Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 94: The desolation of the sickbed reveals the true nature of people; kindness is secretly so

The night that Sha Zhu chatted happily in Lin Chen's room with pig's head and liquor, the light in Yi Zhonghai's house in the central courtyard stayed on until late into the night. Yi Zhonghai squatted by the eight-immortal table in the main room, clutching the photo that Sha Zhu had slapped onto the stone table, his knuckles white from the force. The photo clearly showed him secretly replacing Qin Huairu as the test sample; even the iron filings on his cuffs were clearly visible. Across the table, Aunt Yi sat on a stool, a half-finished sock lying on her knee. The dim kerosene lamp cast a long shadow of hers, and her wrinkled face was etched with worry.

"How did he get this photo?" Aunt Yi's voice trembled almost imperceptibly. "It was still dark that day. I clearly saw you go to the workshop, and there was no one else there."

Yi Zhonghai slammed the photo on the table, splashing leftover tea from the enamel mug all over the floor. "Who else could it be? It must be that brat Lin Chen! He dared to challenge me last time, and now he's even learned to secretly take photos. He's trying to drive me to my death!" He stood up and paced back and forth in the main room, his thick, clenched hands, those of a skilled fitter, cracking as he clenched them. "And that ingrate Sha Zhu too! I've raised him for so many years, and he turns against me over something so trivial. He even dared to send the photo to the union. Isn't he afraid I'll make sure he can't stay at the steel mill?"

"Keep your voice down!" Aunt Yi hurriedly got up and covered his mouth, glancing nervously out the window. "It's the middle of the night. If the neighbors hear us, we old folks will be completely humiliated." She released his hand and sighed. "Besides, Sha Zhu is going to work at the military guesthouse. How are you going to control him? Everyone in the compound knows you're scheming to take care of Sha Zhu in his old age. After word got out that you helped Qin Huairu change the sample, even the apprentices in the workshop are looking at you differently now."

Yi Zhonghai stopped in his tracks, his anger gradually replaced by dejection. He recalled his visit to the workshop yesterday. The apprentices who used to flock around him seeking technical advice now avoided him, and even his old colleagues, with whom he usually had a good relationship, merely nodded from afar. No one approached him to offer cigarettes or chat as they used to. When the workshop foreman, Zhou Jianguo, spoke to him about "being mindful of his image," the disappointment in his eyes pierced his heart like needles. What he valued most in his life was his reputation as an "eighth-grade fitter" and his "model worker" certificate, but now, he was almost squandering them all.

"Then what can we do?" Yi Zhonghai's voice lowered, carrying a hint of helplessness he himself didn't realize. "I'm doing this all for our retirement, for the two of us old folks. Without someone reliable by our side, who will bring us water and feed us medicine when we can't move anymore?"

Aunt Yi didn't speak, but silently picked up the socks from the ground and re-stitched them. The flame of the kerosene lamp flickered, reflecting the tear tracks on her face. She had followed Yi Zhonghai her whole life, enjoying little happiness, her only hope being to have someone to rely on in her old age. But now, the simple-minded Sha Zhu on whom they had placed so much hope had turned against them, and their carefully trained apprentice Qin Huairu only saw him as a crutch, utterly unreliable. In this vast courtyard, there wasn't a single person they could entrust their twilight years to.

Perhaps it was the pent-up anxiety and grievances of the past few days, or perhaps it was the chilly wind that seeped in through the window cracks in the middle of the night, but the next morning, Aunt Yi developed a high fever. She lay in bed, burning hot, her lips cracked, too weak even to speak. Yi Zhonghai frantically searched every drawer in the house, finding only half a bottle of expired aspirin. Holding the bottle, looking at his unconscious wife on the bed, he felt utterly helpless for the first time.

"Old Yi, what's wrong with your wife?" Old Wang from next door saw Yi Zhonghai squatting at the door sighing when he went out to fetch water in the morning, and couldn't help but ask.

"I have a high fever, and I'm out of medicine." Yi Zhonghai looked up, his face full of exhaustion. "Uncle Wang, do you have any fever reducers? Could you lend me some?"

Grandpa Wang frowned and shook his head: "My medicine has long expired. You should take it to the hospital quickly." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Or you could ask Qin Huairu for help. Isn't she your apprentice? Ask her to keep an eye on things while you go to the hospital to buy the medicine."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up. That's right, Qin Huairu! He had taken over the business for Qin Huairu and even taught her the skills herself; she would definitely help him with this. He immediately got up and strode towards the Jia family's front yard. At this moment, Qin Huairu was feeding the chickens in the yard. When she saw Yi Zhonghai rushing over, her heart skipped a beat, thinking that she was going to have to plead with Sha Zhu again.

