Chapter 008 I'm Going to Hail a Cab_1

"What are you talking about? We don't have any money for that. You've never even been out of town in your whole life." Zhang Fengmei was a simple farm woman who put off seeing a doctor for as long as she possibly could.

"I have money. I just received my pay."

While they were talking, their younger sister Jiang Zhuanzhuan had come back from picking pigweed. She was too young to work in the factory, so she spent her summer vacation helping around the house to lighten the load.

"Sis, you're back."

"Mhm!" Nan Fei glanced at Jiang Zhuanzhuan and thought of how in her past life, out of everyone in their family, her younger sister was the most successful. It was an indescribable feeling. "Where's our little brother?"

Their youngest sibling, Jiang Yang, was the one who caused the family the most concern. He couldn't speak until he was six or seven years old and even now, at fourteen, he still couldn't call for people. No one wanted to play with him, and most kids bullied him.

In a past life, people said that Jiang Yang was an idiot. On her wedding day, August 28th this year, Zhuanzhuan, who usually looked after their brother, was too busy to mind him and he accidentally fell into the river and drowned.

She would never forget that day.

It was a pain that the whole family shared. Even though Jiang Yang was 'simple', they all treasured him and never once despised him. It was only later, after she met influential doctors through the powerful Huo Beijiang, and after she herself had gained some wealth, that she found out that Jiang Yang was not simple-minded, but autistic.

He was a genius with autism, not a little fool.

"He went to Grandpa's house."

"Remember to take good care of our brother. I'm taking mom to the hospital."

Jiang Zhuanzhuan asked in surprise, "But there's no more transportation at this hour, how will you get there? Why don't we wait until father gets back? You've never been out of town before!" She looked at her big sister, feeling slightly estranged.

Zhang Fengmei also did not want to go, primarily because she did not know the way, but also because they did not have the money. However, Nan Fei rejected her ideas without hesitation.

"Mother, we can't delay your illness. We need to head to the city tonight. We should get there before sunrise. As soon as the hospital opens, we'll be the first ones to register and see the doctor." She held on to Zhang Fengmei's arm and told Zhuanzhuan to gather their things.

Being the eldest sibling, Nan Fei had always received more attention than their younger siblings. Her influence was more significant in the family, Zhuanzhuan, being compliant and honest, immediately set down her basket to pack their belongings and take their identification cards.

"Sis, is mom's eye condition severe?" Zhuanzhuan asked nervously.

"Yes!" Nan Fei nodded solemnly. "If we delay, she could go blind."

Shocked, Zhuanzhuan's face turned pale. "Then you must go quickly. Try to catch a ride on the main road. Don't delay. Don't worry about the house, I can handle it."

"Alright!"

Although Zhang Fengmei was initially reluctant to go, hearing her eldest daughter say this, frightened her into agreeing to go to the city for treatment.

*****

Their village was called Xiao Wang Village, not far from the neighboring Da Wang Village. Once out of the village, it was a one-hour walk to the highway to the city. By the time they left the house with their packed belongings, it was already dusk and the roads were lined by farmland.

En route, they reached National Highway 104 without any trouble. During the summer, the roadside was filled with wild grass. Carrying the morning dew on their clothes, they stood in disarray by the side of the road waiting for a passerbys' car.

"Mom, stay here by the roadside. I will flag down a car."

In the nineties, there were scarce public transportation lines. Each rural area had only one bus heading to the city every day. If you missed it, you had to wait until the next day. As the sky darkened further, Nan Fei turned on her flashlight.

By this time, there were no cars passing by. She was in a state of high anxiety, desperate to flag down any passing vehicles. She was such in a desperate state that she even wouldn't mind begging on her knees if needs be.