resting."

Lei Tianming dragged him along while smiling, "Mom, we’ll be back in a bit."

"No need to rush back."

The two of them left the ward and came to the yard at the back, finding a step to sit down on.

Lei Tianming looked at him, "Dajun, I’ve talked it over with the factory, you can come work."

Hearing this, Xu Dajun looked up at him in surprise.

"Tianliang is only ten years old. By the time he grows up, who knows if the factory will still let him take my dad’s position. People are forgetful, after seven or eight years, this spot might be wasted. My mom and I discussed it, it’s better to let you take it. Didn’t Aunt Xue from the union owe Mr. Xu a favor before? When I mentioned it, she had already helped pull some strings, just waiting for you to report."

Xu Dajun shook his head repeatedly, "No, this is a job. Even if it’s vacant, I can’t take the spot. How many people in our large courtyard want it, no, really, it’s not right."

Lei Tianming sneered, "Can they take it just because they want to? I’ll never forget kneeling in front of those people, their attitudes and tones."

Xu Dajun patted his shoulder, sighing.

"Dajun, I’m working at the motor factory now. Without needing my mom, I can support Tianliang and Xiao Hui’s schooling. This position really can’t be wasted. If you’re worried about the favor, just help take care of my family more in the future. Is that okay?"

Xu Dajun remained silent for a long time. He clearly understood this was the Lei Family repaying his father’s kindness. Knowing he shouldn’t accept, yet he was truly tempted.