Zhong Zhiguo sighed. "Last night, we were all busy with rescue efforts. The county hospital's ambulance brought him here, but they must have gone straight to the municipal hospital. I just never expected the municipal hospital to be so incompetent."

Song Kai was also sweating nervously. "That doesn't make sense. The doctors there are quite skilled—especially the one treating Captain Zhou. Many people try to pull strings just to see him."

This left Lin Xiaoxiao deeply puzzled. How could such an obvious case of internal bleeding be misdiagnosed as a lumbar spine injury?

Her mind began to wander. "Could it be... intentional murder?"

Zhong Zhiguo shook his head immediately. "Impossible. Who would dare attempt such an obvious murder?"

Lin Xiaoxiao thought to herself that without a reasonable explanation, it certainly seemed like murder. As for the motive, Zhou Huaian probably knew the reason.

Realizing the surgery would still take some time, Lin Xiaoxiao decided to go buy a washbasin, soap, a lunchbox, and other daily items.
She also wanted to stroll around the area. A splenic rupture wasn't an overly major surgery, and the military hospital surely had plenty of experts in that field, so she felt reassured.

After letting Zhong Zhiguo know, she headed downstairs and left.

Zhong Zhiguo, however, remained anxious about Zhou Huaian in the operating room. He knew how difficult Zhou's life had been all these years—while others received care packages from home, with handmade cotton clothes and shoes,
Zhou only ever got letters asking for money: his father's leg was broken and he couldn't work, or his younger brother had caused trouble by killing someone's cow...
There was never a word of care, only requests for funds.

That's why Zhong Zhiguo felt even more sorry for Zhou Huaian. Seeing that Lin Xiaoxiao seemed unconcerned about Zhou's condition and instead went shopping, he grew upset again.
Such a good man like Zhou Huaian—why couldn't he meet a good woman?

Lin Xiaoxiao stood at the hospital entrance for a while. Although she had the original host's memories, the scene before her eyes still felt surreal: pedestrians dressed in simple, muted tones; few bicycles on the streets; slogans painted on walls along the road; and vendors setting up stalls on the sidewalk.
In her eyes, the 1970s were truly poor and backward.

After a moment of reflection, she relied on the original host's memory and went to a store not far from the hospital. It had everything—rice, flour, cooking oil, non-staple foods, along with pots, pans, bowls, and dishes.
Lin Xiaoxiao bought an enamel washbasin, a lunchbox, soap, a towel, a toothbrush, and other daily necessities. After a moment's thought, she also bought a set of thermal underwear for Zhou Huaian.
She had spent nearly half of the money she brought with her. Even though meals were cheap—only ten or twenty cents each—watching her savings shrink made her feel insecure.

Frowning, she carried the basin and walked out. Just then, someone called out, "Lin Xiaoxiao?"

Surprised, Lin Xiaoxiao turned around and saw a girl with a ponytail, wearing a blue coat and a red silk scarf around her neck, looking at her with delight.
After a moment's recollection, she remembered: this was Sun Ailing, a childhood friend of the original host.

Sun Ailing had narrow eyes and a few faint freckles—a relatively plain but neat-looking girl. When she saw Lin Xiaoxiao, her eyes narrowed into happy slits as she warmly looped her arm through Lin Xiaoxiao's.
"Xiaoxiao, it really is you! When did you get back? Why didn't you come find me? Chen Wei got really drunk the other day."

Lin Xiaoxiao instantly disliked this girl. Even though she was the original host's good friend, why would she bring up an old flame when she knew Lin was already married?
In this era, rumors could ruin lives. Wasn't this practically pouring dirty water on the original host's reputation?

Quietly freeing her arm, Lin Xiaoxiao said, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm married now. I have things to do, so I'll be going."

Sun Ailing looked puzzled. "Xiaoxiao, what's wrong with you? Are you really going to spend the rest of your life with that country bumpkin? Did you forget what you said before getting married? That you would stay pure for Chen Wei, that you'd find a way to divorce and come back to him. Have you forgotten all that?"

Lin Xiaoxiao felt a headache coming on. Did the original host really say such things? If she was so deeply in love, why didn't she refuse to marry—no matter the reason—by any means necessary?
Moreover, hearing Sun Ailing call Zhou Huaian a "country bumpkin" grated on her nerves. Frowning, she said, "Lingling, after spending some time in the countryside, I've done some thinking. I think Zhou Huaian is quite good. I plan to live properly with him. Please don't bring up those messy topics again—it wouldn't be good if others heard."

Sun Ailing stared at Lin Xiaoxiao in shock, unable to believe what she was hearing. "Did Zhou Huaian brainwash you? What about Chen Wei?"

Lin Xiaoxiao found it strange. "He's a grown man—what does he have to do with me? If you're so concerned, why don't you marry him yourself?"
To avoid seeming out of character, she said this with a smile, as if joking.

Sun Ailing's face instantly turned red. Stamping her foot, she said, "Oh my, Xiaoxiao, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Her eyes, however, betrayed a shy delight—it seemed Lin Xiaoxiao had hit the mark.

Lin Xiaoxiao inwardly laughed. So this "good friend" of the original host wasn't as well-intentioned as she seemed. Not wanting to waste more time, she said, "I have things to do. I can't chat anymore."
With that, she turned and hurried back toward the hospital.

Before Sun Ailing could react, Lin Xiaoxiao was already far away. After a moment's thought, Sun Ailing followed curiously, watching as Lin Xiaoxiao entered the military hospital. Then she turned back, wondering if someone was sick...
And did Lin Xiaoxiao's family know she was back?

It was late afternoon by the time Zhou Huaian was wheeled out of the operating room. Fortunately, the issue had been caught in time, and he was no longer in critical condition.

Zhong Zhiguo repeatedly thanked the doctors.
Lin Xiaoxiao followed along to the ward. Whether out of her duty as Zhou Huaian's wife or because of the thoughtful care he had shown her these past few days, she felt she should look after him properly.

She fetched water in a teacup, asked the nurses for some cotton balls, and used chopsticks to dip them in water and moisten Zhou Huaian's lips to ease his postoperative thirst.

When Zhong Zhiguo came back later and saw Lin Xiaoxiao sitting quietly by the bed caring for Zhou Huaian, his earlier resentment faded.
After watching for a while, he said to Lin Xiaoxiao, "Zhou Huaian is a man of his word. If you treat him well, he'll repay you with his life."

Lin Xiaoxiao was baffled. Why would she need Zhou Huaian to give his life for her?
But seeing the usually stern Zhong Zhiguo now playing matchmaker felt somewhat endearing.

Zhong Zhiguo chatted on for a bit until he noticed how late it was. After repeating a few instructions to Lin Xiaoxiao, he finally left—still worried that she might not take Zhou Huaian's condition seriously and might go out having fun, completely forgetting about him in the hospital.

Lin Xiaoxiao saw Zhong Zhiguo out helplessly. When she returned to the ward, she noticed Zhou Huaian was awake, gazing at her with a somewhat dazed expression.
The tips of his ears were tinged with an inexplicable blush.