Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 223 - 222 Ignorance is Evil

Chapter 223: Chapter 222 Ignorance is Evil

From Zhao Zhuangshi’s recount, Lin Nianhe learned that Zhuang Shu’s reputation was completely ruined.

The first person to bring back this news was Aunt He, who was the earliest in Nine-miles Team to learn about Cailan’s mother’s condition; she probably also inquired about the causes and consequences from the doctor at the health center.

See, as soon as Aunt He returned to the village, she spread the word.

Originally, it wasn’t supposed to spread all over the place instantly, but it just so happened to coincide with Li Xiaoshan and Daxi’s wedding. When relatives and friends gathered, the news spread as if it grew wings, whooshing around.

Lin Nianhe also learned some other news.

Cailan’s mother wasn’t the first one who became deaf from an overdose of gentamicin; last year, when Yang Yumin from Nine-miles Team had a persistent high fever, it was Zhuang Shu who gave him the injection, and three-year-old Xiao Yumin couldn’t hear anything after the fever subsided.

Before, everyone thought it was the little child’s fever that damaged his ears; now, everyone thinks it was Zhuang Shu who gave the wrong medication.

There are also some ridiculous and untenable statements—

If someone got a corn on their foot two years after Zhuang Shu bandaged it, it’s because Zhuang Shu didn’t do it properly;

The land where Zhuang Shu discarded trash doesn’t grow any grass or trees, it’s because Zhuang Shu’s medicine was toxic;

The sluggishness of someone who received a fever-reducing injection from Zhuang Shu, it’s because Zhuang Shu gave the wrong medicine...

These statements, which are clearly nonsensical, still have many people willing to believe and spread them.

Lin Nianhe asked, "So, what’s the situation with Zhuang Shu now?"

"He? He got beaten by Yumin’s father so badly he can’t get off the kang (traditional Chinese bed-stove)," Zhao Zhuangshi said with a frightened expression, "Luckily, my little sister never sought treatment from him."

"Didn’t he say anything? Didn’t he defend himself?"

At least the person with the corn and the lazy person can’t blame Zhuang Shu for their conditions.

Zhao Zhuangshi pursed his lips: "He did speak, kept clamoring that he used the correct medicine, that all the medicine was issued by the health center, anyway, he just wouldn’t admit it, just kept repeating the same nonsense."

Lin Nianhe was speechlessly dismayed.

Maybe, Zhuang Shu still doesn’t know that gentamicin has ototoxic and nephrotoxic effects and should not be used excessively.

Lin Nianhe describes such people as "ignorant evildoers."

Their ignorance brews tragedies, yet they themselves will never feel they are in the wrong.

"Teacher Lin? Teacher Lin?"

"Hmm?"

Lin Nianhe came back to her senses and looked at Zhao Zhuangshi with an inquiring gaze, "What is it?"

Zhao Zhuangshi, holding a medicine bottle, asked her, "What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Oh, let me think..."

Lin Nianhe originally wanted Zhao Zhuangshi to spread the word about Cailan’s mother’s condition, to prevent the villagers from still being unaware of the severity and blindly increasing the dosage in an effort to save trouble.

But now that Zhuang Shu is already a hot topic in the region, there really is no need to add fuel to the fire.

Lin Nianhe thought for a moment, took out 30 cents and gave it to him: "Help me buy a few notebooks at the Cooperative Society."

"Sure!" Zhao Zhuangshi took the money, "I’ll deliver the chicken soup to my little sister and then go buy it for you."

"Thanks a lot."

"No worries."

Zhao Zhuangshi, overjoyed, happily skipped away.

Lin Nianhe moved back to her kang, planning to continue being a homebody.

She had just read three pages of a sci-fi novel with a book cover when Niuwa arrived with his little backpack.

"Sister Lin, it’s time for class."

Lin Nianhe: "..."

Either a teacher or a student, if either one takes a leave, the class gets to be off.

