Reborn in 1966

Chapter 447 Coma

Shen's mother choked out her last few words, Du Qianqian was already sobbing uncontrollably, and even Du Kunpeng and Shen's father had red eyes. The doctor felt a pang of sympathy upon seeing this. Having witnessed so much life and death, his usually numb heart was stirred by the sight of this newlywed couple's first meeting after their separation. The doctor wiped away his tears and said, "Everyone, please stop crying. The patient is currently in a coma because of a blood clot in his brain. If he wakes up tonight, then there will be no problem."

Du Kunpeng asked, "Doctor, is my son's injury very serious?"

The doctor said, "The conditions here are not suitable for craniotomy. He is currently unconscious because the blood clot inside is pressing on his nerves. We have already contacted the relevant higher authorities, and tomorrow morning, when the weather is suitable, a helicopter will come to take the patient to a hospital with better facilities for treatment."

Upon hearing this, Du Kunpeng felt dizzy, but Shen's father caught him and said, "Our Mingjun is blessed with good fortune; he will be alright."

After Pei Yin arrived, she sat on a stool by the bed to keep Du Mingjun company. According to the doctor, all they could do now was wait. The weather conditions here had been bad these past few days, helicopters couldn't get in, and cars couldn't risk sending people out because the roads were too difficult to navigate. Everything had to wait until tomorrow.

It was already dark outside, and the lights inside were on—white fluorescent tubes. Pei Yin had been sitting there since she arrived, holding Du Mingjun's hand with both of hers, without moving an inch. After Du Kunpeng made contact with Du Mingjun's superior, everyone could only sigh. Shen's mother went to the hospital's kitchen, borrowed a stove, and went to the street to buy a free-range chicken. She cooked a large pot of chicken soup, served Pei Yin a bowl, and said, "Pei Yin, Mingjun needs your care now. You have to take good care of yourself. If you collapse, who will take care of Mingjun?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yin turned around, looked at her mother with a somewhat blank expression, then at the bowl in Shen's mother's hand. After taking it, she tilted her head back and gulped it down. Seeing this, Shen's mother felt even more heartbroken. Fortunately, she had already cooled the chicken soup before bringing it over.

The canteen provided food. Everyone knew about Du Mingjun's situation. Seeing that the dishes all had chili peppers, Shen's mother borrowed a pot and stove and cooked a few light dishes for everyone. Everyone was anxious and stressed, so it was better not to eat spicy food. The steamed buns she brought were also heated up. She invited everyone to drink chicken soup and eat. Du Kunpeng, enduring his grief, ate three steamed buns and drank two bowls of chicken soup. Shen's father said, "Let's eat more. You need to eat well to stay healthy. We are the support for our two children now. If we fall ill, who will the children rely on?" Du Kunpeng nodded repeatedly. Even Du Qianqian lowered her head and ate her food diligently.

This was an agonizing night for everyone, filled with anticipation. The darkness gradually faded, and the light slowly arrived, until it was bright outside and the roar of a helicopter could be heard. Du Mingjun was still unconscious on the bed. Pei Yin endured her heartache, drank some porridge, ate some steamed buns, and helped lift Du Mingjun onto a stretcher and onto the helicopter. That day, Pei Yin returned to the military hospital in Beijing from the southern border. The moment she saw her cousin-in-law Jiang Juan, Pei Yin's vision went black, and she fainted on the ground.

When Pei Yin woke up again, she found herself lying on a hospital bed. Turning her head, she saw her mother lying on another bed, fast asleep. Pei Yin moved her hand and saw that she had an IV drip in her hand. The IV bottle was hanging on an iron stand next to the bed. There was still a little bit of fluid left in the drip, which was dripping into her body.

Pei Yin had no idea what time it was. Her lips were chapped, her throat was sore, and she wanted to speak, but it felt like there was something stuck in her throat. She cleared her throat, but the voice that came out was very hoarse.

Hearing the noise, Shen's mother opened her eyes and saw that Pei Yin was awake. She quickly got up and said, "Oh dear, you're awake."

Thinking of Du Mingjun, Pei Yin asked anxiously, "Mother, what time is it now? Where is Mingjun?"

Shen's mother said, "You've slept all night. Mingjun had surgery last night, and the doctor said it was very successful. He should wake up around noon." Shen's mother's words were relaxed. Upon hearing this, Peiyin sat up with some difficulty and said, "Mom, why don't you ask the doctor to remove the needles? I'm fine. I need to go see how Mingjun is doing."

Upon hearing this, Shen's mother said with a hint of reproach, "Look at you, child, why are you so anxious? Would your mother lie to you? Mingjun is really fine. The blood clot in Mingjun's brain has been removed. In addition, Mingjun is in good health. The doctor assured us that he will be fine from now on. What are you so anxious about?"

As Shen's mother spoke, she saw the pleading look on Pei Yin's face and, remembering that the man lying there was her husband, sighed. She left the ward and went to the nurses' station to find a nurse to remove the needle.

