Xu Fu Gui's wife said, "Lao Xu, tell me, should we help Liu Hui Zhen with her situation?"
Xu Fu Gui thought for a moment, "We don't lack a little bit of that. Wait until midnight when no one is watching, and you can sneak in half a bowl of white flour to her. After this incident, Liu Hui Zhen and Yi Zhong Hai are bound to be at odds. This is our chance to get her on our side.
In the future, this courtyard cannot become Yi Zhong Hai's personal 'Hall of Loyalty'!"
Xu Fu Gui's wife nodded, closed the door, and followed his plan.
Liu Hui Zhen had no other choice. She could only leave the courtyard, braving the wind and snow, heading towards the hospital.
When she came out of the hospital, she had 200,000 yuan in her hand, along with a packet of brown sugar and a blood donation certificate.
The blood donation certificate had a striking and fresh design on the front. It depicted two red flags on either side, with a yellow wheat ear design in the middle. Inside this design was a red cross symbol.
The two large red characters "Glory" were written at the center top, with the three black characters "Blood Donation Certificate" written above them, followed by the inscription "No. 582" below. The specific contents stated:
"This certifies that "Cai XX" has voluntarily donated 50 cc of blood, saving the lives of wounded and sick soldiers. Such a great spirit of class friendship is worthy of admiration and praise. In addition to providing the prescribed material compensation to supplement and maintain health, this certificate is awarded as a token of appreciation.
Signed by the Military District Hospital!"
It was also fortunate for Liu Hui Zhen that she had heard people who rode three-wheeled vehicles say that hospitals sold blood, and one could get 100,000 to 200,000 for one donation.
She went around inquiring and just stumbled upon the Military District Hospital. She met military casualties who urgently needed blood and donated blood on the spot. She received payment and a small bag of brown sugar in return.
It was 1952, and the first set of currency was in use. The largest denomination was 50,000 yuan, which was equivalent to 5 yuan in the second set of currency issued in 1955.
So, while 100,000 or 200,000 might sound like a lot, it was actually only 10 to 20 yuan.
Liu Hui Zhen was incredibly lucky to get 200,000 yuan and a small bag of brown sugar for her donation.
In the wind and snow, Liu Hui Zhen, pale and exhausted, struggled to enter the courtyard.
As soon as she got home, He Yu Shui hurried over, "Aunt Liu, come quickly! My younger brother has been crying nonstop. No matter how hard we try, we can't soothe him."
Shen Wei, lying in bed, felt helpless. He was hungry and couldn't control his instinct. Moreover, Shen You Chu, Shen You Tian, and He Yu Shui took turns kissing him, which was exhausting for him.
Every time he tried to close his eyes and sleep, they'd kiss him awake.
Liu Hui Zhen quickly used hot water to make a bowl of brown sugar water for Shen Wei, "Child, it's late tonight, the supply and marketing cooperative is closed. We'll have to make do with brown sugar water for now."
Liu Hui Zhen, watching Shen Wei cry with his cheeks red, felt a pang of sympathy.
Shen Wei, seeing that Liu Hui Zhen looked weak, was slightly taken aback. He quickly noticed the blood donation certificate on the bed.
Shen Wei's heart was moved. He understood the saying: "The loss of a finger can be repaid with the loss of a finger; the loss of a head can be repaid with the loss of a head; but the loss of a benefactor cannot be repaid in a lifetime."
They were just strangers, yet Liu Hui Zhen had sold blood to support him?
In his previous life, his parents had died early, and in his memory, they were just two cold tombstones and a wisp of smoke.
But in this life, he suddenly had a concept of his mother, an image. He decided to strive hard to change his fate. When he reached the thousandth loop, he must grow up well and give his family a good life.
Shen Wei was a good child, and he obediently drank the brown sugar water. Shen You Tian, Shen You Chu, and He Yu Shui watched eagerly from the side.
They were hungry, but none of them dared to ask for a sip.
They all knew that this was their little brother's food.
Just when Shen Wei finally had his first meal and fell into a comfortable sleep.
The First Aunt sat in the Old Lady's room, "Old Lady, you know my situation. Old Yi doesn't want to adopt the child, thinking that Dong Xu can support him in his old age, but they haven't discussed leaving together.
If he passes before me, will Dong Xu be able to support me in my old age?
Old Lady, Old Yi always listens to you. Please, help me out. Talk to Old Yi about adopting that child. Given Liu the widow's situation, the child needs another family."
The Old Lady naturally didn't want Yi Zhong Hai and the First Aunt to adopt the child. She had her sights set on Sha Zhu. She was planning on having Sha Zhu support her and Yi Zhong Hai in their old age, and that in the future, her house and Yi Zhong Hai's property would all belong to Sha Zhu.
Sha Zhu was honest, kind, and easy to manipulate.
Besides, once the First Aunt had her own child, how would she take care of her with such dedication?
Therefore, the Old Lady said, "Xiu Ju, what are you saying?"
The First Aunt said, "Old Lady, I want you to talk to Old Yi. Let's take the child in and raise him. I feel like this child is destined to be with me."
The Old Lady said, "Xiu Ju, listen to the Old Lady. Old Yi's judgment is right. If this child grows up, he might turn into a white-eyed wolf.
I know you have a kind heart. If Liu the widow can't support the child, we'll have Old Yi find him a good family later!"
The First Aunt wiped her tears, "Old Lady, for all the years I've served you, please consider this for me!"
The First Aunt couldn't understand. Adopting this child would benefit her and Yi Zhong Hai, so why wouldn't Yi Zhong Hai agree?
The Old Lady said, "Xiu Ju, it's not that I disagree. It's just that raising a child in this era is not easy. You see, Liu the widow can't support him either, so sooner or later, he'll have to go to the welfare station.
You don't have a job and don't earn money. How can you support him?"
Seeing the Old Lady's indifferent attitude, the First Aunt's heart turned cold.
All these years, Yi Zhong Hai's filial piety towards the Old Lady was just lip service. In reality, it was the First Aunt who took care of her, cooking, cleaning, even emptying her chamber pot.
Even so, she hadn't earned the Old Lady's support even once.
The First Aunt felt an inexplicable chill in her heart. She couldn't help but doubt if she was making the right choice by following Yi Zhong Hai and living this life in the courtyard.
The First Aunt returned to her room, her spirit crushed. Yi Zhong Hai's face darkened, "Sun Xiu Ju, what did I marry you for? You're a useless hen, you can't even manage a house properly?"
Yi Zhong Hai valued his reputation, so even when scolding Sun Xiu Ju, he lowered his voice, ensuring no one else could hear.
The First Aunt was even more heartbroken. She moved like a zombie, preparing food for Yi Zhong Hai.
Seeing the First Aunt's lack of reaction, Yi Zhong Hai smirked. Did she think she could adopt her own child and escape his control?
Absolutely not!
Yi Zhong Hai knew that adopting a child was actually more reliable than taking on a disciple, but he was afraid that he would be raising a white-eyed wolf. He also feared that the First Aunt would treat the adopted child well, and use the child to break free from his control.
It was better this way. He had Jia Dong Xu supporting him in his old age, and Jia Dong Xu only recognized him, the First Elder, and not the First Aunt. If the First Aunt wanted to be supported in her old age, she had to continue to serve him well.