Wang Xiangyong’s surgery was completed, and his broken arm was realigned and fixed. After some time of recuperation, it would be fine.

However, Grandma Wang couldn’t be saved and passed away on the second day after being admitted to the hospital.

Ling Chengyan left the matter to Fu Qiang. The investigation results showed that Wang Xiangyong’s skills were quite decent, and he had established a bit of a reputation around the area over the past year or so. A group of people brought something for repair that Wang Xiangyong couldn’t fix, which made them furious.

Ling Chengyan frowned as she listened, "Don’t we know what he was supposed to repair?"

Fu Qiang shook his head, "I asked people from the neighboring shops. They only knew something was being repaired, but they didn’t know what it was."

Ling Chengyan rubbed her nose, lowered her eyes for a moment, and said, "Don’t you think this is a bit strange?"

Typically, when sending appliances for repair, people would directly say, ’it’s the fridge’ or ’it’s the TV’...

According to Fu Qiang’s knowledge, before the fight broke out, that group of people began arguing loudly, and only then did others hear the reason—that Wang Xiangyong didn’t fix something for them—yet, they didn’t mention what it was, which seems somewhat odd upon reflection.

Fu Qiang: "I’ll go investigate further then."

Ling Chengyan nodded her head and, seeing Fu Qiang was about to leave, she asked, "How are the arrangements at the hospital?"

"Deputy Team Leader Tian said he would handle Grandma Wang’s funeral arrangements. He hired a caregiver for Wang Xiangyong; it’s little Jiajia..."

"Is that child still unwilling to leave the hospital?" Ling Chengyan asked.

"Yes." Fu Qiang nodded, his face showing some emotion, "That child keeps guarding Grandma Wang, refusing to let anybody take her away. Later, unable to persist, she ran to sit by the mortuary entrance and waited..."

Ling Chengyan also felt a pang of sadness and sighed, "The little girl was raised by Grandma Wang, she surely has deep feelings for her."

After inquiring about the situation, Ling Chengyan signaled Fu Qiang to investigate further while she called Zhang Yuanhong to accompany her to the hospital.

Even though she was mentally prepared, seeing Wang Xiangyong in person still surprised Ling Chengyan.

Wang Xiangyong’s entire face was swollen and bruised, with hardly any untouched area. His left eyelid was so swollen like a blister that he couldn’t open his eye. His lips were swollen outward, and he lost two teeth... Since being admitted to the hospital, he was mostly in a state of semi-consciousness, and they hadn’t even told him about Grandma Wang’s passing yet.

He also had severe dizziness and nausea symptoms. Not to mention his original condition of high-level paralysis, which even a person with healthy limbs couldn’t manage, let alone take care of his daughter.

After checking on Wang Xiangyong, Ling Chengyan turned to find the hospital basement where the mortuary was located.

The lighting was dim, and the corridor was silent. In the stairway corner, she saw little Jiajia sleeping by the mortuary door, leaning against the wall.

The nurse who led them there sighed, "The little girl is too stubborn; no matter who tries persuading or comforting her, it doesn’t work. She insists on waiting here to go home with Grandma."

Speaking of it, even the nurse, accustomed to witnessing life and death, was choked up.

Ling Chengyan gestured to stop Zhang Yuanhong and the nurse. She walked over alone.

The little girl was covered with a towel blanket, her small body curled up in the corner, like a little kitten abandoned, under the weak light. Her slightly yellow hair was tousled like a cat’s tangled fur.

Ling Chengyan leaned over and softly called her, "Jiajia, Jiajia..."

The little girl responded with a hum, suddenly opened her eyes.

She lifted her head and gazed foggily at Ling Chengyan, her eyes still unfocused from awakening, making her look even more pitiful and drawing empathy.

Ling Chengyan smiled, "Jiajia, do you still recognize me?"

Jiajia blinked as if coming to her senses but didn’t speak. She tilted her head, blinking, looking at Ling Chengyan for a while, then finally spoke, "You are Aunt Ling."

