Chapter 18

Jiang Shan couldn't help but look at Xiao Yuanhang. His actions were very calm, different from those of the small-time hooligans, which changed her perception of him significantly. At the time, Dr. Hu had indeed said that Wang Dahai and his group only needed to pay 150 yuan more, but this Dr. Wang, who was collecting the money, might have been disturbed from a good dream, and demanded 200 yuan without any room for negotiation, which was quite unreasonable.

After paying the money and getting the receipt, they returned to the surgical ward. Jiang Shan didn't wake up the on-duty Dr. Hu. Dr. Hu had already written the medical orders before resting and told Jiang Shan that if Naliqiang paid and was admitted, she could just follow the orders to administer the medication. She directly arranged for Naliqiang to stay in Ward 5, took his blood pressure, and then went to the treatment room to prepare the medication.

This was a ward with six beds, and three patients were already staying there. With Naliqiang, there were now four people. When Xiao Yuanhang and his group came in noisily, they immediately woke up the three patients and their attendants. However, upon seeing the appearance of this group, they knew they were hooligans and dared not provoke them, only feeling angry but not daring to speak out.

Not long after, Jiang Shan came over to give Naliqiang an IV drip. Seeing everything settled, Xiao Yuanhang said to Wang Dahai, "Dahai, there's nothing much wrong with Xiaqiang now. Having so many people here is not very useful. Just arrange for one person to stay and take care of him, and the rest can go home and rest!"

"I'll take care of Brother Qiang, I'll take care of Brother Qiang!" Hearing Xiao Yuanhang's words, the group all volunteered to stay and take care of Xiaqiang. After thinking for a moment, Wang Dahai said, "Daguo, you have nothing to do at home tonight, so you stay and take care of Xiaqiang. I'll come and replace you tomorrow!"

Daguo said, "Brother Hai, rest assured, I'll take full responsibility for taking care of Brother Qiang!"

Daguo's real name was Wen Jianguo. His parents had been divorced for three or four years, and he lived with his father, who was a train driver and often away. His father was away for most of the month, and when he was home, he just drank and slept, never paying attention to him.

Xiao Yuanhang took out a pack of Liangyou cigarettes from his pocket, opened it, and gave each person one. He threw the rest to Daguo, saying, "Smoke these tonight, and I'll bring you a few more packs tomorrow!"

Everyone's eyes lit up at the sight of the Liangyou cigarettes. Normally, they smoked cheap cigarettes that cost a few cents per pack, and the best they could get was Dahongmei. They had no chance to smoke such good cigarettes. Xiaoliang took out a match to light one, but Xiao Yuanhang waved to stop him, saying, "Xiaoliang, don't smoke in the ward. Let's go outside and smoke."

After comforting Xiaqiang a few words, Xiao Yuanhang and Wang Dahai's group left the ward and walked to the roadside in front of the hospital. They stopped, lit their cigarettes, and started talking. The content was mostly about the gang fight that had just taken place, discussing how many people were on the other side and how they had beaten them to a pulp.

Xiao Yuanhang squatted to the side, smoking and listening to their talk about the fight, but he didn't say anything. He knew that such gang fights could easily result in fatalities. Once someone died, no one involved could escape. They would all be charged with gang-related crimes, and the ringleader might even face the death penalty, while the others would spend several years in prison!

Looking at these familiar faces, Xiao Yuanhang felt a deep sense of emotion. In his previous life, he knew that these people he was familiar with had very tragic endings. Wang Dahai, with his fierce determination, had led his brothers to carve out a territory, and these people were now his core members. However, they had no money and no foundation. Relying solely on their bravery and ferocity, they would eventually become targets for government crackdowns, and their tragic fate was already determined.

According to Xiao Yuanhang's knowledge, Naliqiang, who was in the hospital, had once, in a fight with another gang, used a military dagger to stab the other gang's leader to death and seriously injured two others. After being caught by the police, he took full responsibility for the incident, not betraying his brother Wang Dahai. He was eventually sentenced to death for gang-related crimes and murder and was executed immediately. The others involved in the fight were also sentenced to various terms, ranging from 3 to 20 years. All the people in front of him, except for Wang Dahai and Xiaoliang, were among those sentenced.

Wang Dahai and Xiaoliang, after lying low for three years, were involved in another gang fight where they severely injured the other gang's leader. As a result, Wang Dahai and Xiaoliang were both sentenced to 15 and 12 years in prison, respectively. Before Xiao Yuanhang's rebirth, they had already been released from prison. Xiao Yuanhang could only provide limited support, and at over 40 years old, they still had to work hard to earn a living, leading a very bleak life.

Since he had been reborn, Xiao Yuanhang was determined not to let history repeat itself. He had to guide these brothers to a path of a happy life. The country's legal system would become more and more complete, and violence would have no future. With the early stages of reform and opening up, and his foresight into future developments, as long as they were willing to think and work hard, it would be easy to guide them onto a path of wealth and prosperity!

At this point, if he tried to persuade them not to fight, they wouldn't listen. The social environment at the time made it impossible. Only by leading them onto a path of earning money and showing them the beauty of a wealthy life would they be willing to give up fighting, as no one would easily abandon a happy life.

After finishing their cigarettes, everyone dispersed and went home. Xiao Yuanhang and Wang Dahai walked together, chatting. Xiao Yuanhang said, "Dahai, do you think it's meaningful to spend your days fighting this person or that person, or even being beaten by others? Why not find a job and earn some money every month, even if it's a temporary job?"

Wang Dahai said, "Second Brother, do you think I don't want to? But jobs are not that easy to find. In my father's unit, there are too many people for the coal unloading job, and we only get a few shifts a month, which doesn't earn much. I found a job at the brewery, loading and unloading, and I could earn about 50 yuan a month, though it was tiring. But last month, a relative of the sales department head replaced me, and I got so angry that I smashed all the windows in his office. He reported it, and I had to hide for half a month. Later, I had to buy gifts and apologize to him to settle the matter, or I wouldn't have dared to go home!"

Xiao Yuanhang knew that Wang Dahai was telling the truth. Finding a job at the time was indeed difficult. Restaurants only hired young and attractive waitresses, and someone like Wang Dahai, who was still a teenager, could only work at construction sites, carrying bricks and mixing mortar for 10 hours a day, earning 1.72 to 2.15 yuan. If you had a good contractor, you might get paid, but if you had a bad one, you wouldn't know where to go for your wages after finishing the work.

Xiao Yuanhang said, "Dahai, now that the country is reforming and opening up, it encourages people to get rich. Look at how everyone is making money through business. In this society, having no money is the worst. Take Xiaqiang's case this year; without money, he couldn't even be admitted to the hospital. Reality is that harsh!"

Wang Dahai said, "Second Brother, do you think I don't want to? But I have no money, no connections, and no resources. Selling fruits, vegetables, and eggs, after deducting transportation costs, doesn't leave much profit."

Xiao Yuanhang thought about how he needed to make money to support his father's liver transplant and to advance in his career, which required spending money. He didn't have the time to do it himself, but Wang Dahai could be a good helper. So he said, "Dahai, after I participate in the technical performance competition at the railway bureau next month, I plan to start a business. Why don't you join me? If I have food, I'll make sure you have something to drink!"

"Great!" Wang Dahai was very happy and grabbed Xiao Yuanhang's hand, saying, "Second Brother, you have a good head for business, and you'll definitely make money. I'll follow you!"

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PS: The brothers' support is amazing, and all I can do is thank them. To maintain my current position, please continue to support me. Thank you very much!

{Piaotian Literature}