Chapter 575 The storm is not over yet
Liang Lu took Qi Dawei back to Qi Tongwei, and the family continued to rush to where medical assistance might be available. Along the way, the atmosphere was dull and depressing, and everyone was immersed in their own thoughts and pain. Qi Dawei walked silently, no longer crying, but there was still a hint of stubbornness and grievance in his eyes. Qi Tongwei hugged Qi Xiaowei tightly, and his steps became heavier. He didn't know what was waiting for them ahead, but he knew that no matter what, he would fight for the fate of this family, even if he faced endless unknowns and difficult choices.
Qi Tongwei was holding Qi Xiaowei and walking forward with great anxiety, when the ringing of his cell phone suddenly pierced the dull and depressing atmosphere. He hurriedly took out his cell phone, and Gao Xiaofeng's crying voice came from the other end of the line: "Qi Tongwei, the teacher is in a very bad condition. The truck hit him and he suffered multiple comminuted fractures all over his body. He is in critical condition now. Please come quickly!"
Qi Tongwei felt a buzzing in his head and was struck by dizziness. His body trembled slightly, and tears flowed uncontrollably down his cheeks. Those were the tears of a man in extreme pain and helplessness, carrying his respect and guilt for his mentor, and his struggle and despair for his family's plight. "I... Xiaowei is also sick here, and we are still halfway there. There is no car, what should I do?" Qi Tongwei's voice was choked with sobs, almost begging.
Liang Lu was also shocked when she heard the content of the call. She looked at Qi Tongwei's painful expression and felt mixed emotions. Qi Dawei seemed to be frightened by his father's tears. He tightly grasped the corner of his mother's clothes, and the stubbornness and grievance in his eyes were gradually replaced by worry.
Qi Tongwei tried to hold back his tears and calm himself. He looked around, in the wilderness, and could not see any signs of help. "I'll contact the nearby villages first to see if I can find a car." As he spoke, he began to call the contact numbers of the surrounding villages, but the calls were either unanswered or the signal was disconnected. Every busy tone was like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart hard.
He tried to call some of his former friends, but those who used to be so close to him either made excuses or hung up the phone vaguely after hearing his request for help. Qi Tongwei was filled with sadness. At this critical moment, he truly saw the fickleness of human nature.
"Is there no other way?" Qi Tongwei roared to the sky, his voice echoing in the valley, filled with endless resentment. He looked at Qi Xiaowei who was unconscious in his arms, and thought of Gao Yuliang who was in imminent danger, and felt as if he was trapped in a nightmare from which he could not wake up.
At this time, Qi Dawei came over timidly and pulled the corner of Qi Tongwei's clothes: "Dad, I was wrong, let's save my brother first." Qi Tongwei looked at his son and felt a sharp pain in his heart. He squatted down and hugged Qi Dawei tightly: "Son, it's Dad's fault. Dad will definitely find a way."
Liang Lu also came over and held Qi Tongwei's hand: "Tongwei, let's send Xiaowei to the nearest town hospital first, and then find a way to see Teacher Gao. This is the only way we can do now." Qi Tongwei looked at his wife and son and nodded. He stood up, picked up Qi Xiaowei again, took a deep breath, and walked forward firmly.
They continued along the mountain road, and every step was full of hardship. Qi Tongwei's legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, but he had a belief in his heart that he would never give up. Finally, they saw the outline of a small village in the distance. A glimmer of hope surged in Qi Tongwei's heart, and he quickened his pace and ran towards the village.
After entering the village, Qi Tongwei asked around for a car to take them to town. The villagers saw their miserable state and gathered around. An enthusiastic uncle said, "I have a motorcycle at home. You can ride it to town first. It's faster than walking." Qi Tongwei was grateful. He took the motorcycle key, handed Qi Xiaowei to Liang Lu to take care of, and then said to Qi Dawei, "Dawei, you and mom wait here for me. I will take my brother to the hospital in town first and come back to pick you up soon."