"Qin girl, your aunt has a high fever. Could you come to my house and help take care of her? I'll go to the hospital to buy medicine." Yi Zhonghai's tone was pleading; this was the first time he had spoken to Qin Huairu in this tone.

Qin Huairu paused, a troubled expression on her face. She remembered how Yi Zhonghai's attitude towards her had cooled considerably after he was exposed for helping her modify the test sample, and he had even privately told the others in the workshop that she was "hopeless." Besides, she was doing well in the landscaping group now, having finally escaped the days of scheming against Sha Zhu, and didn't want to have anything more to do with Yi Zhonghai. "Uncle Yi, I'm so sorry," Qin Huairu put down the chicken feeder, rubbing her hands, "I have to go to the factory area to water the plants today, and I'll get my wages docked if I'm late. Could you ask someone else for help, like Aunt Liu?"

"Aunt Liu? With her husband Liu Haizhong's temper, would he really let her come and help?" Yi Zhonghai's face darkened. He hadn't expected Qin Huairu to refuse him. "I helped you take over the business back then, and this is how you repay me?"

Qin Huairu's face flushed red, and her voice rose a few decibels: "Uncle Yi, I know you've helped me before, but I haven't failed to repay you. You used to tell me to get close to Sha Zhu, and I always listened to you. Now I earn my own living and don't want to get involved in those things anymore. Besides, your aunt is sick, and I really don't have time to take care of her. If you really have no one to help, I'll go over and check on her after I get off work this afternoon."

Seeing Qin Huairu's resolute expression, Yi Zhonghai knew further pleading was futile and could only turn away angrily. He went to the backyard to find Aunt Liu, but as soon as he reached Liu Haizhong's door, he heard Liu Haizhong's cursing from inside: "You useless thing, you can't even wash a piece of clothing properly, what use are you?" Then came Aunt Liu's crying and a child's sobbing. Yi Zhonghai paused, silently retreating. He knew Liu Haizhong was in a bad mood recently because of his pay cut, and going to Aunt Liu for help now would definitely get him kicked out.

Left with no other option, Yi Zhonghai thought of Sha Zhu. Although they had fallen out, Sha Zhu wasn't a bad person at heart, and perhaps out of consideration for their past relationship, he would help him. He quickly walked towards Sha Zhu's house, but after knocking for a long time, no one answered. Aunt Li from next door poked her head out and said, "Sha Zhu moved to the military guesthouse dormitory yesterday, saying it's closer to his workplace and he won't be coming back much anymore."

Yi Zhonghai felt as if he had been doused with cold water, chilled to the bone. Standing at the door of Sha Zhu's house, staring at the tightly closed gate, his heart was filled with regret. If he hadn't schemed against Sha Zhu back then, hadn't forced Sha Zhu to marry Qin Huairu, Sha Zhu would definitely be helping him now. But it was too late now; he had finally tasted the bitterness of being betrayed and abandoned by everyone.

When Lin Chen arrived at the workshop that morning, he heard about Aunt Yi's illness. Grandpa Wang had mentioned it to him casually when he came to the workshop to ask for help fixing a water pipe. "Young Lin," Grandpa Wang sighed, "look at poor Old Yi. His wife is sick and no one is taking care of her. He went to Qin Huairu and Shazhu, but neither of them were willing to help him. Although Old Yi wasn't the best person in the past, his wife is a good person. She's always helped the neighbors mend clothes. Now that she's so sick, it's really pitiful."

Lin Chen paused, his hands busy adjusting the new mold, a mix of emotions swirling within him. He didn't really like Yi Zhonghai's scheming; he'd also disapproved of Yi Zhonghai framing Sha Zhu for stealing pork. But Aunt Yi was genuinely an honest woman. When he had just been reborn and his family was out of food, Aunt Yi had secretly given him two cornbread buns. Now that Aunt Yi was sick, and Yi Zhonghai had no one to help him, he was truly pitiful.

"Uncle Wang, do you know how high Aunt Yi's fever is? Has she been taken to the hospital?" Lin Chen asked.

