Chapter 70: Heaven’s Eyes Are Blind

“It’s over, it’s over, Shujie, I think I might have twisted my ankle,” Cao Jianguo said, a bit dejected.

Without the umbrella, the rain quickly drenched his face, making it hard for him to even open his eyes.

Cao Shujie didn’t bother looking for the umbrella or flashlight. He immediately moved his umbrella over to shield his father’s head and asked, “Dad, how do you feel?”

Cao Jianguo shook his head, “I can’t walk right now. You go down first. I’ll rest here for a bit and then try to move.”

“Dad, the rain’s too heavy. We can’t just wait here. I’ll carry you down. Let’s get home first, and then I’ll take you to the hospital for an X-ray,” Cao Shujie insisted, unwilling to leave his father behind.

It was raining today, and though it was only four in the morning, most people were still asleep, making it hard to find help.

Moreover, knowing there was no phone signal here and fearing water damage to their phones, neither of them had brought one.

The only consolation was that their raincoats were of decent quality. Despite the heavy rain, apart from their faces, which weren’t covered, the rest of their bodies remained dry.

Hearing his son’s words, Cao Jianguo felt touched but remained clear-headed: “Shujie, don’t be reckless. The rain is so heavy that it’s hard for one person to stand firm, let alone carry someone. It’s nonsense!”

But there was no way Cao Shujie would leave his father behind.

The next moment, Cao Shujie crouched down, “Dad, hold the umbrella and climb onto my back. We’ll go down slowly.”

“Go home first!” Cao Jianguo shouted.

But Cao Shujie was stubborn: “If I leave you here, I won’t be able to show my face in Cao Family Village.”

“You brat, the older you get, the more disobedient you become,” Cao Jianguo scolded.

Ignoring him, Cao Shujie grabbed his father’s arms and hoisted him onto his back. “Dad, you’re really heavy. At least try to help a bit.”

“Your grandmother’s…” Cao Jianguo muttered, but he still climbed onto his son’s back, using his good leg to support himself as they slowly made their way down.

What was usually a short distance took them a long time to cover. Fortunately, Cao Shujie was careful and didn’t fall again. Though challenging, they eventually reached the foot of the mountain. He helped his father into the back of their tricycle and quickly pedaled home.

At home, his mother, Wang Yuelan, was up, rain or shine, preparing breakfast. Seeing the bedraggled state of father and son, she was alarmed, “Shujie, what happened to your dad’s foot?”

Cao Jianguo, supported by his son, kept his right foot raised, his pained expression evident.

Before Cao Shujie could respond, Cao Jianguo waved dismissively, “Don’t ask. I slipped and twisted my right foot coming down the mountain.”

“Mom, let’s quickly get Dad into some dry clothes. I’ll take him to the hospital for an X-ray to see if there’s any bone damage,” Cao Shujie said.

Hearing her son, Wang Yuelan grew more anxious. She abandoned breakfast preparations and hurried to find her husband’s clothes.

Cheng Xiaolin, hearing the commotion from the west bedroom, dressed quickly and came over. Seeing her father-in-law’s awkwardly propped-up foot and mud-splattered raincoat, she knew something had happened.

“Dad, what happened?” Cheng Xiaolin asked, turning to her husband, “Shujie, did Dad twist his ankle? Hurry and take him to the hospital.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll change Dad’s clothes first,” Cao Shujie replied.

Wang Yuelan brought over a set of clothes and, seeing her daughter-in-law, said, “Lilin, it’s raining heavily outside. Why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?”

“Mom, I couldn’t sleep. Let’s quickly change Dad’s clothes,” Cheng Xiaolin urged.

With the three of them helping, they soon had Cao Jianguo changed. Cao Shujie told his wife, “Honey, bring the car to the door. I’ll help Dad in.”

“Alright, I’ll get it,” Cheng Xiaolin said, grabbing the keys and an umbrella as she headed out.

A few minutes later, Cao Shujie used himself as a crutch, helping his father out of the house.

Wang Yuelan held an umbrella over them, supporting her husband’s other side.

Cao Jianguo felt underestimated and grumbled, “I’m fine, I can walk on my own.”

“Dad, don’t be stubborn. Let’s get to the hospital quickly. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious,” Cheng Xiaolin said.

His daughter-in-law’s words were effective; Cao Jianguo fell silent.

Slowly, they got him into the front passenger seat. Cao Shujie told his mother and wife, “I’ll head straight to the county hospital. I’ll call you after the check-up.”

Just as he finished, Cheng Xiaolin said, “Mom, I’m worried Shujie won’t manage alone at the hospital. You stay home with Mengmeng. I’ll go along.”

“I’ll go instead. You stay with Mengmeng,” Wang Yuelan insisted. “Breakfast is ready, just needs cooking.”

After some back and forth, it was decided that Wang Yuelan would accompany them to the county hospital.

The wind howled, and the rain showed no sign of letting up. It poured down the windshield as if the sky had opened a floodgate, rendering the wipers almost useless.

Wang Yuelan, unable to see clearly outside, grew anxious, “Shujie, drive slower. Your dad’s not in a rush.”

Cao Shujie wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. In this weather, he couldn’t drive fast anyway.

What usually took half an hour to reach the county took over an hour this time, and by then, it was nearly six.

Cao Shujie drove straight to the hospital entrance and borrowed a wheelchair from the on-duty nurse.

The night shift at the county hospital’s emergency department wasn’t busy. When Cao Shujie knocked and entered, the duty doctor was dozing at the desk, unable to stay awake.

Seeing the red mark on the doctor’s forehead from leaning on the desk, Cao Shujie realized that this seemingly prestigious job was no easy task.

After explaining the situation, the doctor promptly ordered an X-ray.

An hour later, the results came back: no fracture.

Cao Shujie, Cao Jianguo, and Wang Yuelan all breathed a sigh of relief, their worries eased.

However, the doctor warned that despite no fracture, the situation wasn’t ideal.

At fifty, Cao Jianguo’s sprain wasn’t minor, and he’d need to avoid heavy work for ten days to two weeks.

This was the best outcome they could hope for.

While picking up the medication, Cao Shujie sent a text to his wife: “Nothing serious, don’t worry. We’ll head back soon.”

At that moment, the rain showed no signs of stopping or even letting up. Cao Shujie frowned, “Is the heavens blind? Did someone beat it up and make it cry like this, raining endlessly?”

Just as he finished speaking, a thunderclap rolled across the sky, starting from afar and growing closer, culminating in a deafening ‘boom’ that made Cao Shujie’s ears ache.

He looked up at the sky, still shaken. “Come on, can’t even say a word or two about you?”

(End of Chapter)