Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 249

Accountant Yao was helped home amidst everyone's thumbs-up.

When Accountant Yao got home, she was covered in cold sweat. Of course, the ice from the bucket of water that Zhao Da'e had splashed on her earlier had also melted...

Accountant Yao's wife, Yu Xiaqing, was completely dumbfounded: "Old Yao, what's going on? What's this... what's this...?"

"Shut up! You woman!!!" Accountant Yao angrily berated Yu Xiaqing.

After all, there were still outsiders present; the two people who had helped him back hadn't left yet.

Yu Xiaqing was usually afraid of Accountant Yao. Although she was Accountant Yao's wife, she wouldn't have been able to enjoy so much happiness if it weren't for him. So when it came to important matters, Yu Xiaqing always obeyed Accountant Yao.

Looking at Accountant Yao, who was limping and had a limp, Yu Xiaqing knew that today's events were serious. Therefore, she remained silent.

They even greeted the two people supporting Accountant Yao with great enthusiasm, showing them concern and care.

Afterwards, Accountant Yao was helped onto the kang (a heated brick bed) and lay down. The two people who had helped him back then left.

Accountant Yao even smiled and said, "Oh, thank you both for your hard work. It's getting dark, so I won't keep you any longer."

The two said goodbye hastily and left.

As Accountant Yao and the others walked away, he clutched the blankets with both hands, wincing in pain and grinding his teeth.

One of her back molars, unfortunately, was bitten to pieces by Accountant Yao.

Back molar: Damn it, I only have one tooth, what did I do to deserve this? Why did you break it?

Although people often say, "A toothache isn't a disease, but it can be excruciating," it's clear that a toothache and the pain of a broken leg are not the same thing.

A broken leg is excruciatingly painful, but to prove his manliness, Accountant Yao gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and swallowed the tooth...

Seeing the accountant Yao's pained expression, Yu Xiaqing patted her head with concern...

As a result, Accountant Yao quickly grabbed Yu Xiaqing's hand: "Don't touch my leg, my leg is broken..."

Yu Xiaqing screamed and fainted from fright.

Accountant Yao looked completely bewildered: ???

My leg is broken, Yu Xiaqing, what the hell is the meaning of you fainting?

Does this mean they dislike me?

Accountant Yao slapped Yu Xiaqing awake: "You spendthrift woman, I said my leg is broken..."

Yu Xiaqing covered her face, looking completely bewildered: "Huh? My leg is broken... What happened after that?"

Yu Xiaqing was so frightened she was paralyzed. She didn't know what to say, and her mind began to wander. She muttered, "My leg is broken... He slapped me hard across the face... But my leg is still broken... Slapping me hard across the face won't help. Didn't I get beaten for nothing?"

Accountant Yao frowned and scolded, "You woman, calm down. Stop acting so strangely."

Yu Xiaqing was stunned for a moment before she realized what was going on: "Your leg is broken, shouldn't you go to the hospital? Let me take you to the hospital."

Accountant Yao waved her hand: "I'll go tomorrow, not today."

Why not?

"How are we supposed to go in the middle of the night? Why the hell can't we go?" Accountant Yao cursed angrily.

"Don't rush me." Yu Xiaqing was even more bewildered after being scolded by Accountant Yao: "I...I was just worried about your leg, wasn't I?"

“He won’t die,” Accountant Yao said coldly. “Tomorrow during the day, when it’s light, we’ll go to the hospital openly and honestly.”

"it is good."

Yu Xiaqing went to the counter and took two painkillers, handing them to Accountant Yao: "Drink some painkillers, maybe it will make you feel better."

"It's no use," Accountant Yao retorted stubbornly. "I'm already in so much pain that I don't feel it anymore."

Accountant Yao is completely numb, truly numb. He felt like his leg was broken, and his brain had probably been in a state of extreme pain ever since. He had been tormented by the pain for so long that now he can barely feel any pain, just numbness, which is bearable.

"What happened?" Yu Xiaqing asked.

"Don't ask," Accountant Yao said. "Anyway, if anyone asks you later, just say I was at home, but Zhou Yuren's house caught fire, and I went to put it out. I was at home before that, understand?"

"I don't understand." Yu Xiaqing was stunned: "No, Lao Yao, are you confused? Weren't you going to put barbed wire on Zhou Yuren's woodpile? How did it become putting out a fire? What exactly happened?"

"Don't you understand your own mother?" Accountant Yao was furious. "Just say what I tell you. Don't bother asking around. Anyway, if anyone asks you, just say that my husband, Old Yao, was at home the whole time. He saw that Zhou Yuren's house was on fire, and as the village accountant, he bravely went to put out the fire. On his way, he hit a telephone pole and broke his leg."