"Who knows? Old Yi said he was out of medicine at home and wanted to go to the hospital but there was no one to take care of his wife." Grandpa Wang shook his head. "I advised him to take her to the hospital as soon as possible, but he was reluctant to spend the money and said he would buy some fever reducers first."

Lin Chen frowned. A fever was no small matter, especially in this era with poor medical conditions. If it developed into pneumonia, it would be a serious problem. He thought for a moment and said to Liu Guangtian beside him, "Guangtian, I have to go out for a bit. Can you keep an eye on the mold adjustments for me? We'll talk about it when I get back."

"Alright, Master Lin, you can go ahead without worry." Liu Guangtian nodded hurriedly. He now idolized Lin Chen so much that he would do whatever Lin Chen said.

Lin Chen took off his work clothes and quickly walked out of the workshop. He first went to the clinic at the factory gate to buy fever reducers and a thermometer, then went to the canteen to buy some millet porridge and pickled vegetables before heading towards the courtyard house. When he reached Yi Zhonghai's door, he heard Yi's grandmother's weak groans coming from inside. He knocked on the door, and Yi Zhonghai's feeble voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

"It's me, Lin Chen."

The door creaked open, and Yi Zhonghai, seeing Lin Chen standing there, froze, his face filled with surprise and embarrassment. He hadn't expected Lin Chen to come, after all, they had had many conflicts before, and he had often made things difficult for Lin Chen. "Lin...Lin Chen, what brings you here?"

"I heard Aunt Yi is sick, so I came to check on her." Lin Chen held up the medicine and porridge in his hand. "I bought some fever reducers and food. Let's go in and see Aunt Yi first."

Yi Zhonghai quickly stepped aside to let Lin Chen in, saying "Thank you for your trouble," his voice trembling slightly. Lin Chen entered the inner room and saw Aunt Yi lying on the bed, her face flushed and her breathing rapid. He put down what he was holding, quickly went to the bedside, and took out a thermometer to take Aunt Yi's temperature. "39.5 degrees Celsius, too high a fever, she must be taken to the hospital," Lin Chen said, frowning.

"It must cost a lot of money to take them to the hospital, right?" Yi Zhonghai said hesitantly. "With our family's situation, where would we get that much money?"

"Is money more important or life?" Lin Chen glared at him. "If she develops pneumonia, it'll cost even more money. Go and call a tricycle right now. I'll stay here and watch over Aunt Yi. We'll take her to the hospital right now."

Yi Zhonghai blushed at Lin Chen's words and, without further hesitation, turned and ran out. Lin Chen sat by the bed, fed Aunt Yi some warm water, and applied a damp towel to her forehead to cool her down. Aunt Yi, still half-asleep, sensed someone taking care of her. She opened her eyes, looked at Lin Chen, and weakly said, "Little Lin... thank you..."

"Aunt Yi, please don't talk, just rest well," Lin Chen said softly. "We'll take you to the hospital in a bit, you'll get better soon."

A short while later, Yi Zhonghai returned with a tricycle. The two carefully helped Grandma Yi onto the tricycle, and Lin Chen even took off his own cotton-padded coat to cover her. The tricycle bumped along the way to the hospital. Yi Zhonghai sat beside her, watching Lin Chen take such good care of his wife, and felt a deep sense of guilt. He thought back to how he had schemed against Lin Chen in the past and realized how wrong he had been.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Lin Chen busied himself with registering, finding the doctor, and picking up the medication, showing even more care than Yi Zhonghai. The doctor examined Aunt Yi and diagnosed her with a high fever caused by a severe cold, requiring two days of hospitalization for observation. Upon hearing about the hospitalization, Yi Zhonghai's face darkened again; the hospital fees were a significant sum for him. Lin Chen noticed his predicament and quietly went to the payment counter to pay the hospitalization and medical bills.

"Lin Chen, I can't let you pay for this." Yi Zhonghai said quickly when he saw the payment slip in Lin Chen's hand, "I'll pay you back later."

"Getting her treated is the priority; we can talk about money later." Lin Chen patted his shoulder. "Aunt Yi needs someone to take care of her while she's in the hospital. If you don't have time, I can help you find a caregiver."

"A caregiver? How much would that cost?" Yi Zhonghai quickly waved his hand, "No need, no need, I can take care of myself."

"You still have work in the workshop, you can't keep taking leave, can you?" Lin Chen said. "I know people in the neighborhood, I can find a cheap caregiver, it'll only cost a few yuan a day. If you really feel bad about it, you can pay me back when you get your salary."

