Chapter 15: Zhang Huahua

Chapter 15: Zhang Huahua

Zhao Shanhu was a real drama queen. From the moment he saw Zhen Guohua carrying the medical kit, he didn’t say a word and just ran, dragging people along with him. The energy he had was like a man possessed.

But before they could even get halfway down the mountain, Grandma Zhen came rushing over like a whirlwind. Her fierce demeanor scared both of them.

"Why are you here?" Grandpa Zhen looked at his wife, knowing full well.

"You were running like a hare," Grandma Zhen muttered to herself and then turned to Old Man Zhao. "Uncle Zhao, aren't you considering your age? Even if you're in a hurry, what if you get hurt? If you do, can your wife or daughter-in-law just let it go?"

"Ah, Xiangcui, this... this... shouldn't the clinic be manned?" Old Man Zhao was taken aback, having been slightly pleased that only Zhen Guohua was there just moments ago.

In his eyes, although Zhen Guohua was the village chief, he was all bark and no bite. He knew medical skills but was useless at everything else, and his personality was as meek as a lamb. The real power in the Zhen family lay with its two women.

If Zhen Baobao, with her heroic appearance when fighting, was someone not easily provoked, then her mother was a genuine hero among women. Few could argue with her, and she was nearly unbeatable in Dashan Village.

Of course, to the older generation, this woman was quite the actress. As long as you didn't provoke her, she was courteous and measured in her dealings with others. She was as gentle and generous as a lady from a prestigious family.

But not today. Even though they feared her and knew she'd stir up trouble, the Zhao family had to proceed. Otherwise, their son would have died in vain.

"Don't worry, my daughter is watching the clinic. It's a holiday today, and my two grandchildren came back early. We can manage at home. We need to see the patient, so don't just stand there, hurry up." Liu Xiangcui, being intelligent and capable, had raised a daughter like Zhen Baobao, maintained a harmonious relationship with Grandpa Zhen, and managed the Zhen family impeccably.

Since the other party seemed so anxious, she wouldn't give them any reason to find fault. She immediately pulled her old man and ran. Her speed was not something Old Man Zhao, in his seventies or eighties, could match. As she ran, she said, "Uncle Zhao, take your time, we're going ahead."

Left behind, Old Man Zhao was a bit dumbfounded, thinking to himself: How did those Zhen kids come back so quickly? School holidays usually don't start until the afternoon. By the time he looked up, the Zhen couple had already run far away, so he hurried to catch up.

"Don't go, wait for me."

"Pah, old fool, dare to trick me. I'll make sure your Zhao family becomes infamous." Running far ahead, Grandma Zhen muttered a curse. Entering the village, she saw that no one was around. That wouldn't do; a performance needed an audience. Without one, it wouldn't be as exciting. So, she shouted loudly, "Quick, Zhao Guo is in bad shape. If we're late, it might be too late."

Grandpa Zhen ^＿^#: My wife is such a great actress; I should send her to be a performer. She might be even better than Liu Xiaoqing on TV.

Grandma Zhen could see what her old man was thinking and, while performing, took the opportunity to pinch him hard.

"Hiss!" Grandpa Zhen frowned slightly and instantly became obedient.

Grandma Zhen knew which families had people and who liked to watch the excitement. Her voice, usually not very loud, became unstoppable when she really shouted. Especially in the quiet village, her voice carried even more.

Soon, those who had stayed indoors and weren't working couldn't help but poke their heads out, pretending to be casual but curious.

"What's going on? I heard Zhao Guo is in bad shape?"

"Wasn't he fine just yesterday?"

Those who had a good relationship with Grandma Zhen asked loudly, "Sister Liu, what's happening?"

Grandma Zhen was waiting for this moment and immediately replied in a raised voice, "What else? I heard he went to check the fields early this morning and wandered around the haystack. When he got back, he couldn't get up. Old Uncle Zhao dragged our Guohua and ran. You should've seen the state he was in..."

The mention of the haystack, for adults in Dashan Village or even Xiema Town, wasn't a good sign. For adults to be near a haystack, it wasn't just wandering. Married women immediately started making assumptions. By the time Old Man Zhao caught up, red-faced and out of breath, everyone looked at him differently.

Those who loved a bit of drama ran along with the Zhen couple, shouting as they ran or directly heading to the fields to gather more people for the spectacle.

It had been a long time since there was such excitement in Dashan Village. Who knows, maybe today they'd see their usually mild-mannered neighbor humiliated with a shaved head.

"Oh, Doctor Zhen is here. Please come in." Just as they reached the entrance of the Zhao family's courtyard, the previously closed door was opened as if they had been waiting. Zhang Huahua, Zhao Guo's wife, greeted Zhen Guohua and his wife with a sweet smile.

But anyone familiar with her knew that this woman wouldn't move a finger without a guaranteed benefit. This act of hers was so fake that even a three-year-old wouldn't believe it. Usually, when it came to the Zhen family, she acted like she wanted to tear them apart.

"Hey, hey, hey! Why are you closing the door? We’re not shy, are we? Let us watch!" Zhang Huahua pulled the Zhen family couple into the yard, and just as she was about to close the door, it upset the crowd of onlookers.

"Exactly, I'm not afraid of getting a stye in my eye. Don’t tell me you’re hiding something shameful?" Some of these country women, once their curiosity gets going, ain’t gonna be satisfied with just a few words.