Qi Tongwei rode his motorcycle towards the town at lightning speed. Along the way, Gao Yuliang and Qi Xiaowei kept appearing in his mind. He didn't know if he could get there in time and save their lives. He only knew that he had to try his best, even if there was only a glimmer of hope.
When he rushed to the town hospital, the doctor immediately examined Qi Xiaowei. Qi Tongwei waited anxiously outside the emergency room, and every minute seemed as long as a century. Finally, the doctor came out and said: "The child has acute gastroenteritis, and the bumpy journey and fatigue make the condition more serious, but there is no danger to life for the time being. He needs to be hospitalized for observation and treatment." Qi Tongwei heaved a sigh of relief when he heard the news, and a big stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.
He immediately arranged for Qi Xiaowei's hospitalization, and then began to prepare to go to Handong to visit Gao Yuliang. He contacted taxi drivers in the town, but when the drivers heard that they were going to Handong, they all shook their heads and refused because the journey was long and the road conditions were complicated. Qi Tongwei was in trouble again. He paced back and forth in the corridor of the hospital, anxious.
Just then, his cell phone rang. It was Liang Lu calling: "Tongwei, how are you? Dawei has been worried about you and your brother." Qi Tongwei briefly explained the situation, and then said: "I can't go to Handong yet. I can't find a car." Liang Lu was silent for a while on the other end of the phone, and then said: "Then you take care of Xiaowei first. Dawei and I will take care of ourselves here."
After Qi Tongwei hung up the phone, he decided to try his luck in the town again. He walked out of the hospital and asked around in the streets and alleys of the town. Finally, he found a driver who was willing to take the risk to go to Handong, but the price was very high. Qi Tongwei agreed without hesitation. He just wanted to get to Gao Yuliang as soon as possible.
He got in a taxi and sped towards Handong. Along the way, he looked at the passing scenery outside the window and prayed silently in his heart that Gao Yuliang could survive this. This man who was once full of confidence and pride in officialdom and life now seemed so fragile and helpless. He knew that he was facing not only the life and death test of his mentor, but also a huge challenge to his life beliefs and family responsibilities. And his fate, in this series of changes, was like a small boat in the wind and rain, drifting and uncertain, and no one knew where it would eventually go.
Qi Tongwei sat in the taxi anxiously, constantly urging the driver to speed up. However, fate always seemed to like playing tricks on people. When the taxi drove to a remote section of the road, there was a loud "bang" and the taxi collided with a motorcycle that suddenly appeared.
Qi Tongwei was dizzy after being hit, and it took him a while to recover. He hurriedly looked at the driver, only to see that the driver was a fierce man with a scar on his face. The scarred driver cursed as soon as he got out of the car. After checking his car, he rushed to Qi Tongwei viciously: "You unlucky guy, you crashed my car. Don't think about leaving today without tens of thousands of dollars!"
Qi Tongwei was extremely anxious. He was concerned about Gao Yuliang's safety and had no time to bother with him. "I have something urgent to do. I need to go see my teacher. He is dying now. I can't waste time here." Qi Tongwei said, trying to control his emotions.
Scarface sneered, "I don't care if you're a teacher or not. If you hit my car, you have to pay compensation. Stop pretending to be pitiful in front of me." Qi Tongwei took a deep breath and took out the only cash he had from his wallet, "This is all I have. I'll give it to you first. I really have to leave quickly."
Scarface looked at the money and threw it on the ground with disdain: "Are you sending away a beggar? This amount of money is not even enough to repair the car." Qi Tongwei's face turned ugly: "I already said I have something urgent to do, don't go too far."
Scarface got even angrier when he heard this, and grabbed Qi Tongwei by the collar: "How dare you talk back to me? If you don't get the money together today, don't even think about leaving here." Qi Tongwei struggled to break free from his hand: "I don't have time to make trouble with you, I have to go to the hospital."