Looking into Lin Chen's sincere eyes, Yi Zhonghai could no longer find the words to refuse. He nodded, his voice a little hoarse: "Lin Chen, I was wrong before. I shouldn't have schemed against you and made things difficult for you at every turn. You're still helping me like this now, I... I don't know how to thank you enough."

"Let's not dwell on the past," Lin Chen smiled. "A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. We live in the same courtyard, so it's only right that we help each other out. You stay here and take care of Aunt Yi for now, I'll go to the neighborhood committee to find a caregiver."

After leaving the hospital, Lin Chen went directly to the neighborhood office. He found the neighborhood director, explained the situation, and hoped to find a reliable caregiver. The neighborhood director had a good impression of Lin Chen; Lin Chen had previously helped resolve Jia Zhangshi's theft case and even helped Liu Guangtian find an apprenticeship. Everyone in the neighborhood knew he was a kind-hearted young man. "Little Lin, don't worry, I'll take care of this," the neighborhood director said with a smile. "We have an old lady named Zhang in our neighborhood; she's very hardworking and has cared for patients before. Her fees are reasonable. I'll contact her for you."

Soon, the neighborhood director contacted Aunt Zhang. Aunt Zhang, in her fifties and in good health, readily agreed after hearing about Aunt Yi's situation. Lin Chen negotiated the salary with her: three yuan a day, including room and board, which Aunt Zhang was very satisfied with.

Lin Chen took Aunt Zhang back to the hospital and introduced her to Yi Zhonghai. Seeing Aunt Zhang's clean and efficient appearance, Yi Zhonghai felt much more at ease. He held Lin Chen's hand, repeatedly thanking him, "Lin Chen, I really owe you a lot this time. Without you, I really don't know what I would have done."

"You're welcome. Please take good care of Aunt Yi," Lin Chen said. "I'll come see you again tomorrow. Contact me anytime if you need anything."

It was already afternoon when Lin Chen left the hospital. Back in the workshop, Liu Guangtian rushed to greet him: "Master Lin, you're back? The mold debugging went very smoothly, even better than expected."

"That's good." Lin Chen nodded, picked up his tools, and continued working. His coworkers, seeing him return, gathered around to ask what he'd been doing. When they heard that Lin Chen had helped Yi Zhonghai take Aunt Yi to the hospital, and even helped find a caregiver and pay the medical bills, they all praised him: "Lin is such a good person! Yi Zhonghai treated him so badly before, yet he still helped him like this."

"Yeah, if it were me, I wouldn't care about him."

Lin Chen smiled but didn't speak. He didn't want anything from Yi Zhonghai; he just felt sorry for Aunt Yi, and he firmly believed that sincerity was more important than scheming in relationships. Even if Yi Zhonghai had done many wrong things in the past, helping him in his time of need might teach him some lessons.

When Lin Chen returned to the courtyard house after get off work that evening, he saw Qin Huairu standing there as soon as he reached the gate. Seeing Lin Chen return, Qin Huairu walked over somewhat shyly: "Master Lin, you're back? I heard you helped Aunt Yi get to the hospital?"

"Yes, he's already in the hospital, but it's nothing serious." Lin Chen nodded.

"That's wonderful." Qin Huai breathed a sigh of relief, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "Master Lin, I didn't agree to help Uncle Yi during the day. Was that a bit too much?" Actually, she had been feeling uneasy ever since she refused Yi Zhonghai during the day, feeling that she had been ungrateful.

"It's not unreasonable. You have your own job, so it's normal that you don't have time to help," Lin Chen said. "But Aunt Yi has always been good to you. If you have time, you can go to the hospital to see her and talk to her."

"I understand, I'll go see her tomorrow." Qin Huairu nodded, finally relieved. She took two eggs out of her pocket and handed them to Lin Chen: "Master Lin, these are salted eggs from my family, please have a taste."

Lin Chen was taken aback, not expecting Qin Huairu to bring him eggs. He smiled and accepted the eggs, saying, "Thank you, Sister-in-law Qin."

"I should be thanking you," Qin Huairu smiled, then turned and left.

Lin Chen entered the house and placed the eggs on the table. Looking at the moonlight outside the window, he felt a pang of emotion. This courtyard, once filled with scheming and conflict, was slowly changing because of his arrival. Sha Zhu had found a new job and completely severed ties with Yi Zhonghai; Qin Huairu had begun to earn her own living and was becoming increasingly reliable; even Yi Zhonghai, who had always plotted against him, felt his kindness when he was down on his luck. He knew this was just the beginning, and there was still much to be done, but he was confident that he could make this courtyard increasingly harmonious.