"Haha, I heard he was wandering around the haystack early in the morning. Maybe a wild fox in the mountains got a bite at his manhood."

"..."

Seeing the Zhen couple still standing in the yard, Zhang Huahua got anxious and started threatening the women trying to push their way in.

"Do you all still want your labor points?"

Hey now, the onlookers weren’t easy to handle either. Since she dared to bring up labor points, and the village head was right here, they might as well settle this once and for all.

"What do you mean? Village head, did you hear that? Are you saying our family’s labor points get cut every year because of them? I used to get so angry that my old mother would curse every New Year. So it was your family playing tricks." The woman speaking started shouting, "Everyone come and see, the finance director isn't treating us fairly! Looks honest but does despicable things!"

"Liu Xiangcui, shut up and stop talking nonsense. My family's Guohua is a national cadre and does everything by the book. If your family has fewer labor points, it’s because you did less work. How many people do you have? Even counting your newborn, you’ve only got seven mouths to feed. Every year, there’s so much work, and you still complain it’s not enough? Why don’t you fly to the sky?" Zhang Huahua wasn’t one to be trifled with.

But the villager Liu Xiangcui had long harbored resentment about the labor points. Now that it was brought up, her pent-up anger couldn’t be contained.

"Hey, you say our family has fewer people, but all those who can work in our family are out in the fields. Why does your family frequently skip work? Do you think your family are all doctors? Always gossiping in the village, saying that the effeminate men are taking advantage of the village. Everyone knows you just want to say they’re taking advantage of your family. The village head’s family are doctors, and they don’t take labor points from the village. If your family can do the same, then we'll talk. The effeminate men are better than your able-bodied family. How many labor points do your sons and grandsons earn themselves? They live off us and you think you do more work? Zhang Huahua, aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning and dying a horrible death?"

Zhang Huahua opened her mouth to say something but quickly turned angry when she saw that the Zhen family couple was still standing in the yard.

"Zhen Guohua, what do you mean? Why aren’t you going inside?"

"Village head, I don’t understand. How can you have the heart to help someone who wishes your entire ancestry would be wiped out? Aren’t you afraid it’s a trap waiting for you?"

"Liu Xiangcui, this doesn’t concern you. Wait until I’m done, and I’ll deal with you. He’s the village head of Dashan Village and a doctor appointed by the state. Even if I curse his whole family, he still has to treat my Guohua. Because he’s a doctor, the government says so, a doctor who saves lives."

"Oh yeah, Zhang Huahua? You think I’m gonna let you curse my family and then walk away? If you don’t go in today, I’ll tear Zhen Guohua to pieces!"

Zhen Grandfather →＿→: Honey, isn’t your act a bit too much?

"You, you... fine, good job, Liu Xiangcui. If anything happens to my Guohua, I’ll fight you to the death."

"Fight what death? You’re not even in a hurry. You have time to argue with us. Who’s to blame?"

"Yeah, Zhang Huahua is blocking us like this, and we’re not even in your way."

"Your family’s trivial matters are no secret."

"Didn’t you say before that even if you died, you wouldn’t seek treatment from the village head’s family? Has the sun risen from the west today?"

"Why are you all gathered here?" Old Man Zhao hurried to his doorstep and started driving away the three or four women standing at the door. "Go about your business."

"Are you hiding something in your house?" A woman asked suspiciously, then turned to the Zhen family couple in the yard. "Village head, don’t go in. Once you do, you won’t be able to wash your hands of this."

"Tao San’s wife, what nonsense are you spouting? If you don’t go to work, aren’t you afraid of starving your family in the latter half of this year?" Zhao Shanhu shouted.

"Haha, if your family isn’t afraid of starving, why should ours be? Old Man Zhao, I used to call you Uncle Zhao out of respect. But after what you just said, there’s definitely something fishy in your house. During the day, you keep your courtyard gate tightly closed. We never saw your family close the door so often before."

"Nonsense, I’ll report you to the village committee. What era is this? Ghosts? You’re promoting feudal superstition." Old Man Zhao said, and through the crack of the door, he saw the Zhen family couple still standing in the yard. "Guohua, why are you still standing there? Go inside."

"No rush." Zhen Grandmother said, "Since your wife has time to argue with others, it seems your Guohua isn’t in critical condition. I..."

"Oh no, no, no..." Just as Zhen Grandmother finished speaking, Meng Shi's voice came from inside the house. "My son, my son, wake up. You can’t leave your mother behind..."

"..." Silence fell inside and outside the door.

Then they heard Zhao the Elder's wife, Meng Shi, shout loudly, "Zhen Guohua, may you come to a bad end..."

"Ha..." Tao Yuanyang couldn't help but laugh unsympathetically, "I’m not trying to be unsympathetic, but they actually wanted to make our village chief take the fall? They haven’t even gone in yet, and they’re already cursing him. If he actually goes in, who knows what might happen? He might as well be dead already."

The other women stayed quiet; after all, if someone really had died inside, shouting like that would seem a bit inappropriate.

Zhao the Elder stopped arguing and, along with Zhang Huahua, rushed into the house. While running, he shouted, "Daguo, Daguo, what happened?! You were fine just a minute ago, weren’t you? It’s all my fault as your father... The Zhen family is going to pay for this. If it weren’t for their delay..."