Also asking for recommendations and favorites, hehe.————
After breakfast, Zhou Yun Mei had Fang Xiu and Luo Cuilan clean up the table. Fang Pingying thought that was how it should be, so she put down her bowl and went back to her room.
Thinking that she was going to the county later, Fang Pingying rummaged through her dowry chest, considering to change into a set of clothes before leaving.
In fact, during the years when Fang Pingying was off from the farm work, she hardly made any clothes. After a long search, she found a bright red poplin blouse and a pair of corduroy trousers, which were at least presentable enough to wear in public.
She folded the clothes into the wardrobe and tidied up Luo Zhiyong's clothes as well, only then realizing that he had even fewer clothes. Apart from the few military uniforms he often wore in the army, there was no other civilian clothing suitable to wear out.
It was a pity, but there was no alternative. They had just gotten married and had no money in hand. They certainly couldn't start by asking Zhou Yun Mei for money to make clothes.
Even if they could, Fang Pingying didn't like the feeling of asking others for money. She felt that it was better to earn it by herself.
Today, they planned to go to the county, and Fang Pingying decided to take the opportunity to look around there and see what kind of business required the least investment. She needed to earn some start-up money before engaging in other trades.
Fang Pingying changed her clothes and came out; Zhou Yun Mei and the others were chatting in the courtyard. Seeing that she had changed into nice clothes, Zhou Yun Mei asked, "What's going on? Are you going out?"
Fang Pingying had already thought of a strategy last night. She purposefully took out a handful of small change from her bag and counted it, pretending to have the money for Luo Zhiyong to see a doctor for his leg injury, and replied to Zhou Yun Mei's question, "Yes, I am planning to accompany Zhiyong to the county to check his leg and see what the doctor says."
Zhou Yun Mei watched Fang Pingying count the money and was indeed fooled, "That sounds good, Zhiyong has been back for a while, and his leg injury has not healed. It's time to have it checked."
"Yes, I think so too," Fang Pingying smiled secretly, things were going smoother than she had anticipated.
Then, she quickly continued, "By the way, Mom, Zhiyong said he borrowed 300 yuan from a comrade when he came back to treat his leg injury and that the money is temporarily with you. Are you going with us today, or will you give the money to Zhiyong and let me accompany him?"
"You still need to take money from me?" Zhou Yun Mei was taken aback and didn't respond at once.
But the other members of the Luo Family understood what Fang Pingying was saying.
Luo Dashan asked with a baffled face, "Yun Mei, when Zhiyong came back from the army with money for his leg treatment, why didn't you tell me?"
"Yes, Mom, didn't you say yesterday that we had no money at home? Looks like big brother brought back so much money?" Luo Cuilan also widened her eyes and asked Zhou Yun Mei.
Luo Honglan kept silent, but she must have been unaware of the existence of the 300 yuan.
Only Luo Zhiming and his spouse showed no change in their expressions. Zhou Yun Mei must have given them some money to use when they got married; otherwise, how could they have bought those major items?
Zhou Yun Mei, being stared at like she was being interrogated, couldn't save face. She shouted angrily, "Will you all shut up? You know nothing and just blabber here. There will be many times the family will need money. Do you think that 300 yuan can last very long?"
Fang Pingying knew that the 300 yuan was taken by Zhou Yun Mei herself, and the others in the family were unaware, which made things even easier.
What's more, because Zhou Yun used the money for Luo Zhiming's marriage, she was also somewhat annoyed, so she spoke bluntly without beating around the bush, "Look at what you're saying, Mom. The money was originally brought back by Zhiyong for treating his leg injury. If we're going to the hospital today and you don't give him the money, what are you keeping it for?"
"I…" Zhou Yun Mei paused, then continued, "If that's the case, then don't go to the county. Just have a look in the town. I think the doctors there can treat it well."
Fang Pingying looked at her with a sarcastic smile, "Heh, Mom, didn't you just say that after so long of treatment in the town there was no improvement? Why did your attitude change immediately when it was mentioned to give money? You're not planning to withhold Zhiyong's treatment and slowly use that money at home, are you?"
"Mum, you must understand that if Zhiyong's leg can be healed properly, he can return to the army in the future. That's a promising future, and there would be a fixed amount of living expenses given to you every month. But if his leg isn't treated in time now, I'm afraid he won't be able to return to the military, and later on, working in the fields at home, our family's life will become more difficult."
Luo Zhiyong was no fool; he naturally understood Zhou Yunmei's intention.
As the eldest son in the family, he didn't mind doing more for his parents and siblings, but if Zhou Yunmei truly ignored his leg injury and gave all the money to Luo Zhiming for his wedding, naturally, he wouldn't be happy.
So, he also responded with a cold face, "Mum, how much of that money is left? Take it all out, I need to go to the county today to get it checked."
"I... I didn't say I wouldn't help Zhiyong with his treatment," Zhou Yunmei understood her eldest son well, knowing that once he spoke, there was no room for negotiation.
Thus, she got up and went inside the house.
After a short while, she came out with a bundle of money, handing it to Fang Pingying, "Here, Zhiyong brought back 300 yuan, but some was spent on treating his leg and for your wedding. There's 150 yuan left, you take it."
Fang Pingying naturally knew how much had been spent on her and Zhiyong, but she had not expected Zhou Yunmei to take out all 300 yuan; getting some was better than nothing.
Taking the money, she asked Zhou Yunmei perfunctorily, "Mum, aren't you going?"
Zhou Yunmei felt the pinch from losing that money, and her mood was naturally not good. She snapped at Fang Pingying with irritation, "How can I find the time to go? There's a mountain of work in the fields right now. If I go, does the family still want to eat?"
As if to say that the household could barely function without her hard work!
But it was better that she didn't go; Fang Pingying hadn't planned for her to come anyway.
Fang Pingying quickly agreed, "That's okay, we'll go ourselves, starting with the county to see what the doctor says."
Having obtained the money, Fang Pingying wasted no time, supporting Luo Zhiyong as they went to catch a ride at the entrance of the village.
Luojia Village was not close to the county; there were only two bus trips a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Fortunately, they set out early and caught the first bus to the county, arriving at about nine in the morning.
Without delay, Fang Pingying took Luo Zhiyong directly to the county's People's Hospital.
As Fang Pingying had anticipated, the injury on the surface of Luo Zhiyong's leg wasn't too severe; with time it would heal.
However, his bone was damaged, and it hadn't been set properly when first treated. Fortunately, they were timely in seeking care; further delay could have meant the bone healing crookedly, and Zhiyong's leg might have been disabled for life.
Because re-setting the leg and applying a plaster cast was necessary, the doctor arranged for Luo Zhiyong to stay in the hospital overnight for observation to see if he would develop a fever or something similar.
After Luo Zhiyong was admitted into the ward, as the doctor had instructed that the newly set bone must not be moved carelessly, Fang Pingying told him to lay flat on the bed, saying, "You rest for a bit, I'll go downstairs to buy some food, and I need to get some necessities like a towel and toothbrush for staying the night here."
Luo Zhiyong waved at her, "Go on, don't worry about me. If anything comes up, I'll call the nurse. Besides, during the days I was injured at home, I took care of myself, no problem."
"Alright, I'll be quick and come back soon," said Fang Pingying, and then she left the ward.