Chapter 262: Bonus -

The people who took Hao Ziji to the hospital were busy for most of the day.

Two of them returned first.

When someone in the family compound saw them return, they asked anxiously:

"How is the Hao family’s child?"

One of them, Sister-in-law Cai, said, "—He’s still trying to get the fever down. We weren’t much use there, so we came back first. Director Wang is with him, after all."

The other one sighed.

"That child has really suffered. The doctor took his temperature, and it was as high as forty degrees! It’s a good thing they sent him in time. Any later—he probably would have suffered brain damage from the fever."

"I know, right? Forty degrees is burning hot to the touch. If you ask me, that Director Wang... how could she let the child’s fever get that high? It just goes to show, you don’t care as much when it’s not your own kid—"

Sister Cai hushed her voice as she said that last part.

Everyone felt there was some truth to what she said.

If it were your own child—how could you let their fever get so high?

Wouldn’t you be worried to death?

After all, with a fever that high—forget about a child, even an adult might not be able to handle it.

Getting brain damage would be getting off easy.

"And she calls herself a leader. Always talking about helping this person and that person, but it’s all just talk. When it really mattered, she didn’t do a damn thing to help. If you don’t want to watch someone’s kid, just say so from the start. Now this—oh, when Hao Rong’s wife comes back, she’s going to be heartbroken."

"She had time to run all over the compound with the kid, why didn’t she just get a military vehicle to take them earlier?"

As everyone chattered on—what little good reputation Sister Wang had built up in the family compound was completely destroyed.

Mrs. Fu didn’t go out, but she could hear the chorus of complaints from outside.

She spat inwardly—’Serves her right!’

She felt not a shred of sympathy for that woman, Wang.

She knew that woman was trouble ever since she’d brought that group of people to confront her and her daughter-in-law about the job.

’I have no idea how someone like her ever became a leader.’

She looked down at the twins. "My darlings, you must grow up to be good, upright people, just like your father."

Mrs. Qin returned just before noon.

She had gone to the supply and marketing co-op in town and bought a lot of things.

Luckily, they had a tricycle, so there was room for everything she bought.

Qin Wenshu was the one who rode it back again.

When Mrs. Fu saw the tricycle cart filled to the brim, she was stunned.

"Mrs. Qin, why did you buy so much?"

"It’s not convenient for you to go shopping with the children, and our Mingxue is so busy every day. She works hard enough as it is, so she shouldn’t have to worry about these things. Besides, I only planned to make this one big trip."

"As for the meat and all, if you can’t eat it all, you can just cure it. The rest is just rice, flour, grain, and oil. Those will last a while. As for clothes—the town only has a few styles, so this was all I could get."

"I bought two outfits for you, two for Mingxue, and a few for the two children. The weather is about to get warmer, so they’ll be perfect to wear."

As for Qin Wenhao—’He’s lucky I didn’t give him a couple of slaps.’

That boy really knew how to make her angry.

Of course, he didn’t need new clothes anyway. He had his army-issued ones.

When Mrs. Fu heard that Mrs. Qin had even bought clothes for her, she immediately waved her hands. "Why did you buy some for me too? I still have so many clothes—"

"It’s only two outfits. The styles aren’t as nice as the ones in Beijing City, but I came in such a hurry I didn’t have time to prepare anything."

’Next time... I probably won’t be able to come back.’

’After all, the Qin family can’t spare anyone.’

’But I can buy things back home and mail them over.’

"Alright, now. What’s bought is bought, and we can’t return it. Let’s process this meat first before it spoils!"