Chapter 11: Deliberately Forgotten Memories

Ji Ling carefully selected another ten ewes, finally narrowing down her previously expanding appetite and stopping there.

However, for these ten ewes, Ji Ling certainly did not have the cash on hand, nor did Shixi Village. She and Secretary Li engaged in some back-and-forth negotiations, and it was only then that Secretary Li quietly agreed to settle the payment after the New Year.

Since Secretary Li had made a concession for Ji Ling, naturally, she found it difficult to refuse his proposal. Citing the need to guide the villagers of Shixi in breeding techniques, Secretary Li trailed behind Ji Ling eagerly.

Ji Ling chose to ignore his sly intentions.

But as the two reached the village entrance, they saw someone running from afar, shouting loudly, “Ji Ling! Ji Ling! It’s bad—your brother’s condition seems serious! Your parents are frantic; you need to come back quickly.”

Ji Ling’s feet stopped instantly at the sound.

Secretary Li glanced at Ji Ling, whose expression had turned grim, and hurriedly said, “You go ahead and take care of things. I’ll find Old Man Hua and arrange for the livestock.”

Ji Ling gave a stiff smile and nodded at Secretary Li, then turned and sprinted home. Watching Ji Ling’s retreating figure, Secretary Li sighed—every family has its burdens.

Just as Ji Ling reached the doorstep, she heard her mother wailing uncontrollably, while her father stood at the entrance, holding her mother up, saying, “Don’t cry. Shen Yi just went to borrow a car. Once it’s secured, we’ll rush him to the hospital. He’ll be fine.”

Her father’s reassurances belied the tremor in his hands.

Crossing the threshold, Ji Ling saw her elder brother being lifted from the bed. The carefully buried memories surged like a storm beneath the surface.

In the previous life, before her brother’s illness had worsened, he often teased her, delighting in her pouting and shrieking. He would laugh heartily and call his little sister adorable. She had been quite mischievous as a child, but her brother always protected her when she erred. She liked trailing behind him, calling out “Brother, brother” with affection.

When had this precious and beautiful sibling bond changed?

Perhaps it was when her mother wanted her to drop out of school, or when she saw her mother sighing over her brother’s illness and suggesting marriage as a way to raise money for treatment. Ji Ling thought it was around then that a knot formed deep in her heart.

Over the years, when she learned of the family’s unraveling, whether from hatred towards others or herself, she deliberately tried to forget it all.

“Lingling, don’t be afraid. Brother… I’m fine. Don’t worry,” Ji Qing said, his face pale as he lay on a wooden plank padded with blankets, lips trembling but forcing a faint smile.

Ji Ling turned her head away. At that moment, Shen Yi pushed a cart hurriedly toward them. “We’ll take you to the hospital.”

The group scrambled to get Ji Qing onto the vehicle, racing against time to reach the hospital just in time.

Outside the emergency room, Ji Ling’s parents paced anxiously. Ji Ling’s father held her mother’s hand tightly, eyes grave as he stared at the flashing red light above the door. Ji Ling sat on a bench at one end, head bowed, her face unreadable.

Suddenly, the emergency room door opened, breaking the heavy silence in the corridor.

“Family members of the patient, the current condition is critical. If there is a special medicine available, there might be a chance for improvement.”

“Special medicine? Where can we get it?” Ji Ling’s mother stepped forward anxiously, pressing for answers.

“If you have connections, you can try to reach the higher-ups. If they approve, this matter will be much easier to handle.”

“Connections?” Ji Ling’s father panted heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead, murmuring, “We have no connections.”

Shen Yi had been standing in the corner from the start, worried that Ji Ling could not bear the stress if something went wrong. Hearing the doctor, his eyes brimmed with complex emotions. His hands clenched and relaxed repeatedly before he silently turned and walked away.