Chapter 31: High Five
Old Man Ge had arrived at the scene a bit later than Su He, so he hadn’t witnessed what happened firsthand. He only heard the story from the bystanders.
He knew how dangerous it could be when someone choked on food—if not handled properly, it could easily turn fatal.
This little girl had somehow made the child spit out the foreign object just by patting him? Was it a coincidence, or did she know some kind of method?
Old Man Ge called over the wall of the courtyard, “Hey little girl, don’t be so smug! Tell me your name one more time—I promise I won’t forget it this time.”
Su He had intended to spread awareness about the Heimlich maneuver anyway. It could save lives in critical moments.
So she snorted and said, “Fine, but this is the last time. My name is Su He. ‘He’ as in ‘grain seedling.’”
Old Man Ge nodded quickly. “Got it, got it! Now tell me exactly how you saved the kid. Did you really just pat him a few times and the date pit came out?”
Su He climbed over the courtyard wall into Old Man Ge’s yard. Seeing a broom propped in the corner, she picked it up and used it to demonstrate the Heimlich maneuver.
She gave a detailed explanation, covering different techniques based on age and condition of the patient.
After hearing it all, Old Man Ge began muttering to himself. Su He couldn’t understand most of it, but it sounded like he was analyzing the technique’s validity.
After a long while, Old Man Ge finally exclaimed, “Whoever came up with this rescue method is a true genius! Girl, where did you learn this?”
Su He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t think I invented it?”
Old Man Ge scoffed. “Your explanation was full of holes. If I weren’t well-versed in medicine, I’d have been misled. There’s no way you came up with this yourself.”
Su He: “…”
Fine. She did know how to perform the maneuver, but she only had a shallow understanding of the medical terminology.
“I picked it up while I was in the provincial capital. I heard it was developed by a foreign doctor last year. Something called… the Heimlich maneuver, I think. I don’t think it’s widespread in China yet—most people haven’t heard of it.”
Old Man Ge went quiet, deep in thought. This kind of effective method really should be shared widely. He figured he could come up with a way to promote it…
After a while, he asked, “You said you learned it in the capital? Weren’t you raised in the countryside?”
Su He sighed and shared her background story. Then she added, “Originally it was a nurse’s negligence that caused it all. But Shen Ruyi blamed our Su family and even swore to destroy us completely…”
Old Man Ge paused. Over ten years ago, he had lived in a village for two years. Back then, a young couple had brought a little girl to him for treatment.
The child had been born weak, and it had taken him considerable effort to nurse her back to health.
Could that girl have been the very Shen Ruyi Su He was talking about?
If so, then she was truly a heartless ingrate!
He had been reluctant to treat anyone at that time. But the couple had begged on their knees, and he finally took the risk to help her.
Their village was several dozen miles from Huangxi Village. The couple used to take turns carrying the girl to see him…
Old Man Ge shared his suspicions, and Su He became even more certain she had made a valuable connection!
If Old Man Ge had managed to heal Shen Ruyi back then, his medical skills had to be outstanding. She’d struck gold!
Su He intentionally tried to grow closer to him. Though Old Man Ge was a bit of a recluse, he had warmed up to her after seeing her save a life, and the two ended up chatting quite comfortably.
Old Man Ge asked, “Didn’t you just go back home a few days ago? Why are you back so soon?”
Su He took out her work ID with a flourish. “I’m not the same as before! I have an official title now!”
Old Man Ge took the ID, glanced at it, and scoffed, “Never heard of a position like this. Did you make it up?”
Su He: “… You really know your stuff!”
Old Man Ge rolled his eyes. “Don’t give me that! What are you trying to do with this fancy title?”
“I’m planning to negotiate with the textile and machinery factories to build satellite factories in our Huaihua Commune.”
Old Man Ge burst out laughing!
“Girl, aren’t you afraid of spraining your tongue talking such big talk? You think you can get those two factories to build branches in your commune?”
Su He was brimming with confidence. “Maybe not 100% sure, but 99.9%.”
Old Man Ge had had enough. “Go, go, go—don’t come here spouting nonsense! I can’t stand you young people who don’t know their limits!”
Su He flashed a cheeky grin. “And if I really pull it off?”
Old Man Ge snorted, “If you succeed, I’ll call you Auntie!”
Ha! Even the factory directors wouldn’t dare say something that bold!
Opening a satellite factory required all kinds of considerations—not something a single person could decide.
Su He extended her hand and suggested a high five to seal the deal.
Old Man Ge sneered, “Childish! What are we, three years old?”
Then… he extended his hand.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
They high-fived three times.
After Su He left, Old Man Ge suddenly realized—wait a second, they only agreed on what would happen if she succeeded. There was no consequence if she failed!
He was both amused and annoyed. That little girl was a sly one!
Oh well. She couldn’t possibly succeed anyway, so the bet didn’t matter.
Su He left Old Man Ge’s yard and wandered over to the machinery factory.
With her introduction letter and work ID, she quickly got to meet Qian Huifang.
Qian Huifang grabbed her hand and exclaimed, “They said someone from Huaihua Commune was here to see me. I was wondering who it could be—turns out it’s you, Su He! What’s that saying? ‘Judge a man anew after three days’—you’ve really opened my eyes, girl!”
She wasn’t exaggerating. The things Su He had accomplished were far beyond what she ever imagined.
Su He smiled modestly. “Aunt Qian, don’t flatter me! This is just a nominal position—makes things easier when dealing with others. I heard you got promoted to deputy director. Congratulations!”
Qian Huifang quickly said, “It’s all thanks to your help. Otherwise, that position wouldn’t be mine!”
They chatted a bit, and then Qian Huifang asked, “So, what brings you here?”
She hadn’t even considered the possibility that Su He came to discuss a partnership. After all, the machinery factory had nothing to do with Huaihua Commune.
Su He smiled sweetly and said, “Oh, nothing much. Our Huaihua Commune is planning to build a farm machinery factory, so they sent me here to learn from your experience.”
Qian Huifang had just taken a sip of tea—and promptly spat it out!