After the needle was removed, Pei Yin took Shen's mother to see Du Mingjun. Du Mingjun was sent to a ward after the surgery. However, this ward was a private room with a dedicated nurse to take care of him. When Pei Yin arrived, Jiang Juan came out of the room.

When Jiang Juan saw Pei Yin, she smiled and said, "Are you all better now?"

Pei Yin kept glancing into the ward, saying, "Sister-in-law, I'm all better now. Sister-in-law, how is Ming Jun doing?"

Seeing Pei Yin's anxious expression, Jiang Juan smiled and said to Shen's mother, "Auntie, look at my sister, her heart has already run to someone else."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yin pouted and said, "This isn't just anyone; this is my family member, my cousin-in-law. I'm married, and the man lying inside is my husband. If I don't care about him, who else should I care about?"

Pei Yin felt somewhat relieved when she saw Jiang Juan's expression. If Du Mingjun's condition were not good, Jiang Juan would not have joked with her like this.

Jiang Juan said, "Okay, okay, I know you're married, and I know that the man inside is my cousin-in-law, alright? Mingjun is doing well. Since he was under general anesthesia, he should wake up soon. He's lucky this time; there's just a little blood clot, but once it's removed, he'll be fine."

Upon hearing this, Shen's mother clasped her hands together, bowed, and said, "Oh dear, thank God."

Pei Yin quickly entered the ward and noticed that Du Mingjun's complexion was much better than yesterday. Jiang Juan followed her in and said, "After we examined him with instruments, some doctors suggested conservative treatment, such as acupuncture to allow the blood clot to be absorbed on its own. However, after discussing it with your father-in-law and uncle, they felt that surgery was the safest option. Fortunately, it's just this one injury."

Pei Yin walked over and sat on the stool by the bed. She held Du Mingjun's hand in both of hers. Looking at Du Mingjun's peaceful expression, her anxiety subsided considerably. Thinking about how to take care of Du Mingjun, Pei Yin leaned against his shoulder and said, "Wake up soon. Once you're awake, we'll go home. I'll stay home with you every day. We'll cook together and clean together. Mingjun, we haven't even had a meal together since we got married. I thought I would cook you a delicious meal for our first meal after we got married. In two years, we'll have another child. I think it would be better to have a girl. People say that a daughter is her father's lover from a past life. If we have a daughter, you'll have two people loving you. When I get old, I'll let our daughter accompany you. You'll be so happy when your little sweetheart is holding your arm."

Pei Yin rambled on, finally saying things she had been too shy to say before. She felt it would be unbearable to just wait like this without saying anything to Du Mingjun. Little did she know, Du Mingjun was already fully awake, though the anesthesia had kept him unconscious. Hearing Pei Yin talking to him filled him with joy—she was here!—but also with worry, afraid she would be upset to see his injuries. Hearing her words, however, brought a pang of sadness to his heart. This silly girl, he had grown up with her. He had to wake up so he could spend his future with her. Du Mingjun had never given up. Even in his coma, his subconscious told him that Pei Yin was waiting for him at home, that he had to wake up, he had to recover. He was now Pei Yin's support; what would happen to her if anything happened to him?

The ward window faces south, and the white curtains are drawn to both sides of the window. The sunlight outside shines warmly into the ward through the window. Pei Yin turns her head and sees the warm and bright sunlight. She puts Du Mingjun's hand to her cheek and says, "Mingjun, the sunlight is so nice today. Now that you're awake, I'll go with you to the courtyard. After the New Year, it will be spring. After a while, when the temperature rises, we'll go to the Great Wall for a spring outing."

Pei Yin murmured to Du Mingjun, who was still unconscious. Shen's mother was heartbroken and couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she sat down with Jiang Juan on a chair at the door of the ward. Jiang Juan looked at Shen's mother's haggard appearance and said, "Auntie, you didn't rest well last night either. I see that Pei Yin is in good spirits today. Why don't you go and rest for a while?"

Mother Shen shook her head and said, "Your eldest uncle kept watch all night, and I only went to keep watch at dawn. Juan, tell your aunt the truth, is Mingjun really alright?"

Jiang Juan smiled and said, "Auntie, it's really nothing. Don't you trust the doctors at our hospital?"

Shen's mother said, "The child hasn't woken up yet. Besides, it's his brain that's injured. Will there be any long-term effects?"

Jiang Juan said, "Based on the current examination results, there are no problems."

As the two were talking, they heard Pei Yin shouting from the ward, "Mom, sister-in-law, come quick, Mingjun's finger is moving!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Juan got up and quickly went into the ward. She took out a small flashlight from her pocket, lifted Du Mingjun's eyelids to look at him, and said, "This is a good sign. Mingjun will wake up soon."

Upon hearing this, Pei-Yin burst into tears, crying and laughing as she said, "It's finally getting better, it's finally getting better." Shen's mother, standing to the side, put her arm around Pei-Yin's shoulder and said, "It's good that you're awake, it's good that you're awake."