Chapter 30: Awakening

Ge Lai left, and Liu Haiguo's group followed suit.

Liu Haihua smiled at Luo Mingzhe and Liu Yue, "Don't mind him, he's just a coward, always been my underdog since we were kids. If Ge Lai ever bullies you, come find me, and I'll teach him a lesson for you."

Xia Xiao raised an eyebrow. Was Liu Haihua so nice to Luo Mingzhe and Liu Yue?

Moreover, Ge Lai was tall and strong, with swift moves. Now he was clearly not inferior to Liu Haihua—in fact, he was letting her win.

Furthermore, Liu Haihua was the team leader's daughter, and Ge Lai, an orphan who relied on the village for food, would not be so brainless as to lay a hand on Liu Haihua.

Didn't you see his brotherly relationship with Liu Haiguo, the son of the team leader? Ge Lai was a smart man. If he were truly thoughtless, he would have beaten Liu Haiguo to a pulp down the mountain when Gao Jiaxing was injured, instead of maintaining a good-brothers relationship with Liu Haiguo as he did now.

Xia Xiao no longer looked at them and took the opportunity when no one was paying attention at the corner to open her lunchbox and drop a few drops of spring water into it before heading to the infirmary. But, unexpectedly, on her way there, she heard Zheng Xianghong's crying voice, "Jiazhi, Mom is not hurt, it's okay, don't be angry."

"Mom, your hand is swollen, look, it's even broken skin. When grandma wants to hit you, why do you just stand there and let her? Why don't you walk away?" Gao Jiazhi said, then turned to Gao Guoqiang with dissatisfaction, "Dad, Mom has been married to you for so many years, bore sons and daughters for you, if not for merit, then for hard work. You can't always stand by and let grandma bully Mom."

"Jiaxing isn't even awake yet, why bring this up?" said Gao Guoqiang.

Gao Jiazhi, seeing his father act this way, became even more frustrated. His dad was usually kind to his mom, but in front of Grandma, it was useless. Having watched his mom be bullied by Grandma since he was young, how could Gao Jiazhi bear it?

"Jiazhi, stop talking, come with me," Zheng Xianghong said, trying to pull Gao Jiazhi away, not wanting him to speak in front of Gao Guoqiang.

Yet Gao Jiazhi, seeing Zheng Xianghong act so submissive and even afraid of angering Gao Guoqiang, was even less willing to leave, "Mom, why can't I say it? The more you act like this, the easier it is to be bullied."

"Quiet," Gao Jiaxing managed to say weakly from the hospital bed, his brows continuously furrowed.

Gao Guoqiang immediately said, "Jiazhi, don't disturb Jiaxing."

Zheng Xianghong looked at Gao Jiazhi with pleading eyes, and Gao Jiazhi deflated, frustrated with Zheng Xianghong's lack of backbone. His mother had always been fierce when disciplining him and his siblings but was always submissive towards his dad and grandma. She had had three daughters and two sons but still couldn't stand up for herself.

"Jiaxing, are you awake? How do you feel, any pain anywhere? Mom will call the doctor for you."

Upon hearing this, Xia Xiao immediately stepped aside.

Zheng Xianghong quickly came out and went to call for the doctor.

Xia Xiao then entered, "Team leader, Brother Gao, Gao Er brother has woken up. This is the meal prepared by Brother Ge, he asked me to bring it over. You guys eat something first."

"Thank you, Educated Youth Xia, you've been a great help," Gao Jiazhi said politely, taking it.

"If Educated Youth Xia hasn't eaten, how about you join us?" Gao Guoqiang asked.

Xia Xiao quickly shook her head and smiled, "Thank you, team leader, but I've just eaten."

At that moment, Zheng Xianghong had already returned with the doctor. Only then did Xia Xiao notice that Zheng Xianghong's hand was indeed injured. She hadn't expected Old Lady Gao, despite her age, to be so strong in hitting people. Luckily, Zheng Xianghong had blocked with her hand and not been hit in the face; otherwise, Gao Jiazhi would have been even angrier.