Seeing that Qi Tongwei refused to give in, Scarface took out an iron rod from the car and shook it in his hand: "If you dare to leave, I will be rude to you." Qi Tongwei felt desperate. He did not expect to encounter such trouble at this critical moment. "You are breaking the law. I warn you." He tried to use the law to deter the other party.
But Scarface didn't care at all: "In this wilderness, who would know that I'm breaking the law? If you don't pay the money today, you'll have no chance of getting away with it." Qi Tongwei looked at the unreasonable man in front of him and clenched his fists. He really wanted to rush over and escape regardless of everything, but he was worried that it would cause more serious conflicts and waste more time.
"I really went to save my mentor. He has done me so much good. Please consider it as a favor." Qi Tongwei almost begged. Scarface was indifferent: "That's your business. It has nothing to do with me. I only care about my car and my money."
Qi Tongwei paced back and forth, struggling in his heart. On one side was Gao Yuliang, who was dying, and every second of delay could make him regret for the rest of his life; on the other side was this unreasonable scarred man, blocking his way. He felt like he was trapped in a desperate situation, and no matter what choice he made, it was full of helplessness and sadness.
"What do you want in exchange for letting me go?" Qi Tongwei asked through gritted teeth. Scarface thought for a moment and said, "Unless you find someone to guarantee me, or leave something valuable behind." Qi Tongwei searched his body and found nothing valuable except his cell phone, which he needed to contact the hospital and his family.
"I have nothing to give you, can't you be flexible?" Qi Tongwei's voice was filled with anger and despair. Scarface was still unyielding: "Then don't even think about leaving."
Qi Tongwei looked at the road in the distance, feeling helpless. He didn't know how to get out of this predicament and get to Gao Yuliang as soon as possible. Every minute that passed was like a knife cutting his heart. His forehead was covered with sweat, and his eyes revealed deep anxiety and despair, as if at this moment, he had lost control of his fate and could only let this hateful man trap him in this endless torment.
Qi Tongwei and Scarface were at a stalemate, his anger was like a volcano about to erupt. "You are taking advantage of the situation! My teacher is on the verge of death in the hospital, and you are making things difficult for me!" Qi Tongwei's eyes were red, and veins on his neck were bulging.
Scarface grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and sneered: "Humph, I don't care who your teacher is. I just got out of prison, and I'm worried about not having the money to start over, and you just delivered it to my door." Qi Tongwei felt even more disgusted when he heard his words, "You should have behaved yourself right after you got out of prison, instead of doing this kind of thing here!"
Scarface seemed to be touched in a sore spot. He was furious and waved the iron rod in his hand: "You little white face, you are trying to teach me a lesson! If you don't give me the money today, not only will I not let you go, I will also teach you a lesson!" Qi Tongwei met his gaze fearlessly, "If you dare to do this, I will not let you go, and the law will punish you!"
"Law? Who will care about you in this place where no one lives?" Scarface laughed wildly and approached Qi Tongwei step by step. Qi Tongwei knew that it was useless to reason with such a person, but he had no other choice. Various thoughts flashed through his mind quickly, trying to find a way to break through the dilemma.
At this moment, Qi Tongwei thought of some of his connections in the officialdom. He hurriedly took out his cell phone and wanted to call a friend who once had some influence in the local area. However, the other end of the line came with a cold "The number you dialed is turned off." Qi Tongwei's heart was completely chilled. He looked at the scarred face in despair, "Are you really going to do this?"
Scarface shook the iron rod in his hand, "I'll say it again, either give me the money or find someone to guarantee me, otherwise you can't leave." Qi Tongwei suppressed his inner grief and anger, "I really don't have any money now, and I can't find anyone to guarantee me, but I can write you a receipt. When I finish dealing with my teacher's affairs, I will come back and give you the money. I am also a well-known figure in Handong, and I will not default on my debt."