The key is how to get her to take the pill without leaving a trace, or to apply it to her wound.
Otherwise, Xiao Ning would have difficulty explaining the origin of this pill.
At this moment, when Grandma Xiao saw that Xiao Ning had returned from out of town, she started clamoring to go back to the countryside.
"We haven't fed the chickens and ducks at home yet, lest they starve to death!"
Her words made Xiao Yousheng somewhat interested.
"Ning Ya Zi, are you going to take care of Qiang Ya Tou at the hospital? Your grandma and I are heading back now!"
Xiao Yousheng immediately made the decision to go back to the countryside with Grandma Xiao, and let Xiao Ning take care of Xiao Qiang there.
Xiao Ning raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm in the hospital? That's no problem! But what did the doctor say? When can Qiangqiang be discharged?"
Although her younger sister's injuries were serious, they didn't affect her ability to use the toilet or anything like that. She could move around on her own, so there was no need to worry about the difference between men and women. After thinking about it, Xiao Ning agreed.
Seeing that his grandson had agreed, Xiao Yousheng gestured for his grandmother to pack her things and prepare to return to the countryside. When he heard his grandson ask about being discharged from the hospital, he shook his head and said, "I don't know either. The doctor didn't say anything. Why don't you go and ask the doctor later?"
Xiao Ning readily agreed, nodding, "Alright, I'll go ask when the doctor comes to work!"
He took out his phone and checked the time: 1:45 PM, 15 minutes before he had to go to work.
After a while, Grandma Xiao quickly packed everything up, and the two of them left the ward. Xiao Ning hurriedly got up to see them off.
He escorted her to the elevator, just as the doors opened. Xiao Yousheng waved goodbye, saying, "Alright, don't bother seeing me off anymore. Go home! Call me if you need anything!"
Seeing the two enter the elevator, Xiao Ning couldn't help but say, "Sir, ride your bike carefully on the way home, and call me when you get home!"
"Okay! Got it!" The elevator doors closed, and a voice came from inside.
Xiao Ning walked a few steps to the stairwell, smoked a cigarette, and then returned to the ward.
The three-person ward was empty. Apart from Xiao Qiang, there were no other hospitalized patients. After all, it was near the end of the year, and many people had gone home.
The LCD TV on the wall was playing Boonie Bears. Xiao Qiang was leaning against the headboard of the hospital bed, playing with her phone, seemingly texting someone, and occasionally letting out a silvery laugh.
Xiao Ning pushed open the door and went in. She immediately put away her phone and pretended to be a well-behaved girl, which made Xiao Ning chuckle.
"You silly girl, just play on your phone, I won't scold you. Why are you hiding it from me? Did you do something and you're trying to keep it from me?"
Xiao Ning sat down on the chair by the bed and smiled at Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang shook her head: "No, nothing's wrong!"
"Alright, you're all grown up now, it's time for you to have your own little secrets. As your older brother, I shouldn't say too much. As long as it doesn't interfere with your studies, I'll support you!"
Xiao Ning sighed with emotion, as if speaking from the heart: "I stayed in Yuhang for more than half a year, and what I felt most was regret for not studying hard enough!"
"No matter how much I regret it now, I can't go back to the past!"
He paused, then said earnestly, "Without going to university, I feel like I've missed out on so much in life, and it's something I can never make up for!"
"Qiangqiang, you've always been a good student. You'd better work hard to get into a university in Beijing. Then I, your older brother, can benefit from your success and take you on a tour of the campus when I take you there!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiang was both amused and exasperated. It was as if the hopes of the entire family were resting on her shoulders.
"Brother, I'll do my best!"
After thinking about it, Xiao Qiang agreed.
"Stop talking about me. How have you been in Yuhang these past six months? Ah, Yuhang County... Brother... did you... go to see your aunt?"
As if she had thought of something, Xiao Qiang opened her eyes wide and stared blankly at Xiao Ning, looking quite adorable.
Xiao Ning reached out and lightly flicked her forehead, laughing and scolding, "You silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? You have quite the imagination. How could I possibly go looking for her!"
"She abandoned me without hesitation back then, just as awful as my dad. They're both bastards!"
Xiao Ning waved his hand and shook his head, saying, "Forget it, let's not talk about these unhappy things. Let's talk about something else!"
"Qiangqiang, what do you think about coming to the city to study?"
He asked Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang was taken aback: "Coming to the city? I don't really mind, but it seems like you need to buy a house to study in the city! With my parents' meager salaries, I think I'll pass!"
Mr. and Mrs. Xiao worked in a factory in the county town year-round and rented a house in a town next to the factory. They rarely went home, usually only once a month.
In addition, the couple has no son and no financial pressure, so they don't usually think about saving money to buy a house.
In their words, since the girl is going to get married anyway, buying a house is just buying it for someone else, so it's better to just eat and use it all and stay healthy.
Therefore, Xiao Qiang, like Xiao Ning, grew up in her grandparents' house from a young age, as if she were a child without parents.
This is the fundamental reason why Xiao Ning and Xiao Xiaojun have always been at odds and frequently have conflicts.
What Xiao Qiang said reflects the general situation in Linjiang County: without buying a house in the county town, one cannot attend school in the city and can only study in the countryside.
Rural schools are naturally incomparable to urban schools, whether in terms of educational resources, teaching staff, or academic atmosphere and discipline.
This is a common phenomenon in China: the gap between the rich and the poor is widening, class hierarchy is gradually solidifying, and the path for poor students to move up in society is becoming increasingly narrow, making it more difficult for them to escape rural life.
Hearing Xiao Qiang's words, Xiao Ning felt a sharp pain in his heart. He patted her head and comforted her, "How could I not know these things? But don't worry about anything else. I'll just ask you one question: do you want to study at a school in the city?"
Xiao Qiang looked up and saw that he looked serious, not like he was joking. Her heart skipped a beat, and she seemed to have thought of something. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Brother...you...you haven't been working as a male prostitute in Yuhang for the past six months, have you?"
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