Chapter 3: The Bank Run

After understanding everything, Gu Zhuo felt a chill in her teeth.

Then, belatedly, she recalled something—she had never seen Yin Yin’s body in her previous life, not even at her death.

So the question arose: where did Yin Yin’s body go?

A drowned body would float to the surface. In the heat of August and September, the stench of a corpse could not be concealed; without interference, Yin Yin’s body would certainly have been discovered.

What did Xie Chong do with Yin Yin’s body?

Was she properly buried? Did he ever burn paper for her at festivals?

Gu Zhuo used to think Xie Chong did good deeds only for vanity and reputation, but at least he wasn’t a bad person.

Yet, after reading the book "After Transmigrating into a Novel, I Became the Winner of a Lifetime," starring Gu Min, her opinion changed.

When someone becomes so hypocritical as to deceive themselves and truly believe they are good, it is terrifying.

Gu Zhuo couldn’t predict what Xie Chong might have done to Yin Yin to preserve his image of kindness.

Did he burn her? Tie stones to her to keep her from floating in the river? Or toss her into the deep mountains to let wild animals gnaw her corpse?

With every possibility she imagined, her heart felt as if it were being torn open by bare hands, painfully raw and bleeding.

She was already burning with fever, and now after entering the water, her whole body trembled, terribly weak. Yet her mind was elsewhere, so she felt nothing.

At this moment, as her emotions surged, her vision blackened and she fell straight down.

Yang Xiuzhen, about to scold Xie Chong, hurriedly caught her and called to her nephew who had followed, “Ah Hai, quickly, carry your sister back to the house.”

She called her two sons as well, “Ah Jiang, Ah He, go fetch Doctor Wang.”

Xie Chong opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but Xie Ning had already lifted her niece, turning to Chen Xinwan, “Mother, what are you standing there for? Hurry back and boil some water!”

A group of people swarmed toward the Xie house. Chen Xinwan boiled water, Yang Xiuzhen, with two sisters-in-law and several female educated youths, changed the wet clothes of her daughter and granddaughter, then took cotton quilts from the cabinet to cover them both.

Yin Yin had been awake, but nestled beside her mother, she soon drifted into sleep.

Doctor Wang, clutching his pipe, rushed in. Seeing their condition, he added, “Make the ginger soup stronger. When they wake, let them drink it. Also, have them drink plenty of hot water.”

Even knowing Doctor Wang was a barefoot doctor who mostly muddled through, Yang Xiuzhen’s dissatisfaction peaked.

“You’re a doctor, can’t you prescribe some medicine?” What he said was nothing new; they simply hadn’t thought of it in the moment.

Doctor Wang frowned, “I’d like to prescribe medicine, but there isn’t any.”

“Qixiu’s fever is very high; she’s confused. Don’t you have any aminopyrine?” Dong Zhen couldn’t help but ask.

“My dear Educated Youth Dong, it’s easy for you to say. Aminopyrine is so hard to get; where would a small place like ours find it? You’re from a big city—if you have a way to get such good medicine, let me see for myself.” Doctor Wang’s tone was mocking.

Dong Zhen pressed her lips together; she wasn’t quick with words, and didn’t know how to handle such half-sarcastic remarks.

Jiang Xuemin, beside her, was displeased. “Doctor Wang, you don’t need to flatter us. What are we educated youths in your eyes? We’re outsiders up against locals, only to be pushed around.”

Luo Qiuyi’s clear gaze swept over him. “When I have time, I’ll go to the town’s educated youth office and ask why our Ninth Brigade’s barefoot doctor hasn’t even seen aminopyrine.”

No matter how rare aminopyrine was, it shouldn’t be unknown to Doctor Wang.

The reason the villagers of Jiajia Village hadn’t seen it was likely because Doctor Wang secretly sold it on the black market.

Aminopyrine could fetch a yuan a pill there.

Upon hearing this, sweat broke out on Doctor Wang’s face, but he argued, “Qixiu’s medical skills are famous throughout the commune. When medicines are distributed, naturally we get less.”

His words were partly true, but not entirely.

Since Gu Zhuo could use acupuncture to reduce fever, the commune allocated little aminopyrine to Jiajia Village, but it wasn’t none. Moreover, the authorities compensated in other ways.

Among all the production teams, their Ninth Brigade received the most herbal medicine.

“In that case, the position of barefoot doctor in the Ninth Brigade should indeed go to our Qixiu,” Yang Xiuzhen sneered.

Doctor Wang’s expression soured.

Everyone in Jiajia Village had suggested it. If Gu Zhuo herself had wanted the job, he’d have been replaced long ago.

Doctor Wang slunk away. Looking at her daughter’s flushed face, Yang Xiuzhen and the others felt uneasy.

Luo Qiuyi hesitated. “Qixiu’s own medical skills are good. Does she have any herbs at home that might help?”

Acupuncture was out of the question, but brewing medicine was always possible, especially Qixiu’s own concoctions.

“No,” Dong Zhen shook her head. “Qixiu always prescribes specifically for each patient. She said they mustn’t be taken indiscriminately.”

Since it was mealtime, Yang Xiuzhen and the others didn’t stay long before leaving.

Xie Ning then brought out the dishes, calling, “Mother, come eat!”

Chen Xinwan walked out of the kitchen, dusting her hands. “Did you call your second brother?”

Xie Ning’s face was cold. “He’s already grown up; must he be called to eat?”

She and Xie Chong never got along, and now, knowing he had nearly killed her little niece, her attitude was predictable.

“What kind of tone is that?” Chen Xinwan slapped her shoulder. “Your brother didn’t do it on purpose. Who told Yin Yin to run off?”

“Mother, you’re being so unfair!” Xie Ning pouted. “So the one at fault is two-year-old Yin Yin?”

Chen Xinwan knew her argument was weak, but—

“Yin Yin is fine, isn’t she? Chongzi is your brother. If something happened to Linzi, he’s all you have left. You can’t sever ties over this.”

Xie Ning pressed her lips, stubbornness in her eyes.

Her mother’s words seemed reasonable, but... she simply couldn’t forgive her second brother.

The Xie house had four rooms: one was the kitchen and dining area; Gu Zhuo and Yin Yin lived in one, Chen Xinwan and Xie Ning in another, Xie Chong alone in the third.

“Chongzi, come eat!” Chen Xinwan knocked, calling Xie Chong.

There was no sound from inside, but she knew he was there. The boy always cared about face; after today’s events, he must feel he’s lost it.