The next morning, Lin Chen took the fruit he had bought the day before to the hospital to visit Aunt Yi. As soon as he entered the ward, he saw Qin Huairu there, peeling an apple for Aunt Yi. Aunt Yi seemed much better; seeing Lin Chen come in, she smiled and said, "Little Lin's here, please sit down."

"Aunt Yi, how are you feeling?" Lin Chen put down the fruit and asked.

"I'm much better, the fever has gone down," Aunt Yi said with a smile. "It's all thanks to you and Qin. Qin came to see me yesterday and chatted with me for a long time, which made me feel much better."

When Qin Huairu saw Lin Chen, she smiled apologetically: "I didn't do anything, I just kept Aunt Yi company and chatted with her."

Yi Zhonghai returned from fetching water and saw Lin Chen and Qin Huairu both there. A long-lost smile appeared on his face. He placed the water on the table and said to Lin Chen, "Lin Chen, I've remembered yesterday's hospital and medical expenses. I'll pay you back when I get my salary. I'll also cover Aunt Zhang's salary."

"No rush, take good care of Aunt Yi first," Lin Chen said. "By the way, the workshop director told me yesterday that although your technical allowance was deducted, as long as you work hard, you will have a chance to get it back in the future."

Yi Zhonghai was taken aback for a moment, then his face lit up with excitement. He knew Lin Chen was giving him a heads-up, telling him to focus on his work and stop scheming against others. "I understand, Lin Chen, thank you," Yi Zhonghai said solemnly. "I will definitely work hard from now on and stop doing those crooked things."

Lin Chen smiled but didn't speak. He believed that Yi Zhonghai had truly figured things out this time. People always need to experience certain things to understand what's most important. For Yi Zhonghai, the reputation of being an eighth-grade fitter and a stable life were more important than any calculated retirement security.

After leaving the hospital, Lin Chen went straight to the workshop. Director Zhou Jianguo saw him and said with a smile, "Lin, I heard about how you helped Yi Zhonghai yesterday. Not bad, you have a good sense of perspective and don't hold grudges."

"You flatter me, Director. It was just a small favor," Lin Chen said.

"It's a small favor, but not everyone can do it." Zhou Jianguo patted him on the shoulder. "By the way, the list of key technical personnel we talked about going to other places for research has been finalized, and you're on it. You're leaving next Monday to learn advanced technologies from several large factories in Shanghai. Prepare yourself well."

"Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Director!" Lin Chen said excitedly. Going to Shanghai for this inspection was a rare opportunity; he could learn a lot of advanced technologies and management experience, which would greatly benefit his future development.

"You deserve all of this," Zhou Jianguo said with a smile. "Your skills and character are evident to everyone. Go and learn well, and come back to bring something new to our workshop."

Lin Chen nodded vigorously, his heart filled with anticipation. He knew that this trip to Shanghai would be a major turning point in his life. He not only wanted to learn advanced technology, but also broaden his horizons and lay a more solid foundation for his future development.

Back at the courtyard house that evening, Lin Chen told Sha Zhu about his trip to Shanghai. Sha Zhu was packing his things, preparing to officially start work at the military region's guesthouse the next day. Hearing the news, he exclaimed happily, "That's great! Lin Chen, you're really capable! Have a good time in Shanghai, and tell me about it when you get back!"

"Don't worry, I'll bring you some Shanghai specialties when I come back," Lin Chen said with a smile.

The two chatted for a while longer, and then Sha Zhu suddenly said, "Lin Chen, after I start working at the guesthouse, I probably won't be going back to the courtyard house much. Please keep an eye on the Jia family for me, especially Jia Dang and Jia Huaihua; those two girls are quite pitiful."

"I understand, you can go without worry." Lin Chen nodded. He could tell that although Sha Zhu had distanced himself from Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai, he still cared a lot about Jia Dang and Jia Huaihua.

After Sha Zhu left, Lin Chen returned to his room and opened the system panel. His points had accumulated to over six thousand, and his system level was almost at level six. Looking at the "Skill Fusion" function on the panel, he was filled with anticipation. He knew that this trip to Shanghai would expose him to more advanced technologies, and by combining them with the system's functions, he would definitely be able to develop even more powerful products.