“Wait for me, I’m going to the canteen to buy food. What dishes do you want? There probably isn’t any communal pot food left at this hour, I’ll go order a stir-fry.”
Lin Chuxia lifted the lid of Qin Yang’s lunch box and saw bok choy and tofu, she frowned slightly, “Is this what you eat every day?”
“After the snow, it’s not easy for supplies to come through; having these to eat is already pretty good. I’ll go myself, you just got here, take a good rest.”
But Lin Chuxia didn’t hand over the lunch box to him, “You’re the patient, now that I am here, it’s my job to take care of you.”
“Then I’ll go with you.”
His wife had arrived, leaving him to sit alone in the room was something he absolutely couldn’t do.
Lin Chuxia had no choice but to help him put on his coat.
There was no one in the canteen at this moment, and they didn’t see any workers on their way either.
Seeing Lin Chuxia, Master Chen greeted her warmly, “Mr. Lin, when did you arrive? What would you like to eat today? The canteen still has some pork belly, a few mushrooms, and some garlic shoots left.”
In these times, finding mushrooms and garlic shoots in the deep of winter is difficult, let alone in the Northwest.
Master Chen was showing her all he got.
Lin Chuxia chatted warmly with him, and in the end, decided on ordering twice-cooked pork since their communal meals were too plain.
After the food was ready, the couple went straight back to the dormitory. Qin Yang’s food, which was placed on the radiator, was still warm.
The two of them finished their lunch with a meat dish, a vegetable dish, and two leavened steamed buns close to two o’clock.
“By the way, I saw that the construction site has stopped, and there are fewer workers around. Does that mean work is suspended and everyone can go home for the holidays?”
She remembered what Mrs. Qin had said before. In winter, Qin Yang’s construction site would pause early, and after the suspension, the workers could take their New Year holidays.
But people like Qin Yang would leave later, especially Qin Yang himself, who was always in the last batch to take leave.
Before Qin Yang could respond to her question, someone knocked at the dormitory door.
Lin Chuxia ran to open the door and saw Bai Xiaoming outside, dressed in a coat and wearing a thick cotton hat.
Seeing her, he smiled, “So the sister-in-law really came. I just heard about it and thought those rascals were joking with me. Mr. Qin, it’s your fault, I told you to inform your family but you didn’t listen, and now you’ve brought your sister-in-law here in such a big snowstorm.”
“Mr. Bai, you’ve misunderstood. It wasn’t Qin Yang who called me; I came to see him. If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t even know he got injured.”
Lin Chuxia didn’t want Qin Yang’s colleagues to misunderstand, so she quickly clarified.
Bai Xiaoming thought about it and found it likely, considering Qin Yang’s personality, it really was not like him to have called.
He then immediately said, “That’s what I thought; however, sister-in-law, your timing is rather appropriate. The year is ending soon, and there’s not much going on at the unit. In a while, I’ll help you guys file a request for Mr. Qin to go home and recover from his injury. Mr. Qin, what do you think?”
“Is that possible?”
This surprised Lin Chuxia.
She knew she couldn’t stay at his workplace for a long time, nor could she just leave him on his own; she was troubled about this.
“Of course, it’s possible. Li Wei went home a few days ago, and by now, there wouldn’t be much work in the unit anyway, especially since Mr. Qin and his team rarely take breaks, they have a lot of leave saved up.”
Lin Chuxia looked towards Qin Yang, knowing he was a workaholic, she wasn’t sure whether or not he was willing to go home early.
Seeing his wife’s expectant gaze, a hint of a smile flashed in Qin Yang’s eyes, “Then, I’ll trouble Mr. Bai to help me file that request. If possible, we’ll go back home in a few days.”
He also knew Lin Chuxia’s shop was busy.
“Okay then, I’ll go write it now. Oh and about the hospital, didn’t they ask you to go back for a follow-up check? Before heading home, it’d be best to go have a check-up, don’t leave it unattended,” Bai Xiaoming reminded them before leaving.
Qin Yang nodded, “Understood.”
After the person left, Lin Chuxia began to worry about his arm injury again. Even though he downplayed it, Bai Xiaoming’s cautious attitude made her anxious.
Fortunately, Qin Yang promised to go to the hospital for a check-up the next day, which would be a good opportunity for her to learn more from the doctor.
She never fully trusted what Qin Yang said.
This man was too obvious in only reporting the good news and not the bad.
Bai Xiaoming’s reply came quickly; by evening, he sent news that Qin Yang could return to his hometown as soon as he handed over his current tasks.
The couple made arrangements; they would go to the hospital for a check-up and handover the next day, then head back to An City.
Early the next morning, the unit arranged for a car to take Qin Yang to the hospital.
Lin Chuxia wrapped him in a thick cashmere scarf, one she had bought before, light grey, matching the one she wore.
When she took out the scarf to wrap around him, joy sparkled in the man’s eyes, unable to be concealed.
It’s not for nothing they say this man is too easily pleased.
They went to the largest People’s Hospital in the area, a municipal hospital, rare to have an X-ray facility.
Qin Yang had new X-rays taken, and the doctor was quite satisfied with the recovery.
“The recovery is good, if it continues like this, as long as you avoid lifting heavy objects, normal daily activities shouldn’t be a problem. As for fine movements like writing, it depends on the complete recovery…”
However, Lin Chuxia’s face fell at this result.
“Sorry Doctor, what do you mean by not lifting heavy objects, daily activities not an issue? Isn’t he just suffering from a fracture?”
From her understanding, once recovered from a fracture, life is mostly unaffected and can even be completely restored.
Seeing her pale, Qin Yang knew she was scared and reassured her, “The doctor said the recovery is going well, don’t worry.”
But Lin Chuxia didn’t want to listen to his sugarcoating and kept her eyes fixed on the doctor, waiting for his answer.
The doctor could tell something was up; this woman was new, and she wasn’t seen when the patient was hospitalized with injuries.
Knowing Qin Yang’s situation, which had been significant enough to make the newspapers, he guessed she must be a family member who had only recently arrived. He patiently explained.
“The patient suffered not only bone injuries but also varying degrees of tendon and muscle damage. To put it bluntly, this arm is practically as good as severed. Such an injury is different from a normal fracture. Even if the bone heals, other tissues’ recovery still needs to be assessed.”
Lin Chuxia now understood: Qin Yang’s arm was likely to have significant lasting effects.
“Thank you, Doctor, I understand now.”
The doctor nodded, “That’s why I hope the patient’s family will take good care of him; it aids the recovery.”
“Will do, I’ll take note,” she responded.
Emerging from the hospital, Lin Chuxia had regained her composure, but Qin Yang was completely worried.
He thought she would be furious once they left, and he had prepared himself to placate her.
However, seeing her unusually calm, even carefully adjusting his coat and scarf, worried he might catch cold…
“Wife, are you angry?”
Lin Chuxia buttoned up his coat for him, her hands steadily supporting him, “No.”
“But I feel like you’re angry,” he pursed his lips, seriousness etched on his face.