Siheyuan: Happy Life of Jia Zhang Family

On the road from Wangjiaqiao to No. 95, Hongxing Street, Beijing, the violent bumps of the motorcycle made Xu Damao feel so painful that he couldn't hold on when he returned home, "Dad, take me to the hospital, I can't stand it anymore."

Xu Fugui looked at his son's injuries and slapped Xu Damao twice in anger. However, he was his only son and he could not just ignore him, so he carried his son to the hospital.

"The injury is so severe, why did you come so late?" the doctor asked Xu Damao.

"I went to the countryside to show a movie and accidentally fell. I almost couldn't come back," said Xu Damao.

The doctor knew that life as a film projectionist was not easy these days. Although the income might be a little higher, the risk of going to the countryside was very high. He checked the injury, gave Xu Damao some painkillers, and asked him to go for another check-up.

Xu Damao fell asleep right after the examination. About an hour later, the doctor called Xu Fugui out and asked, "Are you the patient's father?"

Xu Fugui didn't understand why the doctor called him out and asked about his relationship with Xu Damao, but he still nodded.

"You have seen the wound. It's in the wrong place. This place is fragile to begin with and the hit was too hard. You should be mentally prepared in advance. If you want to hold your grandson, don't count on him." The doctor's words almost made Xu Fugui fall.

"What does this mean, doctor? He is my only son. I have already found a wife and we plan to get married in the fall." When Xu Fugui said this, he already had a tearful voice.

"Only son? What should we do?" The doctor didn't know what to say to comfort Xu Fugui.

"Doctor, our Xu family has only one son for three generations. Please save him." Xu Fugui shed sad tears.

The doctor was very sympathetic. After thinking for a while, he said, "Let's do our best. You can see that everything is broken. It's definitely useless to use. I'll ask the teacher in the morning. My teacher, Professor Zheng, is an authority on this kind of disease."

The doctor's words gave Xu Fugui a glimmer of hope, and he quickly bowed to express his gratitude.

Xu Fugui did not sleep well that night. Seeing his sleeping son, thinking about his father who passed away early, and thinking that there was a high possibility that his family would be extinct and the Xu family would not be able to continue, his tears flowed down and dried, then flowed down again without knowing when. All night long, tears on Xu Fugui's face remained wet.

At dawn, Xu Damao woke up. The pain in his body was slightly relieved. He looked up and saw his father, "Dad, what happened to your hair?"

"It's nothing. Is it dirty? Just wash it when you get home." Xu Fugui forced a smile. He didn't want to put too much psychological burden on his son, so he didn't want to tell him about his illness first.

"Dad, your hair has turned white. What happened?" Xu Damao also felt that his injury might not be optimistic. After all, he had injured a vital part.

"It's okay, I'm fine. Does it still hurt?" Xu Fugui didn't notice his white hair, nor was he in the mood to pay attention to it. In order not to let Xu Damao know about his illness, he changed the subject.

"Dad, tell me the truth, I'm not a child anymore. Am I seriously injured?" Xu Damao sat up. This affected his wound and he cried out in pain.

"Da Mao, lie down quickly. You are seriously injured. The doctor is working with the teacher to find a solution. I'm just a little worried," said Xu Fugui.

Xu Damao nodded, said nothing, and lay down again.

Around nine o'clock, six or seven doctors came to the ward. They first listened to the introduction of the situation by the doctor who first treated Xu Damao, and then everyone took turns to look at the examination results. A doctor in his fifties examined the wound and then said he would go out to discuss it. After the doctor left, the whole ward became quiet. Xu Fugui leaned against the bed, and Xu Damao lay on the bed. Neither of them spoke, waiting for the doctors' consultation results.

After Zhang Dabao got up, he went next door to call Xu Damao. They had agreed to go to the factory at 8 o'clock, but Xu Damao was not at home. His mother came out and said, "Dabao, Damao was injured yesterday. His father was worried and went to the hospital to check him out. I left in a hurry and forgot to tell you. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Aunt Xu. Brother Damao lay in bed for most of the day yesterday and he didn't say anything when we asked. If he is injured, he should go to the hospital. It's painful to bear the pain on your own. I'm going to the factory to return the projection equipment. You can talk to him when he comes back." Zhang Dabao comforted Xu's mother and went to the steel rolling mill by himself.

I first went to the supply and marketing department and handed in the supplies. I kept the chestnuts, red dates, walnuts, yams and a few dried pheasants for myself. These things were used to make walnut chestnut chicken, which was delicious. Not only was it delicious, but it was also very nutritious. Middle-aged men loved it the most, and it was a good thing to give as a gift.

You Zhiyong was full of praise for Zhang Dabiao when he saw what he had gained, "Dabiao, you're really great. You can complete a month's worth of tasks for others in one go. You don't show up at other times, but you always over-fulfill the tasks once you get to work. The things are all good. Go and report the money." You Zhiyong immediately wrote an order to Zhang Dabiao.

"Chief, I left some wild yam and a dried pheasant for you. I put them under your desk. You can use them to make soup. I heard they are very nutritious," Zhang Dabia said in a low voice.

"This is a good thing, Dabiao is thoughtful." You Zhiyong patted Zhang Dabiao's shoulders happily. As a man after forty, there are always times when he feels powerless. Of course, it would be good to have something to supplement.

Zhang Dabiao gave Xing Baoguo five catties of wild yam and a chicken, and divided the remaining local specialties into three portions, including walnuts, chestnuts, dates, and dried pheasants. One portion was given to his cousin Li Huaide, who could drop it off at his office; one portion was given to his aunt Wang Xiuqin, who planned to deliver it to the street office in the afternoon. He also kept one portion for himself, as he had two pheasants that he had shot in the mountains, and he would stew them in the evening to see how they turned out.

The Xu father and son waited for the doctor at around eleven o'clock in the morning. Seeing the eager eyes of the Xu father and son, the young doctor lowered his head.

"The results of the teachers' consultation on this injury are not ideal, and the possibility of cure is not high. However, apart from the inability to have children, there will be no problem with urination," the doctor said the diagnosis.

"Doctor, please think of another solution. I don't want to be a family without a family." Xu Fugui knelt down in front of the doctor.

"Master Xu, get up quickly. We will definitely think of a solution. I know you are the only son and you feel bad. Why don't you adopt a child from your relatives?" After the doctor's words, Xu Fugui stood up, but he sat down on the ground without saying a word, tears flowing again.

“I heard that some Chinese medicine practitioners have some secret prescriptions for this. You can ask about them.” The doctor couldn’t bear to see an old man cry, so he gave them a little hope.

"Yes, there will definitely be a miracle doctor. I, Xu Fugui, have been doing good deeds all my life. It is impossible for my family to be extinct. Thank you, doctor." Xu Fugui stood up and grabbed the doctor's hand.

"You're welcome. Attitude is very important. Eat when you should eat and drink when you should drink. Don't take it to heart," the doctor advised.

Seeing that hospitalization was ineffective, Xu's father and son asked the doctor to prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and were discharged from the hospital and returned home.