Yu Xiaqing was instantly flustered: "No... Lao Yao, if a normal person in your family bumps into a telephone pole, will their leg break? You go and bump into one."

Accountant Yao grabbed the teacup next to her and threw it at him: "Did I hit your mother? Why are you talking so much nonsense! I'll tell you what to say, and you'll say it."

Yu Xiaqing had no choice but to shut up: "Fine."

"After I go to the hospital tomorrow, when you have some free time, go to the township and find Director Meng of the township's publicity department. Ask him to spread the word for me: Yao Lianwen, the accountant from Jurenzhangzi Village, braved difficulties to fight the fire, broke his leg, but still refused to leave the front line..."

Yu Xiaqing nodded: "Okay."

"After that, we'll have to ask my uncle for money for medical treatment. I broke my leg while working. I've contributed so much to the village, it's only right that the village pays for my medical treatment, isn't it?!"

Yu Xiaqing nodded again: "Okay."

"Can you say something else?"

"Okay." Yu Xiaqing didn't dare to argue now: "I'll do whatever you tell me to do. But I want to know, how exactly did you break your leg?"

"They really crashed into a telephone pole."

"What kind of telephone pole is so sturdy that it could break someone's leg? Besides, even if the telephone pole is blind, you're not blind. Don't lie to me," Yu Xiaqing said. "Was it someone else who hit you?"

"How is this possible?" Accountant Yao sat up, trembling. "How could I, Yao Lianwen, be beaten? Who am I? I am the future village chief, the one with the cane. Who dares to hit me?!"

"How come your leg was fine when you went out, but broke when you came back?"

"I bumped into a telephone pole... I bumped into a telephone pole to put out a fire, is that okay?"

"Fine." Yu Xiaqing sighed helplessly, "Tell me or don't, I'm going to sleep."

"Get me two painkillers."

"go alone."

"My leg is broken, I can't move..."

"It's not like I was the one who folded it, why are you yelling at me like that..."

……

Meanwhile, about half an hour after Accountant Yao was taken home, the pile of corn stalks in front of Zhou Yuren's house had been burned to ashes.

Fortunately, many villagers came and poured water nearby, so the fire did not spread, and other houses, including the woodpile next to Zhou Yuren, were safe and sound.

With everyone's help, Cheng Jinxi turned on the light in the courtyard.

(当院, adjective, meaning courtyard.)

Zhou Chunwen was also busy boiling water. No matter what, the whole village had come to put out the fire, so at least they should be given a bowl of hot water.

The saying goes, "If the water isn't warm, everyone will warm themselves."

The village is all about interpersonal relationships and social customs.

Zhou Yuren chatted happily with the village chief: "Village chief, I always thought Old Yao was a good person. He always keeps public and private matters separate. Although we don't get along in private and he often targets me, when the fire broke out, Old Yao took the lead and broke his leg trying to put it out for me. I feel really bad about it."

"A broken bone takes a hundred days to heal. My leg will take at least half a year to fully recover, and I don't have any good medicine. Someone gave me two pounds of Coptis chinensis the other day. It clears heat, detoxifies, and prevents wound infection; it's really effective. Village chief, please give this to Old Yao for me. Please tell him that our whole family thanks his ancestors for eighteen generations."

Hearing Zhou Yuren's words, the village chief, though not thinking much of it, said somewhat strangely, "Old Zhou, isn't Coptis chinensis a tonic, and quite expensive at that? If you need it, keep it; don't waste money. Tianfu just got engaged, and his fiancé hasn't come to the bride's house yet; there will be many expenses in the future. Two catties of Coptis chinensis can be worth a hundred or so. It's not about how valuable it is, but about the sentiment behind it. On behalf of my nephew, thank you."

The village chief was a kind-hearted man, but he also felt that Zhou Yuren's gift of bitter herbs was a bit outrageous. He was over seventy years old and really didn't know that someone with a broken leg would eat bitter herbs.

Isn't Coptis chinensis (Huanglian) meant for mute people?

Seeing that the village chief refused, Zhou Yuren didn't insist. He smiled and said, "Everyone's been working so hard in the middle of the night. Come inside and have a bowl of hot water to warm yourself up."

However, most people saw that the fire was out and there was no danger. It was already past 2 a.m., and the temperature was around -20°C. Everyone was red-faced and shivering from the cold, and they were eager to go home. So they all said goodbye.

The village chief was also about to leave, but since he was the village chief, Zhou Yuren still had to see him off for a few steps.

"Village chief, you're so old, and you've come all this way in this cold weather. It warms my heart," Zhou Yuren said as he saw the village chief off.

