**Chapter 53**

  After Yang Hui and the others left, Daniu fell asleep again.

  Song Yuncheng returned after seeing off Yang Hui and Ma Yunting. Seeing that Danniu was asleep, he whispered to Ma Hongmei, "You’ve been up all night. Go to Fourth Grandpa’s house and rest for a while."

  Ma Hongmei shook her head. "It’s fine. I’m not tired yet."

  "Go on. I’ve asked the doctor. Daniu lost a lot of blood and needs to recover properly. Go see if Old Nine can get some red dates or other blood-nourishing food to make her some soup," Song Yuncheng said.

  Ma Hongmei thought it made sense. "Alright, I’ll go now."

  "Dad still doesn’t know. I told him Daniu went to the county for training. This morning, I sent Tianxiang to take him and the kids to Grandpa’s pce. They won’t be back for a few days."

  "That’s good. By the time they return, Daniu should be out of the hospital."

  Last night, Old Nine had come to deliver the news directly to the backyard. The couple hadn’t dared to make a sound, afraid that the old man would overhear and be overwhelmed. After Daniu was out of danger in the middle of the night, Song Yuncheng went home to arrange things. He hadn’t told anyone, not even Ma Hongmei, who wasn’t home at the time. He simply said there had been some changes in Ma Shufen’s pns to cover for her absence.

  Ma Hongmei put on her coat and saw Zheng Sen sitting on a stool, staring bnkly at Daniu. She patted his shoulder. "Xiao Zheng, you’ve been up all night too. Come with me to your uncle’s house and rest for a while."

  Zheng Sen shook his head. "It’s fine, Auntie. I’m not tired. I’ll stay here today and rest tonight." He rubbed his face. He looked energetic, but the news from st night had shaken him.

  Zheng Sen had been in the area for about a year and had built good retionships. He often visited the commune and had several friends there. When the incident happened yesterday, one of his close friends rode to the forest farm to inform him. Danou was well-known in the area, and many people in the commune had heard about her being taken to the hospital. It was also thanks to Song Yuncheng that his fifth grandpa blocked the news and did not let the old man know.

  When Zheng Sen heard the news, his legs went weak. He had seen Daniu’s skills and never thought her job would be dangerous. Who could have imagined something like this would happen? Luckily, the forest farm leader happened to be there and arranged for a vehicle to bring him. Otherwise, Zheng Sen might have crashed his bike multiple times on the way.

  After Ma Hongmei left, Zheng Sen thought for a moment and told Song Yuncheng he was stepping out. He went to the post office near the hospital to send a telegram and then stopped by a store to buy some things.

  When he returned to the hospital, Daniu was still asleep. He took the items to the doctor’s office to thank Dr. Wang, the surgeon who had operated on Daniu. Dr. Wang refused to accept the gifts, so Zheng Sen left them in the office, saying they were for the entire department’s doctors and nurses. This time, the doctor didn’t refuse.

  After speaking with the doctor, I felt a sense of relief. The most critical part of Daniu's condition was the massive arterial bleeding, but now the blood vessels have been sutured, and as long as she rests well, she should recover. As for her shoulder bde and cvicle, the bones have been realigned, and with careful rest for three months, they should heal completely without any sting effects.

  Zheng Sen was extremely grateful to Dr. Wang. Upon asking, he found out that Dr. Wang was originally a renowned physician in the capital. He had returned to his hometown to work because he felt the situation there wasn't favorable. Dr. Wang had also studied abroad, and in this era, not many doctors could perform surgeries like suturing the abdominal aorta. If it weren't for Dr. Wang, Daniu might not have made it.

  Daniu slept for an entire day and woke up in the evening. The anesthesia had worn off, and the pain in her abdomen and arm was intense.

  "You're awake," Zheng Sen said with relief, noticing her dry lips. He quickly fetched a cup of water, moistened a cotton swab, and gently dabbed her lips. Then he brought over a soft tube, pcing one end in the cup and handing the other to her. "Have some water."

  Daniu took a sip through the tube and asked, "Did they catch the person?"

  Zheng Sen shook his head. "Not yet. They've expanded the search area and mobilized the militia, but no luck so far."

  Daniu closed her eyes for a moment. "That person must have an accomplice in the commune. It's probably not a close retive, but maybe a distant one or someone with another kind of connection. The person is trained—I couldn't tell their style, but they definitely have martial arts training, likely from a young age. In our commune, there are three people who learned martial arts as children: Zhang Jiabao from the south end of the vilge, who's 34; Hu Qingyuan from the vilge, who's 40; and Zhao Chunsheng from the bridgehead, who's 46." Even while sleeping, her mind had been repying and analyzing the events, and now she had a lot of information to share.

  Zheng Sen never doubted Daniu's mind. Having spent so much time with her, he knew her capabilities well. He quickly took out a pen and paper to jot down her thoughts.

  After he finished writing, Daniu added, "The person is likely between 35 and 40 years old, which matches the ages of these three." If they had trained together, they might be martial arts brothers.

  "Is there anything else you want to add?" Zheng Sen asked after a long pause.

  Daniu shook her head. "Tell the chief that they must catch this person. I can feel that they will strike again."

