Back to the 60s: The Struggle Career of a Charmed Wife

Next, they wandered around the department store for a few more laps, thoroughly exploring every floor. Fubao bought Liu Baozhu three yards of hair ribbons and two pairs of rather exquisite hair clips as gifts, naturally not forgetting to get herself a set, along with some cold cream, clam oil, shampoo, and various colors of wool yarn.

She planned to knit scarves and gloves for her parents and Wang Zhonghua, though she didn't mention it.

Zhuangzhuang, perceptive as always, with more money than he needed, along with Dundun, who was even thriftier, pooled their funds to buy Feng Qingxue and Lu Jiang each a sheepskin vest with army green khaki fabric. This act of filial piety moved Feng Qingxue deeply.

Ye Yan observed all this but didn't act. He decided to buy something secretly.

Among the children, Ye Yan was the wealthiest, with at least eight hundred to a thousand yuan in hand. Over the years, his father, who didn't have time to take care of him, only showed his care by sending money, tickets, and items. In addition to sending to the Lu Family, he also sent an extra sum to Ye Yan as pocket money. His grandparents, far away, worried about him and often sent money too.

Dundun and Zhuangzhuang came next; their expenses for food, clothing, housing, and education were covered, unlike Fubao, who loved beauty. They usually saved nearly all their pocket money, occasionally buying hair ties, hair clips, cold cream, and the like.

The poorest was Lu Erxiong, who always wanted to spend any money he had. During the past two years in their hometown, he frequently visited the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things without needing ration tickets, either food or toys. When he ran out of money, he turned to his siblings, saying, "Cream cakes smell so good, fruit cakes are so tempting, Big White Rabbit candy is so sweet!"

He hovered around everyone, but no one paid him any attention.

With short days and long nights in winter, they took their loot back to the hotel, ending the afternoon's trip.

"Get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow we'll go to the Bund, and then we'll find some bookstores nearby to buy the study materials the family needs and send them back." Feng Qingxue always kept in mind the future of the students.

No one had any objections except for Lu Erxiong.

Feng Qingxue hadn't slept a wink the previous night on the train. Fortunately, her fitness from preparing for surgery came in handy, but by evening, she felt tired and sent the children to bed early after dinner.

The four boys shared one room, while she shared a room with Fubao.

After a good night's sleep, they felt refreshed the next day.

A little after seven, as they were getting ready to take the children to the Bund, Xia Shuhuai came over accompanied by a guard.

"Xiaoxue, I need your help with something," Xia Shuhuai said, getting straight to the point.

Feng Qingxue quickly asked what it was. Xia Shuhuai replied, "Something has happened, and firearms were involved. There are many injured, and the army hospital is understaffed. All the doctors capable of performing major surgeries are already occupied but can't cope. There's a patient who needs surgery today and can't wait another day, but there's no chief surgeon available. The earliest one to finish won't be done for another three hours. We hope you can lend a hand."

Feng Qingxue was taken aback, "Isn't Brother Yuying there?"

"Your brother is just one person, prepared to go as well, but the more doctors, the better, so I can only trouble you." Some conspiracies had just been crushed, and the situation in the Shanghai area was chaotic. Xia Shuhuai was relatively calm, while Chen Anlin was overwhelmed, unable to ignore the wounded soldiers. Talented technical personnel recently exonerated were limited, so they could only press-gang others.

Having said all this, what could Feng Qingxue say? She could only break her promise to the children and go to save lives first.

Xia Shuhuai was overjoyed. "Thank you, Xiaoxue. I'll have someone take you and your brother over. You can leave the children to me; I guarantee you'll find them lively and well once you're done with the surgery."