Chapter 330: Chapter 329

The person on the ground seemed stunned by the beating, with arms curled and head covered, showing no reaction for a while.

Ling Chengyan wanted to squat down to check on the other person, but just as she reached out, the person slowly removed their arms, revealing a face covered in bruises.

“Ling Chengyan?”

“Master Zhou!”

Both spoke out almost simultaneously.

Ling Chengyan was completely shocked to find that the person beaten on the ground was actually her old driving instructor, Zhou Guoqing, nicknamed Zhou “Big Donkey”.

She remembered that Zhou Guoqing was from Ji Province and had returned home with a job arranged after demobilization. How come he was now not only in the capital of Eastern Province but had also become a laborer waiting for odd jobs?

Ling Chengyan asked Fu Qiang to stay behind to deal with the hooligans who beat him, while she took Zhou Guoqing to the hospital to treat his injuries.

Since recognizing Ling Chengyan, Zhou Guoqing had remained silent, particularly after getting in the car. He awkwardly shifted his body, fumbled with the cigarette in his pocket, and then stopped.

Ling Chengyan focused on driving, occasionally glancing at him from the corner of her eye, seeing that he continued to turn his head towards the window, she didn’t disturb him.

The hospital examination results came out showing that Zhou Guoqing was severely injured, with both the ulna and radius of his left forearm fractured and misaligned, two ribs on the left side cracked, along with multiple bruises, abrasions, and sprains…

The doctor asked Zhou Guoqing if he felt any other discomfort, and he silently shook his head.

Ling Chengyan, however, answered for him, “Chest tightness, shortness of breath, and cough.”

The doctor glanced at her, used a stethoscope to examine him carefully, and said, “These injuries are not light. The fractures need to be set and repositioned. You’ll have to be hospitalized, also to observe any potential internal issues.”

Zhou Guoqing wanted to shake his head and refuse, but Ling Chengyan had already nodded in agreement for him. As she took Zhou Guoqing to handle the hospitalization procedures, she reminded him, “Master Zhou, you’re only forty, you have elders and children to take care of at home. Your whole family is relying on you in the future. Do you really want to risk leaving aftereffects? Besides, with those people around, you don’t need to worry about the hospital fees.”

She didn’t ask about Zhou Guoqing’s job situation, but based on circumstances, she could understand that Zhou Guoqing must have encountered some issues. At the very least, he lost his job. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be in Eastern Province doing odd jobs, nor would he be concerned about the costs and refuse hospitalization.

Zhou Guoqing, who had never dared to make eye contact with Ling Chengyan, finally raised his eyes to look at this woman who had been specially recruited into the army and assigned to his vehicle to learn to drive back then.

The first time he saw her, she was thin and dark, with the simplicity of a rural woman. It was because of this that, when assigning trainees, she was assigned to Zhou Guoqing’s vehicle, only because none of the younger automotive soldiers thought well of such a rural woman, fearing she would be hard to manage, would require much care, take too much time, and be hard to produce results.

But she proved everyone, including him, wrong.

Not only was she earnest and diligent, but she also learned particularly fast, being the quickest to get the hang of it among her special recruit batch. Moreover, she was far more patient and perseverant than others, learning not just the basic mechanical structures and driving techniques in the curriculum but also self-studying vehicular structures and mechanical principles…

Within just two weeks, when other trainees hadn’t yet touched the steering wheel, she was already driving on the road solo and handling long-distance trips covering hundreds of miles.

So, when he retired as scheduled and left the army, there was reluctance and nostalgia but no worries.

At that time, he believed that she could definitely perform well.

However, she again exceeded everyone’s expectations, including his. She not only became the best driver of the Automobile Company but was promoted to the squad leader and then deputy company commander, formed a regional Special Service Company, and rose to battalion level. She went to the front twice, made meritorious achievements, was promoted once again by leapfrog, and was directly transferred into the regional command, where she organized the regional Special Service Battalion, becoming a specially appointed regiment-level officer.

Not just in one region, across the entire country, how many women are truly serving in commanding positions as regiment commanders? Probably can be counted on one hand.

Today, at his most embarrassing and dismal moment, this reunion with her, Zhou Guoqing felt ashamed and was at a loss on how to face it. But listening to Ling Chengyan’s heartfelt, empathetic words, what else could he do?

He is straightforward and stubborn in nature, otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned the nickname ’Zhou the Big Donkey’.

But he’s not ungrateful nor distorts goodwill; he can tell whether Ling Chengyan’s concern and kindness are genuine or out of pity.

He lifted his head, looked at her, paused, and nodded, “Hmm.”

Ling Chengyan smiled, settled him on a long bench to wait, then took the hospitalization forms to handle the admission procedures. She escorted him to the ward, running back and forth to fetch patient clothes, buy daily necessities, and also bought two packets of milk powder and some biscuit snacks.

Ling Chengyan placed the food and drink into the bedside cabinet, poured him hot water, and reminded, “Master, if you can’t make it to meals or feel hungry early or late, just use these as snacks.”

After saying this, she sought Zhou Guoqing’s opinion, “Shall I hire a caregiver to look after you?”

The doctor’s opinion was that Zhou Guoqing needed hospitalization for observation, and if any internal injuries surfaced, there might be a need for infusion or even surgery… At that time, someone to care for Zhou Guoqing at his side would be necessary.

This time, however, Zhou Guoqing did not agree, shaking his head hastily, “No need, no need, I know my body. It’s just this arm that’s injured, not affecting my movement… No need to have someone serve me.”

Hearing him say this, Ling Chengyan did not insist. After settling him in, it just happened to be lunchtime, so she went to get him food with the meal box before she took her leave.

Zhou Guoqing insisted on seeing her to the door of the ward, only then did he say again, “You’re busy with work, no need to keep worrying about me here, I can manage by myself.”

Ling Chengyan agreed, waved her hand, and left in big strides.

Upon returning, Da Liu had already hired workers to go back and build the pigsty, while Fu Qiang had also sent those hooligans to the police station.

Ling Chengyan submitted the diagnostic proof from the doctor to the police station, then had a friendly discussion with the head of the police station, through which she stated the victim’s position, that is, to pursue the legal responsibility of the perpetrators and punish the assailants severely.

After all, Ling Chengyan, as the captain of the Special Service Team, had just participated in the Lantern Festival’s public security maintenance alongside the local forces, counting as comrades who had fought side by side. The other party was generous in giving her face, also expressing gratitude towards Captain Ling for her support in maintaining stability during that time.

Back at the base, Ling Chengyan found herself unable to calm down. Zhou Guoqing, whom she encountered today, was just one veteran. Were there not many more veterans, some who had even been to the front lines, participated in wars, or even heroically wounded and disabled, who might face similar situations as Zhou Guoqing?

When she posed this question, in her heart, she already knew the answer.

She wanted to do something. For the veterans, for herself.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep