The sunlight shines through the window and slanted on the old-fashioned sofa, and her mother-in-law, Li Xiufen, is knitting a sweater with her head down, holding her reading glasses from time to time. The room was quiet, except for the subtle sound of needle tips. Suddenly, her brow furrowed, and she felt a wave of dizziness hit her, and the needle and thread in her hand slipped weakly.
"Xiufen, what's wrong with you?" Aunt Wang in the next room heard the strange noise, hurriedly walked in, and saw Li Xiufen's face as pale as paper.
"I... Dizziness..." Li Xiufen said a few words with difficulty, and her body shook.
Aunt Wang hurriedly held her up, and anxiously shouted outside the door: "Mingyuan, come and see your mother!" ”
Li Mingyuan was repairing his bicycle in the yard when he heard a shout, and the wrench in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang". He hurried into the house, and when he saw his mother's appearance, his heart was like a knife.
"Mom, if you hold on, I'll take you to the hospital." Li Mingyuan's voice was full of panic and worry.
Li Xiufen nodded painfully, let her son and Aunt Wang support her, and rushed to the community hospital.
The emergency room of a hospital is always busy and stressful, and the pungent smell of disinfectant fills the air. Li Mingyuan anxiously paced back and forth in the corridor, looking at the door of the emergency room where he was being examined.
"Sir, how is your mother doing?" A young intern asked cautiously.
"I don't know yet, it's been a long time." Li Mingyuan's voice trembled slightly.
At this time, Liu Xiaoli came in a hurry, and when she saw her husband's anxious expression, she couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Mingyuan, what's wrong with Mom? Is the situation serious? Liu Xiaoli asked eagerly.
"Still checking, I don't know." Li Mingyuan shook his head, his eyes confused.
Liu Xiaoli held her husband's hand and tried to give him some comfort. The two sat side by side, quietly waiting for news from the doctor. Time seemed unusually long, and every second was filled with endless worries.
Finally, the door to the emergency room opened, and a middle-aged doctor walked out, taking off his mask and looking serious.
"You are Li Xiufen's family, right? Please come with me. The doctor's voice was calm and powerful.
Li Mingyuan and Liu Xiaoli glanced at each other, quickly stood up and followed the doctor to the side of the conversation room.
The doctor explained Li Xiufen's condition in detail, and after a series of examinations, it was found that there was a problem with the cerebral blood vessels, and she needed to be hospitalized immediately and undergo surgery.
"The cost of surgery is not low, you have to be mentally prepared." The doctor finally reminded.
Li Mingyuan frowned, and his heart was entangled. He knew that his family's financial situation was not well-off, and the medical expenses this time was undoubtedly a huge burden.
"Doctor, no matter how much money it is, we'll figure it out." Li Mingyuan replied firmly, although he had no bottom in his heart.
Liu Xiaoli stood aside, her face solemn, she didn't speak, but her eyes revealed deep worry.
In the ward, Li Xiufen lay quietly on the hospital bed, pale but much more stable. The sunlight outside the window shone on her face, adding a touch of life to her. Li Mingyuan sat on the edge of the bed, holding his mother's hand, his eyes full of guilt and anxiety.
"Mom, you can rest assured that I will solve the medical expenses." Li Mingyuan comforted softly.
Li Xiufen nodded slightly, and the corners of her mouth barely squeezed out a smile. She knew her son was stressed, but there was nothing she could do.
At this time, Liu Xiaoli pushed the door and came in, carrying a bag of fruit in her hand. Her face was still worried, but she struggled to squeeze out a smile.
"Mom, I bought you some fruit, you can eat some." Liu Xiaoli's voice was as soft as possible.
Li Xiufen glanced up at her daughter-in-law, with mixed feelings in her heart. She knew that her daughter-in-law might not be willing to bear this sudden expense, but what could she say? I can only silently take the fruit.
"Xiaoli, about the medical expenses—" Li Mingyuan opened his mouth to discuss with his wife.
Liu Xiaoli interrupted him: "I know, let's go home and talk about this." With that, she turned around and began to sort out the fruits she had brought, avoiding the topic.
Li Mingyuan sighed and said no more. He knew the topic was too sensitive for them, but he had to face it. He loved his wife and did not want to see her suffer, and he felt extremely tormented in the middle.
Back at home, Liu Xiaoli finally couldn't help but explode.
"Mingyuan, do you know what this medical bill means to us? We don't have much savings, as well as children's tuition fees, mortgages, ......," Liu Xiaoli said, the more excited she became.
"I know, I know." Li Mingyuan interrupted her irritably, "But that's my mother, what can I do?" Is it just to watch her suffer? ”
"It's not that I don't want to take care of it, but we need to have a plan!" Liu Xiaoli's eyes were red, and there was crying in her voice.
The couple's argument was fruitless, and the atmosphere fell into awkwardness and heaviness. As night fell, there was silence in the house, except for the heavy breathing of two people and unsolved problems.
Early the next morning, Li Mingyuan came to the community park early with a heavy heart, hoping that the coolness of the early morning would make him a little more sober. There are already a few early risers in the park who are leisurely exercising in the morning, and the air is filled with a faint mist and the fresh scent of the earth.
"Mingyuan, I heard that your mother is sick, how is the situation?" Uncle Zhang, a neighbor, asked with concern as he jogged over.
"Well, it's serious, and surgery is needed." Li Mingyuan smiled bitterly, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Oh, what can I do? I also know your family's economic conditions, so if you have any difficulties, just say it. Uncle Zhang patted Li Mingyuan on the shoulder, his tone full of sympathy.
At this moment, several residents of the community also gathered around, and everyone expressed their concern and support.
"It shouldn't be a problem for all of us to make some money, your mother is so good, we can't sit idly by." Aunt Wang said and began to touch her wallet.
"Yes, we are all a family, and it is right to help each other." Another neighbor chimed in.
Li Mingyuan looked at these enthusiastic neighbors, and the gloom in his heart seemed to be dispelled by this warmth. He was so moved that he could barely speak, and could only nod his head again and again to express his gratitude.
"Thank you all, thank you very much! Every penny I spend on my mother's treatment. Li Mingyuan's voice was choked and sincere.
Everyone quickly scraped together a large amount of money, although there was still a certain distance from the cost of the operation, but this sudden warmth made Li Mingyuan see hope. He decided to go to the hospital in the afternoon to discuss with the doctor if he could pay in installments or if there was another solution.
On the way home, Li Mingyuan's mood improved significantly. He thought about how to explain all this to Liu Xiaoli, hoping to get her understanding and support. After all, they are a family, and they can only get through difficulties by facing them together.
The afternoon sun shines on the old residential buildings, and the dappled shadows cast on the busy streets. After Li Mingyuan returned from the hospital, he went directly to the community meeting room, where many residents who were concerned about Li Xiufen's condition had gathered.
Pushing open the door, a lively discussion rushed in. When the community director saw Li Mingyuan coming in, he immediately beckoned everyone to be quiet.
"Mingyuan is here, you can tell everyone about the situation in the hospital." The community director said mildly.
Li Mingyuan cleared his throat and explained the hospital's treatment plan and the cost in detail. His voice trembled slightly, but his gaze was steadfast.
"We've just raised some money, but it's not enough." The community director took over and then turned to the residents, "Do you have any good suggestions or additional resources?" ”
For a while, there was a lot of discussion in the conference room. Some suggested organising a charity sale, others approaching charities for help, and others using social media to raise money.
"I thought I could reach out to local media outlets and ask them to cover our fundraising campaign and expand their impact." A young mom suggested.
"Yes, online fundraising is very popular now, we can give it a try." Another retired teacher chimed in.
Li Mingyuan was deeply touched by the enthusiasm and creativity of the people, and he never imagined that the power of the community would be so great. In the end, everyone agreed to raise funds in a variety of ways at the same time to ensure that Li Xiufen could have a smooth operation.
After the meeting, Li Mingyuan stood at the door, looking at the neighbors who left with a smile on their faces, and his heart was surging. He hurried home, ready to share the good news with Liu Xiaoli. Perhaps, this crisis could be an opportunity for their families and communities to come together.
In the evening, the lights in the home are warm and soft. Li Mingyuan sat at the dining table, opposite Liu Xiaoli, who was still a little sullen. He patiently explained to her what happened at today's community meeting and everyone's support and help.
"Xiaoli, I know you're under a lot of pressure during this time, and so am I." Li Mingyuan said softly, "But today I saw a different picture, our neighbors and friends are trying their best to help us. ”
Liu Xiaoli raised her head, and a trace of emotion flashed in her eyes: "I really didn't expect that so many people would be willing to help." ”
"Yes, I was deeply touched too." Li Mingyuan held her hand, "Let's face this difficulty together, for my mother and for our family." ”
Liu Xiaoli nodded, tears in her eyes: "I understand you, and I will do my best." Let's figure it out together. ”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was a few neighbors who brought some home-cooked meals and fruits, worried that they were too busy taking care of Li Xiufen to neglect their own food.
"Thank you, thank you so much." Liu Xiaoli sincerely expressed her gratitude to her neighbors.
In the days that followed, the whole community functioned like a giant family. Preparations for the bazaar were in full swing, and fundraising pages on social media were widely disseminated and responded to. Many people have reached out to help, both those they know and those they don't.
Looking at the unity of the community residents, the relationship between Li Mingyuan and Liu Xiaoli has also been quietly repaired and strengthened. They learn to communicate and collaborate in the face of a common goal, and the family atmosphere becomes more harmonious as a result.
A week later, the cost of the surgery was successfully raised. Outside the operating room of the hospital, while Li Mingyuan, Liu Xiaoli and several neighbors were anxiously waiting, they were more of a mutual support and trust with each other. This challenge made them realize the power of family and community.
The hospital is particularly quiet in the early morning, with sunlight shining through the glass windows on the clean corridors. Li Mingyuan and Liu Xiaoli walked into the ward hand in hand, and they were greeted by Li Xiufen, who had just woken up. Although her face was still a little pale, her eyes had rekindled the brilliance of life.
"Mom, how are you feeling?" Li Mingyuan asked softly, his eyes full of concern.
"Much better, thank you." Although Li Xiufen's voice was weak, it was full of gratitude.
Liu Xiaoli took out a bowl of carefully boiled porridge and fed it to her mother-in-law gently: "Mom, eat something, you need to replenish your strength." ”
Li Xiufen nodded, crying while eating: "I've worked hard for you all this time, I really don't know how to thank everyone." ”
"Mom, this is what we should do." Liu Xiaoli's eyes were also red, and she held her mother-in-law's hand, "We are a family." ”
During the post-operative recovery, the community as a whole continued to show strong cohesion. Residents took turns coming to the hospital to help take care of Li Xiufen and cheer her on. Doctors and nurses alike were touched by the community's solidarity and said they rarely saw such a scene.
A few weeks later, Li Xiufen recovered and was discharged from the hospital. The moment she returned home, the neighbors spontaneously organized a small celebration to celebrate her return and health. In the laughter, the Li family's plight finally came to a successful end.