Gao Jiaxing looked at Xia Xiao and the food container in her hand. Xia Xiao said, "Ge Lai has left, this is the porridge he brought for you. The doctor said you can have some liquid food now, and it's just right for you to eat."

As Xia Xiao spoke, she opened the food container for Gao Jiaxing, only to see him shake his head. Shitou said, "He doesn't want you to feed him."

Xia Xiao then saw Gao Jiaxing reach for the spoon. She hadn't planned to feed him anyway since Gao Jiaxing had his parents and older brother here. She heard that someone had gone to notify his sisters as well. Feeding him in their presence, what would that count for?

At that moment, Xia Xiao somewhat wanted to leave as well. Gao Jiaxing's entire family was here, and as an outsider, it wouldn't be appropriate to stay any longer. Moreover, Gao Jiaxing's life was no longer in danger; he just needed a good rest.

"Jiaxing, let Mom feed you. You've been injured, don't move around too much, it will hurt," Zheng Xianghong said with a pained expression.

"Mom, I'll feed Jiaxing. You go ahead and eat your meal," Gao Jiazhi said.

Gao Jiaxing shook his head, indicating he wanted to eat by himself, but his injuries made it really inconvenient for him to move.

Just as Xia Xiao was about to say she would leave, seeing him struggle so much to eat, she simply snatched the spoon to feed him. Gao Jiaxing looked somewhat reluctant. Zheng Xianghong interjected, "Xia Xiao, let him do it himself. The boy's shy and embarrassed."

Just then, a voice came in, "Dad, Mom, how is Jiaxing?"

Xia Xiao saw a woman in her early twenties walk in, dressed simply but neatly. She bore some resemblance to Zheng Xianghong but was somewhat prettier. This must be one of Zheng Xianghong's daughters.

Xia Xiao immediately put down the spoon, thinking that since Gao Jiaxing was unwilling to let her feed him, and now that his sister had arrived, she should take over. It was none of her business anymore.

"Yongfang, you're here. How is Zhiguang?"

"He's at work, I didn't tell him. Xiao Mei is temporarily with my mother-in-law. It's not good luck to bring her to the hospital over the New Year. I have to rush back soon, or she'll cry her eyes out."

Zheng Xianghong nodded, also disapproving of bringing her granddaughter to the hospital.

Gao Yongfang walked up to Gao Jiaxing and glanced at Xia Xiao, "Who is this?"

"This is Xia Xiao, an educated youth from the big city, and since none of you had the time to come back, it was Xia Xiao keeping me company," Zheng Xianghong said, with a hint of reproach in her tone. Of the three daughters, the youngest married the best, into a family in the county town, but she visited home the least.

Zheng Xianghong knew that being a daughter-in-law was not easy, but sometimes she couldn't see her daughter even once a year, which left Zheng Xianghong feeling somewhat lonely.

"I've agreed with Zhiguang that we'll be returning the day after New Year's Day. Who would have thought Jiaxing would be injured and hospitalized?" Gao Yongfang sat by Gao Jiaxing's bed and took over the bowl to feed him.

Gao Jiaxing shook his head, not wanting Gao Yongfang to feed him. He wanted to do it himself. Gao Yongfang gave him an intense look, "If I don't feed you, who will you let feed you?" She cast a deliberate glance at Xia Xiao.

Xia Xiao stepped back, feeling that it was no longer her place to be there. She immediately said to Zheng Xianghong, "Auntie, if there's nothing else, may I go back now?"

"How will you go back by yourself? I'll get Jiazhi to take you," said Zheng Xianghong hastily, "Jiazhi, take Xia Xiao back to the production team."

"Jiazhi, first take Educated Youth Xia back to the production team," Gao Guoqiang also spoke up.

"No need, Captain, Auntie. I plan to hang out in the county town a while longer. I'm not going back so soon. There are some educated youths still around town. I'll join them. Don't worry about me," Xia Xiao shook her head, now that she had the freedom, she really didn't need an escort.