Lin Nianhe did not give Niuwa a holiday, but instead taught him twenty new characters with a newspaper and sent him to the desk to practice writing. Then, she began tackling a set of math problems.

Even the top students are striving hard, so she, merely an excellent one, should stop showing off!

For several consecutive days, Lin Nianhe and Niuwa were buried in their studies.

From morning to night, the pair clutched their books and studied, which also inspired others at the Educated Youth Corps to pick up their books, even Tailor Wen who posted a newspaper on the wall while staying up late to make overcoats.

Regarding this, Sister Lan remarked, "We have to light the lamp anyway, so why not read a bit and gain something from it!"

Such realistic pragmatism.

Their studying entertained Principal Wu the most, and troubled Wu Genmao the most.

For three consecutive days, he reported to Brother Qian, "Sister-in-law has been teaching the kids to recognize characters!"

Brother Qian became more and more impatient, and Wu Genmao grew increasingly anxious, fearing if he did not report something new soon, Brother Qian would come and deal with him severely.

Finally, after Wu Genmao pulled out five white hairs, something new happened!

A large truck stopped at the village entrance, and Qian Guozhu came to the Educated Youth Corps with a big bundle.

"Big Sister, your sister-in-law made you new cotton-padded coats and trousers. It’s colder here than back home, so she specially saved up new cotton to make these, which are very warm."

Qian Guozhu unwrapped the bundle and took out a set of soft cotton-padded clothes, then said, "We still need to save more cotton, your sister-in-law is thinking of making you a new quilt too."

Wang Shumei, holding the cotton coat, smiled until her eyes curved.

Yet, she shook her head, "Please don’t let her worry, she is pregnant now, she shouldn’t be doing these, I can handle it myself."

Qian Guozhu took out a thin envelope, "Stop it, you’ve always struggled with these tasks since you were young. Here, I took Damin and Xiaoxiao for a photo the other day and got an extra copy for you."

Wang Shumei immediately put down the cotton coat and cleaned her hands before taking the envelope.

In the black and white photo, brother and sister-in-law were with the siblings, all smiling beautifully.

Tears welled up in Wang Shumei’s eyes as she gently caressed the photo, saying, "Damin has grown taller... Xiaoxiao has gotten chubbier... Xiaoxiao’s clothes, Sister-in-law must have made them..."

Tears streamed down as Wang Shumei sobbed softly, her heart lingering on her siblings far away.

Qian Guozhu comforted her, "Don’t cry, wait a few more months till the New Year, and you’ll be going back. Brother will come to pick you up, I’ve already spoken to the captain."

"Yes!"

Wang Shumei nodded vigorously, pressing the photo to her chest, as if that brought her closer to her siblings.

After a moment, she quietly informed Qian Guozhu of Lin Nianhe’s plans.

After Listening intently and repeating to ensure he remembered correctly, Qian Guozhu said, "I can’t stay long, oh, and inside the bundle, there’s some pickled cucumbers your sister-in-law made for you, remember to eat them."

"Okay, brother, drive slowly."

"Alright, I’m leaving."

After Qian Guozhu left, Wang Shumei looked at the photo for a long while before carefully sliding it under the glass on the table.

She drank some water, then went to find Lin Nianhe.

"Nianhe..."

"Did Brother Qian come?"

Before Wang Shumei could speak, Lin Nianhe asked.

"Yes." Wang Shumei nodded, "With your leg like this, can you manage?"

"I can." Lin Nianhe lifted her head from her mountain of problems, her lips curving into a smile, "Finally, we can push forward with this matter."

Lin Nianhe was right; the next day, just at dawn, Wu Genmao arrived, though it was unclear what time he had left his house.

"Sister-in-law," Wu Genmao whispered from beneath Lin Nianhe’s window, like a thief, "Brother said, if you have time, give him a call back."

Behind the window, Lin Nianhe held a cup of hot milk and grinned, pressing her lips.

"Alright."

She said.