Ling Chengyan smiled, reaching out to touch Jiajia’s little hand, "Yes, Jiajia is so smart, she remembers Aunt Ling. Jiajia, are you hungry? Do you want some water? How about Aunt Ling takes you to have some food and drink?"

Jiajia instinctively shook her head, then glanced at the door and murmured, "Grandma, Jiajia wants to wait for Grandma."

Ling Chengyan simply squatted down, saying, "Grandma is asleep, how about Jiajia goes to eat first?"

Jiajia blinked hard, looked at Ling Chengyan, and asked, "Grandma, asleep?"

Ling Chengyan nodded, "Yes, Grandma is tired and fell asleep. Jiajia, let’s not disturb her; let Aunt Ling take you to eat, okay?"

Jiajia probably was very hungry and thirsty. After thinking a bit, she finally nodded.

Ling Chengyan reached out to pick her up, wrapped her in the towel blanket, holding her in her arms. A strong smell of urine hit her nose; feeling it with her hand, she discovered the little girl’s pants were stiff, clearly wet and then dried while worn.

Her heart tightened, holding the child as she left the basement, got in the car, and headed back.

Jiajia tilted her head, looked out the car window, and suddenly asked, "Grandma will wake up, can’t find Jiajia, be angry."

A sharp pang struck Ling Chengyan’s heart, almost bringing tears to her eyes.

She held Jiajia all along, gently patting the little girl’s back, softly saying, "No, Aunt Ling told the nurse sister, Grandma wakes up, and nurse sister will tell her."

Only then did Jiajia feel at ease, her little body snuggled against Ling Chengyan, finding a comfortable position as her eyelids slowly drooped with the vehicle’s gentle bumping.

This time, Ling Chengyan didn’t call her, letting her sleep.

She took the child to her dormitory at the station, warmed water to wash and clean her before tucking her into bed to sleep.

Fu Qiang brought over two sets of new clothes for the little girl, while Ling Chengyan was steaming eggs with milk using a small electric cooker, making an especially tender and fragrant steamed egg.

Ling Chengyan woke up Jiajia, and gave her a set of new autumn clothes to wear. The steamed egg cooled down just enough, and the little girl ate heartily with a spoon, devouring two steamed eggs and half a glass of milk.

Ling Chengyan gave her some warm water to rinse her mouth, then tucked the little girl into bed: "Your clothes have been washed; you lay down for a while until they’re dry and then you can wear them out."

The little girl obediently nodded and tightly wrapped herself in the blanket.

Ling Chengyan brought over a children’s magazine and told her stories, but before finishing one story about "Fire Fox," the little girl fell asleep.

The little girl was exhausted, sleeping from noon until evening.

By the time she woke up, it was already dark outside, and the room was lit.

"Grandma!" The little girl called out before her eyes were fully open.

Ling Chengyan came over, sat by her bed, and brought over a set of clean clothes.

Jiajia blinked, looking at the lovely light blue coat and dark blue pants, her eyes showing she liked them but was hesitant to reach for them: "These aren’t Jiajia’s."

Ling Chengyan accepted the warm towel Fu Qiang handed over and wiped the little girl’s face and hands, then applied some children’s cream on her, saying, "Jiajia’s clothes were washed and aren’t dry yet. These clothes were bought for Jiajia by sister, do you like them?"

"I like them." Jiajia looked at Fu Qiang obediently and softly thanked, "Thank you, sister."

Fu Qiang smiled at her, "There’s delicious rib rice; Jiajia, quickly put on your clothes."

Jiajia tilted her head, and asked Ling Chengyan, "Aunt Ling, has Grandma woken up?"

Ling Chengyan dressed her in pants and helped her put on socks and shoes, then looked up saying, "Aunt has been here with Jiajia, don’t know. Jiajia, get up and eat, then Aunt will take you to have a look, okay?"

Upon hearing she could go see Grandma, Jiajia brightened up, nodded, eagerly agreed, turned over, and slipped off the bed, running to the table, waiting for a meal.