The village chief nodded and instructed, "It's windy, so you have to be careful. These fiery sparks are really dangerous. If they set the mountain on fire, we'll all be in deep trouble."

The village chief is absolutely right. Living in such a remote mountain area, you really need to be careful with fire. Otherwise, a single fire could wipe out the entire mountain.

Don't be fooled by the trees on the mountain; there's a lot of rotten firewood and old leaves. If the wind fanns the flames and the flames fan the wind, it'll be difficult to control.

“Last year over at Baitazi, someone set off a firecracker without paying attention, and it set the mountain on fire. Damn, it burned over two hundred miles away.” The village chief stopped in his tracks: “Alright, you don’t need to see me off anymore. I’m going back. Be careful, don’t start any more fires.”

"I'll be careful, I'll be careful. Don't worry," Zhou Yuren said with a smile.

The village chief has left, and most of the others have also left.

Only the blind neighbor on the east side remained, slowly making his way back...

But perhaps the strong wind affected his judgment, and he accidentally fell into the ditch...

Zhao Da'e stared in disbelief, utterly stunned: "Holy crap! Sister, didn't your neighbor say he could predict the future? How could he walk down this 200-meter path every day and end up in a ditch? How did he do that?"

Zhou Chunwen, not having seen the blind man Zeng fall into the ditch, looked up in confusion and asked, "What? Fortune telling?"

"No, no. But it's pretty much the same, didn't you see?"

No, what did you see?

“I saw your neighbor, that blind man Zeng, he just fell into the ditch…”

Zhou Chunwen slapped his forehead: "Holy crap!!! Help him!!! He's really blind, he's not faking it, isn't it normal for him to fall into the ditch?"

Zhou Chunwen dashed out.

A moment later, she came running back and asked Zhao Da'e, "Which ditch did it fall into?"

Zhao Da'e pointed to a ditch in the southeast and said, "That big ditch."

Zhou Chunwen quickly called out to Zhou Yuren, who was seeing the village chief off: "Dad, Dad... come quick, come quick."

Zhou Yuren then rushed over: "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Zhou Chunwen pointed in the direction Zhao Da'e had just pointed and said, "Hey you, Old Zeng, you've fallen into the ditch."

Zhou Yuren was stunned, and muttered, "Hiss... You're saying he's blind? What's he doing out here to put out a fire? It's pitch black..."

"Just watching the show..." Zhou Chunwen scoffed.

"He's really blind... what's wrong with him?"

"Can't he listen?" Zhou Chunwen said with dissatisfaction. "Go and get him up here quickly, lest he fall and hurt himself. Tomorrow he'll say he fell because he was helping us put out the fire."

Zhou Yuren was also helpless.

Since the blind man couldn't see the road, and it was so dark that Zhou Yuren couldn't see very well either, he had to go back to get a flashlight before going down into the ditch.

About 180 meters from Zhou Yuren's house was a large ditch. If the ditch was very deep, it was called a "big ditch." If it wasn't too deep, it was called a "pit." If it was very shallow, it was called a "fork in the road." If it was extremely shallow, it was called a "leak."

Anyway, the definition here is very systematic and comprehensive, but you can't find a single word for it in the Xinhua Dictionary.

The ditch in front of Zhou Yuren's house isn't particularly special; it's just two ridges.

That is, two layers.

The ditch is 20 to 30 meters deep, but the first embankment was used for farming, and it was only 7 or 8 meters deep from the ground.

When Zhou Yuren reached the edge of the ditch, he found two small tree branches, grabbed them with his hands, and went down.

Shining a flashlight on him, they found Blind Zeng lying sprawled on a bundle of corn stalks, his face covered in blood.

The blind man's full name was Zeng Guochen.

"Brother Guochen, are you alright?" Zhou Yuren quickly stepped forward and asked.

Blind Zeng touched his face and continued to lie still: "Go to hell! I've already fallen down, and you're asking me if I'm okay? I'm in big trouble!"

Seeing that the blind man Zeng remained silent, Zhou Yuren stepped forward and helped him up: "Brother Guochen, where did you hurt yourself?"

The blind man remained expressionless...

Of course, due to his congenital disability, Zeng the Blind's eyes were always closed; he wasn't blind with his eyes open, but completely blind.

Therefore, Blind Zeng had no expressive features whatsoever; even when he smiled, his face remained expressionless. But at this moment, his face was covered in blood. For an ordinary person, this would be terrifying, but on Blind Zeng, the blood seemed less painful, since he was truly bleeding without any expression.

Blind Zeng didn't reply. He felt around, trying to find his cane.