  Zheng Sen nodded. "Rest well. I'll be back soon."

  After Zheng Sen left, Song Yuncheng sat down on the stool beside Daniu.

  Daniu gave him a weak smile. "Dad, I've worried you all."

  Song Yuncheng shook his head. "As long as you're okay, that's what matters. We haven't told your grandpa or your siblings yet."

  Daniu moved her head slightly. "Good, it's better they don't know. It would only make them worry."

  Song Yuncheng noticed her lips were dry again. "Do you want some water? Are you hungry? Your mom went home to prepare some food for you. She should be back soon."

  "I'm not hungry, just in a lot of pain," she said, wincing. Her left shoulder and hand were throbbing. She moved her fingers slightly—they still worked.

  Song Yuncheng adjusted her pillow to raise her head a bit. "You're lucky to have met Dr. Wang. He performed the surgery on your abdomen and shoulder. He was worried that directly setting the bones might cause issues ter. Your left hand was badly injured, and Dr. Wang said it might have some sting effects. We'll have to see how it heals and do some rehabilitation."

  "I was too careless this time," Daniu said, having gone over the events repeatedly in her mind. "In the past, when I was in the forest, I only dealt with wild animals. With careful pnning, I always came out on top. But humans are different from animals. I overestimated myself." She had always believed that her strength, speed, and senses were beyond ordinary people's, and her unique experiences had given her a sense of invincibility, and she had become arrogant.

  Song Yuncheng watched as his daughter reflected on her actions. "I'm gd you're thinking this way. I believe you won't be so reckless in the future."

  Daniu looked at her father for a long moment before saying, "Next time, I'll still do the same thing."

  Song Yuncheng was stunned. Daniu smiled at him. "Dad, sometimes people need to act with passion. I couldn't just let that person escape. I'm a police officer—it's my duty." There was a sparkle in her eyes that he had never seen before.

  "Dad, you know my mind is different from others," Daniu said, pointing to her head. "It has always given me confidence, making me believe that as long as I want to do something, I can achieve it. But it also made life feel a bit dull. I felt disconnected from the world." This was the first time Daniu had opened up about her feelings. She had so much knowledge in her mind, information from over twenty years in the future, which gave her endless possibilities. But it also made life feel meaningless.

  "Today, while I was asleep, my mind kept working. I thought about Brother Zhang. He had just joined our station and had so many hopes for the future. His family had gone through a lot to get him this position. His child wasn't even a year old yet. A few days ago, he brought the baby to the station, and I held him—such a tiny little thing. But now he's an orphan. When he saw me fall that day, he knew how dangerous the person was, but he chased after him without hesitation."

  "Dad, I don't think I'll ever forget the sight of Brother Zhang walking away. Maybe the reason I came to this world was to do something meaningful." For the first time, Daniu felt a new sense of purpose in her life.

  Song Yuncheng gently stroked his daughter's hair. "Alright, if you've made up your mind, then go for it. I believe my daughter can excel at anything she sets her heart on." Earlier that morning, while Old Seven was eating, Song Yuncheng had talked to him. He had initially thought about using this opportunity to have Daniu transferred to a safer pce. But when he saw the determination in her eyes, he realized that his daughter had found the meaning of her life, and it could never be changed.

  Half an hour ter, Zheng Sen returned with a cy pot. "Are you hungry? I went to Fourth Uncle's house to get some porridge. Auntie said she'll be over soon."

  Daniu's eyes sparkled as she looked at Zheng Sen. Sometimes, crity comes in an instant. She had also come to understand her own feelings.

  She had always kept herself apart from those around her, feeling superior because of her unique abilities and knowledge. On the surface, she was perfect—talented and capable in every way. But deep down, she had a sense of detachment, as if she were looking down on everyone else. It was like she had a god's-eye view, watching people muddle through their lives while she, with her foresight, remained aloof. But how could she truly blend in if she never fully participated?

  Between the two of them, Zheng Sen had done too much. It felt as though she had never truly visited the forest farm or understood Zheng Sen's life.

  She liked Zheng Sen, liked him as a person, but she didn’t want to give too much of herself. She wanted love without giving in return. Was she afraid of getting hurt? Perhaps it was more about selfishness, loving only herself.

  Love is mutual. To make it st, it needs to be nurtured bit by bit. Otherwise, over time, love will fade away.

  Zheng Sen didn’t know what she was thinking, but for the first time, her gaze toward him was soft and warm. Seeing her like this, he felt immense joy, as if his long-held feelings had finally received a response.

  "The porridge is still warm. Auntie added some red dates and brown sugar. It smells so good; I’m getting hungry just from the aroma."

  Daniu nodded eagerly. "I want some."

  Zheng Sen quickly scooped some porridge onto the lid of the thermos, tasted it with a spoon, and said, "It’s just right. Let me feed you." He then fed her a spoonful.

  "It’s so sweet." The warm porridge slid down her throat, warming her stomach as it went.

  "Then have some more." Zheng Sen continued feeding her spoonful by spoonful.

  Song Yuncheng took the thermos to fetch water, deciding it was best not to stay in the room and be a third wheel.