Chapter 16: Reunion with an Old Friend

The woman glanced at Zhong Xiao with gratitude in her eyes. The medicine had actually been found by Zhong Xiao, but now Zhong Xiao was willing to testify on her behalf. If this could truly help her daughter obtain penicillin, Zhong Xiao would become the savior of her entire family.

The crowd gathered around them grew larger and larger. Zhong Xiao stood guard at the restroom door while the woman went to find a doctor. Upon hearing about the situation, the doctor immediately reported to his superior and came to the fifth-floor restroom entrance with security guards in tow.

By this time, a throng of people had gathered, layer upon layer, curious about the mysterious batch of medicine that had suddenly appeared in the restroom. The doctor entered, and upon seeing the medicines, he trembled with excitement and rushed out to call for more people.

Not long after, Zhong Xiao saw Qin Dezheng.

“Second Granduncle!” Zhong Xiao called out, her voice tinged with happiness and emotion, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Years ago, when Zhong Xiao had been tricked into the countryside by Du Huacheng and Yang Yuehe, Qin Dezheng, upon learning of it, was furious. He stormed into the Zhong family residence alone, beat Du Huacheng black and blue, all the while cursing him for his heartlessness and wickedness, saying he’d meet his retribution. The neighbors all came out to watch the commotion.

This man, over six feet tall, eventually broke down in tears as he struck Du Huacheng, pointing at him and shouting, “How could you be so beastly? The Zhong family gave you everything, only hoping you’d be good to Xiao Xiao… How could you… How dare you? Are you truly unafraid of retribution?”

But in the end, Du Huacheng reported him to the authorities. Qin Dezheng was arrested for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” and sent to a labor camp. There, Du Huacheng bribed criminal elements to torment Qin Dezheng, using the same methods Yang Yuehe had once used on Zhong Xiao.

Less than two years later, Qin Dezheng died in that labor camp. His last words were, “Big Brother, I failed you. I didn’t take care of Xiao Rui and Xiao Xiao. I’ve come to atone for my guilt.”

When Zhong Xiao received the letter from Yang Yuehe announcing Qin Dezheng’s death, she knew her last hope had vanished. There would never again be someone in this world willing to fight for her.

She’d thought she’d never see him again in this lifetime. Yet now, after years and a rebirth, to see Qin Dezheng once more left Zhong Xiao with a painful ache in her chest she could not suppress.

Qin Dezheng was startled to see her. He had many questions, but the urgent matter was the medicine in the restroom. He asked, “Xiao Xiao, did you discover this medicine?”

Zhong Xiao nodded. “I came to the restroom and saw the medicine there. I don’t know how it appeared.”

Though she spoke thus, Qin Dezheng still gave her a long look and, after a moment’s thought, instructed those nearby, “Take these medicines to the storeroom for a careful inventory. Don’t let there be any mistakes.”

Zhong Xiao quickly added, “I wasn’t the only one who found them—this sister here did too.” She pulled over the middle-aged woman from before. “Her daughter has septicemia and desperately needs penicillin. But when she saw the penicillin, she didn’t keep it for herself—instead, she reported it selflessly. Second Granduncle, can you give the medicine to the little girl first?”

Qin Dezheng knew the little girl, of course. He was the one who told her mother to try to find penicillin.

He thought for a moment. “Don’t worry. As soon as the inventory is complete, your daughter will get the medicine in time. For now, go register with the head nurse for the medication.”

He then addressed the onlookers. “Everyone, please don’t crowd here. Go to the head nurse, register your condition and medication needs. Once the inventory is done, we’ll distribute the medicine according to your registration and the urgency of your condition!”

The crowd cheered and quickly dispersed, exclaiming as they went, “It’s truly a miracle! The Medicine King has blessed us!” “We’re saved!” “Thank the ancestors!”

Qin Dezheng turned back to Zhong Xiao. “Do you have time, Xiao Xiao? Come to my office for a chat?”

Zhong Xiao nodded. She also had much to say to him.

—

Once inside Qin Dezheng’s office, Zhong Xiao got straight to the point. “Second Granduncle, I’m not Du Huacheng’s daughter, am I?”

Qin Dezheng froze. He knew the truth. Back then, Zhong Rui had a fiancé who died on a mission, leaving behind Zhong Rui and the unborn Zhong Xiao. After Zhong Rui married Du Huacheng, Qin Dezheng had told Old Master Zhong that one day, Xiao Xiao needed to know that Du Huacheng was not her biological father. At the very least, with that knowledge, she would be on her guard and never fully trust this “father.”

But Old Master Zhong refused. He worried that if Xiao Xiao found out, it would disrupt the family’s harmony and harm her upbringing. Qin Dezheng could not defy his elder brother, and after his brother’s passing, he was even less willing to go against his last wishes.

So the truth had never been told to Zhong Xiao.

Now that she had found out on her own, Qin Dezheng asked, “Xiao Xiao, how did you come to know about this?”

Just as he thought.

Zhong Xiao sat across from him, her tone growing somber. “Second Granduncle, please save me.” Unable to restrain herself, a tear slid down her cheek. The thought of the tragedies that befell her and Qin Dezheng in her previous life tore at her heart. Since her rebirth, it was the first time she truly wept from the depths of her soul.

Qin Dezheng was startled by her tears. He stood up, his voice full of concern and a touch of severity. “Xiao Xiao, why are you crying? What happened? Did that bastard Du Huacheng bully you?”

Zhong Xiao nodded. “It wasn’t just Du Huacheng. There was also Yang Yuehe, Du Ying’er, and Zhou Yongxin.”

“Du Ying’er pushed me down the stairs from the second floor, hoping I’d break my leg so she could take my place at the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University. I have the referral letter you gave me—she wants to steal it. With it, she wouldn’t have to go to the countryside.”

“Yang Yuehe has always pretended to be virtuous with me, but in truth, she colluded with Zhou Yongxin, wanting him to trick me into eloping so he could take me to the countryside. That way, they could rest easy, take the Zhong family’s assets, and flee.”

“Nearly all of the Zhong family’s possessions have already been converted by Du Huacheng into gold, jewelry, U.S. dollars, and Hong Kong currency. They plan to escape to Hong Kong.”

“What!” At this, Qin Dezheng could bear it no longer. He slammed his palm on the table. “I’ll go to the Zhong house today and beat that heartless bastard to death!”

He was about to storm out, but Zhong Xiao quickly stopped him and changed her tone. “Don’t worry, Second Granduncle. Everything is with me now. It’s perfectly safe!”